In the dimly lit room, a delicate-featured, fair-skinned young girl lay on the bed, her cheeks faintly flushed.
After a few hurried breaths, a sharp scream suddenly escaped her lips. She jolted upright.
A thin layer of cold sweat covered Mu Wanwan’s forehead. She quickly scanned her surroundings. The furnishings in the room felt strangely familiar. When her gaze brushed past the calendar on the table, she froze in shock.
September 9th, 1975.
Wasn’t this the day she married Wen Lin in her previous life?
What was going on? Hadn’t she already died in a car accident?
Could it be… she had come back to life?
Heart pounding, Mu Wanwan leapt out of bed and rushed to the mirror by the door. The reflection staring back at her was both familiar and unfamiliar. Tears streamed down her face instantly.
In the mirror was a pretty, charming face. Her almond-shaped eyes were clear and bright, not yet filled with resentment or anger.
This was her at nineteen.
Afraid that everything before her was just a dream, she instinctively pinched her arm. A sharp pain followed.
It wasn’t a dream. She had truly been reborn—reborn to the year she was nineteen!
That was wonderful! Heaven had given her another chance. Mu Wanwan was overwhelmed with excitement, but then a thought struck her. The light in her eyes dimmed at once.
If she had been granted a second chance, why did it have to be today—the day she married Wen Lin? Even one day earlier would have been better.
Memories of her previous life made her heart ache.
The biggest mistake she had ever made was falling in love with Wen Lin.
Wen Lin came from an excellent family. He was educated and capable, and at a young age had joined the army and risen to the rank of regiment commander. Coupled with his cold, refined, handsome face, even his aloof temperament couldn’t stop countless young girls from secretly admiring him.
Mu Wanwan had been the one who fell the hardest.
Originally, a country girl like her would never have had the chance to cross paths with Wen Lin. But her grandfather had once saved Old Master Wen’s life. When her grandfather passed away, Old Master Wen came personally to attend the funeral, and Wen Lin accompanied him.
It was at that moment, when she first laid eyes on Wen Lin, that she became hopelessly captivated.
She cast aside all her restraint, doing everything she could to stay close to him, trailing behind him like a little tail. Even though he always treated her coldly, she accepted it willingly.
Grateful for the life-saving favor, Old Master Wen noticed her feelings and deliberately tried to matchmake the two of them, even forcing Wen Lin to marry her. And so, relying on that debt of gratitude, Mu Wanwan married into the Wen family.
But feelings cannot be forced.
She had believed that with enough effort, she could warm even Wen Lin’s icy heart. In the end, she had overestimated herself.
Wen Lin did have a warm side—but it was never meant for her. There was someone more important in his heart. During their three years of marriage, he repeatedly abandoned her for that woman. He had never even touched her, and their conversations were few and far between.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t tried to resist. But every outburst only earned her colder treatment from him. Thinking of it now, a self-mocking smile curled at her lips.
She laughed at her past self for being so foolish. She could have had a better life, yet wasted everything on a worthless man. In the end, she even died under a car in retaliation from Wen Lin’s enemy.
After losing her life once, she had finally woken up.
This time, she would stay far away from that dog of a man and cherish her life.
Just then, the bedroom door was suddenly pushed open. A tall figure walked in, and all the lights in the room were turned on.
Mu Wanwan looked up.
Wen Lin stood not far away in a neatly pressed military uniform. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs—even through his clothes, the firm lines of his muscles were apparent. At 186 centimeters tall, he exuded a cold, restrained aura.
His brows were sharp, his phoenix eyes long and slightly narrow, deep-set beneath defined brows. From the bridge of his nose to its tip was straight and prominent, and his thin lips were a faint reddish hue.
With looks like that, it was no wonder she had once lost her senses over him.
The little bride stared at him silently, unlike her usual lively self who would eagerly speak first. Wen Lin found it odd and unconsciously furrowed his brow.
But remembering that tonight was their wedding night, he assumed she was nervous. His heart softened slightly.
“The guests have all left,” he said gently. “Let’s get some rest.”
Under the lights, Mu Wanwan’s face looked rosy, her eyes bright and soft. Wen Lin felt a stir in his heart and stepped closer.
At that moment, loud crying erupted from outside the door.
“Wen Lin! Xiao Ru is having another episode—it’s worse than before. Hurry and come take a look!”
Upon hearing that, Wen Lin immediately turned and strode out. After opening the door, he paused, remembering to explain.
“Xiao Ru isn’t well. I promised her brother I’d take good care of her. Don’t overthink it. I’ll take her to the hospital and come back.”
Before Mu Wanwan could respond, he was already gone.
Watching his retreating figure, a trace of self-mockery appeared on her face.
Just like in her previous life.
On her wedding night back then, she had also been abandoned like this. He had said he would return. She had foolishly believed him and waited all night, but he never came back. Later she learned he had stayed at the hospital with Lin Huiru the entire night.
A wave of bitterness surged in her heart.
Yes. Lin Huiru had always been the most important person in Wen Lin’s heart. Whenever it concerned her, he would rush off immediately. Had she not been abandoned countless times before?
Now that she had been reborn, her feelings for Wen Lin were long dead.
It had taken her a lifetime to realize that his heart was a stone—impossible to warm.
In this life, she would never again tie her heart to him.
After clearing her mind, her emotions quickly settled. Left alone on her wedding night, she felt no sadness at all. After washing up, she lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
She slept soundly. Though she woke early, she felt refreshed.
After getting dressed and washing up, she went into the kitchen. There were plenty of ingredients. She immediately began kneading dough, planning to make steamed dumplings for breakfast along with vegetable and lean pork porridge.
Though she and Wen Lin lived separately, their house wasn’t far from the Wen family’s old residence—they were in the same compound. Mu Wanwan decided to make extra and send some to Old Master Wen.
In her previous life, as a country girl marrying into the prestigious Wen family, no one liked her. Only Old Master Wen had treated her kindly, loving her like a real granddaughter.
Sadly, he had passed away from illness a little over a year after her marriage. Even on his deathbed, he had worried most about her.
Thinking of this, her eyes grew moist. She wiped them quickly and began chopping the meat for the filling.
Before long, the steaming dumplings and porridge were ready. Mu Wanwan packed them into a basket and stepped out the door.