I never imagined I'd die like this. Betrayed, humiliated, powerless. Every step I had taken in my life had led to this moment—my last. And yet, as the world went black around me, a strange calm settled in my chest. Maybe… maybe death was a kind of freedom.
I had trusted them. My so-called friends, my boyfriend, even my own family. All of them had turned their backs when I needed them most. The knife that cut my life short wasn't sharp—it was invisible, coated in smiles and fake concern. And now, I was gasping my last, fading into nothing.
Then… light.
A blinding white light that swallowed the darkness, yet didn't burn. It warmed me instead. And when my eyes opened again, I wasn't in that alley anymore. I wasn't anywhere familiar. Instead, I lay in a soft bed in a room I couldn't recognize. Velvet curtains brushed against the floor. The faint scent of jasmine lingered in the air, mingling with something faintly metallic—expensive, unfamiliar.
I sat up slowly, my heart hammering in confusion. My body… it felt different. Stronger. My reflection in the mirror caught my attention, and I froze. Sharp cheekbones, pale skin, dark eyes that seemed to hold secrets… this wasn't me. Or rather, this was me, but someone entirely new. Someone I didn't know yet, but would learn to control.
A knock at the door startled me.
"Miss Lin, breakfast is ready," a soft, respectful voice called.
Miss Lin? That wasn't my name. I tried to speak, but my lips felt stiff. Slowly, the pieces came together. I had been given a second chance. Reborn. In another life.
And not just any life. I was Lin Xinyue, daughter of the city's wealthiest and most feared businessman. One name could open doors, shut mouths, and crush people without them even realizing it. My second life wasn't about happiness—it was about power. Revenge. Justice.
I rose from the bed, my movements deliberate, measured. Each step felt like reclaiming a part of myself that had been stolen in my first life. I didn't need to cry. I didn't need to beg. I needed a plan.
The first thing I did was look outside the window. A city sprawled beneath me—lights glittering like diamonds against the night. Cars moved in lines like rivers of liquid gold. This city was mine to conquer. And one person in it would regret ever crossing me.
Feng Jiaran.
His name alone made my blood boil. Cold, arrogant, untouchable. The CEO who had ruined my life in my previous world—the man whose betrayal had pushed me to the edge. He didn't know me yet. But soon… he would.
I dressed in a sleek black outfit that hugged my body, simple but elegant. Confidence isn't something you wear—it's something you carry. And I carried it like a shield now.
The house was silent as I descended the stairs. Servants bowed as I passed, eyes flicking briefly toward me before dropping. Fear. Respect. Both were mine. I could feel it buzzing in the air, subtle but intoxicating.
Breakfast was laid out neatly. Fruits, meats, pastries, everything I had never been able to afford in my previous life. I ate slowly, savoring not the food, but the sense of control. Everything about this world was a tool, and I intended to use it.
I thought about my first life, the people who had hurt me. Friends who had spread lies. The boyfriend who had kissed me while planning my downfall. Every face flashed before me. I didn't smile. I didn't cry. I remembered.
Revenge doesn't need emotion—it needs strategy. Patience. Timing. And I had all three.
After breakfast, I walked to the balcony, feeling the wind on my face. The city stretched endlessly before me. And in that moment, I saw him.
Feng Jiaran.
Across the street, leaving a skyscraper like he owned the world—because he did. His gaze scanned the city, sharp, calculating, unaware that someone new had already noticed him. My lips curled into a small, cold smile. The game had begun.
This time, I would not be a pawn. This time, I would be the queen. And everyone who had ever doubted me… they would bow or break.
But first… I needed to draw him in.
A message appeared on my phone—a single line from an unknown number: "Are you ready to play?"
I smirked, tapping back: "Always."
And just like that, the city felt smaller. The night darker. And the stage perfectly set.
Because Lin Xinyue had returned.
Feng Jiaran's eyes met mine across the street. For a moment, recognition—or was it curiosity?—flickered. And in that instant, I knew: our game had just begun.