“Lin Ruochu, just die already.”
“Now that Xiaoting is grown up and married, and Yichen has retired, it’s finally time for us to enjoy life. That family doesn’t need you anymore. From now on, I’ll take care of them in your place.”
“I really should thank you. For all these years, you’ve raised my son and taken care of Yichen for me. But now, we don’t need you anymore.”
Standing beside the hospital bed, Lin Ruochu’s closest friend reached out and pulled off her oxygen mask with her own hands.
She died.
She was only fifty-two years old.
Officially, she died of illness.
But in truth…
She had been driven to death by heartbreak and betrayal.
Yet somehow, she wasn’t entirely gone. She could still hear every word spoken around her.
Xia Lin turned to Lu Yichen and smiled.
“The woman who stood between us for more than thirty years is finally dead. Now we can finally be together openly.”
Xia Lin.
Her best friend.
Lin Ruochu had been born into a farming family. For generations, her family had been honest, hardworking peasants. Xia Lin, on the other hand, had been an educated youth sent down from the city to their production brigade during the “Down to the Countryside” movement.
Xia Lin couldn’t handle farm work, so Lin Ruochu had helped her.
Later, when Xia Lin mysteriously became pregnant, it was Lin Ruochu who covered for her. She had even raised Xia Lin’s son as if he were her own.
And now…
The very woman she had treated like a sister had personally sent her to her death.
Without sparing the dying Lin Ruochu a single glance, Lu Yichen wrapped Xia Lin tightly in his arms.
“Yes,” he said softly. “We’ve finally made it. I’ve waited decades for this day.”
Just then, the hospital room door opened.
Lin Ruochu heard her son’s voice.
She desperately wanted to call for help, but not a sound would leave her lips.
“Dad, Mom, let’s go home. Hospitals are such unlucky places. If Lin Ruochu is dead, then she’s dead. If she hadn’t occupied Dad all these years, our family would’ve been reunited long ago.”
The “Mom” he called…
Was Xia Lin.
Only then did Lin Ruochu realize the truth.
They were the real family.
She had merely been the obstacle standing in the way of their happiness.
She had worked herself to the bone all her life—serving her husband, caring for her aging in-laws, and raising the son she loved with all her heart.
Yet none of them had ever truly belonged to her.
Hatred consumed her.
So did regret.
Her entire life…
Had been nothing more than a cruel joke.
The next moment, she felt something strange.
The pain that had tormented her before death was gone.
When she opened her eyes again, the first person she saw was Fu Tingshi, lying beside her.
She looked down.
She was wearing a bright red wedding dress.
It was the very same dress she’d worn on the day she and Lu Yichen were supposed to hold their wedding banquet—a banquet she had never actually attended.
That day, for reasons she’d never understood, she had suddenly lost consciousness.
When she woke up, Lu Yichen had caught her in bed with Fu Tingshi.
Back then, to protect her reputation, Fu Tingshi had immediately admitted that he had forced himself on her. He’d been beaten until one of his legs was broken before being sent to a labor farm for political reeducation.
Looking back now…
It had probably all been Lu Yichen’s scheme.
Not only had he eliminated Fu Tingshi, a far more capable rival, but he had also used the incident to keep Lin Ruochu under his control for the rest of her life.
At the time, she had believed Fu Tingshi was the one who had ruined her.
She had hated him with every fiber of her being.
She had watched without saying a word as he was sent away.
But this time…
She would never let Lu Yichen get his way again.
Lin Ruochu grabbed Fu Tingshi by the shoulders and shook him hard.
“Fu Tingshi! Wake up! Wake up!”
Startled awake, Fu Tingshi blinked groggily.
The moment he saw Lin Ruochu beside him, all traces of sleep vanished.
“What happened?” he asked in alarm. “I didn’t… do anything to you, did I?”
He and Lu Yichen were comrades-in-arms.
He had only come to attend Lu Yichen’s wedding.
Yet somehow, he had ended up in bed with the groom’s bride.
There wasn’t time to explain everything.
“Lu Yichen drugged both of us,” Lin Ruochu said quickly. “You have to leave now. If anyone finds us together, we’ll never be able to clear our names.”
Fu Tingshi’s mind buzzed with confusion.
Even so, he knew she was right.
If anyone saw them now, no explanation would matter.
“I’ll take responsibility for this,” he said firmly.
Without another word, he grabbed his jacket from the bed, climbed through the window, and disappeared as fast as he could.
Once he was gone, Lin Ruochu opened the door.
Outside…
Another performance was already underway.
In her previous life, because she had fainted, Xia Lin had taken her place as the bride at the wedding banquet.
After everything that happened, Lin Ruochu had even been grateful to Xia Lin for entertaining the guests on her behalf.
Looking back now…
She had truly been a fool—sold out by others while happily helping them count the money.
The banquet hall was lively.
Dressed in a bride’s toast outfit, Xia Lin stood beside Lu Yichen, looking every bit like the bride of the day.
Straightening her wedding gown, Lin Ruochu strode directly into the banquet.
“Oh? Since when did the two of you get married?” she said loudly. “Xia Lin, you’re my best friend. The least I can do is come and offer my congratulations.”
The bustling crowd instantly fell silent.
Everyone knew today’s bride was supposed to be Lin Ruochu.
The moment Xia Lin saw her, her face changed.
Shouldn’t Lin Ruochu still be in the room with Fu Tingshi?
Forcing a smile, Xia Lin spoke first.
“Ruochu, you’ve misunderstood. Weren’t you feeling unwell and resting? I was only helping you. Please don’t be angry.”
“Helping me?” Lin Ruochu laughed mockingly.
“So I should thank you for becoming the bride in my place? Should I also let you spend the wedding night for me? Better yet, why don’t I just give you the groom too?”
Xia Lin’s face immediately turned pale.
She could feel everyone’s eyes on her.
Clutching Lu Yichen’s arm tightly, tears welled in her eyes.
“I just thought Brother Lu would look awkward greeting guests by himself. I never imagined you’d be so upset. It’s all my fault. I’ll go change out of these clothes right away.”
That was what she said.
But her hands remained firmly wrapped around Lu Yichen’s arm, with no intention of leaving.
And beside her…
Lu Yichen—the groom who was supposed to marry Lin Ruochu today—held Xia Lin’s hand protectively while glaring at Lin Ruochu with obvious disgust.
“Enough,” he snapped. “You were the one who fell asleep. Linlin only accompanied me because she didn’t want you to overwork yourself. Instead of thanking her, you’re standing here saying such ridiculous things.”
At that moment, Lin Ruochu understood.
Their affair had begun far earlier than she’d ever imagined.
After this wedding in her previous life, guilt had eaten away at her. Believing she’d wronged Lu Yichen, she stayed behind in the countryside to care for his elderly parents without complaint.
Meanwhile, Lu Yichen secretly brought Xia Lin with him to live at his military posting.
From then on, he never sent a single cent home.
Lin Ruochu alone worked the fields, supported his parents, and later devoted herself to raising their son.
In the end…
She had been abandoned.
Her oxygen mask had been ripped away.
The tragedy of her previous life had begun on this very day.
This time…
It would end here.
She looked Lu Yichen straight in the eyes.
“Lu Yichen,” she declared coldly, “I’m calling off our engagement.”
“I’m not marrying you.”