Martial Arts System - Chapter 22: Close Quarters Combat

Anna Watson’s life was far from easy. A battle with cancer left her frail, defeated, and questioning her life’s meaning. Her final moments were filled with regret for dreams unrealized and paths untaken. But when death embraced her, it wasn’t the end—she awakened in an entirely new world: the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Yet, this wasn’t the familiar era of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She found herself in the time of the Marauders, a generation before the golden trio.Even more shocking, Anna had a new identity: Petunia Evans, the famously non-magical, bitter sister of Lily Potter. But this Petunia is different. Born as Lily's twin, Anna retains her memories of her past life and discovers she has magic—a shocking divergence from the character she once read about. Her magical abilities open up opportunities and challenges, not only for her but for her relationship with Lily, her new family, and the unfolding story of the wizarding world.As Anna navigates Hogwarts alongside the Marauders, Severus Snape, and her own twin, she realizes that the story she once knew is shifting. Her choices ripple across timelines, altering destinies and alliances. Struggling to reconcile her knowledge of the future with her growing affection for this new life, Anna must decide: should she preserve the world’s fate or carve out a new destiny for herself and those she loves?In this thrilling twist on the Harry Potter universe, the story explores themes of second chances, sibling bonds, and the weight of choice, painting a vivid and detailed picture of what might have been if Petunia Evans had the magic to change it all.

She was disfigured and her mother died an innocent death. A cup of poison wine was not enough to kill her and she had to die by plunging into burning flames! Before entering her next lifetime, she vowed to change history and get her revenge!

When she opened her eyes again, she was 13 again. Her mother had just passed and her father had yet remarried. To prevent history from repeating itself, she took careful steps.

However, she ended up discovering a 30-year-old mystery case that had been hidden all these while. She had been reborn as a beauty and was not going to give up on herself.

She was going to live out her best life with her alluring charms!

Jiang Lan transmigrated into the role of the male lead's gold-digging first love. According to the original plot, all sh...Jiang Lan transmigrated into the role of the male lead’s gold-digging first love. According to the original plot, all she needed to do was meet the male lead’s mother once, and she could walk away with 20 million yuan.Sitting in the restaurant, Jiang Lan said, “Give me 20 million, and I’ll leave your son.”But the male lead’s mother replied, “Here’s 20 million for you—may you always be happy, may you always be joyful.”Jiang Lan: “…”Through a twist of fate, Jiang Lan and the male lead’s mother ended up participating in the reality show “Mother-in-law Has Arrived.” Initially, everyone expected the Cinderella and the wealthy mother-in-law to be at odds, but instead, they overshadowed the leads of the hottest drama and became the internet’s most beloved couple.In the sweet and pampering segment, the mother-in-law regularly took her daughter-in-law on shopping sprees. Yu Wanqiu and Jiang Lan attended fashion shows, sitting between a top-tier young idol on the left and a handsome middle-aged man on the right.In the wealthy family segment, while other daughters-in-law nervously prepared elaborate meals to please their mothers-in-law, Jiang Lan dragged Yu Wanqiu to enjoy fried chicken, beer, street food, hotpot, and skewers.When the show ended, Yu Wanqiu hooked her arm around Jiang Lan’s shoulder and said, “Whether you break up or not doesn’t matter. Even if you do, it won’t affect our relationship. Actually, breaking up might be better—I’ll introduce you to someone even more handsome and richer.”Lu Yicheng: ???Mini Theater:When asked about mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships, Yu Wanqiu’s initial response was very diplomatic: “They shouldn’t live together, meeting a few times a year is enough. Don’t interfere in the couple’s affairs. Let them decide how many children they want. It’s important to be well-matched. If things don’t work out, they can break up or divorce.”But after the show ended, Yu Wanqiu’s answer was a complete reversal: “It’s best to live in the same building as Jiang Lan, doing yoga together morning and night. As for children, it’s better not to have them too early—it could affect my relationship with Jiang Lan. If they divorce, I fully support it. I know plenty of young idols, and if Jiang Lan prefers the mature type, that’s fine too.”Content Warning: Highlight—the male and female leads are not perfect characters. This is a sweet romantic story featuring first loves for both. They will argue, bicker, fall in love, and take some detours along the way. If this bothers you, please skip. No unsolicited criticism allowed. The focus is on the relationship between the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law, with the romantic relationship between the male and female leads as a secondary plot.

It’s been 11 years since I’ve lived for others and not for me.

The moment I cried out wanting to get away from my exhausting life, I opened my eyes in the body of some Count’s 20-year-old daughter.

Since this happened, I decided to live my life freely as a single woman.

But…

“I need a lady to act as my fake wife for a certain period of time.”

“A contract marriage?”

“The term is one year. When the time is up, I’ll give you divorce with no strings attached.”

The Duke of the Empire whom I had happened to meet at a ball was hitting on me.

Turns out he’s no other than the Emperor’s beloved brother, Duke Scade!

Hold on, it’s just going to end in a clean divorce with no strings attached?

“You should also give me alimony. Give me one of the best lands of the Ducal household with 10 years’ worth of profit.”

“…..What?”

“If you don’t want to do that, then we cannot get married.”

This time I’m going to live a life taking care of the things I need first!

***

“I’ll escort you since it’s late.”

Where to? My bedroom is just around the corner.

“Tonight, I’ll do my best.”

No, I don’t need you to do that.

“Did you just look at that man?”

Excuse me, Duke, you said it’s for a limited time only, so why do you keep obsessing over me?