The days that followed passed in a blur of routine.

  Morning study sessions. Afternoon classes. Evenings filled with revision, practice questions, and timed mock exams. Life settled into a rhythm so monotonous it would have crushed anyone looking for drama.

  Zhuqing welcomed it.

  Boredom was a luxury.

  It meant no sudden variables. No emotional ambushes. No unexpected interference from the Liu family. Just time—quiet, precious time—to prepare.

  Her grades rose steadily.

  Not explosively. Not enough to draw attention. Just enough that teachers began to nod approvingly when they returned her papers. Just enough that her rank crept upward, one position at a time, like a patient predator closing distance.

  Top ten was secured within two weeks.

  Top five by the end of the month.

  She didn’t rush the rest.

  At night, after finishing her study schedule, she opened her laptop and logged into a trading platform under a name no one would ever connect to Liu Zhuqing.

  **NetherCat.**

  The account had been created quietly, funded with a modest amount transferred through several layers. Clean. Disconnected. Untraceable.

  Her trades were cautious at first.

  Small positions. Conservative exits. Short-term swings aligned with patterns she remembered faintly—things that had once seemed meaningless when she’d read financial news in her previous life.

  Now, they were lifelines.

  She didn’t chase explosive gains. She didn’t gamble.

  She accumulated.

  A dip here. A rebound there. A company that would announce restructuring next quarter. A sector rotation just beginning to stir.

  By the end of the first week, the account was up twelve percent.

  By the end of the second, twenty-eight.

  Nothing eye-catching.

  Exactly as planned.

  She kept meticulous notes—screenshots, timestamps, reasoning. Not because she needed them now, but because one day, NetherCat would need a history. A legend built on consistency and foresight.

  A month later, when the account crossed a threshold that most retail traders never reached, someone on a small forum mentioned the username casually.

  >>> *“Anyone else notice NetherCat’s positions? Clean entries. Weird timing.”*

  She closed the tab without replying.

  Fame could wait.

  For now, money was enough.

  The evening she returned home early, the Liu family manor felt… staged.

  Every light in the main hall was on.

  Servants stood a little straighter than usual. The air itself seemed tight, expectant, like the moment before a curtain rose.

  Zhuqing paused at the entrance.

  Then stepped inside.

  Her father sat at the center of the hall, posture rigid, expression severe. Yun Wantang sat beside him, elegant as ever, hands folded neatly on her lap. Her lips curved into a faint smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

  Across from them, Liu Mengmeng’s seat was empty.

  Of course.

  Zhuqing greeted them politely and took her place without comment.

  Dinner was announced soon after.

  The dining room was bright, the table laden with dishes—more elaborate than usual. Fish, braised meats, soups simmered for hours. A show of generosity.

  Yun Wantang smiled as she served Zhuqing a portion herself.

  “You’ve been studying hard,” she said gently. “You look thinner.”

  “I’m fine,” Zhuqing replied. “Thank you.”

  Mr. Liu cleared his throat.

  “Your exams are coming,” he said. “You should focus. Other matters can wait.”

  Zhuqing nodded obediently.

  “Yes, Father.”

  The meal continued with polite conversation. Yun Wantang spoke about Liu Mengmeng’s university life—her dorm, her classes, her new friends. About how she’d adjusted well despite the school not being… ideal.

  “She’ll transfer eventually,” Yun Wantang said lightly. “Once the timing is right.”

  Mr. Liu hummed in agreement.

  After dinner, tea was served.

  Only then did Mr. Liu finally speak again.

  “The Shaw family contacted us,” he said flatly.

  The room stilled.

  “The engagement will be announced soon,” he continued. “This arrangement benefits everyone. You should prepare yourself.”

  With that, he stood.

  “I have work,” he added, already turning away.

  And just like that, he left.

  The silence that followed was thick.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  Yun Wantang sighed softly, as if burdened by concern.

  “Zhuqing,” she said, voice warm, reasonable. “You know this is for your own good.”

  Zhuqing met her gaze.

  “I understand.”

  Yun Wantang smiled, relieved.

  “Jason Smith may not be perfect,” she continued, “but he’s honest. Hardworking. A man who’ll rely on you. Stability matters more than dreams.”

  Zhuqing lowered her eyes.

  “I’d like some time to think,” she said quietly. “And… some money.”

  Yun Wantang blinked.

  “Money?”

  “For preparations,” Zhuqing said calmly. “If I’m to settle down, I should at least do it properly.”

  Yun Wantang hesitated—then nodded.

  “That’s reasonable,” she said. “I’ll arrange it.”

  Zhuqing bowed her head slightly.

  “Thank you.”

  When she returned to her room, she heard footsteps upstairs.

  Liu Mengmeng had come home late.

  The girl burst into her bedroom, phone in hand, laughter spilling out as she threw herself onto the bed.

  “Noble Mrs. Shaw…” she murmured dreamily, scrolling through pictures of luxury weddings, diamond rings, European estates.

  Zhuqing listened from her room, expression unreadable.

  Not reborn yet.

  Good.

  The next morning, everything changed.

  Liu Mengmeng woke screaming.

  The servants rushed in panic. Yun Wantang followed soon after, alarm written across her face.

  By noon, the girl emerged pale, eyes burning with something sharp and unfamiliar.

  When she saw Zhuqing in the hall, her gaze locked on her like a blade.

  That afternoon, Yun Wantang summoned Zhuqing to the sitting room.

  A bank transfer notification arrived on her phone moments later.

  They were almost done.

  Then the door slammed open.

  Liu Mengmeng stormed in, clutching a cream-colored envelope.

  The cream-colored envelope trembled in Liu Mengmeng’s hand.

  Her breathing was uneven. Too fast. Too sharp.

  Yun Wantang’s gaze flicked to it instinctively, pupils shrinking the moment she recognized the seal.

  The Shaw family.

  “why did you get that out ?” Yun Wantang demanded, standing abruptly.

  Liu Mengmeng ignored her.

  “Mother!” she shouted. “This engagement—I want it!”

  She thrust the letter forward, voice shrill. “It should be mine!”

  The room erupted.

  Yun Wantang stood abruptly. “Mengmeng! What are you doing?”

  “This is my future!” Liu Mengmeng cried. “I won’t let her take it!”

  Zhuqing laughed. Softly.

  It cut through the chaos like glass.

  Liu Mengmeng ignored her.

  Her eyes were locked on Zhuqing.

  some hatred.

  some jealousy.

  and Fear.

  The kind that came from recognition.

  From certainty.

  “You—” Liu Mengmeng’s voice cracked. “You also remember, don’t you?”

  Yun Wantang frowned. “Mengmeng, what are you talking about?”

  Zhuqing remained expressionless. just a faint frown

  as if she would aknowledge it . why would she ? she needs to keep her advantage

  “ Remember whar?,have u told me get something?” she said.

  Liu Mengmeng staggered forward a step , but more realxed.

  In her previous life, Zhuqing had always looked like this at the end—calm, resigned, already defeated.

  But this Zhuqing? just something she can toy around as she wished

  Yun Wantang stared between them, bewildered.

  “Mengmeng,” she said sharply, “what nonsense is this? Jason Smith is poor. The Shaw family—”

  “I don’t care!” Liu Mengmeng screamed. “I choose Jason!”

  Silence fell.

  Yun Wantang’s face drained of color.

  “…What?”

  “I said I choose him!” Liu Mengmeng shouted again. “I don’t want the Shaw family!”

  Yun Wantang staggered back as if struck.

  “Have you lost your mind?” she demanded. “Do you know what you’re giving up?”

  “I know exactly what I’m doing!” Liu Mengmeng snapped.

  Zhuqing watched them calmly. “Mother,” Zhuqing continued, turning slightly, voice perfectly measured, “she seems very emotional. Maybe she’s under too much pressure.”

  Yun Wantang nodded reflexively. “Mengmeng, sit down. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

  Liu Mengmeng clenched her fists, her voice shrill. “I choose Jason!”

  Yun Wantang froze.

  “What?”

  “I said I choose him!” Liu Mengmeng repeated, louder now, as if shouting could make things go smoothly . “I don’t want the Shaw family!”

  The words echoed in the sitting room like a slap.

  Yun Wantang stared at her daughter, disbelief giving way to anger. “Mengmeng, do you hear yourself? Do you know how many families would beg for this connection?”

  “I don’t care!” Liu Mengmeng snapped. “I won’t marry into a doomed family!”

  That made Zhuqing’s eyes lift—just slightly.

  Yun Wantang caught it.

  “…Doomed?” she repeated slowly. “What nonsense are you talking about now?”

  Liu Mengmeng’s lips pressed together. She seemed to realize she’d gone too far—but retreat was impossible now. She took a sharp breath, forcing herself to calm down.

  “I—I heard things,” she said quickly. “Things you don’t know.”

  “Oh?” Yun Wantang said coldly. “From where?”

  “From… a fortune teller,” Liu Mengmeng said, a little too fast. “And—dreams. I’ve been having strange dreams.”

  Zhuqing almost smiled.

  Yun Wantang’s brows furrowed. “Dreams?”

  “Yes,” Liu Mengmeng insisted. “Very clear ones. The Shaw family looks glorious now, but they’ll collapse within a few years. Internal disputes. Bad investments. Everything will fall apart.”

  She clenched her fists. “If I marry in, I’ll be dragged down with them.”

  Yun Wantang hesitated.

  She didn’t believe in fortune tellers.

  But she did believe in risk.

  “And Jason Smith?” Yun Wantang asked carefully. “What about him?”

  Liu Mengmeng straightened, confidence flooding back into her posture.

  “Jason will rise,” she said firmly. “He’ll get rich. Very rich. I saw it clearly. He starts with nothing, but he’ll build his own company. Technology. Investments. He’ll succeed.”

  Zhuqing lowered her gaze again, fingers resting loosely at her side.

  As if none of this concerned her.

  Yun Wantang looked between the two girls.

  One frantic but passionate.

  The other quiet, composed, obedient.

  A familiar calculation flickered behind her eyes.

  “Mengmeng,” Yun Wantang said slowly, “even if what you say is true… the Shaw family is still a powerful backing now. Connections matter.”

  “They won’t matter when everything collapses!” Liu Mengmeng snapped. “Mother, you always taught me to think long-term!”

  That struck home.

  Yun Wantang fell silent.

  Zhuqing chose that moment to speak.

  Her voice was soft. Almost hesitant.

  “…Mother.”

  Both of them turned to her.

  Zhuqing looked conflicted—carefully so. Not dramatic. Just enough.

  “If Mengmeng wants Jason,” she said quietly, “I won’t compete with her.”

  Liu Mengmeng’s head snapped toward her.

  Yun Wantang frowned. “Zhuqing, this isn’t a small matter—”

  “I know,” Zhuqing said, lifting her eyes. “That’s why I wanted time to think.”

  She paused, then added gently, “But I don’t want to fight my sister over a marriage.”

  Liu Mengmeng felt a surge of relief—followed immediately by suspicion.

  That was too easy.

  “…You’re giving up?” Liu Mengmeng asked sharply.

  Zhuqing hesitated.

  Just long enough.

  “I didn’t say that,” she replied calmly.

  The air shifted.

  Yun Wantang stiffened. “Zhuqing.”

  Zhuqing met her gaze. “Mother, if Mengmeng truly believes Jason is her future… then shouldn’t I at least be allowed to consider my own?”

  Liu Mengmeng’s heart jumped.

  “Consider what?” she demanded.

  Zhuqing tilted her head slightly. “Jason Smith.”

  Silence.

  It wasn’t aggressive.

  It wasn’t emotional.

  It was reasonable.

  Yun Wantang’s expression darkened. “Zhuqing, don’t be childish.”

  “I’m not,” Zhuqing said evenly. “Jason is the one you originally proposed for me. If Mengmeng insists on taking the Shaw family off the table… then Jason becomes an option again.”

  Liu Mengmeng’s breath hitched.

  No.

  Not that.

  She remembered it too clearly.

  In her previous life, Zhuqing marrying Jason had been the foundation of everything.

  Jason’s rise.

  Her own regrets.

  Her eventual fall.

  “You can’t,” Liu Mengmeng said hoarsely. “You can’t take him.”

  Zhuqing looked at her—truly looked this time.

  Calm.

  Measuring.

  “Why not?”

  The question was light.

  Deadly.

  Liu Mengmeng froze.

  She couldn’t say because I’ve lived this before.

  She couldn’t say because if you take him, I lose everything.

  She swallowed hard.

  “Because—because I like him!” she snapped. “I liked him first!”

  Zhuqing nodded slowly. “Then that’s exactly why I won’t compete.”

  Relief flooded Liu Mengmeng—

  Until Zhuqing continued.

  “But stepping aside has a cost.”

  Yun Wantang’s eyes sharpened. “What cost?”

  Zhuqing turned to her politely.

  “Compensation,” she said simply.

  Liu Mengmeng’s face twisted. “You’re asking for money?”

  “For losses,” Zhuqing replied calmly. “I was prepared for one engagement. Then another. Plans were made. Then undone. Reputations shift.” She met Yun Wantang’s gaze steadily. “If I withdraw now, it should be clean.”

  Yun Wantang exhaled slowly. “How much?” she asked.

  Liu Mengmeng stiffened. “Mother!” Yun Wantang raised a hand. “Enough.” She looked at Zhuqing. “Name it.”

  Zhuqing didn’t answer immediately. She appeared to think. In reality, she already knew.

  “I’ll write it down,” she said. “So there’s no misunderstanding.”

  Yun Wantang nodded. “Good.” although reluctantly

  Liu Mengmeng stared at Zhuqing, heart pounding.

  She had won. Jason was hers.

  And yet—

  Why did it feel like she had just agreed to something irreversible? but she put it aside thinking of her wealthy life as Mrs.smith

  Zhuqing lowered her eyes, expression docile once more. Inside, her thoughts were perfectly clear. She smiled faintly.

  The trap had closed.

  And Liu Mengmeng had stepped into it willingly.