Lin Xinyue had once believed that blood ties meant everything. She had endured years of hardship, humiliation, and loneliness… all for the sake of returning to her “real family.” When they finally found her, she thought her life had changed. She thought she had finally found a place to belong. But in the end… that place became where she died. The memory was still vivid. The cold marble floor beneath her body. The suffocating silence of the grand mansion. And the figure standing before her—elegant, gentle, and smiling. Lin Meixi.

Her voice was soft, almost pitiful.

Lin Xinyue had wanted to ask why. Why had they treated her this way? Why had everything she did… never been enough? But she never got the chance. Darkness swallowed her completely.

.......

Her eyes snapped open. Lin Xinyue sat up abruptly, her breath uneven, her heart pounding against her chest as if trying to escape. For a moment… she couldn’t tell if she was alive or still trapped in that nightmare. Her surroundings slowly came into focus. A small, simple room. Faded curtains. Old furniture. Silence. Warm sunlight filtered through the window, falling gently across her face. It was quiet. Too quiet. Lin Xinyue lowered her gaze to her hands. They were steady. Alive.

Her voice was calm, but her thoughts were not. She stood up slowly, her movements cautious, as if afraid everything would disappear the moment she moved too fast. When she reached the mirror, she froze. The reflection staring back at her was younger. Unharmed. Untouched by everything that had happened. Memories rushed forward all at once. The day she was taken back. The way Lin Meixi held her hand so warmly. The cold indifference hidden behind polite smiles. The schemes… the traps… the slow destruction of everything she had. And finally— Her death. Lin Xinyue closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the confusion was gone.

Three years before her death. Three years before she stepped into that house again. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, quietly—

In her previous life, she had been grateful. Grateful to be found. Grateful to be accepted. Grateful… even when she was mistreated. This time— There was no gratitude. Only clarity.

......

*At breakfast, everything appeared normal. Her foster parents sat across from her, discussing trivial matters as they always did. The atmosphere was familiar, almost unchanged. But something felt different. Lin Xinyue was different. She ate quietly, her movements slow and composed, her posture straight. There was no unnecessary movement, no idle chatter. Her foster mother was the first to notice.*

Lin Xinyue placed her chopsticks down neatly before replying.

Her tone was polite. Perfectly appropriate. Yet… distant. Her foster father frowned slightly.

Xinyue lifted her gaze, her expression calm.

There was a brief silence at the table. Something felt off. But it wasn’t something they could question. In the end, they simply let it pass. … Two days later, everything began—just as she remembered. A luxury car stopped outside their house. In her previous life, her heart had raced with excitement at that moment. This time, Lin Xinyue only watched quietly. The door opened. Well-dressed assistants stepped out first, followed by a middle-aged man and a woman with refined appearances. Lin Zhiyuan. Su Yan. Her biological parents. They looked exactly the same. Cold. Composed. Calculating.

There was no hesitation in his tone. No warmth either.

Lin Xinyue met his gaze calmy.

Not “come home.” Return. As if she were simply being relocated.

Her response was smooth, without resistance. Without emotion. … The Lin family residence stood exactly as she remembered—grand, luxurious, and suffocating. The moment she stepped inside, the air itself felt heavier. Nothing had changed. And yet… everything had. A familiar figure stood in the living room. Delicate features. Gentle expression. A soft smile that could easily disarm anyone. Lin Meixi. The adopted daughter. The one who had taken everything from her. Lin Meixi’s eyes lit up the moment she saw her.

She stepped forward quickly, her movements natural and warm, as if she had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Her voice was soft, careful, filled with concern. In her previous life, Lin Xinyue had been deeply moved by this. She had thought— At least someone here cares. Now… Lin Xinyue simply watched her. Every word. Every expression. She remembered all of it.

Her reply was polite. But there was no warmth behind it. For a split second, Lin Meixi’s smile faltered. Just for a moment. Then it returned, flawless as before.

Lin Xinyue nodded slightly.

Their exchange was perfect. Too perfect.

That evening, dinner was arranged formally. The table was large, the atmosphere even larger. Lin Zhiyuan spoke occasionally about business matters, barely acknowledging her presence. Su Yan maintained her usual elegance, her attention mostly on Lin Meixi. Lin Meixi, on the other hand, played her role flawlessly.

She placed food onto Lin Xinyue’s plate with a gentle smile.

Her tone was sincere. Caring. Considerate. Anyone watching would believe she was a devoted sister. Lin Xinyue glanced at the food briefly. In her past life… she had eaten it without hesitation. Later that night, she had fallen ill. Severely. And somehow— It had been blamed on her “weak constitution.” Lin Xinyue lifted her gaze.

Her answer was flawless. There was no way to fault it. Yet something felt… off. Lin Meixi’s fingers tightened slightly under the table. No one noticed. Except— Lin Xinyue.

Later that night, Lin Meixi stood alone in her room, the gentle smile from earlier completely gone. Her expression turned cold.

In her memory, Lin Xinyue had been easy to deal with. Simple. Naive. Predictable. But today— Something was wrong. Very wrong. … Meanwhile, in another room, Lin Xinyue stood by the window, looking out at the dark night. The lights of the mansion reflected faintly in her eyes. Calm. Quiet. Unreadable.

This house. These people. These schemes. She knew them all too well. In her previous life, she had walked into every trap without hesitation. This time— She would watch them set those traps… And step around them one by one. Slowly. Carefully. Until the very end.

This time… She wasn’t the prey. She was the one watching from the shadows.

The Lin family mansion was unusually lively that afternoon. Guests had arrived early, their voices filling the living room with polite laughter and carefully chosen words. Every smile carried meaning, every glance measured. This was not a casual visit. It was a stage. And today— Someone intended to perform. … In her room, Lin Xinyue stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her sleeve slowly. Her expression was calm, almost indifferent. But her eyes… Were watching something no one else could see.

She remem bered this day clearly. In her previous life, this was the first time she had truly realized— She did not belong here. She had been nervous, inexperienced, and completely unaware of the silent rules of this world. And Lin Meixi… Had made sure everyone noticed. Lin Xinyue lowered her hand.

..............

Downstairs, Lin Meixi stood gracefully among the guests, her smile warm and effortless.

Lin Meixi lowered her gaze slightly, a hint of shyness in her expression.

Another guest spoke, her tone light but probing.

Her voice was gentle. Perfect. But her next words were even softer

Simple. Harmless. Yet enough to plant an idea. She doesn’t fit in. … At that moment, Lin Xinyue entered the room. The atmosphere shifted slightly as all eyes turned toward her. Lin Zhiyuan spoke without much emotion.

No praise. No introduction beyond her name. Lin Xinyue stepped forward calmly.

Her tone was steady, neither overly polite nor lacking. One of the guests smiled faintly.

Lin Xinyue met her gaze.

There it was. The first probe. In her previous life, she had panicked at this question. This time—

A simple answer. Yet confident. The guest paused slightly.

Across the table, Lin Meixi watched closely. Her smile did not change. But her eyes sharpened.

She gestured to the seat beside her. Lin Xinyue walked over and sat down without hesitation. Lin Meixi picked up the teapot.

Her movements were smooth. Elegant. Perfect. But as she tilted the teapot— Her wrist shifted slightly. Just enough. The tea poured faster than it should have. A small splash— Heading straight toward Lin Xinyue’s hand. In her previous life, Lin Xinyue had reacted too late. The cup had slipped. The tea had spilled all over her. And the room had fallen into awkward silence.

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