Qiao Yu looked at the stream before her, her heart leaping with joy. Could this be the Spirit Spring mentioned in the novel?
Her golden finger was truly abundant—the Spatial Dimension even came with its own Spirit Spring.
Qiao Yu dashed back to the house, fetched a cup, and scooped up half a cup of the spring water.
The water was cool, sweet, and refreshing, with a pure taste upon entering her mouth.
After just one sip, Qiao Yu felt her entire body relax—her back no longer ached, her legs no longer hurt, and even the numbness in her buttocks vanished.
How miraculous!
As if discovering a new world, Qiao Yu had just finished drinking the Spirit Spring when a knock sounded from outside the Spatial Dimension.
“Xiao Yu, come out for dinner!” It was Mother Gu’s voice.
Qiao Yu hurriedly exited the Spatial Dimension. She had forgotten to lock the door and was afraid Mother Gu might suddenly open it.
Fortunately, Mother Gu respected her privacy and only knocked.
Qiao Yu quickly braided her hair into a plait in front of the mirror, straightened her skirt, and opened the door to step out.
As soon as she left the room, the aroma of food wafted toward her, stirring the hunger in her stomach.
During the past two days on the train, she had only eaten steamed buns and pancakes stored in the Spatial Dimension. How she missed a warm, hearty meal!
Just as Qiao Yu was about to walk toward Mother Gu, a fair-faced, slender girl blocked her path.
“You… are Shao Yuan’s fiancée?”
The girl stared intently at her, her gaze making Qiao Yu feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
“Yes, I am. And you are?”
Hearing Qiao Yu acknowledge her status as the fiancée, the girl unconsciously clenched her fingers. She lifted her chin and said, “I’m Shao Yuan’s sister, Cuicui.”
Qiao Yu carefully recalled the plot of the original book. Gu Shaoyuan was the eldest in his family, and he did have a younger sister, but her name didn’t seem to be Cuicui.
Perhaps it was a nickname.
Qiao Yu smiled politely. “Cuicui, nice to meet you.”
In Liu Cuicui’s eyes, Qiao Yu’s smile felt like a provocation.
Everyone on the island who knew her was aware that she had feelings for Gu Shaoyuan. Having been reborn, she had sworn to win him over in this lifetime.
In her previous life, she had foolishly trusted her unfaithful husband, abandoning everything to follow him off the island.
In the end, she was utterly deceived and died tragically on the streets.
In her past life, Gu Shaoyuan had remained unmarried his entire life—surely he had been waiting for her return. After all, they had known each other since childhood and shared a bond.
Liu Cuicui was confident of this.
In her eyes, Gu Shaoyuan was the most secure and charismatic man.
As a regiment-level cadre, marrying him would guarantee a life free from worries, without the fear of dying miserably on the streets.
Liu Cuicui had assumed this life would mirror her previous one—that Gu Shaoyuan would wait for years without the Qiao family’s eldest daughter coming to fulfill the marriage arrangement, eventually canceling the engagement.
She believed she could win Gu Shaoyuan’s heart, persuade him to marry her, and live happily ever after.
Who could have predicted the sudden appearance of Qiao Yu?
When Liu Cuicui heard Mother Gu joyfully announce that Qiao Yu had arrived on the island and was to marry Gu Shaoyuan, she gritted her teeth in frustration.
So what if the fiancée had arrived? Shao Yuan hadn’t yet submitted the marriage report to his superiors. She still had time to intervene.
Besides, even if they did marry, they could always divorce.
Seeing Qiao Yu and Liu Cuicui standing together in an awkward silence, Mother Gu quickly walked over.
“Cuicui, go to the kitchen and bring out the dishes first.”
Mother Gu noticed Qiao Yu’s confusion and sent Liu Cuicui away before explaining, “Xiao Yu, that girl is Liu Cuicui, the daughter of a deceased comrade of Shao Yuan’s father. We took her in out of pity.”
Qiao Yu understood—so she wasn’t a biological sister.
But she could vaguely sense hostility from Liu Cuicui toward her. Why was that?
Mother Gu said, “Alright, go wash your hands. Shao Yuan will be back soon.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Qiao Yu’s vision suddenly darkened.
A tall figure appeared at the door, blocking the light streaming in.
Qiao Yu looked up and met Gu Shaoyuan’s deep, dark eyes.
They only held eye contact for two seconds before Qiao Yu awkwardly averted her gaze.
In her original world, she had been single her whole life and didn’t know how to interact with men. Seeing Gu Shaoyuan now, she felt inexplicably awkward.
Gu Shaoyuan stepped in front of her and asked in a low voice, “Still tired?”
When he brought her back, he noticed she walked slowly and was breathing heavily. At first, he thought it was just the young lady being delicate.
But upon reflection, the journey by train and boat would exhaust anyone.
Qiao Yu didn’t expect him to ask her directly. She nodded and said, “I’m fine.”
She had drunk from the Spirit Spring and now felt exceptionally energetic.
Gu Shaoyuan nodded and fell silent again, leaving the atmosphere awkward.
Mother Gu watched eagerly from the kitchen. Her usually taciturn son had actually initiated a conversation with Qiao Yu!
Qiao Yu truly was her chosen daughter-in-law!
Liu Cuicui bit her lip in frustration, carried the dishes out, and positioned herself between Gu Shaoyuan and Qiao Yu.
She smiled sweetly at Gu Shaoyuan and said, “Brother Shao Yuan, it’s time to eat.”
Gu Shaoyuan didn’t even glance at her. He walked straight to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and looked at Qiao Yu.
But Qiao Yu was already seated, her face filled with anticipation for the meal.
Gu Shaoyuan: “…”
Qiao Yu hadn’t expected the Gu family’s meals to be so lavish—they even had seafood.
There was fish and shrimp, all looking incredibly fresh.
Seeing Gu Shaoyuan still standing there, Mother Gu quickly nudged him to sit beside Qiao Yu.
Just as Qiao Yu was deciding what to eat first, Gu Shaoyuan sat down next to her.
She glanced at him and noticed some dirt on the sleeve of his clothes. Without thinking, she brushed it off.
Feeling the movement on his arm, Gu Shaoyuan quickly turned to look at her.
Qiao Yu explained, “There was some mud on your sleeve. I brushed it off.”
She was just a bit of a neat freak and couldn’t stand seeing dirt on his clothes.
Gu Shaoyuan’s face remained expressionless, but his throat felt dry.
This scene was witnessed by Gu Ling, the youngest daughter of the Gu family, who had just returned from fishing.
Frowning, she rushed in and immediately confronted Qiao Yu.
“So you’re the eldest daughter of the Qiao family from Shanghai? Hah, it took you years to come find my brother. Our family doesn’t want you!”
On her way back from the market, Gu Ling had heard everyone gossiping about how the fiancée of Commander Gu had come looking for him.
They said she was stunningly beautiful, a young woman more exquisite than anyone had ever seen.
Qiao Yu immediately understood the misunderstanding. The dark-skinned girl in front of her must be Gu Shaoyuan’s biological sister, Gu Ling.
She stood up and fearlessly met Gu Ling’s disdainful gaze.
“First, I’m not Qiao Xiang, the eldest daughter of the Qiao family. I’m Qiao Yu. Second, I’ve severed ties with the Qiao family. Whatever the Qiao family has done has nothing to do with me.”
“It wasn’t me who dragged your brother into marriage, so don’t pin the blame on me, thank you.”
Hearing that Qiao Yu had already severed ties with the Qiao family, Gu Shaoyuan’s dark eyes paused for a moment.
Mrs. Gu looked at Qiao Yu with a touch of pity in her eyes.
Ah, if she hadn’t been driven to desperation, how could a child ever cut off relations with her parents?
Gu Ling was left speechless by Qiao Yu’s retort. She hadn’t expected the person marrying her brother to have changed.
But it made no difference—Qiao Yu was also a young lady from Shanghai, surely incapable of doing any work.
Gu Ling still preferred the diligent and capable Cuicui as her sister-in-law.