“All I feel for Qinghuan is family affection and duty. In these ten years of our military marriage, I’ve only ever treated her like a younger sister. I never loved her.”
Song Qinghuan had been married to Lu Qiming for years without ever consummating their union—only to hear those words from him.
She had always believed his kindness over the years was rooted in love.
She never guessed that the one he truly loved but could never have was his widowed sister-in-law, Wang Siyu.
The day she finished filling out the divorce papers, Song Qinghuan thought she was finally free. But on her way to find Lu Qiming, she and Wang Siyu were both knocked unconscious and abducted.
When Song Qinghuan woke, Wang Siyu was sobbing in fear. Her delicate, fragile expression would have stirred pity in anyone who saw it.
Song Qinghuan listened numbly as the kidnappers bickered among themselves, learning they were there to take revenge on Lu Qiming for leading the raid that had destroyed their drug den.
“You idiot! I told you to grab Lu Qiming’s woman! Wang Siyu! What the hell is this one doing here?”
“Boss, it’s not my fault! This Song woman is Lu Qiming’s real wife!”
“Bullshit! If she wasn’t his wife, why does he pick up the kids with her every day? Who do you think got her that job anyway?”
Song Qinghuan’s expression turned cold in an instant—she had never known any of this.
Back then, only one spot had been left in the hospital recruitment exam. She had been certain she would get it; even her mentor had said she was a shoo-in. Yet she had still failed.
Bitter and confused, she had asked Lu Qiming to look into what went wrong.
All he had said was something that made no sense at the time—
“That person needs this job more than you do, and they’re better suited for it.”
Song Qinghuan let out a sharp, bitter laugh.
For years, her husband had given his salary to support Wang Siyu and her child—and now he had even taken her career away too.
The men were still arguing over which of them was Lu Qiming’s wife. Wang Siyu looked at Song Qinghuan through tear-filled eyes, a faint, quiet satisfaction rising in her heart.
Song Qinghuan ignored her, and shouted clearly:
“There is nothing between Lu Qiming and me! He is my enemy! Wang Siyu is the only woman he has ever loved! Take her if you want someone— I would be glad to see Lu Qiming shot dead right now!”
Wang Siyu’s face paled. The kidnapper laughed loudly:
“You’ve got some nerve, woman. Are you putting on an act? Trying to trick us so you can run to Lu Qiming?”
Song Qinghuan stared coldly back:
“If a single word of what I said is a lie, may Lu Qiming and Wang Siyu be struck dead by lightning the moment they step outside! May they die with nowhere to be buried!”
The kidnappers fell silent for a moment… That’s one harsh vow.
Seeing the kidnappers moving to untie Song Qinghuan, Wang Siyu cried out:
“Qinghuan, I know Qiming doesn’t love you, and that you hate us for it… but you are still his wife— ah!”
Before she could finish, Song Qinghuan lunged forward and slammed hard into her.
Her eyes burning with anger, Song Qinghuan said:
“Wang Siyu— stop pretending! Did you have a hand in this?”
She had long suspected that this woman, who always played the helpless victim, was actually deeply calculating.
But every man around her had fallen for the act— blind to the truth until their dying breath.
Wang Siyu froze, a flash of panic crossing her face.
In the middle of the commotion, Song Qinghuan heard Lu Qiming’s voice from outside:
“Sister-in-law! Are you in there? Answer me! Sis— Siyu!!!”
Wang Siyu’s young son, Song Wenwen, was also crying out for his mother.
Wang Siyu sobbed back:
“Qiming! I’m here! Wenwen! Mommy’s here!!”
Song Qinghuan realized with a cold certainty: Wang Siyu had tipped the kidnappers off. But men like these would never keep their word.
They weren’t just planning to kill Lu Qiming— they intended for all of them to die.
Minutes later, both women were dragged out and shoved through the doorway.
“Siyu… Qinghuan?!”
Lu Qiming stopped short when he saw Song Qinghuan there too.
The kidnapper sneered:
“Lu Qiming— you can only save one. Choose.”
Before Lu Qiming could speak, Wenwen’s wails rang out from nearby. Wang Siyu looked at him, tears spilling before she could even speak— the very picture of fragile innocence.
Lu Qiming dragged his gaze away from Song Qinghuan with obvious difficulty, his voice rough and hollow:
“I’m sorry, Qinghuan. I promised my brother—”
There was no hesitation. He had already made his choice.
The kidnapper pushed Wang Siyu toward him, and signaled to his men.
The moment Wang Siyu threw herself into Lu Qiming’s arms, the rope binding Song Qinghuan’s hands snapped loose.
She never knew where she found the strength— but she snatched the loaded gun straight from the kidnapper’s hand.
Every weapon in the room turned toward her.
Yet she did not flinch. She raised the gun and fired again and again at Lu Qiming and Wang Siyu.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The shots startled flocks of birds from the mountainside.
Song Qinghuan watched them both fall to the ground, drowning in blood. The gun slipped from her grasp.
She collapsed to her knees, her body riddled with bullets. As a doctor, she knew better than anyone that she did not have long left.
She forced a twisted, bitter smile to her lips.
It did not matter if she lived or died— but Lu Qiming and Wang Siyu had to die!
As her limbs grew cold and stiff, her mind fought to keep her body alive, summoning every last ounce of strength.
Through the haze, she heard a voice— strange yet achingly familiar:
“Song Qinghuan! Qinghuan—”
She struggled to open her eyes. Standing over her was a man in a deep green military uniform, his usually calm and sharp features twisted with grief and despair.
Song Qinghuan could not believe who it was: Lu Qiming’s uncle, Lu Huaixiao.
She had heard nothing of him for years— had long assumed he was dead.
Lu Huaixiao pulled her gently into his arms, as if holding a precious treasure already shattered beyond repair.
“I’m so sorry. I’m late.”
He whispered the words over and over, his deep voice cracking with tears.
“Qinghuan… I have regretted so much…”
Regretted what?
Song Qinghuan heard no more after that.
As her consciousness faded, she saw herself again— young, innocent, and full of hope.
She had given all her love to the man who had stood by her through her whole youth.
She had never once regretted her choice… until now. Now it all felt like a cruel joke.
Song Qinghuan did regret it!
Why should she have wasted so many years unhappy because of Lu Qiming?
Why should she die alongside him and Wang Siyu?
If she could turn back time— she would rather die than marry Lu Qiming!
In that moment, a sharp pain struck her forehead.
“What are you standing there daydreaming for? Lu Qiming and his parents are already at the door. Didn’t you beg to marry him?”
Her mother’s familiar, sharp voice cut through the air. Song Qinghuan snapped her eyes open.
Through the window rose the same old landmark tree at the end of the alley. On the table sat her well-worn notebook, filled with her notes on medical knowledge. The chipped enamel mug, the red floral quilt she had used since childhood— still stained with the spots her little brother had left as a toddler…
Song Qinghuan pinched her arm hard. She gasped in pain.
She was alive again.
She was back in 1986— right before her engagement to Lu Qiming!
Her heart pounded with a rush she had not felt in years.
Without waiting for her family to urge her, she sprang to her feet and hurried out— determined to call off this marriage before it was too late.
Stepping into the dimly lit living room, she saw him at once— the tall figure standing by the door.
In the shifting light and shadow, his refined profile looked as handsome as ever.
He lifted his eyes to meet hers, his gentle gaze full of that deceptive warmth that had fooled her for so long.
Song Qinghuan looked back at him with cold, unyielding eyes.
There was no mistaking who it was— Lu Qiming, as he had been ten years before.