Wen Wan had been an avid reader since childhood. She had studied military affairs, navigation, and meteorology extensively.
She knew that, at this point in history, maritime surveillance relied mainly on patrol aircraft. Their coverage was limited, and they couldn’t monitor the seas around the clock. Even the most advanced radar and sonar technology used by the world’s leading nations had blind spots. Their accuracy was also insufficient—they could reliably detect aircraft carriers and large warships, but were nearly useless against small vessels.
As long as she avoided the main shipping lanes and military surveillance zones, she had a chance of making it back to China.
Wen Wan continued using the water from her spiritual spring to maintain her stamina while swimming the most energy-efficient freestyle stroke toward international waters, away from the military monitoring area.
The icy seawater battered her body, but she never dared stop.
Ten hours later, she finally swam beyond Country X’s military surveillance perimeter.
After confirming there was no one nearby, Wen Wan took a speedboat she had prepared earlier out of her storage space. She filled its fuel tank, set a course for Shanghai, China, and sped away.
To avoid possible patrols, she chose a remote route.
She hid during the day and traveled at full speed at night.
To avoid having her signal detected, she even turned off the radio.
She also used favorable ocean currents to conserve fuel.
When she was still about a hundred kilometers from Shanghai, she abandoned the boat and swam the remaining distance ashore.
The moment Wen Wan pushed open the gates of the Wen family estate, she was greeted by complete silence.
She had barely stepped into the courtyard when a piercing scream rang out.
“M-Miss?!”
The basin Xiao Tao was carrying crashed onto the ground with a loud clang, water splashing everywhere.
Her eyes widened as though she’d seen a ghost.
The next second, she rushed forward and threw her arms tightly around Wen Wan, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Miss! You’re alive! I thought… I thought you…”
Nearly suffocated by the embrace, Wen Wan patted her on the back helplessly.
“Xiao Tao… let go. I’m fine.”
Still sniffling, Xiao Tao released her.
Just as she was about to speak, her expression suddenly changed.
Lowering her voice urgently, she whispered,
“Miss, hide! The Red Armbands are inside—they’ve come to confiscate the house!”
Before she could finish, the front hall door creaked open.
Five or six men wearing red armbands swaggered outside.
The tall, skinny leader narrowed his eyes as he looked Wen Wan up and down before grinning lecherously.
“So this is the eldest daughter of the Wen family?”
“Just as the rumors said.”
“A real beauty.”
He stepped forward and reached out to touch her face.
“The Wen family has some very serious problems.”
“But… if Miss Wen is willing to ‘cooperate’ with our investigation…”
“I might be willing to show some leniency.”
Wen Wan’s eyes turned cold.
She was just about to act when an angry roar exploded behind her.
“Looking to die?!”
A figure charged forward like a tiger.
Crash!
His fist slammed squarely into the skinny man’s face.
The sickening crack of a broken nose echoed through the courtyard.
The man screamed as he stumbled backward.
When he looked up and saw his attacker, he nearly lost his soul.
Wen Zhuo stood there in military uniform, his face dark with fury.
His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked.
“Who gave you the courage to lay a hand on my sister?”
“I fought wars and guarded our borders…”
“…only to protect cockroaches like you?”
“Get out!”
The Red Armbands instantly lost all their bravado.
The skinny man clutched his bleeding nose.
“C-Comrade Wen… this is a misunderstanding!”
“We’re only carrying out routine inspections!”
Wen Zhuo responded by kicking another man squarely in the backside.
“If any of you dare set foot in the Wen family again…”
“I’ll personally make sure every one of you ends up in prison.”
The men fled in panic.
Once they were gone, Wen Youhe and Wen Lin hurried out from the inner rooms.
Wen Youhe seized Wen Wan’s hands, his eyes already red.
“Wan’er… where have you been for the past month?”
“We almost thought…”
Wen Wan gently patted her father’s hand reassuringly.
Pretending to be weak, she rubbed her temples.
“I… fell into the sea and lost consciousness.”
“A fisherman rescued me.”
“But I suffered a concussion and lost my memory.”
“I only recently remembered who I was.”
“The moment my memory returned, I came home.”
Wen Lin frowned deeply.
He clearly didn’t believe the explanation, but now wasn’t the time to question it.
“Wan’er, the situation isn’t good.”
“Although we cut our financial ties with the Xu family in time…”
“…the authorities are conducting strict investigations.”
“The Wen family is still under surveillance.”
“And…”
Wen Youhe sighed.
“That beast Xu Mingzhe used your disappearance as grounds to publish a divorce announcement in the newspapers.”
“Legally, you’re no longer his wife.”
Perfect.
Now she wouldn’t have to waste time arguing with the Xu family over a divorce.
But according to her previous life, Xu Mingzhe should have already fled overseas with the money by now.
She immediately looked up.
“Where are the Xu family now?”
“They’re still in Shanghai.”
Wen Lin answered with undisguised disgust.
“They’re surprisingly still safe.”
“No one has moved against them yet.”
Good.
As long as they hadn’t escaped…
She still had revenge to finish.
A cold light flashed across Wen Wan’s eyes as her fingertips lightly tapped the tabletop.
Wen Zhuo spoke gravely.
“Our family is under close watch now.”
“It’s impossible for all of us to relocate to Hong Kong anymore.”
“Wan’er…”
“I have a close friend stationed on the frontier.”
“Go find him.”
“He’ll take good care of you.”
“The conditions there are harsh, but at least you’ll be safe.”
Wen Wan frowned.
“Second Brother… I’m not leaving.”
“No!”
It was rare for Wen Zhuo to raise his voice at her.
“You have no idea how dangerous things have become!”
“The people backing the Xu family are looking for an excuse to destroy ours.”
“It’s far too dangerous for you to stay.”
Wen Youhe also tried to persuade her.
“Wan’er, listen to your second brother.”
“When this storm passes, we’ll bring you home.”
Wen Lin added,
“Wanwan, listen to us.”
“Go to the Northwest.”
“We’ll stay here and deal with everything.”
“When it’s over, you can come back.”
“You should leave as soon as possible.”
“The sooner, the better.”
“Preferably today.”
Pain pierced Wen Wan’s heart.
Even after being given a second chance at life…
She still couldn’t prevent her family from facing exile.
But perhaps joining the military region wasn’t such a bad thing.
The most important thing now was preserving herself.
If her father and eldest brother were eventually exiled like in her previous life, she’d at least be in a position to help them…
Instead of being as helpless as before.
Looking into her family’s worried eyes, she finally nodded.
“All right.”
“But before I leave…”
“I have something to give you.”
She returned to her room and took out the ledger she had hidden in her storage space.
It contained detailed records of the Xu family’s smuggling operation.
Handing it solemnly to Wen Zhuo, she said,
“Second Brother, this ledger documents Xu Mingzhe’s and Lin Xiaoman’s smuggling network.”
“It contains transaction records, money trails…”
“…and even the signatures of several key figures.”
Her eyes turned icy.
“As long as this is turned over to the authorities…”
“…the Xu family will never recover.”
Wen Zhuo flipped through several pages.
Shock flashed across his face.
“Don’t worry.”
“I’ll handle it.”
After confirming Wen Wan’s departure, Wen Lin spent the entire night calling in favors until he managed to secure her a train ticket for the following morning.
On the night before she left, Wen Wan returned to the Xu residence one last time.
Since she was leaving…
She ought to leave the Xu family with a parting gift.
Under the cover of darkness, she climbed over the wall and slipped inside.
The military harbor had yielded many useful things—including powerful sleeping drugs.
She quietly drugged every member of the Xu household.
Before long, everyone in the mansion had fallen into a deep sleep.
Wen Wan moved through the estate as though no one else existed.
She emptied every valuable possession into her storage space.
Antiques.
Calligraphy.
Paintings.
Gold and jewelry.
Even the premium rice and flour in the kitchen.
Not even a single needle remained.
As for Xu Zhiguo’s underground vault, whose door couldn’t be opened…
Wen Wan simply blew it open with explosives.
Everything inside disappeared into her storage space.
Next, she kicked open Xu Cuihua’s bedroom door.
The woman who had once insulted her daily for being unable to bear children was slumped over her desk, unconscious.
Grabbing her by the hair, Wen Wan dragged her like a dead dog into the cellar and threw her inside.
Then she sealed the heavy hatch tightly.
Looking coldly at Xu Cuihua curled up in the darkness, Wen Wan said,
“The cattle shed I lived in during my previous life was cold and miserable.”
“Now it’s your turn to experience it.”
Bang!
She slammed the cellar door shut and locked it.
After that, she entered Xu Mingli’s bedroom.
The woman who proudly called herself Shanghai’s number one socialite was sprawled unconscious across her dressing table.
Wen Wan took out a carving knife, dipped it in ink, and slowly carved a huge character meaning “Ugly” onto her face.
“Aren’t you proud of this face?”
“Didn’t you mock me for not being feminine?”
“Didn’t you always say I wasn’t worthy of marrying into the Xu family?”
She chuckled softly.
“Then spend the rest of your life wearing it.”
“Let’s see if anyone still dares marry you.”
Leaving the Xu residence, Wen Wan made one final stop at the post office.
She dropped an anonymous letter of accusation into the mailbox.
Inside were detailed records of Su Lan’s father’s bribery and corruption, along with copies of the incriminating ledger.
“Su Lan…”
“Your good days are only just coming to an end.”
As for Xu Zhiguo, Xu Mingzhe, and Lin Xiaoman…
Escaping overseas was no longer an option.
All that awaited them now…
…was prison.