The Reborn’s Revenge

Today was supposed to be my wedding anniversary with Cheng Zhiwang. Instead, I was met with the insane fury of the man I had been with for fifteen years.

Cheng Zhiwang—once the aloof xueba (top student), a national Olympic champion, now a successful senior manager—had violently overturned the dinner table I meticulously prepared. His handsome phoenix eyes were stained with a mad, distorted red. He wrestled me to the floor, tightening his cold, furious grip around my neck.

“It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t stolen Xiaojie’s place, it would be her by my side right now! Shen Die, you deserve to die!”

Simultaneously, a large quantity of sleeping pills dissolved in cold water was forced down my throat. He wanted me to pay with my life for the “dead love” of the School Beauty, Gu Xujiai—the bestselling author whose novel he believed was about him.

My last memory of my previous life was bone-chilling agony and ultimate injustice. He was the one who proposed, the one who put the ring on my finger, yet he saw me as a thief. Why should I pay? In that final moment, sheer resentment gave me strength. I grabbed the dropped steak knife and stabbed it straight into Cheng Zhiwang’s chest. We both collapsed, ending a tragic marriage reported by local news: “Senior Executive and Wife Commit Suicide at Home.”

When I opened my eyes again, my ears were filled with a clamor of noise.

I had been reborn.

I was back six months before the college entrance exam, during the New Year’s cultural performance held by the school. The initial joy of being alive quickly vanished when I turned my head. Cheng Zhiwang, in his lean high school body, was standing amidst the crowd, his eyes red with excitement.

“Gu Xujiai’s novel was inspired by me! I’m the one she likes!”

Cheng Zhiwang, at 17, with the halo of a xueba and the future of a senior executive, almost radiated light. The sight of the talented boy and beautiful girl facing each other seemed like a perfect match, but in my eyes, it was a ridiculous, cruel, and crazy high school love story.

I, Shen Die, sat in an inconspicuous dark corner, deciding not to expose his unfaithful façade immediately. The hatred was deeply ingrained, but revenge had to be slow. I smiled coldly, stood up, and left.

Just 10 minutes later, the performance abruptly ended. The furious voice of the principal boomed over the loudspeaker, interrupting the lively atmosphere:

“Grade 12 student Cheng Zhiwang has violated school rules and is given a warning! Miss Gu Xujiai is disciplined and suspended from school!”

The auditorium immediately erupted. Students whispered: Clearly, it’s an early romance, but one person only gets a warning, while the other faces severe discipline. Of course, Cheng Zhiwang was the school’s “treasure,” the seed for Tsinghua and Peking University—his academics couldn’t be affected by a relationship. Gu Xujiai, the beautiful white swan, instantly became a laughing stock. She covered her face, sobbing hysterically, pushing away a frantic Cheng Zhiwang:

“Get lost! Cheng Zhiwang, you’ve completely ruined me!”

Cheng Zhiwang was stunned. He looked up, his eyes piercing through the crowd until they landed on me. The next moment, his phoenix eyes were stained with furious, intense red.

“You did this! Shen Die, you’ve been reborn too, haven’t you?”

He rushed over, grabbing my arm, his gaze vicious, as if he wanted to devour me alive. I gasped, feigning innocence:

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Cheng Zhiwang, have you been reading too many novels?”

His face darkened. He lowered his voice, delivering a cruel warning: “Don’t think our 15 years of marriage in the previous life means anything. This time, I absolutely won’t allow anyone to steal Xiaojie’s place!”

He forgot that I, too, had come back with him. The debt of being choked and force-fed sleeping pills would never be forgotten. I watched his furious retreat, my eyes growing icy. Today is only the beginning.

Cheng Zhiwang, with the arrogance of a reborn person with 15 years of life experience, couldn’t bear being hated by Gu Xujiai. The next afternoon, the rumor of the xueba proposing to the School Beauty spread throughout the school.

In the romantically decorated auditorium, Cheng Zhiwang knelt on one knee, his eyes full of deep affection: “Xiaojie, I know you like me, and I’ve liked you for a long time. Please be my girlfriend.”

Gu Xujiai, looking troubled but with hidden pride in her eyes, refused: “Thank you for your feelings, but I can’t agree.”

Cheng Zhiwang stubbornly believed she was still angry about the discipline. He suddenly turned on the lights: thousands of star-shaped balloons floated up together, a dreamy scene that drew gasps of admiration from many female students. The dark circles under his eyes were so evident; he must have been up all night preparing.

I looked down at my watch, counting silently in my heart, just as Gu Xujiai spoke again:

“Student Cheng Zhiwang… three… you are truly very kind… two… but the person I like is Zhou Ye… one.”

This sudden revelation caused an uproar. But no one noticed a floating star-shaped balloon suddenly go “pop” and explode. Like a butterfly flapping its wings causing a tsunami, all the other balloons followed suit with continuous popping sounds.

More seriously, the wires in the corner were affected. A flash of fire erupted, and the auditorium was plunged into darkness.

Gu Xujiai, soaked by the fire sprinkler system, screamed in despair: “Cheng Zhiwang, I hate you to death!“

Having caused such a massive incident, Cheng Zhiwang had no escape. Even before he could return to class, the principal’s announcement rang out: Cheng Zhiwang was expelled.

I, with a few scratches left by the roses Gu Xujiai threw at me, feigned innocence, though my eyes concealed unconcealed delight. Cheng Zhiwang’s face was flushed with anger; he clenched his fists as if he wanted to strangle me, but I spoke first, calling out his name loudly:

“Student Cheng Zhiwang, I just accidentally touched you. Even if your proposal failed, you shouldn’t take it out on me!”

He was speechless, forced to let go. “You don’t have to admit it. I won’t let this go. We’ll see.”

I watched his lonely retreating figure. “Yes, our business is far from over.”

Rumors that I liked Cheng Zhiwang started spreading. I didn’t pay attention, focusing only on studying and catching up on the knowledge I had lost after over ten years of working. That is, until Gu Xujiai cornered me in the girls’ restroom.

“Stay away from Cheng Zhiwang,” she grabbed my bangs hard, her beautiful, pure face now full of malice and disdain.

I calmly asked, “Didn’t you say you didn’t like Cheng Zhiwang?”

She sneered: “Even if I don’t want my things, I won’t allow others to touch them if I throw them in the trash. You think you, with your second place in the whole grade last time, are qualified to have a crush on him? Don’t you find yourself disgusting? Remember my words: if you don’t want to get beaten, stay away from Cheng Zhiwang!”

I looked at her arrogant face, slowly exposing her true thoughts: “You don’t like Cheng Zhiwang, but you won’t allow other female students to fantasize about him. Because you like the feeling of being pursued. You cornered me in the restroom only because Cheng Zhiwang made you lose face these past two days, but you don’t dare to confront him, so you can only take your anger out on me.”

Gu Xujiai bit her lip, angrily admitting: “So what? I’m the recognized School Beauty, and you’re just an ugly duckling not even worthy of a name. I’m bullying you. What can you do to me?“

A smile bloomed on my face. This was my advantage: an unknown person whom no one would believe could bully the School Beauty.

The next second, I raised my hand and yanked Gu Xujiai’s hair. Taking advantage of her letting go, I shoved her face into the nearby sink. Again and again. The smelly dirty water splashed onto the floor, causing Gu Xujiai to choke and vomit. Every time she opened her mouth to curse, more dirty water poured down her throat. She struggled and pleaded until she was crying, snot and tears running down her face.

When I pulled her out of the sink, I whispered: “Remember my words, today’s beating is not only for me but also for those who were bullied, returning it all to you.”

Rebirth was not just an opportunity for revenge against Cheng Zhiwang, but also a chance for me to return to the top. After more than a decade in the workforce, I had forgotten the feeling of studying. But when the exam papers were distributed, like a conditioned reflex, I fluently wrote out the solution steps.

Cheng Zhiwang, before the papers were even collected, couldn’t wait to boast: “An ordinary person can never beat a genius in a lifetime.”

The result was a quick slap in his face. Cheng Zhiwang didn’t even make it onto the honor roll because he had been too busy chasing Gu Xujiai and had forgotten everything he learned.

Cheng Zhiwang wanted fame, wanted to return to the number one spot, but the more he rushed, the more he regressed. My scores steadily improved, from the top 100 to the top 50… while Cheng Zhiwang’s fluctuated wildly, eventually dropping to the bottom. He didn’t dare to confront me.

Just a week later, I received news that Cheng Zhiwang was expelled for cheating in the exam.

When I saw him again, Cheng Zhiwang’s face was bruised as if he’d been beaten. I couldn’t help but sneer: “A dog without a master, do you think you’re worth my time and effort?”

Cheng Zhiwang had never suffered such humiliation. He suppressed his anger, smiling bitterly: “Shen Die, we don’t really have to go this far. We were married for 15 years… Have you forgotten how loving we were in the beginning?” He even tried to force a kiss on me.

Watching his smug smile, I slowly curled my lips. In Cheng Zhiwang’s frozen gaze, I pulled out a stun gun from my bag and pressed it hard against his lower body.

He fell to the ground, convulsing. I grabbed his hair and squeezed his neck tightly.

“Does the choking feel pleasant? After all, that’s how you tormented me to death in the previous life.”

Then, I let go. “Don’t be afraid, I’m just playing a joke on you. How could I truly kill you? It’s not worth risking my future for someone like you.”

Cheng Zhiwang ran away as if fighting for his life.

The final act of the drama occurred a week later.

“Cheng Zhiwang has gone crazy! He’s been screaming everywhere, saying Gu Xujiai swindled his money, even hanging a banner at the school gate to block her.”

Gu Xujiai turned pale. Cheng Zhiwang, with a cynical, couldn’t-care-less expression, sneered: “Let them investigate how much money Gu Xujiai swindled from me over the past two years, let them investigate how she acted as a homewrecker. Do you want me to tell everyone here how many moles you have on your body?”

Gu Xujiai covered her ears and screamed: “You’ve been expelled, your life is ruined. Why do you still want to destroy me? Why don’t you just die?!“

A piercing car horn suddenly blared. At the end of the road, a large truck lost control and sped straight toward them.

Cheng Zhiwang, seemingly deranged, only cared about kneeling down, frantically picking up a white bottle of pills that had fallen to the ground. “My medicine, my medicine.”

Along with a deafening crash, Cheng Zhiwang’s body was thrown far away, completely mutilated when it hit the ground.

The thick stench of blood made Gu Xujiai vomit on the spot.

I calmly wiped the blood that had accidentally stained the sole of my shoe, turned, and left with an expressionless face.

Just a few steps away, I bumped into a warm, strong chest. Zhou Ye, the tall, handsome young man, the male lead and Cheng Zhiwang’s love rival, was tilting his head, his phoenix eyes narrowed with curiosity.

He whispered in my ear: “Cheng Zhiwang’s discipline, his expulsion, and even Xiaojie’s beating in the restroom… was it all done by you? Your name is Shen Die.”

I smiled: “Are you here to seek justice for Gu Xujiai?”

He raised an eyebrow, his gaze playful: “You are more interesting than I am. Gu Xujiai is just a diversion to play with when bored. But if I were to look for a girlfriend, I would choose a cruel black lotus like you.” He removed my thick-rimmed black glasses. “You’re clearly so beautiful, yet you deliberately hide yourself. Isn’t that a shame?”

Just then, a plump, middle-aged lady stepped out of a luxury car. Ignoring the bloodstain on the ground, she grabbed Gu Xujiai’s hair and slapped her.

“You don’t know your place, daring to seduce my husband. If I hire someone to kill you here, no one would dare to say a word.”

Gu Xujiai, clutching her head and falling to the ground, was forced to endure the one-sided beating. Fresh blood stained the ground from her dress. She was pregnant.

“Jealous?” Zhou Ye chuckled. “If you agree, I can give you more.”

I didn’t say anything, only asking: “The beating Cheng Zhiwang got a few days ago, was that you?”

Zhou Ye shrugged, proudly admitting. He simply disliked Cheng Zhiwang, but because he dared not seek revenge on the billionaire, he took his anger out on the weaker Cheng Zhiwang.

I offered a charming smile, slowly holding out my hand: “Besides this gift, shouldn’t you have something else for me?”

Zhou Ye was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood. He chuckled, pulling a gold-plated membership card into my palm. “So you’re quite knowledgeable. Well, good student, shall we meet tomorrow night?”

The membership card was for an extremely private nightclub. The next evening, I rarely skipped school, changed into a pretty dress, applied delicate makeup, and brought a heart full of anticipation. When Zhou Ye opened the door, his brows were furrowed with annoyance and coldness from being woken up. His sharp, handsome phoenix eyes held a hint of aggression, making him devastatingly handsome. But those negative emotions turned into deep astonishment when he saw my appearance.

“Ah, you came.” Zhou Ye stepped back, yielding the way. “You look very beautiful today.”

“Thank you.” I smiled faintly, looking around. The VIP room wasn’t too big, but it was luckily just Zhou Ye and me. The room had a song selection function. Zhou Ye half-hugged me onto the sofa, crossed one leg over the other, and picked up the microphone. “Good student, what do you want to sing?”

I nervously fidgeted with the corner of my dress. I rarely came to places like this and didn’t know what to sing. “Just choose whatever you like.”

My innocent reaction amused Zhou Ye. He chuckled, casually choosing an intimate love song. His voice was beautiful, a youthful coolness mixed with a magnetic quality, highly appealing to girls. Before he finished singing, Zhou Ye was determined to seduce me. As he sang, he reached out to hug me. The scent of his body made me uneasy. I suddenly stood up, my expression serious, wanting to leave…