Was this... the afterlife?
Because honestly, it didn't look holy at all.
It was loud, with flashing lights, and music pounding like it was a nightclub. Was this how heaven welcomed souls now—disco lights and bass drops?
While I was in my confused state, I heard a feminine voice tease me. "Haha! Tang Xiyu, the producer, just offered you a glass of wine. There's no need to scream with excitement."
I froze. That voice—light, sweet, and full of playfulness—wasn't something I'd heard in years. Slowly, I turned my head. My eyes widened when I saw her—Li Yufei, my old colleague from the film set.
She was smiling at me, her hair curled perfectly, dressed in the same emerald green dress she wore that night.
What… what was she doing here? Was she dead, too?
No. Wait. This… scene… why did it feel so familiar?
Before I could understand what was happening, something cold brushed against my lips. It was a glass.
"Drink a little. It's a rare brand," she said cheerfully.
The scent of alcohol hit my nose, sharp and burning. Before I could protest, the glass tilted, and the cold liquid rushed into my mouth. My eyes widened as I felt it sliding down my throat.
I gagged, coughing violently. "No—!"
I shoved the glass away, but it was already too late. The wine was already in my stomach, spreading a strange warmth inside me.
"Don't touch me!" I shouted, stumbling to my feet. Something was wrong, very wrong. My chest rose and fell quickly. My hands trembled as I touched my face, my arms, my body—everything. There was no blood, no pain, and no missing parts.
I blinked hard, my breath uneven. Everything felt normal.
What… what was going on?
My heart was racing as my gaze darted around the room. It wasn't the cold terrace anymore. It was a private lounge—luxurious, full of laughter, dim golden lights, and music playing softly in the background.
The same lounge where the producer had held that "small celebration" four years ago… the night I made the biggest mistake of my life.
I took a step back, feeling dizzy. My mind was spinning.
Hadn't I just fallen off a building? Hadn't I died?
Mo Yuzhen's betrayal, the rooftop, that masked woman's cruel words... were they all just a dream? But the pain felt so real. I could still feel the sting of his betrayal, the terror of being pushed down, and that moment when my body hit the ground.
It was all real.
So, how was I here? Did someone rescue me?
No, but something didn't add up. I pressed my shaking hands to my chest, feeling my heartbeat. Thump! Thump! Thump! My heartbeat was strong and steady. For the first time in my life, I was grateful to hear it.
"What the hell is happening to me?" I whispered.
Was I dreaming? Was this hell?
Or… had I really gone back in time?
I could feel the curious gazes on me, whispers swirling around the room, but I didn't care. I just stood there, breathing in the music, the perfume, the laughter, and the life. The taste of wine still burned my throat, but the air felt intoxicating.
I was alive. Very alive.
The realization hit me very strongly, very hard. I wrapped my arms around myself and laughed. And, it was no small, lady-like laugh, but a full-blown, crazy laughter. "Haha! Ahahah.... Ahahah... I am back... AHahah.... hahaha.... I am back!"
Whispers rippled through the room.
"Why is she laughing?"
"Did you give her the wrong drug?"
"She looks possessed!"
"Did you bring a crazy person here?"
"I think she's lost it…"
Maybe I had. But I didn't care.
People in the room were talking about me, but I ignored them. I was so happy to be back, to be alive, to have this second chance.
Just then, I felt a pull on my arms and heard Li Yufei asking with worry, "Tang Xiyu, are you alright?"
"Alright?" I grinned, tears in my eyes, and hugged her tightly. "Li Yufei, I'm amazing. I'm alive. I am so happy I could kiss you right now!"
Li Yufei: "..."
Producer: "..."
Everyone: "......"
I chuckled, wiping my tears. "I know why you brought me here, but I'm sorry. I need to leave." Before anyone could stop me, I grabbed my purse and strode to the door. "You guys enjoy the party!"
"Wait, Tang Xiyu!" Li Yufei called after me. "Stop!"
But I didn't look back. My heels clicked sharply against the floor as I walked out of the room and hurried down the corridor. I had to get away from this place as soon as possible.
I had already drunk the drugged wine, and staying there would only make me the lamb served on a platter.
This was the same thing that happened to me in my past life. And, this was the same reason why I met Mo Yuzhen.
But this time, I wasn't the naive actress waiting to be played. I remembered the masked woman's words—a puppeteer pulling the strings. A God who controlled my fate. Someone who had written my script.
A sneer escaped my lips. If she wanted me to dance to her tune again, then she was going to be highly disappointed.
I wasn't going to play according to her script anymore.
Instead of going left, the path I had taken in my last life, I turned right. I walked down the hallways, away from Mo Yuzhen and away from that woman's game.
This time, the control of my life was in my own hands.
But there was only one problem.
I was still drugged.
A fire roared through my body, my vision blurred, and every step felt like walking on a swaying ship. The world around me wobbled, the lights stretching and bending like liquid.
My chest heaved, breath coming in short, jagged gasps. Unable to find the exit, I fumbled down some corridor and leaned against a door.
Thankfully, the corridor was empty with no men passing by. If there had been, I would have pounced on them like some furious succubus spirit with claws ready and teeth bared.
I dug into my bag and searched for my phone. I had to call my agent before the fog in my head swallowed me completely and did that same stupid thing I had done in my past life.
As I was dialing my agent's number, I heard a sudden click. The door behind me swung open. Before I could react, I stumbled backward, tripping over my own legs, and crashed into something solid.
A pair of arms wrapped around my waist instantly, steadying me before I could hit the floor. My heart slammed so violently I thought it might burst right out of my chest.
And then, I heard a cool, teasing voice whisper in my ear, "Falling into my arms so suddenly.... are you trying to get my attention, or just testing gravity?"