Shu Ning had a dream.
The dream was vivid and real. In it, she was filled with anger, helplessness, and despair…
“Shu Ning, congratulations—you’re about to die! I came here mainly to thank you.”
“Thank you for earning so much money; thank you for raising my child.”
In the dream, Shu Ning stared in shock at the woman before her—her best friend, Zhu Qiulan. “Qiulan, what do you mean?”
“Shu Ning, aside from being beautiful and rich, you’re completely useless!” Zhu Qiulan, dressed in luxurious clothes and high heels, looked at her with cold, mocking eyes.
“Because once you die, your money will become my son’s. And my son’s money is naturally mine. Oh, and that child you picked up? He’s actually the child of Zhiping and me.”
Zhu Qiulan’s words struck Shu Ning like a thunderbolt.
She had treated her as her closest friend, yet this woman had been scheming against her marriage all along. Even the child she had adopted and loved to the core—was part of their plot!
“!!!” Shu Ning’s pupils shrank sharply as she rasped in fury, “Zhu Qiulan, how could you do this? Why would you do this?”
“Because I love Zhiping too. Back then, you were already engaged, yet you insisted on breaking it off and shamelessly marrying him! Back then, I felt just as resentful and furious as you do now!”
“Oh, right. When you had that car accident, Gu Zhao tried desperately to save you. He’s actually quite something. Even after you became a ruined woman, he was still willing to love you and marry you—he even risked his life for you.”
Shu Ning stared at Zhu Qiulan in shock as countless fragments flashed through her mind—all of them filled with Gu Zhao.
The car accident. Flames engulfing the vehicle. His eyes bloodshot as he frantically pulled at the car door before lifting her into his arms.
Then a loud explosion—the car burst. He threw himself over her, shielding her as the flames fell onto him. He was almost burned into charcoal.
“But what a pity—he discovered that your accident was also arranged by Zhiping and me. So, we had no choice but to let him die first.”
“How can you be so vicious?!” Shu Ning’s heart sank into despair, hatred surging endlessly.
But before she could do anything, Zhu Qiulan had already reached out and gently removed her oxygen mask…
Shu Ning instantly felt suffocated. She struggled to breathe, but like a fish stranded on dry land, she couldn’t draw in even a trace of air.
Darkness swallowed her whole, dragging her into an endless abyss.
She didn’t know how long she drifted in that darkness when suddenly, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist and, with unstoppable force, pulled her upward.
“What’s wrong with this kid Gu Zhao?”
“He drowned—just carry him upside down and run a few laps, isn’t that enough?”
“Why is he kissing her?”
“Ha—”
The surroundings were noisy, deafening.
As a warm breath entered her lungs, Shu Ning slowly regained consciousness.
Before she even opened her eyes, she felt a large hand pressing against her chest.
Instantly, fury surged within her. Betrayed and plotted against by Zhu Qiulan and Bai Zhiping, and now—even in death—someone dared to molest her?
Unbearable!
Driven by anger, she raised her hand and, guided by instinct, slapped the person pressing on her chest.
“…”
Gu Zhao was stunned by the blow.
“Gu Zhao, you hooligan! You actually kissed Shu Ning—and even touched her chest!” A familiar yet distant voice rang out by her ear.
Xin Wenyue?
“Educated Youth Xin, open your small eyes and look clearly. I’m saving Educated Youth Shu—can’t you understand that?” Gu Zhao said in a low voice.
“You’re clearly taking advantage of saving her to molest Shu Ning! Who undresses someone while saving them?” Xin Wenyue glared, righteously scolding. “If you were really saving her, why would Shu Ning hit you?”
“Exactly! You must have done something for her to hit you!”
Amid the noisy arguments, Shu Ning forced her eyes open.
The moment she did, she saw a strikingly handsome man with bronze skin. His nose was sharp, his eyes deep. Water dripped from his hair down his face. His clothes were soaked, his white shirt clinging tightly to his body, revealing the powerful lines of his muscles.
His face, weathered by wind and rain, now carried a hint of violent emotion.
The moment she saw him clearly, Shu Ning’s mind went blank—then instantly clear. Her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.
Gu Zhao!
The young Gu Zhao—spirited, wild, and fierce!
Joy!
Excitement!
“Shu Ning, you’re finally awake. Gu Zhao, you shameless hooligan! Taking advantage of saving her in broad daylight—what else did you touch?” Zhu Qiulan said with a trace of anger upon seeing Shu Ning open her eyes.
A cool autumn breeze swept past, making Shu Ning shiver.
The leaves by the riverbank were yellowing, and the shimmering river flowed quietly.
On the broken wall across the river, white-painted slogans read: “With the Chairman’s wave, I advance forward; in the vast world, I temper a red heart.”
Looking at Xin Wenyue, Zhu Qiulan, Gu Zhao, and the surrounding villagers, Shu Ning’s heart pounded wildly.
She was certain of one thing—
She had been reborn.
Reborn to the autumn after her second year in the countryside, to the moment she accidentally fell into the river and was rescued by Gu Zhao.
“Educated Youth Shu, don’t be afraid! Gu Zhao is the village bully—we know exactly what kind of person he is! Speak boldly!” The villagers echoed Xin Wenyue and Zhu Qiulan.
“Gu Zhao, look at how fierce you are—you’ve scared her so much she doesn’t even dare speak.”
Shu Ning’s anger flared.
How could they slander Gu Zhao like this?
He wasn’t being a hooligan—he was saving her!
She wanted to speak, but her throat felt tightly blocked, and not a single word came out.
Gu Zhao had been waiting for Shu Ning to explain for him. But instead of an explanation, he was met with her angry expression.
She was going to accuse him too!
What young man could endure such humiliation?
His eyes darkened as he stared at everyone, then he let out a cold laugh. “Fine. You’re right! I did want to take advantage of Educated Youth Shu! I’ve got my eye on her—what about it? I’ll go tell the team leader right now. I’ve already seen everything and touched everything—tomorrow I’ll marry her!”
“…” Hearing this, Shu Ning’s heart suddenly raced, leaving her momentarily dazed.
“Gu Zhao, you dare!” Xin Wenyue blocked his path.
“What is there that I wouldn’t dare?” Gu Zhao pushed through the crowd and walked away.
“Shu Ning, look!”
Shu Ning wanted to call out to him, to explain everything—but she still couldn’t make a sound. Her head spun, and she fainted again.
In her haze, she seemed to hear Gu Zhao’s indignant voice once more—
“That’s right! I was the one who saved her—and the one who kissed her!”
“Gu Zhao! Can’t you go a single day without causing trouble?”
Before he could go far, Gu Zhao was stopped by the team leader, Lei Zhenxing, who immediately began scolding him.
“You save someone, then save them—why act like a hooligan?!”
“I—”
“And you even said you’d marry Educated Youth Shu? Why don’t you take a look at yourself? The last hooligan is already in jail! Do you believe that I—”
“—will also send you to prison for some re-education?”