Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s
Chapter 88 - 086 The Future Big Shot in the Books (2)

Chapter 88: 086 The Future Big Shot in the Books (2)

As for how Zhao Chun ended up connected to Li Yibai? The reason surfaced in an interview he gave later. Back when he was young, still in his sophomore year, during that summer vacation, he had a huge falling out with his family and ran away from home. Coming from a wealthy and powerful family, he was what you’d call the landlord’s naive son—the type who thought running away from home was just a game. He wandered into a small village, though Tian Sangsang couldn’t quite recall which one. Looking back now, it must have been Tian Family Village. At that time, Zhao Chun was tricked into gambling. Being a headstrong and cocky young man, he went along. But he didn’t expect that the locals, noticing his city-boy clothes, would cheat him. He lost everything—money, valuables—and still owed hundreds more. When he tried to escape, they beat him up and broke his leg. He lingered in the village, relying on begging to survive, with nobody willing to help him. Because his injured leg wasn’t treated in time, he was left with a permanent limp.

Then, a girl in the village who couldn’t find a husband took a liking to him. Her family brought him in as a live-in son-in-law. Zhao Chun even promised the girl that if she let him contact his family, he would take her to the city. The girl, naive as well, feared he’d abandon her like those city youths who ditched their wives and children, never to return, so her family locked him up and made sure he couldn’t leave.

It wasn’t until the reborn Li Yibai showed up that he took Zhao Chun away—and brought Meng Shuyan along, too. Zhao Chun was deeply grateful to Li Yibai and started treating him like a brother.

Of course, it wasn’t a matter of Li Yibai spotting hidden talent; he was simply relying on memories from his past life. In his previous life, the person who saved Zhao Chun wasn’t him, but someone else who later soared to great heights. That’s why Li Yibai had this idea to bring Zhao Chun back to the city, confident that Zhao Chun would owe him a favor. And once Zhao Chun owed him, the entire Zhao Family would owe him.

Tian Sangsang’s mind was engulfed in shock, and she couldn’t calm down for a long time.

After that, Dr. Li came back. Since Zhao Chun couldn’t have a cast applied at the moment, the doctor used wooden boards to stabilize his leg.

After finishing, Dr. Li said, "The bone won’t heal in the short term. Your foot can’t touch water for a month, no intense activities, and don’t remove the board from your foot either. I’ll check again in a month. If the recovery looks okay, we can take off the board. After removing it, I recommend you go to the hospital for further examination. About a month and a bit of rest should fully heal the injury."

Zhao Chun sat slumped, realizing it would take two to three months for his leg to heal completely. The thought of being immobilized for so long made him feel suffocated. Damn that Chen Biao—he wouldn’t forget this!

Tian Sangsang nodded to show she understood, but paying the medical fees drained all her savings.

All that hard work over these days, and now she was practically back to square one after time traveling. She felt bitter, deeply bitter, and couldn’t even say it out loud.

Although Zhao Chun might become a big shot in the entertainment world in the future, Tian Sangsang had come to terms with it—it didn’t have much to do with her. She wasn’t looking to curry favor with him; all she cared about was ensuring Li Yibai didn’t take her son away. As for Zhao Chun, since she saved him this time, he probably wouldn’t owe Li Yibai any favors in the future either. After sending off Dr. Li, Tian Sangsang returned to the house.

"Tian Sangsang..." Zhao Chun looked timidly up at her and said, "I won’t let you spend your money for nothing. Once I go home, I’ll definitely pay it back."

Well, at least he had proactively brought it up. Tian Sangsang felt most of her frustration dissipate. "Words are cheap. Put it on paper."

Zhao Chun’s face flushed red, tears welling in his eyes. "What kind of person do you think I am? If I say I’ll pay it back, I’ll pay it back—double!"

"Words are cheap; written proof is better. You said double, huh?" Tian Sangsang cast him a cool glance and quickly drafted a simple note, pulling out a bottle of ink. "Take a look. If there’s no problem, put your fingerprint here." Saving Zhao Chun had been entirely out of kindness and a little guilt; beyond that, they were strangers. She wasn’t a saint—giving money away for nothing wasn’t in her nature. Missing out on free perks? Only fools did that. So when Zhao Chun mentioned double repayment, she chuckled and agreed. What a fool, rich and naive.

Zhao Chun wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes. Damn it. She didn’t trust him, did she? Asking for a signed statement made it clear she didn’t. All he could do was bite his tongue. Like a docile little wife, he reached out his fair fingers, dabbed them in ink, pressed his thumbprint, and signed his name—Zhao Chun.

Tian Sangsang couldn’t stand seeing such a grown man take on a vulnerable, pitiful posture. She stroked her chin and asked, "What’s with you? You’re different somehow."

Zhao Chun turned his head away, avoiding her gaze. Of course he was different. In these past few days, he couldn’t even find traces of his old self. He had undergone a fundamental transformation. People say change happens through subtle, gradual processes. For him, it was one beating, one fishbone, one bowl of vinegar—that was all it took, unforgettable for a lifetime.

"By the way, where’s your family? Should we contact them?" Tian Sangsang asked suddenly. She couldn’t just let this injured Zhao Chun stay here indefinitely. She was, after all, a single woman—having a man living in her house was hardly appropriate.

Zhao Chun’s eyes grew wide, filled with disbelief, tears shimmering. "You want me to leave? I... I can’t leave."

"It’s too basic here. You don’t look like someone from the village. Can you really settle here? Plus, returning home would mean better treatment. Using wooden boards to stabilize your foot isn’t as effective as a proper cast." Tian Sangsang gave him an excuse, practically rushing him out the door. "It’s for your own good, you know."

Zhao Chun shook his head fiercely and murmured weakly, "If my grandpa knew I ended up like this, he’d kill me. I have to wait until my injury heals before I go back."

Tian Sangsang crossed her arms and scoffed, "Really? A grown man afraid of his grandpa? Being Zhao Chun’s grandpa must be quite the ordeal."

"How about... you let me stay for a month? I’ll leave when the board comes off, so at least I’ll have some dignity." Zhao Chun lowered his head, bargaining when he met Tian Sangsang’s teasing gaze.

"Fair enough, but you’ll have to pay me accommodation and food fees. Accommodation is five yuan per month, food is twenty-five yuan per month, and you need to pay a five-yuan deposit first. As long as you can cough up five yuan, I’ll let you stay at my house."

Wha... what... What kind of logic was this?

Zhao Chun’s nose turned sour, almost bringing him to tears. After hesitating a moment, he said, "I’ll get you the money within three days."

"Alright." Tian Sangsang thought it over and replied, "If you don’t have the money in three days, you’ll have to tell me your family’s phone number or address so I can contact them to come get you. But during these three days, you’re not getting free food or lodging—the fees still apply. Oh, and by the way, any calls you make to town will cost extra."

Zhao Chun was utterly disheartened, feeling almost like crying. Damn it. This woman was terrifying... so stingy!

Tian Sangsang put away the signed note and went to prepare the room that had once belonged to the original owner’s grandmother. She wiped down the wooden bed frame several times and set out an old pillow and a thin quilt the family had left behind. Then she swept the room clean, removing dust and debris. Although she had said all that about being stingy, she was still considerate—she wouldn’t neglect someone staying at her house. She made sure everything was as clean as possible.

After wiping the sweat off her forehead, she returned to her own room to find Zhao Chun still sitting there, daydreaming on the bed.