Chapter 19 part 1
Luo Wenshu carefully re-examined those inexplicable fragments of memory.
If this world really was a novel, then the severe karmic backlash she suffered after saving Jin Youqian wasn’t because of Jin Youqian himself. rather, it was because she had destroyed the artificial Ghost Domain known as the “Firewood Courtyard” in the process.
In the fragmented memories, it was called a “Dungeon.”
To put it in simpler terms, the Firewood Courtyard was meant to be the first “instance” on the male leadâs path to leveling up. According to the original plot, his life should have taken a turn onto a brand new, unknown path right there, and he was supposed to meet characters who would greatly influence his future.
But Luo Wenshu had dismantled this dungeon before the story even began.
Her actions would undoubtedly cause the subsequent plot to deviate severely. Consequently, the Will of the World was displeased with her.
So, what about Fang Peng?
Luo Wenshu hadn’t found any plot points regarding this child in her memories, though this might be because the memories she received were incomplete.
However, judging by Xu Zeyiâs visit to the Fang family today, and the fact that Master Xu saved Fang Pengâs life three years ago and recorded the subsequent tribulation in his notebook, Fang Peng was likely a character of great importance to Xu Zeyi.
And Xu Zeyi was, in all probability, a crucial supporting character in this book.
By saving Fang Peng, Luo Wenshu had directly caused a massive shift in Xu Zeyiâs storyline. That was why the karmic backlash was severe enough to threaten her life.
Of course, all of this was merely Luo Wenshuâs speculation.
As to whether she was right, she only needed to test it to find out.
Luo Wenshu quickly mentally reviewed everyone she had come into contact with over the past few days, finally settling on a targetâTang Yue.
Her original plan was to wait for Tang Yue to figure things out and come to her. After all, a melon forced off the vine isn’t sweet.
Judging by the situation, it would only have been a matter of days.
But Luo Wenshu didn’t want to wait anymore.
True, a forced melon isn’t sweet, but it quenches thirst.
She reached for Luo Xingyuâs phone from the nightstand, opened WeChat, found Tang Yueâs account, and tapped on it.
Tang Yue didn’t go home that night.
On the way to the outpatient building with Yu Fei to get her wound re-bandaged, she had asked some questions about Tang Yuqi and Yu Zhen.
From Yu Fei, she learned about Tang Yuqiâs attitude toward Yu Zhen.
It wasn’t romantic love, but rather like treating a younger sisterâspoiling her endlessly and granting her every wish.
He would change his schedule to join Yu Zhenâs parents in picking her up from the suburbs just because he ran into them halfway. He would arrange the best hospital room for her, bring people to visit her, and rush over the moment he heard she had woken up…
Yu Fei said, “I really don’t get what goes on in his head. I used to think he treated Zhenzhen so well because he didn’t have a sister, or maybe his own sister was annoying.”
“But he clearly does have a sister. You’re smart, pretty, kind, and brave. Yet, look how he treats you?”
“Just looking at today, anyone who didn’t know better would definitely think Zhenzhen was his biological sister!”
Yu Fei was just venting, but Tang Yue, the listener, took it to heart.
She asked Yu Fei, “Do you know which hospital your cousin was born in?”
Yu Fei wasn’t a fan of conspiracy theories or melodramatic plots, so he didn’t think much of it and told her the name of the hospital directly.
Chunshan City Women and Childrenâs Hospital.
Tang Yue then asked for Yu Zhenâs birthday.
Yu Fei was confused, but he told her, adding, “Why do you ask?”
Same hospital. Same birthday.
“I’ve been studying fortune-telling recently. I think my horoscope might clash with my brother’s, while your cousin’s horoscope is more compatible with him. That’s why he dislikes me and likes your sister,” Tang Yue said jokingly. “What do you think?”
“That… actually sounds kind of reasonable… Hey, why are your eyes red?”
“The wound hurts.”
“Sigh… just bear with it. You didn’t see the doctor’s expression earlier; he looked like he wanted to eat someone…”
Tang Yue didn’t know how she eventually left the hospital. She wandered the streets like a ghost for a long time. She flagged down a taxi several times, only to tell the driver to turn around and leave just as she was about to reach her home.
Finally, exhausted, she checked into a random hotel.
The sentence echoed in her mind againâ
“Go do a DNA test…”
Just as she was thinking this, the phone by her hand pinged. Someone had sent her a WeChat message.
Tang Yue turned her head and picked up the phone.
Starry Little Island: [Come out for a chat. I’m by the river downstairs.]
Tang Yue paused, then realized it must be Luo Wenshu using her sonâs account.
But…
How did she know I was staying here?
The suspicion lasted only a second before Tang Yue let it go. After all, if Luo Wenshu could tell her to get a DNA test after meeting her only once, knowing where she lived seemed like a simple feat in comparison.
Tang Yue remembered Luo Wenshuâs introduction at the end. She said she was a… Xuan Shi (Metaphysics Master)?
Her mind raced with thoughts, but her body reacted instinctively. She stood up from the sofa, slipped on her sandals, and walked toward the door.
Tang Yue arrived at the riverside quickly. There weren’t many people around at this hour, and she immediately spotted Luo Wenshu sitting on a bench under a streetlamp.
As if knowing she had arrived, the woman turned her head to look.
Her long hair was loosely held up by a wooden hairpin, and she wore a plain dress. The river breeze blew gently, causing ripples on the calm water, but her eyes remained utterly still.
The moment their eyes met, Tang Yue felt the anxiety in her chest settle down, bit by bit.
She walked over.
“Sit.” Luo Wenshu pointed to the empty space beside her. “It’s late, so I’ll get straight to the point.”
Tang Yue didn’t actually know what the “point” was, but she nodded compliantly. “Okay.”
Then, she heard the other woman speak shocking words in an incredibly calm toneâ
“You don’t need to do the DNA test. I can give you the answer directly: You are not a child of the Tang family.”
“Twenty years ago, Zhang Qing abandoned the beautiful environment and exclusive service of her private hospital and moved into the City Women and Childrenâs Hospital, squeezing into the same ward as your biological mother.”
“Shortly after, both were wheeled into the delivery room one after the other, and each gave birth to a baby girl.”
“You were a full-term natural birth, but Zhang Qingâs child was not. They used special means to force that child to be born in the same year, month, day, and hour as you.”
“After your mother gave birth to you, she fainted from pain for a moment. When she woke up shortly after, a nurse, looking slightly panicked, held a scrawny infant up to her eyes…”
Luo Wenshu looked at Tang Yue. “But that infant wasn’t you.”
“From the very beginning, the Tang family knew you weren’t their child. But you didn’t know, your biological parents didn’t know, and the other child didn’t know either.”
Luo Wenshu paused here.
Beside her, the expression on Tang Yueâs face could no longer be described as mere shock. Tears surged forth, blurring her vision.
She tried to convince herself that Luo Wenshu was telling a ridiculous, fantastical story.
But two detailsâthe Women and Childrenâs Hospital and the identical birthdayâwere things she had only just learned herself, yet Luo Wenshu knew them.
“The other child… what is her name?” Tang Yue heard her own voice choking back sobs.
Luo Wenshu looked at her with a faint smile. “Don’t you already know?”
“I just want to confirm it!” Tang Yue bit her lip, her eyes stubborn.
“Yu Zhen.”
The moment those two words left Luo Wenshuâs mouth, Tang Yue felt like a punctured balloon. All her strength drained away.
She could barely sit upright; thankfully, the back of the bench supported her, preventing her from collapsing.
“How is that possible…”
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