Chapter 2: 2. Chapter 2 Caught in Bed

Chapter 2: Caught in Bed

The sun set and the moon rose; the stars shifted and time flowed on.

The eastern horizon gradually began to reveal a hazy light.

Song Jin did not know how long she had been unconscious, only that when she woke, she was lying with a man.

The man was about sixteen or seventeen years old, with a gaunt face and perfectly refined bone structure. At this moment, his eyes were tightly shut, his brows slightly furrowed, and a thin layer of sweat clung to his smooth forehead, as if he were having a nightmare.

This man was clearly the eldest grandson of the Qin family’s main branch, the very same Qin Chi who had died young—the man her younger half-sister had married in her past life!

She had lost consciousness after drinking the egg-drop soup Song Xiu had given her, and upon waking, she was in bed with Qin Chi!

Song Xiu was her own sister. Although they were not born of the same mother, they were still sisters by blood. Why would she treat her this way?

This had never happened in her past life...

*Creak.*

The door was pushed open.

Song Xiu and an old woman entered the room one after the other.

The old woman was dark-skinned, thin, and slightly hunched. Her hair was combed into a meticulous bun, and her murky eyes held a hint of shrewdness. As she entered, her old eyes scanned Song Jin up and down.

Song Jin recognized this person; she was Old Madam Liu, the wife of Old Man Qin.

"Sister, how could this happen! How could you and him..."

Song Xiu’s expression was delicate and soft, her large eyes watery, yet they could not hide her wild ambition and sense of certainty.

Song Jin looked coldly at Song Xiu. With just this one glance, she formed a bold hypothesis.

It wasn't just her who had returned; Song Xiu had also returned. It was likely that Song Xiu was dissatisfied with her marriage in the past life and had come up with this desperate scheme.

Furthermore, fearing that she wouldn't admit to it, she had even brought a witness along.

Song Jin felt deeply disappointed in Song Xiu. As the eldest legitimate daughter of the Song family, her only thought had been how to clear the Song family’s name, while Song Xiu only cared about petty romance!

"Eldest Miss Song, now that you and Qin Chi have reached this point, the only option left is for the second miss, Song Xiu, to marry my Mingsong."

Old Madam Liu’s wrinkled eyes stared fixedly at Song Jin.

Old Man Qin had spoken of the marriage as soon as he returned.

Song Xiu had come to find her earlier, claiming that her sister, Song Jin, had fallen ill years ago and the doctor had said she would have difficulty conceiving.

When Old Madam Liu heard this, how could she let it slide?

Her precious youngest son was destined to pass the imperial examinations and become a high official; how could he have a wife who couldn't bear children!

Song Xiu then suggested that they let Song Jin and Qin Chi "cook the rice until it was done," so that Song Jin would be unable to marry Qin Mingsong.

Old Madam Liu agreed immediately.

Under Song Xiu’s instigation, Old Madam Liu sent someone to pass a message to Qin Chi, who was still at the academy, claiming there was an urgent matter.

Qin Chi, suspecting nothing, hurried back. After drinking a cup of tea that had been prepared in advance, he, like Song Jin, lost consciousness.

Old Madam Liu and Song Xiu had moved the two of them onto the bed together, then appeared at the right moment.

"Aunt, I have no objection to marrying Qin Chi. Please step outside; I have something to discuss with my half-sister."

Song Jin did not fly into a rage. She spoke calmly to Old Madam Liu, deliberately changing the address from "sister" to "half-sister."

Old Madam Liu looked slightly startled, as if she hadn't expected Song Jin to be so composed. This made her even more certain that Song Jin must indeed have a fertility issue; otherwise, why would she be so agreeable?

"Sister, are you really willing to marry Qin Chi?"

After Old Madam Liu left, before Song Jin could speak, Song Xiu’s face lit up with joy.

Song Jin’s face darkened. Her voice was not loud, but her presence was imposing. "Song Xiu, kneel down."

Song Xiu was shocked and naturally refused. "Sister, what are you doing?"

Seeing that she wouldn't kneel and was still arguing, Song Jin reached out and slapped her.

"Do you still remember that I am your sister? The Song family has suffered such a catastrophe; it is already difficult enough for us sisters to have survived. Yet you would frame your own sister—it is not excessive for me to slap you!"

Song Xiu covered her face. She had to admit, she had truly been startled by Song Jin’s aura just now.

But even so, she didn't think she was wrong.

"I just wanted to secure a good husband for myself! What did I do wrong? I’ve asked around; Qin Chi is a sickly weakling who won't live long! I don't want to become a widow shortly after getting married!" Song Xiu said, half-truthfully.

A cold sneer tugged at the corner of Song Jin’s mouth. Her gaze toward Song Xiu was filled with disappointment. "If you truly wanted to marry Qin Mingsong, you could have told me the truth. But you chose to use such base methods, showing no regard for our blood ties!"

She hadn't expected Song Xiu to actually speak her true thoughts. Song Jin became even more certain that she had also been reborn.

As for "asking around," that was merely a cover.

But she couldn't understand it. Whether in her past life or this one, she had always been good to Song Xiu, yet Song Xiu showed no regard for sisterly affection, treating Song Jin’s purity as nothing. Did she not know what would become of a woman who lost her purity in this world?

Song Xiu realized that her eldest sister was different from before; that kind of aura was not something one could possess at such an age.

For now, they were living under someone else's roof; they really shouldn't burn bridges.

Thinking of this, Song Xiu instantly burst into tears and hugged Song Jin, crying, "Sister, it was all because I was momentarily confused. I hope you can forgive me!"

If this were in the past, Song Jin would have taken this performance to heart, but now she only found it incredibly ironic.

Song Jin pushed Song Xiu away. "Since things have come to this, go and marry the man you want. From now on, our sisterly bond is severed. I hope you get what you wish for."

Song Xiu thought marrying Qin Chi was a miserable fate, but Song Jin sneered inwardly—Qin Mingsong was no prize either.

Since her half-sister wanted this marriage, she would let her have it and let her taste the life of a widow in all but name.

In her past life, Song Jin and Qin Mingsong had treated each other with the respect of guests. On the surface, they were a harmonious and enviable couple, but in reality, she had suffered in silence.

Qin Mingsong had already had a sweetheart before they married.

Song Jin felt guilty for taking his sweetheart's place, so she never spoke of it to outsiders.

Little did she know, Qin Mingsong had secretly kept that woman as a mistress outside, and they had even had a son and a daughter.

For seven years, Song Jin remained childless. When Qin Mingsong passed the imperial examinations, no matter how others urged him, he refused to divorce his wife to remarry, claiming he would never abandon his "coarse-grain wife," earning great praise from the people for miles around.

But who knew that after seven years of marriage, she, Song Jin, was still a virgin?

Later, when Qin Mingsong became an official, he only took his mistress and their children with him, leaving her, his legal wife, behind in their hometown under the pretense that she was staying to serve his parents, which earned him even more of a good reputation.

Thinking of this, Song Jin actually felt that being a widow wouldn't be so bad.

At least it wouldn't be as disgusting as swallowing a fly.

"Sister, are you serious?"

Song Xiu couldn't believe Song Jin would so easily hand over such a good opportunity.

"Absolutely."

Song Jin’s expression was calm.

"In that case, I am deeply grateful. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, feel free to come to me."

Song Xiu shed a few hypocritical tears, but as she turned to leave, a smile appeared on her face.

She finally didn't have to marry that sickly weakling. In the future, she would be the wife of a high official, living a life of luxury.

As for letting Song Jin come to her? That was just polite talk.

*Cough, cough, cough...*

After Song Xiu left, a man’s coughing sounded in the room.

Following the sound, Song Jin met a pair of deep, imposing eyes. Those pupils looked calm, but they hid a sharp edge, as keen as a hawk’s.

Qin Chi stared fixedly at Song Jin.

A moment later, as if coming to his senses, he self-deceptively raised his arm to rest on his forehead, his sleeve covering half his face and his eyes. The intimidating aura from just a moment ago vanished completely, as if a fierce tiger had suddenly turned into a sick cat, naturally exuding a frail and sickly air.

Song Jin was stunned.

Was this person’s presence... a bit too low?

In the heat of the moment, she had actually forgotten there was someone else in the room.

Had he heard those words just now?

Recalling her conversation with Song Xiu, Song Jin felt a wave of relief. Fortunately, she hadn't mentioned the word "rebirth," or it would have been too shocking and impossible to explain.

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(End of chapter)