Chapter 1: Framed

"Bang!" With a deafening crash, the bedroom door was kicked open with great force, slamming against the wall before rebounding.

The commotion at the Liu family’s home startled the neighbors. Several families in the alleyway dropped what they were doing and ran out of their homes to see what was happening.

Ma Cuihua’s eyes were bloodshot as she glared at the man and woman huddled together on the bed. She lunged forward, grabbed Lin Qin by the hair, and dragged her off the bed, screaming hysterically, "You shameless, loose-living slut! You actually lured a wild man into my house! I’ll beat you to death, you shameless bitch!"

Ma Cuihua’s curses flowed in an endless stream. With one hand still clutching Lin Qin’s hair, she used the other to land several vicious slaps across her face.

Lin Qin was jolted awake by the pain.

Seeing that familiar, youthful face before her, the hatred in her heart ignited like a spark in dry grass, spreading rapidly. Even though she knew she must be dreaming, she didn't care; she lunged back, using every ounce of her strength to grab Ma Cuihua’s hair and bit down hard on her arm.

"Ah!"

A shrill, piercing wail tore through the air.

Ma Cuihua rolled on the ground in agony, but even as she dragged Lin Qin down with her, Lin Qin refused to let go.

Liu Yongguo and his wife had never expected the usually timid and easily bullied Lin Qin to fight back, let alone bite Ma Cuihua like a rabid dog. They were both so stunned they forgot to react.

Ma Cuihua’s youngest daughter, Liu Li, was the first to snap out of it. She rushed toward Lin Qin, punching and kicking her. "Let go of my mom, you shameless bitch, let go of my mom!"

Lin Qin winced in pain. The physical sensation told her that all of this was real—it wasn't a dream!

Listening to the neighbors whispering and pointing fingers nearby, she suddenly understood.

She had been reborn! She had returned to the moment her nightmare began in her previous life.

It was these very people: Ma Cuihua, Liu Yongguo, Xu Manzhi, and Liu Li.

They had framed her by planting a strange man in her bed to cement the accusation of marital infidelity. Then, they had summoned her family, leading to her being brutally beaten by her own kin.

No one listened to her pleas. The final result was that she was dragged back home by her family amidst a barrage of insults and forced into a divorce.

Her home village wouldn't take her in, and with nowhere left to turn, she had chosen to end her life by jumping into the river. Unexpectedly, by a twist of fate, she had been saved by another victim of that same night.

Although she survived, she lived the rest of her days under the judgment of others. Her daughter was bullied and mocked because of her, and she spent her life in the Liu household working like a beast of burden, treated worse than livestock.

She had lived in constant depression, falling gravely ill in her forties. With no money for treatment, she lingered for two years before ending her miserable life in agony.

Seeing the man on the bed lying motionless—clearly still unconscious—she realized she had to save herself!

"Didn't you hear me tell you to let go of my mom? You shameless woman!" Liu Li raised her foot, ready to stomp down.

Lin Qin’s daughter, Liu Yaya, rushed out just in time, clinging tightly to Liu Li’s leg. "Little Aunt, don't hit my mom, don't hit my mom! My mom isn't that kind of person, wuwuwu..."

Liu Li nearly fell from the sudden embrace. Enraged, she kicked Liu Yaya away. "You little brat, get out of my way!"

Liu Yaya rolled twice on the ground, wailing in pain.

The hatred in Lin Qin’s eyes intensified. She released Ma Cuihua, scrambled up from the floor, and clamped her hands around Liu Li’s throat. "Bullying my daughter? I’ll kill you!"

Ma Cuihua’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She screamed in terror, pounding the floor. "Oldest! Quick! Beat this crazy woman to death! She’s going to kill your sister!"

Liu Yongguo and his wife immediately rushed forward.

Knowing she was no match for them, Lin Qin decisively let go, raked her nails across Liu Li’s face twice, and shoved her toward Liu Yongguo and Xu Manzhi.

"Ah, my face! My face hurts so much! Mom!" Liu Li covered her face and collapsed into the arms of Liu Yongguo and his wife, sobbing in terror.

Lin Qin’s reaction had caught everyone off guard.

Liu Yongguo was completely incensed. "You bitch! I’m going to kill you!"

"Bang!" With a loud crash, Lin Qin smashed a small ceramic jar used for pickling vegetables near Liu Yongguo’s feet and screamed at the top of her lungs, "Call the police! Call the police! Uncles and aunties, I’ve been framed! I don't even know the man on that bed! Whoever calls the police for me, I’ll give them five yuan!"

The expressions of the four Liu family members shifted instantly.

Ma Cuihua shrieked, "Don't call the police! She doesn't have any money, don't believe her! Lin Qin, you have no shame, but our Liu family does! Nobody is allowed to go!"

Lin Qin sneered, "I’m telling you, I’m calling the police today! I’ll own up to what I’ve done, but don't you dare try to pin your filth on me!"

Seeing Lin Qin’s firm and certain demeanor, the neighbors didn't think she was lying. Furthermore, Lin Qin was usually honest and low-key, not the type to be promiscuous. Some began to believe her, but no one dared to move. Five yuan was a lot, but they still had to live here; offending the Liu family for five yuan wasn't a wise move, not to mention that Lin Qin might not even have the money.

Seeing that no one was moved, Lin Qin’s heart sank to the bottom.

Just then, Lin Qin’s father, Lin Yi, and her second uncle and aunt, Lin Zhi and Li Lian, arrived.

As soon as Li Lian entered the room, she charged toward Lin Qin aggressively.

Lin Qin knew this woman wanted to hit her.

Just as Li Lian raised her hand, Lin Qin dodged quickly.

Li Lian’s palm slammed heavily against the cabinet; the sound alone was painful to hear.

Li Lian winced, clutching her hand as she cursed, "You dead girl! You do something so shameless and you still dare to dodge? Our Lin family must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to have birthed a shameless slut like you!"

Lin Qin swept a cold gaze over Li Lian, showing no respect for her as an elder.

In her past life, it was Li Lian who had spread rumors in the village, making it impossible for her to stay in Shanglin Village, eventually leading her to jump into the river.

Li Lian was startled by Lin Qin’s gaze, her momentum weakening, but she still stiffened her neck and scolded, "Am I wrong? You did something so shameless, and I can't even scold you?"

Lin Qin didn't argue with her; she only looked at her father, who stood there honest, dull, and completely lost.

Lin Yi was only in his early forties, but his hair was already half-white, making him look old and weathered. He had no sons, only two daughters. Her older sister had married far away and only returned once a year for the New Year. The other was her.

In her past life, when she survived the river jump, she had been too ashamed to return to the village. Lin Yi had lived his life in lonely poverty, suffering bullying in the village, and hadn't even received fair treatment during the village's development compensation—all because of her!

Lin Qin suppressed the ache in her heart, walked over to Lin Yi, and gritted her teeth. "Dad! Go to the police station and help me report this. I’ve been framed. This matter must be cleared up today!"

"What did you say?" Lin Yi looked at Lin Qin in disbelief, then glanced at the Liu family. Seeing them avoiding his gaze, his heart sank a little.

Lin Zhi, standing to the side, frowned. "Second niece, you can't just say things like that! You’ve already lost your reputation; if you make a big scene, your father won't be able to show his face in public anymore!"

Lin Qin glanced at the hypocritical Lin Zhi and smiled calmly. "Thank you for the reminder, Second Uncle, but I am definitely calling the police today! If the police also say I brought a wild man here, I’ll kill myself right here to give everyone an answer! But if I didn't do it, no one is going to frame me!"

Lin Zhi looked at Lin Qin in surprise. In his memory, Lin Qin had always been a quiet, mousy girl who couldn't even let out a fart if she tried. When had she become so fierce?

Lin Yi snapped out of his daze and nodded repeatedly. "Okay, okay, okay! Dad will go right now."

He believed that the daughter he had raised himself was not the type to be loose.

Just as Lin Yi reached the door, he paused and turned back to ask, "Which way is the police station?"

(No tormenting the protagonist, no tormenting the protagonist, no tormenting the protagonist—important things must be said three times. The female lead will face more obstacles in the beginning, but everything will be resolved properly~)

(End of chapter)