Time flows backward, and everything returns to its rightful path. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

-

He paid the price of burning his soul to reverse time.

She exhausted her Divine Power to keep his soul from perishing.

In retrospect, they were nothing more than ordinary yet extraordinary people among the crowd.

...

A major news story recently broke in the elite circles of Mingzhu City: the true heiress of the Shi Family, who was lost outside, was brought back home.

It’s said that this true heiress grew up in the countryside. Now over sixteen years old, she’s still incompetent, always ranking at the bottom in exams.

In short, compared to the fake heiress meticulously raised by the Shi Family, it’s like heaven and earth.

There’s simply no comparison.

"Even if the true heiress is brought home, she may not be able to compete with the fake heiress. This puts the Shi and Quan Family’s marriage arrangement in jeopardy."

"Isn’t that so? I heard from my son that the fourth young master of the Quan Family only has eyes for the fake heiress, and after the true heiress returned, he wasn’t even interested enough to glance at her."

"You can’t blame him. Even putting aside his childhood friendship with the fake heiress, when making a choice, he wouldn’t avoid someone with the genuine air of a noble, and choose the so-called true heiress, would he?"

"Besides, as the treasured daughter the Shi Family cherished for more than a decade, even if the real one returned, it’s unlikely to shake the position of the fake heiress."

When Shi Yaoguang woke up, the noise of the discussions was what she heard.

She opened her eyes to find a wall in front of her.

She instinctively stood up and stretched her limbs.

The next second.

She locked eyes with a lady adorned with pearls from head to toe, like a river clam turned into a refined woman.

The latter instinctively exclaimed, "Ah—"

"Aren’t you the real heiress of the Shi Family? How come you’re here?"

Her expression turned unpleasant as she continued, "Did you deliberately squat here to eavesdrop on us? How long have you been listening?"

After the woman spoke, the other women gathered to gossip also started accusing Shi Yaoguang.

"What else would you expect from someone from the countryside, absolutely no manners!"

By this point, Shi Yaoguang had realized that it was probably not long since she was brought back to the Shi Family.

She vaguely remembered that in her first life, due to the constraints of the Heavenly Dao’s plot, she couldn’t control her actions at all.

To outsiders, she was just a country bumpkin with no skills or education.

Even as the biological daughter of the prestigious Shi Family, she was no match for the carefully nurtured fake heiress.

Back then, she was somewhat frustrated in her heart.

Even though she knew she was outstanding.

But it didn’t matter, did it?

She knew her own worth, but could never display it in front of others.

She might as well be the useless idiot in everyone’s eyes.

At least this way, she could find a bit of solace.

This time, she attended the charity dinner with her parents.

Because of her parents’ affection for the fake heiress, she was deeply saddened and found a place to face the wall and vent her grievances.

Unbeknownst to her, by squatting there, she blocked the view.

A group of noblewomen happened to stop and chat about the Shi Family gossip.

At that time, she feared being discovered and misunderstood for eavesdropping, so she endured despite her numb legs, planning to stand up once they left.

Unexpectedly, father Shi and mother Shi brought Shi Yiqing along.

Now, it was like a public trial.

Father Shi and mother Shi ignored her throughout the entire banquet because of her ’eavesdropping’, making her a target of more blatant ridicule.

Recalling this, looking at these self-proclaimed refined high-society women, Shi Yaoguang curled her lips into a cold smile.

"Compared to those without scruples in gossiping, it seems I’m the innocent one here, as I was here earlier than all of you, right?"

"I used to think noble families were mysterious and grand, but it turns out they’re no different from a vegetable market."

"At least when I go to the market, I don’t hear the old ladies gossiping like this."

As she finished, father Shi and mother Shi came over with Shi Yiqing.

Mother Shi scolded harshly, "Shi Yaoguang, shut up! Don’t you have any manners to talk nonsense here?"

Shi Yaoguang chuckled lightly, "Where did you see me talking nonsense?"

Mother Shi looked at the embarrassed expressions of the ladies present, naturally blaming Shi Yaoguang for the embarrassment, "Do you think it’s your place to speak in front of elders?"

"Since I can’t speak, I’ll just leave first."

Shi Yaoguang turned and left without hesitation.

Leaving father Shi and mother Shi stunned, while Shi Yiqing pretended to chase after her, "Sister, don’t go! Mom didn’t mean to blame you; she’s just worried about you."

"Worried about me?" Shi Yaoguang looked indifferent, "If she’s worried about me, she shouldn’t accuse me without knowing the facts."

"Besides, with a brain, one should know it’s not my fault here."

As she spoke, seeing mother Shi’s incredulous expression, she smirked, "I came back this time merely to see what the so-called noble atmosphere is like."

Father Shi and mother Shi listened to her words with a bad premonition growing in their hearts.

Sure enough.

The next second, Shi Yaoguang said, "My inspection result is..."

"I’m very dissatisfied."

She said, facing the gossiping noblewomen, "Luckily, the procedures for my return to the Shi Family aren’t yet completed, so please don’t trouble yourselves any further. Farewell."

After speaking, amidst the shocked gazes, she walked out of their sight with graceful strides.

The people left behind looked at her back, exchanging uncertain glances.

"Wasn’t she from the countryside? She’s too bold..."

"Calves are unafraid of tigers; she’ll regret it sooner or later."

"If she leaves, what will become of the marriage agreement with the Quan Family?"

"You wouldn’t be trying to interfere, would you? Don’t forget, even without her, there’s still the fake heiress. It wouldn’t be your turn, anyway."

The one with the idea glared at the speaker, huffing, "Mind your own business?"

"How am I meddling?"

Shi Yiqing wasn’t sure what suddenly prompted Shi Yaoguang’s outburst. Though appearing worried on the surface, inwardly, she was secretly pleased.

The Shi Family’s glory and wealth were something Shi Yaoguang abandoned by herself.

She couldn’t blame her.

...

Shi Yaoguang wasn’t concerned with what those people thought.

After leaving the banquet, she headed straight for the Quan Mansion, wanting to meet Quan Jinbei immediately.

Quan Mansion.

After explaining her purpose to the butler, Shi Yaoguang was escorted in courteously.

At that moment, Quan Jinbei was sitting alone under the wisteria canopy, drinking tea, exuding an air of leisure and tranquility.

Seeing her, he merely raised his eyes calmly, gesturing for her to sit down.

Pouring her a cup of tea, he then leisurely asked, "What brings you here?"

"I want to make a deal with you, Third Master."

Due to long-term malnutrition, Shi Yaoguang still appeared like a scruffy little girl.

Yet, her smiling eyes inexplicably touched a soft spot in Quan Jinbei’s heart.

"Let’s hear it."

Not being flat-out refused eased Shi Yaoguang’s mind.

After the time rewound, Quan Jinbei was bound to forget her.

Facing a young girl with big talk, not being rejected outright was already kind enough.

With this thought, she cleared her throat and said earnestly, "My fiancé is blind and doesn’t value me, so I want to..."

Before finishing, Quan Jinbei interrupted with a playful smile, "Maybe you want... him to call you ’Mom’?"

Hearing this, Shi Yaoguang’s eyes widened in disbelief, looking at him, "You remember?"

Quan Jinbei slowly shook his head, his eyes reflecting her image, with laughter filling his eyes, speaking with an irrefutable certainty.

"The feeling you give me is familiar; this life, you’re destined to be my wife, Shi Yaoguang."

Shi Yaoguang chuckled lightly, leaning forward with one hand on his shoulder and tipping his chin up with the other, speaking in an amused tone, "You’ve piqued my interest, man."

"Clatter—"

The butler gaped at the scene, the tray slipping from his grasp, scattering pastries all over the floor.

"Butler, let me reintroduce myself," Shi Yaoguang’s face, though malnourished, radiated with a vibrant smile, "I am Shi Yaoguang, the future wife of Third Master."

-

(The End)