Summer of 1975, Beicheng State-owned Restaurant.
Lin Wan Yi stood at the top of the stairs on the second floor, her palms sweaty and dampening the handkerchief.
Who could have imagined that upon opening her eyes, she would travel back to the 1970s and become a girl with the same name?
She inherited the original host's memories and the downfall of her family.
To survive, she had to take a gamble today.
She wore a waist-tightening light blue dress today, which made her already porcelain-white skin look even more delicate. Two braids fell over her chest, making her look like an innocent schoolgirl.
"Oh, isn't this the eldest Miss of the Lin Family?"
A sharp female voice came from beside her.
Lin Wan Yi turned her head and saw Zhang Qianqian, the daughter of the textile factory director, standing there with a few female companions, arms crossed and mocking her.
"I heard about your father. How come you still have money to eat at a state-owned restaurant?" Zhang Qianqian's eyes scanned her from head to toe. "Dressed so pretty, who are you trying to seduce this time?"
Lin Wan Yi clenched her handkerchief, her nails digging into her flesh.
She knew why Zhang Qianqian targeted her. It was no more than jealousy because the boys in the compound used to circle around her.
Now that her family had fallen, Zhang Qianqian couldn't wait to step on her.
"Zhang Qianqian," Lin Wan Yi lifted her watery eyes, her voice soft and lightly tinged with just the right amount of grievance, "I know you've never liked me, but I'm here... to meet relatives. Please, don't do this."
Her demeanor caused some of the girls who were initially jeering to feel a bit of pity.
But Zhang Qianqian wasn't buying it, sneering, "Meeting relatives? You're probably here to meet some random man, aiming high, aren't you? Let me tell you, a family like the Gu Family isn't for someone of your status to covet!"
Gu Family.
The two words made Lin Wan Yi's heart skip a beat.
It seemed her visit to see Gu Chi today had somehow leaked out.
She couldn't get entangled with Zhang Qianqian here, delaying official business would leave her with no way out.
Lin Wan Yi's eyes reddened, she lowered her head, shoulders trembling slightly, and silently bypassed them, quickly heading for the Tianzi No. 1 private room at the end of the corridor.
Her bullied look successfully made Zhang Qianqian the target of public criticism.
"Qianqian, weren't you too harsh just now?"
"Exactly, her family is like that, and you still provoke her."
Zhang Qianqian watched Lin Wan Yi's disappearing figure, stomping her foot in anger, "What do you know! She's just a vixen, playing pitiful to gain sympathy!"
...
In front of the redwood door of the Tianzi No. 1 private room, Lin Wan Yi composed herself.
Her friend Gu Lan's words echoed in her ears: "Wanyi, my second brother Gu Chi is really nice, warm and cheerful, with a bright future. As long as you get with him, the issue of your family status will be solved. As for my elder brother... anyway, just don't provoke him."
For this "unexpected encounter," Gu Lan had sabotaged Gu Chi's blind date to give her this opportunity.
Success or defeat would be decided in this moment.
She pushed open the heavy wooden door.
The room was dimly lit, with a sharp tobacco scent in the air mixed with a faint soap aroma.
A man sat with his back to the door, his shoulders upright like a mountain, the white military shirt outlining broad shoulders and a firm, narrow waist. Just his back alone exuded a forbidding aura.
Lin Wan Yi tightened her grip on the water cup.
Gu Lan didn't mention her second brother had such a strong presence?
But the arrow was on the bowstring, she had to let it fly.
Holding the enamel cup, she walked quickly, "accidentally" tripping two steps away from the man.
"Oh no!"
She exclaimed, her body leaning forward, pouring the entire cup of water toward the man's back.
However, the scene she anticipated didn't occur.
The man, as if having eyes on the back of his head, deftly sidestepped in the instant of her action. Most of the water missed, only a bit splashed on his sleeve.
He turned his head.
A completely unfamiliar face met Lin Wan Yi's eyes.
It was an extraordinarily handsome face, with sharply defined features like they were chiseled. His sword-like eyebrows slanted into his temples, a high straight nose, and eyes as sharp as an eagle's in the snowy plains.
He simply watched her quietly, his gaze seemingly penetrating through her skin, seeing through all her sorry schemes.
Lin Wan Yi's mind buzzed into a blank.
It's over!
She got the wrong person!
This man was even scarier than the elder brother Gu Lan warned her not to provoke!
"I'm sorry! Comrade, I didn't mean to, let me wipe it off for you!" She fumbled for her handkerchief, ready to reach for his arm.
The man raised his hand, avoiding her touch.
He stood up.
As he moved, a powerful pressure bore down. Lin Wan Yi, standing at 1.65 meters, seemed dwarfed like a child in front of him. She had to lift her head just to see his face clearly.
He lowered his eyes to her, thin lips parting, his voice as deep as winter ice striking a frozen lake.
"Gu Lan sent you?"
In just one statement, without any doubt, just a declaration.
All of Lin Wan Yi's meticulously prepared lines and disguise collapsed instantly. She stood frozen in place, hands and feet icy.
She wanted to deny it, but under those all-seeing eyes, any lie seemed pale and laughable.
But she couldn't admit it.
Lin Wan Yi mustered her last bit of acting, her eyes quickly reddening, tears brimming, her voice tinged with sobs, "Comrade... I don't know any Gu Lan. I'm here to find my cousin, I might have entered the wrong room, I'm sorry, I'll leave now."
As she spoke, she turned to leave.
"Stop."
Gu Yanshen's voice wasn't loud, but commanded obedience.
Lin Wan Yi halted, not daring to move again.
He took long strides, walking up to her, his shadow completely enveloping her.
"First, the Tianzi private rooms of the state-owned restaurant are never open to the public, only receiving internal personnel. As a capitalist's young lady, you have no right to enter."
Lin Wan Yi's heart sank. He knew her identity.
"Second, Gu Chi indeed had plans today, but Gu Lan ruined them. Your appearance here is perfectly timed."
Every sentence he spoke made Lin Wan Yi's face a shade paler.
"Third," Gu Yanshen looked at her pale yet stunningly beautiful face, with a hint of mockery in his tone, "Gu Lan's foolish tricks are the same three. Drugging, throwing oneself into someone's arms, or... like you, staging a clumsy 'unexpected encounter'."
Lin Wan Yi swayed, her last defense collapsing.
She was utterly exposed, like a clown stripped naked and tossed into the snow.
Just as she wished the ground would swallow her whole —
"Creak—"
The door to the private room opened again.
A young officer in the same military attire peeked in, with an apologetic smile on his face, "Big brother, sorry I'm late, I was caught up with Political Commissar Wang downstairs. Eh?"
The newcomer was Gu Chi.
He took in the scene inside the private room, his smile freezing.
His elder brother Gu Yanshen stood with an outrageously beautiful stranger, the atmosphere... was indescribably awkward.
Lin Wan Yi froze completely, wishing she could just die on the spot.
This was great, not only had she embarrassed herself in front of the deity of misfortune but now faced social death in front of the main target too.
Gu Chi's gaze moved between the two, finally resting on Lin Wan Yi, as he hesitantly asked, "And this is...?"
Lin Wan Yi opened her mouth, unable to utter a word.
What could she say? That she was here to scheme against him, but accidentally schemed against his elder brother instead?
In this deathly silence, the unexpected happened as Gu Yanshen suddenly moved.
He extended his long arm, catching both Lin Wan Yi and Gu Chi off guard, pulling Lin Wan Yi closer with a gentle nudge, bringing her into his embrace.
Lin Wan Yi collided with his hard, hot chest, overwhelmed by his strong masculine scent, her mind went completely blank.
As she heard the cold, low voice above her head, the man spoke to his brother at the door, declaring each word clearly.
"She's mine."
"You can leave."