Chapter 1

——— dividing line ——

“Shen Tang, you ungrateful wretch! You actually tried to kill Qiuqiu—have you gone insane?”

“How can you be so heartless? If it weren’t for Qiuqiu saving you back then, you’d already be dead!”

Facing those furious expressions…

And hearing their gentle coaxing as they carefully carried Lin Qiuqiu away, Shen Tang’s eyes stung.

All they cared about was Lin Qiuqiu. To them, what did she matter at all?

She loosened the hand pressed to her abdomen. A dagger protruded from her stomach—thrown by her own beloved elder brother in his rush to “save” Lin Qiuqiu.

Blood seeped out, blending with the red of her coat.

Yet no one noticed. Everyone’s eyes were fixed only on the tiny scratch at Lin Qiuqiu’s wrist.

Shen Tang felt no pain. Only a deep, bone-aching sense of mockery at her entire life.

Five years ago, in the dead of winter, she fell into the river while washing clothes.
Her cousin Lin Qiuqiu had “saved” her.

The already frail Lin Qiuqiu’s health broke down after that.

To repay the so-called life-saving grace, Shen Tang replaced her cousin and went down to the countryside.

For five long years she endured endless hardship and suffering.

At last she returned to the city—only to walk straight into a hell.

“Shen Tang, Qiuqiu is your savior. From now on, half your wages go to her.”

“Qiuqiu is your savior. Giving her your job is only right.”

“Tangtang, Qiuqiu saved your life—how can you bear to see her marry someone she doesn’t like?”

That ‘debt of gratitude’ pressed down like a mountain, suffocating her.

But hadn’t she already repaid it? She went to the countryside in Qiuqiu’s place, she gave up her wages, even yielded her job—why was it never enough?

They even deceived her, drugged her, and delivered her to Lin Qiuqiu’s bridal bed—forcing her to marry a man who had already beaten three wives to death.

Feeling her blood pour out, resentment swelled in her chest.

Her body grew light, as though floating away.

Voices drifted faintly:

“Is she really dead?”

“Big Brother… what if Shen Tang becomes a ghost? I’m scared. It wasn’t even me who saved her back then. What if she comes for revenge?”

“Afraid of what? It has nothing to do with you. Qiuqiu, don’t worry—Mother already found someone to perform the ritual. Neither Shen Tang nor her aunt will ever return. You can marry at ease.”

Her soul froze. Her aunt? What did this have to do with her aunt?

Could it be… in her past life, it was actually her aunt who saved her?

A memory flashed—on the second day after she fell into the river, she heard the news: her aunt had died. She had wept bitterly then.

Her aunt, a widowed woman scorned by the villagers as unlucky, had never been close to her. Yet she had always treated Shen Tang with more kindness than others.

So it was her aunt who had saved her life!

And her family had concealed the truth, using Lin Qiuqiu to usurp that grace—enslaving Shen Tang for a lifetime in the name of “repayment.”

Even in death, they would not let her or her aunt rest in peace.

How foolish she had been, tricked and used by such people.

Rage erupted.

Her soul trembled violently.

Darkness swept over—then light.

When she opened her eyes again, she saw a younger version of her mother before her.

“Your aunt passed away early, her fate was bitter. From now on, Qiuqiu will live with us. Her health isn’t as good as yours—you’ll share your room with her.”

Shen Tang froze. She had returned to the past.

In her previous life, she had pitied Lin Qiuqiu for losing her mother and readily agreed.

From then on, that room had never been hers again.

After her fall into the water, because of Qiuqiu’s constant coughing, they moved her into the storage room instead.

But this time, she would never agree.

This family, she no longer wanted.

This grudge, she would repay in full!

Shen Tang’s expression cooled. Her voice was calm, but firm:

“Mother, if I remember correctly, this room belongs to Aunt. Did she agree to give it away?”

Her mother faltered. “Why would your aunt disagree?”

Shen Tang pressed on stubbornly. “Mother, that’s not right. When the family split, this house was Aunt’s. If we take it without her consent, isn’t that unfair? I’ll go ask her directly.”

Her mother clutched her chest in fury. “Go then! And don’t call me mother anymore!”

Shen Tang sneered. In her past life, this had been her mother’s favorite weapon.

Back then, she had thought it was simply preference for sons over daughters. But she had been wrong—her mother spoke with endless gentleness to Lin Qiuqiu, and only to her with cruelty.

Quietly, she said, “If Aunt doesn’t agree, then I won’t either.”

Her mother nearly fainted with rage. What had gotten into this girl today?

Just then, a slender figure emerged from the hall—Lin Qiuqiu, pale and delicate, evoking instant pity.

“Second Cousin, don’t quarrel with Aunt for my sake. Having a mother is already good enough for me…”

Tears shimmered in her eyes as she turned to Shen Tang’s mother.

“Auntie, I won’t stay in her room. I’ll just set up a small corner in the hall.”

Shen Tang’s mother’s eyes turned red with distress. She rushed to support her. “What nonsense are you saying? From now on, I am your mother.”

Then she turned, voice sharp as a knife: “If you won’t let Qiuqiu stay, get out of this house!”

Shen Tang looked calmly at the two of them—their faces so similar, like true mother and daughter. While she, the real daughter, seemed like the outsider.

“Mother, if you insist on letting Lin Qiuqiu stay, then I’ll ask Aunt myself. Otherwise, as the elder sister-in-law, taking her younger sister-in-law’s house will only invite ridicule.”

Her mother choked on the words. Years ago, when her sister-in-law gave up this house, her only condition was that it could only be for the second daughter.

If Shen Tang really went to ask, she could not be sure the sister-in-law would agree.

Frustration boiled in her chest.

“Go if you want! You selfish, heartless thing—don’t bother coming back!”

Shen Tang paused at the door, then turned her gaze, sharp as a blade.

“Mother, you call me selfish and heartless. I am your daughter—what does that make you?”

“Or is it that I’m not your daughter at all, so the insult rolls off your tongue so easily?”