“Sis! Sis—help! Someone, please help! My sister fell into the water—save her!”
A young girl with two braided pigtails pointed toward the middle of the lake, screaming in panic.
There were already quite a few people by the shore—some doing laundry, some chatting, and a few boys playing nearby. Hearing her cries, everyone rushed over.
“Where? Who fell in?”
“Isn’t that Chunhua’s daughter? What happened? How did she fall in?”
“Quick! Someone go save her!”
The crowd grew chaotic, people pushing and shouting—but no one dared to jump in.
“It’s early spring, the water’s freezing! You could get seriously sick going in,” one woman muttered, pulling her scarf tighter.
“If a man jumps in, he might save her—but her reputation would be ruined.”
“She’s about to die—who cares about reputation?! Someone saves her already!”
Just then, a tall figure suddenly leapt into the lake, swimming quickly toward the struggling girl.
On the shore, the girl who had been calling for help curled her lips into a faint, satisfied smile. Watching the man reach her sister and carry her back, she excitedly called out:
“Uncles, please help pull them up when they reach the shore!”
Perfect. As long as that wretched girl was seen by a crowd of men when she came out of the water, her reputation would be completely ruined.
As the man brought the girl ashore and noticed the group of men waiting, he quickly removed his jacket and wrapped it around her before lifting her out.
Only then did everyone notice—he was a soldier, dressed in a navy uniform. Tall, broad-shouldered, nearly six feet three, with sharp, handsome features. His soaked shirt clung to his body, revealing a strong, well-built physique.
The women nearby couldn’t help but blush. Since when did someone this good-looking show up in their small town?
Meanwhile, the younger sister—who had been expecting a scandal—was stunned. Then jealousy crept in. Of all people, her sister had been saved by such a handsome young officer.
She hurried over and knelt beside her unconscious sister. “Sis, wake up! Sis!”
Seeing the girl wasn’t waking, the man stepped forward, crouched down, and began CPR.
“Who is that man? He’s so handsome… is he trying to save her?”
“Oh my—why is he pressing on her chest?”
“And… he kissed her?!”
As Liu Qingyue slowly regained consciousness, the chatter around her filled her ears.
The voices felt both familiar and strange, making her heart skip.
Seeing her awake, her younger sister Liu Wanwan said excitedly, “Sis, you’re finally awake! I was so scared—I thought I might lose you. You slipped and fell into the lake just now. This man saved you.”
Liu Qingyue stared at her sister’s young, innocent face—and the familiar words coming from her mouth.
Shock flooded her.
She had been reborn.
Back to thirty years ago.
At this moment, her special space hadn’t been stolen by her half-sister yet. She hadn’t followed the army to the island.
Her tragic life… hadn’t begun.
Memories of her past life surged up, and with them, a deep, uncontrollable hatred.
It had happened exactly like this before.
Nothing had changed—yet.
But after today, everything would.
It was as if an invisible hand had pushed her into a bottomless abyss, one she could never escape.
In her previous life, this same man had saved her—destroying her reputation in the process.
Although he offered to take responsibility, she had refused, because she loved her fiancé, Zhou Heshan.
Later, Liu Wanwan had pretended to help her… sending her to the island with the army.
After the two of them arrived on the island, her fiancé suddenly said her reputation was ruined and refused to marry her.
But since the marriage had already been arranged, he proposed replacing her—with her younger sister.
Unable to bear the humiliation, she tried to take her own life… but was saved.
As Liu Qingyue recalled these memories from her past life, she gripped her wrist tightly.
The sharp pain grounded her.
This was real.
Everything was real.
“Sister?”
Liu Wanwan’s voice came from beside her. She tugged at Liu Qingyue’s arm.
“This man saved you—we should properly thank him.”
She looked up at the man and said sweetly, “Thank you for saving my sister. We don’t know how to repay you…”
Before she could finish, Liu Qingyue snapped out of her thoughts.
“Sister, what’s wrong with you?” Liu Wanwan pressed.
“You should thank him properly—although we can’t repay him, we should at least—”
Her chatter continued, but Liu Qingyue had already suppressed the emotions in her heart.
She slowly stood up.
Liu Wanwan was about to keep talking—
Smack!
The sound rang out sharply.
Liu Qingyue slapped her across the face.
Liu Wanwan was completely stunned.
After a few seconds, she came back to her senses. She wanted to lash out—but with so many people watching, she covered her face and put on a pitiful expression.
“Sister… why did you hit me?”
“Why?”
Liu Qingyue let out a cold laugh, tightening the clothes wrapped around her as she stepped closer.
“Why did you push me into the lake?”
“What?!”
Everyone nearby—whether it was the man, the villagers, or Liu Wanwan—was shocked.
Then, realizing something dramatic was unfolding, the crowd stopped leaving.
They stayed to watch.
“When did I ever push you?” Liu Wanwan’s heart raced.
“I clearly felt someone shove me from behind. At that time, it was just the two of us. If it wasn’t you—what? Did I jump in myself?” Liu Qingyue said firmly.
The villagers exchanged looks.
It made sense.
In those days, a young woman’s reputation was everything. Once ruined, the consequences could be devastating.
No one would ruin their own name like that…
Could it really be that Liu Wanwan pushed her?
“I didn’t! Why would I do that?” Liu Wanwan waved her hands nervously.
If people spread this rumor, her reputation would be destroyed.
At the same time, anger flared inside her.
Liu Qingyue had never been this bold before—what changed?
Ever since she fell into the water, it was like she had become a completely different person.
“Do you like Zhou Heshan?”
Liu Qingyue didn’t give her a chance to respond. She pressed forward, one question after another.
“Are you involved with him?”
“I’ve noticed something off between you two for a while now. Did you want me gone so you could take my place and marry him? Is that why you pushed me into the lake?”
The villagers were stunned.
It felt like they had just heard a shocking secret explode right in front of them.