Following the original owner’s memories, Lin Wanwan went to the bathroom to wash up.
Lin Guoqiang had been allocated a fairly good housing unit in the factory residential compound—a three-bedroom apartment with a living room, as well as a separate kitchen and bathroom. Most of the residents on the same floor were factory cadres or Level Eight skilled workers.
After washing up, she returned to her room and picked up the jar of pearl cream sitting on the table. Twisting open the lid, she scooped out a small amount with her fingertip, warmed it between her palms, and applied it to her face and hands.
The faint fragrance of the pearl cream intertwined with her own natural scent.
She casually tied her long hair behind her head with an elastic band, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Picking up a still-warm meat bun, she took a bite.
As expected of a state-owned restaurant—the ingredients were generous, and the taste was excellent.
One bite was filled with juicy meat stuffing.
The bun was even bigger than her fist. After finishing one, she was completely full. She only managed to drink the milk with some effort.
She placed the other bun in the kitchen pot and covered it with the lid, saving it for Father Lin and Mother Lin when they returned.
After eating, Lin Wanwan wandered aimlessly around the apartment for a while. Eventually, she returned to her room, moved a stool beside the window, and sat there looking outside.
Rows upon rows of densely packed apartment buildings filled her view. Clothes hanging outside swayed in the wind. Children’s laughter drifted up from downstairs from time to time, mixed with nearby conversations. The entire compound was lively and bustling.
Living in the same courtyard, the neighbors all had fairly good relationships with one another.
The sun hanging overhead continuously radiated scorching heat, making even the air feel hot. After sitting in the sunlight for a while, Lin Wanwan began to feel uncomfortable. She got up, drew half the curtain closed, and returned to sit on the bed.
So boring.
She wanted to go back.
She missed her phone, air conditioning, and potato chips…
Huh?
Lin Wanwan stared blankly at the bag of potato chips that had suddenly appeared in her hand.
Where had these chips come from?
Wait.
Could she have a golden finger? Some kind of storage space?
Lin Wanwan instantly perked up. Her previous lethargy vanished, and her peach blossom eyes sparkled brightly.
In her heart, she silently thought:
I want to enter my space!
The next second, her surroundings changed immediately.
She found herself standing inside an empty shopping mall.
Everything around her was silent. Only the escalators continued moving up and down.
Lin Wanwan looked around.
The more she looked, the more familiar it seemed.
Then realization struck her.
Wasn’t this the exact shopping mall she had visited before transmigrating!?
The mall was located in the city’s commercial district and covered an enormous area, roughly three times the size of an ordinary shopping mall.
Basement Levels One and Two were supermarkets, selling practically everything imaginable.
The first, second, and third floors were filled with clothing stores, cosmetics, skincare products, and all kinds of jewelry.
The fourth and fifth floors housed restaurants.
The sixth floor contained a large cinema.
The seventh floor was an open-air five-star hotel.
Looking at the deserted mall with no one inside, Lin Wanwan became genuinely excited.
Previously, she had worried about what would happen if she couldn’t get enough food or warm clothing after being sent to the countryside. Although her family would certainly give her money, who knew how far the village would be from the nearest town?
If it was too far away, even having money might not help.
But now she had nothing to worry about.
She had an entire shopping mall as her backing!
Her beautiful eyes shone brightly as she skipped happily toward the escalator and rode down to the supermarket on Basement Level One.
The shelves were packed to the brim with merchandise.
Entering the snack section, she casually picked up a bar of chocolate she often ate and popped it into her mouth.
The bittersweet flavor spread throughout her mouth.
So delicious.
So wonderful.
Lin Wanwan slightly narrowed her eyes in contentment. The corners of her lips lifted, revealing two dimples. She looked unbelievably sweet.
She did not stay inside the mall for long.
After wandering around for a while, she grabbed a random romance novel from the bookstore to pass the time.
When noon arrived and she heard movement outside, she immediately tossed the novel back into the mall.
“Wanwan?”
The moment Wu Cuicui opened the door, she called out for her daughter. Her voice was loud as she said proudly: “Look what Mom bought! A big watermelon! It was chilled in well water, too. It’s super sweet. Come out and have some!”
Inside the room, Lin Wanwan became extremely nervous.
She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
She was a little afraid that someone would discover the person inside had changed…
When she received no reply from her daughter, Wu Cuicui called again.
“Wanwan?”
“Mom, I’m here.”
She opened the door and slowly walked outside.
Walking too quickly made her chest uncomfortable, and she tired easily.
Lin Wanwan had discovered that while she was inside the mall, her body felt incredibly light and relaxed. The moment she came out, however, a strange sensation returned.
It wasn’t particularly painful.
Just annoying.
As though her body were shackled by invisible chains.
The living room was empty.
Sounds came from the kitchen.
Lin Wanwan stood awkwardly in place, unsure of what she should do.
“Come on, taste it and see if it’s sweet.”
Wu Cuicui came out of the kitchen carrying sliced watermelon. She placed it on the table, picked up a slice, and handed it to her daughter, who was blinking and staring at her.
The moment Lin Wanwan saw Wu Cuicui, her breathing stopped for two seconds.
Her eyes reddened almost instantly.
The original owner’s mother…
Looked exactly like her mother from her previous life!
She pressed her lips together tightly and blinked hard, refusing to let the tears spill out.
Wu Cuicui looked up and saw her daughter staring at her with bright, watery eyes.
Her heart nearly melted.
Oh, heavens above!
Why had fate been so cruel to her precious daughter?
Sending her to the countryside?
Was that a place her precious daughter should ever go?
What a sin!
That damned Educated Youth Office!
Lin Wanwan lowered her head to avoid Wu Cuicui’s heartbroken gaze, afraid she would lose control and burst into tears.
She took a small bite of watermelon.
The sweet flesh and juice slid down her throat and into her stomach.
Having been chilled in well water, it was cool and refreshing.
It was sweet, delicious, and incredibly satisfying.
Her eyes curved into crescents as she naturally acted spoiled.
“It’s really sweet. Thank you, Mom. Mom’s the best~”
“Then eat a few more slices.”
Hearing her daughter’s soft and sweet voice, Wu Cuicui smiled brilliantly.
Turning toward the kitchen, she said: “The canteen had your favorite braised pork today. Mom brought back a serving. Make sure you eat more later.”
The factory had its own canteen.
Whenever Wu Cuicui did not have enough time to come home and cook lunch, she would buy dishes there instead.
Just as she finished speaking, the door opened again.
A middle-aged man in his thirties or forties walked inside.
His pace was somewhat slow. Even so, it was easy to notice that there was something unnatural about his left leg.
Even though Lin Wanwan had prepared herself mentally, seeing him still made her eyes sting.
She took two deep breaths to suppress the surging emotions in her chest before calling out sweetly,
“Dad, you’re back?”
“Ah, Wanwan.”
The moment Lin Guoqiang saw his daughter, the stern expression on his face immediately disappeared and was replaced by a warm smile.
“Where’s your mom?”
“I’m right here!”
Before Lin Wanwan could answer, Wu Cuicui emerged from the kitchen.
Rolling her eyes, she retorted: “Every day it’s ‘Where’s your mom? Where’s your mom?’ I’m a grown person. It’s not like I’m going to get lost!”
Lin Guoqiang smiled awkwardly.
“Isn’t it just a habit? Oh, today’s canteen dishes look pretty good.”
The family of three sat around the dining table.
Her eldest brother’s family would not come over for lunch. The young couple had been allocated their own housing unit. It wasn’t very far away—about a ten-minute walk.
They only came over for dinner in the evenings.