Revenge of the Brown Bear

During a zoo tour, an accident occurred when a brown bear pounced on my sister. I desperately blocked my boyfriend who wanted to rush forward to save her.

Afterward, everyone accused me of being cold-hearted, only Cheng Yu stayed by my side from beginning to end.

Five years into our marriage, when our daughter was four, he took us both to the zoo.

Halfway there, he suddenly opened all the car doors, using himself as bait to attract the brown bear to come feast.

Bears prefer living prey. No matter how desperately I protected our daughter, it was useless. He said frantically: "If you hadn't stopped me back then, Niannian could have lived! You owe us!"

I had my heart and lungs torn out by the bear, dying with resentment.

When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day of the tour.

1

"I already said I don't want this! Why does sister get to have hers bought in advance by brother-in-law!"

When I opened my eyes again, Shen Nian's voice immediately reached my ears.

I was still somewhat confused about the situation when the thing in my hand was suddenly snatched away.

"It was my thoughtlessness. Here, Niannian, this is for you."

The familiar voice immediately surged up hatred. I looked at the person beside me with eyes full of resentment, only to see Cheng Yu wearing glasses, smiling kindly at Shen Nian.

Wait!

This scene, this scene is clearly from five years ago!

Shen Nian waved her hand and knocked over the unscrewed coconut juice. The spilled liquid splashed all over me, and she said: "She already drank from it, I don't want it!"

The sticky liquid splashed on my dress, and she said with schadenfreude:

"Sister's clothes are dirty. What, are you angry?"

The exact same sequence of events. So I've been reborn?

Before I could react, I sat there stunned. Cheng Yu may have sensed he was being too attentive, affectionately grabbed my hand, and said with a smile: "No, Sisi is the most understanding!"

Looking at this hypocritical face before me, I suddenly smiled.

I'm back!

In my last life, when she provoked me like this, I who had some confidence after starting work didn't indulge her, asking her what she meant. Seeing Cheng Yu speak up for me, she angrily opened the door and got out of the car, causing the tragedy.

Afterward, everyone said it was because I argued with her that Shen Nian died.

They all said I killed my own sister.

But was that really true?

Then this time, I won't argue with her. Don't think about making me carry this blame!

I said calmly:

"Not angry. It's a pity about this dress. It cost half your monthly salary, and it's dirty the first time I wore it."

This dress was from last time for my birthday. Cheng Yu had sent gifts to my sister from far away, forgetting about me, his actual girlfriend, as compensation.

When Shen Nian heard this, her gaze moved from our clasped hands to this dress, and her face darkened.

I was such a fool in my last life to believe Cheng Yu's words that Shen Nian just had a childish possessiveness, never doubting them.

"Stop the car! Stop the car, Dad!"

Shen Nian screamed, kicking her feet against the driver's seat in front of her. My dad had no choice but to slow down.

"Niannian, we can't park in this area. I'll park for you up ahead, okay?"

"Stop the car! I said stop! I don't want to sit in the back with sister!"

You see, even if I don't argue with her, she'll find her own way to die.

My mom joined in persuading: "Niannian, be good. This is dangerous!" She didn't forget to scold me: "Shen Si! You're the older sister, can't you let your sister have her way?"

Cheng Yu also pulled her, coaxing softly: "Niannian, don't make trouble. I'll go out and buy you this brand of coconut juice again."

I sat on the other side, and filled with the hatred from my past life, I deliberately added: "Yes, yes, let him buy the expensive one, buy the 7.5 yuan bottle!"

Shen Nian looked back at me. I took a tissue and wiped my dress, giving her a provocative smile when no one was looking.

The two of them were secretly having an affair that caused my white death, I definitely wouldn't not take revenge!

In my last life, I never understood why my sister Shen Nian would be so concerned about the money my boyfriend spent on me.

Later I learned that Cheng Yu had a crush on Shen Nian in high school but missed his chance due to low self-esteem. After meeting me in college, because my face was somewhat similar to Shen Nian's, he persistently pursued me.

He and Shen Nian reconnected after we started dating.

Although Shen Nian wouldn't be with him, she liked to lead him on to buy things and pay.

At this time, she had set her sights on a bag, but because Cheng Yu didn't immediately agree, that led to the beginning where she threw a tantrum over a drink with him.

The expensive bag wasn't approved, but half a month's salary to buy me a dress—such an obedient dog not listening to her, of course she was angry.

"Stop the car—"

2

Her sharp scream scared my dad into stopping the car. I looked out the car window, and the brown bear outside had obviously heard it too.

The bear was some distance from the car. Shen Nian obviously saw it and probably thought there was no danger, leaving behind: "Mom, let's switch seats!"

Then she coldly pushed Cheng Yu away and with a bang, opened the door.

Shen Nian didn't know that bears are cunning and swift animals.

Just as the door opened, I saw through the car window that there was a bear about seven or eight meters behind the car.

The bear looked quite leisurely, showing no aggression at all.

But in my last life, it was this bear that caught Shen Nian and killed her with one bite.

I subconsciously clenched my fist due to the familiar scene. The pain of being bitten in my last life seemed right before my eyes. My daughter was still calling "Mommy, Mommy, it hurts" before she died.

The intense hatred brought my attention back to reality. Cheng Yu had obviously seen the bear approaching behind the car and quickly opened the door to get out.

"Niannian, come back, it's dangerous!"

As if to make it convenient for me to stop him, he didn't even close the door.

I pretended to shout "come back" twice, then painfully covered my heart.

When Shen Nian saw him get out of the car, she stood in place. Just as she turned back, she was instantly pounced on and knocked to the ground by the suddenly attacking bear.

"Ahhh—"

This time she walked a few steps slower and wasn't killed immediately. The bear's sharp claws slashed from her chest to her stomach, then bit her leg and dragged her back.

Shen Nian's screams quickly attracted the attention of the surrounding bears. The other bears thought it was time to eat, and several quickly came over.

When Cheng Yu saw this, his face turned pale as he rushed over. My parents also opened their doors, tentatively running over there.

In my last life, I saw my parents want to save but not dare to go forward. I told them to get in the car. Seeing Shen Nian couldn't be saved and the other bears were gathering, I desperately pulled Cheng Yu into the car, and our family survived.

Otherwise, with a dozen or so bears in the park all coming over, none of us would have survived!

But I helped them survive, and the survivors instead saw me as the only murderer.

Then in this life, if you want to live, live! If you want to die, then die!

3

I covered my heart, looking like I was having a heart attack, and sat in the car, conveniently locking this door.

My mom knocked several times from outside. Seeing me lying on the chair enduring some pain, she cursed, then heard Shen Nian's screams and pushed my dad to rush over.

Before Cheng Yu could get close, seeing the person he had secretly loved for years covered in blood and begging him for help, his mind went hot, and he rushed forward, tearing at the bear with his bare hands, trading himself for Shen Nian.

His thin body was no match for a brown bear. The bear seemed to find it amusing and didn't bite him to death directly, instead biting him bloody all over.

When Cheng Yu screamed, my mom had already gone forward, dragging Shen Nian back. A bear came from behind and directly slapped her to the ground. My dad behind couldn't even scream out, covering his mouth in terror and stepping back.

But bears aren't blind, still walking toward him step by step.

The park staff seemed to have noticed, and alarms sounded around us, with vehicles coming this way. I watched the tragic scene outside the car window through the window glass—no one would be spared.

In my last life, I saved my parents, but they survived and instead dragged me by the hair and pressed me to the ground, saying: "Why did you save me? I never wanted to live! I'd rather die with my daughter!"

At that time, I was locked at home without food or drink for many days. I unwillingly replied: "If you really didn't want to live, why didn't you dare rush forward then?"

In fact, once this fig leaf was torn off, even the last bit of family affection was gone.

They embarrassed and angry threw me out of the house, claiming I wasn't their daughter, telling everyone it was I who killed Shen Nian.

Then in this life, I won't be a good person.

Since none of you want to live, then go die!

When the rescue personnel arrived, I also rolled my eyes back and passed out, directly carried away by others.

The main reason my mom gave birth to Shen Nian was that I was born with a weak heart, and the doctor said I might not grow up, so my parents treated Shen Nian as their only hope. But no one expected I would live until now.

Even my daughter was born at risk of my life. Thinking of this, my hatred for Cheng Yu became increasingly uncontrollable.

I was lightly injured and the first to wake up in the hospital. Shortly after waking up, the police came to take my statement.

Because the zoo tour bus had an accident several years ago, small monitors were placed inside the car.

Obviously, the zoo bore no responsibility for the main cause of the accident. I truthfully stated the facts, then was taken to the intensive care unit.

Inside lay Shen Nian and Cheng Yu. In this life, he got his wish and saved his beloved, at the cost of losing an arm, with multiple tears, his left face mauled by the bear with over ten stitches, and still not awake.

Shen Nian didn't die this time. Her lower leg was chewed through, leaving terrifying claw marks from her neck to lower abdomen, plus some scrapes and fractures.

But at least both of them survived.

Sometimes, living is more tormenting than dying.

I asked the doctor about my parents' situation. Their injuries weren't serious. My mom had a piece of flesh torn from her arm to her shoulder. My dad got a concussion when knocked down, with scratches on his back. When the rescue personnel arrived, the bear didn't cause him any serious harm.

Several people were all unconscious. I ran some procedures and went home to rest for a few days, also bringing back their valuables I had claimed from the police to look through.

Hospital fees were expensive, so I used Cheng Yu's card to busy myself paying fees for several people. His password was Shen Nian's birthday, which I accidentally learned in my last life.

To prevent people from seeing I was too happy, I even applied a haggard-looking makeup in advance, anxiously rushing around several floors with a pile of documents. The surveillance cameras all recorded my "hardship."

Unfortunately, Cheng Yu is too useless now. His card was maxed out after just a few days of paying for himself and Shen Nian. I had no choice but to take my parents' passbook and ID card to the bank.

After all, I don't want to spend a single penny on these people.

4

Coming out of the bank after withdrawing money, there was a little girl at the hospital entrance.

The girl looked about four or five years old, with a little braid, squatting before her mother.

Her mother was crying at the hospital entrance. This scene wasn't uncommon.

People who come to the hospital, many can't afford treatment or can't be cured, and when they break down, they cry at the hospital entrance.

People came and went at the entrance, but no one stopped. The suffering of the poor at the bottom was too much; any minor illness could cost half a lifetime of savings. Most who came here were helpless.

I watched the little girl squatting before her mother, holding her mother's hand, not knowing what to do, my eyes reddening somewhat.

My daughter, when she died, was about this big too.

She also loved to hold my hand, saying: "Mommy, don't cry. An'an will be good."

But my An-An will never come back.

I hesitated, then approached and knelt before the two of them.

"Do you need help?"

The woman who had been crying heard my voice and nervously pulled her daughter close.

"Don't be nervous. I just think your daughter is very well-behaved."

I took the two of them to eat before returning to the hospital.

Standing in the hallway, I could hear the curses inside without even entering the door.

"My daughter, my poor daughter, it was all that heartless Shen Nian who harmed her! That bitch deliberately drank coconut juice in front of her!

"She couldn't stand seeing her sister do well, had to provoke her sister! When something happened, she hid in the car secretly gloating!

"My daughter! To have such a black-hearted sister..."

...

This was a regular ward. Since their passbook didn't have much money, some people in the same ward who didn't know the situation joined in.

When I pushed the door open, I pretended to know nothing. Seeing the two were awake, my tired face showed joy as I called: "Mom, Dad, you're finally awake! They want to take sister away!"

This made them forget about cursing me.

"What! On what grounds are you taking my sister away!"

"The police reviewed the surveillance. Your sister acted willfully, causing injuries to everyone in the car. The police are waiting for your sister to wake up to pursue responsibility!"

My mom sat up angrily.

"On what grounds pursue my Niannian's responsibility! You go, you go tell them it was all your responsibility! You didn't take good care of your sister!"

I lowered my head, hiding the hatred in my eyes.

5

"That's enough, what's done is done, stop making trouble!"

My dad called out from the bed, wincing in pain.

Compared to my mom, he was better at weighing pros and cons: "Niannian doesn't understand. You, the older sister, should work harder. It's good that when you had your heart attack, you were the only able-bodied person left in the family..."

His voice was kind, but it made my blood run cold.

All these years, my mom played the bad cop, and he played the good cop. Even in my last life when I went to the zoo before dying, it was he who "kindly persuaded" me to dispel my doubts and let go of my burdens.

The people around hearing his words looked at me with even more complex gazes.

My mom snorted coldly.

"Who knows if she was faking it!"

Before I could speak, a woman suddenly rushed into the ward from outside, saw me, and came directly at me.

"It's all your family who harmed my son! You compensate me for my son!"

It was Cheng Yu's mom!

I dodged behind my mom,

"Auntie, calm down! Cheng Yu hasn't woken up yet because he tried to save my sister! What I say as his girlfriend is useless! It's all my fault!

"I never thought Cheng Yu cared so much about my family, choosing unhesitatingly to save his sister-in-law between his girlfriend with heart disease and his sister-in-law!"

Cheng Yu's mom had always known her son liked whom, and also hoped that through me, her son could marry Shen Nian.

Because Shen Nian was doted on, the house they currently lived in was written in her name, and she was healthier than me.

His mother clearly knew who was better to marry.

Hearing my words now, as if some thoughts had been exposed, she looked somewhat embarrassed.

"My son is missing an arm, he'll be disabled for life! The doctor isn't sure if he'll wake up! This is all my fault!

"I failed to see in advance that your sister was angry and wanted to get out of the car, failed to stop her in advance!"

Her son's injuries made Cheng Yu's mother's eyes redden. I walked around between the several beds. Seeing she couldn't reach me, she backhanded slapped my mom who was hanging saline with no strength to fight back, and her bag heavily struck my dad's back lying on the bed.

Screams instantly became chaotic. The people around who wanted to push me to break up the fight saw me covering my heart, gasping for breath.

Seeing this, let alone breaking up the fight, they immediately supported me, afraid I'd pass out first.

After my mom was beaten until both sides of her face swelled up, and my dad was stepped on, screaming for mercy underfoot, doctors and nurses finally came over and took the person away.

I was supported to the lounge, but since I was the only able-bodied person, this matter still had to be handled by me.

Before meeting Cheng Yu's mom, I specially applied two shades lighter foundation, looking pale as if I could lie down and extort people at any moment.

I took the initiative: "Auntie, this is my family's responsibility. Really, my family is sorry for you..." Then I changed my tone "But Auntie, when I woke up, I accidentally saw Cheng Yu's phone. Cheng Yu and my sister seem to..."

I looked difficult, my expression bitter. Cheng Yu's mother felt somewhat guilty but raised her voice: "What time is it now, and you're still talking about this! I see you're deliberately changing the subject!

"My son is lying in there now, your family needs to give me an answer. Just tell me, how are we going to handle this..."

She had just calculated to one hundred thousand yuan when someone suddenly came saying Cheng Yu had woken up.

She then had no time to calculate with me, busy going to see her precious son.

6

I really wanted to witness Cheng Yu's pain, so I quickly followed.

"My hand! Where's my hand! Ahhh—"

I could hear the screams as I approached the door.

His mother went in to comfort him with a pained expression. I stood at the doorway, watching the person on the hospital bed with half his face wrapped in gauze and missing an arm.

In my last life, when I saved him, and the hospital announced Shen Nian's death, he grabbed my hair and smashed me to the ground, shouting: "Why did you stop me! It's all your fault! Why wasn't it you who died!"

My parents were right there, watching coldly.

No one saved me.

Finally, a nurse stopped him.

In this life, I didn't stop him. No matter how I looked at it, I felt he was crying more genuinely than in my last life.

Sure enough, even pain has levels. When the knife falls on oneself, one can't care about so-called loved ones anymore.

The moment he saw me, it was as if he had found an outlet to vent his hatred. He fiercely got out of bed and rushed toward me, shouting: "It's all you! Why didn't you stop me! Why didn't you stop me!"

Just as he was about to reach me, I raised my hand and gave him a big slap across the face, crying out:

"Enough! Do you think I don't know about those disgusting things you've done!"

Because I used enough force, plus it happened to hit the half of his face wrapped in gauze, blood instantly seeped out. His whole body, unbalanced from losing his arm, fell to the ground.

The originally watching Cheng Yu's mother screamed "murder" and went to help her son, while my hand still trembled slightly after the slap.

"You're my boyfriend, and between me and my sister, you unhesitatingly chose my sister! You've been unconscious these few days, and the collection texts from loan sharks for money he borrowed to buy luxury goods for her have been sent to my phone!"

The person on the ground covered his face and wailed. Seeing the crowd gathering, he still stubbornly shouted:

"You're talking nonsense! Nonsense!"

His mother also chimed in: "I knew you looked down on our family. Now it's like this, you have even more reason to dislike..."

I directly went crazy, slapped each of them across the face, then grabbed their hair and screamed:

"You lost an arm saving my sister, yet you wake up and blame me! I'm a person with heart disease—how could I stop you, a warrior charging madly for love!

"I haven't even blamed you for emotionally cheating on my own sister! Your chat page is full of 'darling'—if you loved her that much, you should have told me earlier, I would have stepped aside!"

After I finished, the people who rushed over pulled us apart. The wound on Cheng Yu's face split open again, blood covering everything. A doctor wanted to scold me, but I quickly covered my chest, looking like I was about to faint from being angered, scaring anyone from daring to say anything.

Cheng Yu was pushed back in again, his mother following behind, glaring at me twice. Considering my crazy attacking power, she didn't speak.

After Cheng Yu had his stitches redone and was pushed out again, I had already finished my craziness at my parents' side.

This fig leaf torn, and it wasn't me losing face anyway.

Soon the whole hospital knew about the fourth floor's pure love warrior who fell for his sister-in-law and charged at a bear for love.

Look, how inspiring!

7

When Shen Nian woke up, the first thing she did when she saw me was hatefully lie in bed, breathing heavily and cursing me.

"You get out! If it weren't for you, how could I be like this! You did it on purpose. I'll definitely call the police and arrest you!"

Looking at Shen Nian wrapped like a mummy, the resentment I carried from my past life finally felt somewhat satisfying.

But I just lowered my head and said helplessly:

"This is the consequence of your own insistence on getting out of the car, and you even implicated my boyfriend. He lost an arm for you! I have heart disease, and I don't know how we'll live in the future..."

Hearing me act weak, she instead felt somewhat proud:

"I didn't implicate your boyfriend. He volunteered to save me. Shen Si, what are you so proud of? Your boyfriend would risk his life to fawn on me!"

"He lost his arm and it's all your fault. Who told you to provoke me? You deserve to live like this with him! You both deserve it!"

Raised in the palm of her hand since childhood, she had never tasted such hardship. In her resentment and anger, she spoke without concealment, trying to hurt me, the only one unscathed in this accident, but it made Cheng Yu's mother who had rushed over darken her face.

Her son, at the risk of his life, saved this person who not only wasn't grateful but instead shamelessly slandered him.

Cheng Yu's mother thought of her son's screams during dressing changes and suddenly rushed forward.

"Little bitch, what nonsense are you talking about? Don't you know gratitude? For whom did my son become like this! Who deserves it?"

As she spoke, she moved to strike. My mom had one arm wrapped in bandages beside her and was no match at all.

"Shen Si, are you blind? Come help!"

I covered my heart, looking scared, not daring to approach.

"Useless thing—ah!"

Watching my mom being slapped aside, I satisfactorily took two more steps back.

Until the nurses cleared everyone out, Cheng Yu's mother was still shouting loudly: "You wait! I'll sue you! I'll sue you until you're bankrupt! Just you wait!"

I glanced at the chaotic ward and turned to chase after her.

"Auntie Cheng! Auntie Cheng!"

Just as I took her hand, I was shaken off. Cheng Yu's mother said with a dark expression: "Don't touch me. None of your family is any good!"

I awkwardly let go.

I spoke with apology: "Auntie, seeing Cheng Yu like this, why don't you consider matters between me and A-Cheng? After all, my family's affairs implicated him. I won't hold past grudges anymore. I just want to take care of him sooner..."

Cheng Yu's mother's eyes rolled, looking at me doubtfully: "You still want to take care of him now? You were so angry you directly used violence earlier! You don't want to find ways to hit my son, do you?"

I somewhat embarrassedly lowered my head.

"Auntie, it's because love is deep that hate is deep. I was blinded by anger at that moment. I can let go of the past. A-Cheng is like this now, to speak harshly, if he rejects you, you won't find a suitable match either!"

"Hey—what are you talking about!"

I earnestly persuaded: "Don't be angry, Auntie. Think about it, if you marry me, besides not being able to have children, not getting angry, not doing heavy work, my parents might not give a dowry and might even ask you for a bride price... but besides these, I will take good care of A-Cheng!"

Cheng Yu's face was incredulous, pushing me away with disgust.

"What nonsense are you talking about? My son will never marry you! Can't even lay eggs, and you still want a bride price?

"My son may be missing an arm, but after your family compensates us, he can still marry a healthy person! Get lost!"

Only then did I speak委屈ly: "But my family has no money left, only that house. It won't sell for much now, but maybe in ten-plus years it might be demolished..."

Seeing Cheng Yu's mother turn back, I quickly covered my mouth: "Auntie, I said nothing. That house is my sister's dowry. My mom would never sell it!"

Cheng Yu's mother looked forward, a smile appearing on her lips.

8

The money conflict soon erupted. When my parents realized I had used their passbook to pay medical bills, my dad even got out of bed.

"How dare you! You unfilial daughter, using my passbook money behind my back!"

My mom, seeing the decimal point move forward on the passbook, widened her eyes and asked me: "Medical fees don't cost this much! Tell me honestly, where did the money go?"

I innocently said: "Your medical fees didn't cost this much, but my sister's expenses were quite large. Adding up all the bits and pieces, it came to this much!"

"Where's your money? With such a big family incident, you're not contributing a single penny?"

I委屈ly lowered my head.

"Mom, where would I get money? You forgot the family expenses over the years during holidays, plus my sister's university living expenses, your and Dad's tour groups..."

All these years, after I started working, I diligently paid for this family.

The people listening were already frowning. My mom saw this and quickly interrupted.

"You shut up! You're just unwilling to pay!"

My mom glared at me. The two were about to say something when I showed them the court summons I had received.

"Mom, Auntie Cheng is suing our family!"

"What!"

My mom took the paper, looking somewhat guiltily at my dad.

After all, after people woke up in the hospital, she never even went to see them, busy with her precious daughter, always thinking I had handled it.

"Look at the boyfriend you found! What kind of boyfriend is this? A little trouble and he's suing his in-laws! A perfectly good family is being ruined by you!

"You solve this yourself. We won't go! This is all your fault!

"Give me your card. Your sister's follow-up treatment still needs money! As her older sister, don't think you can just walk away!"

I obediently handed over the card. Anyway, there was no money in that card.

"But, but he's suing Shen Nian..."

Only then did the two of them become anxious.

"What does this have to do with Niannian? He volunteered to save her! Really trying to extort our family..."

Even now, they don't think Shen Nian was at all at fault in this matter. The fault was all mine.

Although I had long stopped yearning for that familial affection, I still felt that familiar disappointment.

For her little daughter, my mom, with her arm in bandages, went to negotiate privately, but didn't want the other party's condition—let Shen Nian marry over.

My words were somewhat useful. Cheng Yu's mother clearly knew that with Cheng Yu like this, it would be hard to marry a healthy person. Rather than wanting a bride price and compensation, it was better to get a son her family liked, most importantly this person's dowry, plus a house.

My mom of course didn't want to marry her little daughter to a disabled person. She endured her anger and negotiated with the person.

"This is nonsense, completely nonsense! Cheng Yu is clearly Shen Si's boyfriend, how can he marry Niannian? No! Or marry Shen Si!"

Cheng Yu's mother's eyes glared.

"No? Then let's go to court! Your little daughter is the main person responsible for this accident. If you won't settle privately, we'll see you in court!"

My mom knew clearly who the main responsible party for this accident was, and she didn't want to make a big fuss.

"This... this, fine, if it's compensation, name your price!"

Cheng Yu's mother raised an eyebrow.

"300,000 yuan, not one penny less!"

"That much, aren't you just robbing us? Where would our family get that kind of money!"

Cheng Yu's mother glanced at me standing nearby.

"Don't think I don't know anything. Your family has a house! If you don't have it, just sell the house!"

My mom said she would consider it and dragged me away.

She couldn't bear to.

Just like in my last life at the critical moment, she only dared to watch, not daring to step forward.

They loved their healthy daughter Shen Nian, yet were unwilling to pay everything for her.

On the way back, my mom's calculating gaze fell on me.

"Sisi, let me introduce you to someone!"

9

I stood frozen in place. The warm sun was high, but I felt it chilling to the bone.

She was plotting against me again.

Unwilling to sell the house, unwilling to part with her little daughter, yet willing to part with me.

My mom was the least injured and was discharged early. With one hand, she made a table full of dishes for me.

I sat before the table, looking at a table full of Shen Nian's favorite dishes, expressionless.

I don't like fish, don't like celery, and don't eat cilantro.

Shen Nian was the exact opposite of me. Every dish on this table had cilantro.

Actually, in my last life, I had this kind of treatment once.

After the accident in my last life, after Shen Nian died, the two of them, having lost their retirement support, even though they disliked me, wanted to bind me.

After I was thrown out of the house by them and taken home by Cheng Yu the next day, they caused a scene at our door, wanting to take me home.

The reason was simple—marrying me to a relative in our hometown village could exchange a 100,000 yuan bride price plus a favor, and even when dying, buying land in the village could get a discount.

I was unwilling. At that time, although Cheng Yu accompanied me planning future revenge, he was also unwilling to spend this money.

At this time, I won a lottery.

Only 300,000 yuan, but it could make my mom personally cook a table of dishes for me. After I took out 100,000 yuan, she said the word "forgiveness."

This money was also the direct reason Cheng Yu married me. After marrying me, he took over this money, and only after the money was spent and our daughter was born, he had had enough of his fun and started his violence on me.

Thinking about it now, in my last life I used this money to exchange for my parents' satisfied later years, and five years of debauchery for my killer—truly stupid to the extreme!

"Come, Sisi, eat fish!"

I looked at the fish that had been served into my bowl and directly put down my chopsticks.

"Mom, I gave you all my cards. Don't use me to exchange for money."

My mom's face changed immediately after hearing this.

"You still have the nerve to talk to me about that card! There's nothing in that card! Where did all your money go?"

I didn't speak, just stared at her fixedly.

Perhaps considering she still needed something from me, my mom sighed again and began talking about the hardships of giving birth to me.

"Don't blame me, Mom. I have no choice. Our family has had such an incident. Your sister is still in the hospital. Where would our family get that kind of money...

"Mom found you a reliable person, just has somewhat of a criminal record...

"Mmm, a murderer who killed someone."

No one was willing to marry him. He was forty-five after release from prison, and his family was only willing to spend 100,000 yuan to marry someone like me who might not be able to have children.

Meeting my gaze, she also felt somewhat guilty but stubbornly said: "He has reformed now, he doesn't kill anymore..."

"Then why don't you let Shen Nian marry? She's lame in one leg, and even if she heals, not necessarily anyone will want her. Marrying into such a family wouldn't be perfect!"

With a bang, the bowl on the table was smashed to the ground.

"What are you talking about? That's your biological sister!"

I stared at her fixedly.

"Mom, aren't I your biological daughter too?"

Again, we parted on bad terms.

10

The bait I wanted to plant was set. I didn't plan to waste any more time with them.

Following my memories from my last life, I still went and bought that lottery ticket, packed my few clothes, and ran directly.

Let whoever wants to handle this mess handle it.

My mom called me several times, but seeing I didn't answer, and having received the bride price from the other side but unable to deliver the person, she directly called the police.

When the police called, I just said my family was selling me, that I was an adult and had the right to be on my own.

Seeing that was useless, my mom and dad started selling misery online.

"After our older daughter caused trouble, she ran away, harming our whole family. Her sister still can't get out of bed. Please, everyone help..."

Her arm was bandaged, my dad's back was full of gauze, the two elderly people with snot and tears, saying I had provoked my sister at the zoo, causing our family to be attacked by brown bears, then ran away alone.

Besides gaining sympathy, they also received quite a bit in donations, giving part of the money to Cheng Yu's mother in advance to calm her down.

I was in the next city after collecting my lottery winnings. Seeing the online public opinion intensifying, I released that pre-copied surveillance footage.

The facts were before everyone—Shen Nian's willfulness caused the consequences, the whole family paid the price. Plus some doctors and nurses from the hospital speaking up for me, public opinion quickly shifted.

I released the recording of my mom wanting to exchange me for a bride price negotiation,顺便 wrote about the course of events. Cheng Yu's mother, seeing that the money might not be collectible and fearing being cyber-bullied, quickly distanced herself, producing the court summons.

Netizens took one look and called those few bears the righteous brown bears that sorted out trash.

In the end, my mom had no choice but to agree to a private settlement.

It was in this situation that Shen Nian married into the Cheng family.

Cheng Yu was very satisfied with this marriage. He and his mother had discussed it, probably thinking he could marry his beloved, and in ten-plus years there would be demolition money. The two were perfectly satisfied.

Regarding some netizens scolding him, he didn't care at all. After Shen Nian's leg healed, he took her to get the marriage certificate.

Although I was in the next city, I kept following his social media.

On the marriage certificate, Shen Nian smiled somewhat reluctantly.

I heard no bride price was received. At first, the Cheng family treated Shen Nian decently. Shen Nian, having been pampered since childhood, although her leg was lame, was extremely disgusted with the one-armed, disfigured Cheng Yu and caused no small amount of trouble.

Perhaps for the dowry, Cheng Yu endured it all, treating her as much as possible like before, holding her in the palm of his hand.

But human patience is limited.

Until the day of the wedding ceremony makeup, I kindly sent a text message.

I heard the groom and bride started fighting halfway through the ceremony, even the prosthetic limb was knocked off. It seems love must be talked about to the death to be profound. After all, I only kindly sent a photo of the property deed.

On the photo was clearly my name. After winning the lottery, I secretly contacted home—150,000 yuan for this old, broken-down house. My mom was delighted her pension was secured, afraid I'd come back, she quickly transferred the ownership.

This place was remote, and no locals believed it would be demolished in the future, only the Cheng family from elsewhere believed it.

I heard that after that day, Shen Nian's days became unpleasant. The two fought every few days. Especially since Cheng Yu was often met with strange looks after being disfigured, he had anger in his heart, and in less than half a year, he tormented Shen Nian until she was barely human.

My parents, after taking the money, feared the Cheng family would continue to extort money, left some money for Shen Nian and ran.

A year later, the house was demolished. I took the 800,000 yuan in compensation and disappeared. The Shen and Cheng families, upon learning the news, searched for me for a long time but couldn't find me. They would never find me again.

I looked at the little girl beside me and smiled slightly.

My An-An can't come back, but in this world, there are many, many children like An-An.

I will use this money to protect their smiles.

—End—