Volume One, Chapter 19: The Restoration of the College Entrance Examination After One Year

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhongguo looked at Wang Yaoyao. His daughter seemed somehow different now. Previously, she had always been timid and hesitant, her reluctance tinged with fear. But now, her demeanor appeared mature and composed, even carrying a certain ruthlessness.

In her previous life, after arriving in Hong Kong, Wang Yaoyao had soared to become the daughter of the richest man. Her life unfolded like a cheat code, smooth and effortless, with countless admirers. She entered the entertainment industry and owned several companies. At forty, the Shen family was investigated by the mainland authorities, and overnight, their assets were frozen and they were ordered to return to the mainland. Desperate to escape to America, she fell into the hands of a heartless fisherman who, after defiling her, threw her into the sea to feed the fish.

And the root cause of all this disaster was Shen Jinlin, that idiot, who had squandered recklessly in the mainland and stirred up endless trouble, bringing calamity upon them.

“That ungrateful wretch Shen Ruzhi, that vile girl—if only I’d thrown her out earlier!” Wang Cuilian cursed bitterly.

Wang Yaoyao’s gaze turned fierce as she stared out the window. She would not sit and wait for death; she was determined to return to the capital city. Shen Ruzhi, just you wait. I’ll make sure there’s no place for you to die in peace.

The matter of renting a house was resolved smoothly.

At dawn, Shen Ruzhi opened the window. Gazing at the scenery before her, she felt a new life extending its olive branch toward her. The college entrance examination would resume next year—she would go to university. So this year, her main goals were to earn money, study, and get into college.

As her gaze wandered, she was surprised to see Song Qitian sitting on the balcony across the way, sipping tea. So he lived right opposite her.

Song Qitian looked at the girl in pink pajamas across from him. Her hair was no longer tied up in a neat bun as it had been yesterday, but draped obediently over her shoulders. The rising sun painted her delicate face with a soft blush. She stretched out her arms to feel the breeze, her eyes squinting with pleasure into crescent moons.

He gazed at her for a few moments more before the window closed with a snap, leaving his line of sight fixed on the glass.

After breakfast, Shen Ruzhi was approached by Tian Xiaoxia, who came running over in excitement. “Zhi, it turns out the house you rented belongs to my grandmother!”

Shen Ruzhi replied, “I had no idea it would be such a coincidence.”

“Zhi, this is fate! We’re destined to be lifelong friends. By the way, there’s something I want to tell you, but you can’t tell anyone else,” Tian Xiaoxia said mysteriously, glancing around before pulling Shen Ruzhi down onto the sofa.

“What is it?” asked Shen Ruzhi.

Tian Xiaoxia lowered her voice and whispered in her ear, “Zhi, I heard from my father that the college entrance examination will resume next year.”

Though Shen Ruzhi already knew this from her rebirth, she feigned surprise before her friend. “Xiaoxia, are you serious? If the entrance exam resumes, we’ll be able to go to university?”

Tian Xiaoxia nodded vigorously. “It’s true—my father said it himself. Let’s go to university together, Zhi. Don’t worry about money—I’ll help you.”

Hearing her friend’s concern warmed Shen Ruzhi’s heart. She hugged her tightly, saying, “Xiaoxia, thank you so much for caring about me, but I do have money.”

Sensing her emotion, Tian Xiaoxia gently patted her hand. “Zhi, we promised to be lifelong friends. You don’t need to be so polite with me.”

“Xiaoxia, I’m not lying—I really do have money. After I learned I wasn't the Shen family’s biological child, I started finding excuses to ask them for money. I’m planning to use it to start a business.”

Tian Xiaoxia was genuinely happy for her, her face lighting up with a smile. “Really? That’s wonderful! Hearing that you got some money out of them makes me feel a bit better. The Shen family is truly awful—hiding your origins from you and trying to send you to the countryside in their daughter’s place.”

“It’s all in the past,” Shen Ruzhi replied. “From now on, things will only get better.”

After seeing Tian Xiaoxia out, Shen Ruzhi went to the library to buy books, but her eyes fell on a newspaper office across the street. She walked in. Inside, there were all kinds of magazines and books, mostly novels. She picked up a few and read the first three chapters, and an idea began to take shape in her mind. Perhaps she could write stories and submit them for publication. She had no illusions of becoming a great literary writer, but maybe it would be enough to get by.

Without hesitation, Shen Ruzhi returned home and began to write. The lamp on her desk burned through the entire night, the sound of her pen scratching against paper echoing until dawn.

Only when her stomach began to growl did she realize how exhausted she was. Reluctantly setting down her pen, she looked at the work she had poured her heart into all night and felt deeply satisfied.

After eating, she planned to submit her manuscript.

Once again, Song Qitian sat on his balcony, noticing that the light in the opposite window had burned all night, with a shadow bent industriously over a desk.

As the sky lightened, the figure finally left the table. Watching the girl hurry out, Song Qitian’s gaze lingered on her. She’d been up all night, but still managed to look so energetic.

After submitting her manuscript to the magazine office, Shen Ruzhi decided to buy some new clothes and daily necessities, heading straight to the department store.

“Hello, could you take that garment down for me to see?” she asked.

The saleswoman greeted her warmly. “Comrade, of course. This is our newest polyester fabric—perfect for autumn. The collar and cuffs are trimmed with lace, the color suits you, and the price is very reasonable, only eight yuan.”

Shen Ruzhi was quite taken with the yellow blouse. It was slightly cinched at the waist for a fitted look, great with either a skirt or pants.

“I’ll take this one. Please bring it over so I can try it on,” she said.

Just then, a familiar voice sounded. Shen Ruzhi turned—it was Shen Lanyue, her cousin who was three months older than her. But not anymore.

Shen Lanyue had brought along her good friend Zhang Chuchu to shop, never expecting to run into Shen Ruzhi, whom she considered heartless and ungrateful.

It was her—this bringer of misfortune, the one responsible for the downfall of her uncle’s family, causing them to be implicated as well. Yet here she stood, perfectly fine.

“But this young lady saw the blouse first. Perhaps you could look at another?” the saleswoman suggested, reaching for another yellow top. “This one is also very pretty.”

Shen Lanyue glared fiercely at Shen Ruzhi. “No, I want this one! Didn’t you hear me, Shen Ruzhi? Get out of my way. I like this blouse, and I order you to give it to me.”