Chapter One: Rescued by the Original Heroine

The suffocating sensation of sudden death still enveloped Xie Yunshu, the weakness coursing through her body and the loss of control causing her to tremble uncontrollably. She struggled desperately, though it felt utterly meaningless—like a drowning person flailing in panic, trying to save themselves. Gradually, amidst the roaring in her ears, she began to hear a cacophony of voices, and faint beams of light appeared before her boundless darkness.

Was this the underworld or heaven?

She had always lived a life of ease, indulging moderately in both meat and vegetables, with only a mild fondness for beauty. Such trivial matters surely wouldn’t condemn her to hell...

So, was heaven really this lively?

Yunshu wanted to open her eyes, but her ‘body’ remained rigid, even her eyelids refusing to lift. With no other choice, she resigned herself to waiting for this death buff to pass, so she could properly examine where she would dwell as a restless spirit.

Once she accepted this, her mind and body relaxed. She thought that if she remained quiet enough, the nearby spirits would assume she was still in a liminal state between life and death and eventually ignore her.

Yet, unexpectedly, the noisier the voices grew, the closer they came, filling her with confusion and irritation.

...

“Comrade?”

“Please stop crying. I know you might be reluctant to endure hardship in the countryside, but as educated youth sent down to the countryside, we must answer the nation’s call and contribute to its construction!”

“Besides, the great leader once said women hold up half the sky. We all must learn to endure hardship. None of the men here are complaining, so how can we women be always whimpering?”

“Here, take my handkerchief and wipe your tears.”

With that, a rough hand thrust a grimy handkerchief toward Yunshu. Whether by accident or design, the fingernails smeared with black soil scraped lightly across the bridge of her nose, leaving a faint red mark.

Though not severe, the sting was sharp, and the pressure on her nose sent a sudden ache to her brain, bringing tears to her still-dazed eyes. The girl who had grown frustrated at receiving no response was taken aback.

After all, she was merely jealous and resentful that this female educated youth looked better dressed and more attractive than herself. She had seized the chance to bully her, branding her as someone afraid of hardship and unwilling to go down to the countryside.

She hadn’t meant to take it that far—she knew talking big was one thing, but physically hitting someone was wrong.

...

The girl who had struck Yunshu was startled and flustered, while Yunshu, now somewhat clearer, finally managed to open her eyes.

The next moment, she instinctively covered her nose, wincing at the ache.

Yunshu appeared confused, showing little reaction. This prompted Lin Jingshu, a bystander with a strong sense of justice and a motherly instinct, to lose patience.

She abruptly stood up, swatted away the handkerchief-holding girl’s hand, and stepped forward to shield the petite Yunshu behind her. Like a hen protecting her chicks, she fiercely defended Yunshu.

“What are you doing? If you want to speak, just speak—why resort to hitting?”

“And she hasn’t said a word since boarding the train. How do you know she doesn’t want to go to the countryside? If she was truly unwilling, would she be here, running into you?”

“You’re slapping a label on her for no reason. What’s wrong with you?”

“So fierce, so brave, so towering...”

Yunshu, still holding her nose, looked at Lin Jingshu and quickly surveyed her surroundings. She finally realized she wasn’t in heaven but had been rejected by the pure angels for her attachment to fear, and instead kicked back into the human world.

Only the drop-off point had been mistaken. She hadn’t lost her memories and started anew with a fresh soul; instead, she retained her memories and had transmigrated into a novel she had read—set in the era of a female protagonist—assuming the identity of a namesake female supporting character who shirked responsibility.

...

“I didn’t! I didn’t mean to! I was just—”

The educated youth hastily denied everything, but the heroine who had witnessed the entire bullying scene refused to believe her.

“You were just what? From the start, you were talking nonsense. The poor girl just parted from her parents and was crying. Isn’t it natural to feel reluctant to leave her family?”

“And it’s not just the women. There are men in this carriage who cried when they parted from their families too. Why don’t you say they’re afraid of going to the countryside or unwilling to go?”

“You see her tender face and choose to bully her? Smart, huh? Picking on the weak!”

A male educated youth, who had been watching with red eyes, suddenly blushed deeply. He was the one who had just cried after his grandparents sent him off.

Thinking about it, it was normal for the girl to cry. Why would that female educated youth accuse her of being afraid or unwilling to go to the countryside?

Now they all had a grievance against that girl.

...

Lin Jingshu’s fierce words struck a nerve and exposed the hypocrisy of the accuser.

The girl holding the handkerchief turned pale, especially as she noticed the changing expressions of the surrounding crowd due to Lin Jingshu’s remarks. Panic and tightness gripped her throat.

Avoiding a direct confrontation with Lin Jingshu, she quickly turned and addressed Yunshu, who was still silent and looking like an easy target.

“Comrade, I didn’t mean anything else. I just thought, as comrades sent to build the countryside together, we should help and support each other.”

“My words were meant to encourage you, nothing else. If you’re upset, I can apologize.”

Seeing the tide turning against her, the girl skillfully tried to retreat, hoping to win Yunshu’s favor. If Yunshu was soft and easily intimidated, then not only would this girl save face, but Lin Jingshu’s defense of Yunshu would lose ground as well.

After all, if Yunshu didn’t care and didn’t appreciate the help, why should a stranger interfere?

But unfortunately… Yunshu, now recovered from the nasal sting, was not the soft target Yang Yue—the handkerchief girl—had hoped for.

In truth, she was a firecracker, quick to ignite and fiery in temperament.

...

Having quickly absorbed the heated exchange and the murmurs around her, Yunshu suddenly stood up, bypassed the heroine Lin Jingshu, and with a swift motion shoved Yang Yue to the ground, making her land heavily on all fours, her tailbone surely bruised.

Yang Yue cried out in pain.

Yunshu’s bold act sparked an uproar. Those who had been looking on with mixed emotions during the debate centered around Yunshu’s character now gazed with newfound clarity.

Lin Jingshu, the heroine, hadn’t expected the gentle white rabbit to bite back. Yang Yue, sprawled on the ground, had not anticipated being flattened by the ‘soft target.’

Some educated youth, sensing trouble, rushed off to find help. Yunshu noticed but paid no mind—she was in the right.