Chapter 1: Deafening Roar

“It’s all your fault that the Lu Family has come to this! Get out!”

“Isn’t this Qiao Wu? Kicked out by the Lu Family? They can’t even take care of themselves now. Let’s see who can protect you, you useless dog.”

At the moment the car crashed down the cliff, Qiao Wu thought before closing her eyes: So, the human body does have its limits, and there is pain that it cannot endure.

In the next instant, she opened her eyes abruptly, but what lay before her was no longer the silent, dark wilderness. Instead, it was a grand, white, feather-like chandelier. The surroundings were so quiet it was unsettling. She raised her hand to her chest, feeling not only the intense heartbeat but also her own rapid breathing.

She slowly sat up and looked around. The spacious, luxurious suite was fully equipped with a study and a walk-in closet. Every piece of furniture and daily item bore the same Lu Family Crest, a place she was all too familiar with but could no longer dream of.

She was dreaming again, and this time, she dreamt of the end.

It took her a while to come back to her senses, until the sound of knocking on the door brought her back.

“Xiao Wu, are you awake?”

Qiao Wu was momentarily stunned, then got up, draped a coat over herself, and went to open the door.

The man at the door had already sprouted many white hairs. His back was straight but unusually thin, and he exuded an air of illness. He smiled gently, “Your father spoke a bit harshly yesterday. Don’t be angry.”

Qiao Wu remained silent. The man before her was both strange and familiar.

This was her father, but she hadn’t spoken to him in many years. She had transmigrated into this world of the book, hoping to gradually change her future outcome. However, she ended up being controlled by the plot, unable to act freely.

After the age of ten, she was once again trapped in her body, forced to watch “herself” follow the book’s plot.

In the plot, she was a nameless housekeeper of the top-tier wealthy Lu Family, where all members were villains. She was a mere troublemaker aiding and abetting their misdeeds. Naturally, she also witnessed the end of that “self”—a death in the wilderness with no intact body.

Just yesterday, “she” had a heated argument with her father, ending on bad terms.

At this moment, Qiao Wu, as in the past, waited for “herself” to clash with her father again. But after a long wait, the air remained silent.

“Wash up and come downstairs for breakfast,” Qiao Zhiyi said, relieved to see his daughter’s attitude not as harsh as yesterday. “I made your favorite.”

Watching his daughter turn silently and head to the bathroom, Qiao Zhiyi sighed silently and went downstairs.

He didn’t know when it started, but the relationship between him and his daughter had become so distant and confrontational.

He had his daughter late in life, and his wife passed away early. He had raised and educated his daughter with his own hands. The child who was so obedient and lovely in her younger years had gradually become a stranger—selfish, cunning, ignorant, and unable to distinguish right from wrong.

Initially, he suspected that the long-term privileged environment had twisted her sense of values, so he sent her abroad to study for two years. But upon her return, things had only worsened, as she tried to meddle in the internal affairs of the Lu Family’s conglomerate.

Yesterday, he had only given her a few words of advice, but the father and daughter ended up in a fierce argument.

Xiao Wu was only twenty-two. What would become of her in the future?

Hearing footsteps on the stairs, Qiao Zhiyi collected his thoughts and looked up, only to be stunned the next moment.

In recent years, his daughter had been particularly fond of heavy makeup, especially after returning from abroad, always dressing herself up in a flamboyant and arrogant manner. But now, there was not a trace of makeup on her face, revealing the purest form of her features.

She resembled her mother, possessing a pure and captivating beauty that could seize one’s attention at first glance. Her eyes were light in color, exuding an air of pride and elegance. At this moment, she wore a pair of frameless glasses, which softened her sharpness.

“Are you nearsighted?” he asked.

“A little,” Qiao Wu replied as she sat down beside her father. Noticing the Western-style breakfast on the table, she pursed her lips slightly but still picked up her fork. “I’ve been wearing them these past few days because they’re more convenient. Contact lenses tend to dry out my eyes.”

Qiao Zhiyi was surprised that his daughter would share such trivial matters with him. Suppressing his excitement, he said, “Frameless glasses aren’t very comfortable either. I’ll take you to get a different style another day.”

Qiao Wu nodded. “Alright.”

The atmosphere was so harmonious that Qiao Zhiyi couldn’t help but want to make a small change, at least to ensure his daughter didn’t stray down the wrong path.

After finishing breakfast, he cleared his throat gently. “Xiao Wu, I don’t mean to interfere with your work. I don’t expect you to become wealthy or successful. I just hope you can live with a clear conscience and find happiness and peace in the future.”

“Dad, I understand,” Qiao Wu said, wiping her mouth and smiling up at him. “At my age and with my qualifications, staying with the Lu Family isn’t a bad choice. I can learn a lot here, and the opportunities outside don’t offer the same benefits.”

Seeing the lingering worry in her father’s eyes, Qiao Wu felt a mix of bitterness and warmth in her heart. She had truly caused him a lot of concern in the past. Softening her voice, she added, “Don’t worry, Dad. Right now, I just want to focus on doing my job well and staying true to myself.”

Qiao Zhiyi was genuinely stunned, sitting frozen in his chair. Was this the same person who had argued with him so fiercely just yesterday?

“You should go out and get some sun if you’re free,” Qiao Wu said as she stood up. “Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll take you for a check-up.”

Qiao Zhiyi stared at her blankly. “O-okay.”

Was she just brushing him off, or had she truly come to her senses?

The Lu Family estate was vast. Qiao Wu and her father lived in a small villa in a corner of the property. While there were usually small carts available for transportation within the estate, today she had walked to the main house.

Her heart had been racing the entire way, and even now, it hadn’t calmed down. From the moment she had calmly expressed her thoughts to her father, she finally felt a sense of reality.

She was Qiao Wu now, her true self, not the foolish cannon fodder from the book who stirred up trouble. She wouldn’t let herself end up dead and abandoned in the wilderness.

As for the Lu Family… what she had told her father wasn’t entirely false.

Qiao Zhiyi didn’t have a high education, but he was fortunate. In his youth, he had been the Lu Family patriarch’s driver and later gained his trust, becoming the family’s housekeeper, managing all the household affairs with unwavering loyalty.

Because of this, Qiao Wu had been well taken care of since birth, growing up in luxury.

But according to the details from her dream, the entire Lu Family were villains. The original “her” had taken over her father’s position after he retired due to poor health. Leveraging this connection, she had ingratiated herself with every member of the Lu Family, fueling their destructive tendencies and pushing them further down the path of ruin. In the end, some died, and others ended up in prison.

The protagonist of the book hadn’t appeared yet, but the Lu Family’s villainous nature was already taking shape.

Qiao Zhiyi had originally hoped she would leave the Lu Family and live her own life, but the scheming “her” had refused.

Although Qiao Wu had been controlled by the plot, she had retained everything she had learned since childhood. Without exaggeration, no one in the family was more versatile than her. With her abilities, she could thrive anywhere she went.

She refused because she knew all too well that the Lu Family had allowed her to embellish and exaggerate over the years due to their childhood bond. In her distant memories, before she was controlled by the plot, she had shared a beautiful childhood with every member of the Lu Family.

They shouldn’t have ended up like that.

Moreover, she hadn’t done anything wrong. Why would she give up a hefty annual salary, luxury cars, and mansions to leave?

She didn’t like running away.

7 a.m.

Qiao Wu arrived punctually at the main residence of the Lu Family estate. The entire family lived here, but the house was so large, and their relationships were so strained, that they mostly lived separately, often not seeing each other for weeks.

The servants at the entrance greeted her politely, “Butler Qiao.”

Qiao Wu nodded, a smile on her lips, “Good morning.”

Everyone was surprised.

Before going abroad, Qiao Wu had always acted as if she were also a young miss of the family, holding her chin so high she barely acknowledged the servants. After returning to take up the position of housekeeper, she had treated herself as the master, bossing everyone around, which had infuriated people.

But today, not only did she greet them, but her makeup and clothing had also changed. Though she still seemed distant, her tone was approachable, and her every movement exuded the elegance of someone in authority.

Qiao Wu didn’t pay attention to the curious glances behind her. She had indeed been very busy these past few days, sorting out the basic information of every family member.

Old Master Lu was getting on in years and could no longer handle many things. The younger generation had begun to go their own ways, making their own plans. Additionally, her father, Qiao Zhiyi, was in poor health and could no longer manage the young masters and misses. As a result, the Lu Family was not only fragmented in spirit but also in disarray.

A week ago, Qiao Wu had returned to take up the position of Chief Butler, but the “her” at the time had been focused solely on currying favor and infiltrating the Lu Group. She had paid no attention to the trivial matters of daily life, leaving the Lu Family in chaos.

Old Master Lu had four children, but the eldest son and his wife had died early in a car accident, leaving behind a daughter who was only in middle school.

Old Master Lu wanted to maintain control over the group’s main authority but had fallen ill from overwork and was temporarily staying in a private hospital.

The Second Young Master was busy developing his own influence to gain a say in the group, constantly socializing and scheming, rarely returning home.

The Third Young Master had quarreled with Old Master Lu and run off to the entertainment industry, where he did nothing but throw his weight around, bringing home whichever female star caught his eye.

The Fourth Young Master was still a college student but spent his days skipping classes, partying every night, and squandering money, with the goal of having enough ex-girlfriends to form a women’s soccer team.

And all of this had been encouraged and indulged by the original “Qiao Wu.”

Before going abroad, she had worried that there would be no place for her when she returned, so she had tried to tear the family apart, spreading gossip and flattering to secure her position.

Even now, Qiao Wu felt insulted by such a foolish plot.

The situation in the Lu Family couldn’t be changed overnight. She could only take it step by step.

With a ding, the elevator doors opened, and a servant walked straight over, “Butler Qiao, the Young Miss isn’t feeling well today. She asked you to call her teacher and ask for a day off.”

Qiao Wu continued with her tasks without pause, “What’s wrong? Has the family doctor seen her? And the Fourth Young Master, is he up yet?”

The servant looked at her with an extremely complicated gaze: “You should be aware of Young Miss’s situation. Fourth Young Master didn’t come home until 4 a.m. last night after drinking, and now…”

She wasn’t sick, she just didn’t want to go to school.

Getting out of bed was out of the question; since she had already missed the 8 a.m. class, she decided not to go at all.

In the past, Butler Qiao not only didn’t intervene but also made sure no one disturbed them. Why was he asking about it now as if he didn’t know?

With a snap, the notebook was shut. Qiao Wu stood up and walked to the wall of the first-floor reception hall. Each room in the manor was a large, soundproof suite, and ordinary voices couldn’t possibly reach anyone. Usually, they would call, but to handle emergencies, the old master had installed a button during the construction of the manor. Pressing it would alert everyone in their rooms.

Qiao Wu glanced at the time on his watch, then pressed the button with an expressionless face.

“Boom boom boom boom! Boom boom boom boom!”

The “Symphony of Fate” blared deafeningly in different rooms.

The two lying in their soft beds in their respective rooms were startled, their bodies jolting as they sat up instantly.

What the hell was that noise?

There’s something evil in here!