Xu Nianchu hadn’t expected Lu Beichen to be so considerate.
But asking her to lift up her foot in front of a man she’d only met a few times…
She just couldn’t do it.
“No need.”
Lu Beichen tossed the roll of bandage into her lap before starting the jeep.
“My sister-in-law is just like that. Don’t take it to heart.”
“It’s alright. I’m used to it.”
Human prejudice was like a mountain.
Even during her residency in her previous life, she had encountered situations like this all the time.
It happened during her clinical practice as well.
People always believed that a traditional Chinese medicine doctor had to be an elderly physician with a long white beard—someone who looked experienced.
Young doctors like her were never considered.
That was precisely why she had asked to join the cultural troupe instead of becoming a military doctor.
If she declared now that she wanted to be an army physician, everyone would think she was talking nonsense.
Joining the cultural troupe was the most reasonable way for her to save herself at this point.
Lu Beichen drove swiftly yet steadily, and Xu Nianchu couldn’t help but fall asleep during the ride.
She only woke when they were almost there.
Thinking about what was about to happen, she rubbed her palm nervously.
“When we get there, could you stop right in front of my house? You don’t need to get out. Once I do, just drive away.”
It was already completely dark outside.
Lu Beichen agreed without hesitation.
“Alright.”
Just as Xu Nianchu had expected, the moment she got out of the jeep, someone was already watching her.
As soon as she stepped through the front door, her scumbag father grabbed her by the arm.
“Speak!”
“Why didn’t you stay with Director Wu last night? And why did you kick him where it counts?”
“He yelled at me all afternoon in the hospital today! Do you know how furious he was?”
The moment he arrived at work that afternoon, he had been thoroughly chewed out.
Director Wu had ordered him to make up for the mistake that very night.
The harder Wu Chi tried and failed to get Xu Nianchu, the more obsessed he became.
Her fiery personality had completely ignited his desire.
Now he simply had to possess her.
Xu Nianchu frowned.
“Let go of me.”
“Otherwise I’ll start screaming in the courtyard that you’re molesting me.”
“Let’s see which one of us loses face.”
Remembering the military jeep that had sped away moments earlier, Xu Shanchuan hesitated.
Anyone who rode in a military jeep was certainly no low-ranking officer.
Reluctantly, he released her.
“You’d better not try any tricks.”
Xu Nianchu rubbed her sore wrist.
“You never said last night that you wanted me to sleep with Wu Chi.”
“Say it now.”
“The reason all of you left early was so I could sleep with him and help you climb the ranks.”
Xu Shanchuan considered himself an educated man.
Doing something and openly admitting to doing it were two entirely different matters.
“Y-You… you’re utterly shameless!”
“You’ve already done it. Why are you afraid of people talking about it?”
Tang Jinhua hurried over.
“Your father only wants what’s best for you.”
“If you become Director Wu’s woman, you won’t have to worry about political re-education or being sent to the countryside.”
Xu Nianchu smiled sweetly.
“Doing it for my own good?”
“Then let your own daughter, Xu Xunle, enjoy such a wonderful opportunity.”
Just then, Xu Xunle walked out and happened to hear those words.
“I’m not sleeping with some disgusting old man!”
“Why should I?”
She had been reborn.
She was supposed to be the heroine blessed by destiny.
She had a brilliant future ahead of her.
Without warning, Xu Nianchu slapped her across the face.
Smack!
“Then why should I?”
“Who do you think you are?”
“Do you know what Lu Shijia said about you?”
Xu Xunle instinctively knew it couldn’t be anything good.
Yet her curiosity got the better of her.
“What did he say?”
“He said you’re ugly.”
“He said you look like an old auntie no one would want even if you stood in the middle of the marketplace.”
“He even wondered how we could possibly be sisters.”
“He said I look like a fairy while you look like an ugly toad.”
Of course, every one of those words was made up.
But it was true that Xu Xunle was only average-looking.
Building a lie on top of that truth struck straight at her weakest point.
Calling a beautiful woman ugly wouldn’t hurt her.
Calling an unattractive woman hopelessly ugly would eat away at her from the inside.
Especially when it was supposedly said by the very man she wanted to marry.
Besides provoking Xu Xunle…
Xu Nianchu had another purpose.
Out of the corner of her eye, she carefully watched Xu Shanchuan.
Sure enough, when she said they didn’t look like they belonged to the same family, his expression noticeably changed.
Hmph.
So there’s really a chance he isn’t my biological father.
No wonder he could treat the original owner so heartlessly.
But a scumbag remained a scumbag.
Xu Shanchuan immediately noticed the more important issue.
“You actually went to see Lu Shijia yourself?”
Xu Nianchu raised her chin proudly.
“So what?”
“My own fiancé isn’t allowed to see me…”
“But the little homewrecker trying to steal him can?”
Tang Jinhua clenched her teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
Years ago, she had once heard Xu Nianchu’s mother call her a homewrecker.
Now she was hearing the same word from Xu Nianchu herself.
Xu Xunle also felt as though someone had stabbed her heart.
Xu Nianchu had started attacking her directly.
She immediately retorted,
“So what?”
“I’m Dad’s daughter too.”
“Why can’t I go?”
Xu Nianchu shrugged.
“Go ahead.”
“The uglier one is, the more embarrassing it’ll be.”
Seeing the sisters arguing without paying him any attention, Xu Shanchuan interrupted,
“The one who drove you home just now…”
“Was it Lu Shijia?”
Xu Nianchu tilted her head.
“Who else would it be?”
With that, she turned and headed upstairs, leaving the three of them staring at one another.
She had been busy all day.
She couldn’t wait to drink some spiritual spring water and restore her strength.
Xu Xunle watched her departing figure.
Only then did the burning pain on her cheek remind her…
She hadn’t slapped Xu Nianchu back.
A reborn heroine like her…
Had actually been slapped.
Could Xu Nianchu have been reborn too?
The suspicion in her heart grew even stronger.
Xu Shanchuan had no appetite for dinner.
All he could think about was what would happen if Director Wu became enraged and had him sent away for political re-education.
Seeing him sighing all evening, Xu Xunle finally asked,
“What’s wrong, Dad?”
He had been waiting for her to ask.
“What do you think we should do about Director Wu?”
“He’s still waiting.”
Xu Xunle looked at him suspiciously.
“You’re not planning to send me instead, are you?”
“Of course not.”
“Director Wu has rather high standards.”
Xu Xunle nearly choked on her own breath.
Wasn’t he basically calling me ugly?
Two devastating blows in one day.
How was she supposed to live with this?
She hated Xu Nianchu with every fiber of her being.
Ever since Xu Nianchu had entered this family, every good thing belonged to her.
As long as she was around, she was always the center of attention.
Xu Xunle was forever just an accessory.
Why?
She’s not even better than me.
Her mother is dead.
What does she still have to be proud of?
She had thought that after Xu Nianchu spent the night with Director Wu, she would finally surpass her.
Who would have imagined that Xu Nianchu would instead find her childhood fiancé?
Her eyes shifted thoughtfully.
“Dad…”
“Didn’t Director Wu say he never slept with her?”
“But when she came back that day, her clothes were torn and there was blood on them.”
“She didn’t return until the next day.”
“If it wasn’t him…”
“Then someone else must have slept with her.”
Xu Shanchuan’s heart skipped a beat.
“You mean…”
“We unknowingly handed her over to someone else?”
Xu Xunle rolled her eyes.
“That’s not the point.”
“The point is what the Lu family believes.”
“You’re her father.”
“They’ll trust your words, won’t they?”
“If they believe you, then Xu Nianchu will lose her greatest source of support.”
“And once that happens…”
“Won’t she have no choice but to submit to Director Wu?”
Xu Shanchuan suddenly understood.
Meanwhile, after drinking the spiritual spring water and eating another apple, Xu Nianchu finally felt alive again.
If only I could move my bathtub over here and enjoy a nice soak.
The thought had barely crossed her mind when she suddenly found herself inside the bathroom of the villa within her space.
There was only one enormous bathtub.
She looked at it in surprise.
It wasn’t the same bathtub she had owned before transmigrating.
She reached out to touch it.
Only then did she realize…
The bathtub was actually carved entirely from crystal.
Even the faucet had been cut from diamond.**
(Thank you everyone for following the story! Here’s an extra chapter as promised!)