C3 Rebirth

When Ann Jue awoke, there was a fleeting moment of bewilderment as she couldn't grasp what had happened.

She had been terminally ill with liver cancer, her days numbered, and had breathed her last in the arms of Zhang Jian, the wealthy man who had adored her for a decade. She was supposed to be dead, thoroughly so. How then had she come back to life?

Confused, Ann Jue blinked, intending to check on Zhang Jian, that dear fool. He had been wholeheartedly kind to her, yet she had left him behind after coming to her senses, and given his nature, he was likely to grieve for a long time. Now that she was alive, she thought she might as well accept his offer. They were both getting on in years; it made sense to partner up and make the best of life together.

But as she caught sight of herself in the bedside mirror, she froze, as if struck by lightning.

Ann Jue chuckled, suspecting her eyes were playing tricks on her.

Yet the girl in the mirror chuckled back, her expression quickly turning to one of horror. Ann Jue recognized her with a jolt—it was her younger self!

Could it be that she had traveled back in time?

"Ann Jue, are you awake? I've brought you buns and soy milk. Your grandma left early today and said you should try to get along with Mrs. Zhou and stop making trouble. All this fuss won't bring your mother back. If you upset Mrs. Zhou, you're the one who will suffer later on," came a voice she knew all too well.

Ann Jue got out of bed, dressed, and washed her face before stepping out.

The sight of the familiar small living room and the dim kitchen confirmed it—she had indeed been reborn, and she was back in the 90s. She was either 10 or 11 years old.

The voice at the door belonged to Mrs. Hao from next door, a kindly, plump woman who worked at the neighborhood committee and was well-acquainted with her family's circumstances.

Ann Jue glanced at the calendar on the wall, then unlocked the iron door. "Mrs. Hao, please come in. I was a bit groggy; I nearly forgot what day of the week it was. You mentioned Mrs. Zhou earlier, has she... Have she and my dad already..."

She posed the question intentionally.

Seeing Ann Jue's eyes brimming with tears, Mrs. Hao couldn't resist patting her on the head. She set the soy milk and steamed buns on the small dining table in the living room and offered words of comfort, "Yes, Mrs. Zhou and your dad picked up their marriage certificate yesterday. She's your stepmother now. But don't think all stepmothers are like the evil one in Snow White's tale. Many stepmothers are quite wonderful. And don't worry, the neighbors are watching; she wouldn't dare treat you poorly!"

A shiver ran through Ann Jue. Mrs. Zhou and her father had just gotten married, which meant it must be September 1992. She was born on August 18, 1982, so she had just turned ten.

"Mrs. Hao, I understand. I won't argue with Mrs. Zhou. It's not easy for her, and though I don't fully grasp the complexities of adult issues, my mother assured me on her deathbed that Mrs. Zhou is a kind person and wouldn't harm me," Ann Jue responded with maturity, despite having said the exact opposite in her past life.

It wasn't until Mrs. Zhou's untimely death in her previous life that Ann Jue realized she had misjudged her.

"Good girl, hearing you speak like that puts my mind at ease! Your mom, dad, and Zhou Qian were all colleagues in the same workshop and got along very well. If it weren't for your grandmother listening to idle gossip and speaking out of turn, Zhou Qian's ex-husband wouldn't have misunderstood and done what he did... But let's not dwell on that. As long as you understand," Mrs. Hao said, her eyes filled with compassion. She dug into her purse and pulled out a Swiss fruit candy, offering it with a smile, "Your Uncle Zheng brought these back from his business trip to India last month. Give it a try. I don't have any more; your brother Jia Bao has eaten the rest."

Hearing these two familiar names warmed Ann Jue's heart, and she felt a comforting warmth envelop her. "Okay, I'll try it. Thank you, Mrs. Hao. After breakfast, I'll get started on my homework and wait for Mrs. Zhou to make lunch."

"There you go, that's perfect!" Mrs. Hao said reassuringly as she gently patted Ann Jue's cheek before she walked away contentedly.