Chapter 2: The Mysterious Paradise

Qian Jiangang's hand froze in mid-air, stunned by the fierce resistance from Liu Huiru and her daughter, the likes of which he had never seen before.

Seeing his hesitation, Qin Hongxiang let out a wail, throwing herself to the ground and crying out miserably, “Oh heavens! Husband, do you hear this? You gave your life to save others, leaving us two widows to be bullied by anyone. Now, no one stands up for us! How bitter my life is...”

Here she goes again!

Qian Lai’s lips curled into a cold smile, her voice low but razor-sharp. “Aunt, your old tricks don’t work anymore. I’m not buying it!

All these years, my father’s heart has been bent so much it’s almost at his heels. Even if my uncle were to climb out of his coffin right now, he couldn’t match a fraction of my father’s devotion.

Today’s matter—no matter how much you make a fuss, it won’t change anything. If you insist on taking my university spot, you’ll have to do as I say. Otherwise, I’ll go to the factory and let everyone judge for themselves, see how much blood and tears our mother and I must shed to repay your so-called ‘kindness’!”

As the workshop director, Qian Jiangang valued his reputation above all. At her words, his face turned livid.

Sensing the shift, Qian Xiaozhen dropped to her knees, clinging to Qian Jiangang’s leg with a heart-wrenching sob. “Second Uncle, I beg you! For the sake of my dead father, give me a chance to go to school. I’m not smart, not as pretty as Lai, and if I miss this chance, my life will be over. Please, Second Uncle, I won’t ask the family for money! I’ll find my own way. Please, let me go to school...”

Her piercing cries echoed again and again in the quiet corridor.

“What’s all this noise? This is a hospital—keep it up and you’ll all be thrown out!” The nurse’s stern scolding sounded like a lifeline for Qian Jiangang.

He was the first to bolt from the ward, quietly grateful to the nurse. Yet instead of going home, he hurried straight to the mediation room. He wondered how Qian Dong was faring in negotiations. Would the compensation and living expenses meet his expectations?

At last, peace returned to the ward.

Qian Lai, exhausted, sank back onto her hospital bed. The wound on her head throbbed, her ears rang. This body was truly too weak!

“If only I could bring the Focus Pill from the lab...” No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than a familiar scene appeared before her eyes!

“QL Biological Gene Research Base”—a place she knew like the back of her hand.

Backed by Qing Shen Mountain, east of the Divine Spring, a cluster of modern buildings was encircled by two massive storage complexes. It was a scientific park her grandfather gifted her when she earned the title of Genetic Researcher.

Within the grounds were restaurants, hotels, department stores, and a large supermarket—everything one could want. Beneath the park, known only to the Qian family, was the “Qian Family Vault.” Inside were not only her grandfather’s treasures, but also gold bars, cash, jewelry, and more.

Qian Lai’s heart raced as she strode to the central research institute.

The top-floor lab, filled with world-class equipment, was running as usual. The experimental subjects in the culture chambers remained as she had left them, filling her with delight.

This was a gift from heaven! Even in another world, she could continue her research. If successful, her project would be a monumental breakthrough for human genetics and nerve repair.

She opened the refrigerated cabinet, took out a Focus Pill, and swallowed it.

Moments later, she felt light and comfortable, the pain in her head vanishing, and even the ringing in her ears ceased abruptly. The Focus Pill, refined from Divine Spring water and rare medicinal herbs, truly lived up to its reputation.

With her mind clear, she donned her lab coat, goggles, and gloves, and sat down at the workstation.

At that moment, the two lives of Qian Lai fully merged into one.

She lost track of time until the lab’s reminder chimed—midnight had arrived.

Her stomach protested. She thought, “How wonderful it would be to have a steaming bowl of beef noodles covered in spicy chili oil.”

In the hotel breakfast hall within the park, she pushed open the door and saw, at her usual spot, Table Eight, a bowl of beef noodles steaming with bright red chili oil glistening atop.

Qian Lai picked up the bowl, inhaled deeply, and the aroma filled her senses—the scent of freshly made chili oil!

After devouring the noodles, she raided the supermarket.

With each gulp of cold fruit juice, she noticed the empty spot was instantly restocked.

“Inexhaustible and never-ending?” A profound sense of security welled up inside her.

With this “mysterious paradise,” what had she to fear in this unfamiliar age?

“Return,” she thought.

When she opened her eyes again, the pungent smell of disinfectant filled her nose—she was back on her hospital bed.

Having taken the Focus Pill and drunk the Divine Spring water, she slept soundly through the night.

The next morning, Qian Lai awoke with a clear mind and found her head injury almost healed.

After gathering her thoughts, she strode to the nurses’ office. “Comrade, may I use the phone?”

Moments later, the call connected. “Hello, is this the municipal organization department?...”

Yesterday’s dispute had ended unresolved. Today, she was fully prepared, determined to face the Qian family and Qian Jiangang in a final showdown.

But just as she neared the courtyard, she saw a crowd gathered at the gate. From inside came the sound of things being smashed.

“Qian Jiangang, you’re heartless! Qian Lai is your own flesh and blood. She was almost killed by a car yesterday, and now she’s still in the hospital! I worked hard for ages to save just enough to buy a chicken, wanting to make some broth to help my girl recover. And you—you secretly gave it all to your sister-in-law’s family? Are you even human?”

Liu Huiru’s hoarse cries tore through the air.

Qian Lai pushed her way through the crowd and kicked open the half-closed courtyard gate.

Chaos reigned inside. Shards of the clay pot littered the ground, broth and scraps of chicken mingled with mud. Liu Huiru’s hair was disheveled, and she sat collapsed on the ground, sobbing until she could barely breathe.

Qian Jiangang stood over her, hands on hips, face full of impatience. Behind him, his sister-in-law and niece watched from the veranda, snickering at the spectacle.

“Mom.” Qian Lai rushed over and helped Liu Huiru up, her eyes red.

“I can’t go on. Lai, we can’t live with your father anymore. He’s never cared about the two of us.” Years of pent-up anger erupted from Liu Huiru as soon as she saw her daughter. She burst into tears. “That chicken I bought with such effort—your father secretly took it to the other family. When I found out, there was nothing left but watered-down broth and the chicken head and feet...” Her heart ached unbearably.

She grieved not only for the chicken she’d worked so hard to buy, now wasted, but even more for her daughter, who, injured, couldn’t even have a sip of chicken soup.

“Qian Jiangang! Are you even my father?” Qian Lai shouted in rage, hatred surging up within her.

Qian Jiangang was startled by her blunt address, then flew into a shameful fury. “You little brat! Calling your father by his name! It’s just a bowl of chicken soup. Why draw such lines in the family? You two have no generosity, making a scene for the whole courtyard to see!”

“Family?” Qian Lai’s voice was icy. “You only consider them your family. When will your so-called family stop leeching off my mother and me?”

“Lai, how can you speak to your elders like this? Your uncle died saving your father. Now your father wants to repay the debt and takes extra care of us widows—isn’t that right? Poor Qian Dong and Xiaozhen lost their father young. Leeching? Who’s leeching off you? Give me back my son and the three of us will leave right away!” Qin Hongxiang’s theatrics, honed over years, were on full display. The neighbors watching burst into laughter, as if enjoying a play.

Qian Lai ignored the shrew, fixing her icy gaze on Qian Jiangang. “Dad, did you make a decision about what we discussed yesterday?”

Her cheeks flushed red, and she wished she could thrash every one of these scoundrels.

“Since your sister is so noble, she’ll support herself after university. I’ll save the bride price to get your brother a wife! As for you, once you marry into the Gu family, you’ll lack nothing. The bride price should naturally go to your mother’s family.”

“And what about my dowry? I know you’ve set aside three hundred yuan for our cousin’s dowry. I should have the same, shouldn’t I?”

The onlookers all nodded.

“Nonsense. What three hundred yuan? The moment I get my wages, I hand them over for household expenses. I don’t have a penny left,” Qian Jiangang said, a flicker of guilt in his eyes.

“Is that so?”

Without another word, Qian Lai stormed into the small kitchen.