Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Man Smoking on the Balcony
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Tang Li walked out of her room, following her memory to find Lai Yuaner’s bedroom.
Compared to the guest room she had lived in for years, Lai Yuaner’s bedroom was the most exquisitely decorated room in the entire Lai Family, with its white princess bed, pink wallpaper, and ivory white solid wood furniture, all exuding a cozy atmosphere.
Tang Li pulled open a drawer in the walk-in closet and placed the dress and brooch inside.
In her previous life, when she appeared in the garden wearing this dress, Lai Yuaner let out a scream.
She didn’t understand what was happening, but Lai Yuaner rushed over and grabbed her, trying to strip the dress off her in public while shouting uncontrollably, “Who let you wear my dress! Give it back to me!”
…
Tang Li looked toward the brooch.
It was a gift from Lai Wenyan to Ouyang Qian, commemorating their 25th wedding anniversary.
Ouyang Qian treasured this brooch dearly; she was also the chairman of Tianyi Group and often attended various events, so there were no shortage of people who had seen her wearing the brooch.
At the birthday banquet, when Lai Yuaner discovered Tang Li wearing her mother’s brooch, which was given by her father, she pointed at Tang Li and cursed her as a thief, even going so far as to publicly reveal that she was the illegitimate daughter who had disrupted their family!
The slap that Ouyang Qian gave her younger daughter caused an uproar.
And she, foolishly stood there, at a loss.
She wanted to open her mouth to explain, but upon seeing Lai Wenyan’s indifferent expression, her throat was too dry to speak.
Tang Li slowly closed the drawer, her eyes cold; she had never experienced the so-called familial affection while at the Lai Family and certainly wouldn’t covet what didn’t belong to her in this new life.
Just as she stood up, a raucous chatter came from outside the door.
“Did your mom really get you that custom LV bag from France?”
“Why would I lie to you guys? It’s just a bag, my mom brought it back on her business trip…”
Through the closed door, Tang Li could hear Lai Yuaner’s voice.
It was already too late for Tang Li to leave through the main door, and it wasn’t safe to hide in the walk-in closet or the bathroom; at the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the sliding door to the balcony.
When Lai Yuaner opened the bedroom door, there was nobody inside.
On the balcony, Tang Li stood pressed against the wall as the sound of conversation intermittently reached her from inside.
A few girls, after examining the bag, sat on the bed to whisper gossip.
“Yuanyuan, it’s your grandmother’s birthday today, how come we don’t see that poor relative who lives with you?”
Another girl immediately chimed in, “Yeah, Yuanyuan, I was hoping to get a glimpse of her bird’s nest hair.” She started giggling, “Is she slow in the head or what? You tell her to test out hair dye colors on herself, and she actually goes and does it. You mentioned she has a crush on your sister’s classmate, was that true?”
Lai Yuaner snickered, “It’s just a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh. Jifeng was helping me with my homework, and that toad happened to see him. She’s been obsessed ever since.”
“Do you guys know what she calls Jifeng? Teacher Han~”
“Ha ha…”
Tang Li felt a dull ache in her heart.
Some truths, even though she later learned of them in her previous life, still pained her when she experienced them all over again in person.
“Yuanyuan, can I go out to the balcony for a bit?”
“To see what?”
“I want to get a taste of what it’s like to be Juliet!”
Lai Yuaner commanded, “Then first, go fetch me a pair of silk stockings.”
Hearing this, Tang Li looked at the external unit of the air conditioner next to her.
There was another balcony on the other side.
If she didn’t leave now, she would inevitably be discovered.
Stepping onto the ornate railing, Tang Li climbed over the balcony of Lai Yuaner’s room onto the external unit of the air conditioner. With her heart pounding, she quickly and carefully climbed into the adjacent room’s balcony.
Just as she steadied herself, she smelled a faint scent of burning tobacco.
Tang Li looked up—
She saw a man standing on the balcony, smoking.
His interested gaze clearly had witnessed her entire “wall-scaling” entry.
Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Unfavored Daughter of the Lai Family
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The man stood with his back to the light, dressed in a white shirt, tall and upright, over one meter eighty, the room’s light fell on his shoulder blades, giving off a soft luster.
It was somewhat difficult to discern his face, but Tang Li identified that he was not one of the Lai Family People.
In her previous life, she had never seen such a person in the Lai Family.
The man carried himself with the poise of someone in a position of authority.
Lai Wenyan was a National Congress Member, holding a high position as well, but in terms of accumulated prestige, he did not match the man before her.
In an instant—
Tang Li froze on the spot, uncertain whether to advance or retreat.
She hadn’t expected someone to be in the room, and that person was coincidentally standing by the balcony. She thought that at this hour, there should be nobody in the Lai Family’s mansion…
After all, it was getting dark, and it was Old Madam Lai’s 65th birthday banquet.
Like Aunt Wu, who had delivered clothes to her and then went to the garden to help out.
It was the beginning of October, around 6 o’clock in the evening, night had fallen, and behind Tang Li, the newly lit lights were a backdrop of dim warmth. Under the fading light, her slender figure seemed particularly fragile.
Through the half-open balcony sliding door, Tang Li could see the furnishings inside the room.
—This was Lai Wenyan’s study.
As if to confirm her guess, Lai Wenyan’s musings came from within the room: “Regarding the healthcare reform proposal, there are indeed quite a few differences within Congress…”
As a daughter, she was not favored by Lai Wenyan.
Her mother had given her the “Lai” name, placing her longing for Lai Wenyan upon her.
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But two years ago, carrying her mother’s ashes, she took a two-day and two-night train ride to the Capital. Upon seeing Lai Wenyan for the first time, all of her anticipation and anxiety came to nothing, leaving only an indescribable sense of confusion and wandering.
Before her mother passed, she had given her an address but had not told her that her father had a family in the Capital, complete with a dignified and graceful wife and a beautiful daughter.
Tang Li still remembered Lai Wenyan’s expression at that time; he did not want this unexpected daughter of his.
At that time, Lai Sheng Xia was 22 years old, and Lai Yuaner was 16.
And she had just turned 17.
Tang Li and her mother spent more than a decade in poverty on the border between Myanmar and Vietnam. They had long learned to read people, and whether it was Lai Wenyan’s or Old Madam Lai’s attitude towards her, both made her realize that there was something problematic about her birth.
In her past life, a few years after she married Han Jifeng, accompanying him to a banquet, she encountered a senior individual with a high status, who could be considered an old acquaintance of her mother.
Only then did she find out that her mother Tang Yin was not “the other woman”; over twenty years ago, Lai Wenyan was on an undercover mission at the border. To infiltrate the enemy, Lai Wenyan utilized the favor he had with the young Miss Tang Yin; their relationship progressed to marriage.
Later, after the mission ended, Tang Yin’s father died, and Tang Yin herself disappeared.
It wasn’t long before Lai Wenyan was called back to the Capital.
No one expected that at that time, Tang Yin was already pregnant.
In her previous life, Tang Li returned to the Lai Family and was shot dead by mistake by the special police, a total of nine years, during which Lai Wenyan never revealed her true heritage to her.
…
“If the healthcare reform is really implemented, the annual expenditures of the Ministry of Finance will also increase.”
Inside the study, Lai Wenyan’s voice became increasingly clear.
—He was walking towards the balcony.
Just as Tang Li thought she would surely be caught, the man in front of her turned around and casually pulled the thick curtain closed.
Then, he walked back inside.
Tang Li was relieved, yet in her mind lingered the look the man had given her as he turned around—gentle as if he was looking at a naughty kitten. His handsome and scholarly features seemed to carry a faint smile.
Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Then You Can Just Die
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Tang Li returned to her room, and it was already half an hour later.
Before long, Aunt Wu knocked on the door again.
“Miss Lailai, the birthday celebration is about to begin, are you ready yet?”
Before her words fell, the door was pulled open from inside.
Aunt Wu, just about to continue knocking, was caught off guard by the sight of Tang Li. Her hand stopped mid-air as she discovered Tang Li still wore jeans and a shirt, and she asked subconsciously, “Why didn’t you change into that dress?”
“I’m just about to change,” Tang Li replied with a faint smile.
After a pause of two seconds, she looked at Aunt Wu and asked, “Was that dress really prepared for me by you, Auntie?”
Aunt Wu had worked for the Lai family for more than a decade, and she had watched Lai Yuaner grow up. The lady of the house had always treated her kindly, so naturally, Aunt Wu’s heart could not lean towards Tang Li.
Now seeing Tang Li digging for the truth, she held back her impatience and said only, “If it’s something the lady tasked me with, there certainly won’t be a mistake, please hurry and change then come downstairs, I have other things to attend to.” With that, she left to go downstairs first.
Watching Aunt Wu’s retreating back, Tang Li’s eyes grew cool.
Returning to the mirror, she reached up and pulled off the gauze from her forehead.
It was a five centimeter scar, looking quite ghastly with the gauze removed.
After the birthday feast in her past life, in the brightly lit Lai family villa, she became the target of everyone’s arrows. Only Ouyang Qian stood up to defend her, but in the end, Lai Wenyan sent her off in the middle of the night to a villa in the East Suburb.
From that day on, she had hardly ever set foot in the Lai family home again.
Tang Li looked at her reflection in the mirror, knowing that if someone wished for her to appear at the celebration, she shouldn’t disappoint them.
When Tang Li actually walked into the Lai family’s garden, she attracted a lot of gazes.
Not because she was particularly beautiful, but because she didn’t fit in.
The girl wore jeans and sneakers, which were somewhat dirty. She donned a loose ponytail with a few strands of hair falling by her lips. Her sea-blue-grey hair made her skin look especially pale and brought her scar in the forehead under the scrutiny of many guests.
Sensing everyone’s stares, the girl’s expression became even more constrained.
She wrapped her right arm tightly around the other.
Some guests with sharp eyes noticed several bruises on the girl’s forearm under the rolled-up sleeve of her shirt.
“Is she a guest invited by the Lai family?”
“It doesn’t look like it.”
Female guests sitting at the banquet table whispered to each other: “How did she get in? Look at the dirty clothes she’s wearing, even the Lai family’s servants would dress better.”
“… She does resemble the Lai family’s Miss slightly though.”
Tang Li went straight to the swimming pool beside the garden.
Indeed, that’s where she encountered Lai Yuaner.
Because in her previous life, Lai Yuaner had fought with her right there.
Lai Yuaner was chatting with friends, occasionally letting out light laughter. The 18-year-old girl, dressed in a pink strapless cake dress, was beautiful like a dew-moistened bud in the early morning, her every smile and frown exuded vitality and energy.
The present Lai Yuaner had already become the spokesperson for Tianyi Group.
Having entered the entertainment industry at the age of five and rising to fame as a child star, Lai Yuaner had been admitted to a film college in the Capital, and her starry path was clear for all to see.
In contrast, Tang Li was attending a third-rate art school.
Remembering her previous life, the gap between them made Tang Li recall the line that Lai Yuaner said to her during their scene: “No matter how you hide it, you’re still that rat in the gutter, and you’ll never turn the tables in this life!”
Lai Yuaner’s gaze flicked to Tang Li, and her pretty face instantly darkened.
Leaving her friends behind, she marched over with a confrontational air.
“Who allowed you to come here?” Lai Yuaner glared angrily at Tang Li.
“It’s Grandma’s birthday tonight, why can’t I come?”
Hearing Tang Li’s rightful tone, Lai Yuaner couldn’t tolerate it and her voice uncontrollably rose, “Who is your grandma? Unless I die, you’ll never have a chance to take over anyone in our family!”
Their eyes met, and Tang Li was the first to reveal a faint smile.
Her doe eyes curved into crescents.
She suddenly leaned close to Lai Yuaner and said softly by her ear, “Then you should just go die!”
Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Making Minister Song Laugh
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
A voice light as a feather brushed past Lai Yuaner’s ears, shocking her into swiftly turning her head to see Tang Li’s slightly upturned lips.
“You!” Lai Yuaner snapped, lifting her hand high.
Her slap hadn’t yet landed on Tang Li’s face when her right wrist was firmly grasped!
The tight grip caused Lai Yuaner’s complexion to turn pale with pain.
From not far away, Lai Yuaner’s friends wanted to step forward.
Tang Li moved imperceptibly forward, closing the half-step distance, nearly pressing against Lai Yuaner’s body, and the seductive words lingered in Lai Yuaner’s ears: “Do you know what it feels like to be on the verge of death?”
A sudden fear surged from the bottom of Lai Yuaner’s heart.
Because she realized the malice in Tang Li’s words.
Lai Yuaner instinctively stepped back: “What… what do you want to do? Ah—”
Her high-heeled shoe missed the edge of the swimming pool.
Suddenly, Tang Li let go.
‘Plop—!’
Lai Yuaner plunged into the pool, splashing a large spray of water!
“Yuanyuan!” A girl exclaimed.
Another girl turned to run for help.
Struggling in the water, the endless pool water pouring into her mouth and nose, through her blurry vision, Lai Yuaner saw Tang Li standing by the poolside, seemingly enjoying her plight and helplessness.
Fear spread throughout her body, and Lai Yuaner gasped: “Help, help me…”
“Don’t just stand there, rescue the young lady!”
It was Lai Wenyan’s voice.
Tang Li turned her head—
The guests were surrounding Lai Family People, coming head-on.
A bodyguard had already jumped into the pool.
Old Madam Lai, supported by servants, wearing a dark red Tang suit, her silver hair combed into a bun, dignified and elegant, seeing her little granddaughter in the water, was more anxious than anyone: “Quickly pull her up, hurry!”
Lai Wenyan’s face was ashen, and with a turn of his head, he noticed Tang Li’s presence.
“It was her!” Lai Yuaner’s friend pointed at Tang Li: “She’s the one who pushed Yuanyuan into the pool!”
In an instant, numerous suspicious glances were cast.
Under everyone’s scrutiny, Tang Li’s already pale face lost the last trace of color, yet she stood up straight, as if to show her innocence.
Lai Wenyan approached her: “Did you push Yuanyuan into the water?”
His tone was cold, but his conviction was firm.
Tang Li remained silent, just gazing straight back at him.
Lai Wenyan didn’t expect Tang Li to sneak out tonight, let alone show up at the birthday party, and now to have pushed Yuanyuan into the pool, the irritability in his heart made him raise his hand.
“Wenyan!” Ouyang Qian, who hurried over, caught Lai Wenyan in time.
She glanced at her daughter who had been saved and pulled her husband’s hand, gently persuading: “Don’t be impulsive.”
On the other side came Lai Yuaner’s sobbing cries.
Lai Wenyan and his wife went to see their daughter.
As they passed by, Tang Li whispered: “I didn’t push her.”
But no one stopped.
Seeing Lai Wenyan squatting down beside Lai Yuaner to ask with concern, Tang Li lowered her head, about to leave, when her left cheek took a hard slap!
The slap was crisp, swelling half of Tang Li’s face.
Old Madam Lai was extremely repulsed by this grandchild who shrank back timidly, especially when she knew that the child’s mother was a drug trafficker’s daughter, virtually pinning their Lai Family to the pillar of shame. At this moment, she almost bit her teeth as she questioned: “Why aren’t you staying in your room, what are you doing here? Since when is it your turn to show off at a Lai Family banquet?”
Tang Li covered her left cheek, her lips slightly parted: “…I didn’t, Auntie asked me to come here.”
“Still trying to argue!” Old Madam Lai was fuming.
Just then, a gentle male voice came from the side: “If it’s a misunderstanding, just make it clear.”
Tang Li turned towards the voice.
Recognizing who it was, Old Madam Lai quickly reined in her anger, her eyes softening: “The children at home are naught and made a laughingstock in front of Minister Song.”
Chapter 6: Chapter 6 High Position and Great Power
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The conversation had a calming effect on the previously tense atmosphere.
Unlike the politeness shown by Old Madam Lai, Tang Li looked at the man who appeared before the swimming pool with a brief moment of astonishment, unsure if it was due to the white shirt he was wearing or the slight sense of familiarity in his eyes and brows.
Profound and restrained, yet with a sense of steadiness that comes with experience.
It somewhat overwhelms you upon first meeting him.
Tang Li recognized him; he was the man from Lai Wenyan’s study earlier.
The light from the streetlamp was bright, allowing Tang Li to get a clear view of him.
He indeed was a man with an imposing presence.
But it wasn’t just that.
Compared to other guests dressed up for the event, his attire seemed casual, no tie worn, yet his shirt and trousers made his figure look tall and straight without any hint of impropriety.
In fact, there was a sudden recognition—
For a family banquet like a birthday, perhaps this is the way one should dress.
Tang Li’s gaze drifted unintentionally downward, landing on the man’s left wrist, where a watch was worn, black-faced with a brown strap, dignified and imposing.
The way Old Madam Lai said “Minister Song” still echoed in her ears.
—— It confirmed the man’s high position.
At the very least, not lower than Lai Wenyan’s current status.
Tang Li felt the man looked familiar but couldn’t recall specifics.
She didn’t know his name. Moreover, because in her past life, after she had been married to Han Jifeng for four years, Lai Shengxia’s marriage fell apart, and she returned to the country alone. After she stumbled upon the entanglement between them, Han Jifeng kept her confined at home, only letting her leave for necessary occasions.
During those two years, her life was almost completely isolated from the world.
The only company she had was an orange cat.
Later, that orange cat died from a car accident after sneaking out.
Perhaps Tang Li’s gaze lingered too long, and the man, having been stared at for quite a while, seemed to have noticed and glanced over from the corner of his eye.
Almost simultaneously, Tang Li came to her senses and quickly lowered her head.
Ensuring that Lai Yuaner was okay, Lai Wenyan’s expression had already improved: “With such drama happening, it has spoiled everyone’s mood for the banquet, please Brother Song don’t take it to heart.”
The last sentence indicated that this Minister Song was indeed tonight’s VIP.
Perhaps, also the highest-ranking among all the guests.
Tang Li looked over again, just in time to hear the man reply to Lai Wenyan: “Since they’re all children, it’s inevitable they might roughhouse.”
His deep voice held a subtle pressuring tone and smoothed things over for the Lai Family.
Lai Wenyan seized the opportunity to defuse the awkwardness: “The birthday banquet has just begun, please everyone proceed to the garden for the meal.”
However, Minister Song said, “I have matters to attend to later and have already wished the old lady, so I won’t impose any further tonight.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a young man approached respectfully.
A suit jacket was draped over his left arm, clearly a subordinate of Minister Song.
When Tang Li caught a glimpse of the young man, she felt even more certain he looked familiar.
It wasn’t until the guests by the swimming pool began to disperse that she finally remembered; in her past life, she had had a fleeting encounter with that young man.
When she was 23 years old, Han Jifeng was embroiled in a widespread bribery case. Lai Wenyan was indifferent to the father-daughter relationship, and she had nowhere to turn. She took a risk and tried to stop a bigwig’s car outside Tan Palace.
The car she stopped was a black Cadillac luxury vehicle.
Later she learned—
That belonged to the President’s motorcade.
The person who met her was a Lieutenant Colonel named Ji Ming.
The young man from before…
Tang Li belatedly realized, the surname of next year’s election successor for President was Song.
Chapter 7: Chapter 7: I Will Take It All Back, One by One
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Song Baiyan…
This name instantly leaped into Tang Li’s mind.
If she wasn’t mistaken, the “Minister Song” referred to by Old Madam Lai, the “Brother Song” for whom Lai Wenyan was instructed to show courtesy, was the current Finance Minister—Song Baiyan.
And he was the next President of the country.
In her previous life, she had stopped that Cadillac and only seen Song Baiyan from afar.
At that time, Song Baiyan’s health was already failing.
Through the half-lowered car window, Tang Li saw the man in the back seat of the sedan, a handkerchief over his mouth and nose as if he had coughed, his features lean but not frail, exuding the seriousness of someone who had ascended, not bothering to have her chased away by security due to her indiscretion.
Perhaps Tang Li remembered these details because—
In the following years, this New President was the only person who had offered her help.
However, half a year after she was confined at home by Han Jifeng, she learned from the television news that the President had been impeached and removed from office due to relatives interfering in government affairs.
Within half a month, Song Baiyan passed away in the hospital at the age of 36.
Tang Li sat on the bed in her room, looking at the information about Song Baiyan she had found on her cellphone.
There wasn’t much about Song Baiyan on Wikipedia.
Apart from his personal history, only the positions he had held were listed.
Tang Li’s gaze had just rested on Song Baiyan’s date of birth when the door was forcefully shoved open, banging against the wall with a deafening sound.
Barging in was Lai Yuaner.
Seeing the malicious intent of the arrival, Tang Li put down her cellphone and slowly stood up: “What is it?”
“Tang Li!” Lai Yuaner was furious.
Tang Li looked up—
Lai Yuaner had changed into clean clothes and had her right arm re-bandaged, no longer in the awkward state after being pulled out of the swimming pool. She glared daggers at Tang Li, suddenly extending her right hand from behind, holding a cup of boiling water!
Tang Li couldn’t dodge in time and her neck and a large portion of her shoulder were scalded red.
Lai Yuaner saw Tang Li’s disheveled appearance and immediately felt relieved: “That’ll teach you a lesson, to think you can be arrogant while living under someone else’s roof, don’t forget who the real master of this house is!”
Hearing this, a smile edged Tang Li’s lips.
Lai Yuaner was instantly enraged: “What are you laughing at!”
Tang Li raised her hand, slowly wiping away the splashed hot water on her cheek, then approached Lai Yuaner with no warning, and slapped her across the face!
“Slap—!” Lai Yuaner’s head was jerked to the side.
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Her cheek burned with pain.
She covered her face, in disbelief.
The illegitimate daughter who humbly eked out a living in their home like a parasite, dared to hit her?
Tang Li, actually dared to slap her?
This realization filled Lai Yuaner with indignation, and then, her cheeks were pinched out of shape, and she heard Tang Li’s devilishly evil murmur by her ear: “So disobedient, what do you think I should do to punish you?”
Lai Yuaner felt fear: “Aunt Wu! Aunt Wu!”
Tang Li seemed amused by her hysterical antics, and gradually loosened her grip: “Next time you enter my room, if you don’t knock or bring dangerous items with you, the consequences won’t be so light.”
Facing Lai Yuaner’s jealous gaze, Tang Li acted untroubled: “Now get out!”
“This is your true face!” Looking at Tang Li whose temperament had completely changed overnight, Lai Yuaner gritted her teeth: “All the timidity of the past, and that wronged appearance in the garden just now, it was all an act!”
Tang Li suddenly smiled, moving closer to Lai Yuaner, whispering in her ear: “Then from now on you better behave.”
“Because, whatever you and the Lai Family owe my mother and me, I will claim it all back.”
Chapter 8: Chapter 8: If You Dare, Don’t Come Back to the Lai Family
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Lai Yuaner felt that Tang Li was not joking around.
Every word Tang Li spoke was emphatic, sending a chill up her spine and also filling her with a sense of suffocation and fury. She had not expected that the illegitimate daughter, who used to always bow her head and hunch her shoulders at home, would now dare to stand up to her and even hit her!
“Not convinced?” Tang Li said with a smile.
Lai Yuaner clenched her teeth tightly.
At that moment, Aunt Wu, who heard the shouting, hurried over.
Seeing that Lai Yuaner’s left cheek was somewhat red, Aunt Wu quickly pulled her aside and asked, “What happened to your face, it was fine just a moment ago.”
Tang Li had already let go of Lai Yuaner, picked up the cellphone on the bed, and walked straight out.
“You stop right there!” Lai Yuaner chased after her for a few steps, and when she saw Tang Li almost down the stairs, she said viciously, “Tang Li, if you dare, never come back to the Lai Family for the rest of your life!”
Once the birthday banquet was over, she would tell everything to her mom and dad.
Thinking about Tang Li’s actions, she believed that her father would definitely kill this malicious illegitimate daughter!
Even so, Tang Li’s footsteps did not pause.
She walked all the way to the front gate of the Lai Family, unobstructed.
She was not valued by Lai Wenyan, so her presence in the Lai Family was no different from being invisible; even if the servants saw her on the way, they would choose to ignore her, let alone speak up to show her concern.
Caring for her would be tantamount to disregarding Ouyang Qian.
It was quite ironic.
In her previous life, Ouyang Qian was the kindest person from the Lai Family to her, and even fought with her two daughters for her sake.
Tang Li walked by the roadside, thinking about her past life.
Deep into the night, gusts of cold wind blew by, and she hugged her arms tightly to herself.
Not to mention the spoiled and unruly Lai Yuaner, Lai Wenyan and Ouyang Qian’s eldest daughter—Lai Shengxia was sensible from a young age, excellent in both character and scholarship, and was praised by the adults as a lady of notable family, and was someone Han Jifeng could not forget for many years.
That time when she pushed open the door to Han Jifeng’s office, she saw her husband embracing another woman from behind at the window.
On Han Jifeng’s handsome face was a tenderness she had never seen before.
His chin rested lightly on the woman’s cheek, as if he was whispering sentiments of love to her.
When they noticed her, the unwanted guest, the two of them quickly separated.
Seeing clearly that the woman was Lai Shengxia, her head buzzed and she instantly understood everything.
Later on, she found teeth marks on Han Jifeng’s left shoulder.
And several scratches on his waist from fingernails.
That was the first time in over twenty years that her emotions erupted.
She smashed the things in the room, and Han Jifeng, clutching her arm, dragged her in front of a vanity mirror, pointing to her tear-streaked face in the mirror: “Look at yourself!”
After saying that, he picked up his suit and slammed the door as he left.
And she sat hugging herself on the cold floor until dawn.
Han Jifeng’s mother, Qin Yueru, came into the room to see her, and after a sigh, said earnestly, “Sometimes a woman has to learn to turn a blind eye. No matter what, just remember, you are his rightful wife, and one day he will come back to you.”
That very night, Ouyang Qian brought Lai Shengxia to the Han Family.
In contrast to Lai Shengxia’s intellectual and elegant attire, she, who had taken care of her mother-in-law and become a full-time housewife after marriage, was wearing cheap and vulgar online-purchased homewear, without any delicate makeup to adorn her, and with a sallow and haggard face from a sleepless night.
In terms of age, she was actually 5 years younger than Lai Shengxia.
That night, Ouyang Qian slapped Lai Shengxia.
In front of Tang Li and Qin Yueru, she forced her own daughter to swear, to cut ties with Han Jifeng from then on.
Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Giving Her an Umbrella
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Lai Shengxia was not as impulsive and irritable as her sister. Her poise and grace remained intact in front of others, even as their mother struck her in their presence.
When she looked at Tang Li, Lai Shengxia was calm and composed, not believing she had done anything wrong: “I disdain the idea of wrecking someone’s family. That night was an accident, Jifeng and I got drunk at a dinner party, and I won’t see him again.”
Such pride did not seem feigned.
Yet the very next day, she received a call from Lai Wenyan.
For the first time since her marriage to Han Jifeng, Lai Wenyan took the initiative to contact her.
East Suburb, the villa she had lived in for nearly two years.
Lai Wenyan sat in the living room and placed a divorce agreement on the coffee table as soon as she arrived: “I’ve read the agreement, it’s not unfair to you. Just sign it after you’ve read it.”
His cold words left her standing still, stunned.
Seeing her reaction, Lai Wenyan pursed his thin lips then added, “Last night, your aunt and sister returned from the Han Family and had a big fight.”
Lifting his dark eyes, he returned his gaze to her: “Jifeng told me, since you’ve never consummated your marriage after the wedding, it won’t be a big loss for you to separate now. Once the divorce is finalized, you should go abroad.”
“Given your current situation, living abroad might suit you better.”
“What if I refuse to sign?” It took her a while to finally speak.
It was probably the first time she ever defied Lai Wenyan.
Even then, she had no expectations of this father, but realizing that Lai Wenyan only cared about the two daughters he had with Ouyang Qian, her heart still ached.
Recalling all this, she took a deep breath.
Observing the bustling traffic and bright lights on the road, Tang Li narrowed her eyes slightly.
She couldn’t forget that fire accident either.
Because she didn’t sign, her marriage with Han Jifeng became a deadlock.
Tang Li couldn’t recall how long it had been, but one day, Lai Shengxia took the initiative to meet her.
A sudden water leak in the cafe drew Han Jifeng, who rushed to the scene of the fire. He entered first, carrying the unconscious Lai Shengxia to safety, leaving her alone in the blaze.
A falling beam crushed her legs and scorched her back to a bloody mess.
Although she was later rescued, she had become a cripple who couldn’t walk without crutches.
…
At night, the rain began to drizzle softly.
Tang Li didn’t know how long she had been walking aimlessly until she felt the raindrops on her face.
She stretched out her hand, admiring the continuous fine rain, like fog or gauze, under the streetlights.
Leaving the Lai Family like this was an “indulgence” she would not have dared in her previous life.
No one knew better than herself that she wasn’t originally a person of low self-esteem and few words.
Coming to the Lai Family, those so-called “truths,” constantly reiterated by Lai Yuaner, made her repeatedly question herself in the dead of night, and Lai Wenyan’s indifference rendered her increasingly silent in the Lai Family.
At one point, she even felt she didn’t deserve to exist.
As Lai Yuaner said, what right does a love child have to live under the sun?
Tang Li closed her eyes—
If she was destined to live in hell, then the Lai Family People should join and keep her company!
A black umbrella suddenly appeared above her head.
Tang Li opened her eyes and instinctively turned her head.
Entering her field of vision was a young man named Ji Ming, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, with a somewhat handsome face and a respectful demeanor.
“The gentleman said, as the rain is getting heavier, Miss Lai had better return home sooner.”
1
Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Mr. Song is also nearby
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Moreover,” Ji Ming stood in front of her, the rainwater from the umbrella spreading and creating dark water stains on his shoulders: “Mr. Song also mentioned that it is late at night, and it is not very safe outside, especially for young women.”
Miss Tang Li, with raindrops on her face, appeared somewhat stunned by this statement.
The “Mr.” that Ji Ming mentioned was naturally Song Baiyan.
She did not expect to encounter him here again.
Miss Tang Li did not respond but merely asked, “Is Mr. Song also nearby?”
Hearing this, Ji Ming looked towards a certain direction.
Following his gaze, Miss Tang Li saw a high-end private club across the street.
As if led by some unseen force, she looked up at a French window on the second floor.
Then, she saw Mr. Song.
An antique wooden square table, a man in a white shirt, a black clay purple sand teacup, with wisps of mist-like steam lingering. On such a rainy night, it added a sense of coziness and comfort.
Across from Song Baiyan, there seemed to be another person sitting.
The window mullion slightly obstructed Miss Tang Li’s view.
At that moment, as if alert, Song Baiyan suddenly looked over.
Across the street and from a higher position, Miss Tang Li could not make out his expression at the moment, but judging from his unchanged relaxed posture, it appeared that Song Baiyan was not surprised to see her.
By her side, Ji Ming spoke again: “Since the umbrella has been delivered, I will now hail a car for Miss Lai.”
Miss Tang Li turned to look at him, “Is this umbrella Mr. Song’s?”
“…”
“What about Mr. Song if I take the umbrella?”
Ji Ming could only respond: “The umbrella was taken from the club, Miss Lai need not worry, when leaving later, Mr. Song will go directly through the underground parking lot.”
Miss Tang Li had actually anticipated such an outcome.
Silence lasted less than three seconds before she asked again, “Did Mr. Song ask you to bring the umbrella to me?”
To Ji Ming, it seemed that Miss Lai was asking a question she already knew the answer to.
Before he could formulate a reply, she threw another question, “Why did Mr. Song want to give me the umbrella?”
Ji Ming: “…”
After a long while, he replied, “Miss Lai can regard this as the care and concern of a family elder towards the younger generation.”
Miss Tang Li said nothing, seemingly accepting his explanation.
Ji Ming took out his cellphone, just about to dial to call for a car, when the girl’s soft voice came through: “As the junior, since Mr. Song specifically had someone send me an umbrella, shouldn’t I go and thank him before I leave?”
“…”
Ji Ming turned to look at Miss Lai.
He initially wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but as his eyes fell on the girl’s forehead injury and her slightly swollen left cheek, some words got stuck in his throat.
He had seen the slap delivered by the old matriarch of the Lai Family.
That seemingly gentle old person had used full force.
Ji Ming also noticed Miss Tang Li’s bruised arms.
Not aware of the Lai family’s situation, but on this bone-chilling night, facing a girl covered in injuries, his tone softened, “Mr. Song is meeting an important friend right now and probably won’t have time to see you.”
Miss Tang Li’s gaze was resolute: “I can wait for him.”
Five minutes later, she followed Ji Ming into the club’s elevator.
Upon reaching the private room’s door, Miss Tang Li stood in the hallway while Ji Ming pushed the door open first.
Approximately twenty minutes passed.
The door of the private room opened, and Ji Ming appeared in front of her.
As soon as Miss Tang Li entered the private room, the door behind her was gently closed.
The room was exceptionally quiet.
Walking past the ink-painted screen depicting flowers and birds, Miss Tang Li saw the man sitting alone by the window, his shirt sleeves rolled up, holding a purple sand pot in his right hand, pouring tea into the cup in front of him.
Rebirth: I Became Mr.President’s Beloved
Author: Miss Little Crayon© WebNovel
Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Ah Li, Close Your Eyes
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Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Lai, close your eyes.”
Han Jifeng’s voice, gentle and soothing, echoed in her ears followed by a gunshot: “Bang—!”
Tang Li jolted awake from her dream.
She sat up in bed, her face pale as death, forehead slick with cold sweat.
Clutching her throbbing head, she looked up only to see her own reflection on the LCD TV screen.
Tang Li was momentarily dazed.
Then, she threw back the covers and got out of bed.
Standing in front of the mirror, Tang Li looked at herself.
Her delicate oval face, skin white as milk, eyebrows like ink, and her sea-blue, gray-tinged wavy mid-length hair made her wan features appear even softer. She showed none of the dishevelment from a kidnapping.
As for the headache—
She gently felt the gauze on her temple.
This wasn’t a gunshot wound.
Tang Li remembered that two years after returning to the Lai Family, when she was 19, this was how she looked.
…But she was clearly 26 years old.
Realizing a certain possibility, Tang Li quickly left the bathroom.
Standing in the bedroom, she surveyed her surroundings.
Her heartbeat quickened.
This was the Lai Family’s, not the Han Family’s.
Not the place where she had spent six lonely years in an empty room after marrying Han Jifeng.
Indeed, she had been reborn seven years in the past.
Scenes from right before her death flashed through her mind.
Her half-sister, Lai Shengxia, had been kidnapped. Han Jifeng had tricked her into going as a hostage exchange because she shared a strong resemblance to Lai Shengxia, telling the kidnappers that she was the eldest daughter of Lai Wenyan and Ouyang Qian of the Lai Family.
However, after she was taken hostage, Han Jifeng actually ordered the SWAT to fire.
When the bullet pierced her skull, what imprinted on her retina was Han Jifeng’s face, calm to the point of ruthlessness.
At that moment, she finally believed that Han Jifeng had absolutely no feelings for her.
Marrying her was nothing more than because she resembled Lai Shengxia.
—Because he couldn’t have the love he felt for Lai Shengxia.
So later, when he had enough power, when Lai Shengxia got divorced and returned to the country, she, the substitute, became the annoying mosquito blood on his heart.
Tang Li suddenly wanted to laugh, yet her eyes were hot with the sting of tears.
If she was allowed to return to the past, why couldn’t it be to the time when she and her mother depended on each other in Diannan?
That year, her mother hadn’t yet died of illness, and she hadn’t gone north to search for her father.
From outside the window, the vague sound of bustling voices brought Tang Li’s wandering thoughts back.
Memories flooded in like the tide.
Tang Li recalled that the injury on her forehead now was caused by a fall down the stairs after a quarrel with Lai Wenyan and Ouyang Qian’s younger daughter, Lai Yuaner.
She had fallen and cracked her head open; Lai Yuaner had broken an arm.
In the hospital, Lai Yuaner had cried non-stop.
Because of this, Lai Wenyan had locked her in her room for self-reflection when they got home.
“Knock knock—” The sound of knocking rose.
“Miss Lailai, the birthday banquet is about to begin. The councilman asked me to inform you to go downstairs.”
Aunt Wu, the Lai Family’s housekeeper, spoke these words as she unlocked the door with her key.
She pushed open the door and immediately saw the figure sitting in front of the dressing table.
Tang Li put the comb back in the drawer, turned her head, and smiled faintly, “Dad really isn’t grounding me anymore?”
Aunt Wu was slightly stunned, not expecting Tang Li to react this way. Ever since Tang Li returned to the Lai Family, she’d left an impression of being reticent, self-deprecating, and sensitive. When had she ever smiled so radiantly, especially after getting into a fight with the second young mistress?
The lapse was momentary.
Right after, Aunt Wu returned to her usual demeanor.
She placed the beige long dress on the bed: “This is the dress the mistress prepared for Miss Lailai. The mistress said to change into it and go to the backyard by yourself; she has to accompany the old lady in entertaining the female guests and will not send someone to urge you again.”
Looking at the long dress adorned with tiny diamonds, Tang Li’s lips curved in a smile; then she looked up at Aunt Wu, “Please thank Auntie for me, I’ll go down shortly.”
Once the door closed again, Tang Li stood and approached the bedside.
On the dress lay a delicate brooch.
As for the dress, it was a coming-of-age gift custom-made by Ouyang Qian for Lai Yuaner.
Lai Yuaner loved this dress and had only worn it once on her 18th birthday party because she treasured it so.
She had never attended Lai Yuaner’s coming-of-age ceremony, so she had never seen this dress.
Despite the years, Tang Li remembered clearly that it was this very birthday banquet that exposed her in front of everyone, affirming her identity as the Lai Family’s illegitimate daughter, and spreading her reputation as a vain and dishonest person.
Tang Li closed her eyes, suppressing the turbulent emotions within her chest.
She was no longer that naïve girl who was easily swayed and would trust others at the drop of a hat.
Having been given a second chance at life, some things, she would not allow to happen again!
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