Ch 1: After My Mother Returned to the Rich Family

Reading Guide: The female lead is super laid-back yet highly intelligent. She’s overpowered (OP), but not in an obnoxious way (translator’s personal opinion). The main antagonist has a system, while the FL does not. The story primarily revolves around school life and maintains a relaxed atmosphere.

…

“Are you two out of your minds? It’s been over forty years, and now you suddenly have to acknowledge it? Fine, recognize it if you must, but does it have to be such a big spectacle? Are you afraid the Fu family won’t cut ties with us fast enough?”

“And to top it off, you brought all three of them back here. Look at the man she married—no proper job, just a typical good-for-nothing living off a woman. Why bring him here? It’s obvious they’re here to get their hands on the family’s dividends!”

In the elegantly furnished study, the middle-aged woman seated directly across from the door spoke with a face full of disdain, her tone stripping away the refinement suggested by her attire. “The entire circle is talking about it, saying we’re stupid for bringing back a disgraceful family!”

Ruan Cha, holding a cup of warm water, stood by the slightly ajar door, hearing every word of the conversation explode in her ears. When she heard the term “good-for-nothing,” her eyes turned icy cold.

Her pale fingers rested on the doorknob—just a slight twist, and the door would open.

“Shut up!” The elder seated in the main chair, dressed in a brown Tang suit, exuded authority with his sharp, commanding eyes and stern demeanor. His tone was full of displeasure as he snapped, his voice slightly lowered to avoid being overheard. “What kind of nonsense are you spouting? The man you’re talking about is your younger sister’s husband! He’s your brother-in-law!”

“Take a good look in the mirror! See how mean-spirited you’ve become. Is this what decades of etiquette and upbringing have amounted to?”

Ruan Cha listened as the elderly man—her biological grandfather—berated the middle-aged woman, her gaze lowering as her hand quietly released the doorknob.

“Dad’s right. Jiao Jiao was switched at birth and has already had a hard life. As her older sister, instead of showering her with forty years’ worth of love to make up for it, you’re despising her?” said a mild-mannered man who had yet to speak.

His features bore a resemblance to Ruan Cha’s mother, sharing about three parts of her delicate looks. Though faint wrinkles graced the corners of his eyes, he remained a handsome and refined gentleman.

The room held three people: the elderly man, a middle-aged man, and a middle-aged woman. By blood ties, Ruan Cha should call them grandfather, uncle, and aunt.

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Ruan Cha had been born and raised in a small town, living in a modest house with a little courtyard. Her father would take her to school on a motorbike, and her mother cooked bento boxes for her year-round.

The family of three got by renting out properties and growing vegetables, living a relaxed and ordinary life compared to other families in the town.

But last week, their peaceful existence was upended. Her biological mother was revealed to be the long-lost biological daughter of the wealthy Liang family in Nan City, switched at birth over forty years ago. Under the insistence of Old Master Liang, Ruan Cha’s parents brought her to Nan City, moving into the Liang family villa and transferring her to a new high school.

During dinner that night, Ruan Cha sensed her aunt’s dislike. Her gaze was critical, her demeanor scornful, though she refrained from outright insults, likely due to Old Master Liang’s warm welcome.

But later that evening, while Ruan Cha was lying in bed casually playing games after washing up, a book suddenly appeared in her mind.

After reading it, Ruan Cha was utterly floored.

The girl praised for her beauty all her life turned out to be a tragic side character in a system-based academic novel—a character described as both ugly and dumb, destined for an early death.

Even worse, after her death, her father went mad, her mother died of grief, and her family ended in ruins.

It was like her whole family was nothing more than cannon fodder.

Thinking back now, her mother being switched at birth and the Liang family conveniently finding them only now—this had to be the work of some narrative force, dragging her family into this plot.

Ugly and dumb.

Ruan Cha reached out and touched her smooth face, her delicate brows drooping as she looked like a wilting peony.

In the book, the “Ruan Cha” character was introduced as ugly and dumb, mocked and isolated, tricked and schemed against. But the current her? Neither ugly nor dumb.

Her only worry was that once she started attending the new high school arranged by her biological family, she might be forced by the plot’s inevitability to become the “Ruan Cha” from the book—not only dying a tragic death but also dragging her parents down with her.

As she climbed to the third floor and prepared to head back to her room, Ruan Cha noticed that the door to the room next to hers was wide open. On the silk-covered bed inside lay two sprawled-out figures, their faces lit up with blissful smiles.

“Jiao Jiao, no wonder you’ve always been lazy since childhood—it’s because you were destined to be a lady of leisure,” said Ruan Zhengfei, lying flat on the bed and absentmindedly kneading Wei Jiao’s shoulder.

Wei Jiao rested her head on Ruan Zhengfei’s stomach, her features radiating charm. Though in her forties, she looked under thirty and had the same almond-shaped eyes as Ruan Cha. “Feifei, my brother said in a few days, we’ll need to attend a company meeting to discuss the dividends. Once we get those, we can just stay home and rake in the money!”

At that, Ruan Zhengfei’s face lit up with longing. “Right! Lying down and making money—no more trekking up mountains or inspecting houses. Our salted fish dreams are finally coming true. Hahaha!”

Ruan Cha: “…”

Her parents were so blissfully immersed in their fantasies of salted fish leisure that they didn’t even notice her standing in the doorway, their eyes sparkling with pure joy.

“Feifei, when do you think the three of us will head back to the town?”

“For now, let’s stay. The environment here is nice, and we should care for your father and fulfill our filial duties. Plus, he’s right—high schools in big cities are better than those in small towns.”

Sure enough, even though her parents had always told her to have fun, they still wanted her to get a better education and improve her grades in a good school.

Ruan Cha knocked on the door, her brows drooping. “Mom, Dad, I want to go back to the high school in our small town.”

I want to keep living beautifully in the town. I want our family of three to continue living a happy and relaxed life as salted fish.

Ruan Zhengfei and Wei Jiao immediately sat up on the bed, concern evident on their faces.

“Cha Cha, why aren’t you playing games in the other room? What brings you over here? Having trouble sleeping?”

“No,” Ruan Cha shook her head, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Looking at her parents, she earnestly declared, “Mom, Dad, I’ll study hard at the high school in the town. It won’t be any worse than a big-city school. Let’s go back.”

Games could be played at home—there was no need to sacrifice school time for them.

Ruan Zhengfei chuckled and patted her head. “Study? Your uncle and I asked about the new school when handling your transfer. They’ve got art festivals, school fairs, fireworks shows, and all kinds of clubs. It’s a paradise! You can have fun for a year or two, unlike your old school, where there was nothing but endless studying. It broke our hearts watching you back then.”

His agreement to transfer her to this new high school was based entirely on how much fun it promised. Things he and his wife never experienced as kids—they wanted their daughter to have now.

Wei Jiao’s eyes sparkled as she nodded vigorously. “Exactly! All we want is for you to enjoy yourself and have fun in high school. That’s our only requirement!”

Ruan Cha: “…”

Her feelings were… complicated.

But if we stay here, our whole family might end up dying tragically!