Chapter 7

For these past few days, little Tuanzi’s dreams have been intermittent, yet each one picks up exactly where the last left off, consistently following the plot of that old-fashioned, melodramatic novel.

If an adult were having such dreams, they would more or less realize that something was amiss. But Zhuzhu is still so muddled; even when she enters the dream, she can only be a spectator munching on melon seeds.

The previous dream depicted the birth of "the Ball," with "Ball’s Mommy" overjoyed, circling her like a chatterbox. This time, the dream progressed to the events following "the Ball’s" disappearance.

In the original plot, the original heroine suffers a horrific car accident. At the brink of death, her household falls into total chaos, providing an opportunity for villains to abduct her daughter. It isn't that the heroine’s family didn't search, but in the vast sea of people, finding the child was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. By the time the heroine regained consciousness, the baby had been missing for two full months. When her family was about to tell her, they discovered she had lost her memory, so they concealed everything.

Because the original story is presented from the perspective of the heroine, Ji Ning, the plot for the subsequent years glosses over the plight of the missing child.

Ji Ning’s own life, meanwhile, is far from easy. Her originally free-spirited nature was forcibly steered back onto a so-called "right track" by her elders following the accident. However, a person’s nature is difficult to change. Throughout those long days and nights, the heroine lived like a marionette. Initially, due to her physical condition, she focused only on staying alive, with no energy to concern herself with anything else.

Only later, as she slowly realized she had lost her sense of self, did she begin to resist, but she found herself powerless.

This is an old-fashioned angst novel; the author decided the baby’s fate early on. The child becomes a "cash cow," sent by the family who abducted her to participate in a variety show. During the filming of the pilot, an accident occurs: in the scenic, picturesque countryside, she is left unattended, slips, and falls into a reservoir, ending her short life.

By the time Ji Ning inadvertently discovers the child’s existence, all she receives is the news of her death. From then on, the once carefree Ji Ning lives in heartbreak and regret, eventually falling into a deep depression and passing away two years later.

As the original plot progresses into its latter half, the dreams are shrouded in sorrow.

The scene shifts to the side of the original male lead, which is equally tragic—

"Tsk. Your aunt is truly stingy. The kid even carried her daughter’s train, and she couldn't even bring herself to give a red envelope. The banquet was skimpy too; I didn't see a single dish worth serving..."

With a creak, the door opened. Grandmother walked into the room, complaining. Qin Meilan dared not retort, but feeling unhappy that her own family was being criticized, she slammed the door shut with force.

Little Tuanzi jolted awake from her dream.

Cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

Zhuzhu, still groggy, rubbed her eyes with her small, chubby hands.

They were damp.

...

The marriage between the second daughter of the Bai family and the only son of the Yuanhang Group was a grand, sensational affair.

Ji Ning arrived at the banquet hall and spotted Fu Mingya in the distance. As Fu Mingya stood up, her path was blocked by a lady holding a champagne flute. After some polite pleasantries, she turned her gaze away, only to find that her daughter’s figure had vanished.

Since losing her memory, Ji Ning had never attended such an occasion, yet some memories seemed etched into her mind.

Without the slightest sense of discomfort, she navigated through the crowd with ease. Occasionally, when she noticed someone staring at her, she would raise her eyes, and once the person offered a polite smile, she would return it with equal courtesy.

"Who is that?"

"It must be Mingya’s daughter. The last time I saw her was when she returned to the country during summer break in high school."

The person who spoke was somewhat in the know.

It was vaguely remembered that on that day, Ji Ning had worn a lake-green couture gown, her skirt swaying, her chestnut hair cascading over her slender shoulders—bright, vivid, and dazzling.

Fu Mingya had urged her to be elegant. Ji Ning had bowed her head submissively and performed a curtsy. Fu Mingya’s expression flickered, only to see her immediately make a childish face.

A seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, rebellious to the core.

It wasn't a pretty face; it looked like it was written with the attitude of "what can you do about it?"—vivid and mischievous.

It looks nothing like her now.

One could tell it was the same person, yet they looked nothing alike.

In this circle, not many people were familiar with Ji Ning.

When she was a teenager in middle school, she was sent abroad for her studies. Years later, she returned, but everyone knew that Fu Mingya did not like to bring her daughter to such events. Rumors suggested it was because the Chairwoman’s daughter had a simple personality, and the social circles of "socialites" were ultimately too complex. Others claimed that the daughter was unruly and lawless, and since her mother was equally strong-willed, their meeting was like Mars colliding with Earth, which is why they were never seen in the same place.

The founders of the Yating Group were the couple Fu Mingya and Ji Guoting. For so many years, Fu Mingya had fought the battles alone, while Ji Guoting remained a wealthy idler. One would have thought their daughter would follow her father’s lead and stay away from this circle. Yet, unexpectedly, four years ago, Fu Mingya pushed her only daughter into a marriage alliance with the Ao family.

The arrangements had been almost finalized, but how it was canceled, no one knew; they only heard that the two families had no contact thereafter.

...

Fu Mingya never spoke of her family affairs to outsiders.

Her daughter was a mystery; even Bai Hui, who could be considered her childhood friend, knew nothing of her current circumstances.

However, the second daughter of the Bai family certainly had enough pull to convince her to attend this wedding.

"Is that Ningning?" a crisp voice rang out.

Ji Ning turned to see a beautiful girl with an outstanding temperament.

For the entire Ji family, the amnesia seemed to be a secret. Before attending this wedding, Fu Mingya had warned her not to mention it to outsiders.

Ji Ning pondered: outsiders weren't stupid. Looking at her bewildered expression, couldn't they guess?

"It really is you! It’s been so many years, I almost didn't recognize you," the beautiful girl said in pleasant surprise.

Ji Ning: "Same here!"

The beautiful girl happily hooked her arm through hers and pulled her over to sit at their table.

Ji Ning: ...

Did she get away with it?

At the banquet table, there were many unfamiliar faces. Their conversation was incredibly lively, but amidst the clinking of glasses, the topics were hollow—detached and superficial. Anyone with eyes could see they were all "plastic" brothers and sisters.

Someone with amnesia could see it too.

However, when it came to topics like limited-edition bags, world travels, and art exhibitions, the person with amnesia could still keep up with the conversation.

Fu Mingya’s composed gaze followed Ji Ning at all times.

Ji Ning’s expression remained unchanged, but Fu Mingya could not afford to let her guard down. Her eyes rested on her watch, preparing to take her daughter away as soon as the ceremony ended.

Time ticked by, second by second.

Melodious music began to play. The bride, dressed in a pristine white gown, made her slow entrance. She walked along the steps paved with crushed diamonds, one hand linked in her father’s arm, while her mother stepped forward to adjust her veil.

For a marriage without any emotional foundation, shedding tears would be too pretentious; there was no expression on Bai Hui’s face.

Not until her parents stopped their steps, and as the wedding officiant had arranged from the start, she watched their backs depart... finally, her eyes moistened.

After losing her memory, Ji Ning did not remember her former friends. Fu Mingya thought it didn't matter; starting over in a new environment would be the same.

But she still held a glimmer of hope. That day, looking at Bai Hui’s face on the electronic wedding invitation, while her fists felt itchy, she always felt that perhaps she could find the answer.

At this moment, Ji Ning watched the bride and groom.

The bride was beautiful, and the groom was handsome, yet they exchanged no eye contact while swapping rings.

In fact, when the officiant asked the bride and groom to kiss...

The groom leaned forward, and Bai Hui turned her face away.

"It’s a marriage alliance. They hadn't met many times before."

"The Bai family is failing. Originally, they were going to push Bai Hui’s sister, but the sister wouldn't do it, so Bai Hui stepped in."

"In this day and age, there are still people who marry in their sister's place? How melodramatic..."

Soft whispers reached her ears.

Ji Ning’s status gradually shifted; she was now fully immersed in "eating melons" (gossiping).

After the ceremony, as Bai Hui passed their table, friends cheered in support of how beautiful the bride looked.

Wearing her main gown, she curled her lips slightly, but upon spotting Ji Ning, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Eyes met, and Ji Ning looked into hers.

The other woman’s gaze was not gentle or peaceful; on the contrary, it held a sense of scrutiny.

Ji Ning’s eyes brightened slightly.

Then, Bai Hui raised her right hand.

The five-carat pigeon-egg diamond on her ring finger sparkled brilliantly as she lifted her chin with an air of haughtiness.

It was as if she were staging a demonstration.

"Are those two not on good terms?"

"To say they’re at daggers drawn is an understatement. Have you ever seen female celebrities getting into a catfight? When those two are together, it’s a real-life catfight."

"What exactly happened between them?"

"Shh, keep it down, they’re looking over."

Ji Ning pricked up her ears to eavesdrop.

She used to engage in catfights?!

That was not ladylike at all.

Not long after, Fu Mingya came to remind Ji Ning to leave.

Yet her daughter shook her head with the determination of a warrior.

"I’m not leaving."

Perhaps Bai Hui would be the only person willing to tell her the truth.

...

The program "Changing Lives" had been revamped but kept its name; netizens joked that the production team was just riding on its own hype.

It was said that the new, revamped show would be even more exciting. The official channel had invited celebrity guests whose status and national popularity would certainly satisfy the audience.

Little Zhuzhu hadn't had a strange dream for several days.

She was a child who knew how to read the room. At first, seeing Qin Meilan’s face constantly downcast, she didn't dare to strike up a conversation. But today, early in the morning, Qin Meilan was beaming, smiling brighter than ever.

Zhuzhu poked her head out, patted her little chest, and gathered her courage.

After some mental preparation, she finally asked cautiously.

"Do you know what a pilot episode is?"

In the original plot, the heroine’s baby girl records a pilot episode for a variety show and dies in an accident.

From then on, the plot of the melodramatic novel takes a turn toward a sorrowful tone, becoming a tragedy.

"You heard about it?" Qin Meilan gave her a rare smile. "The TV station wants you to go along to record the pilot. They’ll be here to dress you up soon."

Seeing Zhuzhu frozen in place, she pursed her lips and nudged the child’s small arm.

"With that miserable look, can't you even manage a smile?"

"I heard you'll get to see plenty of stars. Even my Xiao Jie hasn't seen them; what a stroke of dumb luck."

The little "bitter melon" baby’s mouth opened into an "O" shape.

The turning point of the plot was this very day!