CHAPTER 1

The sky outside was clear and bright.

Lu Zhi got out of bed and washed her face, still a little shaken.

She’d had a strange experience—she lived for over twenty years in a world of the future, and one day, she came across a period romance novel. To her shock, the novel was about the life she had before she “traveled through.” Then, she woke up.

Lu Zhi couldn’t tell whether it was just a very long, vivid dream or whether she had really lived through those years in the future and somehow traveled back.

In the novel, Lu Zhi was described as a supporting character: fair-skinned, beautiful, infatuated with the male lead. Even after he married the female lead, she still liked him and ultimately became a background contrast to the heroine in their courtyard compound.

Maybe she really had spent more than twenty years in that future life. Now, she didn’t just stop liking the male lead—she seriously doubted why she had ever liked him in the first place.

She picked out a light blue dress and put it on, then tied her braided hair up into a high ponytail.

Outside, Li Lan was already calling for her.

Lu Zhi said, “Coming!”

When she came out, Li Lan looked quite satisfied.

Wasn’t she way prettier than the new daughter-in-law the neighbors just brought home?

But Li Lan still put on a stern face. “Let me tell you, if you mess around on this blind date again, don’t bother coming home for dinner.”

Lu Zhi didn’t say anything.

She really didn’t know how to respond. After all, she’d already messed up over ten blind dates before this.

If it weren’t for her good looks, probably no one would bother introducing anyone to her anymore.

Li Lan continued, “Did you hear me? Just look at that smug look on Old Li’s face. I don’t see what’s so great about their second son. Just because he’s a bit better at studying?”

If Lu Zhi ended up marrying someone not as good as Li’s second son, the Li family would be over the moon about it.

Li Lan repeated, “Did you hear me?”

Lu Zhi replied, “Got it.”

….

Lu Zhi left the house with Li Lan. People in the courtyard greeted them as they passed.

Aunt Zhou stopped them to chat for a bit.

“Where are you two off to?”

“A blind date, of course. You don’t know? Our Lu Zhi’s a real beauty. She even graduated from high school. If her standards weren’t so high, there’d be a line of suitors at our door by now.”

“That’s true. I think she’s gotten even prettier lately.”

“Really makes you wonder who she takes after.”

Aunt Zhou also looked puzzled.

She said, “Your Lu Zhi—how come she looks even more radiant than before?”

Li Lan’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “You always know how to say nice things. Hasn’t she always looked this way?”

Inside the house, He Li craned her neck to look out and muttered, “So what if she’s pretty? My son wouldn’t want her. Can’t even do basic chores. What use is just being good-looking?”

….

Teahouse

This time, Lu Zhi’s blind date was a bit special. Both families had suggested meeting up several times, really hoping to become in-laws, but the meetings had never worked out.

Just a few days ago, Grandpa Zhou reached out to the Lu family again. When he found out that Lu Zhi was still single, he proposed the two children meet.

Lu Zhi remembered that in the novel, her blind date was described as quite an outstanding man. After she rejected him, Li Lan had gotten very angry.

Since she had arrived early, Lu Zhi waited for a while in the teahouse.

Blind dates were common there, which she actually found kind of fun.

It was quite entertaining.

Like the table next to her— the guy was so full of himself, he was already talking about how the girl should handle all the housework. The girl’s strained expression couldn’t have been more obvious.

“I’m usually very busy with work, so you’ll have to take care of the house.”

“I’m very frugal, so you’ll need to keep a record when you go grocery shopping.”

“…”

The matchmaker was already parched from talking and gulped down a whole glass of water. “Little Li is a really good guy. He has a stable job, good looks, his family owns a house, and you two would have your own room. He’s a rare catch—so many people are dying to be set up with him!”

Lu Zhi couldn’t help but take a sip of water herself. A rare catch?

Was this blind date of hers really all that?

The novel focused mainly on the male and female leads. Lu Zhi only appeared as a plot tool—sometimes to highlight the female lead, sometimes to show her unrequited love for the male lead, which pushed the main couple’s relationship forward.

As for her own blind date, the book barely even mentioned it.

If this so-called “rare catch” was the kind of guy she was set up with, then even if she went home and got scolded by the whole family, she still wouldn’t go through with it.

The matchmaker was still going on, but the girl had had enough. She stood up and said, “We’re not suitable. I’m also a formal worker—I have to go to work too. We’re both the same. Why should I be the one doing all the housework?”

Lu Zhi gave the girl a mental thumbs-up.

Exactly. That’s the right mindset when looking for a partner. Why should all the housework fall to the woman?

Lu Zhi nodded.

Then, a cold and magnetic voice rang out, “Hello, are you Comrade Lu Zhi?”

Lu Zhi looked up—and froze.

The man was tall and long-legged, with sharp features and a serious expression. But this face… no exaggeration, if someone said he was a top celebrity in her dreams, people would believe it.

They had agreed over the phone: Lu Zhi would wear a blue dress and meet at the teahouse at 10 a.m.

Lu Zhi said, “Hello, are you Comrade Zhou Cheng’an?”

Zhou Cheng’an nodded. “Yes, I’m Zhou Cheng’an.”

Their eyes met.

Zhou Cheng’an sat down. He had brought along a chubby little boy who sat quietly beside him, looking a bit shy.

Zhou Cheng’an hadn’t thought much about this blind date. He was just following his grandfather’s instructions to come and meet her.

Zhou Cheng’an said, “Let me introduce myself. I’m stationed on an island. If we end up together, you might have to follow me there or we’d be separated for long periods.”

An island? Sounds great—oysters, lobsters, swimming crabs!

Zhou Cheng’an continued, “This child is my younger brother. His name is Zhou Jun. He lives with me.”

Zhou Jun clutched his sleeve with his chubby fingers and looked up at Lu Zhi.

A little brother? So round and squishy—he looks fun!

Lu Zhi smiled, and it felt like even the ends of her hair were sweet.

Zhou Cheng’an’s fist clenched slightly. His ears turned a little red, though his expression didn’t change.

Remembering what he had overheard earlier when he walked in, Zhou Cheng’an added, “I can cook and do laundry. My brother is very well-behaved—he won’t cause you any trouble. I’ll also hand over all my salary and allowances.”

Zhou Jun looked pitiful, as if he knew he was a burden. “I can help carry water for your foot bath.”

Isn’t this better than the male lead?

And that face…

She had to go for it!

In the novel, when Li Lan found out she had rejected Zhou Cheng’an, she scolded her—clearly not without reason.

Lu Zhi still had one question she cared about: “Is the island far from here?”

Zhou Cheng’an replied, “Not far. It’s about an hour by car to the dock, then two hours by boat to the island.”

So roughly a three-hour journey.

Wait—that’s the same island where her second sister was stationed!

Lu Zhi said, “I agree, Comrade Zhou Cheng’an. What about you?”

Zhou Cheng’an seemed to want to find something in her eyes, but all he saw was bright, cheerful joy. No signs of regret or hesitation from a hasty decision.

After a few seconds of eye contact, Zhou Cheng’an said, “I’ll go back now and submit the marriage application.”

Lu Zhi: “Okay.”

Zhou Jun looked like he couldn’t believe it. His future sister-in-law didn’t mind having a burden like him around? She really just agreed to marry his brother?

Zhou Cheng’an said, “Comrade Lu Zhi, once I submit the marriage application, I’ll come to your home to propose next Monday.”

A formal proposal required gifts. In the meantime, after submitting the report, he’d go prepare everything.

Lu Zhi’s smile grew even brighter. “Okay.”

….

Lu Zhi got home just in time for lunch.

It was the weekend, so everyone in the Lu family was home.

Lu Zhi glanced at the food on the table: cabbage with glass noodles, stir-fried greens, and chili stir-fried pork.

All five members of the family looked at her: her parents, her eldest brother and sister-in-law, and her little niece.

The Lu family was doing decently well. Her parents, Li Lan and Lu Xiangde, worked in a garment factory logistics department and as a Level 6 lathe worker at a steel mill, respectively.

Her older brother was an apprentice at the steel mill, and her sister-in-law was a temp worker at a sugar factory.

Lu Zhi had graduated from high school but hadn’t found a job yet.

The little niece was still in kindergarten.

Hungry, Lu Zhi sat down and grabbed a coarse-grain steamed bun made with mixed flour.

Li Lan said, “Don’t eat yet—how did it go?”

Lu Zhi replied, “He’s gone back to submit the marriage application.”

The family exchanged glances.

Li Lan twitched her mouth. Her daughter really was something else. Just a few days ago, she’d messed up a blind date, and now she was going straight to filing a marriage report?

Lu Xiangde said, “You two… isn’t this a bit too fast?”

Lu Zhi said, “I think he’s pretty good.”

He was pretty good.

Good job, good looks. Sure, he had a little brother, but the kid seemed very well-behaved.

Lu Zhi explained what had happened. Li Lan nearly clapped in delight.

Li Lan exclaimed, “This is fate! It’s what they call ‘a thousand miles apart but destined to meet!’ You two are perfect together. You don’t like doing housework? He can do housework. You don’t have a job? He can earn money. You like kids? He’s got a younger brother! And he’s stationed on the same island your second sister is on. She can take care of you! It’s too perfect!”

Of course, that was assuming the place wasn’t too far. If it were, the Lu family wouldn’t have agreed.

No one in the family had any objections to what Li Lan said.

Exactly—this marriage application was filed beautifully!

Li Lan asked, “Did he say when he’ll come over to propose?”

Lu Zhi said, “After he submits the marriage application. Monday.”

Li Lan: “Good, good, good! If he’s coming to propose, we have to start preparing your dowry. And we need to call your second sister too.”

Lu Zhi nodded. No objections.

Lu Xiangde said, “Alright, let’s not just sit here. Time to eat.”

Li Lan had a few bites and then put down her chopsticks and went outside.

Seeing her mother-in-law leave, Lu Zhi’s sister-in-law quickly ate a few more bites and followed her out, looking full of energy and purpose.

Lu Xiangde chuckled along.

Now, at last, their Lu Zhi wouldn’t have to be talked about by the courtyard neighbors anymore. He really didn’t like hearing that kind of thing.

Li Lan came back with Lu Zhi’s sister-in-law in tow. “Our little son-in-law, he’s a deputy regiment commander, right?”

Lu Xiangde replied, “Yes. They say he’s young and promising.”

Li Lan added, “Exactly—young and promising. Otherwise, how could he be our son-in-law?”

Lu Zhi’s cheeks flushed slightly. She still felt a little embarrassed.