Font Size:
Chapter 1: Transmigrating into a Book
“Ning Ning, it’s not that your aunt wants to nag, but a fine young man like our Xing Yuan is hard to find even with a lantern. You grew up before my eyes, and I’ve always liked you. Once you marry into our family, we’ll treat you like our own daughter. If you give us three to five sons, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
“Auntie just likes girls like you—healthy and good at bearing children!”
“Since you like your Brother Xing Yuan, don’t hesitate. Who says a young lady can’t take the initiative? They always say a woman chasing a man is like a thin veil—easy to pierce through!”
A stout woman clutched Ning Ning’s hand, chattering endlessly as if already picturing a beautiful scene where she was holding two grandchildren within three years. Her wrinkled face blossomed into a smile. The target of her persuasion, Ning Ning, however, was completely baffled.
Her willow brows furrowed slightly, and her gaze swept over the unfamiliar, dusty country house. A guess formed in her mind. The last thing she remembered was suffering sudden chest pains during her graduation ceremony—just after the dean placed the sash on her, she fainted. Now… she must have transmigrated.
“Auntie will definitely help match you two, but you must remember, the more children the better. You can’t complain about hardship when the time comes, or I won’t let it go. Ning Ning, you wouldn’t bear to disappoint your aunt, would you?”
The manipulative words were clear as day. Ning Ning sneered and pulled her hand free. Just as she was about to retort, a sudden dizziness swept over her. Her vision went black, and she collapsed.
“Ning Ning! Ning Ning, what’s wrong with you!”
Aunt Chunyu screamed as she caught her, her sharp voice more grating than nails scratching across a wall.
But Ning Ning’s consciousness did not fade into nothingness. Instead, she saw flashes of “her” life in this book. She was the heroine. Beloved by her parents, but tormented by the male lead—physically and emotionally. Bullied and targeted by the second female lead. Forcefully pursued by the second and third male leads. In the end, after giving birth to five sons for the male lead, she got her so-called “happy ending.”
The novel was an 80s melodrama spanning five million words, titled The Era of Five Treasures: Beloved Pregnant Wife. It was a bloody mess of abusive romance, substitute love, endless misunderstandings, fake-and-real heiress drama, imprisonment, and more. Three million words were spent on the heroine being misunderstood, beaten down, and abused; another half-million words described her repeated pregnancies and birthing sons.
Pfft. Ning Ning nearly spat blood. You call this a heroine? You call this a pampered story??
“Two choices:
a) Fulfill the heroine’s duties and follow the plot.
b) …”
“BBBB!”
Ning Ning wasn’t surprised by the sudden mechanical voice. She immediately went crazy selecting option b. There couldn’t possibly be a more hellish choice than following the heroine’s script.
“Very well. Host’s choice confirmed. Here are the tasks for option b:
You may choose one or complete all. Each completed task increases progress by +1, earns +1 point, 100 points, health value, and a random task reward. Points can be exchanged for life value: 1 point = 1 day of life.”
“Current life value: 1. Rewards: 0. Starter gift pack: 1. Host must strive to survive. When life value reaches zero, consciousness will be erased. Thank you for your cooperation.”
The mechanical voice was impeccably polite. Ning Ning only arched an eyebrow.
“Open starter gift pack.”
“Starter gift pack contains: one plate of braised pork, one crystal shoe, one tablecloth, one grape.”
…
Ning Ning was speechless. She could let the grape slide, but what was with the crystal shoe?
“Ning Ning, Ning Ning! You finally woke up. You scared your mother to death. What happened to you? Your Aunt Chunyu said you fainted from excitement. My heart nearly stopped. Here, drink some water—it’s still warm.”
A neat, clean-looking woman helped Ning Ning up, her face full of worry and tenderness.
“Thank you, Mom.”
Ning Ning drained the water in one gulp, feeling her strength return. One day of life? That was enough. She would start with her childhood friend, Lin Xiao.
“Don’t be so polite with your mother. Ning Ning, I’m not an old-fashioned woman. I was young once too. I know you like Xing Yuan, but you grew up together as neighbors. If he had feelings for you, he would’ve come to propose long ago. Since he hasn’t, it means he doesn’t.”
“Listen to me—don’t go sticking to him anymore, all right? My daughter is so pretty, sweet, and sensible. How could she not find someone good? I’ll set you up on a blind date right away.”
Her mother gently smoothed her stray hair, carefully coaxing her.
“I don’t like him. I don’t want to marry or go on blind dates either. Mom, can you agree to that?”
“Of course. As long as you’re happy, your father and I will support you.”
Her mother agreed instantly. Ning Ning was her only child—she could never spoil her enough. Truthfully, she wished her daughter would never marry and just stay by their side forever.
“That’s wonderful, Mom! You’re the best!”
Ning Ning hugged her happily. In the 1980s, having such an open-minded mother was rare. Even in the 21st century, as a PhD, she had been pressured into marriage.
“You sweet talker.”
“But why did you faint? Are you unwell? Or did that Xing Yuan boy upset you again?”
“No, I didn’t even see him today. I just suddenly had an epiphany, became enlightened, and got too emotional. That’s why I fainted. I’m fine, Mom. I’m going to play with Xiao for a while. I’ll be back for dinner.”
“Hey, slow down! This child… always so unpredictable.”
Her mother shook her head with a smile, eyes filled with affection as she watched her daughter’s lively back. Once out of sight, Ning Ning’s playful act as a naïve girl faded. She lifted her chin slightly, sharpness flashing in her gaze, and curved her lips coldly.
“Lin Xiao! How many times have I told you to take good care of your little brother? He’s the lifeblood of our whole family. Haven’t you listened? If not for him, you’d be dead a hundred—no, a thousand times over. How can you be so stupid, failing at something as simple as watching your brother? Did you do it on purpose? You’re not eating dinner tonight!”
Ning Ning hadn’t even reached Lin Xiao’s house when she heard the harsh roar of her mother’s voice. Frowning, she stood outside the fence and called out loudly:
“Xiao, I need to talk to you!”
“Oh, it’s Ning Ning. Fine, go ahead. Useless thing. Don’t bother watching your brother today. Go wherever you want.”
Lin Xiao’s mother gave Ning Ning a cold glance, spat another insult at her daughter, then carried off her precious son. Lin Xiao wiped her tears, lowered her head, and walked out.
“What’s wrong, Ning Ning? Weren’t you going to find Brother Xing Yuan?”
“Why was she yelling at you?”
Instead of answering, Ning Ning asked lightly. The answer wasn’t hard to guess. Still, Lin Xiao shook her head, taking all the blame upon herself.
“I messed up. I didn’t watch my brother properly just now, and he accidentally hit his head on the doorframe. It’s only right that Mom scolds me. My brother is the apple of the family’s eye. If he gets hurt, of course it’s my fault.”