“Su Wanxing! What are you playing dead for? Get up immediately!”
“Do you really think that drinking a little pesticide will save you? I’m telling you, Su Wanxing, even if you actually die today, I’ll still deal with you properly and drag you through the Su family gates!”
The sharp voice made Su Wanxing slowly open her eyes.
“Ugh…”
The taste of pesticide surged violently in her throat. She bent over the edge of the bed, gagging.
“Still pretending!”
Stepmother Zhou Meijuan crossed her arms, her finger almost poking Su Wanxing’s forehead.
“You dare risk your life for that Xu boy?”
“The marriage is settled. You’re marrying for Qingqing—handing her over to Lu Chenyuan! He doesn’t care about our family’s current ‘capitalist’ disgrace; he’s willing to lend a hand, so you should be secretly happy!”
Lu Chenyuan?!
Su Wanxing shivered all over.
This familiar scene, these cruel words…
She had been reborn?
Back in 1975, Zhou Meijuan had forced her to marry Lu Chenyuan on behalf of her younger sister Su Xueqing, and she refused, drinking pesticide that day!
Scenes from her past life flashed violently before her eyes!
She, Su Wanxing, was the legitimate daughter of the Su family, Shanghai textile magnates.
Unfortunately, her stepmother Zhou Meijuan raised her to be a famously useless beauty in Shanghai—idle, ignorant of daily life, with a terrible temper.
Until the Su family was labeled “capitalist.”
It was that “mud-footed” officer Lu Chenyuan who extended a helping hand to restore the family’s honor.
The price? Marry the Su family daughter.
But Lu Chenyuan had a fearsome reputation—the “Living King of Hell” in the army.
Su Xueqing cried and resisted fiercely, refusing to marry.
So Zhou Meijuan turned her sights on the “useless” Su Wanxing.
At that time, Su Wanxing’s heart was still set on her sweet-talking boyfriend.
He encouraged her to commit suicide to protest the “feudal arranged marriage.” Foolishly, she drank the pesticide, failed to die, and was forcibly married to Lu Chenyuan anyway.
After the wedding, under her sister’s instigation, Su Wanxing despised Lu Chenyuan to the extreme and used the excuse of recuperation to go abroad.
Unexpectedly, she accidentally mastered superb surgical skills.
It wasn’t until Lu Chenyuan died from injuries and she returned for his funeral that she realized he was not the crude man her sister described.
On the contrary, he was gentle, meticulous, generous, and a powerful figure in the military industry!
He protected her from countless schemes, letting her live freely abroad.
No matter what others said, Lu Chenyuan only ever claimed Su Wanxing as his wife.
In that moment, Su Wanxing felt both her heart stir and regret.
But before she could grieve, she learned her parents’ deaths had been orchestrated by Zhou Meijuan and her lover!
Blinded by rage, Su Wanxing went alone to seek revenge, only to be killed in one strike by the prepared stepmother and her lover!
And now, she opened her eyes to this moment.
“Marrying into the Lu family is also your contribution to the Su family. Consider it your good fortune!”
“Don’t blame me or Qingqing for being ruthless—blame yourself for being useless all your life. You’ve failed at everything, and marrying Lu Chenyuan is already you overreaching.”
Zhou Meijuan spoke these words without a hint of guilt.
Yet she forgot—she had once been Su Wanxing’s mother’s foot-washing maid.
Zhou Meijuan’s intentions were far from pure. While Su Wanxing’s mother was pregnant, she seduced Su Wanxing’s father.
Once she became pregnant herself, she resigned and was maintained as a concubine by Su Wanxing’s father.
Su Wanxing’s mother passed away when she was five.
Within three months, Su Wanxing’s father brought Zhou Meijuan and a pair of dragon-and-phoenix twins into the Su household.
From then on, Su Wanxing was raised as a “waste” by Zhou Meijuan.
Meanwhile, Zhou Meijuan lavished attention on her own children.
Her son Su Yaozuo was plump and adored, receiving anything he wanted.
Her daughter Su Xueqing was trained in piano, ballet, painting, and French—cultivated to be the perfect young lady.
Su Xueqing’s talents secured her marriage to the vice-commander’s son.
Yet their father seemed blind to all this, ignoring Su Wanxing, often believing Zhou Meijuan’s family and framing Su Wanxing.
Su Wanxing clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.
The grudges from her past life—this time, she would reclaim them with interest!
No one would escape!
“All right, I’ll marry.”
Su Wanxing looked up, meeting Zhou Meijuan’s eyes.
“Wha… what?”
Zhou Meijuan was momentarily stunned.
“I said I… am… willing… to… marry… Lu… Chenyuan.”
Su Wanxing spoke each word clearly and deliberately.
Having failed Lu Chenyuan in her past life, this time she wanted to respond to his feelings sincerely.
Zhou Meijuan’s face changed instantly, warmly taking Su Wanxing’s hand: “That’s right! Why not just agree sooner?”
“Don’t worry, Aunt Zhou will prepare a dowry for you, making sure you’re well-fed and clothed while going to the northwest with the army.”
“No! I don’t agree—”
A sharp, almost breaking voice suddenly exploded!
Su Xueqing rushed in, flustered.
“Mom! You can’t let her marry! Lu Chenyuan is a great hero protecting the nation! Su Wanxing isn’t worthy of him!”
“Wh… what did you say?”
Zhou Meijuan couldn’t believe her ears.
An hour ago, Su Xueqing had insisted, “Even without Su Wanxing, I’d rather die than marry a mud-footed man!”
Now, how had she suddenly changed her mind?
Su Xueqing dragged Zhou Meijuan aside: “Mom, Lu Chenyuan is such a good man. Su Wanxing cannot take advantage of him.”
“But didn’t you say he was covered in blood, fierce like he had just eaten someone? How come…”
Zhou Meijuan even touched Su Xueqing’s forehead. Was the girl feverish?
Su Xueqing slapped her hand away: “Mom! I didn’t understand before and didn’t see Lu Chenyuan’s dedication to the country and his bright future! He’s an officer now and will be a commander one day! His prospects are limitless!”
“If Su Wanxing marries him, isn’t that ruining Lu Chenyuan? And bringing shame to our family!”
Zhou Meijuan was stunned by the complete 180-degree shift, but she heard “commander” loud and clear.
“Mom, I’ve realized! I’m willing to marry Lu Chenyuan!”
Su Xueqing was determined, almost crazed.
Fortunately, Su Xueqing had been reborn—there was still time to change things!
In her past life, though Su Xueqing married the vice-commander’s son, their good days were short-lived. Her father-in-law fell, and she was sent to the countryside.
Thanks to Lu Chenyuan, life wasn’t too harsh.
But this time, she understood Lu Chenyuan wasn’t a mud-footed man.
He was a prominent nobleman and a leading figure in the military industry—the future successor of a top commander!
Su Xueqing deeply regretted missing her chance. She had even tried to take advantage of Su Wanxing being abroad to pursue Lu Chenyuan, but he remained steadfast.
Su Xueqing went so far as to poison Lu Chenyuan’s water.
In the freezing winter, she deliberately wore thin clothes, tending to him.
Yet Lu Chenyuan, with sheer willpower, pushed her away and soaked himself in the village river for hours.
By accident, the laziest, poorest villager drank the hot water and slept with her.
Su Xueqing contracted an illness and ultimately died.
In the previous life, Lu Chenyuan remained loyal to his military marriage, staying single all his life.
This time, Su Xueqing was determined to make Lu Chenyuan realize she was far superior to Su Wanxing—a woman capable of making him happy!
Her eyes shone with arrogance and greed.
“I will marry Lu Chenyuan and become the future commander’s wife!”