Chapter 1: Rebirth

In a hazy state, Xue Ling gradually woke up from her drowsiness.

Where was she?

It looked like a familiar old adobe house, worn and dilapidated. The traditional windows had a pair of bright red “double happiness” symbols pasted on them, and a dim yellowish pendant lamp emitted a faint red glow.

She lay on a new yet simple wooden bed, covered by a thin crimson wedding quilt. At the foot of the bed sat a tall, stern, and handsome man.

Xue Ling was stunned!

He… was Cheng Tianyuan!

It was him!

He was actually here! Cheng Tianyuan, the big brother next door who had cared for her during their childhood, the husband who had remained a widower for a lifetime after marrying her, the good man who had silently looked after her during her severe illness and held her hand until she passed away…

Xue Ling sat up in disbelief, taking in the festive adobe room, the vivid memories, and the warmth of the quilt. It left her utterly bewildered.

Had she been reborn?!

Reborn on her wedding night with him!

Perhaps the good deeds she had done in her previous life were finally being rewarded. The heavens had shown mercy on her, granting her the chance to live again.

Tears welled up in Xue Ling’s eyes as she realized this. She had been given a second chance at life.

At that moment, the man sitting at the foot of the bed, her new husband, turned his cold and stern face towards her.

“Have you had enough? If you genuinely don’t want this, I will find a way for us to divorce. Cheng Tianyuan does not force any woman,” he said, his voice carrying a resolute tone.

Xue Ling was about to speak when the man’s words caused her to hesitate. In her previous life, on their wedding night, he spoke the same way. She had reacted with anger, throwing things, even physically attacking him, which had led to him turning and walking out of the room. He hadn’t touched her again throughout his leave of absence.

Back then, she had been unwilling to move from the imperial city to this small village, spending three to four days on a bumpy journey. Upon arriving, a crowd of people had surrounded her, chatting incessantly about relatives and bridal chambers. Exhausted and annoyed, she kept a cold face, not speaking a word until the guests left. Once they were gone, she had lost her temper with Cheng’s family, refusing to serve tea to her in-laws and falling asleep immediately after entering the room.

Now, with this second chance, she couldn’t afford to make the same mistake. She couldn’t let this opportunity for happiness slip away.

“Cheng Tianyuan, you—” she began to say.

However, the man coldly glanced at her, his voice firm, “There’s no need to say anything. Didn’t you just tell me that you wanted nothing to do with me? Rest assured, I have no desire to touch you. You can have the room; I’ll sleep in the firewood room.”

Xue Ling saw him about to leave and panicked. She quickly moved closer, embracing his arm momentarily.

“You… you can’t go!”

Cheng Tianyuan had grown up in a rural area and was not accustomed to such physical contact with women. He stood there, stiff and flustered, his ears slightly red, and spoke sharply, “Let go!”

Xue Ling realized she had gone too far and released him, but she wouldn’t let him leave.

In any case, she couldn’t allow him to sleep in the firewood room tonight.

In her past life, she had ignored him, even wishing him to stay away from her. On the following day, many neighbors came to visit, asking for wedding candies. When they saw the groom kicked out of the bedroom, gossip spread like wildfire, and the whole Cheng family’s village knew about it. Some even openly ridiculed him for his inadequacy.

Any man would find it unbearable to be humiliated like that, which had only fueled Cheng Tianyuan’s resentment towards her. His family was also displeased with her.

Thankfully, her mother had earnestly begged him and shed tears, pleading for him to marry their daughter and bring joy to their family. He had rushed back, made a hasty proposal in the capital, returned home to prepare for the wedding, and taken care of his seriously ill father. Finally, when he had some peace, his newlywed wife had caused a commotion.

This time, she couldn’t afford to make the same mistake. She couldn’t let this happiness slip through her fingers.

“Cheng Tianyuan, you—” she started to say again.

Unexpectedly, he gave her a cold look and, in a low voice, said, “You don’t need to say anything more. Didn’t you curse at me just now, saying you didn’t want to marry me? Don’t worry; I won’t force you. You can have the room, and I’ll sleep in the firewood room.”

Xue Ling watched him as he turned to leave, but she couldn’t allow that to happen. She hurriedly took a step forward, grabbing his arm for a moment.

“You… you can’t go!”

Cheng Tianyuan had grown up in the countryside and wasn’t used to such physical contact with women. He stood there, tense and flustered, his ears tinged with redness, and he spoke sternly, “Let go!”

Xue Ling realized she had gone too far and released her hold, but she refused to let him leave.

In any case, she couldn’t allow him to sleep in the firewood room tonight.