Where am I currently? Believing she had died, the woman glanced about in a daze. Absolutely sure about her fall from the tower, how did she end up here?
The woman sits up in her bed and scans the room with a puzzled expression. This felt familiar. Isn't this her room?
"Wait, is this my old house?" she asked herself, sounding confused. The inner turbulence she experienced left her baffled.
She then examined her pale skin, convinced she had been burnt before dying.
What has happened to my skin? Am I...? 'Is this really happening?' she questioned while squeezing her palms. That's it for this. Why do I need to see this in my dreams before dying? Wait a minute, could this be heaven? Does a person live again the moments of their life after dying? This doesn't make any sense to me.
She tried to get out of bed but accidentally knocked her leg against the edge.
Oww! She shouted in pain, 'That hurts!'
"This isn't a dream. While squatting to soothe her aching leg, she wondered aloud, 'Can people actually feel physical pain in dreams?'
Xin Yan, are you still asleep? "Little girl, you need to go to the office today," a tender voice resonated. She swiftly tilted her head upward.
Even in death, the familiarity of the voice remained unmistakable to her. It was her nanny's voice.
"Nanny Zhong," she murmured softly.
Checking her memory, she muttered, 'Didn't I die?' Hearing the voice again, she frowned.
She knew Nanny Zhong had died before she herself passed away.
'Am I experiencing the past again?' her mind questioned.
She felt a rush of excitement while considering that possibility.
Startled by the abrupt creak of the opening door, she turned quickly.
"Goodness, Yanyan! "Why are you on the floor?" The old nanny rushed over to Xin Yan.
Xi Yan found herself unable to utter a word right away. To her surprise, her nanny was alive.
"Nanny, you truly are alive!" whispered the girl as she clung to her nanny's hands, half-expecting her to disappear like in those films.
Nanny Zhong said softly, "Oh, silly girl, of course I'm alive. Did you just wake up from a bad dream?
She would definitely think of everything as nothing but a bad dream. She died, but life offered her another chance.
"I'm okay, Nanny Zhong. "Would you mind making breakfast?" she inquired, her smile gentle.
Nanny Zhong responded, "Sure," and then hurriedly left the room.
Xin Yan climbed onto the bed and rested. She remained in disbelief over her rebirth. Clenching her fists, she vowed to defend those she had previously let down.
Xin Yan, haven't you woken up yet? "Remember you have to meet Brother Renshu today," warned Jiang Lanfen, whose voice sent a shiver down her spine.
"I'm coming in if you don't respond!" Jiang Lanfen joked, and upon hearing no response, she burst into the room.
Xin Yan stared with wide eyes as her breaths became labored. Her eyes became crimson, resembling a predator stalking its prey.
What seems to be the problem? What's with that look on your face?" Jiang Lanfen inquired, her eyebrows knit.
Xin Yan calmly said, 'Please leave.'
"Me?" Jiang Lanfen pointed at herself confused. She looked around to see if there was any other person in the room, but she was the only one.
"Of course, do you see any other person in this room?" Xin Yan sneered, leaving Jiang Lanfen speechless.
"I don't only want you to get out of my room, but you should also leave my house," Xin Yan ordered as she rested her head on the bed's headboard.
"Are you throwing me out of the house?" Jiang Lanfen asked in disbelief, pointing at herself in shock. She wasn't expecting the spoiled heiress wanted her to leave the house.
Xin Yan looked at her forced innocent and confused look, and she scoffed to herself. Before they had thrown her off the roof, mercilessly cutting her life short, they had told her she was ruthless.
All she had ever done in her previous life was to please and make them both happy, but they didn't appreciate it, and they still ended up killing her, they showed no mercy.
She was just going to act out the persona they had bestowed to her. It wasn't bad to be ruthless, she was only giving them a dose of their medicine.
"Fine, I will leave, if that's what you want, don't forget you have to meet with brother Renshu," Jiang Lanfen 'kindly' reminded her with a smile, but her fists were clenched, almost digging into her palms.
"Whatever," she replied with her eyes closed. She was getting annoyed just by listening to her fake high-pitched voice which sounded forced.
"Finally," she exhaled, opening her eye when she heard the door closed.
She quickly looked for her phone. Once she found it, she blaclisted, then deleted both Yuan Renshu's and Jiang Lanfen's number. She knew Jiang Lanfen was going to run crying to Yuan Renshu who was going to call her and question her.
"How could I have been so dumb previously?" She questioned herself with her palm on her forehead. The signs were obviously there, but she was ignorant of it.
She quickly dialed a number, and it was picked up in a matter of few seconds.
"Grandpa," she called while she held the bedsheets tightly. She was expectant on hearing her grandparents' voice. It has been a while she heard it.
She recalled in her previous life, her grandparents died a month later but in this life, she was going to protect them.
"Ah, Yanyan, you decided to call," she heard her grandpa's jovial voice and she sniffed. She held back the tears in her eyes for fear that her grandparents might be worried about her.
It was a pleasure to hear her grandpa's voice. She had not completely believed she was back in time. She called her grandparents for her to face reality.
On hearing her grandpa's voice which was full of vitality, she had no choice but to come to terms, she has actually been reincarnated. She was joyful and at the same time sorrowful. The previous her was so muddle-headed.
"I'm really sorry for not calling all these while, I promise to make it up to you, which is why I will be coming home for dinner," she said as she forced herself to sound happy.
"Little girl, you had better make it or I will be forced to head over to your house and give you a beating," her grandmother threatened while she chuckled.
"I promise to make it back in time for dinner, alright, goodbye grandma and grandpa, I have to prepare for work," she said, and she only hung up when she heard their goodbyes.
She then began to get ready for the office. She had weeds to send away from her grandparents' company. The allies Yuan Renshu had drawn over to himself.
She was given a new lease on life, and she wasn't one to misuse it.
Li's Enterprises
Mr. President, you have a supper appointment with the Xins," someone notified him, generating him to pause in his steps.
"Cancel it," he replied, displaying no hint of excitement. Without regarding their sentiments, he resumed walking.
"Also, the young miss will be around for dinner," the secretary said, and at last, his stern expression faltered.
With trembling fists at his side, he turned to face him and asked, 'Are you absolutely sure about this?'
"Yes, Mr. President," replied the secretary with a nod, "the old patriarch confirmed it personally." He understood how much importance the president placed on the young miss of the Xin family.
Cancel all of the scheduled afternoon meetings. Why don't we get some gifts? Li Qiang enquired, 'What can we consider as a gift for a 23-year-old lady?'
Sir, I genuinely have no idea. The secretary responded, 'I've never been with a girlfriend.'
He felt amazed as the head of China's top company could act this way. It significantly altered his perspective.
Who was Li Qiang? He held control over China's economy. Despite his authoritative word, he couldn't contain his excitement about having dinner with a lady.
Li Qiang insulted his assistant, his eyes full of ridicule. It seems you're not very capable then.
Gao Yang, his assistant, remained silent. In what aspects did he lack skill or ability? A self-deprecating smile curved his lips upward. He dedicated every day of the year to serving the president. So, how can he find a girlfriend then?
He, just like the president with a lacking love life, faced ridicule despite no guarantee that the young lady from the Xin family would agree.
"Are you still there? "We have a lot of work to do," Li Qiang said, giving a pointed look. His assistant hurried over to him.
Xin-Corp
Xin Yan sat in her office, attentively listening to the reports her secretary read aloud. While twirling the pen, her expression shifted continuously.
"Snap!" The assistant gasped at the sound and realized her boss had just snapped a pen in half.
The secretary, Chen Wenling, noticed how angry Xin Yan was and understood that anyone in Xin Yan's situation would react similarly.
She sneered, "It seems to me that the board of directors has forgotten who's in charge around here," as Chen Wenling's throat tightened in silence.
The sinister edge in her boss's voice made her question what she had experienced. Yuan Renshu handled the corporation's problems, resulting in these consequences. The challenges the company faced increased uncontrollably.
Yuan Renshu charmed the board of directors with his smooth talking, but they didn't realize that all the contracts the corporation acquired were thanks to the young woman who took charge at age 20. It's been three years since she stepped into the role.
Xin Yan called to Chen Wenling.
"Um," she responded, abruptly pulled from her reverie by the call.
Pondering deeply, Xin Yan asked, 'How would you react if someone tried to steal from you?' She wasn't smiling, and her expressions were blank, different from her previous self.
'I defend myself and ensure they can't take away what belongs to me,' Chen Welling stated uncertainly. She questioned whether this was the reply the president expected.
"You nailed it; that's our course of action," Xin Yan chuckled, eliciting several goosebumps on Chen Wenling.
Shouldn't we be attending the shareholders' meeting? I'm going to honor them with my presence as the top shareholder,
Xin Yan stood by the door and urged her, "Let's go."
Chen Wenling caught up with her and the two headed to the conference room.
Xin Yan sighed quietly to herself. She committed numerous errors in her previous life, yet fortunately, it wasn't too late to set things right.
The first thing on her agenda was removing Yuan Renshu from the board. She remembered that around this time in her previous life, Yuan Renshu proposed a ridiculous idea and she foolishly accepted it.
She gladly signed the entire company rights to him, which led her grandparents to fall out with her.
However, she won't do that now. That conniving liar wouldn't put her grandparents' company at risk. She was determined not to make the same mistake twice. Her actions would undeniably label her a fool if she proceeded like that.
She paused at the entrance of the conference room, drew a deep breath, and pushed her way in.
Each head turned towards the door, curious about who fearlessly interrupted the shareholders. Upon recognizing the person, everyone's eyes grew wide. They did not expect to see Xin Yan, the pampered heiress from the Xin family.
"Oh no, it looks like everyone is here except me, and you've already begun the meeting without the main shareholder."
Surprised, Yuan Renshu frowned and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"As the largest shareholder, I'm here for the meeting. Could it be important for me not to be present? I don't believe that's a necessary question, It was her seat, one which rightfully belonged to her.
Yuan Renshu stared at her in astonishment. So Jiang Lanfen's words were true. She behaved differently. Xin Yan correctly predicted that Jiang Lanfen would rush over to complain.
'Hey, Yuan Renshu, I think you're sitting in my chair,' she said. A sheepish grin spread across his face as he understood his mistake and saw her next to him.
Xin Yan, I recommend that you return home to rest; this meeting doesn't concern you. Amazement filled her as she turned around to find out who made the embarrassing remark.
He instructed her to head back home. He committed a serious error. She abruptly grinned, showcasing her wide smile.
Every shareholder who supported Yuan Renshu, including himself, frowned. Everyone shared the same thought.
"What's wrong with her?" They looked at each other, recognizing they all were thinking the same thing.
"Stand up," she instructed; the shareholder glared in response.
"Tell me why I need to get up," he asked, mirroring defiance.
Without a second thought, Xin Yan said, 'Because I asked you,' as his frown grew more pronounced.
With a glare, he exclaimed, "Hey girl, I'm not sure what you're up to, but I'm not leaving. I am not going anywhere, no matter what you say.
Chen Wenling, give him the papers. Honestly, I don't like talking.
Xin Yan handed the papers to Chen Wenling and mentioned they might come in handy, despite not reading them herself. She just hoped that everything went smoothly.
"What can I possibly do with this?" Even now, the defiant shareholder wouldn't back down.
'Open it now,' Xin Yan ordered firmly while standing with her arms crossed. And don't waste your time questioning me. I have no time left. She sincerely couldn't stand talking to others.
A sudden feeling of dread washed over the shareholder. With shaky hands, he unfolded the papers and his eyes grew wide at their contents.
'What is the meaning of this?' he asked, rising to his feet with shaking fingers aimed at her. His agitation was evident, beyond question.