Sylvia truly didn''t know that Ethan found her annoying and just wanted to push her away.
Even though the original heroine didn¡¯t like living in the countryside, she was determined to stay, refusing to let her family take her back. The reason? She didn¡¯t want Ethan to think less of her. She wanted to prove that she could stand on her own and earn his respect.
What she didn¡¯t know was that she was just a side character in this story. The male lead was always going to be with the female lead, and no one could take him away. Everything she did was ultimately in vain.
Arden, however, didn¡¯t like the male lead at all. If Ethan didn¡¯t like his fianc¨¦e, he should just call off the engagement. Instead, he gave her false hope, all the while secretly having feelings for someone else. Even if he was the male lead, this kind of behavior was unforgivable.
But that was exactly why Arden, as a "supporting" character, could make an impact. Her role was to create misunderstandings between the main couple, pushing them to break up and get back together, each time growing closer, until their love deepened. This was her part to play in their love story, and she had to do it. It was simply a form of entertainment for her, though.
However, Arden would never allow her life to revolve around the male and female leads forever. She wouldn¡¯t accept that.
As for Old Mr. Carter? Arden had no intentions to involve herself with him. He had truly contributed to the country, and he would eventually be reinstated. But that didn¡¯t mean she was going to rely on him.
If the female lead wanted to hold onto Old Mr. Carter, then let her.
But Arden¡¯s true goal was to become a big shot herself.
Chapter 15: How could I lied to you?
Time had passed swiftly, and before she knew it, the day of the college entrance exam had arrived.
Arden Forster kept her usual routine¡ªgoing to bed early and waking up early, her spirits high and her mind clear.
In contrast, the others were all a little on edge, especially Lily Mai, who had dark circles under her eyes, clearly from a sleepless night.
"I¡¯m so nervous! I didn¡¯t sleep a wink! It feels like the moment I closed my eyes, it was already morning," Lily Mai said, looking desperate.
"Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve studied all we could, just do your best. Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself," said Taylor Grant, trying to reassure everyone. "You¡¯re still young; if you don¡¯t make it this year, you can try again next year. There¡¯s no need to rush."
"Hang in there! Believe in yourself, we can do it!" they all encouraged each other, which eased their nerves a little.
The exam location was at the elementary school in the county. The journey from Tri?u Village took about two hours, but thanks to Captain Grant¡¯s arrangement, they would get there in half an hour by car.
As they arrived, they saw many students already gathered at the school gates, all huddling against the cold wind, waiting for the exam room to open.
Arden noticed someone familiar among the crowd¡ªSylvia Green, who she hadn¡¯t realized had arrived earlier.
The students from Tri?u Village had all been dropped off by Captain Grant, and when they arrived, Sylvia wasn¡¯t there, so she must have stayed at a guesthouse in the county.
Just as Arden spotted the tall figure wearing a military uniform, she immediately understood.
Ah, so her fianc¨¦ was here to see another girl off to the exam, but little did he know that his fianc¨¦e was also taking the exam at the same location.
If this were in the original story, as a supporting character, Arden would definitely have to step in and cause a little trouble between the two leads.
But she didn¡¯t want to interfere with the others¡¯ exams, so she decided to hold back¡ªfor now.
At 8 AM, the exam officially began, and students filed into the exam room.
As the invigilators passed out the exam papers, Arden took a look at the questions. To her surprise, the college entrance exam in this world was shockingly easy. It was practically at an elementary school level.
It was easy for her, but there were still many students in the room scratching their heads, unsure of how to answer.
The past few years had seen a lot of chaos, and it had certainly affected the education system. Knowledge and talent were incredibly scarce.
Arden had chosen the science stream, so she took exams in politics, language, mathematics, and physics, whereas others in the arts stream took history and geography.
The two-day exam finally came to an end.
When they left the exam hall, some were happy, while others were disappointed. But since the results hadn¡¯t been released yet, there was still a glimmer of hope.
¡°Some of the math problems were impossible. I just guessed, and I didn¡¯t finish a few physics and chemistry questions¡¡± Lily Mai said dejectedly. ¡°Arden, you must have done really well, right?¡±
During their study sessions, they all knew that Arden had the best grades. Whenever anyone had difficulty with something, they¡¯d ask her, and she could answer everything.
Though they knew they couldn¡¯t perform as well as her, they didn¡¯t harbor any ill feelings because Arden had genuinely helped them a lot.
Lily Mai spoke for a while but didn¡¯t get a response from Arden. When she looked over, she saw that Arden was standing still, her eyes fixed on something in the distance.
Lily Mai followed her gaze, and at the school gate, she saw a handsome young man in military uniform, standing out amidst the crowd of students, his face striking and hard to miss.
Next to him was a smiling girl, talking to him.
Lily Mai squinted, her eyes widening. Wasn¡¯t that Sylvia Green from their village?
Without thinking much more, Lily Mai saw Arden walking toward the two.
¡°Mr. Templar, thank you so much for coming to watch me take the exam,¡± Sylvia said shyly, bowing her head.
¡°No problem. I was just passing by.¡± Ethan Templar, the young man, seemed to have no idea why he¡¯d been so attentive to this girl. Since the first time they met at Mr. Carter¡¯s place, he couldn¡¯t forget about her. When he heard she was taking the exam, he took the day off to cheer her on.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
It wasn¡¯t until he saw her smile that he realized, he might actually like this unique girl.
She was special, not like the other country girls; she was smart, beautiful, and kind-hearted. Her speech and knowledge outshone many city girls. Every time they talked, she amazed him.
¡°Ethan Templar!¡± A sweet voice interrupted the moment between them and immediately drew the attention of everyone around.
Ethan looked up and saw Arden walking toward them. He furrowed his brow. Why was she here?
Arden didn¡¯t seem to notice his displeasure. She happily ran up to him, looked up at him with a small smile, and asked, ¡°Did you come here on purpose to watch me?¡±
Sylvia¡¯s expression shifted immediately. Seeing Arden so familiar with Ethan, her heart raced with suspicion. What was their relationship?
But thinking about how she hadn¡¯t even crossed the line with Ethan, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask him directly. So she chose another method.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she bit her lip, looking both sweet and stubborn, asking Ethan, ¡°You and her...?¡±
She didn¡¯t finish her sentence, but the implication was clear.
Ethan, now understanding her unease, quickly responded, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her, I¡¯m here for you, to cheer you on for your exam!¡±
¡°Really?¡±
¡°Really. How could I lie to you?¡±
Sylvia stopped crying and smiled shyly, lowering her head, feeling guilty for her earlier behavior.
Arden watched this scene of love and affection unfold before her, her smile fading in an instant as she looked up at them from a distance.
¡°So,¡± she said coldly, her voice sharp. ¡°My fianc¨¦, Ethan Templar¡±¡ªshe pointed at him¡ª¡°left his army to come here, to escort another girl to her exam, showing affection and care for her.¡±
¡°But when his fianc¨¦e, who¡¯s also taking the exam at the same place, me¡±¡ªshe gestured to herself¡ª¡°he doesn¡¯t even bother to ask how I¡¯m doing.¡±
She sighed, rolling her eyes. ¡°He probably doesn¡¯t even know that I¡¯m taking the exam here. Such as trash.¡±
The onlookers were stunned. This wasn¡¯t the 21st century. Even though this era allowed for some freedom in romantic relationships, there was still a strong sense of conservatism when it came to matters of love and dating. Lovers holding hands in public would still be pointed at and whispered about.
But here was a fianc¨¦e, in front of everyone, showing affection to another woman¡¯s lover. Wasn¡¯t that a scandal?
Sylvia Green was equally confused. She had no idea that Ethan had a fianc¨¦e.
Ethan¡¯s face turned dark at Arden¡¯s words, and when he saw Sylvia¡¯s reaction, his expression grew even colder. His eyes narrowed dangerously at Arden, as if he could pierce her with his gaze.
But before he could say anything, Arden spoke again.
¡°If you like someone else, you can just tell me. I won¡¯t cling to you.¡±
Ethan¡¯s face darkened further. Not cling to him? Ha!
Didn¡¯t she used to follow him around like a shadow in the capital? She couldn¡¯t take a step without him, and now, here she was, pretending to be indifferent?
¡°The elders decided the engagement,¡± Arden continued, her voice laced with frustration.
¡°If you don¡¯t like it, you can refuse it. If you don¡¯t refuse, that means you accept. Even though we¡¯re betrothed, we should still be honest with each other. So what¡¯s this, playing both sides? You¡¯re a soldier, yet you can¡¯t even keep your word?¡±
¡°Fine, I¡¯ll write to my family and call off the engagement. We have nothing to do with each other anymore. You¡¯re free now, go ahead and love whoever you want.¡± Arden sighed.
Her words struck Ethan like a blow. His face turned as dark as coal, but when she spoke the last part, he couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. Without thinking, he responded impulsively,
¡°R...Really?¡±
He knew how much Arden cared for him, so how could she willingly break the engagement? But she had said it herself, and even if she was joking, he couldn¡¯t take it lightly.
Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Ethan replied,
¡°Alright, the engagement is dissolved. We¡¯re done here.¡±
The words, however, fell on the ears of the watching crowd, and it quickly became clear that Arden wasn¡¯t joking. She had indeed been engaged to him.
The crowd¡¯s opinion of him and Sylvia shifted immediately. A man with a fianc¨¦e was casually flirting with another woman. And a woman plug herself into someone else¡¯s engagement...!
How disgusting, both of them.
By the time Ethan understood what had happened, Arden had already walked away, leaving the crowd still murmuring and pointing at him.
¡°You have a fianc¨¦e? Why didn¡¯t you tell me? You¡¯re horrible!¡± Even Sylvia, feeling a pang of anger, confronted him.
Ethan was flustered. He didn¡¯t care what anyone else said, but seeing the girl in front of him upset made his heart ache.
¡°Sylvia, listen to me, everything¡¯s not what you think.¡±
¡° No no no! I don¡¯t want to hear it, I don¡¯t want to hear it!¡± Sylvia snapped, refusing to listen.
...!
Although Arden had already walked far away, she could still hear the chaotic drama unfolding behind her, like a scene from a soap opera. A fiery love triangle, playing out with all its intensity in the middle of the crowded street.
"There you go" Arden sighed, rolling her eyes. "Don¡¯t thank me, I¡¯ve just give out the chance for the two of you to be together."
Lily Mai twisted her hands nervously, trying to console her, ¡°Arden, don¡¯t be upset. A man like that isn¡¯t worth it. You¡¯re amazing, and you¡¯ll definitely find someone better than him¡¡±
She was genuinely surprised by Sylvia¡¯s actions. She could never imagined that Sylvia would be the type of person to steal Arden¡¯s fianc¨¦ - her friend''s fianc¨¦. She couldn¡¯t believe how deceitful people could be, appearing friendly but hiding such intentions.
Arden gave a faint acknowledgment, ¡°Of course, someone like Ethan Templar isn¡¯t worth my tears.¡± She waved her hand dismissively. ¡°But I know what you mean.¡±
Lily Mai misunderstood Arden¡¯s calmness and assumed she was devastated. She felt even more upset for her, thinking that she needed to be consoled.
When they returned home, Lily Mai told the rest of the intellectual youth about what happened. Everyone was furious, especially for Arden. They couldn¡¯t believe Sylvia would intervene in someone else¡¯s love life so shamelessly.
The gossip spread fast, reaching the whole factory. The workers were talking about it all day.
Despite Sylvia¡¯s repeated explanations that she didn¡¯t know at first, no one showed any sympathy for her.
¡°Okay so assume that she didn¡¯t know at first,¡± Lily Mai muttered to the person next to her, ¡°But afterward? Didn¡¯t she still get involved with him? Someone even saw them kissing in the bushes, broad daylight! And she didn¡¯t even seem embarrassed about it!¡±
Everyone in the factory was in a frenzy, gossiping and spreading the story. Even though Sylvia tried to defend herself, the more she explained, the worse it seemed.
Chapter 16: Entrance exams score
Recently, things had been tough for Sylvia Green. Since the university entrance exams ended, her relationship with Ethan Templar had become the talk of the town. Everyone knew about it, and behind her back, people whispered about her.
Despite Sylvia¡¯s repeated explanations that she hadn¡¯t known Ethan had a fianc¨¦e and that their relationship was never romantic, no one believed her.
But she wasn¡¯t lying. Before, she had no relationship with Ethan other than being somewhat close. It wasn¡¯t until after the exams that they officially became a couple, and by then, Ethan had already broken off his engagement with Arden Forster.
Just thinking about it made Sylvia furious. If it weren¡¯t for Arden announcing their broken engagement in front of everyone, her relationship with Ethan wouldn¡¯t have caused this mess. Sylvia was sure that Arden had done it on purpose.
She hated Arden. From the first time she saw her, she knew she couldn¡¯t stand her.
No matter what others said about her, Sylvia remained with Ethan. There seemed to be some kind of magnetic pull between them, as if they were meant to be together. And even though people gossiped about their public displays of affection, like kissing in the bushes during the day, Sylvia didn¡¯t care. After all, she had crossed over from the 21st century, where kissing in public wasn¡¯t a big deal.
But soon, Sylvia¡¯s attitude changed.
Twenty days after the exams, the results were announced. The group of intellectual youth didn¡¯t do too badly in the exams. Although not perfect, their results surpassed initial expectations.
Sylvia¡¯s results were also decent. Even without the answers from Chu H¨¤n, her background from the modern world made her more than capable of handling elementary school-level math problems.
However, there were some tricky questions that cost her a few points. There was one question about the color of a fish, something she couldn¡¯t make sense of at all. She just couldn¡¯t understand it.
Even so, she managed to score well, earning 302 points.
It wasn¡¯t a high score, but compared to others who barely scraped through with just one or two hundred points, her result wasn¡¯t bad at all.
In the village, some people barely scraped by with just a few points on their exams.
Among the group of students who scored a few dozen points were Sylvia Green''s cousin and older brother. Without Sylvia''s tutoring, they could only rely on their own abilities, and that truly reflected their true academic performance.
Her younger brother, the best performer in their family apart from Sylvia, scored just over a hundred points.
So, Sylvia had the highest score in her family and stood out compared to most others in the village.
When the results were announced, the villagers had a different opinion of her. Despite her poor reputation, everyone acknowledged that she would likely be a student in the future. In their village, having a university student was rare.
Even though no one openly praised her, no one deliberately cut ties with her either.
But just as Sylvia''s results were being discussed, the scores of Arden Forster were revealed in the intellectual youth group.
Arden''s results were almost perfect. She only missed a few points in the language exam, but scored full marks in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and politics. She was also ranked first in the province for the science stream.
She hadn''t wanted to boast about it, but how could such a big achievement stay hidden? People in the factory couldn¡¯t keep it quiet and spread the news everywhere.
The top scorer in the province was from their factory, and that was huge news.
After saving the twin babies from the Taylor family, Arden¡¯s name became even more talked about. Her beauty, medical skills, and now her top exam results¡ªit seemed like the heavens had given her all the best qualities.
With the spotlight on her as the one with the highest score of the country, no one even cared about Sylvia¡¯s results anymore.
So, Sylvia had confirmed once again, Arden is definitely her nemesis, the subject of countermeasures!
Since the university entrance exam results were announced, Sylvia Green had become the subject of relentless gossip. Everyone in town was talking about her relationship with Ethan Carter. Despite Sylvia repeatedly explaining that she hadn¡¯t known Ethan was already engaged, no one seemed to believe her.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
The truth was, Sylvia had never had a serious relationship with Ethan. They had only shared a few ambiguous moments. Their relationship became official after the exams, but by then, Ethan had already broken off his engagement with Arden Forster.
Sylvia was furious. She realized that Arden had intentionally mentioned the broken engagement in front of everyone, making it clear that if it weren¡¯t for her, things between Sylvia and Ethan wouldn¡¯t have become so messy. Sylvia was convinced Arden had done this on purpose.
She had never hated anyone as much as she hated Arden.
From the moment Sylvia first met Arden, she felt an instant dislike. No matter what others said about her, Sylvia remained close to Ethan, feeling an undeniable pull between them, as though their connection was destined.
As for how others judged their public displays of affection, Sylvia didn¡¯t care. In the modern world she came from, showing affection openly was normal. A kiss in public was no big deal.
But soon, her indifference began to fade.
After the exams, results came in. The group of intellectual youths did fairly well¡ªnothing perfect, but they all exceeded expectations.
Sylvia¡¯s results were good, especially considering she hadn¡¯t had the answers from Joe Han. With her background from the modern world, the basic school subjects were easy for her. She missed a few points on some tricky questions, but overall, she scored well¡ª302 points, which was solid.
It wasn¡¯t the highest score, but compared to others in the village, she was proud. Some students barely scored a dozen points, and her younger brother, despite being second-best in the family, scored just over 100.
When the results came out, the villagers began to view Sylvia differently. Despite her flaws, they now saw her as someone who would probably attend university, which was a rare thing for people from the village.
Just as people started to praise Sylvia, the results for Arden Forster came out.
Arden had nearly perfect scores. She was first in the province for the science stream, missing only a few points in the language exam.
The news spread fast. Arden became the talk of the town¡ªnot just for her beauty, but for her remarkable academic achievements. The villagers were amazed that someone like her was from their midst.
Her achievements overshadowed Sylvia¡¯s, and people began to forget about Sylvia¡¯s results. Arden became the star of the village, and it was hard for anyone to compete with her.
Meanwhile, Sylvia struggled with her feelings of inadequacy. After everything she had gone through, how could she still be overshadowed by someone like Arden?
Days passed, and things got worse for Sylvia. She was still waiting for her university acceptance letter, but while others received their notices, Sylvia¡¯s was nowhere to be found. She stayed calm at first, but as the days went on, she began to feel anxious. Eventually, her family encouraged her to inquire.
When she went to ask, the school staff told her that, although she had the required points, her application was rejected for ¡°moral reasons.¡± Sylvia was stunned. How could this be? Her grades were good enough¡ªhow could she be rejected?
In this era, not only academic performance was considered, but also one¡¯s character. Despite her good scores, Sylvia had been caught in the swirl of gossip and her controversial relationship with Ethan. It wasn¡¯t just her¡ªmany students with better results were also rejected for similar reasons.
As news of Sylvia¡¯s rejection spread, the gossip in the village grew louder. Lily Mai, ever eager to share drama, told the intellectual youth group with excitement. She relished the chance to spread the story.
¡°I heard from Quinn that the admissions officer said she was rejected because of her behavior with Ethan,¡± Lily Mai said, practically giddy. ¡°And guess what¡ªshe was even caught kissing him in the woods in broad daylight! She wasn¡¯t hiding anything!¡±
With each telling, the details grew more exaggerated, and Lily Mai reveled in it. She had always been envious of Sylvia¡¯s relationship with Ethan, and now, seeing Sylvia fall, she couldn¡¯t help but feel satisfied.
Sylvia, however, didn¡¯t take the news lightly. She knew that Arden was indirectly responsible for all of this¡ªif Arden hadn¡¯t made their relationship public, none of this would have happened. The fact that Arden had exposed everything had forced Ethan into a corner, and now their private lives were being scrutinized.
Sylvia couldn¡¯t understand why Ethan hadn¡¯t kept their relationship a secret. She had felt his affection, but now, seeing everything fall apart, she began to question everything.
As for Arden, she remained unaffected by the drama. In fact, she found it somewhat amusing. Sylvia and Ethan had been flaunting their relationship, but now they had to face the consequences. Arden had only made their relationship public, and considering everything that had happened, it seemed fair.
In this world, there were no so-called heroes or villains. Everyone had to live with the consequences of their actions. As for Sylvia, she had learned her lesson¡ªsome things were better left in the dark.
Arden sat to the side, listening to the gossip. She couldn''t believe that Sylvia was pushing herself into such a mess. Sure, such actions might be considered normal in the 21st century, but this was the 1970s. Since she had crossed into this time, wouldn¡¯t it be better to at least adapt to the customs here? Sylvia was clueless, but didn¡¯t she realize that Ethan might have a problem too?
Was it possible that the power of love, once caught in its grasp, could turn someone into a fool?
In the original story, Sylvia and Ethan were just as affectionate, unable to hold back their feelings.
Sylvia had initiated a kiss with Ethan once, feeling the sweetness of it, and it became hard to control herself afterward.
However, back then, there were no complications, no one to scrutinize them, and so nothing came of it. But now, thanks to Arden, the relationship had been exposed to the public. There were countless eyes watching them, and not keeping things private made them vulnerable to judgment. It was no wonder that some people were turning their backs on them.
In the modern world, the idea of a man showing his raw desires and not hiding them is somewhat romanticized. The male lead, especially military men, are often portrayed as open about their passions. They are charming, even when a little wild.
But in reality, when such displays happen, the situation often becomes complicated, especially when you add in the expectations of a more conservative era.
Reading stories of passionate charactors in novels feels exciting, but when people are watching from the sidelines, every little detail becomes fodder for gossip.
Arden''s actions were similar to dragging the main couple back into reality, where nothing was hidden, and everything was under the spotlight.
Chapter 17
After the first semester of the university entrance exams was restored, things settled down for the first three months.
The group of intellectual youths who had received their admission letters within the past two months gradually returned to the city, preparing for the new semester.
Arden Forster was no exception. After having a final meal with the group of intellectual youths, she too made her way back to the capital.
Among the intellectual youth, her results were some of the best. Out of seven who had taken the exams, four had passed, while the other three were not far behind and could easily retake the exams the next year with high chances of success.
Arden boarded the train, spending a full day and night traveling, until she finally arrived at the capital.
As she squeezed her way out of the crowded train station, she immediately spotted her parents and her older brother, Adrian Forster, waiting for her outside.
The three of them waved enthusiastically when they saw her, their faces lighting up with happiness.
"Arden, Arden, over here!" her mother called out.
Seeing her daughter with two large suitcases, her mother quickly nudged Adrian.
"Go help your sister with her bags."
Adrian Forster, wearing a military uniform, stood tall and handsome. His long legs made him stand out among the crowd, and as he walked toward the group, several girls sneaked glances at him.
Adrian moved quickly, his long strides covering the distance in a few steps, and soon he was by Arden''s side. He took the two suitcases from her with ease, giving her a gentle smile.
"Long trip? I took leave to come pick you up. Don¡¯t overdo it, you¡¯ve been tough on your own, haven¡¯t you?"
Before Arden could answer, he looked her over from head to toe, sighing in concern.
"You¡¯re so thin, so tan. You''ve had it rough, haven¡¯t you?"
His younger sister, who had always been fair-skinned and delicate since childhood, didn¡¯t look the same anymore, especially after spending so much time in the countryside. Adrian couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty for not stopping her from going in the first place.
As they were talking, Arden''s parents rushed over. Her father shot a glance at Adrian and scolded, "You rascal, do you even know how to talk? Of course our daughter is smart, but no matter what, she¡¯ll always be beautiful in my eyes!"
Meanwhile, her mother, deeply concerned, pulled Arden into an embrace. "My precious girl, why are you so thin? Didn¡¯t you eat well there? When we get home, I''ll cook something delicious for you every day, and I¡¯ll make sure you gain some weight."
Arden didn¡¯t interrupt. She wasn¡¯t surprised anymore about the way her family treated her. With how much they spoiled her, it was no wonder she grew up with the mentality of a princess¡ªprotected and cherished, afraid to fall.
If she had stayed at home as a little princess, it would have been fine, but once she stepped outside, no one was going to spoil her like that. After all, she was eighteen, not eight.
So, when she reflected on the way the original Arden had ended up, it was partly because her family had spoiled her too much.
It wasn¡¯t that she hadn¡¯t been loved, but the way they loved her without teaching her the proper life skills, and treating her like a princess who could get whatever she wanted, contributed to her obsession with Ethan. This obsession was the root of the family''s eventual tragedy.
Of course, now that Arden was the one experiencing it, she loved all the attention from her family. It was only natural that she continued to act sweet around them, enjoying their affection.
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Grandfather and grandmother Forster were also at home waiting for their precious granddaughter. If it weren¡¯t for Arden¡¯s father being an influential figure, who had to gather a team just for an outing, they would have gone themselves to pick her up.
It had been more than a year since they had seen her, and they missed their little granddaughter terribly.
Unlike many families that favored sons over daughters, the Forster family, from top to bottom, had always adored their daughter. It helped that there were plenty of sons in the family. From the grandfather down, there had only been one girl¡ªArden.
Since the time of Arden¡¯s grandfather, the Forster family had never had a daughter. Arden¡¯s grandmother had three sons, and after they all grew up and started families, they each had several children, but they were all sons.
A grandson was rare enough, but after several generations, with five or six boys, no one in the family expected anything else.
The mischievous little boys were nothing compared to a sweet, soft, and adorable little girl, right?
That''s why the daughters-in-law of the Forster family worked so hard to have a daughter, but no one succeeded. Instead, the number of boys kept growing.
When Arden was born, she broke the family tradition of three generations without a daughter. That''s why she was so spoiled by everyone in the family; it was no surprise.
"Oh my, my dear granddaughter, you''re back! I''ve missed you so much, I couldn¡¯t even eat or sleep properly. I wanted to go pick you up, but no one would let me," Arden''s grandmother exclaimed with a warm embrace as Arden entered the main house. Seeing her appearance, the old woman¡¯s heart ached. She scolded Arden''s father for not bringing her home sooner, then immediately began to shower her with all the delicious food in the house.
"Look, look! Arden has lost so much weight. She must have suffered a lot. I told them we should''ve brought her home sooner..." she continued, lamenting.
Arden felt deeply moved by her grandmother''s love. This was the warmth of the family, and she could feel every bit of it.
In reality, Arden wasn¡¯t as pitiful as others thought¡ªshe wasn¡¯t as dark and thin as people said. Living in the countryside had made her even healthier, and because she wasn''t picky with food, she didn¡¯t just stay healthy, she had gained a little weight.
But there was a certain kind of thinness¡ªone that the elders saw and worried about.
After a few days at home, being pampered like a pig, Arden slowly transformed. Initially, she was a little dark-skinned, but after being spoiled, she became fair and delicate. Soon, it was time for school to begin.
Before she left, her grandmother was still worried, "Can¡¯t you change your major? It''s fine for you to study Education, why do you want to study weapons? It''s dangerous! Your brother is tough and can handle that, let them deal with it. You, Arden, just stay home, eat well, and look beautiful..."
Her grandfather couldn''t hold back his frustration and retorted, "It''s good for children to have ambition. Stop holding her back." He quickly softened his tone and lovingly said to Arden, "Arden, studying theory is enough, don¡¯t get involved in dirty and exhausting experiments. Be careful, okay?"
Arden repeatedly assured them she wouldn''t put herself in danger, and with that, they were reassured.
After another tearful farewell, Arden finally boarded the bus to her university.
It would have seemed like she was going abroad, but in reality, she was in the capital city, not even staying in a dormitory. She would go home every evening.
After registering, school began.
Arden was fortunate to experience the most unusual school year ever, with classmates of all ages. Some were already married with children, and there were even parents attending university with their young children. This strange sight could only happen in this era.
As Arden¡¯s university life settled into a rhythm, Sylvia Green left the village.
Due to her failure in the moral evaluation, Sylvia wasn¡¯t accepted into university despite her good exam results. She faced ridicule and gossip in the village and couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, so she decided to leave and make her own way in the world.
In these two years, there were few university graduates, and being a graduate was like having a golden ticket. But by the 1980s, those golden tickets lost their value, and money became the ultimate determining factor. Many people left their jobs and ventured into business, hoping to strike it rich during the economic boom.
It was now 1977, meaning in about two years, the first special economic zones would be established. What Sylvia needed to do now was to save up, preparing to take a risk in the special zones when the time came.
She believed that, with her visionary perspective that transcended the times, even if she didn¡¯t become the richest person, she would at least become a millionaire.
After sharing her plans with Ethan, though he didn¡¯t give her much attention, he still supported her and handed over all his savings.
Sylvia was deeply touched. To find a man willing to give her everything in this era was truly lucky.
However, what she didn¡¯t know was that Ethan had also been affected by his own moral evaluation issues, resulting in disciplinary action. Although he hadn¡¯t been expelled due to his previous good performance, he still faced consequences.
Sylvia quietly packed up her money and left the village without telling anyone, not even her parents.
Her first stop was Silverbrook, which at the time was still under capitalist control. The economy was booming, and it was like night and day compared to the interior. Sylvia planned to begin her journey to success here.
Chapter 18: Silverbrook
Sylvia Green had used all her strength to get from the rural area to Silverbrook, but as someone without local identification, she was considered an outsider with no connections.
On top of that, Sylvia only knew a bit of Silverbrook''s language, since the local dialect wasn''t taught in her area. Her lack of fluency quickly exposed her as someone from the mainland.
At this time, Silverbrook was in a state of chaos. Sylvia was alone, with no support, and as a young, beautiful girl with no background, it was easy to imagine the kind of trouble she could find herself in.
She had come from a small fishing village near the coast and quickly ran into a group of thugs looking to extort money. They joked with her, and as soon as they realized she had no connections or power, they immediately pushed her into a narrow alley.
Fortunately, before she had left, Sylvia had used some enhancement items from the "red envelope group"¡ªgifts she had acquired that were meant to boost her strength from another world. So, when it came to using force against the thugs, she was more than capable of defending herself.
However, Silverbrook was a city with gang organizations everywhere. Even the street thugs were affiliated with the powerful "Shadow Wolf" gang. After a near-death encounter, the gang was enraged by a girl who had almost incapacitated their members. They couldn¡¯t accept the humiliation, so they quickly called for backup.
Sylvia, new to the city and unaware of the local dynamics, didn¡¯t leave immediately after the fight. She found herself trapped by the gang, blocking her way.
Although she had enhanced strength, she couldn¡¯t fight off the entire group, especially since she had no way of taking on a hundred of them. In the end, Sylvia was overpowered and taken by the Shadow Wolf gang.
Since crossing into this world, Sylvia had feared her looks wouldn''t match up to her original self, so she had used the beauty-enhancing potions from the red envelope group. She had transformed into a stunning beauty, her skin fair and her appearance flawless¡ªdefinitely a captivating woman.
Because of this, when she was brought to the Shadow Wolf gang, their leader immediately took an interest in her.
"Not bad, this little thing is pretty nice," the leader, Wolf, commented, eyeing her hungrily. "I''ll take care of her first, and you guys can have the leftovers."
"Thanks, Wolf," another gang member chimed in.
"But this girl is tough. She knows some martial arts. How about we drug her to calm her down?"
"Sure, why not?"
They were speaking right in front of Sylvia, with no shame at all, showing no fear of her.
Although Sylvia didn¡¯t understand the entire conversation, she could catch the general idea. And with the lecherous stares they gave her, it was clear what they had planned.
Sylvia was both furious and terrified. She was on the Shadow Wolf''s turf, surrounded by their people. Even if she tried to run, she wouldn¡¯t be able to escape.
Seeing Wolf''s brothers holding syringes coming over, wanting to inject medicine into her body.
In a moment of desperation, Sylvia Green had no choice but to use her life-saving charm¡ªa fire talisman.
There were more than a dozen people in the room, and as soon as she pulled out the talisman, all of them were within its range of attack.
Within moments, ten of the men were set ablaze, their skin peeling and burning, screaming and rolling on the floor in agony. Some even ran out to try and put the fire out with water.
But the talismans from the Immortal Realm weren¡¯t so easily extinguished.
The thugs outside saw the fire spreading, and in a panic, they tried pouring water on it, but after one bucket, the flames intensified instead of dying down. Even diving into a nearby pond didn¡¯t help. The fire kept burning, and everyone could only watch in horror as the men inside were burned alive.
A heavy smell of burning flesh filled the air. Sylvia walked out, holding the talisman with a frosty expression, an air of invincibility surrounding her.
¡°Hmph! This is the price for those who dared to offend me. If you don¡¯t want to die, get out of here!¡± she said coldly.
The thugs were so terrified by the sight that they ran away, tripping over themselves, their panic written all over their faces as they rushed to tell others about what had just happened.
The fire was too bizarre, too terrifying. The ten men who were burned to death had suffered horribly, and their deaths left everyone stunned.
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Despite Silverbrook being a small-time gang, it had connections everywhere. Word of the terrifying event spread quickly, and Sylvia¡¯s name echoed through the city.
Of course, Silverbrook was a place full of superstition, where all kinds of mystics and so-called "masters" were revered. The more bloodthirsty or mysterious someone appeared, the more likely they were to be admired.
So, when Sylvia used just a simple talisman to kill a handful of men and wipe out a small gang, people started seeing her as a high-level master, someone with incredible abilities. Her reputation spread far and wide.
It was a case of a beautiful misunderstanding, and Sylvia didn¡¯t bother to correct it.
She was now known as a ¡°master,¡± and everyone treated her with courtesy and respect.
In Silverbrook, no one was foolish enough to offend a master, especially one who had proven themselves to be as powerful as she was.
Soon, some people were offering extremely high prices for her charms, tempting Sylvia with amounts that made her hesitate.
Even though Ethan had given her all his allowance, it was in local currency, and here in Silverbrook, it was useless.
She felt like a poor woman, a so-called "master" who still had to figure out how to buy food...
But Sylvia remembered the rules of the Red Envelope group. Only group members were allowed to use the items, so she reluctantly turned down the offers.
She could earn money later, but breaking the rules of the group and getting kicked out? That was something she couldn¡¯t afford.
After Sylvia Green conducted her investigation, she realized that while Silverbrook was prosperous, the underworld there was incredibly ruthless. Even though she paid protection money every day, survival wasn¡¯t guaranteed, and the police were practically useless in dealing with these gangs.
Moreover, being seen as a master yet engaging in small businesses might reveal her true nature. Sylvia considered this, and finally decided to continue with her "master" persona.
She wasn¡¯t going to offer fortune-telling services, but she had charms, and although she didn¡¯t have many, she could still use them to intimidate people. Others didn¡¯t know that, so pulling out a charm to scare someone would be enough.
Perhaps it was the effect of being in the protagonist''s spotlight, but Sylvia truly succeeded. The Zhang family in Silverbrook, a well-known and powerful family, were still famous even after generations.
She got a job as a bodyguard for the family. The patriarch of the Zhang family invited her to work for them, not because she could read fortunes, but because they simply needed a bodyguard. When danger struck, she would use her charms to protect them.
To be honest, the job couldn¡¯t have been better for Sylvia. She didn¡¯t really have any special skills, but she could rely on the charms. The patriarch¡¯s arrangement was a perfect fit for her!
Though things weren¡¯t always smooth, Sylvia managed to establish herself in Silverbrook and began to build her foundation.
Meanwhile, Arden did not care too much about Sylvia. After entering the University, Arden immediately dove into the ocean of knowledge. She learned quickly and had a strong self-study ability. At first, she followed the teacher''s pace. Later, she was afraid that her progress was too slow, so she decided to study on her own. If there was anything she did not understand, she would ask the teachers right away.
The teachers liked studious students the most. After discovering her learning ability, they happily changed their teaching method. In class, they would teach everyone, and after school, they would teach Arden only.
Thus, in less than a year, Arden had completed four years of university, and was secretly looking for some self-study materials.
In her second year of university, while her classmates were still attending school, Arden Forster had already immersed herself in the laboratory.
Each time she entered, it was for several days at a time, losing sleep and meals while working on her research.
Every time, her grandmother would send her brother to fetch her back home.
"Oh my, my precious, why are you working so hard? What are your brothers for? You don¡¯t need to worry, just be happy and be yourself..."
"But, Grandma, I enjoy doing the research."
Her grandmother, Arden''s maternal grandmother, was a woman of strong opinions and no compromises. "Alright, alright, if you love it, go ahead, but you must make sure to eat and rest. Look at you¡ªworked so hard to gain some weight, and now you¡¯re looking like this!"
Suddenly, Grandma had an idea, slapping her leg. "How about I go to the lab and cook for you? I¡¯m just sitting at home with nothing to do!" The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. "Yes, that¡¯s it! I¡¯ll cook for you, that way you won¡¯t have to skip meals anymore¡"
Arden quickly refused, not wanting to trouble her grandmother by asking her to take care of her. Arden''s father, after thinking for a moment, spoke up, "Mom, don¡¯t worry about it, Arden¡¯s meals will be sorted out very quickly."
The family was puzzled, looking at Arden¡¯s father.
He didn¡¯t waste time beating around the bush and said directly, "The higher-ups have decided. They¡¯re making sure that Arden is well taken care of. The meals and rest will be handled by someone dedicated to it."
"Wait, what¡¯s going on?" the family asked, looking at him in confusion.
"I don¡¯t know all the details, but Arden has developed a new military technology. Once it¡¯s successful, it¡¯s bound to make a breakthrough in our national weapons industry. Competing with the Royal Kingdom and the United Force will no longer be just a dream."
He spoke with pride in his voice, even though he didn¡¯t fully understand what Arden was researching. But from the reverence on the faces of those around him, he was certain that her work was no ordinary research.
When he first heard the news, he didn¡¯t dare believe it¡ªcould it really be his granddaughter? He had no bias against Arden; she had grown up to be likable and smart. But even he never imagined she could accomplish something this monumental!
Now, seeing it all come to life, what could they question?
The family was overjoyed hearing this.
Arden''s parents said, "Our daughter is the best!"
Her brothers exclaimed, "Our sister is amazing!"
Grandfather said, "My granddaughter makes me so proud!"
Grandmother was thrilled, "Look at that, I told you, my granddaughter is the best, effortlessly making outstanding achievements!"
But soon, her grandmother looked worried.
"Does this mean Arden can¡¯t come home casually anymore?"
"Grandma, I¡¯m not in prison; I¡¯m doing research. If you miss me, just give me a call and I¡¯ll come home to visit!" Arden reassured her.
Her grandmother was soothed by this and happily agreed, returning to her cheerful self.
This time when Arden went home, it was to say her goodbyes. After a short time with her family, she had to quickly return to the lab and continue her work on advancing the nation''s military technology.
Chapter 19: You broke the Protagonists ? Again ?
Ten years were enough to change the world completely.
Sylvia Green had originally planned to make enough money in Silverbrook and return home, but things didn¡¯t go as planned. With the special zone opening up, she never got the chance to leave.
At first, she worked as a bodyguard for the Zhang family, which gave her easy access to the elite circles of the underworld. She met many wealthy people.
Silverbrook was chaotic, but there was still plenty of money among the rich.
The luxurious world of the elite was an overwhelming temptation.
Coming from a rural inland village, even after witnessing the city''s prosperity later on, Sylvia Green was still completely captivated by the wealth and opulence.
In the modern world, she had been just an ordinary person with no chance of stepping into the circles of the rich. To her, they had always been like kings compared to beggars¡ªbuying two loaves of bread, eating one, and tossing the other away.
But after actually experiencing such a life, she realized how shallow her previous thoughts had been.
She now understood that true elites came from families that had accumulated wealth for centuries. Even with the advantage of foresight, the fortune she had gathered was nothing more than new money.
Compared to them, she was insignificant.
If she had never seen it, she could have remained content. But now that she had tasted the high life, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to go back.
Moreover, someone deliberately approached her with ulterior motives, and she quickly fell into the trap.
The man who sought her out was the fourth son of the Zhang family, ranked seventh among his siblings. Everyone called him the Seventh Young Master.
Sylvia Green followed Zhang Lao, who had married over a dozen wives. Only four of them remained in his household, and he had countless children. The Seventh Young Master was not particularly outstanding among them.
Zhang Lao was over seventy years old but had yet to decide on his heir.
Every child fought desperately to prove themselves, hoping to be chosen.
Only one would inherit the family''s fortune. The rest would receive a small share and be forced to start anew on their own.
One would receive a vast inheritance, while the others would have to struggle to build their own empires. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess which path they preferred.
The competition was fierce. The real contenders for the inheritance had narrowed down to four.
Seventh Young Master had been born much later than his older siblings, meaning he lacked their social connections and had no real advantage.
But he was the most favored. The other heirs feared that their father would be influenced by his words, so they remained highly vigilant against Zhang Bojun and blocked all his opportunities.
Zhang Bojun grew anxious and decided to take a shortcut.
He approached Sylvia Green, used sweet words to break down her defenses, and eventually convinced her to act against Zhang Lao. He promised that if he inherited the family business, he would marry her, and together, they would control the Zhang empire.
Sylvia Green was never a schemer. Against someone like Zhang Bojun, she was no match.
Falling for his words, she agreed.
As Zhang Lao¡¯s personal bodyguard, she had many chances to get close to him. Using her skills, she struck when he least expected it.
But before the two of them could enjoy the fruits of their victory, Zhang Bojun¡¯s brothers exposed him, accusing him of patricide and demanding that he be stripped of his inheritance.
Sylvia Green produced a "will" that named Zhang Bojun as the rightful heir, but no one accepted it.
Since Zhang Lao had never officially chosen a successor, the most powerful heirs started an all-out war for control. Overnight, the Zhang family fell into chaos.
Zhang Bojun had Sylvia Green by his side. She had demonstrated terrifying, supernatural abilities, making his brothers hesitate to act against them.
With her power, the two managed to hold their ground in the inheritance battle.
The struggle lasted for nearly ten years.
But even a family as powerful as the Zhangs couldn¡¯t withstand such internal turmoil for so long.
By the time the dust settled, their former empire had crumbled. Once a prestigious aristocracy, they had now fallen to the level of a mere third-rate business.
And then, something even more shocking happened.
Silverbrook was reclaimed.
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The moment the news spread, the entire nation was shaken. But no one was more terrified than Sylvia Green.
She was no history expert, but she clearly remembered that Silverbrook wasn¡¯t supposed to be reclaimed until 1997. Yet, it had happened a full decade earlier.
What went wrong? Why had history changed?
Sylvia Green had no answers, but a deep sense of unease filled her.
However, she was the only one troubled by this. The people of Silverbrook celebrated with tears of joy. If anything, they wished it had happened even sooner.
And the person credited for this event?
Arden Forster.
She hadn¡¯t done much¡ªjust continuously developed advanced weaponry.
No negotiations. No peaceful treaties.
Just brute force.
If they refused to return the territory, then violence would decide everything.
The weak had no say. No words mattered.
When faced with overwhelming power, everyone had no choice but to submit.
Since Arden Forster¡¯s research was classified, no one knew exactly what she was working on. The government kept everything hidden to prevent assassination attempts.
But even if her work was a secret, her achievements were undeniable.
Even if Sylvia Green became the wealthiest person in the world, she could never outshine Arden Forster.
And from the way things looked, Sylvia Green was walking straight into destruction.
When Sylvia Green suddenly disappeared, Ethan was devastated.
She had told him she was heading south. He even received letters from her confirming this. But after a while, all communication stopped.
Worried sick, he repeatedly requested leave from the military and traveled south to search for her¡ªbut found nothing.
He had truly loved her. Losing her felt like losing his entire world.
His obsession consumed him.
In the end, he didn¡¯t even care about getting discharged from the military.
Ethan''s family was furious. He had thrown away his promising future for a woman. They publicly severed ties with him, calling him a disgrace.
But in their hearts, they couldn¡¯t truly abandon him.
Ethan sank into depression, becoming a shadow of his former self.
Years passed.
He was no longer the ambitious, charismatic officer he had once been.
Those who once said that Arden Forster was unworthy of Ethan could only shake their heads.
Ten years had turned everything upside down.
The gap between them had become insurmountable.
Once, people said Arden Forster wasn¡¯t good enough for Ethan.
Now?
No one would dare to compare them.
She was the sun. He was a mere firefly.
With Silverbrook reclaimed, Sylvia Green convinced Zhang Bojun to move inland.
She believed that, with her knowledge of the future, she could build an empire of power and wealth.
Zhang Bojun was captivated by the grand future she painted and agreed.
But they never anticipated what came next.
Sylvia Green was banned from entering the mainland.
Although Silverbrook had been reclaimed, there were still unresolved historical tensions. The government wasn¡¯t allowing just anyone to move freely.
Especially not someone like Sylvia Green¡ªa known superstitious mystic with dangerous abilities.
Who knew what kind of chaos she would unleash in the mainland?
The intelligence network had been watching her closely. Her flashy antics in Silverbrook had made her an easy target.
When she realized she was trapped, Sylvia Green was furious.
But there was nothing she could do.
To make matters worse, her supply of mystical artifacts was running out.
Without them, she had no way to protect Zhang Bojun or herself.
Their enemies noticed immediately.
Seeing their weakness, Zhang Bojun¡¯s rivals staged an "accidental" assassination.
Zhang Bojun was killed on the spot.
Sylvia Green, protected by her protagonist''s luck, barely survived.
But everything was gone.
Enemies hunted her down.
She couldn¡¯t die, but she couldn¡¯t live either.
Trapped in a cycle of revenge and escape, she became a fugitive, clinging to a miserable existence.
She didn¡¯t even have the courage to end it all.
While Sylvia Green suffered, Arden Forster devoted her entire life to scientific research.
She never married.
She dedicated herself to her country.
And in the end, her contributions changed history.
Arden returned to the system space. The moment 003 saw her, it nearly jumped up.
"Oh my god! You broke the protagonist again!?"
"According to your rules, I didn¡¯t use any cultivator abilities, I didn¡¯t even mess with her. Sylvia Green walked straight into her own downfall. How is that my fault?" Arden raised an eyebrow.
003 paced back and forth, tugging at its hair in frustration.
"Alright, alright! Maybe the protagonist in this world was just too weak. I¡¯ll raise the difficulty next time¡"
After muttering to itself for a while, it suddenly looked up.
"But from now on, you¡¯re not allowed to use skills from your previous world. No medical skills, no weapons, nothing!"
It thought to itself - if Arden hadn¡¯t used her medical skills to save those twins, her reputation wouldn¡¯t have been restored. If her reputation hadn¡¯t been restored, fewer people would have supported her. If fewer people had supported her, then when she broke off her engagement with Ethan, there wouldn¡¯t have been so many people backing her up. Without that support, Sylvia Green wouldn¡¯t have failed her exams or ended up in Silverbrook. It was all because Arden had used her past-world medical skills!
Yes! That had to be it!
Arden didn¡¯t know what 003 was rambling about, but if it said she couldn¡¯t use them, then she wouldn¡¯t.
"Anything else you want to ban? Just tell me everything at once." She had already figured it out that this system was completely unreliable, making up rules on the spot, testing things as they went along.
003 felt guilty under her knowing gaze and mumbled, "Let me think¡ Oh, right! From now on, you¡¯re not allowed to know the storyline in advance! That¡¯s right, no script! You¡¯ll only get the villain¡¯s setup, and you won¡¯t even know who the protagonist is. You¡¯ll have to rely entirely on your own abilities!"
Arden looked at it, feigning concern. "Are you sure? Absolutely sure? No more changes?"
Hearing her question, 003 suddenly felt less certain and vaguely replied,
"Uh¡ for now, uh... yeah. We¡¯ll see later!"
Arden chuckled.
She liked it better this way. More freedom to play.
The government was authoritarian, suppressing loyal officials, engaging in corruption, and exploiting the common people¡ This was the villainous role assigned to Arden Forster in this world¡ªa notorious treacherous minister.
But when she transmigrated, the so-called great villain had yet to rise to power. At this stage, he was just a rookie official, barely starting his career.
This body was still named Arden Forster, but now, he was a man.
Before Arden arrived, the system had given her a gender-neutral buff, meaning that while she was still a woman internally, to everyone else, she appeared as a man.
The original owner of this body came from a humble farming family. His parents had passed away, leaving him with no real support.
However, he had recently achieved the highest ranking in the imperial examinations and was appointed as a county magistrate.
At present, this was his very first position before embarking on the path of becoming a grand villain.
And his golden cheat this time? A system called "Path to Power."
This was a novel set in the imperial court, where officials climbed the political ladder. Completing tasks earned rewards, and the ultimate goal was to ascend to the rank of a first-class minister.
The original character always started at the lowest seventh rank official, which was Arden¡¯s current position. From here, he would have to climb step by step, until he reached the very top.