When they arrived at the amusement park, the two little ones immediately ran off to play wildly, wanting to try every single attraction. Lin Zhi and Zhou Congli, who had started with warm smiles, were exhausted by the end, completely devoid of their CEO and CEO's wife personas.
The little ones had a blast, but Lin Zhi and Zhou Congli were worn out. As soon as school started, they promptly sent the children to kindergarten.
Suddenly, it was like they had found paradise. The two babies bonded with the other kindergarteners and couldn't wait to go to school every morning.
Lin Zhi and Zhou Congli were relieved. Finally, they didn't have to worry about the two boys anymore.
Twenty years flashed by.
Zhou Shaoyin and Zhou Shaokang, the two little boys, had grown into adults.
Zhou Shaoyin, the elder brother, had a more stable personality. Following his own interests, he chose finance. Like Zhou Congli, who had started interning at the company in high school, he began trying to start his own company in college.
By the time he graduated, the game company had already grown to a considerable size. He recruited classmates and juniors, developing more games. Out in the world, everyone called him 'Young President Zhou'.
Zhou Shaokang had a more lively personality and was also good-looking. He eventually entered the entertainment industry and became a singer.
He said he loved the feeling of being the center of attention and being liked by people, with countless fans and sold-out concerts everywhere. However, this guy loved to prank his brother.
Whenever he was mobbed by fans or wanted to sneak out and play low-key, he would reveal his brother's address, sending the fans his way.
Zhou Shaoyin was always chased in a sorry state, wishing he could kill his brother for this prank.
The fans, on the other hand, always felt strange. On livestreams or on stage, their brother's personality was smiling and playful, but why was he so serious and aloof at other times, turning and walking away when he saw them?
"Brother, wait for us!" the fans would call out, chasing after him.
Until one time, they unexpectedly got a tip about their brother's whereabouts and went over, only to discover two brothers? One aloof, one cheerful, with identical faces.
The fans were astonished! So they were twins! Brother, you've deceived us so badly.
But your brother is also so handsome, and with a different vibe, they instantly became infatuated, clasping their faces. Oh well, they forgave their brother~
Zhou Shaokang became a globally renowned singer. This was not without the promotion from President Zhou and Mrs. Zhou, the elderly couple, and the financial backing from his brother, Zhou Shaoyin. However, given his status as the young master of Dongning, he never publicized this.
Zhou Congli didn't interfere with his two sons. If his son wanted to be a singer, so be it. His elder son was wholeheartedly focused on running his own game company, and he didn't mind that either. After all, he still had the energy to manage the company.
However, perhaps it was fate's cycle, but the brothers, Zhou Shaoyin and Zhou Shaokang, became entangled with the same woman, just like their father's generation.
That woman was a fan of Zhou Shaokang who, through her hard work, became his assistant.
She was particularly fond of Zhou Shaokang and fantasized about becoming his girlfriend, but she didn't dare confess, harboring a silent crush.
One day, following Zhou Shaokang's instructions, she went to his brother's place to pick something up. Upon entering, she found Zhou Shaoyin with a fever and ended up taking care of him until he woke up.
After that, whenever she saw Zhou Shaoyin, she felt inexplicably uneasy. Her attention was unconsciously drawn to him at every meeting.
She seemed to have fallen for him.
But at this moment, Zhou Shaokang hugged her and jokingly asked if she wanted to be his girlfriend.
The little assistant hesitated. She didn't know whom to choose. She deflected the question, but after work, she went to find Zhou Shaoyin and confessed her feelings to him.
Just as Zhou Shaoyin was about to speak.
Zhou Shaokang happened to walk in and, seeing the two of them, understood immediately.
"Sorry, I already have someone I like," Zhou Shaoyin said, then looked at Zhou Shaokang, "Mom wants us to come home for dinner tonight. Shall we go together?"
Zhou Shaokang glanced at the bewildered little assistant, his smile unruly. "Sure. Little assistant, do you need us to give you a ride?"
The little assistant snapped back to reality, not daring to look at him. "No, thank you."
Seeing her leave, Zhou Shaokang turned to his elder brother. "Since when do you have someone you like?" he asked, flopping onto the sofa, suspecting his brother was pulling his leg.
Zhou Shaoyin's smile softened for a moment. "We just confirmed our relationship these past couple of days. I'll bring her home to meet Mom and Dad in a few days."
Zhou Shaokang was surprised and sat up straight. "Are you serious?"
"Naturally."
Zhou Shaoyin picked up his jacket. "Let's go."
That evening, Lin Zhi and Zhou Congli were a bit surprised to hear their elder son was planning to bring his girlfriend home. They hadn't heard him mention having a girlfriend before, so they inquired about the other person's situation.
She was a student at B University, from a rural family, and Zhou Shaoyin was the one pursuing her.
The couple nodded, acknowledging the information.
Less than two days later, Zhou Shaoyin brought his girlfriend, Ji Zhen, home. She was a delicate-looking girl who seemed extremely introverted, always looking down when she spoke. If Zhou Shaoyin hadn't been by her side, she probably would have run away long ago.
Lin Zhi didn't intend to put on airs. She spoke to Ji Zhen kindly.
The dinner was considered a pleasant gathering for all.
After Zhou Shaoyin saw his girlfriend off, he returned and announced he wanted to marry Ji Zhen.
Lin Zhi and Zhou Congli exchanged glances, thinking it seemed a bit too soon. Before they could speak, Mrs. Zhou barged in.
"I don't agree!" she declared outright.
She had already been secretly displeased that Zhou Congli married Lin Zhi. Although twenty years had passed, and Lin Zhi had given her two precious twin grandchildren, she no longer cared about that.
However, this did not mean she was willing to let her precious grandson marry a woman from a poor background.
Mrs. Zhou tearfully reasoned with her eldest grandson, telling him to find someone else.
Zhou Shaoyin silently resisted. After a month of stalemate, Mrs. Zhou finally relented, deciding her son and grandson didn't listen to her anyway.
Three months later, the two were engaged. A year later, they got married, and Ji Zhen became the Zhou family's granddaughter-in-law. It was only then that she learned her boyfriend was the eldest son of Dongning Group's CEO, Zhou Congli, and his mother was a famous professor at A University.
She had only thought his family was slightly better off. She was so nervous her hands and feet didn't know where to go.
Fortunately, Lin Zhi and Zhou Congli had gentle temperaments and didn't make things difficult for her or interfere with their lives. Gradually, she also became accustomed to the family.
Mrs. Zhou was still somewhat unwilling, constantly urging the couple to have a child, as she wanted to hold her great-grandchild.
However, Ji Zhen couldn't fulfill this wish. She had just passed her postgraduate entrance exams and was currently doing research with her advisor, so busy every day that she didn't even have time to cook a meal for her husband. Her entire focus was on her work; where would she find the time to have a child?
It was only when Zhou Congli asked her to stop bothering them that Mrs. Zhou finally quieted down.
Ji Zhen was finally able to focus on her studies. After graduation, she entered a research institute and was busy for over ten years, until one day, there was a breakthrough research in a certain biological field, and the researcher was Ji Zhen.
With trophy after trophy, honor after honor bestowed upon her, Mrs. Zhou finally fell silent this time.
-
Mrs. Zhou was truly long-lived. Mr. Zhou passed away at seventy-two, while she lived to be ninety-three.
During these decades, Zhou Shaokang transitioned from a singer to an actor and ventured into Hollywood, participating in films by many renowned directors. As for that little assistant, he had indeed had a slight liking for her at the time, but since she had feelings for his brother, he let it go.
Not long after, he dismissed her under the pretext of developing his career abroad. She cried quite a bit, asking if he could give her a chance, saying she had liked him since she was eighteen.
He smirked and coolly said, 'No,' telling her to leave.
Alas, what could be done? He was just that cold and heartless.
-
Zhou Ye was also released from prison. At fifty-two, he looked incredibly aged and worn, filled with exhaustion and a deadness in his eyes. Only when he saw Lin Zhi and Zhou Congli did a flicker of hatred appear in his gaze.
Zhou Congli's expression was calm. "Mom is living with us now. Do you want to return here?"
He was fifty-seven, older than Zhou Ye, but his appearance made him look much younger, still handsome and tall, with a stern yet refined look, appearing to be only in his forties.
Zhou Ye scoffed, "Of course, I'll go. She's my mother too!"
Zhou Congli had him sit in the car behind, while he got into the front car with Lin Zhi. Lin Zhi was even more beautiful and charming, exuding mature allure. She said to him, "I feel like he hates us even more now."
Zhou Congli was unconcerned. "He doesn't dare to right now."
Zhou Ye indeed didn't dare. The longer he stayed in prison for the past thirty years, the more he hated everyone in the Zhou family, hated Lin Zhi and Zhou Congli, and hated his parents for their heartless abandonment. But he had had enough of prison life and now only wanted to indulge in pleasure, releasing the anger in his heart.
Zhou Ye looked at her for a long time before recognizing her. The main reason was that Li Ruoyao had not only aged but had also gained weight.
She had eventually married the second young master of the Wang family. Her family's business ran into trouble and needed the Wang family's help. However, the second young master of the Wang family was extremely flirtatious, and coupled with her constant disgusted expressions towards him, he shamelessly humiliated her, bringing other women home.
The couple's relationship was strained within social circles, and the Wang family's mother-in-law was also very displeased with her, as she had never had children.
Li Ruoyao felt guilty. She had gone abroad and dated a foreigner, accidentally gotten pregnant, but had a miscarriage. Later, she found it impossible to conceive.
She didn't want to face the judgment of the Wang family and others, so she had no choice but to constantly take medication. However, not only did she not conceive, but she also gained weight.
The second young master of the Wang family scoffed at her, calling her used goods, and his disgust grew, leading him to bring his illegitimate children home.
"Li Ruoyao?"
Zhou Ye walked up and slapped her. "Bitch." His eyes were filled with hatred.
After he went to prison, Li Ruoyao visited only once at the beginning. Later, she found out she had found a partner and gotten married soon after, which drove him mad.
He felt like a fool. He loved her so much, yet she only wanted to marry his elder brother, forcing him to take a risk and hire an assassin.
As a result, he ended up in prison, and she found another man so quickly.
Life in prison was not easy. Although Mrs. Zhou made arrangements, there were always people who were not afraid of trouble and, seeing his handsome face, would... Over the decades, his personality had become twisted, and his love for Li Ruoyao had turned into hatred.
"Ruoyao, I miss you so much. Do you miss me?" he said, with a terrifying smile, then dragged Li Ruoyao back to the villa where he was staying.
Lin Zhi listened as Zhou Congli mentioned the Wang family coming to demand compensation and was bewildered until she heard that Zhou Ye had driven Li Ruoyao into the hospital, and they were now demanding compensation from the Zhou family.
"...Mom, what do you think?" she asked Mrs. Zhou. Anyway, she and Zhou Congli would not get involved.
Mrs. Zhou was deeply disheartened. "Forget it. Let no one bother with him. Let him bear this matter himself." She shuffled upstairs, seemingly finally disappointed.
Zhou Congli indeed did not intervene. In the end, Zhou Ye had his legs broken by the second young master of the Wang family, and his third leg was also crippled. Upon returning, he demanded more than half of the Li family's assets as compensation, divorced Li Ruoyao, and made her leave with nothing.
Li Ruoyao wanted to return home, but her brother kicked her out. With nowhere to go, she could only return to Zhou Ye's side, where he continued to torment her. It is said that she eventually went mad.
-
Lin Zhi no longer paid attention to these matters. She worked as a teacher at A University, sometimes taking on students. Her life was busy and fulfilling until she retired at sixty. At this time, Zhou Congli finally handed over the reins of the company to his elder son.
Having worked hard for a lifetime, they were finally completely free and began traveling the world.
Every year before this, Zhou Congli would take time to take her out. They had seen the scenery of many places, but revisiting them offered a different experience, taking the same photos in the same locations as before.
"Unfortunately, I can't carry you anymore," Zhou Congli said, now a slender and handsome old man, but his gaze was as calm and gentle as it had been in the past.
Lin Zhi shook their clasped hands. "It's okay. I like holding hands too."
Zhou Congli smiled. "Good. I will hold your hand forever."
In the distance, waves churned, and the setting sun approached the horizon as dusk fell. White seagulls danced in the sky, and a few children chased each other on the beach. The elderly couple on the chairs smiled at each other, then leaned on each other, watching this beautiful scene, their hands clasped tightly.
Cousin's Text: The Early Deceased First Wife 1
"Host, congratulations on completing the mission 'My Heart Belongs Only to You.' The basic mission is successfully completed, earning 900 points. After deducting 100 points for assistance provided in the mission world, you have 800 points remaining.
Mission reward: two hundred points.
Host, for this mission, you have earned a total of 1000 points."
Lin Zhi returned to the system space. The space was small, only ten square meters. The system, manifested as a butterfly, flew around. Its mechanical voice echoed throughout the space.
She nodded casually, still feeling a sense of wistful loss in her heart. Her mind replayed the scene of Zhou Congli reluctantly holding her hand before finally closing his eyes.
The system sensed this. "Host, would you like me to erase the emotions and memories from the previous mission?"
Lin Zhi was silent for a moment. "Erase the emotions, but keep the memories." Only by erasing her emotions could she proceed with the next mission without hindrance; the memories would remain.
"Understood, Host."
Lin Zhi felt a faint power sweep over her. Soon, the emotions within her dissipated, leaving only faint memories. Looking at those memories now could no longer stir any emotion.
Lin Zhi...
"Let's start the next mission."
"Certainly. Please select the next world, Host --"
The empty space suddenly filled with countless twinkling starlight. She looked around and randomly picked a starlight closest to her. Instantly, a powerful suction emerged from the starlight.
"New world mission commencing... 3... 2... 1"
Lin Zhi's vision suddenly darkened as her soul was absorbed into the starlight. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself sitting in an ancient-style main hall. The people around her were all wearing ancient attire. The madam seated at the head of the table frowned and looked at her, asking again, "Lin Shi, did you hear me?"
Besides the maids and servants attending them, there were several women who appeared to be wives, each with their children standing behind them.
But the most striking figure was a woman in white standing in the middle of the room.
Wēn Shūyuè knelt on the ground, tears silently streaming down her fair face. Her delicate body trembled slightly, looking incredibly pitiable. "Cousin-in-law, please don't blame Cousin for taking me back without permission. I am already divorced and truly have nowhere to go. I beg you to let me stay in the estate and not turn me away."
Everyone present immediately looked sympathetic and cast accusatory glances at Lin Zhi, as if blaming her for being so heartless.
Lin Zhi felt a tightness in her chest, an indescribable discomfort.
"Beep! Host, transmitting plot information --"
"My Beloved Cousin's Ardent Love" is a historical novel about a female protagonist who, after being reborn, has a change of heart and gets together with her cousin, who had loved her deeply in the previous life. She becomes the Marchioness of the Marquis's Estate, living a life of glory and wealth.
The female protagonist, Wēn Shūyuè, is the distant cousin of the male protagonist, Chǔ Jǐng.
Her mother is the concubine sister of Fāng Shì, the current wife of Chǔ Jǐng's father, the Marquis of Zhènběi, a first-rank official. After growing up, Fāng Shì married into the Capital City and became the legitimate wife of Chǔ Liáng, the Marquis of Zhènběi.
Her mother, being a concubine's daughter, was married off to a scholar in Èzhōu, becoming a scholar's wife.
In her previous life, she ignored her parents' advice and was determined to marry the son of the Prefect of Èzhōu, but her family background was insufficient, so she could only be a concubine. Little Fāng Shì had no choice but to write a letter to Fāng Shì, who eventually helped her marry her beloved. Fāng Shì even had Chǔ Jǐng come to witness the wedding.
However, Wēn Shūyuè did not live well after marriage. Her husband doted on his concubines and neglected his wife, even allowing his concubine to murder their child.
She constantly vied with several concubines in the back courtyard and was eventually framed and killed.
After her death, her soul floated above the estate and discovered that it was the Marquis's heir, Chǔ Jǐng, who collected her body and severely punished her heartless husband, ordering the concubine to commit suicide.
Watching Chǔ Jǐng stand by her grave for a long time, she was dazed. Did her cousin care for her this much?
A gust of strange wind blew, and Wēn Shūyuè lost consciousness. When she woke up, she found herself reborn to half a year after marrying the Prefect. Looking at the arrogant concubine and the scumbag husband protecting her, she used the Marquis's influence to successfully obtain a divorce letter.
Later, she found out that Chǔ Jǐng would be passing through Èzhōu. She jumped into the lake en route and was rescued by Chǔ Jǐng. Piteously, she told him about her husband's disdain and her divorce, and how she had no face to return to her parents, wishing only to die.
Seeing her unwavering desire to die and refusal to return home, Chǔ Jǐng had no choice but to bring her back to the Capital City and hand her over to his mother.
In her previous life, Wēn Shūyuè knew that her Marquis's heir cousin would one day hold great power and achieve great deeds, earning praise from everyone. However, his fate was not good; his wife died early, and he never remarried, eventually adopting his brother's son as his heir.
Recalling his silent demeanor at her grave, she vowed this time never to fail him again and to ensure he had a complete and happy life, rather than a solitary one.
She ingratiated herself with her aunt and built good relationships with the ladies in the estate, even the servants found her beautiful and kind-hearted. Although she was divorced and came to the Capital City, her temperament and appearance were no less than those of the ladies in the Capital.
Wēn Shūyuè lived comfortably in the Marquis's Estate, patiently waiting. As expected, when the time came, her cousin's wife, who was destined to die young, succumbed to a severe cold and passed away.
The Marquis's heir could not be without a wife, so Fāng Shì immediately began looking for a bride for her son, but she was dissatisfied with everyone.
Just as she was worrying, the elderly matron by her side suddenly said, "Cousin looks quite suitable."
Fāng Shì's heart stirred. Looking at her cousin, who had just paid her respects and was slowly leaving, she began to consider the suggestion. After observing for a period, she noticed her son also seemed interested in Shūyuè. Thus, she personally inquired with her cousin.
Wēn Shūyuè blushed charmingly and said, "Everything is as Aunt wishes."
Fāng Shì was pleased. Coincidentally, Chǔ Jǐng was ordered to go south to manage water conservancy. She hastened to prepare the wedding preparations for the two to marry.
Thus, Wēn Shūyuè instantly became the wife of the Marquis's heir. The next day, the male protagonist left the Capital to go south for water management. She thrived among the ladies of the Capital, even becoming close friends with a princess. When the male protagonist Chǔ Jǐng returned with his achievements, he became a powerful minister in the court and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the Grand Chancellor.
She also gained more respect from the ladies of the Capital. The couple had one son.
Wēn Shūyuè lived a life of splendor.
... Lin Zhi heard Wēn Shūyuè's address of "Cousin-in-law." She was currently the male protagonist's ill-fated first wife, "Lin Shi," the legitimate eldest daughter of Minister Lin, Lin Zhi.
Married to Chǔ Jǐng by her parents' orders, they treated each other with respect. A year into their marriage, they had not yet had children.
Her temperament was somewhat sensitive. After marriage, her mother-in-law constantly brought up the topic of heirs, and she was anxious about not being able to conceive. Later, a severe cold took her life.
But that was her first life. In her second life, after the female protagonist was reborn and came to the Capital, she would often whisper to Lin Zhi about how good her cousin was to her. Lin Zhi also frequently witnessed scenes of her husband and cousin together and overheard the matron near her mother-in-law saying that her mother-in-law and husband were discussing taking her cousin as a noble concubine. This blow caused her to fall ill.