Shen Nanchu thought she must be dreaming.
Otherwise, how could the male model in her arms have such an impeccable physique?
A rock-hard chest, eight-pack abs, a perfect V-line…
"Shen Nanchu, you’re asking for death."
In her blurred vision, she vaguely saw the towering figure of a man, his voice dripping with menace.
Shen Nanchu frowned slightly.
How dare this male model be so arrogant?
Did he not know who his sugar mommy was?
The next moment, an excruciating pain surged from between her legs.
Shen Nanchu hurt so badly she passed out on the spot.
……
When she opened her eyes again, waves of sharp pain assaulted her, as if she’d been run over by a truck countless times. She gritted her teeth, hissing in agony.
Looking around, the walls were plastered with vintage posters. On the nearby table sat a red double-happiness thermos and two enamel mugs printed with revolutionary slogans.
And in her mind, there was now an extra set of memories—ones that didn’t belong to her.
Shen Nanchu fell silent.
Because she had transmigrated into a novel!
Not just any novel, but a period romance she’d once read: Marrying the Cold-faced Officer for a Blissful Life. And she’d become the villainess—the wicked sister-in-law of the male lead, Pei Zhengnian, who shared her name.
In the book, Pei Zhengnian was a third-generation military brat from a prestigious family, while the original host was just an ordinary dancer in the cultural troupe. Relying on her beauty, the original host had schemed her way into marrying Pei Zhengnian’s older brother during a performance, successfully becoming the daughter-in-law of a high-ranking military family.
Unfortunately, on the morning of the wedding, the brother was called away on a mission, leaving the original host behind. Pei Zhengnian had to step in and escort her into the family home.
But the good times didn’t last. Soon after, Pei Zhengnian’s brother died in the line of duty. Panicked, the original host realized her predicament.
Because she’d been afraid of delays, she’d convinced the brother to hold the wedding first and register the marriage later. Now that he was gone, the marriage certificate would never materialize.
Desperate to maintain her privileged life as an officer’s wife, the original host decided to take drastic measures—she drugged Pei Zhengnian, intending to force him into marrying her instead.
She succeeded in drugging him, but Pei Zhengnian, disgusted, threw her out of his room.
Within days, the Pei Family was framed, their status plummeting, and they were ordered to be exiled to the countryside.
Unwilling to accept this, the original host betrayed them completely. She defected to the Pei Family’s political enemies, not only accusing them of treason but also planting fabricated evidence in their home.
As a result, Grandpa Pei took his own life with a gun to prove his innocence. Grandma Pei, unable to bear the grief, followed soon after. The rest of the family barely survived but were sent to the harshest labor camps in the northwest.
Meanwhile, the original host earned herself a spotless reputation and remained in the city.
Three years later, Pei Zhengnian, through relentless effort, finally cleared his family’s name. He returned to the military, rising through the ranks to become the youngest and most celebrated general in the nation.
But by then, the rest of the Pei Family had perished in the brutal northwest winters.
Fortunately, Pei Zhengnian later met the female lead there. With her support, he found the strength to carry on.
His first act upon returning was revenge. Every single person who had wronged the Pei Family paid the price.
Especially the original host.
By then, after leaving the Pei Family, she’d been passed around as a high-end courtesan by their political enemies, contracting a terminal illness.
Pei Zhengnian rescued her—only to break every one of her 206 bones and force her to kneel before the Pei Family’s memorial tablets, where she died in agony.
What a tragic end.
Just thinking about it made Shen Nanchu shudder.
She feared nothing in this world—except pain.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have passed out earlier from the sheer torment.
But of all people to transmigrate into, why did it have to be this doomed villainess?
And worse, she’d arrived at the worst possible moment—right after the original host had crawled into her brother-in-law’s bed.
The scheming was done by the original host, the suffering last night was hers, and now, according to the plot, she was next in line to be eliminated.
Heh~~~
Shen Nanchu laughed.
Out of sheer fury.
……
"Ding~~~ Congratulations, Host. You’ve successfully activated the system."
"To survive, please bind with the Redemption System immediately!"
Shen Nanchu’s smile deepened.
Redemption?
Since when did villainesses get redemption arcs?
Besides—
She looked down at herself.
Her fair skin was covered in bruises, especially in the most delicate areas, where dark purple marks stood out starkly.
Even the slightest touch sent pain shooting through her.
So, the male lead, huh?
How dare he treat her like this? Just wait.
"Host’s malice detected. Automatically binding to the Villainess System. Please collect Hatred Points."
Shen Nanchu scoffed. "Who the hell are you to order me around?"
System: "..."
"Hatred Points can be exchanged for items. See the exchange page for details."
Shen Nanchu couldn’t even be bothered to check.
"Give me painkillers. Now."
She’d been enduring this for too long.
System: "Host’s current Hatred Points: 0. Exchange unavailable."
Shen Nanchu arched a brow, her gaze turning icy.
"Do I sound like I’m asking?"
"Tell me—if I die, do you survive?"
Her sweet voice carried the venom of a serpent’s hiss.
The system trembled.
"My patience is limited."
The moment Shen Nanchu spoke, her pain vanished completely.
"Host, this is a one-time exception. Next time, Hatred Points will be deducted."
The system tried to save face.
Shen Nanchu smirked in disdain.
Trying to control her with rules? In her world, she made the rules.
Those who obeyed prospered. Those who defied perished.
……
Shen Nanchu sat up, eyeing the torn clothes with disgust.
Just how much had the original host drugged him? The battle had been brutal.
Without hesitation, she rummaged through Pei Zhengnian’s closet and pulled out a white dress shirt, slipping it on.
The oversized shirt draped over her petite frame, hanging loosely. The hem stopped mid-thigh, revealing long, slender legs. The wide collar exposed delicate collarbones and the telltale marks of passion.
Creak—
Pei Zhengnian hadn’t expected to walk in on such a scene.
The memories of last night’s madness flashed through his mind, his handsome face darkening.
Shen Nanchu’s amber eyes locked onto him, assessing.
No wonder he was the male lead. At least 6’1", broad shoulders, a narrow waist, a military buzz cut, and piercing eyes—far more striking than any modern celebrity.
As for what lay beneath those clothes—she’d felt it firsthand before passing out. Rippling muscles, eight-pack abs, a chiseled V-line, and arms like steel.
Pei Zhengnian’s expression turned stormy as she shamelessly eyed him.
"Shameless."
Oh, he dared to insult her?
Shen Nanchu’s pink lips curled. Twirling a lock of hair around her finger, she sauntered toward him.
Her dainty feet, like carved jade, moved gracefully, each step deliberate.
As she passed him, she paused, flashing a wicked smile.
"You seemed to enjoy my shamelessness just fine last night."
"Don’t play the saint after being the sinner."
Pei Zhengnian's handsome face flushed crimson in an instant.
"Shen Nanchu—"
The only response he received was the sound of a door slamming shut.
……
