The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

After Gu’er was discharged from the hospital, she spent several days lying in bed. She listened to her daughter and son-in-law’s verbal abuse and looked at Huang Mingyu’s laughable expression, but she no longer cared. Yueyue was gone. Her last shred of hope and warmth had vanished. She had lost all faith in life.

So, when Gu’er knew her time was up, she had no desire to survive.

But in that moment, she was filled with hate. She hated herself for being so weak. She hated that she had married Zhang Da. She hated Zhou Mazi. She hated having a daughter like that. She hated Huang Mingyu for getting Yueyue killed. She hated the heavens for being so unfair.

That was why, after being reborn, Gu’er would not marry Zhang Da. She absolutely refused to live through that kind of fate a second time.

That was also why, after her rebirth, Gu’er didn’t want to have children. Aside from the heartbreak a daughter like Zhang Juan had caused her, it was also because of Little Yueyue.

Little Yueyue’s death was an agony in her heart she could never accept.

That’s why she didn’t want children. If she had no children, she wouldn’t have to go through all that again. Otherwise, if she did have a child, she was afraid it would be another Zhang Juan. And even if they weren’t like Zhang Juan, she was afraid of seeing an adorable child’s face, because it would remind her of Little Yueyue. She couldn’t face that.

Gu’er stared at Huang Mingyu. ’It was all her. All her fault. If she hadn’t agreed to watch the child only to neglect her, how could Yueyue have fallen off the swing to her death?’

She was the one who killed her Yueyue.

The look in Gu’er’s eyes was so hateful she looked like she wanted to devour Huang Mingyu whole.

Huang Mingyu was startled by Gu’er.

’That look is terrifying,’ Huang Mingyu thought, ’as if I’m her mortal enemy. It’s not like I threw her kid down a well, so why is she glaring at me like that?’

’Is it because of Liu Yuan?’

’Looks like this Gu’er girl really likes Liu Yuan. But it’s useless even if she does. Liu Yuan is mine. His mother has her heart set on me. A girl from the village wants to compete with me? Does she think she’s worthy!’

Huang Mingyu thought to herself.

Gu’er suddenly dropped her bicycle and lunged toward Huang Mingyu.

Thinking Gu’er was about to hit her, Huang Mingyu yelped in fright and scrambled behind Wu Dahua.

Wu Dahua had also noticed the terrifying look Gu’er was giving Huang Mingyu.

Seeing Huang Mingyu duck behind her, she grabbed ahold of Gu’er.

"What do you think you’re doing?! Are you trying to start a fight? You village folk are just disgraceful! Let me tell you, you have no chance with my A Yuan. I will not let him marry you. Mingyu is a hundred times better than you. If you dare lay a hand on Mingyu, I’ll fight you to the death!"

Wu Dahua snapped at Gu’er.

"Heh."

Gu’er finally snapped back to her senses. She laughed, but it was an ugly sound.

"That’s right. She’s a hundred times better than me. That Huang Mingyu is just so wonderful, isn’t she?"

Gu’er said through clenched teeth. But she didn’t move again. She had come to her senses and understood that this wasn’t her past life. None of it had happened yet.

Wu Dahua and Huang Mingyu were both taken aback. How did Gu’er know Mingyu’s surname was Huang? They were sure they had never mentioned it.

Gu’er had said Huang Mingyu was wonderful, but the words sounded strange to Wu Dahua and Huang Mingyu’s ears. It felt like Gu’er was being sarcastic, yet there was nothing technically wrong with what she’d said. It wasn’t as if they could force her to say Huang Mingyu was a bad person.

"Enough of this nonsense. Hurry up and get us two popsicles. I’ve wasted enough breath talking to you. I’m dying of thirst."

Wu Dahua said impatiently, no longer wanting to bother with Gu’er. She needed to take Mingyu home.

Gu’er didn’t move. Her gaze fell on Huang Mingyu again, serious and intense.

Huang Mingyu flinched. For some reason, she found herself a little afraid of Gu’er’s gaze.

’So Huang Mingyu can be scared, too?’ Gu’er thought. ’It seems I was so afraid of her in my past life, letting her bully me, all because I was too weak.’

"Her? Huang Mingyu? Does she think she’s worthy of eating my popsicles? Who the hell does she think she is? I’d rather throw them out, I’d rather feed them to the dogs, than let her have one. Just looking at her makes me feel disgusted. What’s she so smug about? Liu Yuan won’t marry her. Nothing will come of it for her. Just you wait."

Without waiting for a reply, Gu’er got on her bicycle and rode away.

By the time Wu Dahua and Huang Mingyu reacted, Gu’er was already far down the road.

"You stop right there! You shameless hussy! What did you just say? Who my A Yuan marries is none of your damn business, you shameless wench!"

Wu Dahua stomped her feet and cursed from behind them.

Huang Mingyu’s face was flushed red with anger. ’A popsicle seller from the village dares to curse me? To say I’m lower than a dog? To claim Liu Yuan won’t marry me? It’s infuriating!’ But she didn’t dare have an outburst, fearing it would give Wu Dahua a bad impression. She was also afraid of that look in Gu’er’s eyes... it was as if, if she really confronted Gu’er, the woman might actually hit her, or even kill her. ’I’m a factory worker. It’s not worth getting into trouble over some villager.’

Let’s leave Wu Dahua and Huang Mingyu for now and turn to Gu’er. She rode for a long time before finally stopping. After setting her bike aside, she leaned over the insulated box on the back and began to cry.

It wasn’t that she was weak. She was just thinking of Yueyue. That lovely child... It was as if she could still hear her calling out "Grandma," asking to be held. As if she were throwing herself into her arms and kissing her cheeks. Her smile was so adorable, her lips so soft... It was as if she were still alive, right there in front of her.

But Yueyue was gone. She would never come back.

Gu’er felt as if her heart had been ripped from her chest.

She had fled just now because she was afraid she would lose control and attack Huang Mingyu.

But in this life, none of that had happened yet. Huang Mingyu hadn’t married Liu Yuan, Liu Yuan hadn’t died, Huang Mingyu hadn’t given birth to Chen Tao, and she herself hadn’t given birth to Zhang Juan... which meant Yueyue would never exist.

Yueyue was gone. Gone forever. Even with this second chance at life, her granddaughter was lost to her. She would never come back...

It took a long while for Gu’er’s sobs to subside.

She wiped her tears and took a few slow, deep breaths.

Yueyue was never coming back. No matter how much her heart ached, life had to go on. Given this second chance, she had to be strong. She had to live well. She would not repeat the mistakes of her past life.

Right now, she couldn’t let Liu Yuan die. She had to save him. But there was so much from her past life that she couldn’t clearly recall. Her head throbbed, especially when she thought of Yueyue. She needed to go back and think carefully, to try and remember exactly when Liu Yuan’s accident had happened in her previous life.

At this thought, Gu’er felt a new sense of purpose. She pulled herself together. Forgetting about the rest of the popsicles, she got on her bike and headed back to the village.

When she arrived back in the village, Gu’er gave away the remaining popsicles from her cart. She gave a few to Aunt Zhao’s family, since they had three children, and passed out the rest to a few other families who had been kind to her.

Everyone was delighted, especially the children. Popsicles were a luxury for them, and they were incredibly grateful to Gu’er for giving them away for free.

Watching the children laughing and playing as they ate their popsicles, Gu’er felt a sharp pang in her heart. An image of Yueyue flashed before her eyes again.

’I can’t think about it anymore.’ Gu’er quickly shook her head and pushed her bike back to the Sun Family’s house.

Once at the Sun Family’s home, she exchanged a few words with Sun Jiaming before starting to cook. But Gu’er was distracted and nearly burned her hand.

"Let me do it."

Sun Jiaming had a feeling something was on Gu’er’s mind, so he took the task from her hands.

Gu’er didn’t object and sat down to tend the fire for the stove.

"What’s wrong?"

Sun Jiaming asked.