Chapter 1

First meeting:
“What’s your name? You’re so beautiful!”
“My name is Lin Wanting~”

Getting closer:
“Lin Wanting, I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?”

The result:
“Lin Wanting, will you marry me?”
“Lin Wanting, I’ll love you for the rest of my life!”

But a man’s sweet words are the lies of a devil. His love had an expiration date—one that ended the moment her family went bankrupt.

When Wang Xing beat Lin Wanting and slammed her against a pillar, the final minute of her life played out like a lantern reel, flashing past every scene where he had once spoken those tender lies.

She was unwilling. But she couldn’t speak. Her heart shattered as she lay there, letting him and her childhood friend trample her.

“Why is your life so hard to snuff out? I’ve starved you for seven days and you’re still not dead? Not acting spoiled now, are you, Missy?” Wang Xing’s patience wore thin. If she didn’t die, he couldn’t marry the wealthy socialite Xia Xue—Lin Wanting’s childhood friend.

On the brink of despair, staring at the pair of shameless lovers, only one thought burned in Lin Wanting’s mind: she couldn’t die. She needed revenge.

She glared at Wang Xing. He glanced at Xia Xue. “What should we do?”
“Finish it! Or do you not want to marry me?”

At her urging, Wang Xing struck the killing blow.

Lin Wanting died instantly. Maybe her resentment reached the heavens, because the skies opened in a violent storm. The two scumbags fled.

Birdsong—sharp and insistent—pulled her back. One call. Two calls. Three. She squinted against the stabbing brightness, raising her pale hand to shield her eyes.

The door creaked open. A familiar accent spoke. As she forced her eyes wider, she saw the white canopy over her bed, a freshly varnished redwood cabinet in the corner, and—at her feet—a pair of white shoes.

“This… isn’t my house?”

“Wanting, you’re finally awake!”

She looked up—and froze. It was Xia Xue.

Perfect. Her rage had found a target. She raised her hand and slapped Xia Xue across the face.

The other girl clutched her cheek, stunned. “Wanting, are you sleepwalking? Why did you hit me?”

Glancing around, Lin Wanting’s gaze landed on a calendar: May 1st, 1961. Her pink dress. Her youthful body.

“I’ve… come back to life?” Seven years earlier.

“Wanting, you owe me an explanation! Look—five finger marks! How am I supposed to go with you to pick your wedding dress like this?”

Lin Wanting’s mind raced. She cleared her throat. “Xue’er, I was sleepwalking. We’ll have to reschedule.”

Xia Xue’s expression soured. Ever since Lin Wanting started dating Wang Xing, she’d seen her less and less. She’d always been curious—what kind of man could make Lin Wanting want to marry him?

Wanting’s thoughts were cold. You don’t want to ‘screen’ him—you want to steal him.

That day, they’d arranged for Wang Xing to meet her to pick out their wedding outfits. Because her parents disapproved, he never set foot in the Lin household—waiting instead nearby.

“Hey, Wang Xing! We’re here!” Lin Wanting called.

There he was, seven years younger—fresh-faced, polished. Her heart slammed the brakes. Don’t be fooled again by that face.

“Wanting, is this the childhood friend you always talk about?”

Xia Xue took her first good look at him—tall, refined, handsome. No wonder Wanting had hidden him until now.

“This is Xia Xue,” Wanting introduced.

Wang Xing chuckled, glancing at Xia Xue’s ridiculous expression. She covered her cheek. “Control your Miss, will you? Look what she did to me!”

Wanting’s eyes glinted. You love competing with me? I’ll let you have your chance.

“You two wait here. I’m going home to change.” She turned and left, giving them time alone—while she planned her revenge.

Back in her room for the first time in seven years, she felt the weight of her heiress life again.

[System: Congratulations, Host. You have been reborn. You possess a vast storage space for items, as well as sign-in tasks, etc.]

“Who’s talking? What’s ‘storage space’?” In her time, there were no rebirth novels—she had no idea what a system was.

[System loading…]

“Miss, who are you talking to?” her maid Xiaomin asked as she came in the side door.

Startled, Wanting snapped, “Who told you to come in without knocking?”

The maid faltered—Miss had always been gentle, but today she was sharp-tongued.

“Out!” Wanting ordered, yanking open her wardrobe. All pinks and whites—soft, demure colors. But now, reborn, she was a black lotus. She pulled out a sleek black lace dress.

Outside, Xia Xue struck up conversation. “Wang Xing, what do you like about Wanting?”

He gave her a once-over—knowing full well her family background matched Wanting’s. “Hahaha, did Wanting send you to ask? She’s perfect. I like everything about her.”

Xia Xue’s mood soured. Since childhood, in any crowd, Wanting always outshone her.

She was about to retort when Wanting emerged—black lace dress against pale skin, effortlessly eclipsing Xia Xue’s green frock.

Wang Xing’s eyes lit up. “My Miss, you look gorgeous today!”

“I was born beautiful.” Wanting flicked her hair. Xia Xue silently vowed to steal him.

“Men and women should keep their distance,” Wanting said coldly, brushing off Wang Xing’s hand for the first time.