Jiang City.
A magnificent living room.
The light refracted by the crystal lamps and marble floor is dazzling.
An old woman with gray hair sat on the sofa with restraint, her simple clothes out of place with everything in front of her, her voice a little low, "Your mother is gone, and Hua Hua is now seriously ill. No matter what, Hua Hua is also your daughter."
Sitting in front of the old woman was a gorgeously dressed noblewoman.
Limited edition Chanel short jacket, black half-skirt outlining a perfect figure, a pair of limited edition Chanel small leather shoes on her feet.
Everywhere on her body revealed nobility and elegance, and it was impossible to see that she was already the mother of an 18-year-old child.
The old woman carefully considered her words and continued, "Zhou Lei, before your mother passed away, she hoped that you and your husband could bring Hua Hua back. She is now terminally ill, and we can't just watch her die in the countryside."
Hearing this, the expression on Zhou Lei's face was still gentle, but the words she spoke were like knives, "Bring her back, then what about Baoyi? Third Aunt, don't forget, only Baoyi is my own daughter, my mother's own granddaughter!"
The noblewoman deliberately emphasized the word 'own'.
Want her to raise a bastard?
Wishful thinking!
The old woman sighed, obviously having expected this result long ago, "Although Hua Hua has no blood relationship with you and your husband, from the moment you adopted her from the orphanage, you are her biological parents!"
"Hua Hua has suffered a lot in her hometown these years! Before your mother passed away, she specifically told me to tell you that you must treat Hua Hua well in the future, and whatever Baoyi has, she can also have."
"What qualifications does she have to possess the same things as Baoyi?" Zhou Lei stood up in disbelief, almost screaming, she had been a noblewoman for many years and hadn't been so失态 for a long time, so she tried to lower her voice, "I said back then to send her back to the orphanage, but it was my mother who insisted on playing the good Samaritan!"
"I don't object to her wanting to be a good Samaritan!" Zhou Lei said angrily, "Now she wants to throw garbage into our house, does she think our house is a trash can?"
Hearing this, the old woman stood up in anger, "If Hua Hua hadn't had good fortune, would you have Baoyi? If Hua Hua hadn't cut her liver to save Baoyi, Baoyi would have died long ago! You are now ungrateful!"
The liver transplant happened eighteen years ago.
Eighteen years ago, Zhou Lei and her husband Song Dalong had not conceived after marriage, and the hospital diagnosis result was that everything was normal.
Clearly healthy, but unable to conceive for a long time, the couple, through the introduction of acquaintances, met a very famous fortune teller. On the advice of the master, they adopted a child from an orphanage.
According to the master, Song Dalong and Zhou Lei were destined to be childless. If they wanted to change their fate, they had to adopt a child with siblings to change their fate.
Afraid that the adopted child would be too old and have memories that would make them hard to raise, the couple chose Song Hua, who was only ten days old at the time.
Coincidentally, half a month after Song Hua was brought back, Zhou Lei found out she was pregnant.
Nine and a half months later, Zhou Lei and Song Dalong's biological child was born.
The couple was very happy and named the child Song Baoyi.
Loved like a treasure, with the arrival of a phoenix.
In their eyes, Song Baoyi was a treasure held in the palm of their hands, a phoenix soaring for nine days.
But when Song Baoyi was seven years old, she was suddenly diagnosed with liver failure and only had a few months left to live.
This blow was like a bolt from the blue!
Song Hua's life took a turning point at this time.
Since then, Zhou Lei felt very displeased whenever she saw the healthy and lively Song Hua. Why was her own daughter suffering from illness at such a young age, while this little wild child adopted from the orphanage was living the life of a wealthy young lady with plenty of food and clothing!
Zhou Lei blamed all of this on Song Hua, believing that Song Hua had taken what originally belonged to Song Baoyi.
This illness should have been Song Hua's!
Although Song Hua was young, she also sensed the change in her parents' attitude towards her. At a young age, she put away her childishness and her smile.
But even so, Zhou Lei still disliked her.
When Song Hua didn't smile, she would say that Song Hua had a dead person's face and was a jinx.
When Song Hua smiled to please her, Zhou Lei would say that Song Hua was gloating, her own sister was about to die, and she could still smile, without any conscience!
In those difficult years, even Song Hua's breathing was wrong.
What did a seven-year-old child know that she had done wrong? She tried to make herself better, trying to make her parents like her more, but unfortunately, what she received was not her parents' love, but contempt, scolding, and beatings.
It was also at this time that Song Hua was found to be a liver match for Song Baoyi, and the transplant success rate was as high as ninety percent!
A month later, Song Hua and Song Baoyi were pushed into the operating room at the same time.
Song Hua originally thought that after the liver transplant, the whole family could live happily together.
Who knew that before Song Hua had recovered, Song Dalong and Zhou Lei wanted to send Song Hua back to the orphanage on the grounds that Song Hua was a jinx.
But they were afraid of being gossiped about if they sent her to the orphanage, so Song Dalong deliberately let his stepmother in his hometown, Wei Cuihua, know about this. Wei Cuihua had been a Buddhist for many years and would definitely stop them.
Sure enough, Wei Cuihua, who had been a Buddhist for many years, came over and took Song Hua back after hearing about this.
Because of the liver transplant, Song Hua's health had not been good over the years, with constant minor and major illnesses, and her body was very weak. Wei Cuihua tried many methods but failed to improve Song Hua's condition.
Hearing her third aunt say she was ungrateful, Zhou Lei's anger surged, "Ungrateful? Master Wu said that it was because of that jinx that our Baoyi got sick at such a young age! Baoyi's health has been bad all these years! It's all that jinx's fault! Have we ever blamed her? Every time my mother brought her over, didn't I serve her with good food and drinks? Now she even dares to enjoy the same treatment as Baoyi! What gives her the right? Besides, if we hadn't brought her back from the orphanage back then, she might have died long ago! The ungrateful person is her!"
Wei Cuihua had a biological granddaughter she didn't like, and even when she died, she was still thinking about an outsider. No wonder she died young!
Retribution!
The third aunt was so angered by these black-and-white reversed words that her chest hurt, "Hua Hua is not a jinx! She is your family's lucky star! She brought Baoyi, and she also saved Baoyi!"
Because Song Hua was destined to have younger siblings, Song Dalong and Zhou Lei had Song Baoyi.
Also because Song Hua's liver happened to be a successful match for Song Baoyi, Song Baoyi was able to turn the crisis into safety.
But now, Zhou Lei not only didn't know how to be grateful, but instead blamed everything on Song Hua.
In the end, the third aunt's voice already had a sob, "Do you know, Hua Hua is dying! I beg you to save her, this is your mother's only wish..."
Zhou Lei was unmoved, "This kind of jinx should die early and be reborn sooner, so as not to live in this world and harm others."
The third aunt just looked up at Zhou Lei. Over the years, the deceased Wei Cuihua often brought Song Hua home for short stays, just wanting Song Hua to get closer to Zhou Lei. Although Zhou Lei ignored Song Hua every time, she felt that the two still had a mother-daughter bond, but she never expected Zhou Lei to be so cold-blooded and ruthless.
After the third aunt left.
Song Baoyi walked down the spiral staircase and glanced at the door, "Mom, who just came?"
"Who else could it be?" Zhou Lei's eyes held contempt.
"Someone from the countryside?" Song Baoyi asked tentatively.
Zhou Lei nodded.
As expected.
Song Baoyi narrowed her eyes, "What did they come for?"
Zhou Lei was still angry, "That old woman is also senile, she even wanted us to bring that jinx back before she died! What bad luck!"
Song Baoyi narrowed her eyes, "Mom, did you agree to let her come back?"
Zhou Lei said, "Of course not!"
Song Baoyi took Zhou Lei's arm and said softly, "Actually, you should agree."
"Baoyi!" Zhou Lei turned to look at Song Baoyi, "I know you are a kind-hearted good child! But you must know that good people are often bullied! What qualifications does that little wild child have to live under the same roof as you? You are not people from the same world, she is not even worthy of serving you tea and water!"
Song Baoyi hugged Zhou Lei's arm and began to act coquettishly, "Mom, just let her come back! Now that Grandma is gone, elder sister is so pitiful alone."
Song Baoyi called "elder sister" repeatedly, sounding extremely affectionate.
"No." Zhou Lei's attitude was very firm, "Baoyi, I can agree to anything else you ask for, but not this! And she is not your elder sister!"
A little wild child, a jinx, what qualifications did she have to be Song Baoyi's elder sister?
"She is my elder sister." Saying this, Song Baoyi paused, "Moreover, elder sister also has a marriage contract with the Yu family! If she doesn't come back, how will we explain things to the Yu family?"
Hearing this, Zhou Lei turned her head in surprise, "You mean to let that jinx marry into the Yu family in your place?"
Song Baoyi shook her head, "Not in my place, Mom, have you forgotten? The one who had the marriage contract with Yu Tingzhi back then was the eldest daughter of the family."
Song Hua was more than ten months older than her, wasn't she the eldest daughter of the Song family?
Zhou Lei instantly understood the meaning behind Song Baoyi's words, "Baoyi, you're right! The Yu family's marriage contract has nothing to do with you! The one who has the marriage contract with that good-for-nothing has always been that jinx!"
Yu Tingzhi was the third child in the Yu family and a young talent.
At the age of ten, he could compose poetry and paint. By the age of eleven, one of his paintings could sell for nearly a million.
Otherwise, the Song family would not have gone to great lengths to become in-laws with the Yu family.
Unfortunately, all of this came to an abrupt end when Yu Tingzhi was thirteen years old.
At the age of thirteen, a car accident not only crippled Yu Tingzhi's legs but also damaged his brain. All his talent was gone, and Yu Tingzhi went from a great genius to a great good-for-nothing.
In the high school entrance exam, Yu Tingzhi only scored 8 points, not even enough to get into an ordinary vocational high school, making him a laughingstock.
Every child in the Yu family had graduated from a prestigious university. How could the Yu family's patriarch watch his beloved grandson not go to school?
So, the Yu family's patriarch spent money to get him into the best high school in the city, but a hopeless case is a hopeless case. Even though he went to the best high school, Yu Tingzhi still looked like a commoner in a dragon robe. He was the last in his class and couldn't even do elementary school math problems. Even his young nephews mocked him and looked down on him.
Later, the Yu family's patriarch no longer forced him to study and arranged for him to work in the family business.
Yu Tingzhi was even worse. Not only could he not understand financial statements, but he was also framed and finally kicked out by the company's board of directors.
Extremely embarrassing!
The current Yu Tingzhi not only lost his talent but was also a cripple who needed a wheelchair after walking three steps. Of course, the excellent Song Baoyi looked down on such a person!
Although Song Baoyi was only a senior in high school, she had already achieved success in various fields, winning numerous awards. Her life had many possibilities and would definitely not stop at Yu Tingzhi.
She was a well-known talented woman in Jiang City. Not wanting to take the initiative to break off the engagement, she thought hard and came up with this plan.
Most importantly, Song Hua was originally the eldest daughter of the Song family. If the outside world were to discuss it, this marriage should have been Song Hua's, and it wouldn't affect her reputation.
Moreover, a country girl wouldn't pose any threat to her. Furthermore, with such a country girl as a foil, she would appear even more like a white swan.
Zhou Lei frowned, "What if that jinx comes back and harms you again?"
Song Baoyi was her lifeblood, and she absolutely couldn't let anything happen to Song Baoyi.
"It won't happen, Mom! Didn't Master Wu say that as long as I turn eighteen, no one can harm me?" Song Baoyi said.
Zhou Lei trusted Master Wu very much. If it hadn't been for Master Wu back then, there wouldn't be the current Song Baoyi, "Then I'll discuss it with your father when he comes back tonight."
In the evening, Song Dalong returned home, and Zhou Lei told him about this matter.
Hearing this, Song Dalong laughed loudly, "As expected, like father, like daughter!"
It has to be said that Song Baoyi's idea was brilliant!
Although Yu Tingzhi was a well-known cripple, the marriage agreement between the Song and Yu families was already widely known. If they broke off the engagement now, it would definitely affect the Song family's reputation.
Wealthy families value these things the most.
"What if the countryside doesn't agree?" Zhou Lei was a little worried.
Although Song Dalong's stepmother was dead, there were still some poor relatives in the countryside, and poor people have many troubles.
"Being able to marry into the Yu family is a blessing that jinx has cultivated for three lifetimes!" Song Dalong's voice was angry, "They have no right to disagree!"
They were just some distant relatives who had nothing to do with them; they had no right to interfere in the Song family's affairs.
"You're right." Zhou Lei nodded.
Even if Yu Tingzhi was不堪, he was still considered a son of a prominent family. This marriage was indeed a high climb for Song Hua.
Inside a somewhat old tiled house.
Under the dim light, an old woman carried a bowl of medicinal soup to the bedside, looking at the girl lying on the bed and saying, "Hua Hua, you'll get better after drinking the medicine."
Song Hua looked at the old woman in front of her, stunned for a moment, and then it was as if something exploded in her mind.
She died.
And now she was alive again.
This girl was also called Song Hua, eighteen years old this year, with a troubled fate. She had been an orphan since childhood, longing for a home, but had been abandoned by her family time and time again...
Thinking of this, Song Hua sighed softly.
Silly girl, isn't it better to rely on yourself?
Why put your hopes on others?
Seeing her sigh, the old woman asked with concern, "Hua Hua, are you still feeling unwell?"
"Third Grandma." Her voice was a little hoarse, her original voice unrecognizable. She took the bowl handed over by Third Grandma with both hands and took a sip of the medicine, "I'm much better, you don't have to worry."
Third Grandma continued, "Your mother called yesterday. She also found a doctor for you, saying she'll come to pick you up and take you home when you wake up."
It was strange. Zhou Lei had previously disliked Song Hua very much, but in just two days, Zhou Lei seemed to have become a different person.
Go home?
In the original owner's memory, she had always longed for her parents to take her back.
Hearing Third Grandma's words at this moment, Song Hua felt an uncontrollable joy surge from her heart. This was the original owner's remaining belief.
When the original owner was terminally ill, all she dreamed of was family reunion.
Seeing that Song Hua's complexion was not bad, Third Grandma continued, "I'll go call your mother back."
"Okay." Song Hua nodded slightly, watching Third Grandma's retreating figure, her eyes slightly moist.
She had a premonition that going home would not be so simple.
The environment of Xiushui Village was very good, with beautiful scenery and surrounded by the sea on all sides. It was a very typical fishing village.
The local customs here were simple and honest. Because it was protected, there had never been cremation. Over the years, it still retained the tradition of burial.
The scenery on the mountain was very beautiful. It had rained lightly last night, and at this time, white mist curled up in the mountains, like a fairyland on earth.
At this moment, two figures were walking up the mountain.
The slightly shorter man turned his head to look at the tall and slender man beside him, "Third Brother, what are we doing here?"
"Playing."
The man who spoke was wearing work pants, a black T-shirt, and black sunglasses that covered most of his face. Only a delicate jawline could be seen.
The whole person looked cool and cold, with a kind of untamed wildness.
This was the well-known cripple in Jiang City.
Yu Tingzhi.
The person standing beside Yu Tingzhi was Wang Dengfeng, the eldest son of the Wang Group.
Wang Dengfeng turned his head to look at Yu Tingzhi, narrowing his eyes, "Third Brother, are you kidding? What's there to play in this wilderness?"
Yu Tingzhi pursed his thin lips, without explaining, pushed aside the thorns under his feet, and continued walking forward.
"By the way, I heard that your fiancée's hometown is in Xiushui Village." Wang Dengfeng continued, "Should we go take a look by the way? I heard she also has an older sister who grew up in the countryside."
"You said," Yu Tingzhi thought for a moment,
"Song Jinfeng?"
"What Golden Phoenix! Her name is Baoyi!"
"Oh." Yu Tingzhi's expression was indifferent.
"Third Brother, how can you not even
remember your own fiancée's name?"
Hearing this address, Yu Tingzhi's thin, cold lips curved into a faint, intriguing arc.
After a moment, he asked in return, "So what?"
His voice was low, with a faint smell of tobacco.
So what?
How could there be someone like Yu Tingzhi in the world who didn't know how lucky he was to be blessed.
Wang Dengfeng was speechless, "Third Brother, the whole of Jiang City envies you for having such a good fiancée, yet you're so indifferent!" He couldn't even remember her name!
If this were to spread, those in Jiang City who admired Song Baoyi could drown Yu Tingzhi in their spit.
Song Baoyi was not only a famous talented woman in Jiang City but also had the beauty of a celestial being. Although she was already engaged, there were still countless people pursuing her.
In comparison, Yu Tingzhi was a good-for-nothing.
He had a leg disability, a bad temper, no education, and most importantly, no business talent whatsoever.
Yu Tingzhi acted as if he hadn't heard Wang Dengfeng's words and turned his eyes to the other side.
"Third Brother, what are you looking at?"
Wang Dengfeng also curiously followed his gaze.
This look made him slightly stunned.
He saw a slender figure carrying a bamboo basket walking through the forest.
The young girl was wearing a very simple wine-red dress. The fitted style accentuated her slender waist. The mountain breeze gently blew, causing the red skirt to flutter in the wind, as if she could ride the wind and return at any time. Surrounded by the misty air, she looked ethereal and illusory, like a banished immortal from the nine heavens, her beauty somewhat unreal.
Although her face couldn't be seen clearly, this temperament was probably unmatched even by Song Baoyi, the famous beauty of the capital.
Just then, she suddenly bent down and reached out to pick a brightly colored wildflower by the side.
With this movement, the red collar slightly drooped, revealing a section of snow-white skin, like a touch of white snow among the cold-blooming red plums, with jade-like bones and ice-like skin, extremely eye-catching.
Yu Tingzhi leaned over and covered Wang Dengfeng's eyes with his hand, "Indecent sights should not be looked upon."