Chapter 2: Why Don't You Give Such Good Fortune to Your Daughter?

A flash of trance passed through Hao Liping's eyes as she listened to Chen Xiuping's words. Aside from Lu Beiting's impeccable face, her mind was filled with nothing but a critical mother-in-law and a sister-in-law who loved to pick fights.

She gave a cold snort, then hugged Chen Xiuping's arm and whispered, "Mom, you don't understand. Once Gu Yunshen gets into university, he's going to settle down in the city. As for that Lu Beiting, hmph, don't even dream about it. He's a cripple!

Besides, Mom, what's there to fear? Just let Xia Zhi marry him. Marrying a man with a First-Class Merit—she'll probably be secretly gloating about it."

As she spoke, a trace of hatred flashed in Hao Liping's eyes. In her previous life, Lu Beiting had been injured on the battlefield and returned to the compound to recuperate, but the injury had damaged his foundation, leaving him unable to have children for the rest of his life.

Because of this, she had been implicated; everyone around her cursed her for being an "egg-laying hen that can't hatch," and she was eventually mistreated by her mother-in-law every single day.

Meanwhile, Xia Zhi and Gu Yunshen's lives in the city grew better and better, eventually even becoming big bosses.

However, in this life, she had been reborn, and a month earlier at that. So, a month ago, she had already been showering Gu Yunshen with warmth and care, hooking up with him.

In the future, the boss's wife would only be her. She would leave the title of "Commander's Wife" to Xia Zhi and let her live a life of widowhood.

Today's incident was intentional; she had sent Xia Zhi away, wanting to ruin her reputation and make her an object of scorn. Who knew Xia Zhi would return so early?

A hint of resentment flashed in Hao Liping's eyes. How could this little slut live a better life than her?

Hearing her daughter's confident words, Chen Xiuping looked at her with confusion.

"Are you serious? Liping, Battalion Commander Lu looks perfectly healthy. How could he be a cripple?"

Knowing her mother didn't believe her, Hao Liping leaned into her ear and whispered.

"It's true, Mom. I have inside information..."

Chen Xiuping immediately covered her mouth, looking at her in shock, and asked again to confirm: "This... is it true?"

Hao Liping nodded seriously.

Chen Xiuping's expression turned solemn. If that were truly the case, she couldn't let her precious daughter marry him, otherwise, who knew how much suffering she would endure.

Wiping away her tears, Xia Zhi overheard the conversation with her sharp ears, her heart being jolted by shock again and again.

So, this Hao Liping was a regressor?

So, she was... forced into a marriage swap like this?

Regardless of whether that was the case, Gu Yunshen was already "tainted," and she felt disgusted. Moreover, Hao Liping was short-sighted, only looking at the surface of things.

It was true that Gu Yunshen eventually got into university, but later, driven by vanity, he would insist on settling in the city even if he had to borrow money.

In the end, the original owner had to pay it all back alone. It was also the original owner who had constantly urged and supported him, helping him rise step by step.

Once he became a big boss, Gu Yunshen appeared to be deeply in love with the original owner on the surface, but in private, he harbored resentment for her pressure and frequently committed domestic violence against her.

After a moment of hesitation, Chen Xiuping looked at Hao Dazhuang with determination.

"Husband, since things have already come to this, in my view, Yunshen and Liping are... already set.

It's better to just go along with the mistake. As for Battalion Commander Lu's side, let Zhi-zi marry him.

After all, Zhi-zi has been eating and living with our family all these years; she might as well be considered half a daughter. It's the same thing."

Xia Zhi was speechless. What did she mean by "eating and living with them"? The Hao family took advantage of the original owner having no parents, using the guise of adoption to actually treat her like a maid.

It wasn't just the Hao family; the Gu family was the same. Once they knew the original owner liked Gu Yunshen, they called her "future daughter-in-law" constantly, but in reality, they made her do all the dirty and heavy work.

They had enjoyed nearly three years of the original owner's service for free.

As expected of a female lead in a "Great Female Protagonist" novel—no matter how much she worked, she wouldn't die.

Because of this, the female lead, who should have been twenty, looked malnourished. Standing next to Hao Liping, the difference was night and day.

She was not going to take this loss!

Hearing about the switch, Gu Yunshen frowned. If he married Hao Liping, wouldn't people in the community point fingers at him?

Besides, everyone in his family liked Xia Zhi; she was efficient and obedient.

"Zhi-zi, I was wrong about this. I misjudged people."

As Gu Yunshen spoke, there wasn't a hint of an apology in his tone; it sounded more like he was doing her a favor.

Anyway, Xia Zhi liked him so much, she certainly wouldn't mind. Even if she did, it would just be because she was too petty.

If he really married Hao Liping, she would regret it then. She could go hide and cry.

Xia Zhi rolled her eyes in exasperation. So, she was basically just a scavenger picking up his leftovers?

"Brother Yunshen! How can you be like this!"

Before Xia Zhi could speak, Hao Liping, who was beside her, began jumping around in anxiety. They had already slept together; how could he say something so irresponsible?

If he was unwilling to marry her, wouldn't she end up marrying Lu Beiting in the end?

Thinking of that suffocating married life, she trembled with fear, her face pale as she gripped Chen Xiuping's sleeve tightly.

"Mom, I want to marry Brother Yunshen."

Looking at her daughter, Chen Xiuping patted her hand with heartache. "Liping, don't worry. Now that Mom knows that place is a pit of fire, I certainly won't let you jump in."

Then, she looked at Xia Zhi across from her and spoke with great benevolence, "Xia Zhi, the Hao family has raised you for so many years. Besides, marrying Battalion Commander Lu is a blessing you've cultivated over several lifetimes."

If she hadn't known about the Battalion Commander...

She really wouldn't have been willing to let this little slut Xia Zhi marry him.

"A blessing? Then why don't you give this blessing to Hao Liping? After all, she's your biological daughter."

Xia Zhi laughed out of sheer anger, staring at the people before her with hatred. Where was her knife!

Now she could be absolutely certain that Hao Liping had returned from the future.

Chen Xiuping glared at her with fury. "Xia Zhi, we are doing this for your own good. Don't be ungrateful!"

If she refused, she would make sure Xia Zhi couldn't even marry Lu Beiting, and instead marry off some bachelor in the town.

In short, she would never let her own daughter suffer grievances.

Xia Zhi's hands clenched into fists at her sides, and a wave of bitterness surged in her heart—likely the original owner's emotions.

Zhang Xiao, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, was startled and immediately grabbed Gu Yunshen.

Who in this compound didn't know that Xia Zhi had liked Gu Yunshen since childhood, and that the Gu family had long treated her as a daughter-in-law?

"This... Yunshen, is this how you treat Zhi-zi? You... you are truly muddled!"

Zhang Xiao's eyes drifted toward Xia Zhi, as if she didn't dare to look at her.

All along the way, just hearing about it had frightened her quite a bit. How could he do something so foolish? Now the news had spread everywhere.

People were saying the two were shameless, actually sneaking into a fiancée's room to hook up.

Since they had already done it, and he was going to marry Zhi-zi later, wouldn't they be talked to death?

"Zhi-zi, this is Yunshen's fault. Don't worry, your kindness over these years has been seen by me. I have long treated you as my own biological daughter.

For my sake, let this matter go. From now on, I will treat you just like my own daughter."

(End of Chapter)