CHAPTER 2:  Awakening

As they drew nearer, Su Yuan stood up and stepped outside to greet them.

Her features were refined, her bearing elegant. Dressed in a green military uniform, she was noble and dazzling.

The first moment Zhao Xiaoxue saw her, a surge of jealousy and envy welled up inside.

Those emotions were the residue of her past life. Even after being reborn, she could not erase them.

Thinking of how she was the true daughter of the Su family, Zhao Xiaoxue straightened her back, lifted her chin in a small, polite smile, and took the initiative to greet her. “Yuan Yuan, hello~”

“Hello,” Su Yuan replied with a polite smile.

It was a perfectly ordinary exchange, but in Zhao Xiaoxue’s eyes, it seemed pretentious — just like in her previous life. She hated it.

Her eyes turned slightly as she played a little trick. “You’re still so beautiful. Every time I see you, I think of a lotus flower in the water — so pure and flawless.”

Su Yuan didn’t know the modern, online meaning of “white lotus,” but having grown up under Fu Mobai’s influence, she had learned to read subtle expressions. Her instinct told her this was no compliment — there was malice hidden in it.

When faced with malice, Su Yuan had always met it head-on. So, mimicking the other’s smile, she replied sincerely, “You look quite like a lotus yourself — standing there so gracefully, you’re very beautiful.”

Sure enough, as she expected, Zhao Xiaoxue’s expression darkened at once.

Zhang Lanjun only thought they were exchanging compliments. Seeing them getting along, her heart filled with joy.

Her smile grew even brighter. “Yuan Yuan, from now on, Xiaoxue is your younger sister. You two must help each other and get along. If you have any problems, come to Mom, understand?”

Zhao Xiaoxue nodded obediently, and Su Yuan had no objection.

The three of them walked into the main room. Zhang Lanjun set the luggage aside, then picked up a fruit plate and set it before Zhao Xiaoxue, her face full of affection. “You must be hungry after the long trip. Have a piece of candy to tide you over — there’s White Rabbit and liquor-filled chocolates, all prepared just for you.”

As someone reborn, Zhao Xiaoxue didn’t care for such things, but she still accepted them with a sweet smile.

Peeling a piece of milk candy, she popped it into Zhang Lanjun’s mouth, making the older woman beam with delight.

Guessing they must have plenty to talk about, Su Yuan excused herself to go to the restroom.

Watching her leave, Zhao Xiaoxue secretly felt smug, though her expression carried a hint of worry. “Mom, we were chatting so happily… do you think my sister will be upset?”

Zhang Lanjun was stunned for a moment before quickly denying it. “Of course not. Your sister knows you’ve suffered a lot. She’s not a petty person.”

Though she said so, she couldn’t help wondering — was Su Yuan’s aloofness the reason her real daughter seemed so cautious?

To put her mind at ease, she made a decision without consulting anyone, bringing Zhao Xiaoxue upstairs to an empty room.

It was the room of the Su family’s third son, who was serving in the army in another province. Unmarried, he wouldn’t be back anytime soon.

The room was spacious and bright, with excellent sunlight. Zhao Xiaoxue looked around, clearly very satisfied.

“Mom, you’re so good to me~ Thank you!”

Zhang Lanjun waved it off, saying that as long as she was happy, she could have anything she wanted.

Hearing such a promise, Zhao Xiaoxue’s eyes curved in a smile, already thinking about what else she might ask for in the future.

…

By evening, the Su family members returned from work one after another.

The eldest, Su Aimin, worked at a government office. He had been married for two years, and his wife was currently pregnant.

The second, Su Aijun, was a technician who had married only six months ago.

Calling them into the kitchen, Zhang Lanjun began by scolding them.

“What’s wrong with you two? You knew your sister was moving in today. Why didn’t you come home early?”

Su Aimin frowned, impatience clear in his eyes. “Mom, there was a leadership inspection at work — no one could leave early. Didn’t I already tell you? You’re making a big deal out of nothing. Is it really necessary?”

Zhang Lanjun felt a jolt of anger but didn’t dare provoke her hot-tempered eldest. Instead, she turned her frustration on her honest second son. “And you, why are you back so late?”

Scratching his nose, Su Aijun answered truthfully, “My father-in-law needed something, so I went over. That’s why I was delayed.”

It was only right to help in-laws. Though reluctant, Zhang Lanjun didn’t press further.

Because neither son had come home in time, the rooster hadn’t been slaughtered. The “chicken and mushroom stew” turned into “potatoes and beans.” The army cafeteria was already closed, and it was too late to buy pork.

At dinner, Zhao Xiaoxue was not pleased with a table of vegetarian dishes, but she couldn’t show it on her face.

She noticed Su Yuan sitting to Zhang Lanjun’s right, and immediately put on a pitiful look. “Mom, can I sit next to you?”

Everyone froze for a moment — in the past twenty years, there had never been such a spoiled person in the family. It was a bit hard to get used to.

Su Aijun, sitting on the left, was the first to react. He got up to give her his seat.

But Zhao Xiaoxue didn’t move, still gazing pitifully at Zhang Lanjun. That look melted the older woman’s heart, and she quickly switched places with her eldest daughter-in-law so she could sit right beside Zhao Xiaoxue.

Satisfied, Zhao Xiaoxue finally relaxed.

Su Aimin, however, felt distressed seeing his pregnant wife moved around like that. He took an instant dislike to the new “little sister” and kept silent throughout the meal — until he heard that the third son’s room had been taken over.

“What do you mean by that? She’s going to stay in Old Third’s room?!”

Zhang Lanjun was startled by the shout and quickly patted her chest. “Why are you yelling? What’s wrong with letting your sister stay in the room?”

“Mom, what right do you have to give my room to someone else? Did you even ask for my permission?”

Su Aimin had already discussed with Old Third that they would swap rooms before the baby arrived. He never expected a long-lost sister to suddenly appear and take over the room he had his eye on.

He had a hot temper. Now his eyes were glaring wide, his face fierce.

Zhang Lanjun feared him the most. She glanced around instinctively — Father Su wasn’t home — and in the end could only turn to Su Yuan for help.

“Talk to your eldest brother. Who fights over things with their own sister?”

Su Yuan had just finished eating and was long used to the constant bickering in this house. She was about to speak when Su Aimin snapped back sharply, “Am I the one fighting her over something? Why don’t you think about your grandson and granddaughter? If Dad were home, he’d never agree to what you’re doing!”

The air between them was thick with gunpowder. Zhang Lanjun was nearly in tears, unable to understand how her eldest son could be so cold to family.

Xiao Xue had suffered so much — why couldn’t he just let her have it?

In the past, Su Yuan would have gone over to comfort her mother, but now, her position was awkward. With Zhao Xiaoxue openly hostile toward her, she hesitated and didn’t move.

Her sister-in-law watched from the side, hoping her husband would make an even bigger scene, and didn’t try to intervene.

Zhao Xiaoxue didn’t lift a finger either. She liked that room and was determined to have it.

In the end, the farce concluded with Zhang Lanjun crying, making a scene, and threatening to hang herself until Su Aimin was forced to give in.

That night, many in the house lay awake.

Su Yuan, exhausted from the day, fell asleep early — and dreamed a long, strange dream. In it, Zhao Xiaoxue was the heroine of a novel, kind-hearted and beloved by all, while she herself was the vicious supporting character, constantly scheming, and ending in a tragic downfall.

Before dawn, Su Yuan woke up in anger.

She thought that while she wasn’t the most saintly person, she certainly wasn’t wicked. How could the novel’s author write her like that, out of nowhere? Utter nonsense!

Thankfully, it was just a dream.

At that moment, the morning bugle sounded outside.

The Su family began to stir. Zhang Lanjun knocked on Su Yuan’s door and said gently, “Mom’s going to the park to exercise. Xiao Xue wakes up late — later, take her to the canteen for breakfast, alright?”

Inside the door, Su Yuan froze. This exact scene had appeared in her dream last night…

Which meant… everything in the dream would happen in real life?

She was completely stunned.

When no answer came, Zhang Lanjun knocked again and called out, “Are you awake? Why aren’t you answering?”

“Oh… alright, I got it.”

Snapping out of her shock, Su Yuan quickly composed herself and stepped out of the room. She knew that if her mother went out to exercise today, she would twist her ankle, so she suggested, “Mom, maybe you shouldn’t go out today. Why don’t you come to the canteen with us instead?”

Still upset from the night before, Zhang Lanjun’s gaze turned shadowed. “Yuan Yuan, tell me the truth — do you dislike Xiao Xue too? Is that why you don’t want to take her to the canteen?”

“…”

“Xiao Xue grew up in the countryside and suffered a lot, unlike you — by a twist of fate, you were raised by my side, living a life sweeter than honey. Can’t you put yourself in her shoes and treat her better?”

The more she spoke, the more worked up she became, her eyes brimming with tears, resentment simmering beneath her words.

Su Yuan looked at her, her throat tight. In a hoarse voice, she said, “Mom, have you ever thought that Zhao Xiaoxue’s adoptive parents are not my biological parents? Which means there was never any possibility of us being switched at birth. So how did I end up here with you? All these years, maybe my real parents have been looking for me. Even if I was raised in a honey jar, I don’t think they’d want to lose me. And whose fault is all this? I’m not a sinner, and I don’t dislike Zhao Xiaoxue. If you’re worried she’ll feel wronged, I can move out right away — I can even change my surname.”