Chapter 2: Transmigration

A man’s soft scoff echoed loudly in the silent room.

For a moment, the room fell into complete silence.

Shen Yanli crossed his long legs, leaning casually against the sofa, his right hand holding the rim of a wine glass while his index finger tapped lightly on its surface.

His dark, piercing eyes stared unwaveringly at her as he enunciated each word clearly, “If we’re negotiating like this, Miss Lin, your sincerity seems rather insufficient.”

Alright, she regretted it.

Why bring this up now!! Ahhhh!

Lin Zhiyu, have you lost your mind talking to him about this?

The young girl felt like crying but had no tears.

Since she’d already said it, and he seemed kind and helpful…

Might as well consider him the righteous protagonist.

Surely he wouldn’t drag her to a laboratory for dissection and research, right?

Lin Zhiyu blinked her large eyes, staring directly at him while considering the feasibility of this matter.

Seeing no follow-up after a long wait, Shen Yanli set down his glass and tapped his wristwatch as if reminding her considerately, “Miss Lin, you have one minute left.”

“My time is precious. If you’re just spouting nonsense and wasting time, there’s no need to continue.”

“I’m not lying,” Lin Zhiyu suddenly closed her eyes upon hearing this.

Forget it, she’d take the risk.

At worst, he’d just send her to the laboratory.

Shen Yanli watched her with amusement, his male voice lazy and deep, “Very well, since Miss Lin insists so strongly, let’s hear it.”

“How am I not?”

Since he’d said that, and she had no other options left.

Lin Zhiyu looked at him, pondering for a moment to organize her words, then slowly explained the situation.

Half a month ago, she had accidentally come across this male-oriented novel on a recommendation forum.

“The Metropolis Lord” told the story of a male protagonist who reversed his fortunes, crushed the antagonists who had once oppressed him, became the ruler of an elite family conglomerate, and married a beautiful, wealthy woman.

Having read many female-oriented romance novels, she wanted to try a male-oriented novel. That same day, she went to the Red App to find posts about this book, intending to check for any content warnings.

After browsing through the app, instead of finding warnings, she came across numerous spoilers. After understanding the general plot, her interest in the book grew stronger, and she immediately added it to her bookshelf, planning to stay up all night to finish it.

Unexpectedly, she was tricked by a sleep aid streamer on the Black App. Before she could turn off her phone, she had fallen into a deep sleep. When she woke up, she found herself transmigrated into the book.

Just great.Others transmigrate after finishing the book, but she was pulled in after reading just a few spoilers and the synopsis. She didn’t even know the names of the male and female protagonists.

However, based on what she understood, they should already be at the story’s conclusion. If the male protagonist was Shen Yanli, then he had already successfully defeated the antagonists, taken over the conglomerate, and married her Lin Zhiyu, the beautiful, wealthy woman.

Of course, that was only credible if she was also a protagonist.

But she didn’t plan to tell Shen Yanli everything.

“Since we’ve reached the conclusion, right? You’ve gained both fame and fortune; you have everything. You don’t necessarily have to marry me. Our family’s assets are really nothing compared to yours .I can’t even be considered a proper beautiful, wealthy woman.”

“The Lin family is only ranked third. Aren’t there the Boss and second in line? Compared to our family, their financial power is much stronger. Choosing to marry into their families would definitely bring you greater benefits than ours.”

“Besides, I need to go home. I can’t stay in this book forever, right?”

She spoke with great conviction, even pounding her fist into her palm emphatically at key points in an attempt to sway him.

The initial surprise in Shen Yanli’s eyes had long faded, replaced by an unreadable calm. His gaze remained fixed on her face as if trying to discern how much of her story was truth and how much was fabrication.

“So? Don’t you think I make a good point? Would you reconsider?”

“Can we… temporarily call off the engagement first?”

The girl seemed completely unfazed by his skeptical expression. She tilted her head to meet his eyes, her face full of anticipation for his response.

Shen Yanli suddenly let out a soft chuckle. Beneath his refined exterior, amusement danced at the corners of his eyes as if laughing at himself for entertaining such an absurd story, or perhaps laughing at the storyteller herself.

“Miss Lin, that was quite a vivid tale. I look forward to hearing more detailed versions after we’re married.”

Lin Zhiyu furrowed her brows slightly with a soft “Huh?”

He seemed reasonable enough at first glance why was he being so stubborn?

Seeing his ambiguous half-smile, she worried he didn’t believe her and reiterated earnestly, “I’m being completely serious.”

While she had been telling her story, Shen Yanli had gradually made his way to the wine cabinet with a decanter to pour a drink. Lin Zhiyu, putting on an act of consideration, had followed closely behind, afraid he might miss her words.

His smile unwavering, he slightly lowered his gaze and bent down to meet her at eye level.

The sudden movement startled Lin Zhiyu, making her step back repeatedly. His expression showed no displeasure he simply reached out with his index and middle fingers to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear and said softly:

“I’m being serious too.”

“Alright, since you’ve finished your story, you should head back now. Get some rest early tonight there are procedures to follow tomorrow.”

He paused before continuing, “How about we start with choosing a wedding dress?”

“Don’t think about calling off the engagement anymore. If you dislike the idea, you don’t have to appear on stage during the engagement banquet later. I’ll handle it for you.”

Then he straightened up again, ignoring Lin Zhiyu’s stiff expression, and made the decision for her: “It’s settled then. I’ll come pick you up.”

As he was leaving, he suddenly stopped as if remembering something. Turning his head slightly, he asked her, “By the way, what happened to that villain in the end?”

“Blinded, legs broken… and probably ended up dead.” Lin Zhiyu blinked, looking puzzled.

Didn’t he say he didn’t believe her? Why ask?

“Blinded and legs broken, huh?” He fell silent for a moment, murmuring to himself with his head lowered.

Lin Zhiyu didn’t catch his final words. After a brief pause, Shen Yanli left, leaving her alone in the VIP lounge.

Lin Zhiyu leaned her head back against the sofa and stared helplessly at the ceiling, lamenting, “I’ve shown all my cards why didn’t it work?”

Only the hollow echo in the room answered her. Listlessly, she slumped against the armrest in frustration.

The Lin family was no help, and the Shen family was no help either.

Nothing worked no matter what she tried. She was truly out of ideas.

She had barely begun to wallow in despair on the long sofa when her phone inconveniently started buzzing.

Lin Zhiyu ignored it, willing to let it ring until the end of time.

At this hour, it could only be someone from the Lin family. She wasn’t in the mood to play along with their hypocritical games, pretending to be a devoted daughter in a picture-perfect family.

Other people who experienced Transmigration sailed through smoothly, but she had it rough reduced to hiding cowardly in a strange fiancé’s VIP lounge just to steal a moment of peace.

“Where is the justice? Where are the laws? Where is fairness and righteousness?”

“Can’t I get something that others have too? At least give me a system ”

“Just letting me fend for myself like this ”

Now she actually wanted to be left alone for a while, but her phone wouldn’t allow it. The ringing insisted with the determination to continue until the end of time if she didn’t answer.

“Rushing, rushing, always rushing ”

Lin Zhiyu grumbled as she picked up her phone, only to realize it wasn’t a call from the Lin family.

Seeing the caller ID, her eyes lit up.

Oh right, how could she have forgotten about Feng Fei?

He was an expert at stirring up hype.

“How about it, Xiao Yu? Should we still post it?”

As soon as the call connected, the “most pleasant” voice in this world came through the phone. Lin Zhiyu had immense expectations for this potential savior who might rescue her from her predicament.

“Post it! Brother Feng Fei, whether I can break off this engagement depends entirely on you.” Lin Zhiyu held the phone tightly to her ear, answering without hesitation.

All her last hopes rested on this plan to create gossip and generate hype.

Wasn’t it said that elite families despised public exposure the most? Well, she wouldn’t just show her face she’d do it surrounded by a room full of young, attractive men.

She didn’t know about the Shen family, but at least in the Lin family, this was the most taboo subject. She’d bet they felt the same way.

“I refuse to believe that a prestigious family would allow a girl with a chaotic personal life to marry into their household.” Lin Zhiyu was confident about this move.

Feng Fei had been waiting for her to say exactly that. “Alright, I’ll start preparing immediately. We’ll post it across all platforms around midnight the perfect time for rumors to spread.”

Since arriving in this world, Lin Zhiyu had only made one friend Feng Fei, whom she’d met after helping him when he was being ostracized at a family banquet.

In just a few months, he had built his company into something strong and successful, making those who once looked down on him eat their words.

Lin Zhiyu frequently expressed her admiration this man’s future was absolutely limitless.

Shen Yanli hadn’t lied. The engagement banquet was temporarily canceled under his name. Though the attendees were resentful, they had nowhere to direct their frustration.

Lin Daohai was busy comforting his precious daughter and naturally had no time to bother with her.

Lin Zhiyu was happy to enjoy the peace, spending the evening alone and at ease.

She quietly awaited the good news that would come tomorrow.

The morning was foggy, the streets buried under layers of mist, the air thick with the damp scent of evaporating dew.

Lin Zhiyu slept until ten without waking. Her phone buzzed beneath her pillow. Without opening her eyes, she fumbled under the pillow, retrieved the phone, and pressed it to her ear without looking.

An anxious voice quickly reached her eardrum, “Xiao Yu, come quickly! Something’s happened!”