Chapter 5 Space

It felt like a dream—yet so vivid, so real.

Song Nanting heard a gurgling noise. She looked down at her stomach—yes, she was definitely hungry. She made her way to the kitchen, familiar with every step. The chicken she had put in the pressure cooker before bed last night was still giving off a rich, enticing aroma.

So… had she come back again?

Song Nanting grew anxious. She wanted to be reborn—because in the real world, the man who once cherished her, loved her, put her first in everything with his gentle, quiet nature… he was gone. But in this reborn world, Lu Jian’an was still alive and well, young and strong.

She didn’t even stop to open the pressure cooker for soup—she ran straight into the bathroom.

Staring at the young face in the mirror, Song Nanting burst into tears of joy. She hadn’t gone back to her past life. She’d simply been granted this home of hers.

Back when Lu Jian’an was still alive, she had become obsessed with novels—she’d read all kinds. Once, she asked him, “Lu Jian’an, don’t you think it’d be wonderful if life could start over?”

The man looked at her gently and said, “Then I’d go find you right away. I’d save you.”

“And I’d fall in love with you at first sight,” she’d replied.

Later, she got into space-themed sweet romance novels and started musing again. “Lu Jian’an, if I could have a space, I wouldn’t want just any kind—I’d want our home. Because everything we need is already in our home.”

And indeed, it had everything.

Lu Jian’an had reached a high rank by then, with excellent pay and benefits. Though his health wasn’t great, the house was stocked with supplements and nutritious food. Thanks to various circumstances, she had hoarded a massive supply of food and essentials.

Lu Jian’an used to joke that she was like a hamster, and the amount she’d hoarded could feed them for two lifetimes.

And now—ironically—it actually had.

Song Nanting opened the pressure cooker, tore off a chicken leg, and ate it greedily. Then she scooped up some broth, boiled noodles, and made herself a bowl of chicken noodle soup.

After being undernourished and deprived for so long, that first bite of chicken tasted like the most delicious thing in the world.

After eating, she looked up at the kitchen clock—and froze. The time inside was completely still.

She checked the other appliances—only the kitchen and bathroom had electricity. The rest of the place had none. And even though there were no windows or doors around the house, the interior remained as bright as daytime. It was incredible.

Not sure how to leave the space, she tried what she’d read in novels—she silently said, “Go out.”

The next second, she was back on the hard bed of the guesthouse.

If it weren’t for the feeling of fullness in her belly, she wouldn’t have believed she truly had a space of her own.

Rebirth and a dimensional space.

Song Nanting’s heart couldn’t help but beat wildly. Did this mean… she had received the female lead’s script?

And did that mean she was one step closer to Lu Jian’an?

No—she needed rest. Tomorrow, she had a tough battle ahead. Once she cleaned up the scum and villains, she would go find Lu Jian’an.

She closed her eyes, silently whispering his name in her heart: Lu Jian’an—and soon fell asleep.

It was still dark outside when loud pounding at the door woke her.

The first thing Song Nanting did was place the money, food coupons, and the page from her household registration book she got yesterday into her space. She kept only a shabby shoulder bag with her.

Inside the bag was a rock-hard corn bun she had packed the day before for lunch at work—clearly not appetizing. Other than that, the bag was empty.

She stood up. Knowing exactly who was outside, she grabbed the stick she had carried the day before and opened the door.

“Song Nanting, you wretched girl—”

The woman outside stormed in, ready to grab her. “Song Nanting—!”

But she grabbed nothing but air. Song Nanting was holding the stick, coldly staring at them.

Zhao Xiue furrowed her brows, about to start yelling, but Song Nanfeng tugged at her sleeve.

“Ma, don’t yell.”

“Oh, right.” Zhao Xiue forced a stiff smile and said in a fake sweet tone, “Nanting, I heard you had a falling-out with that wretched old hag Wei Dani? You’ve cut ties with their family?”

Song Nanting roughly guessed what they were here for and nodded, putting on a sad expression.

“Yes. They lied to me, treated me like a servant. I couldn’t stay there any longer, so I left.”

“You just left? She didn’t give you any money?” Zhao Xiue dropped the act, quickly asking, “Where’s the money?”

As she spoke, she reached out to rummage through Song Nanting’s things.

Song Nanting slapped her hand away.

“You think she’d give me money? Forget giving me anything—even the money I earned doing odd jobs, she kept it all.”

Zhao Xiue’s hand stung, but she didn’t dare complain. She shrieked instead, “What?! She’s bullying our Song family like we’ve got no one to stand up for us? Come on, I’ll speak for you. I’ll take your brothers, and we’ll go get justice for you!”

“Ma, I’m not going.”

Song Nanting looked aggrieved. “I already said, once I walked out that door, I wasn’t going back. I’m not going.”

“If you won’t go, I will!” Zhao Xiue snapped. “You’re such a fool. I told you to leave sooner, but no, you wouldn’t listen—now look at you!”

Song Nanting didn’t respond, just kept her head down while Zhao Xiue ranted and cursed.

When she finally quieted down, Song Nanting said softly, “I regret it too. I want money too. I know she’s rich. When her old man died, the factory gave her hundreds of yuan in compensation…”

This wasn’t a secret—and Zhao Xiue, who detested Wei Dani, knew it well. Song Nanting’s words only confirmed it, and her eyes lit up.

“Ma, the Pan family can’t just bully our little sister like that,” said Song Nanfeng, righteously indignant, as if he genuinely cared. “We have to help her get justice—otherwise, what would people think of our Song family?”

On the surface, Song Nanting looked full of gratitude and admiration—but deep down, she felt nothing but contempt.

Her eldest brother was the best at putting on an act. He used to pretend a little, at least, but later, when he and her younger brother Song Nanshan beat her up and told her she was asking to die, the viciousness they showed—she’d never forget it for the rest of her life.

“Big Brother, I know you’re the ones who truly care about me. You have to stand up for me, okay? I’ll listen to whatever you say from now on.”

Next to her, Song Nanshan chimed in, “Exactly. Mom, even if Second Sister doesn’t dare go, we can’t chicken out. She worked for the Pan family for four years for free—we can’t let them get away with that.”

Zhao Xiue snorted. “Let’s go find that old hag.”
Then, turning back toward Song Nanting, she forced on a gentle smile and said, “Nanting, I’m glad you’ve come around. You’re still Mama’s good girl. I’ve cooked already—go on home first. We’ll be back in a bit.”

With that, the three of them marched off together, full of momentum.

Song Nanting watched them disappear down the road and didn’t linger. She headed straight for the textile factory’s family housing compound.

It was still early—hardly anyone was out in the courtyard. Somehow, they’d already heard what had happened and couldn’t even wait for daylight to come looking for her.

But that was fine. In fact, it worked in her favor.
She had a gift to deliver to them.

She reached the familiar family home. Inside, there were two rooms, packed with stuff. With three workers in the family, the Song household didn’t actually live poorly.

Back then, Song Nanting used to wonder—how could they treat her so differently, when they were all children of the same parents?

Later, she understood—it wasn’t that she was lacking, but simply that she was a girl.

To be born female had become her original sin.

Looking around at all the belongings in the house, then thinking of her space… If that space hadn’t been her and Lu Jian’an’s home, she might have considered moving some things over. But she didn’t want any of this filthy junk contaminating that place—not even mice would want to come into this cluttered mess.

Enough thinking. Time to get to work.