Chapter 1: The Countdown to Life Begins
“What are you here for?”
“Jianwei, your mother is here!”
“Mother? Do you think you deserve that title? You persecuted your husband and abandoned your children. You’re not even worthy of being called a human being, much less a mother.”
…
The furious voice carried a powerful force, wrenching Lu Jianwei out of her slumber.
She sat bolt upright, suddenly wide awake. Today at the university, she was supposed to attend an academic conference on ‘Parallel Universes and Quantum Mechanics.’ Had she overslept?
The room was filled with pear blossom wood furniture, a snowflake stone chandelier, Gothic-style round balcony and windows, a vintage European canopy bed frame, a calendar from the 1960s on the desk, and a surging tide of memories—
Lu Jianwei finally realized she had crossed into another world.
In short, she had transmigrated into a parallel world, becoming another version of herself.
Downstairs, the quarrel continued. Jianwei slipped out and hid on the stairs to observe for a while, quickly assimilating the memories of the original owner, and then called out, “Aunt!”
She ran towards her aunt with light, hurried steps.
Lu Yunqing hurriedly turned off the stove and steadied her, asking with concern, “Weiwei, did the noise wake you? Are you feeling better?”
After personally witnessing her fiancé’s betrayal, her niece had come home and fallen ill.
Another young woman followed up the stairs. “Weiwei, I’m sorry. I didn’t know things would turn out like this. I only spoke a few words with Tingjun, but who would have thought he’d fall for me? I… I don’t even know what to do.”
She continued, “I know you and he have been childhood sweethearts, and I never intended to come between you. I asked Aunt to come with me today just so I could apologize to you in person.”
Zhu Xinfang hurriedly added, “That’s right, Weiwei. Tingting wanted to apologize. You two are cousins, there’s no need to ruin your relationship over something so trivial.”
“An apology?” Lu Jianwei, now in full possession of the original’s memories, supported herself on her aunt’s arm. “So, you intend to cut off all contact with Fu Tingjun?”
“Cut off contact? Why?” Zhu Tingting had no intention of doing so.
Fu Tingjun was such a catch—proletarian, good-looking, a university graduate, and already a junior engineer at the machinery factory at such a young age. He had a bright future ahead. She’d worked so hard to get him to agree to an engagement; why would she break up with him?
“If you’re truly sorry and sincere about your apology, you should sever all ties with Fu Tingjun. After all, you know I’m angry because you two cheated behind my back. I even fell ill because of it!”
She pointed to her own pale face.
The original owner had died over such a trivial matter. She found it humiliating; after all, she still had to live on under this identity.
Lu Yunqing was surprised. Her niece had always been meek, never uttering a word when bullied. She never confronted anyone except at home.
“But even if I were willing to break up with Tingjun, he wouldn’t want to stop seeing me. Why force something that can’t be done? Tingjun doesn’t like you. You shouldn’t cling to him anymore.”
Zhu Tingting was smug.
She had come here to flaunt her victory.
Zhu Xinfang chimed in, “Let it go, Weiwei. Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be. With the Lu family’s background, it’s natural for Tingjun to be hesitant. Don’t be upset. If I find someone good in the future, I’ll keep an eye out for you.”
Lu Yunqing exploded. “What’s it to you? The Zhu family isn’t anything special. You venomous woman, you and Zhu Xinyi conspired to kill my brother, and you still have the nerve to set foot in my house?”
Zhu Xinyi was Zhu Tingting’s father, Zhu Xinfang his sister, and also Lu Jianwei’s mother.
Zhu Tingting retorted, “You’re capitalists, enemies of the proletariat. My father and aunt reported your family to help you improve. If you don’t appreciate it, fine, but how dare you insult us!”
“Get out!” Lu Yunqing jabbed her finger at Zhu Tingting’s nose. “How many benefits have you taken from my family? If it weren’t for us, you would have starved long ago, left for the stray dogs to eat. Shameless creatures—if every man on earth died out, you’d still steal someone else’s fiancé. The whole Zhu family is cut from the same cloth. Justice, propriety, honesty, trust—dogs have eaten it all. You were born without a scrap of decency!”
“Yunqing, how can you speak to me like that? If your brother knew how you treated me, would he rest in peace?” Zhu Xinfang’s face was ashen, her body swaying.
She was beautiful, once known as the “Apricot Blossom of Haicheng” in her youth, which was why her father, ignoring the Zhu family’s poverty, insisted on marrying her.
Even now, in middle age, she retained a trace of her former charm.
No wonder, after giving false testimony and bringing about her first husband’s death, she could still be used by the Zhu family for their gain.
Lu Jianwei could tell she was genuinely upset, perhaps even wracked with guilt over her own cruelty, yet she couldn’t understand why she had once acted with such betrayal.
She seemed a foolish woman, to believe that after her niece stole her daughter's fiancé, she could come here sincerely to apologize.
After her observations, Lu Jianwei turned to Zhu Tingting. “Enough. I don’t accept your apology. Your theft of my fiancé is already a matter of public record. I will not allow you to wriggle off the pillar of shame. The Lu family no longer welcomes you. Please, take your aunt and leave my house.”
Zhu Tingting was a skilled actress, looking utterly grief-stricken. She awkwardly pulled out a formal red invitation and handed it to Lu Jianwei. “Tingjun and I are getting engaged the day after tomorrow. We sincerely invite you to our engagement party. But if you don’t want to come, that’s fine. If you meet a good man, I’ll be happy to introduce you!”
Lu Yunqing’s hand shot out, landing a stinging slap on Zhu Tingting’s face. Through gritted teeth, she spat, “Wretch!”
She snatched the red invitation from her niece, ready to rip it up, but Lu Jianwei stopped her.
Lu Jianwei calmly addressed Zhu Tingting, “Don’t worry, I’ll be there. Please tell my former fiancé that before he gets engaged to another woman, he should first dissolve our engagement. He needs to return my engagement token, and also repay all the money my family spent supporting his education.”
The engagement token was a gold lock, which she thought she could sell.
The support money over the years amounted to at least two or three thousand yuan, no small sum!
Zhu Tingting’s face changed dramatically. “But… even if you’re capitalists, this is the new society. What you’re doing is exploiting the proletariat!”
“Zhu Tingting, you don’t want Fu Tingjun to repay the money? If you get married, and sleep beside someone else’s fiancé every night, won’t you feel like a wanton woman, sneaking around with another’s man?”
Zhu Tingting was disgusted by the thought. She stamped her foot. “Fine! I’ll make sure Fu Tingjun pays you back!”
She turned and ran.
Zhu Xinfang, still uneasy, paused before following. She said earnestly to Lu Jianwei, “Weiwei, listen to your mother. Would I ever harm you or your brother? The Lu family is already on the next round of purges. If you insist on staying, what will you do in the future?”
“Stay out of my business. You’re not welcome here again.”
Zhu Xinfang looked at her with pity, a picture of aggrieved responsibility, then shook her head and hurried out.
Lu Jianwei, now like a triumphant kitten, having driven off the thieves after her food, raised her little fists, ready to cheer with her aunt—when a cold, mechanical voice sounded in her mind:
[System has bound to the host. All energy has been consumed in this transmigration. Life countdown begins: 23 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds.]
Immediately, a ticking sound followed, each tick representing another second gone.
“Aunt, did you hear anything?” Lu Jianwei’s voice trembled, terror flooding her heart just as Wang Miao had felt upon seeing the countdown to the end of life on Earth, set by the sophon.