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Chapter 1: Return to Jianchung
Jianchung.
The city that raised me. Betrayed me. Buried me.
Now, I was back.
Its skyline stretched across the horizon like a glittering web, catching light in its high-rises and glass towers. The roads were wider, the buildings taller, the air filled with the scent of industry and ambition. But beneath the modern polish, I could still feel its pulse. It hadn't changed—not really. It had simply learned to hide its claws better.
"Lyra! You made it!"
I turned to the voice. Emily Wang stood just a few feet away, her smile radiant, eyes shimmering with a warmth that managed to soften the hard edge I'd grown used to wearing. In a past life, she was Chen Mei. The only one who tried to save me from the web of lies I willingly walked into. The only one who never stopped believing in me—even when I didn't believe in myself.
For the first time in years, I allowed myself a real smile.
"Yeah. I did," I said. "How have you been, Miss Wang?"
She grinned, eyes twinkling. "Good. And you, Miss Li… or should I say, Miss Wei?"
I smirked. "Lyra Wei is just my cover—until the world remembers who the real Li heiress is. Just a few more months, and the game begins."
"Still the queen of poker faces, I see," she teased, looping her arm through mine. "Come on. Enough scheming for one day. Let's go home."
Home.
A foreign word. I hadn't known what that felt like since the day I died.
Emily still lived simply, just like in her past life. No flashy cars or high-rise condos—just quiet corners and practical decisions. She waved down a cab, and we slid into the backseat together.
The drive was quiet, but not awkward. More like… loaded. My eyes stayed glued to the window as the city whirred by. Neon signs, storefronts, passing faces—it was like watching a dream that had somehow kept going without me.
Then, something caught my eye.
A massive digital banner stretched across the side of a luxury building, showcasing a man in a charcoal suit. His sharp jawline, confident gaze, and unmistakable presence made my heart skip a beat.
Zhang Lei.
My true mate. My first and only real love.
Even now, he radiated strength—polished and powerful. And yet, behind that image, I could still see the boy who had once looked at me like I held the stars in my hands.
I had pushed him away. I chose wrong. And by the time I realized it, it was already too late.
"You've been staring at that image for a while," the driver said, eyeing me through the mirror. "That's James Chen. Ruthless, they say. No one dares cross him—except maybe the mysterious Li heiress. I heard he's engaged to her."
My fingers curled in my lap. "Is that so?" I said, voice tight. "He seems… impressive."
Inside, rage flared.
Engaged?
So my imposter had gone that far. She wasn't just claiming my name—she was laying claim to my future. To the one man who truly loved me.
Not under my watch.
"You're making that face again," Emily said, nudging me gently. "What's going on in that brilliant brain of yours?"
I turned away from the window. "Nothing. My foster parents are just getting on my nerves again. They've been setting me up with random suitors, hoping I'll get married and disappear from their lives."
Emily sighed. "They told me. They want me to convince you to cooperate."
"Of course they do," I muttered. "They always push until they get what they want."
That was why I couldn't tell Emily everything. I loved her—but even she could be a liability if the wrong people got to her. She didn't deserve to be caught in the storm I was about to unleash.
"We've arrived," the driver announced.
We stepped out, and Emily led me down a familiar path. Her apartment complex hadn't changed much—still tucked away on a quiet street, surrounded by trees that looked older than time. As she rummaged through her bag for the keys, she suddenly froze.
"The door… it's open," she whispered.
She looked like she was about to panic. I gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's fine. Stay behind me."
The moment the door creaked open—
"Surprise!"
A burst of confetti. Cheers. Laughter. I blinked as a crowd of smiling faces filled the room.
Emily gasped. "Wait… did you…?"
"Maybe," I said, feigning innocence.
She turned to me, teary-eyed. "You planned this?"
"It's your promotion, Emily. You deserve to celebrate."
The night passed in a blur of music and warmth. People danced. They drank. They toasted to Emily's success. And for a little while, I let myself forget the ghosts trailing behind me.
Eventually, I collapsed onto the nearest couch, too tired to even move. As the party carried on in the background, my eyes drifted shut.
Then I heard it.
"Min… Min… Min…"
That voice. So familiar. So haunting.
My body tensed.
It was me.
Not Lyra Wei.
Zhao Min.
"You're awake," the voice whispered.
I sat up slowly. A shimmering version of myself stood nearby. Not the polished woman I had become—but the bloodied, broken girl I had once been. The one who died screaming for justice.
"Who are you?" I whispered. "How do you know my name… my real name?"
"I am you," the spirit said. "And you are me."
My heart pounded. "How is that possible?"
"Come with me," it said.
I followed.
The world around us shifted. Suddenly, I stood before the execution site. The very place I was murdered. The rope. The blood. The betrayal.
My hands trembled.
"You are here to remember," the voice said. "To uncover the truth. You were wronged—but vengeance alone won't heal us. You need the amulet Lei gave us. That is our power. Our anchor."
"The amulet…" I whispered. I hadn't thought of it in years.
"It's the key to awakening your full strength. Without it, you will fall again."
I looked around. "Why is this vision so clear now? They've always been so short before."
"Because you're standing on the land where we were buried. Your soul is stirring."
The spirit began to fade. "Time is short. You will see me again. But until then—find the amulet. Before she does."
I woke up with a start.
The party had long ended. Emily was asleep. The apartment was dark.
But my mind was blazing.
I whispered to the empty room, "I need to find that amulet. No matter what it takes."
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