The last thing Qin Xue heard were two terrifying "thump, thump" sounds. A speeding BMW had struck her, sending her body flying through the air before she crashed onto the hard pavement.

As she lay there, her life flashed before her eyes. She thought of her mother, who had passed away years ago, and felt a deep longing to see her again.

Just moments ago, she had been leaving her job at the hospital, excited to meet her best friend for dinner and karaoke. Now, she was lying in a pool of blood.

Passersby screamed, calling for the police and an ambulance. As the world grew cold and dark, Qin Xue didn't notice the jade pendant around her neck. Soaked in her blood, it gave off a faint, mysterious glow.

When Qin Xue finally opened her eyes, she was met with sharp pain and dizziness. She groaned, squinting at the white ceiling above her. The air smelled strongly of old-fashioned disinfectant.

I must be in a hospital, she thought.

She looked around the room, expecting to be alone. After her mother died when she was five, her father had remarried. She had been pushed aside by her stepmother and half-siblings, finding love only with her grandparents. She had planned to visit them soon—but as she looked closer at her surroundings, something felt very wrong.

The ceiling was peeling, with chunks of plaster ready to fall off. Suddenly, a woman in her early thirties walked in. She was wearing a faded floral shirt, old black pants, and worn-out leather shoes. In her hand, she carried a red thermos decorated with peonies and a large "Double Happiness" character—the kind of thing people used as wedding gifts back in the 1980s.

What year is this? Qin Xue wondered, baffled by the woman’s outdated clothes.

"Who Are You?"

The woman, Fang Hong, rushed to her side. "Qin Xue! You're awake! Does anything hurt? Tell me, and I'll call the doctor."

Qin Xue blinked in confusion.

"Excuse me... who are you? Are you talking to me?"

Fang Hong froze. "Of course I'm talking to you! I'm your sister-in-law, Fang Hong. Don't you recognize me? Oh no, did you hit your head too hard? Wait here, I'll get the doctor!"

Before Qin Xue could say another word, Fang Hong ran out of the room. A moment later, she returned with a man named Dr. Chen. He was dressed in a very old-fashioned medical uniform.

"Dr. Chen, please look at her," Fang Hong pleaded. "She doesn't even know who I am!"

As Dr. Chen reached out to check the large bump on the back of her head, Qin Xue winced. "Ouch! It hurts!"

The physical pain was real, but the confusion was even stronger. She was Qin Xue, but this wasn't her hospital, this wasn't her era, and this woman definitely wasn't her sister-in-law.

__________

After checking the large bump on the back of Qin Xue’s head, Dr. Chen Hao looked at her kindly. "How are you feeling now? Where does it hurt?"

"I'm dizzy, my head is throbbing, and I feel a bit nauseous," Qin Xue replied. As a doctor herself in her past life, she recognized these as classic symptoms of a concussion.

"That’s to be expected," Dr. Chen said. "You hit your head hard and lost a lot of blood. Your concussion is quite serious." He turned to the worried woman standing nearby. "Fang Hong says you don't recognize her. That’s likely because a blood clot is pressing on your nerves, causing temporary amnesia. Once the swelling goes down, your memory should return."

He carefully unwrapped her bandages. "The wound is healing well. I’ll have the nurse change your dressing in a bit."

"Thank you, doctor," Qin Xue said softly.

Fang Hong watched the exchange, her mind racing. "Dr. Chen, can she eat now?" she asked, remembering that Qin Xue was not only recovering from an injury but was also two months pregnant.

While Qin Xue had been unconscious, Fang Hong and another neighbor, Yu Xiu, had been taking turns looking after her. It wasn't an easy task, and honestly, Qin Xue wasn't well-liked in the research institute compound.

The "old" Qin Xue was known for being loud, unreasonable, and having a terrible temper.

Every day, neighbors could hear her screaming at home. Rumor had it that she had used underhanded tricks to force the handsome and successful Chu Molin into marrying her, stealing him away from the institute's resident beauty, Su Yun.

Fang Hong had tried to be friendly when Qin Xue first moved in, but Qin Xue had been rude, telling her to mind her own business. Now, with Chu Molin away on a research mission, it had fallen on the neighbors to make sure she—and her unborn baby—survived.

"Keep it to light, liquid food for now," Dr. Chen advised. "Her stomach won't be ready for a heavy meal yet."

Once the doctor left and the nurse finished changing the bandages, Fang Hong helped Qin Xue to the restroom. "I'll go to the cafeteria and get you some porridge after this," she offered.

"Thank you, Sister-in-law," Qin Xue said. Moving made her head spin, but she managed to get back to bed with Fang Hong’s help.

Left alone in the quiet room, Qin Xue lifted her hands and stared at them. Her heart skipped a beat.

In her previous life, she was a surgeon with fair, elegant hands. These hands were the right shape, but they were thin, dark, and rough. She touched her face and felt the different texture of her skin.

She knew Dr. Chen was wrong about the amnesia. She hadn't forgotten her life; she had simply woken up in a completely different one.

I died in that accident, she realized, a chill running down her spine. I’ve been reborn into the body of another woman named Qin Xue. She was now a pregnant housewife in the 1980s, married to a man she didn't know, and living in a community where everyone seemingly hated her.

_________

Waking up in a body named Qin Xue without a single memory of this new life was terrifying. Qin Xue felt completely in the dark.

What do I do? Who are these people? she wondered. If I'm stuck here, I need to figure out how to survive.

As she was lost in thought, Fang Hong returned with a rectangular metal lunchbox.

"Qin Xue, I brought you some food," Fang Hong said, opening the box to reveal porridge and steamed buns. She moved to feed Qin Xue, but Qin Xue gently stopped her.

"Sister-in-law, please just help me sit up. I can feed myself," Qin Xue said. Even though her head was spinning, her pride as a former independent doctor made being spoon-fed feel very strange.

Fang Hong looked surprised—the "old" Qin Xue would usually have demanded even more service—but she helped prop her up with a pillow.

"Have you eaten yet, Sister-in-law?" Qin Xue asked before taking a bite.

Fang Hong blinked, even more shocked by the sudden politeness. "I'll eat after you're finished," she replied.

The food was simple. The porridge was bland, and the steamed bun, filled with pork and vermicelli, didn't taste nearly as good as the food Qin Xue used to cook for herself. But she knew her stomach couldn't handle anything heavy yet, so she forced herself to finish the bowl and half a bun.

"I’m full now. Please, go eat your own meal," Qin Xue insisted.

Once Fang Hong left to wash the dishes and eat, Qin Xue closed her eyes. The dizziness was overwhelming, but her mind was clear. Everything—the clothes, the hospital, the old-fashioned thermos—pointed to the fact that she was no longer in the modern world. She had truly traveled back decades in time.

I have to make the best of this, she told herself. But I worry about my grandparents. How will they cope with my death back home?

Exhausted by the mental strain, she drifted into a deep sleep.

When she woke up again, the afternoon sun was streaming through the window. Beside her bed sat a new woman quietly knitting a sweater. This woman looked to be in her thirties, but unlike Fang Hong, her clothes were fashionable and high-quality. She carried herself with a calm, refined air.

Noticing Qin Xue was awake, the woman put down her knitting.

"You're up. Are you thirsty? Do you need to use the restroom?"

"The restroom, please," Qin Xue said, feeling the effects of the morning porridge.

After helping her back to bed and pouring her some warm water, the woman sat back down. Her attitude wasn't mean, but it was a bit cold and distant.

"I'm Yu Xiu," she explained.

"Fang Hong and I are taking turns looking after you. If you need anything, just let me know."

Qin Xue realized the system: Yu Xiu, whose children were younger and in kindergarten, took the day shift. Fang Hong, whose son was older and in junior high, took the night shift.

It was a lot of work for neighbors to do for someone who apparently hadn't been very nice to them.

"Sister-in-law Yu Xiu, why don't you go eat first?" Qin Xue said softly. "Just bring me some porridge whenever you're done. There’s no rush—take your time."

Yu Xiu looked at her, noting the quiet, gentle tone that was so unlike the "old" Qin Xue. Without a word, she nodded and headed toward the cafeteria, leaving Qin Xue alone with her thoughts once again.

__________

Li Lan entered the room carrying acupuncture equipment. "Have you eaten yet, young lady? Should we do the acupuncture now, or would you rather wait?"

"I haven't eaten yet," Qin Xue replied.

"Let's go ahead with the acupuncture. Yu Xiu hasn't come back yet anyway."

"Alright, let's get started. Hand me your arm." Li Lan expertly disinfected the skin with alcohol, found the vein, and inserted the needle. Once the IV was secured with tape, she packed up her supplies. "Be careful not to move too much. I'll be back later to check on the medicine."

"Thank you," Qin Xue said, watching the fluid slowly drip into her arm.

Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion. She felt completely lost, unsure of who she was supposed to be in this world beyond the name "Qin Xue." What was her future supposed to look like here?

As the medicine bottle was nearly empty, Yu Xiu returned. She was carrying a lunchbox and two boiled eggs. "Oh, you're mid-treatment. Do you want me to feed you the porridge now, or will you eat when you’re finished?"

"Let's wait," Qin Xue sighed, feeling a wave of nausea. "I really don't have much of an appetite right now."

"That’s to be expected," Yu Xiu said gently. "Between the injuries, the blood loss, and the pregnancy, it's no wonder you feel unwell."

Qin Xue froze. Pregnancy?

Yu Xiu continued, oblivious to Qin Xue’s shock. "You really have to be more careful. If you hadn't been found in time that day... well, with that much blood loss, you might not have made it, let alone the baby. It’s a miracle you're both okay. I don't know what we would have told Chu Molin when he returned."

Qin Xue suddenly choked on her own saliva, coughing violently.

"Oh! Are you alright?" Yu Xiu rushed over, patting Qin Xue’s back until the coughing fit subsided. She quickly poured a glass of water and handed it to her.

"Yu Xiu," Qin Xue gasped, her voice trembling. "What did you just say? I’m... I’m pregnant? Does that mean I’m married?"

Yu Xiu looked at her with a mix of confusion and pity. "Well, yes. Didn't you know? And of course you're married—how else would you be pregnant?"

She paused, taking a seat by the bed. "Listen, Qin Xue, I’m not trying to lecture you, but once you're better, you should really try to make things work with Chu Molin. Stop the constant arguing. He might be a man of few words and have a bit of a cold exterior, but he’s a good man. He gave up everything he had just to marry you. Fighting like this only hurts your relationship and it isn't good for the baby, either."

Qin Xue realized this was her chance to get some answers. "Sister-in-law... the doctor told me I have a blood clot in my head. It’s pressing on a nerve, and I’ve lost a lot of my memory. I honestly don't remember any of this. Can you tell me more?"

Yu Xiu softened. She wasn't usually one for gossip, but her husband, Xu Fangzhou, had urged her to help Qin Xue for the sake of Chu Molin's reputation and career.

"I don't know every detail," Yu Xiu admitted. "But I can tell you what I know."

"Please," Qin Xue pleaded, her eyes welling with genuine emotion. "I'm waking up to a life I don't recognize. Finding out I'm pregnant on top of everything... I just don't know what to do."

"There's only one thing to do," Yu Xiu said firmly but kindly. "Focus on getting healthy and protecting that baby. When Chu Molin gets back, start fresh. Just try to live a good life together."

________

Yu Xiu noticed the IV bag was nearly empty, so she called the nurse to change the bottle. Once things settled down, she finally began to fill Qin Xue in on her past—or at least, the version the rest of the world knew.

"To be honest," Yu Xiu started tentatively, "I don't know you or Chu Molin that well. Most of what I know is just talk from the other families in the military housing complex."

She glanced at Qin Xue, worried about her reaction. "Please don't be angry, okay? The rumor is that Chu Molin didn't really want to marry you. People say you tricked him into it, though I don't know the exact details of how."

Qin Xue listened intently, her heart sinking as the picture of her "past self" became clearer.

"The word around the research institute was that the prettiest girl there was dating Chu Molin, and everyone expected them to get married," Yu Xiu continued. "But then, you supposedly intercepted him while he was out on a research mission.

You caused a massive scene and demanded he take responsibility for... something. He felt he had no choice but to marry you to save his reputation."

Yu Xiu sighed. "Shortly after that, your family pressured him to bring you here to live with him. But since you arrived, there’s been nothing but trouble. Your constant arguments even got Chu Molin in trouble with his superiors. Then, while he was away on his latest mission, you got injured and ended up here. That’s really all I know."

Yu Xiu looked embarrassed. It felt awkward to recite such unflattering gossip directly to the person involved.

Qin Xue, however, wasn't angry at Yu Xiu. She realized that while Yu Xiu seemed distant, she was actually quite observant and honest. She’s someone worth having as a friend, Qin Xue thought. Even if we don't become best friends, she’s been incredibly kind to me while I’m at my lowest.

"It’s alright, Sister-in-law," Qin Xue said gently. "I asked you to tell me. I have no memory of any of this, so I was completely in the dark. If anything, I should thank you. Without this information, I’d probably keep offending people without even knowing why—though it sounds like I’ve already offended everyone in town."

It was clear to Qin Xue that the original owner of this body had left behind a total disaster. Since I'm in this body now, I have to fix this reputation, she decided. For the sake of my future and this baby, I need people to see that I’ve changed.

Yu Xiu looked at the girl in the hospital bed. Qin Xue seemed so calm and reasonable—nothing like the "troublemaker" the neighbors described. She began to wonder if the rumors had been exaggerated.

Once the IV drip was finally finished, it was time to eat. Yu Xiu had been thoughtful enough to keep the porridge and eggs warm by placing the lunchbox in a basin of hot water.

The porridge was thick and flavorful, topped with some savory pickled cabbage that sparked Qin Xue's appetite. To her own surprise, she polished off the entire lunchbox and both eggs.

Feeling a bit embarrassed by her huge appetite, Qin Xue handed the empty container back. "Um, Sister-in-law... I'm all finished."

Yu Xiu saw the blush on Qin Xue's face and laughed softly. "Hey, don't worry about it! It's just a box of porridge. You're eating for two now—you need the strength!"

_______

After a week of careful nursing by Fang Hong and Yu Xiu, Qin Xue was finally cleared to leave the hospital.

The research institute sent a car to pick them up and bring them back to the residential compound.

As the car pulled up to the entrance, Qin Xue saw a large, imposing sign: [Name] Research Institute.

Two soldiers stood at the gate, their posture as straight as pens. When they recognized the vehicle, they snapped into a sharp salute. The disciplined, solemn atmosphere of the place stirred something in Qin Xue. In her previous life, she had always admired researchers. She had dreamed of pursuing a master’s degree and diving into scientific projects herself, but her father had intervened, forcing her into general surgery instead.

I only worked as a surgeon for two years before that accident brought me here, she mused. Now, I haven’t just skipped the dating phase; I’ve jumped straight into marriage and motherhood.

The driver, a young soldier named Xiao Zhao, signed the entry papers and drove them to the family quarters. "Sisters, wait here with the bags," he said kindly as they climbed out. "I’ll return the car and come back to help you move your things upstairs."

"No need, Xiao Zhao," Fang Hong chirped, grabbing a bag. "We don't have much. We can handle it ourselves. Go on and get back to your duties."

Qin Xue, still feeling like a stranger in her own life, simply nodded and followed their lead. As Xiao Zhao drove away, the three women headed toward the apartment building.

Under the shade of the large trees near the entrance, a group of women from the compound were huddled together gossiping. When they saw the group approaching, their eyes locked onto Qin Xue.

"Isn't that Chu Molin's wife?" one whispered loudly. "She’s actually out of the hospital already?"

Qin Xue didn't know these women, but she didn't want to cause a scene. She simply offered a polite smile and a small nod before following Fang Hong and Yu Xiu up the stairs.

As soon as they were out of earshot, the gossiping intensified. "What's she acting so proud for?" one woman sneered. "She's shameless. If she hadn't trapped Chu Molin with those schemes of hers, he never would have looked at her."

"Hey," a woman named Su Xiaoyan interrupted, her tone sharp. "If she had the skill to 'scheme' her way into marrying Deputy Section Chief Chu, maybe you’re just jealous you didn't think of it first?"

Su Xiaoyan didn't particularly like Qin Xue, but she hated the petty gossips even more. Besides, her husband served under Chu Molin, so she felt a duty to defend the Chief’s wife.

"Su Xiaoyan! How can you say that?" Zhang Cuihua snapped, looking like she wanted to slap her. "Everyone knows how she ruined his life. Are you trying to defend a woman like that?"

"I’m just saying what I’m saying," Su Xiaoyan replied coolly, completely unfazed.

Nearby, hidden behind a large tree, another woman named Bai Jing watched the scene unfold. Her face was pale, and she dug her nails into her palms to hide the ache in her heart. She, too, had feelings for the outstanding Chu Molin.

However, Bai Jing lived in constant fear of another woman: Su Yun. To the rest of the world, Su Yun—the granddaughter of the former director—was a gentle, kind beauty. But Bai Jing knew the truth. She had once secretly witnessed Su Yun push a rival dancer off a high stage, breaking the girl's leg and ending her career, all while coldly declaring that no one stole a role from her.

Terrified of Su Yun’s ruthless nature, Bai Jing kept her love for Chu Molin a deep, painful secret, praying she would never end up in Su Yun’s crosshairs.

___________

When Bai Jing first learned that Chu Molin wouldn't be marrying the terrifying Su Yun, she was so happy she wanted to dance. But that joy turned into a murderous rage when she found out why: he was marrying Qin Xue instead.

To Bai Jing, Su Yun was untouchable because of her powerful family. But Qin Xue? She was just a "shameless woman." Bai Jing couldn't stand that someone she considered inferior was reaping all the benefits of being Chu Molin's wife.

Determined to ruin her, Bai Jing had spent months acting like Qin Xue’s best friend. She fed the foolish woman terrible advice, encouraging her to act out and cause scenes. This was the real reason Qin Xue’s reputation in the residential building had tanked so quickly—Bai Jing had been pulling the strings the whole time, making sure Chu Molin grew to loathe his new wife.

Things took a dark turn when Chu Molin went away on a research mission. Su Yun approached Bai Jing and threatened her: "Lure Qin Xue out for me, or else."

Bai Jing saw a perfect opportunity. She could use Su Yun to get rid of Qin Xue, and if anything went wrong, Su Yun would be the one to take the fall.

Bai Jing lured Qin Xue out under the guise of a friendly meeting. While they waited for Su Yun to arrive, Qin Xue kept gagging and dry heaving.

Bai Jing, being more observant, realized immediately that Qin Xue was pregnant—though the "original" Qin Xue was too dense to realize it, thinking she just had a stomach bug.

When Su Yun finally arrived, Bai Jing played it cool. "I brought her here, but I think she's sick," Bai Jing whispered to Su Yun. "She keeps vomiting and won't go to the doctor. Anyway, you two talk. I’m leaving."

As soon as Bai Jing was "gone," Su Yun exploded. She had spent years waiting for Chu Molin, convinced he was hers. Now, not only had this woman stolen him, but she was carrying his child.

"You're going to the hospital and you're getting an abortion!" Su Yun screamed.

The original Qin Xue might have been foolish, but she wasn't heartless. She knew how hard she had fought to trap Chu Molin—having drugged him to get him into her bed—and she knew he hadn't touched her since the wedding. This baby was her only tie to him.

She refused to back down.

The argument turned into a physical scuffle. In the heat of the moment, Su Yun gave Qin Xue a violent shove.

Qin Xue fell backward, her head striking a sharp rock with a sickening thud. Blood began to pool on the ground.

Terrified by the sight of the blood, Su Yun turned and fled.

But Bai Jing hadn't actually left. She had been hiding behind a tree, watching the entire scene with cold eyes. She saw the fall, saw the blood, and once Su Yun was gone, she quietly slipped away too, leaving Qin Xue to die alone in the dirt.

The original Qin Xue did die that day. It was in that moment of death that the soul of the "new" Qin Xue—the surgeon from the future—entered the body.

After being found and rushed to the hospital, the doctors feared she would be a vegetable. Bai Jing had spent the last week convinced she was rid of her rival. Hearing that Qin Xue had not only woken up but was now returning home with the baby still intact made Bai Jing’s blood boil with jealousy.

Why won't she just die? Bai Jing thought, her heart twisted with malice.

If the new Qin Xue knew what Bai Jing was thinking, she would probably laugh. The woman Bai Jing hated was dead—completely and utterly gone. And the woman who had taken her place was far more dangerous than the "idiot" Bai Jing remembered.

________

Following her sisters-in-law up to the third floor, Qin Xue stepped through the front door and nearly choked. The apartment was a disaster zone. Dirt, clutter, and trash were strewn everywhere, looking more like a local dump than a home.

Did the original owner ever pick up a broom? Qin Xue wondered, her surgeon’s sense of hygiene screaming in protest. How could anyone live like this?

Fang Hong and Yu Xiu dropped the bags inside. "Go get some rest, Qin Xue," Fang Hong said, looking around the messy room with a sigh. "I’m going to head home and start dinner. I'll call you when it's ready. Since you don't have any groceries here, you'll eat with us for the next few days until you're strong enough to go to the market."

Fang Hong had considered staying to clean, but it was getting late and her husband, Lao Xie, would be home soon. Besides, Qin Xue looked pale and fragile; they didn't want to pressure her to work while she was still recovering from blood loss.

As the two older women walked away, Yu Xiu whispered to Fang Hong, "Sister Fang, that house is a wreck. Since Qin Xue is still weak, why don't we come over tomorrow after breakfast and help her scrub the place? After spending time with her in the hospital, she doesn't seem like the nightmare the rumors described. I think she might have been led astray by the wrong crowd."

Fang Hong nodded thoughtfully. She lived on the same floor and had tried to help the "old" Qin Xue before, only to be met with rudeness. But this version of Qin Xue—whether because of the amnesia or the near-death experience—was gentle, polite, and actually quite pleasant.

"You're right," Fang Hong agreed. "Chu Molin is one of my husband’s best men. For his sake, and because she seems different now, we’ll help her get her life back on track."

Inside the apartment, Qin Xue felt a wave of exhaustion. Despite her inner "clean freak" wanting to tackle the mess immediately, her body simply wouldn't cooperate. She poked her head into the two bedrooms and confirmed what she suspected: they slept in separate rooms. It made sense—no man would be happy about a marriage built on a trap.

It was easy to tell which room was whose. One was Spartan and perfectly tidy; the other—the original Qin Xue’s room—was a chaotic explosion of clothes and clutter.

With a heavy sigh, Qin Xue found a set of clean sheets in the wardrobe, swapped them out, and collapsed onto the bed. She was out within minutes, sleeping deeply until a knock on the door woke her for dinner.

She splashed some water on her face, smoothed back her hair into a simple tie, and headed over to Fang Hong’s apartment. She felt a bit guilty going empty-handed, but she promised herself she would buy them a proper thank-you gift as soon as she could get to the shops.

She took a deep breath and knocked.

"Lao Xie, get the door! That should be Qin Xue," Fang Hong called from the kitchen.

A man named Xie Jun, the Section Chief of the institute, set down his newspaper and opened the door. "Ah, Qin Xue. Come in, come in. Dinner is almost ready."

"Hello, Section Chief Xie. I’m so sorry for the trouble," Qin Xue said politely.

She knew from her hospital stay that Xie Jun was her husband's boss. In this research institute, everyone was incredibly brilliant, but Chu Molin was legendary—the brightest star of them all.

No wonder he has so many admirers, she thought. To the rest of the world, he’s a beautiful flower, and I’m the pile of cow dung he’s been stuck in.

________