Lin Xi immediately agreed to the emergency shelter measures, and then a girl covered in blood appeared in her room. She looked about sixteen or seventeen years old, thin and small, with countless bruises and wounds visible on her exposed skin.
Her face was completely drained of color. Startled, Lin Xi quickly took out a drop of genetic repair serum and dripped it into the girl’s mouth. Seeing her complexion improve slightly, Lin Xi immediately carried her out and placed her in the backseat of the car parked in the yard.
An unconscious body felt unusually heavy, and Lin Xi couldn’t help but marvel at the effectiveness of the genetic repair serum. Ever since she started using it, her old hidden injuries had vanished, and her physical abilities had improved dramatically. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to carry Qin Suyuan at all.
Lin Xi went to open the large iron gate of the yard. With a creak, the light in Chi Xiangping’s room turned on.
Lin Xi’s phone rang immediately. She answered the call, told Chi Xiangping she had an urgent matter to attend to, and then drove off.
The entire way, Lin Xi kept thinking about how to explain Qin Suyuan’s sudden appearance logically.
Even as she drove into the city, she still hadn’t come up with a plausible story. With just a few minutes left before reaching the hospital, Lin Xi stopped at a red light and called ahead.
By the time the call ended, the light turned green, and Lin Xi sped toward the hospital.
The emergency department doctors and nurses, already notified, were waiting outside with a stretcher and first aid equipment.
As soon as Lin Xi’s car stopped, the nurses opened the backseat. Working together efficiently, the medical team quickly transferred Qin Suyuan, who was drenched in blood, onto the stretcher. Without needing Lin Xi’s involvement, they immediately began emergency treatment.
Only one nurse stayed behind to ask Lin Xi for basic information.
Lin Xi knew nothing about Qin Suyuan’s background, so when questioned, she said, “I was up late tonight when I suddenly heard a loud thud outside my window. When I went to check, I found her lying there, covered in injuries.”
She didn’t consider this a complete lie—after all, Qin Suyuan had appeared before her with a sudden "bang." Behind her house was a patch of wasteland that had once been her family’s vegetable garden when her grandfather was still alive. After he passed, the land had been left untended.
Coincidentally, not far from that plot was a small pond, and beyond it stretched a mountain range. Even if the police investigated, they would likely conclude that Qin Suyuan had come down from the mountains.
“She was so badly hurt—I couldn’t just leave her there. Calling an ambulance would’ve taken too long, so I brought her here myself. Will she be okay?”
Lin Xi knew moving a severely injured person was risky. If not for the miraculous genetic repair serum she possessed, she wouldn’t have dared to act so hastily.
“It’s too early to say. She’ll need further examination,” the nurse replied before sternly criticizing Lin Xi for moving the injured girl without professional help. Then, she instructed Lin Xi to go pay the medical fees.
As she mentioned the payment, the nurse kept glancing at Lin Xi, worried she might refuse. It wouldn’t be unreasonable—after all, they were strangers, and most people wouldn’t go out of their way to help someone so gravely injured in the middle of the night.
But without payment, the hospital could only provide basic emergency care, and for someone as severely wounded as Qin Suyuan, that wouldn’t be enough.
Lin Xi had no intention of abandoning Qin Suyuan. “I’ll go pay now,” she said.
Since she couldn’t reveal that she knew Qin Suyuan’s name, the nurse accompanied her to the billing counter.
The first payment came to two thousand yuan, which Lin Xi handed over without hesitation.
After paying off her family’s debts and setting aside savings for emergencies, she still had jade, gemstones, gold, silver, and a soon-to-be-profitable homestay business. Money no longer weighed on her mind as heavily as before.
Once the payment was settled, Lin Xi sat outside the emergency room and checked her phone. Qin Suyuan’s distress message had been sent late at night, and most of the group chat members were asleep. Only a few night owls were still online.
Yao Xiran, who had just disembarked from a spaceship, had time to chat: [Stellar Wanderer Yao Xiran: Just now, I saw someone join the group so quickly. Before I could even welcome her, her SOS message popped up. I was so worried!]
Drifting through the vastness of space, being able to connect with this chat group and share experiences with like-minded companions had made Yao Xiran see them as family.
And Lin Xi’s presence was like an anchor—no matter where they were, as long as she was there, they felt hope and the courage to keep going.
[Primitive World Ah Huahua: I didn’t dare say anything. I wasn’t sure if Lin Xi had seen the message. This is the first time someone’s asked for help the moment they joined. I wonder what happened.]
[Ancient Era Xu Huanhuan: Whatever it is, I hope she’s safe.]
Lin Xi’s clothes were stained with blood from carrying Qin Suyuan. She had washed her hands, and she had spare clothes in her storage space, but she didn’t want to leave now.
She decided to ignore it for the time being and replied in the group: [Earth Girl Lin Xi: My phone was vibrating like crazy, and when I woke up, I saw her message. I’ve already provided emergency shelter, and now she’s with me at the hospital. I don’t know what she went through, but she was covered in blood—all knife wounds.]
Even if she hadn’t seen such injuries before, the characteristics of knife wounds were unmistakable.
[Ancient Era Xu Huanhuan: That’s good. That’s good.]
[Stellar Wanderer Yao Xiran: Since she’s at the hospital now, I can relax. I’m boarding a shuttle now—I’ll check in again when I arrive.]
[Primitive World Ah Huahua: Hope she’s okay. Girls, I’m too exhausted—I’m going to sleep.] Ah Huahua had woken up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. Now that Lin Xi had taken Qin Suyuan to the hospital, she felt reassured.
Since arriving in the primitive world, her sleep schedule had become very regular, and she couldn’t stay awake any longer.
[Earth Girl Lin Xi: Go get some rest.]
Ah Huahua put down her stone and fell asleep, but Lin Xi soon received a private message from Xu Huanhuan.
【Ancient World Xu Huanhuan: Xiao Xi, I successfully got divorced. Thanks to the set of purple jade Wen Wan gave me, Nian Ge agreed to let me go. Now we’ve moved back to my parents' home.】
Xu Huanhuan was happy about the divorce, but despite her joy, she couldn’t sleep. She felt a heaviness in her heart, tossing and turning until midnight.
【Ancient World Xu Huanhuan: My parents in this world are very good to me—they dote on me endlessly. But I still miss my modern parents.】
Her modern parents weren’t as wealthy or powerful as her ancient ones, but the love they gave her was unique. Her older brother, as the only son, never overshadowed her either.
Her ancient parents were kind too, but their love was divided among many, and she was just one part of it.
Xu Huanhuan knew she shouldn’t compare, but she couldn’t help it. As the saying goes, a bird that has seen the vast sky can no longer endure a cage.
Lin Xi understood exactly how she felt and comforted her. Xu Huanhuan was especially upset: 【Ancient World Xu Huanhuan: When I saw you mention Qin Suyuan being by your side, I was so envious. I wondered—if I were in mortal danger and called for your help, could I also return for emergency refuge?】
Xu Huanhuan didn’t hide her thoughts from Lin Xi: 【For a moment, I even considered creating a disaster myself. But then I worried—what if the chat group detects it as fake? I’d be stuck here, suffering for nothing.】
Late nights were when the darkest thoughts surfaced. These ideas burned like embers, leaving Xu Huanhuan restless.
Xu Huanhuan was the first person Lin Xi helped after obtaining this chat group, and it was her golden peanuts that had eased Lin Xi’s burdens.
Lin Xi felt differently about Xu Huanhuan. Seeing her like this, she replied firmly: 【Huanhuan-jie, don’t do anything reckless. You’ve seen how miraculous the chat group is—maybe in the future, even those without mortal danger can return for a visit?】
These words sparked a glimmer of hope in Xu Huanhuan. She quickly asked: 【Really? Do you think it’s possible?】
Lin Xi didn’t know for sure, but sensing Xu Huanhuan’s fragile state, she answered decisively: 【Absolutely.】
With Lin Xi’s reassurance, Xu Huanhuan perked up: 【Alright, then I’ll wait. Lexi, I hope that day comes soon.】
Xu Huanhuan couldn’t sleep, and with Qin Suyuan still in the emergency room, Lin Xi noticed her distress and kept her company with idle chatter.
By dawn, Xu Huanhuan finally dozed off. Meanwhile, Yao Xiran sent a brief update, and after replying, Lin Xi also succumbed to exhaustion.
Lin Xi yawned repeatedly and eventually bought a can of coffee from the vending machine in the lobby. She had only taken a few sips when the emergency room lights dimmed, and a surgeon in scrubs stepped out.
“Family of the patient?” The doctor’s tone was grave.
Lin Xi stepped forward. “No, no. She just collapsed in the field behind my house. I saw she was injured and brought her here.”
The doctor’s expression softened slightly. “The patient is out of mortal danger but still requires treatment. She has over thirty knife wounds, the deepest in her abdomen. Beyond that, she suffers from severe malnutrition. Given her condition, I recommend reporting this to the police.”
Lin Xi nodded. “Understood. Thank you, Doctor. When will she wake up?”
“Once the anesthesia wears off.” The doctor left, and soon after, Qin Suyuan—eyes still closed—was wheeled out and into a ward.
Emergency beds were always in short supply. The room held other patients besides Qin Suyuan, her bed tucked by the window. A blue curtain could shield her from prying eyes.
As Lin Xi entered, the other patients and their families stared curiously. Ignoring them, Lin Xi drew the curtain shut and sat on the bedside stool. She was about to nap when an ER nurse arrived with two police officers. To avoid disturbing others, Lin Xi was taken outside.
She had prepared for this and answered their questions calmly. The officers seemed skeptical, and one made a phone call.
Lin Xi could only hope the chat group system had left some evidence near her back window.
After the police left, Lin Xi returned to find Qin Suyuan awake. “Are you in pain? Should I call the doctor?” she asked, then added, “The police are outside. They’ll probably question you soon.”
Qin Suyuan stared at Lin Xi for a long moment before shaking her head, then nodding.
“Are you hungry? I’ll get you some congee,” Lin Xi offered.
At the mention of food, Qin Suyuan’s stomach growled. Lin Xi tucked the blanket around her. “Wait here. I’ll be back soon.”
A breakfast stall outside the hospital sold congee. Lin Xi called Chi Xiangping on the way—her grandmother had been worried when she didn’t return last night but relaxed upon hearing about the hospital trip.
Lin Xi reminded her to check on the construction site. When she returned with congee and steamed buns, the ward was in disarray. Qin Suyuan gazed at the faintly yellowing leaves outside, her expression eerily calm. The police were gone.
“Where are the officers?” Lin Xi asked.
“They left after a phone call,” Qin Suyuan replied, not elaborating further. She seemed about to say more, but Lin Xi stopped her.
“I’ve arranged a transfer. We’ll talk more there.”
Qin Suyuan nodded obediently. Lin Xi knew the city hospital well and had already secured a spot in the surgical ward. A nurse would soon move Qin Suyuan there.
The police still hadn’t returned, giving the two a chance to talk privately.
Qin Suyuan thanked her: “If it weren’t for you, I might have died over there.”
Lin Xi raised the privacy screen. “No need for thanks. We’re fellow countrywomen—helping each other is only natural.”
Qin Suyuan's eyes reddened for a moment, and Lin Xi spoke softly to her, "Let's eat first. Afterward, we'll transfer you to another room."
Qin Suyuan nodded. Her hands were also covered in injuries, so Lin Xi fed her the meal. She had been starving for a long time, but Lin Xi, worried that eating too much after prolonged hunger might upset her stomach, stopped after just one bowl of porridge.
Soon, a nurse arrived, and Qin Suyuan was helped onto a movable bed as the group headed toward the surgical ward.
This time, she was assigned a private room. After the doctor left, Qin Suyuan took a sip of water before finally telling Lin Xi her story.
"If we go by the age after my transmigration, I'm 17 now. But I’ve only been in that world for less than a month."
"It was a world from a novel—one where the real and fake heiresses were maliciously swapped at birth. Eighteen years later, the truth came out. The real heiress was brought back, but the fake one refused to step down." Qin Suyuan’s voice was soft, almost fragile.
Lin Xi immediately noticed something odd. "You're 17, but the truth came out after eighteen years?"
Qin Suyuan nodded. "Exactly. The fake heiress had been reborn. This time, she decided to strike first, planning to kill the original protagonist before she could become a threat."
"When I transmigrated, the original protagonist had already been kidnapped for half a month by people the fake heiress had bribed. She had been tortured beyond recognition. I pretended to behave for nearly a week before finally escaping."
"But during my escape, I was caught. When they dragged me back, they slashed me over and over again."
The pain had been unbearable. Qin Suyuan closed her eyes, the agony searing into her very soul. Just remembering it made her feel like dying.
Lin Xi sat beside her in silence, listening. She knew Qin Suyuan didn’t need advice—just someone to hear her out.
And indeed, Qin Suyuan continued without waiting for a response. "Just when I thought I was going to die, a screen—the kind you’d see in sci-fi movies—appeared before my eyes. Glowing and everything."
"My mind was already slipping, but I instinctively begged for help. To my surprise, it actually worked." Qin Suyuan tried to smile but winced as the movement tugged at the cuts on her lips.
Before transmigrating, she had never imagined something like this could happen to her. She always thought transmigration was just a fictional trope, something people made up for stories.
She didn’t even like reading frustrating, rage-inducing novels or dramas. Her taste ran strictly toward lighthearted, fluffy rom-coms.
"You know what? The fake heiress spent five million to have me killed. Who knew I’d be worth so much?"
Before all this, Qin Suyuan had been an ordinary girl from an average family. Her parents owned a house and a car in a second-tier city, but their combined value didn’t even come close to five million.
And yet, the first time she encountered such a sum, it was her own bounty.
Lin Xi couldn’t help but think how tragic Qin Suyuan’s situation was. On her phone, a chat interface with Qin Suyuan displayed a 36-hour countdown.
She looked at Qin Suyuan. "You know your return is just an emergency escape, right? What’s your plan when you go back?"
Of course, Qin Suyuan knew. The glowing screen was still hovering in front of her.
"I’ll settle every debt, one by one. So what if Qin Susu was reborn? I’ll make sure she regrets ever crossing me."
Fighting back wasn’t something Qin Suyuan feared. As an only child, she had grown up with a mother obsessed with favoring her nephew and niece—her brother’s children. Her mother treated her and her father like they were invisible, while her nephew and niece could do no wrong.
It had reached absurd levels. One incident summed it up perfectly: When she was little, her father’s colleague returned from a business trip to Hong Kong with a box of chocolates for the office.
Her father, who disliked sweets, gave them all to her. She treasured them, eating just one and saving the rest for later.
But when she came home from school, the box was gone. Her mother had taken it to give to her nephew and niece. And when Qin Suyuan got upset, her mother scolded her.
"Our family only has you. Your father spoils you—you get all the nice things. Your cousins have nothing. How can you be so selfish? Don’t you know how to share?"
She had heard variations of that speech her whole life. As a child, she’d sometimes fall for the guilt-tripping, but eventually, she realized:
Her cousins’ lack of luxuries wasn’t her fault. If their parents couldn’t provide for them, why should she be shamed for not "sharing"?
Once that clicked, Qin Suyuan felt lighter than ever. From then on, she waged a silent war against her mother.
The battle lasted over a decade. Her father had also had enough. He planned to divorce once she left for college, but her mother’s dramatics—threatening suicide, even slashing her wrists twice—kept him trapped.
By the time Qin Suyuan went to university, her father had moved into his workplace to avoid going home. But her mother stormed into his office, causing a scene that nearly ruined his career as a civil servant.
Qin Suyuan rushed back on a weekend to intervene, but luck wasn’t on her side. The taxi driver had been drinking and crashed into a truck. The impact was so severe she doubted there’d be anything left of her.
Lin Xi’s phone buzzed incessantly. She checked it—Chu Qianmo had sent two bottles of elixirs, along with a message in the group chat.
[Wife-Slaying Daoist Chu Qianmo: @Earth Girl Lin Xi, this is Nine Revolutions Soul-Returning Elixir. As long as there’s a breath left, it can bring someone back from death’s door. The other is Rejuvenation Elixir—it heals all wounds instantly.]
The message even included pictures: the Soul-Returning Elixir’s bottle adorned with red plum blossoms, and the Rejuvenation Elixir’s with green bamboo.
Lin Xi sighed in relief. [Earth Girl Lin Xi: @Wife-Slaying Daoist Chu Qianmo, thank you for the elixirs. They’re exactly what we need.]
Why did Lin Xi take the risk of sending Qin Suyuan to the hospital? It was simply because she lacked the means to treat her injuries herself.
This was also partly her own fault for not planning ahead. If she had been more prepared and asked Chu Qianmo for some medicine in advance, she wouldn’t have been so helpless now.
[Interstellar Wanderer Yao Xiran: I have something that can help with injuries too, but it’s a liquid and needs to be used with a healing pod to be effective.]
[Time-Traveling ABO Wen Wan: I have something similar here, pretty much the same as what A’Ran has.]
As soon as they finished speaking, Lin Xi received private messages from both of them. These were exactly what she needed right now, so she accepted everything without hesitation.
After thanking them, Lin Xi took out two porcelain bottles given to her by Chu Qianmo. Each bottle contained only a single pill.
She held the pills out to Qin Suyuan. "Can you see the messages in the group chat? These are pills from the cultivation world, given by Chu Qianmo for you."
Qin Suyuan could indeed see them. Her eyes warmed slightly, but she didn’t take the bottles. "Let me call you Sister Xi. Keep these for now. I’ll ask for them tomorrow."
After a pause, she added, "I’ll just take the Revitalizing Pill. I don’t need the Nine Revolutions Soul-Returning Pill. I don’t think my injuries are that serious."
This was her genuine feeling. Logically speaking, after being captured and fed nothing but tasteless, nutrient-deficient food for a month, her body should have been extremely weak.
After being slashed multiple times and losing so much blood, even if she was rescued, she should still be frail.
Yet, she didn’t feel the slightest bit lightheaded or weak—it was practically a medical miracle.
Back when she had low blood sugar, she would sometimes black out completely.
Lin Xi replied, "Call me whatever you like. I already gave you a drop of Genetic Repair Serum. It’s from the post-apocalyptic wasteland world. Just one drop can restore aging or damaged bodily functions."
Qin Suyuan’s eyes lit up instantly. "Sister Xi, could I get some of that Genetic Repair Serum for my dad? He has severe stomach problems."
Lin Xi nodded without hesitation. "Of course. I’ve stockpiled a lot."
Ever since Lin Duxi started collaborating with the military in his world, the supply of Genetic Repair Serum had increased significantly. Everyone in the group knew how valuable it was, so they had all exchanged for a good amount.
Lin Xi hadn’t fallen behind either—she had seven or eight bottles stored in her spatial pouch. She had even been thinking of sending some over before the New Year.
She figured that if a resource-depleted post-apocalyptic world could produce Genetic Repair Serum, then this world, with its abundance of resources, should be able to replicate it, even if only partially.
Even if they could only achieve 20-30% of its effectiveness, it would still benefit countless people.
Right now, Qin Suyuan was itching to take the Revitalizing Pill and rush off with Lin Xi to her home.
But she wasn’t stupid—hospitals were full of surveillance cameras. If she walked out completely unharmed now and then vanished back to her original world in a couple of days, her Sister Xi would be left dealing with the police.
Suddenly, the screen in front of her flickered. Qin Suyuan let out a relieved sigh and said to Lin Xi, "Sister Xi, you go ahead. I’ll slip out soon, and we can share our locations in the group."
She was here for emergency refuge, and her time was limited to just two days. She couldn’t afford to waste it lying in a hospital bed.
Lin Xi nodded. "Alright, I’ll head out first. Once you leave the main gate, there’s a Qingxiang Bun Shop across the street. Next to it is a small alley—go through it, and you’ll reach another road. I’ll be waiting for you there."
"Got it."
Without wasting another second, Lin Xi left. As she walked out, she passed a group of doctors on their rounds, files in hand.
She calmly brushed past them, watching as they entered Qin Suyuan’s room before turning away. She took the elevator down to the first floor, where she crossed paths with the same officer who had questioned her earlier.
They exchanged nods and a few words before Lin Xi finally left. She retrieved her car from the parking lot and drove toward their meeting spot.
She hadn’t even managed to eat more than a bite or two of the buns she bought earlier. As she neared the rendezvous point, she couldn’t resist stopping to buy a bowl of glutinous rice.
This wasn’t the same as the colorful sticky rice she’d had before—this was more like a mixed rice dish.
Minced meat, stir-fried to perfection, was tossed with steamed glutinous rice, along with sliced green beans and diced potatoes. Served in a bowl, it was topped with pickled vegetables, cilantro, and chili peppers.
The aroma was irresistible. The elderly woman selling the rice also offered soy milk for just one yuan a cup—the same size as a medium bubble tea, and a total bargain.
Lin Xi bought two servings, costing only twelve yuan in total.
While waiting for Qin Suyuan, she chatted in the group and ate her rice.
By the time she finished and took a sip of soy milk, Qin Suyuan finally arrived—completely healed, without a single scar left.
Lin Xi leaned out the car window and waved. Qin Suyuan jogged over and slid into the passenger seat.
"Feeling unhurt is amazing," Qin Suyuan sighed, closing the door. "Sister Xi, don’t worry—just drive. My chat system just asked if I wanted to erase all traces of my hospital visit, and I said yes."
She thought this feature was incredible.
Having originally transmigrated from this world, she knew how pervasive surveillance was—especially in hospitals, where cameras covered every angle.
A heavily injured person like her just vanishing? The doctors would’ve called the police before she even made it out the door.
Well, technically, they already had. If she hadn’t acted fast, Sister Xi might’ve ended up on a wanted list.
When she first suggested Lin Xi leave ahead of her, she had seen the prompt on her screen. She had meant to confirm it immediately, but before she could, the doctors entered her room.
She had to play along until they left, then excused herself to the bathroom to avoid the officers. There, she swallowed the Revitalizing Pill and walked out boldly.
The police outside the bathroom just stood there, bewildered.
She didn’t even make it to the elevator before she saw cleaners heading into her now-empty room. She lingered just long enough to hear their grumbling.
She ate the sticky rice Lin Xi had bought for her and said, "The cleaning lady was complaining about how inconsiderate some family members are, sleeping in other patients' rooms and not even bothering to fold the blankets before leaving."
Qin Suyuan seemed to have forgotten the torment of those first few days after her transmigration. Now, she was smiling so brightly her eyes crinkled at the corners. She mimicked the cleaning auntie's words in a high-pitched voice, making it all the more amusing.
Lin Xi couldn’t help but laugh too. She thought Qin Suyuan was doing well. Her time in this world was fleeting—too short to waste dwelling on the past.
Her heart ached for Qin Suyuan, just as it once had for Ye Bingbing.
When Qin Suyuan turned her head and caught the sympathy in Lin Xi’s eyes, tears spilled down her cheeks instantly. The once-delicious sticky rice now felt like sand in her mouth, impossible to swallow.
The horrors she had endured in that single week after transmigrating would likely haunt her for the rest of her life.
Coming to this world as a refuge, Qin Suyuan had repeatedly reminded herself to cherish these two days—to live them fully, so she wouldn’t look back with regret.
She had been doing fine until she saw the look in Lin Xi’s eyes. Then, the dam broke. Her fear, her anguish, surged through her like a flood.
After forcing down the last bite with great effort, she whispered to Lin Xi, "Sister Xi, it hurt so much… so much."
Lin Xi’s own eyes stung. Among all the companions in their group, Qin Suyuan was the youngest—just a freshman in college, barely nineteen.
Lin Xi pulled her into an embrace. "It’s over now. You escaped. You’re safe."
Buried in Lin Xi’s arms, breathing in the faint scent of laundry detergent, Qin Suyuan clutched the disposable rice box tightly. Her quiet sobs grew louder, unrestrained.
Sometimes, holding back tears wasn’t healthy. Bottled-up emotions festered, becoming a crushing mental burden. Many psychological illnesses stemmed from suppression. Crying was a release.
"Sister Xi, they were monsters," Qin Suyuan choked out. "They smeared honey on the original host’s wounds and let ants crawl all over her. When her body was covered in them, they threw her into a pond to drown the ants."
"They said it was the employer’s request. That bitch Qin Susu—when I go back, it’s war. Every cut, every torture the original host and I suffered at the hands of her hired thugs, I’ll repay in kind."
"Every cruelty the original host endured, the thirty-five stab wounds on me—I’ll carve them into Qin Susu’s flesh, one by one." Tears streamed down Qin Suyuan’s face, her teeth gritted, eyes burning with hatred.
"So what if the original host was the real heiress? In Qin Susu’s past life before her rebirth, even after returning to the Qin family, the original host suffered."
"She was switched at birth by Qin Susu’s birth mother, who treated her horribly. As a child, she was beaten and scolded for failing at chores."
"By fourteen, she was scrambling to earn her own tuition, only to have Qin Susu’s mother steal her hard-earned money."
"Too busy surviving to focus on studies, she was scrawny and timid when she finally returned to the Qins—a stark contrast to the radiant, polished fake heiress."
"Her parents despised her. Her brothers resented her for ‘stealing’ Qin Susu’s place as the eldest daughter."
"The original host had dreamed of being loved by her real family. Instead, she left the Qins more broken than ever."
"Know the cruelest irony? Once she stopped begging for their approval and used their guilt-money to rebuild herself, the Qins regretted everything."
"Her parents came crawling, weeping over their neglect. Her brothers suddenly remembered they shared blood, groveling for a sisterly bond."
"And Qin Susu? After scheming to ruin the original host, she married the man the original host was betrothed to since childhood. Yet in the end, her parents’ love faded. Her brothers abandoned her to lick the original host’s boots. Even her handsome husband would stare blankly at news about the original host, lost in thought."
"Belated love is cheaper than weeds. The original host’s parents, brothers, and ex-fiancé were the lowest of scum."
"The original host and I agreed on that. But Qin Susu didn’t. So after her rebirth, her first move was hiring thugs to torture the original host. Did she ever stop to ask what the original host had ever done to her?"
Qin Suyuan couldn’t fathom it. Even if the original host was the protagonist in that novel, her early life had been misery. The injustice of it all made Qin Suyuan—a mere "reader"—seethe. How much worse had it been for the original host in her first life?
"Sister Xi, tell me—wasn’t she tragic? She died never knowing why they kidnapped and tortured her."
Wiping her tears, Qin Suyuan’s heart now held nothing but hatred for Qin Susu.
"Then avenge her," Lin Xi murmured. "For both of you."
Qin Suyuan nodded, her fighting spirit flaring. Every wound inflicted on the original host would be repaid to Qin Susu tenfold.
"Come on, let’s go see your father," Lin Xi said.
"Okay." Qin Suyuan wiped her hands and finished the remaining sticky rice.
As scenery blurred past the window, her gaze lingered on every pharmacy they passed. At a red light, Lin Xi picked up her phone and texted Chu Qianmo.
Before the light turned green, his reply arrived:
He had emergency contraceptives—the kind that ravaged the body, often causing permanent infertility. If Lin Xi needed them, he’d deliver them tonight.
Lin Xi sighed, unsure how to broach the subject. Given the tropes of novel worlds, after being kidnapped for so long, Qin Suyuan had likely been violated.
Qin Suyuan’s hometown was in another province, not far from where Lin Xi had once gone to collect blueprints for a guesthouse.
As the car drove out of the city, Qin Suyuan suddenly asked Lin Xi, "Sister Xi, how long does it take to recover from a hysterectomy?"
