Chapter 1: 第1章 苏醒

[Today's Scoop]: Old Master Zuo passed away from heart disease at the Central Hospital at ten o'clock tonight. The Zuo family is in turmoil, with various factions fighting incessantly for control. Why don't we all take a guess: with Old Master Zuo gone, can Si Fuqing—a "resource star" who only entered the entertainment industry by relying on the Zuo family—even survive?

With a "bang," a mobile phone was slammed heavily in front of Si Fuqing.

The news was on the screen; it had only been posted for two minutes, and the comments below were already erupting in heated discussion.

"Si Fuqing, you should know that you are not one of us Zuo family members, and your surname isn't even Zuo." It was Madam Zuo speaking, her voice icy. "Now that the Old Master is gone, it's time for you to leave the Zuo family, isn't it?"

"You still want to go in and see the Old Master's body? I'll say it right here and now: you have no right!"

In the hall, everyone from the Zuo family was gathered together.

They paid little attention to the commotion on this side, as they were seriously discussing the division of the inheritance.

It was only at this moment that Old Master Zuo's body was being wheeled into the mortuary.

"Look at what people online are saying about you. Do you think you're very famous in the entertainment industry?" Madam Zuo sneered. "The Zuo family has raised you for thirteen years, and how have you repaid us? All you do day in and day out is smear our name."

Si Fuqing lowered her head. Strange memories were churning violently in her mind, and pain spread through her entire body.

She pressed her tongue against her teeth to suppress the metallic sweetness rising in her throat. After picking up a piece of gauze from the side and wrapping it around her bleeding wrist, she finally glanced at the phone screen.

The comments under the news had already surpassed a thousand, and they were all insults.

[Although some of this is unkind, I still have to say: with Old Master Zuo gone, I want to see how Si Fuqing manages to survive in the entertainment industry.]

[Great, great! This is wonderful news. Si Fuqing can finally get lost from "Youthful Boys." How can someone who can neither sing nor dance act as a dance mentor for a boy group survival show?]

[She wears heavy makeup every single day; I wonder how hideous she looks without it. When is she going to get out of the industry!]

Seeing her indifference, Madam Zuo raised her voice: "Are you deaf?!"

Only then did Si Fuqing lift her head. There was still a trace of blood on her lips, and her voice was slightly low and hoarse: "Hmm?"

She was wearing no makeup today; she was completely bare-faced.

The girl's features, both skin and bone, were exquisitely beautiful.

Her skin was porcelain white, and her long hair was soft.

She looked hazy, like a sketched ancient painting, possessing a magnificent and elegant grace.

To make matters more striking, she had a pair of captivating fox eyes. Her gaze was heavy with suppressed emotion, adding a touch of allure. She truly possessed a divine face that was flawless from every single angle.

Yet, Madam Zuo hated this face most of all.

For years, she had lived in constant anxiety, fearing that Si Fuqing would seduce her son.

But perhaps due to some mental lapse, ever since Si Fuqing entered the entertainment industry, she had only worn heavy, grotesque makeup.

This had actually relieved some of Madam Zuo's worries.

Looking at this overly stunning face, Madam Zuo thought back to something from a long time ago.

Thirteen years ago, Old Master Zuo went on a business trip to the capital. When he returned, there was a five-year-old girl by his side.

It was undeniable that Si Fuqing had been a beauty since childhood; none of the Zuo family's young ladies could compare to her.

Defying all opposition, Old Master Zuo signed an adoption agreement and brought her into the Zuo family.

Under his care, Si Fuqing's treatment was no different from the Zuo family's direct descendants; in fact, it was even better.

Three years ago, for reasons unknown, Si Fuqing wanted to enter the entertainment industry. Old Master Zuo agreed and even specially sent her abroad for further studies.

However, Si Fuqing's professional skills were poor, and her makeup was eyesore.

Although she successfully debuted abroad and returned to develop her career—even becoming a member of the popular girl group "Starry Sky Girls"—the internet was full of anti-fans, and the Zuo family was frequently mocked as a result.

Whenever Madam Zuo went out to socialize with other socialites, she was frequently asked about this matter, leaving her feeling extremely resentful.

If it weren't for Old Master Zuo, how could she have ever accepted Si Fuqing staying in the Zuo house?

Si Fuqing leaned against the sofa, supporting her head with her hand as the pain in her head slowly subsided.

A few seconds later, she finally accepted the reality: her experiment had gone wrong, causing an explosion that led to her unfortunate death, and she had become a female celebrity plagued by negative news.

This incident taught her one thing: when making anti-gravity armor, absolutely do not drink Cola.

The female celebrity shared her name.

Her memories before the age of five were very blurry. From the moment she could remember, she had lived in the Zuo family.

The only person in the Zuo family who truly cared for her was Old Master Zuo, who had brought her back. He said her parents were both dead, so he would look after her.

But Old Master Zuo was busy with business and rarely came home.

She had always been bullied by the various siblings in the Zuo family. This time, she had even slit her wrists before a dispute with the eldest grandson of the Zuo family, nearly losing her life.

Si Fuqing's long lashes lowered, and a hint of ferocity surfaced in her eyes.

In her previous life, she was also an orphan. She was fortunate enough to be picked up and carefully cared for by an older sister, and later, she joined a sect, only to be surrounded by a group of black-hearted senior brothers and sisters.

Before she could even enjoy life, a "bang" happened, and she was blown to death.

With such an achievement, she estimated no one in her entire sect could match her; she truly lived up to her reputation as the "Ghost-Weeping One."

"Alright, stop talking," Zuo Tianfeng said, intervening symbolically. "Let's settle the inheritance matters first."

Madam Zuo said resentfully, "Look at her. I'm afraid she's going to cling to us."

The adoption agreement was signed by Old Master Zuo, and no one had the right to break it.

Now that Si Fuqing was an adult, if she did not agree, the adoption agreement could not be terminated.

Si Fuqing stood up, her gaze finally landing on Madam Zuo.

The gauze on her wrist was still wrapped, and blood was slowly seeping out.

It was a shocking sight, yet she herself seemed oblivious to the pain. Her fox eyes curved slightly, moving with a shimmering, graceful charm.

The corners of Si Fuqing's lips curled into a slow smile. "Get lost."

"..."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The dozens of people in the Zuo family also stopped talking, looking over in astonishment.

They were quite clear about how Si Fuqing usually acted in the Zuo family.

She was always timid and submissive, never even daring to lift her head, let alone talk back to Madam Zuo.

Madam Zuo was so angry that the corners of her eyes turned red. She took two steps forward, intending to grab the girl's hand: "Si Fuqing, you're rebelling!"

Si Fuqing turned her head, the smile on her lips cold. Looking down from a height, she uttered that single word again: "Get lost."

Madam Zuo lost her balance momentarily, stumbling back a few steps in her high heels.

Zuo Tianfeng caught her in time and also shouted sternly, "Si Fuqing!"

Si Fuqing threw on her coat and walked straight downstairs without looking back.

"She's actually throwing a tantrum?" Madam Zuo's chest heaved, clearly furious. "Once she's kicked out of the Zuo family, I want to see how she can still smile. I'll remember this debt today!"

Zuo Tianfeng, however, looked back one more time, frowning.

Today's Si Fuqing was very strange. Could she have gone mad from the shock?

But it had nothing to do with him. Si Fuqing was about to get kicked out of the Zuo family anyway; he had neither the time nor the inclination to educate an outsider.

***

Third floor, Emergency Department.

The doctor on duty was a woman in her fifties. She frowned: "Extend your hand."

Si Fuqing lowered her eyes and extended her hand, behaving very obediently.

"How did you get injured like this?" The doctor unwrapped the gauze and gasped. "Is there nothing you can discuss with your family? Why must you hurt yourself?"

"A young girl with such a beautiful face, why don't you know how to cherish it?"

Si Fuqing's fox eyes blinked, and she immediately corrected her behavior: "Sister, I was wrong."

The girl's eyes were deep and dark, clear and bright, with long, thick lashes that looked like the thin wings of a butterfly gently brushing against her cheeks.

A few strands of hair fell, complementing her porcelain-white skin like carved jade.

No one could refuse Si Fuqing's face.

The doctor's heart softened instantly: "I'm on duty every Wednesday and Friday. If you encounter any difficult problems in the future and can't find anyone, come find me."

Si Fuqing's eyes brightened; she was well-mannered and sweet-tongued: "Thank you, sister."

The doctor lowered her head to stitch the wound, saying irritably, "Don't call me sister. I'm old enough to be your mother. Sit still, don't move around."

Si Fuqing: "..."

Her flattery had missed the mark.

"Then, Auntie, do you have needles? Please prick me here," Si Fuqing said, pointing to an acupoint, smiling. "It stops bleeding quickly."

The doctor was surprised: "The young lady knows medicine?"

To be able to easily name an acupoint for stopping bleeding meant she must have some knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Si Fuqing was not at all modest, acting nonchalantly: "Just average, third in the world."

Doctor: "..."

She was just like her daughter, suffering from "chunibyo."

After stitching the wound and disinfecting it, the doctor instructed, "Do not touch water, and do not do any strenuous activity with your left hand. Come back in a week to change the dressing; ask for me directly. Here are some oral medicines."

Si Fuqing nodded in thanks, took the prescription, and went downstairs to get the medicine.

She slowly opened her WeChat wallet and looked down.

Balance: 250.

"..."

Great. Even the numbers were mocking her for being the idiot who blew herself up.

Si Fuqing put her phone away and walked toward the pharmacy entrance with an expressionless face.

When had she ever been this poor?

***

The early spring air was still cold, and the wind was stronger at night.

Si Fuqing wrapped her coat tighter around her and walked to the hospital's back door.

A black sedan was parked there. The car was scarred and very old, at least a ten-year-old model.

She remembered this car.

She had turned eighteen last year, and Old Master Zuo had given her a car as a coming-of-age gift, but it was later snatched away by the third young lady of the Zuo family, who replaced it with this old car.

Si Fuqing pushed the car door open indifferently and sat in the driver's seat.

A small calendar sat in front of the car, its dates clear and distinct.

Summer Calendar, Year 2025.

She gripped the calendar and clicked her tongue: "It's 2025..."

She had been dead for three years.

She hadn't expected that not only would she return in another body, but she would also travel three years into the future.

The events of these three years were a complete blank to her. The time wasn't long, but it was enough for things to change completely.

Currently, she was in the Great Xia Empire, far from her sect; she couldn't even go back.

Even if she did go back, who would believe she hadn't died?

Si Fuqing unscrewed a bottle of Cola she had just bought from a vending machine, her smile deepening: "In death, I drink you; in life, I drink you. My love for you is truly profound."

At two in the morning, the surroundings were silent, and the pitch-black night sky held neither starlight nor moonlight.

A night breeze blew through the window, and Si Fuqing's eyes flickered.

It was the scent of blood—very light and faint, mixed with a nearly imperceptible light fragrance that masked it.

But having spent years fighting and killing, she was very sensitive to such scents.

Si Fuqing took another sip of Cola and screwed the cap back on.

She was a pauper now and didn't want to waste Cola.

Meanwhile, her other hand had already reached for a screwdriver kept in the car.

In just an instant, the locked car door was opened silently.

A cold, crisp aura invaded the space, and the smell of blood suddenly intensified.

It was a man.

He was tall and upright, with broad shoulders, a perfect waistline, and long, sturdy legs.

He was like a golden divine statue—unprofane and untouchable.

In the lightless night, and without night-vision training, Si Fuqing could not see his features clearly.

A hint of a smile appeared at the corners of her eyes as she leaned her head on her hand, watching him while tossing the Cola bottle in one hand.

The girl's fearless expression caused the man's movements to pause.

But he did not forget the urgent matter, and his long back leaned forward slightly.

"Shh." His long finger pressed lightly against her lips.

At the same time, his other hand closed the car door.