Delicate Beauty’s Pregnancy Forces Marriage, Shocks the Family Compound!

Xu Qingning transmigrates into a 1978 era novel, inhabiting the body of Xu Qingning, a cannon fodder female supporting character destined for a tragic end. In the original plot, the protagonist was hopelessly in love with the male lead, Xiao Tingshen, and was manipulated by the female lead, her stepsister Tang Wenya. After a drunken night, the original host was pushed into another man's room by Tang Wenya, resulting in an accidental pregnancy. She later sought an illegal abortion, suffered severe complications, lost her uterus, and eventually went mad before dying. Xu Qingning awakens in the middle of a family confrontation where her stepmother, Jiang Yumei, and stepsister are pressuring her to comply with the original plot. She realizes she is already pregnant and must alter her fate.

Instead of following the script, Xu Qingning confronts her abusive stepfamily. She reveals her pregnancy to her father, Xu Jianguo, and demands money for a safe medical procedure, threatening to expose the family's secrets if they refuse. She also subtly hints that Tang Wenya is also pregnant, causing panic in the female lead. Xu Qingning secures fifty yuan from her father and leaves the house. Rather than going to a clinic for an abortion, she seeks out the biological father of her child, Zhao Jingyu, a reckless sailor known as a troublemaker in their residential compound. Zhao Jingyu is the novel's villain, a stark contrast to the upright male lead.

Xu Qingning approaches Zhao Jingyu and claims the child is his. Despite his initial skepticism, she provides specific physical details that only the father would know, such as the location of moles on his body. Convinced, Zhao Jingyu agrees to take responsibility. He proposes a pragmatic arrangement: they will marry to give the child legitimacy, he will provide financial support through his salary, and they will divorce after three years when the child is older. Xu Qingning accepts, seeing this as a strategic alliance rather than a romantic union. She plans to use his income to raise the child and then seize opportunities in the upcoming reform era to build her own life.

The situation escalates when Zhao Jingyu arrives at Xu Qingning's home with lavish betrothal gifts, including a whole pig and sheep, to formally propose. This coincides with the arrival of Xiao Tingshen and his mother, who are delivering modest gifts for Tang Wenya's wedding. The contrast humiliates the Xiao family and exposes the Xu family's favoritism. Zhao Jingyu publicly reveals that Tang Wenya orchestrated the incident that led to Xu Qingning's pregnancy, shattering the female lead's perfect image. Xiao Tingshen, initially trusting of Tang Wenya, begins to doubt her after hearing the accusations.

Xu Qingning refuses to stay and face further abuse. She packs her belongings, including her late mother's sewing machine, and takes the betrothal gifts that were originally intended for her sister. She leaves with Zhao Jingyu, obtaining a marriage certificate the same day. Her aunt, Liang Yufeng, supports her decision, recognizing the toxicity of her father's household. Xu Qingning moves into Zhao Jingyu's family compound, where she meets his parents. Zhao Jingyu's mother, Yang Yuelan, is warm and welcoming, offering to help with the pregnancy. Xu Qingning settles into her new life, determined to survive and thrive in this unfamiliar era while keeping her ultimate goal of returning to her original world in mind.

The narrative shifts focus to the consequences of Xu Qingning's choices. Tang Wenya, whose system has changed from a foresight tool to a hindsight-only device due to Xu Qingning's interference, struggles to adapt to the altered plot. She attempts to maintain her female lead status but faces increasing scrutiny and doubt from those around her, particularly Xiao Tingshen. Meanwhile, Xu Qingning navigates her new role as a pregnant wife in a traditional family setting. She maintains a polite but distant relationship with Zhao Jingyu, focusing on her health and the well-being of her child. The story highlights the stark difference between the original tragic path and the new trajectory Xu Qingning has carved out for herself, setting the stage for her eventual independence and success in the changing social landscape of 1978 China.