Chapter 3: Even If I Loved a Dog, I Would Never Love You

As soon as he said that, Qin Yalan immediately remembered.

In her previous life, around this same time, she had gone to deliver gifts to Qin Kaishen’s parents. On the way, she encountered Lu Qing’er, who asked to talk by the man-made lake.

All Lu Qing’er did was brag about Qin Kaishen’s feelings for her, trying to intimidate her into backing off. She claimed that if it hadn’t been for his parents’ objections, she would have married Qin Kaishen long ago.

She had been angry at the time, but hadn’t planned to do anything drastic. After a few words, she was about to leave when Lu Qing’er suddenly slipped and fell into the lake.

She had been utterly shocked and instinctively tried to jump in to save her, completely forgetting that she couldn’t swim either.

But someone had yanked her back forcefully, causing her to fall to the ground at the lake’s edge. She watched helplessly as a strong man tore off his shirt and dove into the water, rescuing the loudly screaming Lu Qing’er.

She had also watched as a crowd gathered. Lu Qing’er, unconscious from choking on water, was given CPR on the spot before being rushed to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Qin Yalan, covered in mud, didn’t dare show herself to Qin Kaishen’s parents and had gone straight home instead.

In her previous life, manipulated by Lu Qing’er, Qin Kaishen became convinced that she had pushed Lu Qing’er into the water. That it was all a setup—having another man save her would ruin her reputation and leave no one to compete with her for Qin Kaishen.

In truth, Qin Yalan had later learned from Lu Qing’er’s own smug words that it had all been premeditated. The man who rescued her was already a deputy battalion commander, while Qin Kaishen was only a company commander.

Lu Qing’er thought being with the deputy commander would benefit her more, so she staged this whole act to both marry up and maintain her image as a sweet, innocent girl in front of Qin Kaishen.

What Lu Qing’er hadn’t expected was that, after spending some time together, the deputy commander turned out to be a rough brute, completely insensitive. She disliked him and regretted everything.

So, when Qin Kaishen came home on leave, she claimed it was Qin Yalan who pushed her.

That was why, the moment he returned home, Qin Kaishen stormed over to confront her.

All these scenes from her past life flashed through Qin Yalan’s mind in an instant, and her emotions surged.

Seeing her bow her head in deep thought and remain silent, Qin Kaishen grew angrier, thinking she was guilty and ashamed.

“Speak! Why are you silent now?”

“What do you want me to say?” Qin Yalan looked up with a cold gaze. “I tell you it had nothing to do with me—she fell in herself. Would you believe that?”

Qin Kaishen laughed in fury. “Qin Yalan! She’s still in the hospital on an IV drip, and you outright deny everything? That’s too much!”

“Believe it or not, that’s your business.”

Qin Yalan’s heart was full of disgust. In her past life, she had been so deeply in love with Qin Kaishen. He even told her that he and Lu Qing’er were just friends, that he needed a simple, kind wife to help manage the household, and he didn’t want to talk about Lu Qing’er anymore. He said he didn’t care about his own reputation but didn’t want to ruin a girl’s name.

She had been so stupid and touched back then. She thought, if he could be that thoughtful even to a friend, how could he ever mistreat his wife?

Even his parents had shown disdain for Lu Qing’er and praised her highly.

Now, thinking back, they had simply seen her as a cheap, self-offering girl who could be used. After all, Lu Qing’er’s family demanded a dowry for marriage. Qin Yalan had instead brought gifts to their house and offered herself.

As for Qin Kaishen—he made it sound so good, saying they were “just friends.” What a joke! In hindsight, how could she not see it? What kind of “friend” was worth him rushing over, furious, not even changing clothes, just to question her?

“No matter what you say, so many eyes saw it happen. You pushed Lu Qing’er into the water, and then humiliated her by having another man publicly rescue her with… mouth-to-mouth…” Qin Kaishen’s face turned red with rage. Just imagining Lu Qing’er being held, touched, and mouth-to-mouth resuscitated in front of everyone made him feel utterly humiliated, like he’d been cuckolded.

His male pride wouldn’t let him say more. He glared at the supposed instigator in front of him, even angrier now. He grabbed her and barked, “Come with me! Apologize and clear things up.”

Qin Yalan was furious now. The woman standing here today was no longer the love-crazed girl from her past life who had eyes only for this man.

She flung his hand off without hesitation. “Company Commander Qin, I’m not one of your soldiers, and I’m not under your command! You have no right to order me around! And, are you deaf? I already said this had nothing to do with me. Don’t believe me? Go ask Lu Qing’er yourself. If that’s not enough, I’ll face her in person!”

Qin Kaishen thought she was just being unreasonable. Exasperated, he yelled, “Qin Yalan! If it wasn’t you, then who was it? She jumped in herself?!”

Qin Yalan sneered, “That’s exactly what happened—she jumped in herself.”

“You—!” Qin Kaishen looked at her in disbelief. “You’re impossible! Being liked by someone like you is the greatest disgrace of my life!”

“What did you say?” Qin Yalan stared at him as if she had swallowed something rotten. “I like you? Are you insane?!”

Qin Kaishen, the man Qin Yalan loved in her past life, was as good as dead.

The Qin Yalan of today—only hated him.

Qin Kaishen laughed in disbelief. “I’m insane? No—you’re the one who’s sick! Your twisted obsession with me is what made you do something so awful out of jealousy. What kind of woman does that? What kind of mother raised you—”

Before he could finish, Qin Yalan slapped him with all her strength.

Qin Kaishen’s head was thrown to the side, stunned.

Qin Yalan was livid. Insulting her was one thing, but dragging her mother into it?

In her past life, for this scumbag, she had given everything to curry favor with his parents and neglected her own. She owed her parents too much. In this life, she was already trying to make up for it—she would never tolerate anyone insulting them.

“Qin Kaishen, are you out of your mind? You actually think I like you? You’re disgusting! If you’re so delusional, go get treated! Don’t come here slandering me. Listen carefully—I only went to help your family as repayment for your past kindness. If that gave you the wrong idea, that’s on me. But I have zero, absolutely zero, interest in you! I’d rather fall in love with a dog than ever love you. You disgust me—do you hear me?!”

Qin Yalan’s voice was fierce, her eyes blazing. She delivered every word with force and clarity.

Qin Kaishen could hardly believe it—he felt like she might leap on him and tear him apart. He was furious.

“You—!”

He instinctively stepped forward to say something else.

But Qin Yalan was done with him. She opened her mouth and yelled, “Help! This soldier’s harassing me!”

Qin Kaishen panicked and rushed to cover her mouth. “What are you doing?!”

Luckily, there weren’t many people in the compound at this hour. Most of the elderly were out shopping or strolling.

Qin Yalan’s house was also in the very back of the compound, so no one had noticed their argument yet.

Without hesitation, Qin Yalan bit down hard on his hand. Qin Kaishen cried out in pain and instinctively let go, hissing as he examined the bloody bite mark.

Before he could react, Qin Yalan, still full of rage, kicked him hard in the crotch.

“You delusional pervert!”