Chapter 2

    When Lu Hai, Xiao Bao’s great-grandfather, saw Zhao Ying and her son reach the old house at the edge of the village, he let out a sigh and turned back without going inside, leaving without a word.

    As Zhao Ying stepped into the yard, a wave of despair and dismay washed over her. Only two thoughts echoed in her mind:

    'How can it be this old and rundown?'

    'Can anyone even live here?'

    The house wasn’t exactly small; it appeared to have two wings with what looked like four or five rooms. It must have once belonged to a large family. The windows were cracked and patched clumsily, the door was full of holes, and some of the roof tiles were broken and missing. If it rained, she was certain it would be impossible to stay dry here. Just the sight of the house’s exterior was enough to crush her spirits. No wonder Zhao Yingying had wanted to escape from this family. Zhao Ying stood for a moment, holding a silent vigil for herself before a young voice interrupted her thoughts.

    “Grandfather! Grandmother! We’re back! Mother fell into the water! Grandma!” Xiao Bao called out as he ran into the yard, immediately shouting for his grandparents.

    Hearing his voice, Lu Santing, Zhao Ying’s father-in-law, came out from behind the house, leaning on a cane for support. Madam Zhang, her mother-in-law, emerged from the kitchen. When Madam Zhang saw Zhao Ying soaking wet and pale, biting her lip in pain, she walked over and asked, “Xiao Bao, are you all right?”

    Her attention was focused more on her grandson.

    “Yes, I’m fine, Grandma. Only Mother fell in the water,” Xiao Bao replied, his voice still quivering.

    Madam Zhang turned to Zhao Ying, her face expressionless, showing neither surprise nor concern. Her voice was equally neutral. “Go to your room, change into dry clothes, and rest. I’ll bring hot water for you.”

    Zhao Ying simply nodded and walked to the room that, according to her memories, she used for sleeping. She rummaged for clothes, changed, and lay down. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep.

    Meanwhile, Xiao Bao, a five-year-old child, recounted everything that had happened to Madam Zhang as he understood it. When he finished, he quietly entered Zhao Ying’s room and sat by her side, watching over her without moving.

    He did this because he remembered what Tian Gou, Aunt Hua’s grandson, had said. Tian Gou was his age and had told him that his mother beat him because he wasn’t good enough, and that’s why she didn’t love him. Xiao Bao was determined to be a good child, to please his mother so that she might love him, just like other mothers loved their children.

    As Zhao Ying’s body rested, her consciousness drifted into another realm. She opened her eyes to find herself lying in a familiar room. Sitting up and looking around, she realized it was her own small bedroom, the one she used for resting in a hidden mountain cabin.

    In the first instant, Zhao Ying thought it must be a dream or perhaps her spirit was visiting an old haunt after death. But as she thought more, it felt too vivid to be a dream. She quickly got up and ran to the front door of the cabin.

    As the door opened, blinding white light poured in, and once her eyes adjusted, Zhao Ying saw a garden of herbs, a trellis of grapevines, and a small storage hut beside the cabin. In the distance lay a lake.

    'It really is my hidden mountain cabin!'

    Overjoyed, Zhao Ying thought perhaps she hadn’t died after all—perhaps this was only a dream, nothing more. She sprinted toward the lake, eager to feel the cool water against her skin.

    But after only a few strides past the herb garden, she collided with something hard and invisible, landing forcefully on her backside. Startled, Zhao Ying extended her hands, feeling around the empty air.

    'What… is this? A barrier? Am I… trapped here?'

    No… that can’t be… there’s no way my world could have advanced to this level of technology.”

    Running her hands along the barrier, she found no gaps or openings. It formed a perimeter around the two cabins, the herb garden, and the grape trellis, enclosing a small area of about a hundred square meters. She couldn’t reach the lake, the river, or the lakeside pavilion she had loved so much.

    Resigned, Zhao Ying turned to inspect the two cabins. Everything was exactly as she had left it, with shelves stocked with food, emergency supplies, and her favorite fresh ingredients still safely stored in the refrigerator, as if she had just left the day before her life had ended.

    Yet the realization slowly dawned that this wasn’t merely a dream—she had truly died in her original world. She would never again return as the Zhao Ying she once was. A surge of heat welled up in her chest, and tears began to stream down her cheeks.

    After wiping away her tears, Zhao Ying sat in silence, gathering her thoughts. She was not one to wallow in grief; if anything, this was a second chance. She had the rare gift of a new life, of flesh and blood.

    In summary, she was “Zhao Ying,” a medical scientist and an MSS operative known as the “Poison Fox.” She had died while shielding the President’s daughter from a bullet during an escape from terrorists, ultimately giving her life to save hers. After her last breath, her soul had been swept away by a dark vortex, landing her in the body of “Zhao Yingying,” an overweight, despised woman with a cruel reputation.

    Perhaps the heavens had taken pity on her, granting her this mystical dimension as a token. She’d read about such realms in online novels before, and she was certain she’d been brought here to be the heroine of her own story.

    Clenching her fist with determination, she silently thanked the heavens. She would go out into the martial world and live freely as a wandering heroine, rather than a rural woman bound by ancient customs.

    'Ha! With this mystical dimension, I have nothing to fear anymore…

    Oh, wait… this body has a son. Oh my god…'

    Her newfound excitement deflated as quickly as it had arisen.

    'Could I just leave him? Divorce and let him stay with his father? The family already hates me anyway.'

    But then she thought of Xiao Bao, the frail, thin little boy who loved his mother wholeheartedly. Despite the beatings and scolding from his real mother—this body’s previous owner—he showed no sign of resentment.

    Sigh...

    She let out a deep sigh, softening as she thought of him. Could she perhaps take Xiao Bao with her? But she shook her head at the thought. In this era, sons were valued immensely. In any era, the culture of this land prized sons above all, and there was no chance this family would ever let him leave with her.

    Fine then, let’s just see how things go. I’ll take a look outside and figure out what to do next. But how on earth do I get out of this mystical dimension?

    'Relax and focus…' she murmured, recalling the advice from novels she’d read.

    After concentrating, she felt a gentle breeze passing through, and when she opened her eyes again, she found herself lying on a bed in the same rundown house with the leaky roof, the stale, musty air filling her nose.

    Zhao Ying struggled to sit up, finding the weight of this body exhausting just to move. She thought of the herbal medicine room in her mystical dimension, where she had countless herbs, tonics, and even a formula for weight loss. She would brew it, pair it with a diet, and finally shed this excess weight, making it easier to move. Being this overweight, she’d end up dying young all over again.

    Outside, she heard the faint sound of laughter, both kid’s and adults’. Just by the sound, she could tell that they were happy, even in the depths of poverty—a warmth and love that she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

    Hearing Xiao Bao’s pure, innocent laughter melted her heart. Zhao Ying opened the door and saw that night had already fallen.

    As soon as he heard movement from Zhao Yingying’s room, Xiao Bao ran over, his voice full of joy. “Mother, are you awake?”

    Seeing him run over, Zhao Ying instinctively opened her arms to him. Xiao Bao, unused to such a gesture, paused for a second, hesitant, but then walked toward her cautiously.

    Noticing his hesitation, Zhao Ying let her arms drop, feeling slightly awkward. But as Xiao Bao continued stepping closer, she took a deep breath, lifted her arms, and gently pulled him into a hug.

    This was her way of showing her appreciation to Xiao Bao, this little boy who had stayed by her side when she nearly drowned, and who longed for his mother’s love.

    Suddenly, Xiao Bao burst into loud sobs, and Zhao Ying, startled, panicked, wondering if she had hurt or frightened him. She gently pushed him back to check, examining his tearful face.

    "Xiao Bao, what’s wrong? Are you hurt? Tell me—I... I won’t hug you anymore if you don’t want.”

    “No, please, Mother… don’t… don’t let me go,” Xiao Bao cried out.

    At that moment, both Lu Santing and Madam Zhang came rushing in, drawn by Xiao Bao’s cries. Seeing her grandson sobbing uncontrollably, Madam Zhang immediately pulled him into her arms and scolded Zhao Ying.

    “What did you do to him this time?!”

    Her voice was high and trembling, and she glared fiercely at Zhao Ying, looking ready to fight. Zhao Ying, just as confused, stammered—she hadn’t done anything.

    Xiao Bao’s tearful sobs continued, but he managed to speak between sniffles, though his words were nearly incomprehensible. "G-Grandma… I’m… I’m fine. I… I’m just happy Mother hugged me…”

    “………” Madam Zhang was so shocked by her grandson’s words that she couldn’t find anything to say.

    When Zhao Ying heard Xiao Bao’s explanation, she softened, her tone gentle. “Oh, Xiao Bao… I’m sorry. Come here, let Mother hug you again.”

    This child was melting her heart completely—he was just a little one yearning for love, not unlike how she had felt in her previous life. Extending her arms, she reached to take Xiao Bao from Madam Zhang, but Madam Zhang took a step back, showing clear mistrust.

    Feeling awkward, Zhao Ying rubbed her nose and spoke earnestly to Madam Zhang. “Mother, I’m truly sorry for all the wrongs I’ve done. Could you give me a chance to make things right?”

    She looked Madam Zhang straight in the eyes, determined to show her sincerity. She didn’t want them to go on living in constant suspicion and fear of each other.

    Madam Zhang, seeing the unwavering resolve in Zhao Ying’s eyes, felt something different, though she couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Before she realized it, Xiao Bao slipped away from her side and extended his arms toward Zhao Ying, who wrapped him into her embrace.

    Could she really have changed? Madam Zhang wondered for a moment, but the thought quickly vanished as memories of Zhao Yingying’s past actions flooded back.

    'A cruel person is always cruel,' she reminded herself.