Chapter 2: Rebirth

Her mind was spinning with dizziness. Wen Nuo opened her eyes, her pupils reflected a vast expanse of white.

The wool carpet was as pale as a snowy mountain, with a pair of dark brown handmade leather shoes being the only splash of color on it.

A man swirled his wine glass and sneered upon seeing Bai Tian’er open her eyes.

“Awake?”

“Who are you…” Wen Nuo lifted her head.

What met her eyes was a handsome face, perhaps excessively so. His eyes, deep as if they had gathered all the stars in the sky, tilted slightly upward, exuding an irresistible charm. The red wine in his glass swayed gently, creating ripples that mirrored in his pupils like blooming flowers at their peak, breathtakingly captivating.

“Bai Tian’er, is this your new trick to seduce me?” The man smirked coldly, the chill in his gaze almost freezing the girl solid, causing Wen Nuo’s heart to sink gradually.

Bai Tian’er?

That wasn’t her name…

“What a pity. In my eyes, you’re still just as filthy. I’ve been trying to seduce me if I don’t teach you a lesson this time, I doubt you’ll remember.” The man’s smile turned sinister, revealing a row of stark white teeth like a bloodthirsty shark.

Damn it, what was going on?

Wen Nuo struggled to sit up but froze abruptly upon seeing her own hands.

No, something was wrong. Not only was the situation off, but these excessively pale hands weren’t hers. Her own hands, calloused and nearly deformed from years of writing, bore thick, hardened skin. Yet these hands were as beautiful as works of art.

“I hope this is the last time. If you bother me again, it won’t be as simple as knocking you out.”

The man sneered, downed the last sip of wine from his glass, and stood up, heading toward the door.

As he passed Bai Tian’er, whether intentionally or not, his leather shoe stepped on her hand as if trampling on garbage. He uttered a faint “sorry” before leaving.

Wen Nuo stared wide-eyed. In the face of such an imposing man, she didn’t even dare to voice her pain, only watching helplessly as his figure retreated.

Her last memory was of being silenced by Li Xin. How had the world suddenly transformed into something unrecognizable?

A terrifying conjecture surfaced in Wen Nuo’s mind. Ignoring the pain in her hand, she stood up and slowly made her way to the window. The glass was polished as clean as a mirror.

The reflection showed a girl with delicate, fragile features, her brows slightly furrowed and her skin snow-white. Her straight black hair held no trace of seduction, resembling a lily fairy fallen to the mortal world lovable yet pitiable.

Had she encountered this face elsewhere, Wen Nuo might have admired it. Unlike Li Xin’s artificial attempts to pose as a goddess, this face had the innate potential to be one.

It was a beautiful face without excess, exaggeration, or allure one that could evoke deep affection. Why had that man treated it so cruelly?

A sharp pain shot through her head. Memories that weren’t hers finally surged forth. Wen Nuo knelt on the floor, tears streaming uncontrollably.

She was Wen Nuo, the one who had ghostwritten for Li Xin for five years, lifting her to unattainable heights in the public eye, only to meet a tragic end.

She was also Bai Tian’er a barely known third-rate actress in the entertainment industry, whose agent had used every means to seduce Master Tong, earning her a reputation as cheap and vulgar.

It was her. It was all her.

Memories from two lifetimes began to intertwine chaotically at this moment. Wen Nuo gritted her teeth tightly, feeling as though her head was splitting with pain. Bruises covered her body evidently; Master Tong’s subordinates had taught her a thorough lesson.

Tears dripped slowly onto the ground, born of both agony and joy.

Yes, she had been reborn. The suffering she once couldn’t endure now felt bearable, even satisfying, thanks to the new life granted by heaven. Wen Nuo or rather, Bai Tian’er lifted her head, her heartbreakingly beautiful eyes brimming with tears, yet the corners of her lips curled slightly upward.

The entertainment industry, a newly debuted starlet.

Perfect. Li Xin, our paths have crossed again in this circle. How long can you maintain that goddess-like facade in the eyes of others?

Let me peel away your hypocritical layers one by one, as an offering to my mother.

The bedroom door opened, and Aunt Li entered the room to find Bai Tian’er kneeling on the floor, tears streaming freely down her face.

Aunt Li shook her head, the disdain in her eyes gradually melting into pity.

Though Bai Tian’er had brought this beating from Master Tong’s men upon herself, what could she do? Water flows downward, but people strive for higher ground. To reach those icy heights, who knows how much one must discard? This young girl, with her nation-toppling beauty at such a tender age, might not be a blessing. But in the end, who was to blame?

“Miss Bai.”

“Hmm?”

Aunt Li’s voice pulled the girl back to reality. Perhaps because residual memories lingered in this body, she instinctively responded when addressed as “Miss Bai.”

No matter. Wen Nuo was likely dead now. From this day forward, Bai Tian’er would be her name.

“This is the medical compensation Master Tong asked me to give you.” Aunt Li sounded somewhat awkward.

“Thank you.” Bai Tian’er accepted the check, glancing at the amount.

Heh, it seemed her memories were accurate. Master Tong truly was a patron with connections in both legal and underworld circles. The sum was enough to satisfy any ordinary woman many would gladly accept such “medical fees.”

“And he hopes you’ll leave as soon as possible.” Before you dirty his place…

Aunt Li had been instructed to deliver the message verbatim, but for some reason, faced with that pure, ethereal face, she couldn’t bring herself to utter those vulgar words. Even knowing that actors in the entertainment industry were masters of deception, and that this pitiful face might hide a black heart, Aunt Li still couldn’t bear it. Perhaps it was because this person before her was too exceptionally beautiful.

Beauty is a sin, but also a weapon.

“Thank you.”

Sensing Aunt Li’s discomfort, Bai Tian’er offered a faint smile, tucking her disheveled hair behind her ears. She glanced down at her wretched state clothes covered in footprints, bruises visible on her exposed arms and legs.

“I’ll take a shower and leave shortly.”

Aunt Li nodded, turned, and left, closing the bedroom door behind her. By the time Bai Tian’er finished showering, the bed had been tidied, with fresh undergarments and a white dress laid out in the center. A first-aid kit sat beside them.

“Aunt Li is a good person.”

Bai Tian’er could tell that Master Tong was no benevolent figure and would never have been so considerate. She had originally worried about needing hospital treatment, but now she could manage with the medical supplies and let her body heal gradually.

After all, this body belonged to a newly debuted starlet. A hospital visit would likely cause unnecessary trouble.

She left quietly. The sprawling villa seemed devoid of any servants, likely because Aunt Li had sent them away to spare her dignity.

Turning to glance at the magnificent villa, Bai Tian’er stood in her long dress, a faint smile gracing her lips like a flower fairy who had fallen into the mortal world.

Farewell, place of rebirth. Thank you for granting me new life.

“She’s so beautiful, is she a celebrity?”

“Don’t take photos. It would be awkward if we’re caught.”

As she walked away, everyone who saw Bai Tian’er was struck dumb with amazement. On the second floor of the villa, a sharp and imposing man stood by the window, watching the girl’s retreating figure.

Ethereal as an immortal, she looked like a painting bathed in the morning sun.

A flicker of amusement passed through Tong Jin’s captivating peach-blossom eyes. His tall, straight nose was a masterpiece of creation, and his pale pink slips hinted at a fickle nature. In his hand, he held the documents he had just obtained.

So, she really was innocent.

What a pity in the entertainment industry, a cesspool of corruption, she would soon be tainted.

Tong Jin fed the papers into the shredder, watching as the A4 sheets detailing the girl’s life were sliced into strips and reduced to scraps.

Orphaned, raised in an orphanage, adopted by the Bai family. Her adoptive father was a beast in gentleman’s clothing, her adoptive mother shrewish and jealous. Only her younger brother seemed somewhat decent, but who knew if he didn’t harbor inappropriate thoughts about his sister? Discovered for her stunning beauty and launched into stardom, only to end up with a notorious, unscrupulous agent.

Bai Tian’er, you pitiful thing. “Unlucky” hardly begins to describe you.

The shredder’s whirring gradually ceased, and the playful glint in Tong Jin’s eyes faded, replaced by his usual aloofness.

Countless stunning women fought tooth and nail to get close to him. A mere Bai Tian’er wasn’t worth Master Tong’s attention.

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Zephyr Yizelle

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