Chapter 1: Transmigration

Lin Su died.

Then Lin Su lived again.

…

The night was dark, the wind howling, muffling the sobs within the house.

Pain.

Intense pain.

The moment her consciousness returned, Lin Su knew something was wrong. Her whole body felt like it had been run over by a truck, and her head throbbed like it was being pricked with needles.

Where was she? She reached out cautiously and suddenly touched a burning-hot body. The shock nearly made her cry out loud.

Hadn’t she died in a car crash?
When did someone else end up beside her?

The next second, a flood of chaotic memories surged in, completely overwhelming her thoughts.

So… she had transmigrated. Into the body of an 18-year-old girl in the 1980s who shared her name.

This original Lin Su’s father had died in war, and her mother had passed away from depression shortly after. She had lived with her grandmother ever since.

Due to being born prematurely, the original body was weak and chronically ill, surviving only by relying on her father’s pension to afford medicine.

No one but the grandmother knew exactly how much the pension was worth. But it was enough to keep Lin Su medicated and to build a small two-room brick house.

That very brick house attracted the greed of her uncle, Lin Chong. He was of marrying age, but his fiancée demanded a brick house before agreeing to marry him. So, he set his sights on Lin Su.

He figured that once Lin Su was married off, his mother would hand the house over to him.

To make that happen, he hired a local thug to drug Lin Su only for the plan to go awry when Qin Sui, a military officer returning on leave, stumbled upon the situation.

Both of them were drugged, and what followed was the beginning of this twisted fate.

But the frail Lin Su couldn’t withstand the physique of a soldier like Qin Sui. One time was enough for her to die.

And so, Lin Su transmigrated into this body.

Upon learning the original body’s cause of death, Lin Su was speechless. In her previous life, she had been a long-distance running champion with a terrifyingly strong body. Now she was stuck in a body that died from… that.

Talk about rotten luck.

The man beside her was still breathing heavily clearly still unconscious.

Fearing he’d make another move or that Lin Chong might come barging in Lin Su forced herself up, trying to get dressed and escape. But even that simple act was a struggle.

Just sitting up made her dizzy. Her chest felt tight, and a wave of suffocation hit her.

Just when she thought she was about to die again, her hand brushed the necklace around her neck.

Her cheat item had come with her?!

No time to think Lin Su quickly closed her eyes and focused. There were still a couple of drops of spiritual spring water in her space. She quickly drank them.

The cool, sweet liquid slid down her throat like nectar. After a moment, she could breathe again. The pain remained, but she felt significantly better.

As expected of the spiritual spring. Lin Su clutched the necklace like a treasure.

Her grandfather had given her this necklace. In her past life, it had accidentally absorbed her blood, unlocking the space and its spring. But the spring was small and unreliable—sometimes producing water, sometimes not. Still, it had crossed into this world with her.

She quickly dressed. But just as she tried to slip off the bed, the scorching-hot body next to her rolled over and hugged her tightly.

A low, husky voice whispered in her ear:
“Don’t go. Help me.”

His raspy voice was laced with irresistible allure, sending tingles down her spine.

But Lin Su valued her life. She wasn’t about to overexert this fragile body. Using all her strength, she knocked Qin Sui unconscious and rolled out of bed.

Before she left, she noticed him curled up in discomfort. Pausing briefly, she picked up his shorts and kindly draped them over his stomach.

Wouldn’t want him catching a cold.

…

The road at night was difficult. Lin Su dragged her tired body home just in time to see a few torches flickering on the hill nearby.

It was her grandmother, bringing people to search for her.

“Grandma, I’m here!” Lin Su called out.

Relieved to see her safe, Grandma Lin rushed over and smacked her a couple of times.
“You little brat! Where did you run off to? I couldn’t find you anywhere!”

Scolding as she cried, Grandma Lin’s tears fell uncontrollably. The emotions of the original Lin Su stirred, and Lin Su couldn’t help crying too.

“Alright, alright. We found her, that’s what matters. Let’s go home!”

“Lin girl, where did you go?”

“Crying like that… were you bullied?”

The crowd offered comfort except for one particularly harsh voice. Lin Su looked up and immediately spotted the speaker.

It was Aunt Chen Fen, who had bad blood with Lin Su’s late mother.

“Auntie Chen, thank you for looking for me. But wasn’t what you said just now a bit much? I’m an unmarried girl if you spread rumors like that, who would dare marry me?”

“Besides, if every girl who came home late was ‘bullied,’ how would that make our village look to outsiders?” Lin Su said, coughing lightly from the exertion.

Even in patched-up clothes, Lin Su looked delicate and beautiful pale but graceful, her eyes watery and pitiful.

The villagers instantly recalled her tragic background and poor health, and all glared at Chen Fen.

Village chief Lin Daqiang scolded,
“You can eat salty food, but don’t spit salty words! Spread another rumor and I’ll tear that mouth of yours!”

Chen Fen shrank back and muttered awkwardly,
“I… I didn’t mean it that way…”

Biting her tongue, she thought to herself. When did this Lin girl become so sharp-tongued? Just like her seductive mother, always acting pitiful to gain sympathy!

Seeing Chen Fen quiet down, Lin Su didn’t press further and explained,
“I went to cut pig grass and saw a rare medicinal herb halfway up the mountain. I slipped while picking it and fell. Didn’t climb back up until dark.”

“Sorry for worrying everyone and making you come out so late. I’m really sorry.”

Afraid she might faint again, Village Chief Lin quickly said,
“No more talking, Lin girl. As long as you’re safe. Second Aunt, help her home.”

He and Grandma Lin were distant relatives and had always looked out for them.

Grandma Lin, worried about her health, thanked everyone briefly and hurried Lin Su home.

On the way, she wanted to ask where Lin Su had really gone. Lin Su was too frail to cut pig grass, and the basket was still at home. Clearly, she was lying.

But concern outweighed curiosity, so she stayed silent.

When they got home, the sound of clanging came from the kitchen. Without thinking, Grandma Lin shouted,
“You little scoundrel! Stealing food again? One day you’ll end up in a labor camp!”

“Ma, I just ate a bit…” Lin Chong’s careless voice rang out as he wiped his mouth and walked out. Halfway through a retort, he froze in shock upon seeing Lin Su.

She had the strength to come back? That thug was useless!

Enemies meeting only intensified the tension. But not wanting to involve Grandma Lin, Lin Su forced down her hatred and gave Lin Chong a cold, meaningful smile.

“Uncle, the food must taste especially good tonight are you celebrating something?”

Stammering, Lin Chong fled.

Grandma Lin was confused but didn’t ask. The two reheated their food, ate, and went to bed.

Next Morning

Looking in the mirror, Lin Su noticed her lips weren’t so pale anymore. On the outside, she looked almost healthy but she knew the truth.

Grandma Lin looked at her suspiciously,
“Su, your face seems a bit rosier today?”

“Maybe I just slept well…” Lin Su made up an excuse and headed into the kitchen.

She wanted to cook something and sneak a few drops of spring water into their food.

“Hey hey hey! What do you think you’re doing?”

Before she could grip the spatula, Grandma Lin snatched it away.
“You’re still sick! How can you be cooking? Go rest outside or go back to bed!”

No room for negotiation Lin Su was pushed out.

Unable to mix it into food, she poured a few drops of the spring water into a tea mug and handed it over when Grandma Lin broke into a sweat.

“Grandma, have some water.”

Grandma Lin drank it with a smile, suspecting nothing.

The spring didn’t produce water consistently sometimes only a few drops every ten days, sometimes half a cup in one day. What she gave was all she had for now.

After breakfast, Grandma Lin sent Lin Su back to bed and resumed her chores.

Half-asleep, Lin Su was startled by Grandma Lin’s strong voice:
“Su, someone’s here to see you!”

“Coming!”

She tidied her long braids and opened the door—only to freeze when she saw the man standing in the yard.

Though she’d never seen Qin Sui, something told her it was him.

Sure enough, the young man introduced himself:
“I’m Qin Sui.”

His deep, magnetic voice was just as seductive as the night before. Lin Su blinked and steadied her emotions.
“What do you want?”

Qin Sui glanced at Grandma Lin.

Knowing his background, Grandma Lin smiled and left to feed the chickens, giving them privacy.

Tall and imposing in his green military uniform, Qin Sui had sharp eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. His aura was overwhelming.

“It was you last night,” he said, certain.

Lin Su frowned.

He was great in every way, but she didn’t want to be entangled with him. Their status gap was too wide.

She was a frail, sickly orphan. He was a promising young officer. A man like him could marry any wealthy girl in town.

Let last night be a one-time mistake.

So she denied it:
“It wasn’t me.”

But then Qin Sui dropped a bomb:
“I caught Lin Chong.”

Startled, Lin Su looked at him. When their eyes met, she quickly looked away.

Qin Sui’s gaze darkened.
“He confessed everything. Don’t worry he won’t be able to hurt you again.”

She had planned to get revenge herself. She didn’t expect Qin Sui to act so quickly.

Truly surprised, she asked:
“What did you do with him?”

“Sent him to a labor camp.”

Lin Su clicked her tongue in slight disappointment.

Raising a brow, Qin Sui asked with interest:
“Not enough? You really wanted him dead?”

She didn’t answer.
Instead, she changed the subject:
“Is that the only reason you came to see me?”

“There’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“Marry me.”