Zhu Queqi had been reborn.
She woke up on a green train returning to her hometown.
When she closed her eyes, it was still cold winter, but when she opened them again, the scorching summer sun shone through.
The train was packed with people. The cramped carriages were filled to the brim, the hard seats were uncomfortable, and the narrow aisles were piled high with bulging luggage. Voices mingled with laughter and shouting, and the clucking and quacking of chickens, ducks, and geese added to the chaos.
Zhu Queqi sat among them, tugging at the hem of her shirt. The floral blouse felt rough but familiar. Her black pants made her legs look slender, and her two long, thick braids hung over her shoulders—this was twenty-year-old her, the self who had yet to endure all the hardships of her past life.
A slight rustling of clothing beside her made her turn her head, and her heart skipped a beat.
It was Gu Ansheng—her husband in her previous life.
The man was bent over arranging his luggage. His short hair framed a sharp, clean-profiled face, and his long, slender fingers moved with precision. He wore a white cotton shirt and black pants—the same youthful look she remembered.
“Attention, passengers. This train will soon arrive at Beijing Station. Please prepare to disembark…”
The announcement only added to the already chaotic scene. Most of the passengers on this train were returning young educated youths, finally going home after years of hardship.
“Queqi, stop staring and get ready to get off!” Gu Ansheng’s gentle voice came to her ears.
Zhu Queqi was still dazed. Before she could react, he gently took her wrist and pulled her up with ease. His palm was warm and firm, just as it had been countless times in their previous life. She instinctively wanted to pull away, but saw him pick up the single large bag they owned—the only luggage they brought back. She hadn’t touched it once; it had been entirely his responsibility. Realizing this, she let go of her resistance and carefully followed him toward the carriage exit.
Stepping out, the bustling noise of Beijing Station hit them. Crowds surged, the wheels of luggage clattered, relatives called out to each other, and street vendors shouted—everything blended into a lively, dizzying scene. Zhu Queqi stood frozen for a moment, taking it all in. A lump rose in her throat as she truly realized: she had really been reborn. She had really returned to the past.
After a few steps, they reached the bus station. Zhu Queqi’s mind was in turmoil, thoughts spinning wildly. Gu Ansheng originally intended to accompany her home, but she had firmly refused, leaving a trace of disappointment on his handsome face. She noticed it but had no energy to care—just being near him made it impossible to think clearly.
The bus arrived sooner than expected. Zhu Queqi turned to say goodbye, but he was already gone.
“Seriously, he just leaves without a word,” she muttered under her breath, quickly following the crowd and boarding the bus, heading straight for an empty seat by the window in the back.
No sooner had she sat than there was a knock on the window: “Knock! Knock! Knock!”
She turned her head. It was Gu Ansheng, standing outside, sweat streaming down his forehead and soaking the front of his shirt. He held a bottle of soybean milk, and when he saw her, his eyes lit up with a smile.
“Queqi, here!” he called, slightly out of breath, raising his voice so she could hear. “You haven’t had anything to drink all the way. This is for you. Be careful on the road—I’ll come see you in a few days!” His sweat glistened, but all she could see was him.
She took the bottle, feeling the cold plastic in her fingers, though her heart burned with something unnameable. She tugged at the corner of her mouth and softly said, “You take care too.”
The bus began to move, and Zhu Queqi watched Gu Ansheng standing there, still staring after her, until his figure grew small and finally disappeared into the crowd.
She had told herself she needed to think about her new life, but the bus jolted, and sleepiness overcame her. Leaning against the window, she drifted off, bringing with her the memories long buried in her heart.
In her previous life, she and Gu Ansheng had been forced to wait over two years to marry because his family didn’t approve. By the time they finally registered their marriage, she was already pregnant. Because of this, Gu Ansheng’s mother never let it go and constantly nagged, implying that Zhu Queqi was improper. But really, could she have gotten pregnant alone? No—Gu Ansheng had begged and coaxed her, afraid she wouldn’t hold out.
After the wedding, there had been no peace. Her mother-in-law constantly found ways to make life miserable, nitpicking over every little thing. The pregnancy was rough, leaving her weaker than before, waking at night to tears she couldn’t stop. Daylight brought only gloom, and she hardly spoke a word.
Gu Ansheng loved her dearly, always protecting her and yielding to her like he had at the youth settlement. But even his care couldn’t ease her suffering. Day after day, quarrels with her mother-in-law, seeing her harsh face, looking in the mirror at her own weary reflection—Zhu Queqi couldn’t take it anymore. She had endured enough of this life.
The breaking point came on an ordinary morning. Her mother-in-law started nagging outside her door because she hadn’t gotten up by eight. Words she had heard countless times before. But this time, she refused to endure it any longer.
That evening, after dinner, she and Gu Ansheng returned to their room. Zhu Queqi sat on the edge of the bed, calm and composed, as if asking a mundane question:
“Gu Ansheng, let’s separate.”
The man froze as if struck by lightning. Nearly six foot tall, he stood there, stunned, eyes wide and helpless, lips moving but no words coming out. Seeing him like this, an inexplicable anger surged in her chest. She grabbed the luggage she had packed earlier and strode toward the door.
Something tripped her, and she stumbled backward… Gu Ansheng’s startled shout echoed in her ears. Flailing, she tried to grab something but failed. Her head hit the floor, and her consciousness faded. The last thing she remembered was Gu Ansheng stumbling toward her, eyes wide with horror…