"Today is New Year's Eve, and all Grandma looks forward to is a family reunion. Have you ever thought, if you died, could Grandma's body withstand it?"
A voice devoid of warmth rose above her head.
Gu Qiaoqiao looked up abruptly as if possessed.
Such words, faintly familiar.
Memories from long ago flooded in like a tide.
Her heart thudded.
Reminding her, this was not a dream.
She, it seemed, had returned to the past!
Eleven years ago, she and Qin Yize had just gotten married. That day was New Year's Eve morning, when Qin Yize went out to meet with classmates, and she wanted to follow, but was refused.
Bai Yun, who lived next door and was her only friend in the Qin Family, advised her that to deal with Qin Yize, she had to "cry, make a scene, and threaten to hang herself."
Otherwise, his high school classmates would spirit him away, and he would never want her again.
At that time, her mind was filled with nothing but Qin Yize, because since marrying him, he had been indifferent and distant towards her. She loved him, loved him madly, loved him persistently.
She would try anything if there was the slightest chance.
So, when Qin Yize was about to leave, out of love and to show her commitment to that love, she hurled herself against the cold wall.
She fainted right then and there.
Naturally, Qin Yize indeed did not leave.
Because Mrs. Qin, out of extreme agitation, also collapsed to the ground.
What was supposed to be a festive New Year's Eve ended with both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the hospital.
Fortunately, the issues were not serious, so after much turmoil, they returned home.
But by then, it was already afternoon.
The Qin family were both hungry and exhausted, and had to endure the finger-pointing from neighbors. Since then, a label of shame was attached to her face.
But this was just the beginning.
Thinking of this, Gu Qiaoqiao clenched her hands and lowered her eyes.
Seeing Gu Qiaoqiao remain silent, Qin Yize ran out of patience.
He gave a cursory glance at the young girl on the bed and turned to leave.
His tall figure, straight as a pine, soon disappeared into the bedroom.
Gu Qiaoqiao zoned out for a moment, then suddenly turned over and got out of bed.
Standing on the pearwood flooring, even with socks on, the coldness of the moment rapidly reached her feet.
She hesitated no longer.
Swiftly, she walked to the window.
The windows of the Qin Family's house were large, spacious and bright, but slightly old-fashioned; the frames were carved with patterns, and they had a bolt at the bottom.
She bit her lip, trembling as she unlocked the bolt and flung the windows open.
A piercing chill instantly struck her face and body.
The sun was bright.
And splendid.
Because of the sudden cold air, her lips trembled, and her teeth chattered.
She was still alive, this was real.
Though it wasn't time for the New Year's meal yet, children were setting off firecrackers outside.
In the yard, the tall crabapple tree still stood firm.
This was the old residence of the Qin Family in the Imperial Capital.
One of the ancestral homes of the Qin Family, it was quite large.
With the wing rooms and garden included, it covered more than eight hundred square meters.
Later, because too many things happened and it became unbearable to stay, they sold it and moved to another neighborhood.
Since it was an apartment complex, naturally, they no longer had this quaint and elegant old yard.
Gu Qiaoqiao slowly closed the window and looked at the calendar on the desk.
February 8, 1986, New Year's Eve!
Then glancing at the wall clock, exactly 14:00 in the afternoon.
She went to the mirror in front of the large wardrobe, and her body suddenly stiffened.
The mirror reflected a girl with a ghastly pale face and trembling lips.
Her dark hair was somewhat disheveled, and as she opened her mouth, she let out two "ah... ah..." sounds, her voice a bit hoarse, but she could still speak.
She was wearing a red sweater, and, incredibly, green pants below.
It was an odd look.
But her eyes were astonishingly bright.
The bruise on her forehead was now very obvious.
Gu Qiaoqiao parted her hair, took the scissors, and cut herself bangs that hung down askew, perfectly covering the injury on her forehead.
The other side revealed her arched and delicate brows, making her eyes appear even more lustrous.
The memories of her past life were engraved in her heart.
She knew that in one more hour, Bai Yun from next door would come.
At first, she gently comforted Mother Qin, then went to her room and praised herself for doing well; at that time, she naively believed it.
She was completely obedient to Bai Yun's every word.
Because Qin Yize really didn't manage to come.
He even spoke to her.
Keep in mind, although they had been married for six months, he left on their wedding day and hadn't sent a letter or made a phone call since then.
Moreover, on the night of his return, not only did he not touch her, but he barely even spared her a glance, let alone spoke to her.
Of course, she was apprehensive—other than Grandma Qin speaking to her, the rest of the Qin Family treated her like a stranger. Thus, Bai Yun became her main source of support.
Then, Bai Yun incited her to kneel on the ground on the first day of the New Year's while the Qin Family was hosting Old Grand Master of the Qin Family, cry about Qin Yize's indifference and neglect, question if Qin Yize had a woman outside, and ask Old Grand Master Qin to decide for her...
And she did just that.
It was the one time in her life she considered herself most brave.
But she forgot that she was dealing with the Qin Family.
Claiming Qin Yize had a woman outside, she not only lacked evidence, but she also turned herself into a joke for Second Uncle of the Qin Family and his relatives to witness.
Moreover, she forgot that day was New Year's Day; she cried so pitifully, she committed a great taboo.
Thus, that day became a nightmare for the Qin Family and the beginning of her own nightmare.
She had almost driven Old Grand Master Qin to the hospital with anger.
He pointed at Qin Xuan's nose and scolded: "Family misfortune."
And she, like a stray dog, could only hide in her bedroom and weep pathetically.
She was really foolish.
How could she be so foolish?
Gu Qiaoqiao clenched her hand tightly, her fingernails digging into her palm, causing a piercing pain before she slowly let go.
Being foolish once was enough.
Her tears streamed down her cheeks.
At the same time, a surge of ecstasy welled up within her.
Right now, she and her parents as well as her twin siblings were all alive and well!
She hadn't been sold off to the mountains, subjected to so much inhumane torment.
Her father hadn't lost his job because of her, and her sister hadn't taken out high-interest loans after her father's death and her mother's illness, leading to her suicide in despair.
Her brother hadn't gone to settle scores with the Qin Family for her sake, accidentally injuring Qin Xiaoyu in the process.
Her brother hadn't gone to prison, and the college-going Qin Xiaoyu hadn't had his right kidney removed because of the stabbing...
Grandma Qin hadn't passed away because of this incident.
Gu Qiaoqiao bit down hard on her lip,
Heaven had shown her mercy, allowing her to start over again.
She was endlessly grateful.
The tragedies of her past life, now, in the future, would not happen again.
She and Qin Yize were just a mistake.
Although she was reborn after their marriage, she was satisfied.
She could get a divorce.
From then on, she would stay far from the Qin Family, far from Qin Yize.
A separation best for both, wishing each other peace and happiness!