Chapter One: Reborn?

Bai Lu died on her twenty-eighth birthday.

Before her death, she took a brief look back at her short life.

As the nation's beloved daughter, watched and cherished by people across the country, she was showered with endless affection. Everyone loved her, spoiled her, cared for her. No matter what mistakes she made, everyone would forgive and indulge her. She was the very embodiment of mischief.

She was also the darling of major luxury brands. New releases, exclusive limited editions, and haute couture pieces were sent to her for free, with brands practically begging her to use them. She was the princess of endorsements—whatever she wore or used would sell out instantly.

What’s more, she was the youngest Best Actress in the country—winning both the Hundred Flowers and Golden Rooster awards at eighteen, and being nominated for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival. The following year, she took home the Golden Horse for Best Actress and received a nomination at the Venice Film Festival. And all this for just two films.

She could pick and choose from any variety show, and the top directors in the industry vied to cast her as their leading lady. Fans were crazy for her, smashing their heads against walls in their frenzy. Countless girls brought her photos to plastic surgeons, asking to look just like her.

She had shot over a hundred commercials and acted in more than fifty television dramas. At her peak, she held over thirty endorsements at once, representing all five of the world’s top blue-blood brands. When it came to national popularity, no one in the entertainment industry could compare. Even the eighty-year-old grandparents in remote mountain villages knew her name.

From her first commercial at seven, becoming the nation’s daughter, to being universally boycotted and blacklisted at twenty-three, she’d gone through: acting like a diva, insulting staff, using body doubles, scene stealing, cursing fans, hitting people on set, heavy drinking, drunk driving, reckless spending, gambling, owing loan sharks, wild parties, trading favors for roles, tax evasion...

Oh, and she almost forgot—she’d also been sentenced to six months in jail and forced rehab for drug use.

Sixteen years in all, and she had finally managed to ruin herself completely.

Looking back, Bai Lu couldn’t help but admire herself.

To shatter such a perfect hand of cards so spectacularly—that took talent.

Slowly, Bai Lu raised her head and smiled as she gazed at the office building across from her.

On the building’s massive LED screen, a man’s photo rotated again and again. From a dashing youth to a composed, refined middle age, the passage of time had left little mark on his face. Instead, it had deepened his elegance and poise, turning him into a handsome, mature gentleman brimming with charisma.

His age had changed, but that devilishly handsome face remained. In fact, as he grew older, his allure only increased.

Finally, the LED screen went black, white letters appearing on the dark background: Lu Yiting, may you rest in peace.

As Bai Lu smiled, tears began to flow silently down her cheeks. Her tone was full of disdain: “Dad, we really are father and daughter—fooled by the same person. I trusted Shen Xinluo, and under her false accusations, I lost everything. She even took you, my own father, from me. But you—you went even further, taking the blame for Shen Xinluo, that fake daughter, and then you went and killed yourself out of guilt?”

Disgraced and drowning in debt, why not just do what she did—play crazy and hide out in a mental hospital? Why choose suicide?

Such a foolish and weak father—she really didn’t want to claim him.

“But—” Bai Lu wiped her tears away, her words calm and resolute: “You didn’t know Shen Xinluo was a fake. In the end, you died protecting your daughter, protecting me. No matter what, I’ll avenge you. Dad, wait just a bit longer—I’ll send Shen Xinluo down to keep you company.”

She turned, opened the car door, and got in.

The black Maybach shot out like a bullet, quickly leaving the mental hospital in the suburbs and speeding onto the highway toward the city.

With both hands on the steering wheel, Bai Lu’s calm expression hid a chilling murderous intent.

Suddenly—

Blinding headlights flared around a curve ahead, forcing Bai Lu to close her eyes instinctively.

With a screech of brakes and the blare of a horn, the Maybach was rammed violently into the highway guardrail, flipping through the air several times before crashing back onto the road.

The intense sensation of weightlessness lasted only a few seconds before searing pain swept through Bai Lu’s body, as if every bone had shattered. She could feel blood gushing from her nose, ears, eyes, and mouth. Even her body convulsed uncontrollably.

Bai Lu knew she was dying.

But she was so unwilling. After everything—she couldn’t accept this end.

If only life could start over...

When she opened her eyes again, Bai Lu found herself in a hospital room, the sharp scent of disinfectant in the air.

Had she been saved?

As she checked her body for missing limbs, the door suddenly swung open.

“Xiao Lu?! You… you’re awake?” A woman—no, a girl—cried out in excitement, so startled that her designer handbag slipped from her hands and fell to the floor.

Bai Lu, lying in bed, turned at the sound, and the muscles at the corners of her eyes twitched uncontrollably.

It was Shen Xinluo!

“Thank goodness, Xiao Lu, you’re finally awake! You’ve been in a coma for over half a month!” Shen Xinluo rushed over, throwing herself onto Bai Lu and weeping, her tears streaming down. She sobbed as she spoke: “Xiao Lu, it’s all my fault—you fell from the ski slope because of me. But I really didn’t mean to push you, you know that, right? I only started learning to ski for this drama, and during filming, I lost my balance and accidentally pushed you. Xiao Lu, you have to forgive me!”

Bai Lu was stunned.

What?

Filming?

Ski slope?

Pushed her by accident?

That did seem familiar.

When she was eighteen, filming her first leading role in a TV drama, Shen Xinluo played her friend—a fifth-tier supporting role, if we’re being honest. Out of jealousy, Shen Xinluo had pretended to lose her balance during shooting and pushed her off a seven-meter-high ski slope, leaving Bai Lu in a coma for over a month.

Wait!!!!

Bai Lu’s eyes widened.

An unbelievable word rose in her mind.

Rebirth?