Chapter 1: Fan Shengmei Reborn at the Villa Dining Table 

One moment, Fan Shengmei was still looking forward to the future, ready to embrace a brand-new life.

Next, she was suddenly seated at the villa’s dining table. A set of delicate cutlery was laid out in front of her, and sitting beside her was Wang Baichuan—the man she had already broken up with.

Meanwhile, Qu Xiaoxiao and her childhood friend Yao Bin were beating the drums and making pointed remarks about her father’s past.

“Ah, back when my dad was young, he once borrowed a suit just to meet a client. But borrowed clothes are still borrowed clothes. No matter how well they fit, at the end of the day, inside he was still just a country bumpkin…”

A scene she knew all too well.

Am I dreaming? Shengmei’s heart jolted. Why would I dream of something so dreadful? She pinched her thigh—it hurt. This wasn’t a dream. Could it be… rebirth?

Qu Xiaoxiao’s mocking voice rang in her ears, sharp and condescending.

Across the table, Andy looked worried. Her eyes were fixed on Qu Xiaoxiao, full of warning and disapproval. Only then did Shengmei realize—this familiar scene was heaven’s way of giving her another chance.

“Qu Xiaoxiao!”

Andy’s warning tone cut her off.

Qu Xiaoxiao, who never hesitated to embarrass Shengmei, dared not cross Andy. She shut her mouth immediately.

Just as she was about to leave, Shengmei reached out and stopped her.

Qu Xiaoxiao froze.

To her surprise, Shengmei looked completely calm—none of the expected humiliation or panic. Instead, a faint smile graced her delicate face.

“Xiao Qu, don’t stop now. Go on.”

In her previous life, Shengmei had been so intent on keeping up appearances in front of Wang Baichuan—the man she admired and worshipped—that she had exposed him publicly by revealing his car was rented. Wang had stormed off in anger.

But this time, Shengmei felt dazed yet strangely free. There’s nothing left for me to lose.

Qu Xiaoxiao twisted her wrist, breaking free of Shengmei’s grasp, and stared at her in shock.

“Sister Fan, are you crazy?!”

This was the woman who usually valued her reputation above all else. Yet now, she was actually asking her to continue? If this wasn’t madness, then what was it?

Qu Xiaoxiao had only wanted to watch a show, but suddenly the situation unsettled her.

Shengmei calmly glanced at her, then at Wang Baichuan.

“If you won’t continue, then I will. Wang Baichuan, I lied to you before. I told you I lived in Joy of Life, unit 2202. The truth is, I was hiding something—I actually live with Xiao Guan and Xiao Qiu, we share a rental.”

Andy sipped her water in silence, while Guan Ju’er and Qiu Yingying—sitting right beside Shengmei—looked at her with worried eyes. Wei Wei, on the other hand, studied her intently.

Qu Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes, unimpressed now, and sat off to the side.

Wang Baichuan, who had always suspected Shengmei of being materialistic, suddenly looked flustered.

“Xiao Mei…”

Shengmei cut him off.

“You must already know, right? Ask the security guard at the gate, he’ll tell you.”

Her voice was calm, steady, without a ripple.

But Wang Baichuan panicked. He, too, had something false to hide—his car was also rented.

He tried to say more, to break the heavy atmosphere.

“Xiao Mei, actually, I…”

Shengmei rose to her feet. Her tall figure gave her an imposing presence. She looked at Qu Xiaoxiao.

“Xiao Qu, if you came here to tear off my fake mask as a gold-digger, then congratulations—you’ve already succeeded. You can continue your performance if you’d like.”

Her eyes swept across the others at the table.

“As for me, I won’t eat anymore. I’d rather head back to rest. Tomorrow morning I’ll be leaving. Please, enjoy your meal.”

With that, Shengmei strode away from the table.

“Xiao Mei!”

Wang Baichuan jumped up to chase after her, grabbing her arm.

A strange foreboding filled his chest. Somehow, he knew—Xiao Mei had already discovered the truth about his car. Their relationship might never be the same again.

Fan Shengmei glanced down at the wrist Wang Baichuan was gripping. Realizing it, he instinctively let go.

She lifted her chin with a faint smile, nodded, and strode off. The hem of her skirt fluttered behind her like the wings of a butterfly.

Wang Baichuan was left standing there, soul lost, watching her disappear.

At the dining table, Qiu Yingying was the first to explode. With old resentments piling on new, she glared at Qu Xiaoxiao.

“You vixen! Why do you always have to ruin the mood for everyone? You’re nothing but trouble!”

Guan Ju’er also disapproved, though she held her tongue. She simply tugged on Qiu Yingying’s arm and followed after Shengmei.

Sister Fan might have her faults, but they were understandable. Neither of them could blame her too harshly. After all, when they had first arrived in Shanghai, it was Shengmei who had helped them the most—in life, in work, in learning how to survive.

Andy also fixed Qu Xiaoxiao with a cold look.

“Xiao Qu, you really went too far this time.”

Without another word, she left her seat to go after Shengmei as well.

She couldn’t understand it. Shengmei had already agreed beforehand—so why humiliate her in front of everyone?

Now, only Wei Wei, Wang Baichuan, Yao Bin, and Qu Xiaoxiao remained in the restaurant.

Qu Xiaoxiao felt stung. She had come to expose Shengmei as a “gold-digger,” so why was everyone blaming her now?

Forcing herself to look unbothered, she snapped back,

“It’s not my fault! Sister Fan was the one who lied in the first place…”

“Miss Qu!”

Wang Baichuan suddenly barked, cutting her off.

“We are not here for your amusement!”

The sharp rebuke startled Qu Xiaoxiao. She froze, and it took a moment before she gathered herself again. Then, glaring at his retreating, she cursed under her breath:

“What the hell! Now it’s all my fault? One’s a gold-digger, the other’s a poser, and they all point fingers at me! Fine, blame me, blame me for seeing things clearly! If you all hate being exposed so much, then why bother pretending in the first place?”

Wei Wei merely looked at her quietly, saying nothing. But the dissatisfaction in his eyes was obvious.

This dinner had been his arrangement, and now it was a complete mess. Even Andy had walked out—what was there left to enjoy?

Even Yao Bin couldn’t help speaking up:

“Xiaoxiao, we really did go a bit too far this time.”

Look at the state everyone was in.

Qu Xiaoxiao immediately lost her temper, springing to her feet.

“Yao Bin, what do you mean by that? Are you still my friend or not? So now it’s all my fault too, huh?!”

Yao Bin could only back down, soothing her with soft words.

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Meanwhile, outside, Fan Shengmei’s heels sank into the grass, and she still felt as though none of this was real.

Did I really… come back?

Had heaven taken pity on her, giving her another chance?

She thought of her past life. What a complete mess it had been. She had never been ruthless enough, never able to cut ties with that so-called family. When Fan Shengying dropped the lawsuit, she had foolishly clung to hope, only for reality to prove again: a dog never changes its ways. He had stayed in the apartment she paid for, ordering her around as if he owned it.

The family shackles she could never escape. The independence she could never achieve.

It was time to change.

She was already thirty. It was time to change!

Don’t be afraid. Nothing can be worse than before, she told herself firmly.

At thirty, she still had a head start. She wasn’t married, didn’t have children—it wasn’t too late.

Taking a long breath, she looked ahead with determination. If I could survive the last life, there’s no reason I can’t make it this time.

Come on, Fan Shengmei. You can do this.