Chapter 1

Parallel world! Parallel world!! Parallel world!!!

Better lock your brain in a safe first—then you can enjoy the story with peace of mind…

When Lin Tingwan first woke up, her head was spinning and foggy. Then she heard faint sobbing coming from outside the room.

“Our family’s about to be sent down to the countryside. Is marrying an old man with three kids really the only option left for Wanwan?!”

“Wanwan is my daughter too! That Lu Yunzheng may have three kids, but at least he’s a regiment commander. It’s better for our daughter to follow him than to suffer in the cowshed with us!”

“But Lu Yunzheng can’t have children anymore! Our innocent daughter becoming a stepmother just like that… my heart can’t take it…”

Lin Tingwan forced herself to sit up, her head still clouded with dizziness.

She remembered: her company’s skincare product had just been approved for market. On the way to the celebration party, she had gotten into a car accident.

The sound of a massive explosion still echoed in her ears, the flames seemed to flash before her eyes.

So… she should be dead, right?

She looked around the room—it was filled with old-fashioned decor: dull gray walls, wooden lattice windows, a reddish-brown double-door wardrobe, and a large white porcelain basin. The overwhelming retro atmosphere reminded her of the time period the orphanage director used to talk about.

Hearing the voices outside, she intended to go take a look.

But just as her eyes passed over the mirror in front of the wardrobe, she suddenly froze.

The face staring back at her looked exactly like hers—when she was a teenager!

Just as she was still processing everything, a flood of memories suddenly surged into her mind like a movie reel playing in fast-forward.

The dull pain in her head made her complexion turn pale.

She didn’t know how much time passed before she finally regained her composure. Her eyes flickered with disbelief.

She had somehow… transmigrated—her soul had crossed over to the turbulent 1970s!

The original owner of this body had the same name as her—Lin Tingwan, 20 years old. Her father had once been a physics professor at Nancheng University, and her mother was also a professor—most likely the couple who had just been speaking outside.

Because her father’s research aligned with a military weapons project, he became a key researcher at the institute and was protected by senior officials. So even during the chaos caused by the “Gang of Four,” the family had avoided trouble.

But the good times didn’t last. As the situation worsened, the Lin family was eventually marked for re-education in the countryside.

Unwilling to let their daughter suffer, her parents came up with a plan: sever ties publicly and marry her off to a “good man,” hoping to preserve at least one child from hardship.

The original Lin Tingwan had overheard their plan. Faced with the prospect of losing her parents’ protection and marrying a “crippled old man with three kids,” she panicked—and died of fright.

Now, her soul had been replaced by the Lin Tingwan of the 21st century—a strong, successful woman on the verge of achieving financial freedom!

How she wished this were all just a dream…

She’d been so close to becoming filthy rich with the product launch. Now? She couldn’t even guarantee her own safety.

Still, considering the situation, Lin Tingwan took a deep breath and walked toward the door.

Since she was here, she might as well treat it as a life experience. If she could thrive in the hyper-competitive 21st century, she could definitely hold her ground in the ’70s.

It was already 1975. This era of chaos was about to end. Even if she followed her parents into the countryside, they’d likely be back soon.

She had come, after all—might as well make the most of this second chance Heaven had given her.

“Sweetheart, how are you feeling?”

Seeing her come out, the woman sitting in the chair rushed to help her. Despite her age, the woman had maintained her figure well. Her skin was smooth and fair. If it weren’t for the sorrow in her almond-shaped eyes, she could have passed for someone in her thirties.

The man beside her wore a Zhongshan suit that gave him a commanding presence. His square face and chiseled features looked stern at first glance, but the deep worry in his eyes revealed the storm in his heart.

“Mom, Dad, I’m fine now. Don’t worry.”

Father Lin looked at his daughter’s striking features and sighed. “Wanwan, don’t blame us. We’ve never met this Lu Yunzheng, but he’s a regiment commander—he must be a good man. You’ll see tomorrow. If we had the choice, we’d keep you by our side and take care of you for life. But things have changed. All we want now is for you to be safe.”

Mother Lin’s eyes welled up with tears. She patted her daughter’s hand and choked, “Sweetheart, you’ve heard the stories—people sent down to the countryside get humiliated, forced to kneel for criticism, and work themselves to death. And you, such a pretty girl, if…”

She couldn’t even finish the sentence. Just imagining her daughter being humiliated or harmed tore her heart to pieces.

They only had this one daughter. The trouble they were in now had been brought upon her because of their backgrounds. They couldn’t protect her anymore—only try to find her a way out. Even if they were sent away, they’d be at peace if they knew she was safe.

Looking at the love and pain in their eyes, Lin Tingwan truly felt the depth of their care.

After a long pause, she finally said, “Mom, Dad—I’ll go on the blind date. But if Lu Yunzheng isn’t someone I like, I’d rather go to the countryside and suffer with you than stay behind and be someone’s stepmother and servant.”

She had read enough about this era to know what she might face. Life for those sent down was filled with hardship and danger. No wonder the original owner had died from the shock.

And her appearance—too beautiful by the standards of the time—would only bring her more trouble.

But if Lu Yunzheng passed her standards, staying behind could give her time to find her footing. If things went well, she might even be able to pull some strings and secretly send things to her parents in the countryside.

But all that depended on whether Lu Yunzheng was worth it.

Her parents didn’t know she had thought so far ahead. Seeing her finally agree, a weight lifted from their hearts.

Mother Lin, now smiling through her tears, urged, “Then get some rest. Tomorrow morning your dad and I will take you to buy some new clothes, and then we’ll go meet Lu Yunzheng at noon!”