Shen Niannian felt certain she must be dreaming.
Her body burned with fever, her mind swam, and everything felt heavy… as though something weighed upon her, pressing down until she could scarcely breathe.
Then a sharp, undeniable pain coursed through her and every muscle went taut. She tried to push the weight away, struggling instinctively and her foot connected with something solid. A low, muffled groan rang out a man’s voice. Deep, husky, and unexpectedly pleasant.
Yet everything felt terribly wrong. The memory of that pain struck her — and realization jolted her wide awake. Had she just… with someone…?!
She opened her eyes and found herself gazing upon an extraordinarily handsome face. A face she knew all too well. It was none other than Gu Yanzhi her cousin’s husband!
“AHHH!” Shen Niannian shrieked, shoving him away with all her might. “You what are you doing here?!”
Gu Yanzhi looked taken aback by her outburst. His dark, deep eyes darkened further for an instant before settling back into calm restraint.
“My apologies,” he said quietly. He rose quickly, pulled on his trousers, and gathered the quilt. “I shall sleep in the outer room.”
With that he turned and left. Shen Niannian stared at his retreating back, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs.
What on earth was happening? Why was she… with Gu Yanzhi? Wasn’t he supposed to be her cousin Shen Youyou’s husband?!
Her head throbbed. Only then did she truly take in the room around her. The furnishings were painfully simple yet the bed was draped in a crimson wedding quilt, the pillows embroidered with paired mandarin ducks. Bright red “double happiness” characters adorned the headboard and the worn wooden wardrobe. In the corner stood a chipped enamel washstand and basins…
She turned her head and saw a tattered calendar hanging on the wall.
“1979??”
Everything… could it mean…?
“What has happened to me?” Shen Niannian pressed trembling fingers to her forehead. “Is it possible… I have been reborn?”
But greater shock lay ahead. She stepped out into the outer room and found Gu Yanzhi. Driven by overwhelming curiosity, she blurted out:
“Where is Wang Jiangang? Where is my husband Wang Jiangang?!”
Gu Yanzhi, who had just lain down on the narrow cot, sat bolt upright, frowning deeply.
“Niannian? What is wrong with you? Are you confused? Wang Jiangang is your cousin Shen Youyou’s husband!”
“What?!” Shen Niannian’s head spun. “Then… we…?”
“Today is our wedding day,” Gu Yanzhi said, his voice faltering. His brows drew together in concern. He reached out and touched her forehead gently. “You… don’t you remember?”
He fell silent. She felt no fever that much was clear.
The truth struck her like a thunderbolt. Every emotion swirled together shock, bewilderment, exhilaration…
Wait. Shen Niannian’s mind cleared instantly.
If she had truly returned to 1979… she was not supposed to be marrying Gu Yanzhi!
She studied him closely. A straight, noble nose, firm lips, brows like drawn swords, and a profile so handsome it seemed carved to perfection.
In her past life she had seen him only a handful of times. A career soldier, he was rarely home. The family had also taken in two children his late sister’s. Originally, the matchmaker had proposed Gu Yanzhi for her only for Shen Youyou to snatch the marriage away. Shen Niannian had instead wed Wang Jiangang, who worked at the scrap‑collection station.
Shen Youyou’s life had turned wretched. She went off to university, leaving Gu Yanzhi separated from her by vast distances. Later, he was wounded on duty and walked with a limp. His mother wept until she lost her sight; his father, rushing out in distress, fell into an open drain and was paralyzed. His elder brother suffered betrayal and disgrace. His younger sister was abandoned by her fiancé. The entire household fell to ruin and every time Shen Youyou returned home, she did nothing but complain.
Meanwhile, Shen Niannian and Wang Jiangang had seized the opening of the reform era. Through his connections at the scrap yard, they began buying discarded goods privately and reselling them to the station amassing a fortune. Eventually they founded their own company and rose to become prominent figures in the provincial capital. Yet Wang Jiangang had always loved another his “white moonlight.” They had shared no husband‑wife bond, no children. Shen Niannian cared nothing for him in return; they were more like brother and sister. When his beloved was left widowed and destitute, Shen Niannian herself suggested a quiet divorce so he might stand by the woman he truly loved.
And now… she had opened her eyes and the clock had turned all the way back.
Before her stood Gu Yanzhi. She mastered her expression, feigning the haze of intoxication. She blinked up at him with glassy, unfocused eyes.
“Gu… Gu Yanzhi… how is it… that I came to marry you?”
She swayed unsteadily, as though drunk. Gu Yanzhi reached out instinctively to steady her and Shen Niannian stumbled straight into his arms.
She was startled so close to a man, for the first time in two lifetimes. Her heart raced as if it might burst from her chest. She dared not move, lest he see through her act. Fortunately, she reeked of spirits she had clearly drunk deeply earlier that evening.
Gu Yanzhi suspected nothing. Holding her warm, soft form in his arms, and recalling how they had been interrupted, he felt heat rise in his chest. His handsome face flushed crimson.
“Matchmaker Wang — the neighbourhood director arranged this match. Your family agreed. Our two families settled the betrothal this past month. I… I returned from my post on marriage leave.”
Shen Niannian’s brow furrowed faintly. Her family had agreed to this match? Was it not meant for Shen Youyou?
Her mind reeled and her head throbbed painfully. She waved a hand weakly.
“Ah… yes. My head… it aches terribly.”
Seeing her clutching her head in distress, Gu Yanzhi’s concern deepened. He guided her gently back into the bedroom.
“You drank quite heavily today. Rest now. Fear not I shall sleep in the outer room. Call out should you need anything. One moment wait here.”
He turned and hurried away. Shen Niannian watched him go, her expression slowly smoothing. Until she understood what had changed this was best.
Then she remembered. Reborn and with it, that special gift she had discovered on her wedding day to Wang Jiangang. Her left hand possessed the power: whatever she touched, she could see its full history, value, and secrets.
With that gift she had quietly identified and recovered countless antiques building every ounce of their fortune. The company was hers in truth; Wang Jiangang had been nothing more than a husband in name alone. She held every share.
On impulse, she reached out with her left hand and touched the heavy wooden wardrobe beside her.
In an instant the entire wardrobe vanished in a flash!
Shen Niannian: “!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
What in the world…?