"She'll marry Xu Yinchen tomorrow, and that's final!" Qin Zhong's cold words echoed in Qin Lian's ears, her chest tightening as the weight of it all bore down on her.
So it was all true—she had woken up in the world of a novel she had read some time ago, but not as the heroine.
In the story, the original Qin Lian had reacted to this situation with anger, humiliation, and hatred.
She despised Xu Yinchen, venting out her anger and frustration on him, treating him and his three children cruelly, blaming them for her misery.
Even after marrying Xu Yinchen, she shamelessly clung to Lin Chengyan, constantly causing trouble for him and Mu Ruoyu.
Her actions not only tarnished her reputation but also dragged Xu Yinchen's name into disgrace.
Her recklessness knew no bounds, and one incident nearly cost the Xu family dearly. Her carelessness almost started a fire in the Xu family home, putting the children in grave danger.
It was the final straw for Xu Yinchen's patience, who divorced her after this, unable to endure her arrogance and thoughtlessness any longer.
Divorced and abandoned, Qin Lian fell into ruin.
Deceived by a perverted man from the city, she ran away with him, only to be taken advantage of and discarded like trash. What little dignity she had left was stripped away, leaving her with nothing.
Once a proud and overbearing lady of the Qin family, she became nothing more than a joke; isolated, despised, and forgotten.
In the story, her downfall wasn't even given a proper ending. The author didn't bother to show it, just a passing mention of an accident and her death in one of the chapters, while the focus remained on the main leads.
While the main leads lived their happily ever after, Qin Lian's tragic fate was nothing more than a small part of this story.
"I was so happy when Qin Lian finally got her retribution in the novel," Qin Lian sighed, recalling the scenes from the novel clearly. "She stopped bothering the main leads and disappeared from the lives of Xu Yinchen and the kids."
"Who would've thought I'd wake up inside the novel… as her?" She groaned in frustration.
From one living hell to another.
She had gotten into an accident in her world, and now… was she really meant to meet such an unreasonable end here, too?
"That girl was such a fool," Qin Lian muttered bitterly, thinking about the original host's actions. "Chasing after things that were never yours is nothing but foolish," she added, her voice low.
She had been fooled by Chen Zhihao for three long years, believing in a love that never truly existed. She couldn't help but see herself in the original host, the same desperation for love, the same hunger for attention.
But that was where the similarity ended.
She would never allow anyone to trample over her self-respect for the sake of a forced love.
Nor would she be foolish enough to push away someone's kindness just to chase after cold indifference.
…..
Downstairs, the Qin family was gathered as they discussed Qin Lian's marriage.
"I'll call Xu Yinchen's village," Qin Zhong declared, his tone allowing no argument.
"The wedding will proceed tomorrow as planned. I'll tell them to come and pick Qin Lian up. It's better than letting them go to the Mu family and discovering about the bride swap. We're not irresponsible like the Mu family."
Zhao Shuying frowned. "But won't that be troublesome? If we call them here, we'll have to host them properly; arrange a wedding banquet, gifts, and a wedding dress."
"Ever since Mu Ruoyu returned, the Mu family has completely let go of the wedding preparations. If we don't handle this well, it will seem like we're mistreating Qin Lian."
Qin Zhong scoffed. "They're not coming for a feast, just the bride. And a wedding dress? What for? This isn't some grand ceremony. She has so many fancy clothes anyway. They're just taking her away. A simple welcome would be enough."
His voice turned colder. "Qin Lian should be grateful we're even hosting this wedding after everything she pulled today. If it were anyone else, they would have cut ties and thrown her back to the Mu family."
"You're right. She embarrassed us enough," Zhao Shuying muttered, her voice tight. "Causing a scene in front of the Lin family… If she dares to pull something like that tomorrow—"
"She won't," Qin Zhong cut in sharply. "She knows her place now and has no choice."
"Dad, will Sister accept this marriage? What if she refuses...."
~Creak~
The room suddenly fell silent as the door upstairs creaked open. The three people who had been discussing Qin Lian's future instantly stopped talking, their expressions stiffening as they turned to see her, awake and slowly coming downstairs.
Qin Lian met their gazes as she walked down calmly, each step careful, her head still heavy. Zhao Shuying pursed her lips and frowned, while Qin Zhong's face remained cold and stern, clearly displeased.
No one had forgotten the chaos she caused that morning; crying, throwing things, arguing, humiliating Mu Ruoyu in front of the Lin family, and even threatening to kill herself to stop the marriage.
She had caused such an embarrassing scene, so loud it must have spread across the compound by now, painting them as cruel parents forcing their daughter into marriage.
Qin Lian stepped into view, her yellow dress stained with dried blood, the bandage on her forehead making her look weak and pale. She moved slowly, each step deliberate, an unsettling calm surrounding her.
The crazed, manic look from the morning was gone.
"You're awake," Zhao Shuying finally said, forcing a smile. "How are you feeling now? Does your head still hurt?" She tried to sound calm and normal, afraid of triggering her off again.
Qin Lian's gaze swept across the room, steady and unreadable. "I'm fine. It still hurts, but it's manageable," she replied calmly.
Qin Zhong glanced at Qin Lian, who looked calm and composed, as if the chaos from that morning had never happened.
He snorted and turned his head away, choosing to ignore her. He was afraid this girl would drive him mad to the point he'd lose his temper.
Mu Ruoyu stepped forward, her voice soft and laced with concern."Sister, you shouldn't be walking around. You're hurt and still weak. Please go back and rest. If you need anything, just tell me. I'll take care of everything."
Qin Lian, who had been quietly observing everyone, suddenly stilled.
That voice…
Her gaze locked onto Mu Ruoyu, the same girl who had been standing quietly behind Zhao Shuying moments ago, now stepping forward to play the role of a caring sister.
This oddly familiar face…Hah! Fate is really a joke.
Qin Lian's lips curled slightly in mockery, her voice slicing through the silence like a sharp blade. "Who is your sister?"