In 1985 on Hong Kong Island, the winter fog lay heavy on the streets.
A retro luxury sedan from the last century cruised along the road, its exhaust kicking up a faint trail of dust.
As the wheels spun rapidly, they suddenly crushed a plastic bag. The intense friction produced a sharp "BANG."
Xu Si was startled, her body instantly stiffening. She put down the document in her hands and looked out the window, her fingers unconsciously clenching so tight her nails dug into her flesh.
This unusual behavior was somewhat conspicuous in the quiet car.
Her assistant, Anshi, quickly asked, "Miss, what's wrong?"
Xu Si turned back, furrowed her brow slightly, and said in a very low voice, "It's nothing."
But the assistant's worried gaze did not disappear.
Xu Si felt the sting in her palm and picked up the document again, silently sighing to herself.
This was a consequence of her rebirth. Or perhaps, survivor's syndrome.
In her previous life, she had offended a man named Pei Zhen.
They had been complete strangers. But she'd had business dealings with him overseas, offended him at their first meeting, and casually snatched a piece of land. To curry favor, his sycophants had then murdered her in the street.
Lawless. Utterly arrogant.
Before her death, Xu Si never imagined she would meet such a violent end because of a man she had only met once. She had been shot, her body thrown ten meters, her arrogant and unrestrained life destroyed.
Later, when time rewound and she opened her eyes again, Xu Si found herself back in 1985. At this time, she was the only daughter of the wealthy Xu Family, her father having passed away when she was just eighteen.
Ever since then, whenever she heard a loud explosion, her body would instinctively register it as a gunshot, reacting faster than her mind, an unstoppable urge to flee rising within her.
If it hadn't been for Pei Zhen, her death wouldn't have been so miserable and painful.
Pei Zhen. Pei Zhen...
Dark circles were visible beneath Xu Si's eyes as she silently repeated the name in her heart, her gaze fixed on the document in her hands.
The fine lines of the form were filled with dense lists of names and information.
Suddenly, a familiar name entered her field of vision.
—Pei Zhen!!
Xu Si's pupils contracted sharply. She looked towards her familiar assistant, her voice, retaining the clarity of youth, asking, "Anshi, this Pei Zhen... is he also one of the students we are sponsoring this time?"
"I'll check right away. Please wait a moment."
Assistant Anshi lowered his eyes, a touch of fear in his tone.
It wasn't just the fear of a subordinate. The young lady beside him was no ordinary rich heiress; she had bizarre ideas and acted erratically. She had even beaten her arch-nemesis at her father's funeral recently and was notoriously difficult to handle.
Anshi replied, "No, Miss. It's a bit complicated. He was forcefully added through connections. His father, an overseas investor, made poor investments and offended enemies in the criminal underworld. After a shootout, his entire family perished. He was only fifteen when he witnessed the massacre. It seems he was just pushed through the process and will be sent to the orphanage afterward. He's not one of our pre-selected beneficiaries for the charity event."
In those days, the world was chaotic, and criminal societies were rampant. Such events occurred daily.
As Xu Si listened, she looked back at the name on the paper, which was stamped over with a black seal.
The bizarre cause of death from her previous life resurfaced vividly. So, this year, Pei Zhen was only fifteen...
Hah. Stripped of his terrifying future identity, he was still just a helpless, lonely wretch...
Xu Si's fingers tapped lightly on the back of the document, a thought flickering through her mind.
In her previous life, she had accepted the law of the jungle. But sorry, it seems she's the stronger one now.
To avoid repeating the same tragic mistakes by some twist of fate... she might as well kill him now and be done with it. That would save her from future disasters.
The sudden drop in temperature last night had left the air still somewhat cold. Xu Si quietly watched the scenery outside the window, her fingers rubbing a blank space on the list, her gaze inexplicably fierce.
"Anshi," her voice was low, emotionless, "Can I kill someone?"
"..."
There it was again. Every time there was trouble, she would ask this question, and it was never in jest.
Anshi had grown accustomed to it.
Seconds later, he calmly analyzed the pros and cons. "I'm afraid not, Miss. Many people are currently monitoring your every move and your financial security. If there's conclusive evidence, the law can still be applied to you."
"Is that so...?" Xu Si smiled, her enchanting peach-blossom eyes crinkling at the corners. She tapped her fingertip on the list a couple of times. "Then take me to see him."
Anshi looked down to confirm it was the name they had just mentioned and nodded.
"Understood."
The black car drove for an hour and stopped at the entrance to the charity event venue.
Bypassing the journalists' cameras, Xu Si alighted from the car with composure and strode into the hall.
The Xu Family was the main organizer of this charity event. As the sole heir, Xu Si had the right to enter any area and could easily access the space where the sponsored individuals were located.
「At the same time.」
Backstage in the exquisitely decorated, classic European-style venue, every detail exuded opulence. Bouquets of bellflowers, symbolizing good wishes, were placed on a cabinet by the door, releasing a fragrant scent.
There were many people inside: staff, young children, and students in uniform, all waiting for the charity event to start.
Further in the corner, a group of boys, about seventeen years old, were gathered together, amusing themselves by throwing paper balls at the feet of a tall, lanky youth.
The paper balls were light, almost weightless, and smeared with food residue. Occasionally, an errant throw would hit the youth's legs.
"Hey, you're an orphan, right? No one will pity you. I heard you're going to be sent to the orphanage."
"..."
The youth acted as if he hadn't heard, offering no reply. His cold indifference seemed to make the air congeal.
The short boy sneered. Unsure how to cover his embarrassment at being ignored, he resorted to malice to preserve his dignity.
"Hey, cut it out, guys! We're all here for money, so what's with the act?"
Yet some students, in the throes of adolescence, admired such malice and 'personality.' They viewed provoking others as a symbol of strength and readily joined in, their tones unfriendly.
"We're students. He's going to the orphanage and won't even be able to attend school. He has no future. Rich people aren't fools; they definitely won't help someone with no prospects."
"Hmph, I came early, so I know everything. When he was brought here, his clothes were tattered, no different from a beggar's."
"No parents. Maybe he'll end up a beggar in the future."
Under the misty daylight, another paper ball was thrown.
This time, carrying a hint of humiliation, it landed directly on the youth's black hair with a soft "PLOP." It then rolled down his smooth, straight nose and onto the polished marble floor.
Half of the youth's face was hidden in shadow, shielded from the light. His jaw muscles tightened as he slowly raised his head. His eyes, a beautiful gray—so pure there wasn't a trace of any other color—darkly swept over the faces of the students.
His slender fingers slipped into the pocket of his black trousers, the veins on the back of his hand standing out as he gripped something forcefully.
Hearing footsteps, his gaze shifted, then slowly relaxed.
Because in his line of sight, a stunning figure had suddenly appeared.