Xia Xiaolan was woken up by crying.

Remember, you led your subordinates through a very difficult merger case and then attended the celebration party. Under the repeated urging of your subordinates to drink, Xia Xiaolan also had too much to drink.

But consciousness wasn't completely fuzzy yet. On the way home, she could still hear the new assistant and her boyfriend on the phone, "Someone sent Mr. Xia back, living alone, well, he's not married... You said Mr. Xia is alone, earning so much money, what use is it? He didn't even marry himself off?"

Xia Xiaolan was half-drunk and half-awake,

she didn't hold it against the new assistant in front of her.

Career success cannot compensate for the lack of marital embellishment. Strong people are often gossiped about, especially Xia Xiaolan, whose strong demeanor and average appearance led some to whisper behind her back that she was unattractive, past her prime, and too ambitious, and that she wouldn't even be able to find a husband. —Xia Xiaolan didn't care about these personal attacks, but the new assistant was inexperienced and foolish, thinking that because she was drunk, she could openly discuss gossip about her superiors in front of her.

In two days, I'll have them transfer this person out and get a new assistant.

Back home, the nanny, Zhang Auntie, kept nagging Xia Xiaolan to drink some soup, saying that there were many people and she should take care of herself.

Xia Xiaolan threw herself onto the big bed and slept soundly.

I had a strange dream where I became someone else. The setting was the 1980s, and some bad things happened in the dream. When I got angry, I bumped into a pillar. Xia Xiaolan found it funny; she wasn't the type to commit suicide anyway. Compared to Xia Xiaolan's years of hard work and struggle, those things in the dream were nothing.

But this dream was too vivid.

Xia Xiaolan's ears were filled with muffled sobs, a grating sound that was driving her to distraction.

The blanket felt clammy and heavy, Xia Xiaolan thought she was being drenched in sweat. She finally managed to open her eyes only to be startled by a face that was black and yellow!

"Xiao Lan, you're awake? You little brat, you scared me to death...sniff sniff... Xiao Lan, does your head still hurt?"

A sallow, gaunt figure that could be blown over by a gust of wind.

Xia Xiaolan thought, how come this dream of hers still hasn't woken up?!

"Tears flowed freely from the eyes of the person: 'Xiaolan, promise your mother, we won't do foolish things again, okay?'

Xia Xiaolan nodded, her eyes welling up with tears as she wiped them with her sleeve. A trace of a smile appeared on her troubled face.

"Mom, go get some food. You wait here!"

The man closed the door, and Xia Xiaolan, gritting her teeth against a headache, surveyed her surroundings. The bed was made of dark wood with a straw mat rustling under the single sheet. The yellow mosquito net hung on either side of the bedpost by iron hooks. The quilt had four patches and lay beside a frayed rope connected to a rudimentary light bulb.

Xia Xiaolan pulled the rope, and the light came on. It probably wasn't even 15 watts, and the room was still very dark.

Gritting her teeth through the headache, Xiaoxiao got out of bed. The only decent piece of furniture in the room was a vanity table by the window. The glass mirror reflected a small face: a pointed chin, big eyes, and a pert nose—not a flaw to be found! A white gauze bandage wrapped around her head added to her pitiful appearance... Xiaoxiao gasped. This was what people meant by a fox-like beauty!

That's certainly not a face!

If Xia Zong were just three points more handsome, he wouldn't be talked about behind his back.

Xia Xiaolan smiled, the person in the mirror followed suit, her eyes rippling, captivating everyone's hearts. Xia Xiaolan grinned and made a grotesque expression, the face in the mirror surprisingly didn't look unattractive. This was just too much! Xia Xiaolan recalled her original appearance, calling it average would be flattering. Without spending a lot of money on makeup, she actually looked kind of ugly.

This world isn't all about looks. The higher the level, the more they value ability.

But coming from poverty and lacking external support, the initial struggle was incredibly difficult. When working hard to make a living, even in sales, those with good looks had no real professional skills; they could just charm their way into orders. Spending every day studying professional knowledge while not even getting to meet a manager... If one were slightly more attractive, perhaps they wouldn't have to work so tirelessly for 20 years before tasting success.

House, car, savings and position, all the hard-earned assets were gone in a blink of an eye. After just one sleep, she became another "Xia Xiaolan" with the same name and identity. Living in 1983, this year she just turned 18. She had a stunning fox-like face, but couldn't understand why the other "Xia Xiaolan" would want to commit suicide by hitting her head!

The original "Xia Xiaolan" died, the reason is unknown. Thirty years later, Xia Xiaolan woke up here. The memories she received in her dream were fragmented, yet they allowed Xia Xiaolan to...

Creak.

The door creaked open, and a gaunt man with sallow skin entered carrying a chipped enamel basin.

"Xiǎolán, Mom steamed an egg for you, eat it while it's hot."

The person was careful and even a little humble in their attitude. It was Xia Xiaolan's mother, Liu Fen.

Xia Xiaolan Zhang Zhang, a cry of "Mom" still didn't come out.

I don't know how to treat Liu Fen. In my memory, "Xia Xiaolan" treated her very badly. Should I continue being unfilial, or take this opportunity to say that I hit my head and have changed for the better?

Xia Xiaolan was still hesitating, when the half-closed door was violently flung open.

Several people pushed into the room, led by Xia Xiaolan. Behind her were two other daughters-in-law besides Liu Fen, and several grandchildren, looking menacing and hostile!

Xia Lao Tai, with her high cheekbones, was spitting fire in her eyes. She snatched the enamel cup from Liu Fen's hand and shoved her to the ground.

"You gave birth to a slut who destroyed the Xia family's reputation. You dare to eat eggs at home? After getting scolded, you even pretend to be pitiful by hitting your head, trying to scare me?! If you want to die, just die! Hitting your head won't do anything; go jump into a river!"

The tone was vicious, yet not the kind one would expect from a relative. It was more like the animosity of Xia Xiaolan's enemy.

Liu Fen climbed to Old Xia's feet and tugged at her legs, refusing to let go.

"Mother, the child has just woken up. Please spare his life…"

I'm new here, please take care of me.