“Madam, the hospital just called. The Master has woken up.”
The housekeeper’s voice came from outside.
Lu Zhi paused, watching the woman in the mirror slowly part her lips. “I understand.”
It was a stranger’s voice.
Just like countless times before, she opened her eyes, usurping this woman’s life, ready to begin another existence.
She had long forgotten how she started this endless game. She cycled endlessly through different time-spaces, played all kinds of roles, experienced one life after another, with no reincarnation or end point.
Time, for her, was simply too vast. As long as she didn’t wish it, those memories always faded, hidden deep in the recesses of her mind.
So she never looked back, always moving forward.
Lu Zhi took the soft towel from the bathroom rack and gently dried the water droplets on her face as she faced the mirror.
It was the image of an adult woman. Damp, wavy chestnut hair clung to her cheeks. Her complexion was pallid from chronic insomnia, pale to the point of bloodlessness. Yet despite this, her features were still strikingly beautiful: delicate eyebrows, slightly upswept eyes, and a perfectly sculpted nose with a straight bridge and a petite tip. The bow of her lips was faintly defined, their color so light it was almost nonexistent.
This body’s name was Shen Qing, twenty-nine years old. Both parents taught at the nation’s top university. She was the eldest daughter and had a younger brother currently studying abroad.
Shen Qing was a painter, currently holding the title of Deputy Curator at an art museum. Despite her youth, she was already gaining a reputation in the art world. Besides her family’s support, she possessed a touch of natural flair herself.
Usually, artists with natural flair are more perceptive than most, their emotions richer and more intense. Shen Qing was no different. Though she appeared aloof and powerful on the outside, inside, she was extremely sensitive and delicate.
At twenty-four, she met Bai Hao, the Eldest Young Master of the Bai family, a leading property conglomerate. They married the year she finished graduate school. At the time, Bai Hao was seven years her senior. As the rightful heir to the Bai Family, he was as mature and steady as the world expected, and he was quite fond of his new bride. Unfortunately, the year after their wedding, he went on a sea trip with friends. While diving, his oxygen tank leaked, and he died in the depths of the open ocean.
Bai Hao’s death was not very dignified. On that same yacht, besides two other male friends, there were seven young and beautiful models.
A mere glimpse revealed the hidden sordidness.
Following this betrayal and her husband’s death, Shen Qing soon began to suffer from insomnia and anxiety, often overwhelmed by uncontrollable melancholy. In less than a year, she was already regularly seeing a psychologist.
Just yesterday, she hadn’t slept peacefully for nearly three days. Every time she drifted off, bizarre nightmares jolted her awake. Even medication was useless. She was passing time in the art studio when the Butler suddenly called. He said Bai’s father had collapsed during a meeting and was rushed to the hospital. She threw down her paintbrush, hurried to the hospital, and kept vigil outside the ward all night. She had just come home for a quick shower and change of clothes when she fainted in the bathroom.
When this body woke up again, it was Lu Zhi.
Lu Zhi silently endured the residual heart palpitations and sharp, buzzing headache of this body. After a long moment, she wrapped herself in a bathrobe and walked out.
Outside was the master bedroom Shen Qing had shared with Bai Hao. The space was vast and minimalist. The balcony window was still open, the wind sending the white gauze curtains fluttering wildly. Any warmth it once held was long gone, leaving only a cold, lifeless atmosphere.
After Bai Hao died, Shen Qing returned to the Bai family less and less often. She preferred the apartment she’d bought for herself before marriage. Even so, in these elite families, form often outweighs substance. The Bai family continued to preserve her rights as the Mistress. The wardrobe was still filled with the latest seasonal offerings from top luxury brands—clothes, shoes, and bags—clearly maintained by dedicated staff and frequently refreshed.
Lu Zhi changed into a pale-colored long dress. The ankle-length hem covered the bruises this body had sustained on its shins from the bathroom fall. She then took a pair of thin, silver metal-framed glasses from the jewelry box. The slightly tinted, transparent lenses concealed her overly indifferent eyes.
The cook had long prepared breakfast. As soon as Lu Zhi reached the dining room, dishes were brought out one by one. Perhaps noticing her poor complexion, the food was all relatively light.
Lu Zhi thanked her, then asked, “Aunt Wang, where’s Bai Lu?”
“Still sleeping in her room.”
“What time did she get back last night?”
“Probably after three.”
“Does Bai Lu know her father went to the hospital?” Lu Zhi looked up, her gaze settling on the housekeeper, who was still wearing her apron.
“Lulu came home drunk last night. Her friends had to send her back. She couldn’t find her phone either, so I guess she probably doesn’t know,” Aunt Wang said uncertainly. She had worked for the Bai family for over a decade. Although she felt the girl behaved excessively this time, she had practically raised Bai Lu. Emotionally, the girl was like her own daughter. So, she tried to cover for her in front of Lu Zhi. “When Lulu came back, I got a call saying the Master was already out of danger. Lulu was very drunk, so I didn’t wake her to go to the hospital.”
Lu Zhi merely made a sound of acknowledgment. She didn’t blame her, simply instructing, “Go wake her up. After breakfast, she’s coming with me to the hospital.”
Aunt Wang looked hesitant. Whether she didn’t want to face the Eldest Miss’s temper when waking her, or she thought Bai’s father’s scare was minor and no big fuss was needed, she stood there momentarily, wavering.
Lu Zhi said, “Bai Lidong is her own father. Missing a little sleep won’t kill her.”
Her tone was flat, but her words were merciless. Aunt Wang was startled and quickly agreed, hurrying upstairs.
A quarter of an hour later, Bai Lu came shuffling into the dining room. This girl, twenty-one years old, already possessed an angel’s face and a devil’s figure.
She wore a crimson satin nightdress. Such a mature color didn’t look gaudy on her at all. The fabric, with its rippling texture, draped over her lightly. A two-finger-wide sash cinched her waist tightly, outlining an alluring, voluptuous figure. Her thick black hair was casually twisted into a bun, and she wore a light-colored makeup headband, exposing her clear features. Even after a hangover, her skin was still flawless, radiant under the crystal lights. Her cheeks were rosy, her lips a natural red.
She was every inch the pampered, privileged daughter raised in adoration since birth. A pity that the exquisite shell was filled with nothing but a simple, ignorant fool.
Beauty, wisdom, and wealth—only when two of these coexist can one survive in this world. If Bai Hao hadn’t died, or if the Bai family had remained stable, Bai Lu’s naturally naive personality, amplified by such beauty, would have allowed her a joyful life.
But catastrophes can strike any day. Bai Hao died. Within two years, the vast edifice of the Bai family would also collapse catastrophically. All that was left was this young girl, Bai Lu, with her empty beauty. It would be like a child walking through a market carrying gold. Further tangled in the romantic entanglements of this world’s protagonists, she would ultimately meet a tragic end, branded as a loose woman and dying of illness.
“I don’t want milk. Get me a coffee.” Bai Lu didn’t even glance at Lu Zhi, who was sitting right across the table. She sat down, pushed the glass of milk away dismissively, and imperiously commanded the housekeeper.
Lu Zhi lifted her eyelids slightly. The girl was clearly very unhappy at being woken from her dreams. Her brows were tightly furrowed, her little face scrunched up. On anyone else, such an expression would only be annoying, but on her face, it was simply adorably pouty and cute.
“Forget the coffee. Get her a glass of honey water.” Lu Zhi’s clear, cool voice rang out, sounding a bit out of place.
Bai Lu froze, then instantly scowled. “I want coffee!”
Receiving two conflicting orders, the housekeeper hesitated, her eyes flickering uncertainly between the two, clearly not knowing whom to obey.
Lu Zhi was not angry. She gently set down her cup. The glass clinked against the marble tabletop with a crisp sound. Then she looked up, not at the fuming Bai Lu glaring at her, but still at the middle-aged woman in her early fifties beside her. Her tone was calm. “Honey water.”
“Yes, Madam.” Perhaps because her attitude was too natural, Aunt Wang met her gaze and nodded involuntarily before she could even process it.
Bai Lu exploded at this. She shot up from her chair. “Shen Qing! What I drink is none of your business! Who do you think you are, trying to control me?”
“That’s right. With your elder brother dead, I truly have no relation to you.” Lu Zhi’s voice was steady. She looked up at her, her expression carrying a hint of mockery. “What about Bai Lidong? Last night, you were so drunk you were completely out of it. Did you know your father’s life hung by a thread? And now you still have the mood to throw a tantrum here?”
The girl wasn’t intimidated at all. “Don’t try to scare me! I just called Dad. He just had a minor health issue from being overworked. Life hanging by a thread? Stop fearmongering!”
Her tone was defiant, her expression as arrogant as ever.
Clearly, even if it were Shen Qing herself here, these two would not get along.
Shen Qing was eight years older. When she married into the Bai family, Bai Lu was still a high school student. The girl had always been the sole spoiled princess at home. Facing the sudden appearance of Shen Qing, who stole attention from her brother and father, she naturally harbored little goodwill.
But likewise, Shen Qing was proud and aloof. Though she had a younger brother, the family hierarchy ensured he never dared act out in front of her. So, Shen Qing had no experience appeasing a husband’s sister. And compared to her own brother’s “obedience,” Bai Lu, excessively doted on by the family, could almost be called willful. Shen Qing had scolded her several times, only to face even more rebellious backlash.
This wasn’t unusual in itself, but Bai Hao was dead. They had no children together. Although Shen Qing hadn’t remarried, her position in this household grew increasingly awkward day by day. Slowly, her visits to the Bai Family Residence decreased, and she had no further dealings with Bai Lu.
The lack of contact meant their relationship hadn’t worsened, but it hadn’t improved either.
Lu Zhi’s expression remained unchanged. She casually pulled a paper napkin from the side, lightly dabbed at the corner of her lips, then looked up, fixing her gaze on the incensed Bai Lu. Her thin lips moved, her voice icy.
“Bai Lu, have you grown so tall but never developed a brain?”
“Your father fobs you off like a three-year-old, and you actually think you’re adorably innocent?”
