“Chu Ningwan, back when I lost my memory, you forcibly restored it. Because of that, Qingyao and the child she carried both died. Afterward, you used that favor to bind me to you and control every aspect of my life. If there is a next life, stop being so self-righteous.
And let there be no ties between us.”
With those final words, her husband, Shen Yu, breathed his last.
Their children knelt before the bed. As his words sank in, everyone exchanged glances before turning their eyes toward the elderly woman standing nearby.
Chu Ningwan stared at her dead husband and clutched her chest, struggling to breathe.
After decades of marriage, she had always known Shen Yu resented her.
But she had never imagined he would reject her so mercilessly in front of all their children and so many witnesses.
A bitter smile tugged at her lips. As she staggered to her feet, a mouthful of blood burst from her lips.
As her consciousness faded, only one thought remained in her mind:
*In the next life, I never want anything to do with Shen Yu again.*
…
“Ningwan, now that Yu’er has survived this calamity, once we return, I’ll have people prepare your wedding. Then the two of you can marry as soon as possible.”
A voice drifted into her ears.
Chu Ningwan opened her eyes and found herself staring at a young woman.
“Madam Shen?”
Shock flooded her heart.
She was sitting in a carriage. Pulling back the curtain, she saw the familiar mountain road outside.
She…
had actually come back.
Back to the day before Shen Yu’s memories were forcibly restored.
The Chu and Shen families had always been close. As the legitimate daughter of a prestigious general’s household, everyone naturally assumed she and Shen Yu would one day marry.
Their engagement was supposed to be finalized after her coming-of-age ceremony.
Unexpectedly, an urgent report arrived from the frontier that very day. The Emperor ordered troops to reinforce the border, and among those dispatched were both her father and Shen Yu, along with his father from the Marquis’s household.
A year passed in the blink of an eye.
The campaign ended in victory, and the army returned triumphantly.
Everyone came back—except Shen Yu.
After making numerous inquiries, she learned that while covering the soldiers’ retreat, Shen Yu had been ambushed. Surrounded by enemies, he fell from a cliff and vanished without a trace.
In her previous life, when Madam Shen heard the news, she nearly fainted from grief.
Chu Ningwan had remained by her side, caring for her tirelessly until her condition gradually improved.
Later, however, Madam Shen somehow learned that Shen Yu had not died after falling from the cliff. Instead, he had lost his memory and been rescued by an orphan girl.
At dawn, Madam Shen brought Chu Ningwan along and hired a physician to accompany them to the girl’s home so they could bring Shen Yu back.
“Ningwan, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Seeing her pale face and silence, Madam Shen took her hand and asked with concern.
Chu Ningwan quietly withdrew her hand, her emotions complicated.
At this point, Madam Shen likely already knew that Shen Yu was about to marry Su Qingyao and that she was carrying his child. Otherwise, why would she be in such a hurry and even bring a physician?
In her previous life, Chu Ningwan had always treated Madam Shen with utmost respect.
Yet after Shen Yu recovered his memories, Madam Shen shifted all the blame for forcibly awakening him—and for driving Su Qingyao to her death—onto her.
Shen Yu and everyone around him hated her for the rest of her life.
Suppressing the anger rising within her, Chu Ningwan heard a servant’s voice from outside.
“Madam, Miss Chu, we’ve arrived.”
Madam Shen responded softly.
Though she found Chu Ningwan’s earlier behavior somewhat strange, she didn’t dwell on it.
Turning to her affectionately, she smiled.
“Ningwan, I’ve invited the famous Divine Physician Jiang this time.”
“With him here, Yu’er will surely be fine.”
“Divine Physician Jiang?”
Chu Ningwan froze.
“Madam Shen, are you saying Divine Physician Jiang has already arrived?”
In her previous life, Madam Shen had kept this matter completely secret to prevent any complications.
But forcibly restoring Shen Yu’s memories had created an unforeseen problem.
He remembered everything before losing his memory.
But everything that happened afterward—his life with Su Qingyao—was completely erased.
She only learned this later.
After discovering both Su Qingyao’s existence and the memory issue, Madam Shen feared Shen Yu’s future would be ruined. Through threats and coercion, she forced Su Qingyao to drink poisoned wine.
Only after her death did they discover she had been two months pregnant.
Panicked, Madam Shen begged Chu Ningwan to help conceal the truth.
Unable to refuse and knowing Shen Yu had forgotten Su Qingyao entirely, she reluctantly agreed.
Yet less than two months after marrying into the Marquis household, Shen Yu suddenly recovered all his memories.
When he learned Su Qingyao was dead, he went nearly mad.
After investigating, he discovered Chu Ningwan’s involvement and came to hate her completely.
Meanwhile, Madam Shen—the true mastermind—escaped all responsibility.
Chu Ningwan alone bore the blame.
This time, she would never allow that to happen.
Seeing Chu Ningwan’s urgency, Madam Shen became confused.
“Divine Physician Jiang traveled faster than we did. By now, the treatment to restore Yu’er’s memories should already be underway.”
“That’s bad!”
Chu Ningwan jumped from the carriage and sprinted toward Su Qingyao’s home.
Only one thought filled her mind:
*She absolutely could not allow Divine Physician Jiang to forcibly restore Shen Yu’s memories!*
When she arrived, several guards were already surrounding the house.
They blocked Su Qingyao from approaching.
With red-rimmed eyes, Su Qingyao became visibly agitated upon seeing Chu Ningwan.
“I’ve already told you—A-Yu isn’t the heir of your Marquis household!”
“Tomorrow is supposed to be our wedding day. What will it take for you to leave us alone?”
She tried to rush toward Chu Ningwan but was stopped by the guards.
Chu Ningwan looked at the tightly shut door, her entire body turning cold.
When she attempted to approach, the guards blocked her as well.
“Miss Chu, Divine Physician Jiang instructed that no one disturb him while restoring the Young Master’s memories, or the treatment may fail.”
“Move.”
Her voice turned icy.
Before the guards could react, she shoved open the door and strode inside.
Inside, Divine Physician Jiang paused his treatment upon seeing her.
Confusion flickered across his face.
“Miss Chu, you’ve arrived at just the right time. I was about to tell you that the restoration process has gone very smoothly.”
His words made her blood run cold.
There wasn’t the slightest trace of joy on her face.
“You mean… Shen Yu’s memories have already returned?”
“That’s correct. Once the Young Marquis awakens, he will remember everything about you and the Marquis household.”
Chu Ningwan staggered.
She was still too late.
“A-Yu!”
Su Qingyao rushed inside and threw herself onto the unconscious man lying on the bed.
At the same moment, Madam Shen entered with several attendants.
The instant she saw Su Qingyao, intense dislike flashed across her face.
“Since Yu’er will regain his memories once he wakes up, drag this woman out!”
Madam Shen shouted sharply.
Clearly, she had overheard the conversation.
“No… I won’t leave!”
“A-Yu promised he would marry me! This is my home! You’re the ones who should leave!”
Su Qingyao clung tightly to Shen Yu and refused to let go.
Just as Chu Ningwan was about to intervene, the man lying on the bed suddenly opened his eyes.
Shen Yu sat up.
His gaze swept across the room, shifting from confusion to coldness.
Pulling Su Qingyao into his arms, he issued a command to everyone present.
“Leave.”
“Qingyao, don’t be afraid. As long as I’m here, no one can hurt you.”
While protecting Su Qingyao, his eyes briefly landed on Chu Ningwan.
His gaze was complicated—mixed with unmistakable disgust.
In her previous life, after his memories had been forcibly restored, Shen Yu should have forgotten everything about Su Qingyao.
But now…
That single glance was enough.
Chu Ningwan instantly realized that, like her, Shen Yu had also been reborn.
Ignoring her completely, Shen Yu took Su Qingyao’s hand and led her before Madam Shen.
“Mother, Qingyao is carrying my child.”
“I am going to marry her.”
“A-Yu… you mean I’m…” Su Qingyao stared at him in shock.
Madam Shen trembled with anger at his declaration.
“Absurd!”