Chapter 1: Framed

"Bang!" With a thunderous crash, the bedroom door was kicked open with such force that it slammed against the wall before rebounding.

The commotion at the Liu household startled the neighbors. Several families in the alleyway set aside their chores and rushed out to see what was happening.

Ma Cuihua stared with bloodshot eyes at the man and woman huddled together on the bed. She lunged forward, grabbed Lin Qin by the hair, and dragged her onto the floor, screaming hysterically, "You shameless, wanton slut! To think you’d drag a wild man into my house—I’ll beat you to death, you shameless bitch!"

Ma Cuihua’s curses flowed incessantly as she gripped Lin Qin’s hair with one hand and rained heavy slaps down upon her with the other.

Lin Qin was jolted awake by the pain.

Seeing that familiar, youthful face before her, the hatred in her heart ignited like a wildfire, spreading rapidly. Even knowing she might be dreaming, she fought back recklessly, grabbing Ma Cuihua’s hair with all her might and biting down hard on her arm.

"Argh!"

A shrill, piercing wail cut through the air.

Ma Cuihua rolled on the ground in agony, but Lin Qin, dragged down with her, would not let go.

Liu Yongguo and his wife were caught off guard; they had never expected the usually meek and submissive Lin Qin to fight back, let alone cling to Ma Cuihua like a rabid dog. They were so stunned they forgot how to react.

Ma Cuihua’s youngest daughter, Liu Li, was the first to recover. She charged at Lin Qin, punching and kicking her. "Let go of my mother, you shameless bitch, let go of my mother!"

Lin Qin winced in pain. The physical sensation told her this was all real—it wasn't a dream!

Listening to the whispers and gossip of the neighbors gathered outside, she suddenly understood.

She had been reborn! She had returned to the moment her nightmare began in her previous life.

These very people—Ma Cuihua, Liu Yongguo, Xu Manzhi, and Liu Li—they had conspired to frame her for sleeping with a stranger to prove she was unfaithful to her marriage. They had even summoned her own family, leading to her being brutally beaten by her own kin.

No one had listened to her pleas. The final outcome had been her family dragging her back home amidst a storm of insults, forcing her into a divorce.

The village of her birth had no place for a disgraced woman. With nowhere left to turn, she had chosen to end her life by jumping into the river. By pure coincidence, she had been saved by another victim of that night.

Though she survived, she lived the rest of her days under the shadow of public scorn. Her daughter was bullied and mocked because of her, and she had spent her life at the Liu household working like a beast of burden, treated worse than livestock.

Plagued by depression, she had fallen gravely ill in her forties. With no money for treatment, she had withered away for two years, ending her tragic life in agony.

Seeing the man on the bed remain motionless, clearly still unconscious, she realized she had to save herself!

"Did you hear me? Let go of my mother, you shameless woman!" Liu Li raised her foot, ready to stomp down.

Lin Qin’s daughter, Liu Yaya, rushed out just in time, hugging Liu Li’s leg tightly. "Auntie, don't hit my mother, don't hit my mother! My mother isn't that kind of person, wuwuwu..."

Liu Li nearly fell from the sudden embrace and, in a fit of shame-fueled rage, kicked Liu Yaya away. "Get out of my way, you brat!"

Liu Yaya tumbled twice across the floor, crying out in pain.

Hatred burned even brighter in Lin Qin’s eyes. She released Ma Cuihua, scrambled to her feet, and lunged for Liu Li’s throat. "You bully my daughter? I’ll kill you!"

Ma Cuihua’s eyes widened in horror. She shrieked, pounding the floor, "Eldest son, hurry! Beat this madwoman to death! She’s going to kill your sister!"

Liu Yongguo and his wife immediately charged forward.

Knowing she was no match for them, Lin Qin let go decisively. She raked her fingernails across Liu Li’s face twice before shoving her toward Liu Yongguo and Xu Manzhi.

"Ah... my face, my face hurts! Mom!" Liu Li clutched her face, collapsing into the arms of her parents, wailing in terror.

Lin Qin’s reaction had caught everyone off guard.

Liu Yongguo was livid. "You bitch! I’m going to kill you!"

"Bang!" With a loud crash, Lin Qin smashed a small ceramic jar used for pickled vegetables near Liu Yongguo’s feet. She screamed at the top of her lungs, "Call the police! Call the police! Uncles, aunties, neighbors—I have been framed! I don't even know the man on that bed! Whoever calls the police for me, I will give them five yuan!"

The faces of the four Liu family members shifted instantly.

Ma Cuihua shrieked, "Don't you dare call the police! She doesn't have any money; don't listen to her! Lin Qin, you have no shame, but the Liu family still has a reputation to uphold! No one is allowed to leave!"

Lin Qin sneered, "I’m telling you, I am calling the police today! If I did something, I’ll own it, but you aren't pinning this filth on me if I didn't!"

Seeing Lin Qin’s firm conviction, some neighbors began to waver. She was usually a quiet, low-key woman, not the type to be promiscuous. Some were inclined to believe her, but no one dared to act. Five yuan was a lot, but they still had to live here; offending the Liu family for five yuan wasn't a smart move, not to mention that Lin Qin might not even have the money to pay them.

Seeing the crowd remain unmoved, Lin Qin’s heart sank to the bottom of the well.

Just then, Lin Qin’s father, Lin Yi, and her uncle and aunt, Lin Zhi and Li Lian, arrived.

As soon as Li Lian entered the room, she charged toward Lin Qin with murderous intent.

Lin Qin knew this woman meant to strike her.

Just as Li Lian raised her hand, Lin Qin dodged swiftly.

Li Lian’s palm slammed heavily against the cupboard; the sound alone was enough to make one wince.

Li Lian clutched her hand, wincing and cursing, "You wretched girl! You do such a shameful thing and you dare to dodge? Our Lin family must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to produce a shameless harlot like you!"

Lin Qin shot Li Lian a cold, icy glare, showing no respect for her as an elder.

In her past life, it was Li Lian who had spread rumors throughout the village, making it impossible for her to stay in Shanglin Village, eventually driving her to jump into the river.

Li Lian was startled by the look in Lin Qin’s eyes; her bluster weakened, though she still stiffened her neck to scold, "Am I wrong? You’ve done such a shameful thing, and I can't even scold you for it?"

Lin Qin ignored her, focusing instead on her father, who stood there looking honest, dull, and utterly lost.

Lin Yi was only in his early forties, yet his hair was already half-white, making him look aged and weary. He had no sons, only two daughters. The eldest was married far away and only returned for the New Year, leaving only her.

In her past life, after she survived the river jump, she had been too ashamed to return to the village. Lin Yi had lived out his days in lonely poverty, constantly bullied by villagers, and even denied fair compensation when the village land was developed—all because of her!

Swallowing the bitter ache in her heart, Lin Qin walked up to Lin Yi and said through gritted teeth, "Dad! Go to the police station and report this for me. I’ve been framed, and this matter must be cleared up today!"

"What did you say?" Lin Yi looked at Lin Qin in disbelief, then glanced at the Liu family. Seeing them shift their eyes nervously, his heart sank.

Lin Zhi, standing to the side, frowned. "Second niece, you can't just say things like that! Your reputation is already ruined. If you make a scene, your father won't be able to show his face in public anymore!"

Lin Qin looked at Lin Zhi, a man with a "Buddha’s mouth but a snake’s heart," and smiled calmly. "Thank you for the advice, Second Uncle, but I am reporting this to the police today! If the police also say I brought a wild man home, I’ll kill myself right here to give everyone an answer! But if I didn't do it, no one is going to frame me!"

Lin Zhi looked at her, stunned. In his memory, Lin Qin had always been a silent, timid girl who couldn't even speak up for herself—when had she become so fierce?

Lin Yi snapped out of his daze and nodded repeatedly. "Okay, okay, okay! I’ll go right now."

He trusted that the daughter he had raised with his own two hands was not the type to be wanton.

Just as Lin Yi reached the door, he paused and turned back to ask, "Which way to the police station?"