TFRLTOP Chapter 28 Part 2

Being the domineering CEO’s little lover… well, as a gaming experience, it was pretty novel. Aside from the male lead’s emotions being weirdly twisted—and for some reason ending up fixated on her—it wasn’t half bad.

Anyway, he was high-quality stock□□. Who knew if she’d get lucky like this again in the next world?

Of course, that sort of thought could never be revealed to the system.

As for money…

The system adopted the tone of a strict dean: “So, what did you learn in this world?”

Ming Ming put on a righteous front and said, “Money is just an external possession. You can’t take it with you when you’re born, and you can’t take it with you when you die. We should remain indifferent to wealth and fame, shun vanity, and strive to be the kind of progressive youth who are willing to endure hardship and dare to fight!”

…Yeah, right.

The system nodded in satisfaction. “Not bad. That’s more like it. Let’s head into the next world.”

Ming Ming comforted herself: Who ever plays a game without setbacks? So the money’s gone. Fine. I’m ready for whatever the next world throws at me!

Bring it on!

As she was being transported into the next world, a terrifying roar echoed faintly through the void, like some repressed wailing.

The system’s display suddenly sizzled with static—sometimes clear, sometimes overtaken by snow—as if two forces were locked in a life-or-death struggle.

In the end, no one knew which side won. When static and background shared the screen half-and-half, words slowly floated up on the display—

“A man who doesn’t talk? Toss him out.”

System: Huh??

The next second, everything returned to normal.

—

And just like that, the next world began.

“All the money I didn’t get to blow in the last world, I’m definitely going to splurge in this one!”

Ming Ming opened her eyes, full of anticipation—only to find that reality didn’t quite match her imagination.

She was sitting in front of a mirror, surrounded by people bustling about to get her dolled up. Red paper cutouts of the “double happiness” character were pasted on the windows and furniture. She was wearing a bright red jacket with a big red flower pinned to her chest.

Smooth black hair, delicate brows, crimson lips, and a shy bride’s blush.

Well, damn. She was starting out married.

But judging from the furniture and everyone’s clothes, wasn’t this era a little… old?

“What time period is this?”

“The 1970s,” the system replied flatly.

What?

Seriously? Her mentality nearly collapsed on the spot.

She whispered nervously, “My husband’s name isn’t something like Jianguo (Nation-Builder) or Hongqi (Red Flag), is it?”

“Not that bad. After all, the man you’re marrying is the male lead.”

…Huh?

She blinked. How was she marrying the male lead right out of the gate? That wasn’t a supporting character’s role, was it?

Wait, why was she tied to the male lead again?

“This male lead is a mess. He ends up with the heroine later, right? Doesn’t that make her his second wife? She doesn’t mind?”

The system replied coolly, “What can you do? He didn’t exactly marry you willingly.”

Turns out, in this setting, the male lead, Yan Junsheng, had been sent down to Xinli Village in Longyan Mountain for re-education. He hadn’t originally been on the list, but his father, Yan Chengjun, was framed during the political struggles. To protect his son, he sent him to the countryside to lie low.

Junsheng was tall, handsome, well-educated, and even studied abroad. The moment he arrived in the village, he became the local golden bachelor. Young women from all around found excuses to bring him food, water, or, at the very least, a few longing glances.

But Yan Junsheng was ambitious. He had no intention of staying rooted in Xinli Village, let alone starting a family there. He waited more than half a year for things to calm down in the city so he could return.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans. The struggle in Ning City grew fiercer. His father, Yan Chengjun, was defeated and could no longer recover. The news reached the village: overnight, Junsheng went from being the son of a powerful family to a fallen intellectual.

That only made the villagers more eager. To them, even a “fallen” Yan Junsheng was far better than any local match. And besides, as the saying goes, a dead camel is still bigger than a horse. If they managed to marry into the Yan family and someday it rose again, wouldn’t they soar along with it?

Many tried to scheme, but the one who succeeded was the village chief, Chen Weiguo. No one knew what tricks he pulled, but he actually managed to make Junsheng swallow his pride and agree—begrudgingly—to marry his daughter, Chen Chanjun.

Despite her delicate-sounding name, Chen Chanjun was infamous for being bossy. She grew up climbing trees, catching fish, fighting with neighbors’ kids—nothing like a demure girl. Behind closed doors, villagers often scolded her as wild and uneducated, certain no one would ever marry her.

Instead, she landed the most eligible man around. People were green with envy.

Ming Ming clicked her tongue. “So how does Chen Chanjun feel about Junsheng?”

The system answered simply, “She’s head over heels.”

Great. This was going to be fun.

Of course, the two were a terrible match. Their marriage was nothing but chaos. Junsheng endured it all in silence until Chen Weiguo’s death gave him the excuse to divorce her. Soon after, he returned to the city and reunited with the real heroine.

“And what kind of person is the heroine?” Ming Ming asked.

The system explained:

Junsheng’s mother had a close friend who had a daughter, Bai Yuehua—well-educated, cultured, and gentle. She’d even studied abroad alongside Junsheng. Their families were well-matched, and the elders had always wanted to pair them up. But whether from too many books or sheer shyness, the two only ever acted like polite friends.

When the Yan family fell, the Bai family secretly offered a lot of help. Junsheng also kept up a steady correspondence with Bai Yuehua while in Xinli Village. She was his emotional lifeline during his hardest days.

Ming Ming nodded. “Makes sense. He must be touched—she stuck by him through thick and thin, and they’re like-minded and spiritually in sync. Once he’s back in the city, of course, he’ll ditch Chen Chanjun for Bai Yuehua and live happily ever after.”

As for Chen Chanjun? Naturally, her role didn’t end there. She later chased Junsheng into the city, clinging shamelessly. Her crude antics earned scorn, and she repeatedly humiliated herself in front of the heroine. From spoiled village belle, she spiraled into a coarse village wife, eventually returning home to marry a local thug, where she spent her days getting beaten every few days, her life a miserable wreck.

Ming Ming shivered.

She was starting to get scared.

“Ganbatte!” the system encouraged warmly.

“The bride’s ready? Time to head to the groom’s house!”

Resigned, Ming Ming stood.

Gongs and drums accompanied her in a boisterous procession across the village. Originally, Junsheng had lived in the communal dormitory, but for the wedding, a brand-new house had been built—mostly thanks to Chen Weiguo’s money and effort. The furniture, too, had been provided by the Chen family. By village standards, it was quite the lavish setup.

At first, Weiguo had wanted Junsheng to marry in as a live-in son-in-law, but fearing Junsheng might refuse outright or mistreat his daughter, he compromised with tradition.

Still, Ming Ming thought sourly, all that money and effort were wasted. Wouldn’t it have been smarter to save it for me, so I could take the college entrance exam when it reopened and then bring you to the city for a better life?

Investing in a son-in-law… what a loss.

The wedding feast was held outdoors, the whole village attending. Everyone offered congratulations—even those secretly jealous. Junsheng’s parents weren’t there, so the only elder present was Chen Weiguo. When the couple toasted him, he was grinning ear to ear, looking as if he’d reached the pinnacle of life.

The bride, Chen Chanjun, had a touch of makeup that made her striking, but her bold manner during the toasts betrayed her wild side. Junsheng watched her with mixed feelings.

Good manners kept him from showing a cold face, but he couldn’t manage a real smile either. He downed wine after wine with mechanical politeness, a groom without a shred of joy.

Everyone knew Chen Chanjun’s temper. With her mother gone early and her father spoiling her rotten, she’d grown completely willful.

When other girls had tried to bring him meals, she’d often chased them off with her fists, only to strut back and boldly confess her own feelings. It had disgusted him.

The thought of marrying someone whose personality, ideals, and values clashed so completely with his own—Junsheng could hardly imagine what kind of misery awaited him.

Just then, he noticed Chanjun sneaking glances in one direction. Curious, he followed her gaze.

There, in a corner, sat a cocky-looking young man with sharp features.

Junsheng knew him: Wang Hu, a notorious village delinquent.

Ming Ming caught sight of him too. Her eyes lit up. “System, who’s that?”

“Your second husband.”

Her mouth fell open in shock—half-startled, half dazzled. She couldn’t stop sneaking looks at him after that.

A peek.

Another peek.

…He was kind of hot.

“So, uh… when’s the divorce?” she asked, wiping the corner of her mouth.

Beside her, Junsheng’s face had already gone dark as iron.