Chapter 19: A Transaction

Jiang Mingyue stopped the movement of her fingers. “What deal?”

【To requisition her body and identity, and then send her to another world, where she will be born into a happy and harmonious family.】

“Did she agree to this?”

【She agreed, and she agreed readily.】

Jiang Mingyue fell silent. She cupped a handful of foam and blew it forcefully, watching as the foam scattered.

Some fell directly down, while others turned into bubbles that flew up before falling back down.

Although she could not experience the emotional joys or sorrows of the Original Owner, she could tell through her memories that the Original Owner longed deeply for love.

As a child, she harmed herself, yearning for the affection of her parents.

She obeyed Lin Shuangshuang without question, never doubting, hoping for friendship.

As she grew older, she pursued Qi Moyang obsessively, hoping for love.

But in the end, it was all in vain.

That was likely why she had agreed without hesitation.

She hoped the Original Owner would find happiness in another world!

Jiang Mingyue sank deeper into the water, leaving only her head above the surface.

“Then why did you all do this?”

118: 【…Do you remember what you said to your roommate after finishing reading The Blooming Rose?】

She remembered.

She remembered it very clearly!

In the later stages of the novel, Qi Ze discovers that the deaths of his grandparents and mother are all related to his father. Not only does he want to reclaim everything that belonged to his mother, but he also wants revenge for their deaths.

However, fate did not favor him, and in the end, he was killed by his own father.

The true culprit, on the other hand, lived without a care in the world.

After finishing the novel, Jiang Mingyue felt deeply unsettled by Qi Ze’s fate.

His life was tragic—he couldn’t have the person he loved, the person he hated remained carefree, and he spent his entire life trapped in suffering, unable to find happiness.

Full of regret!

She had then asked her roommate: “Do you think there is an afterlife?”

Her roommate replied: “I don’t think so. I believe in science.”

118: 【Do you remember how you answered?】

She remembered.

At the time, she had said: “I hope there is an afterlife, where the vile are punished with suffering, and the regretful have their regrets corrected.”

“So, what is your purpose?”

118 responded powerfully: 【To make the world have fewer regrets and more happiness.】

Jiang Mingyue replied: “…Very noble and righteous, you’ve worked hard!”

118 chuckled softly, 【Actually, it’s also for the smooth operation of all the worlds. Too many regrets and too much resentment can affect the balance of the world.】

Jiang Mingyue said: “…That’s still very great!”

She decided not to dwell on it too much. It wasn’t her style to overthink.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

After finishing her bath, Jiang Mingyue dressed in her pajamas and prepared to relax, not intending to go downstairs to awkwardly chat with Yu Beibei.

She made her way to the large dog bed she had bought for herself and lay down. Suddenly, she realized that she hadn’t seen Xixi and Haha since she left home!

Aunt Du wasn’t around either.

After thinking for a moment, she decided to go downstairs.

Yu Beibei was not in the living room.

As she reached the downstairs, Aunt Du returned, walking the dogs.

When Xixi and Haha saw Jiang Mingyue, it immediately ran over and rubbed its body against her legs.

“Aunt Du, did you take the dogs out for a walk?”

Jiang Mingyue hugged the dog’s head and kissed it. She saw Aunt Du coming in with bags.

“Why did you buy so many things?”

Aunt Du smiled when she saw her. “You’re back! Your mother returned today.”

Jiang Mingyue took the bags from her hands. “I saw her.”

“Your mom finally came back, so she wanted to make a nice meal for you and went out to buy ingredients.”

Aunt Du changed her shoes and walked into the kitchen with the groceries.

“When we went out, the dogs insisted on following, so I took them along.”

As they passed the living room, Aunt Du didn’t see Yu Beibei. “Where’s your mom?”

“She’s probably in her room.”

Jiang Mingyue helped Aunt Du put the groceries in the kitchen, then grabbed a bottle of yogurt from the fridge.

Aunt Du took out some duck necks she had bought for her. “These are the spicy duck necks you like.”

“It smells so good. They must have just been made.” Jiang Mingyue said, taking them and preparing to go to the living room to eat.

Aunt Du held her hand, noticing her calm expression. “Are you not happy that your mom is back?”

“I’m not unhappy?”

She wasn’t unhappy, but neither was she happy. Her face was too calm.

In the past, when her mom returned to see her, even though Jiang Mingyue might have shown disdain or even had a big argument, deep down she still cared.

It shouldn’t be like this now.

“Ah, well, as long as you’re not unhappy. Yueyue, you really have grown up. Your mom hasn’t come back in a long time, so try to get along with her.”

Aunt Du attributed Jiang Mingyue’s change to growing up and not being as emotional as she was when she was younger.

“Why don’t you go ask your mom what she wants to eat tonight? Aunt Du will cook it for you.”

As Aunt Du spoke, she gently pushed Jiang Mingyue out of the kitchen.

Jiang Mingyue didn’t really want to go. “Just cook whatever. You can make anything, and it’ll taste good.”

Aunt Du took the duck necks from her hands. “Go ask, then you can eat after.”

“Alright.”

Yu Beibei’s room was also on the second floor, diagonally opposite to Jiang Mingyue’s room.

The door was unlocked, and Jiang Mingyue saw Yu Beibei sitting on the bed with her back to the door, speaking on the phone.

Jiang Mingyue knocked on the door.

Hearing the sound, Yu Beibei turned around, saw her, and quickly said to the person on the other end of the call: “Mmm-hmm, okay, I got it. I’ll talk to you later.”

Jiang Mingyue waited for her to hang up, then stood at the door and asked: “Aunt Du is going to cook. Is there anything you want to eat?”

Yu Beibei stood up, curling her lips into a smile as she replied: “Anything is fine. Just make whatever you all want to eat.”

Jiang Mingyue nodded. “Alright.”

After saying that, she turned to leave, but Yu Beibei called out to her.

“Yueyue, come here for a second. I brought you a gift. Let’s see if you like it.”

Jiang Mingyue hesitated for a moment before walking inside.

Yu Beibei picked up several bags from the floor.

“Look, this is a bracelet I saw when I was filming in Yunnan. I thought it would be perfect for you. Do you like it?”

It was a red string bracelet adorned with jade and silver ornaments, quite unique.

Then she took out a diamond necklace. “Look at this diamond necklace, isn’t it beautiful? And this watch, it’s a limited edition.”

She continued to pull out clothes, bags, and accessories, each one exquisite.

Yu Beibei looked at her with eager anticipation.

Jiang Mingyue took them and said: “They’re all very beautiful. I really like them. Thank you.”

Gold and silver treasures—who wouldn’t like them?

Yu Beibei smiled. “I’m glad you like them.”

After a pause, she lowered her head, hesitated, and then said: “Yueyue, I have to leave tonight. Suddenly, there’s some urgent work I need to attend to.”

“Alright.” Jiang Mingyue answered decisively.

“…”

There was nothing more to say. Jiang Mingyue stood up. “Then I’ll head back to my room. You can rest.”

She stood and left.

Dinner was somewhat quiet.

After the meal, Yu Beibei received a phone call, left a card for Jiang Mingyue, and was about to leave.

Jiang Mingyue accompanied her to the entrance of the community.

A car was already waiting by the gate.

As Yu Beibei opened the car door to get in, she couldn’t help but ask,

“Yueyue, are you disappointed in me as your mother?”

Jiang Mingyue had already been preparing to turn and go back, but she stopped when she heard the question.

She thought for a moment before replying: “I might have been disappointed in the past, but not anymore.”

Yu Beibei turned to look at her. “Why?”

Because I’m no longer the old Jiang Mingyue.

Jiang Mingyue silently answered in her heart, but outwardly, she asked: “Is this question really that important to you?”

Yu Beibei: “…”

Silence. The silence was like tonight’s moonlight.

Yu Beibei stared at her in silence for a moment, then turned and got into the car.

Jiang Mingyue waved at her, then turned and entered the community.