The room assigned to the Tong family was in the middle of the courtyard, right next to Aunt Cai’s place.

Before she even got close, Tong Xuelu spotted a little girl sitting on the steps with her chin resting in her hands, staring blankly at the ground. It wasn’t clear what she was looking at.

The little boy in Aunt Cai’s arms started squirming again. “Mama, put me down! I wanna play with Mianmian!”

Aunt Cai smacked him twice on the butt without mercy. “You muddy little monkey! Don’t go messing up Mianmian!”

Mianmian?

Tong Xuelu raised an eyebrow slightly, without letting it show.

The boy immediately burst into fake tears, wailing loudly. Aunt Cai ignored him and turned to Tong Xuelu.

“Mianmian’s your little sister. So young and already lost both her parents… poor thing, it breaks your heart.”

Hearing this, Aunt Cai let out a quiet sigh of relief.

After both Tong Dajun and his wife passed away, the two older kids had their hands full—one helping out at the factory, the other still in school—so they left Mianmian in her care. Not that she minded; Mianmian was such a quiet, obedient child, it was hard not to feel sorry for her.

But with all the housework she had to do and her own kids to look after, how could she possibly manage another one?

Now that Mianmian’s real sister was back, she could finally hand off the responsibility to where it belonged.

Despite all the commotion in the yard, the little girl didn’t seem to hear any of it.

She just kept staring at the ground in silence—eerily still.

As the group approached, Aunt Cai raised her voice again, her booming tone like a loudspeaker: “Mianmian, come here! Your sister’s back!”

It was only when the word “sister” was mentioned that the little girl suddenly looked up.

Her delicate features were like a porcelain doll’s, and her big, dark eyes sparkled like grapes. Her long lashes curled like little fans.

Tong Xuelu whistled inwardly.

No wonder this girl would go on to become an internationally renowned star in the ’90s—she was already a little beauty.

In the 1990s, Tong Mianmian would be named both “Top Ten Most Popular Female Singers in the World” and “Top Ten Most Popular Actresses in the World”—the only Chinese celebrity at the time to truly break into the international scene.

But at the peak of her career, she had abruptly taken her own life without leaving so much as a note, leaving the world shocked and mourning.

Later, people speculated that her tragic decision was tied to repeated heartbreak—and more crucially, the trauma of a bleak childhood.

A painful childhood could take a lifetime to heal. The emotional wounds from a broken family often followed someone forever.

Even though the three Tong siblings would all grow into industry giants, none of them ever truly found happiness. Their fates could only be described as devastating.

In the end, all three met tragic ends—some from illness, some from accidents. None of them had children.

But this time, things would be different.

Because she was here now.

With her around, there was no way those future titans would fall into the hands of those leeches from the old hometown—and she would never let their childhoods be filled with nothing but pain and grief.

Tong Mianmian had expected to see her sister Tong Zhenzhen.

Instead, standing in front of her was a complete stranger. She froze, her big, watery eyes full of confusion.

Aunt Cai set the little boy down and warned him not to run off. Then she turned and asked, “Mianmian, why aren’t you saying anything? This is your real sister—go on, say hi!”

Tong Mianmian blinked her big eyes, her voice soft and timid: “She’s… not my sister.”

“She is your real sister. That Tong Zhenzhen wasn’t even your parents’ biological child—just an ungrateful little ingrate. Don’t waste your feelings on her anymore!”

Aunt Cai grumbled as she went to fetch water.

There was a basin of water out in the yard, warmed by the sun—perfect for a bath in this heat.

Tong Mianmian stood there, wide-eyed, quietly nibbling on her lower lip, saying nothing.

She looked just like a timid little bunny—adorable and soft-hearted.

Tong Xuelu’s heart melted in an instant. She walked over and squatted in front of her, smiling gently. “Mianmian, I’m your sister, Tong Xuelu. From now on, I’ll take care of you. Would you like that?”

Mianmian lowered her watery eyes and began fidgeting with her fingers, still silent.

Tong Xuelu didn’t push her. She pretended to rub her sore arm and sighed, “This bag is so heavy. I need somewhere to put it down. Mianmian, could you help me open the door?”

Mianmian looked up at her, her delicate face conflicted for a moment. But then, without a word, she obediently got up and trotted ahead.

Tong Xuelu usually didn’t have much patience for kids—especially the loud, unruly kind. But a sweet, quiet, and beautiful child like Mianmian? She didn’t mind one bit.

With her short little legs, Mianmian padded over to the worn wooden door, nudged it open, then turned back and said in her soft little voice, “You can put it inside.”

Tong Xuelu gently pinched her soft cheek. “Thank you, Mianmian. You’re such a good girl.”

Mianmian’s lips pressed together shyly, and her snowy little ears flushed a light pink.

Tong Xuelu stepped inside. The room was less than twenty square meters. It held two beds, an old table and chairs, and in the corner stood a chipped low table with some cups and bowls stacked on top.

The furnishings were bare and worn, but surprisingly clean. It was a bit better than she’d expected.

She placed her travel bag on the bed, then waved at Tong Mianmian, who was peeking in through the doorway. “Mianmian, come here. Let big sister do your hair.”

Mianmian was neat and clean, her fair little face free of snot, but her hair was a wild mess—like a bird’s nest perched on her head.

She nervously scratched at the wooden door and asked in a soft whisper, “You… you really know how to do hair?”

Tong Xuelu smiled. “Of course! I’ll make you the prettiest girl in the whole compound. Come on over.”

Mianmian’s big eyes shimmered with light. She hesitated for a beat, then ran toward her on her short little legs.

The girl’s hair was jet-black and silky. Tong Xuelu split it into two cute little braids, tying them off with red ribbons.

When she finished, she picked up the mirror from the table and held it out for Mianmian to see.

Mianmian stared at her reflection, her little braids bouncing cutely. They looked even better than the ones her mom used to do. She looked up and gave Tong Xuelu a small, sweet smile.

Her clear, glassy eyes sparkled like gems, and two soft dimples appeared on her cheeks.

Tong Xuelu couldn’t help leaning down to plant a kiss on her face. “Our Mianmian is so beautiful—prettier than a little fairy.”

Mianmian’s eyes widened like a startled fawn. She blinked at her, cheeks flushing bright pink.

Tong Xuelu didn’t tease her any further. Instead, she picked up the mirror and, for the first time, took a good look at this body’s face.

Staring back at her was a face more radiant than a spring blossom. Her red lips curled slightly, revealing delicate dimples, and just beneath her left eye sat a tiny teardrop-shaped beauty mark that made her eyes seem even more luminous.

It was a stunning face—so beautiful it bordered on seductive.

In her last life, she’d been attractive too, but it had taken a lot of effort and grooming. This? This face was effortlessly exquisite.

She almost felt like it was too good to waste on some random man. If she could, she’d marry herself!

After putting the mirror back, Tong Xuelu stood up and began inspecting the food supply in the house.

The results were… disappointing.

There was barely ten jin of rice left and half a sack of sweet potatoes. Off to the side sat a small jar of pickled vegetables.

There were no fresh greens in sight, and as for meat—forget it. Not even a trace.

Tong Xuelu’s mouth twitched at the pitiful scene.

The Tong family was really living hand to mouth. Still, if she was going to be staying here long-term, there was no way she was going to mistreat her own stomach.

“Mianmian, I’m heading to the supply and marketing co-op to buy some food. Do you want to come with me?”

Mianmian blinked her long lashes twice, then shook her little head. “I can’t.”

Even though this new sister was very pretty—prettier even than Sister Zhenzhen—her brother had told her not to go off with strangers.

Tong Xuelu didn’t push it. She stepped outside to let Aunt Cai know where she was going, asked for directions to the co-op and the vegetable market, then slung her military satchel over her shoulder and left.

The vegetable station opened at exactly four o’clock every afternoon. It wasn’t even 3:30 yet, but already two long lines had formed outside.

According to Aunt Cai, there was only one vegetable station in the entire area, and each day it only got one truckload of produce. Once it sold out, that was it for the day.

If she got in line now, she’d probably end up empty-handed.

So, Tong Xuelu crossed the street and asked an old lady for directions to where the vegetable cart would pass through. Then she went to wait.

Roughly twenty minutes later, she spotted a middle-aged woman pedaling a heavily loaded cart toward her.

It was the sweltering heat of August. The sun baked the pavement, and heat waves shimmered up from the ground like a giant steaming wok.

Liu Hongying was pedaling with all her might, carrying over 700 jin of vegetables on her cart. Sweat rolled down her tanned face and soaked into her collar. Her damp hair clung stubbornly to her cheeks, and she was panting from exhaustion.

Just then, a young woman ran up from the roadside. “Sister, this slope is steep. Let me help you push!”

Liu Hongying shook her head. “No need. Women hold up half the sky—I can handle this myself.”

Tong Xuelu looked at her earnestly. “Sis, don’t be polite! Chairman Mao said we serve the people. We’re all sisters in the working class. Helping each other is only right!”

And without waiting for a reply, she darted to the back of the cart and began to push.

With someone pushing from behind, Liu Hongying found pedaling a whole lot easier—especially on that uphill stretch that usually left her drenched and breathless. Today, she practically breezed right through it.

As they neared the vegetable station, Liu Hongying pulled over and said, “Comrade, thank you so much for your help today. Take a bundle of vegetables home—treat it as a thank-you from me.”

Tong Xuelu, her face flushed from the heat, wiped the sweat from her forehead and frowned. “Sis, what do you take me for? I’m not the kind of person who takes advantage of others!”

—She only planned on taking advantage in a bigger way later.

This Sister Liu worked at the vegetable station. Building a good relationship with her now meant buying veggies would be much easier in the future.

Liu Hongying laughed. “You look young, but your thinking is impressive!”

Tong Xuelu smiled earnestly. “My name’s Tong Xuelu. You can just call me Xuelu from now on. As for these two bundles, I’ll pay for them properly.”

Liu Hongying’s smile deepened. “Then you can call me Sister Liu. If you ever need vegetables, come straight to me!”

“Thank you, Sister Liu!”

That was exactly what she’d been waiting to hear.

Carrying two bundles of vegetables, Tong Xuelu followed Liu Hongying to the vegetable station. After paying the cashier, she left under a flurry of envious and jealous stares.

Next, she headed to the supply co-op and bought a jin of eggs and some milk candies, spending a total of two yuan and sixty cents.

The pork had already sold out that morning, so she could only head home with what she had.

As she reached the gate of the residential compound, a small head peeked out from behind the door—two little braids bounced with every curious tilt.

[Stealth Mode Activated].jpg

Tong Xuelu called out, “Mianmian, why are you hiding behind the door?”

Just then, Aunt Cai happened to step out of the house. Seeing her return, she raised her voice and said, “Good thing you’re back! As soon as you left, Mianmian ran to the door and wouldn’t budge no matter how many times I called her!”

Realizing she’d been spotted, Tong Mianmian blushed and slowly stepped out from behind the door.

Her round, grape-like eyes gazed up at Tong Xuelu—she looked so beautiful and pitiful, it tugged at the heart.

Tong Xuelu’s heart softened under that look. She pulled out some milk candy and handed it over. “So Mianmian was waiting for me? What a sweet girl. I bought you some milk candy—do you like it?”

Mianmian’s eyes lit up like stars in the night sky. She nodded her little head eagerly. “Mianmian likes it!”

She had thought this new “sister” would be like her parents… and like Sister Zhenzhen—once they left, they never came back. She was so worried she’d be left alone again, so she ran to the door to wait.

But this sister came back.

And even brought her candy.

She had eaten this kind of candy before—it was so sweet.

Tong Xuelu patted her head. “I’m glad you like it. When you finish it, come ask me for more.”

Mianmian clutched the candy in both hands, beaming. “Thank you, Sister.”

“Come on, let’s go inside. I’ll make us something to eat in a bit.” With that, she headed into the house.

Mianmian hurried to follow behind on her short little legs.

From that moment on, she stuck to Tong Xuelu like a little tail.

Watching the tiny figure glued to her side, Tong Xuelu couldn’t help smiling.

Mission One: Complete.

This quest was turning out to be a lot easier than she expected.

Future superstar: conquered √

=^_^=

Author has something to say: Tong Xuelu: Such an adorable little boss… I’ll take a dozen more, thanks.