Chapter One: Rebirth, You're Merely a Substitute

Pain.

Such throbbing pain.

When Xie Fanyin opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was that familiar man.

It's him...

Indeed, the man who ruined her life.

She was supposed to be dead, having been pushed down the stairs by Ji Xiana while eight months pregnant, resulting in two lives lost.

Like a lightning bolt of realization, Xie Fanyin woke up, trying her best to get away from the man, but she couldn't escape his grasp.

Tears welled up in her eyes, "Mo Yihan, are you still human? Let me go! The child in my womb is yours!"

Mo Yihan laughed mockingly in anger, wishing he could strangle her on the spot.

The man chuckled menacingly and said, "Let you go? You can forget it in this lifetime."

--

When Xie Fanyin woke up again, Mo Yihan was already gone.

Looking at her surroundings, Xie Fanyin paused in surprise.

She hadn't stepped foot in this room since their divorce.

For her divorce, she left with nothing but the clothes on her back, and this had been going on for half a year now.

Could it be... she had been reborn?

'Knock knock.'

The room door was knocked.

Xie Fanyin looked alertly at the door, "Who is it?"

It's impossible for Mo Yihan to knock on his own room's door.

"It's me, Xia Shana."

Xia Shana!

Hate flared in Xie Fanyin's eyes, her hands grabbing tightly onto the blanket beneath her.

Xia Shana, her once closest confidant.

From junior high to high school, and then to university, they lived in the same dormitory, their relationship surpassing that of sisters.

She once thought that the most trustworthy person in this world was Xia Shana.

But who would have guessed that every seemingly heartfelt persuasion of hers was to provoke Mo Yihan, leading to humiliation and imprisonment.

As for Xia Shana, she took advantage of the situation. On one hand, she betrayed Xie Fanyin to curry favor with Mo Yihan; on the other, she stole her sheet music to partake in a competition, becoming a renowned musical prodigy. She found her biological parents and became an envied young mistress admired by all.

In the end, Xia Shana pushed her, alongside her unborn child, down the stairs, resulting in two deaths.

Ji Xiana stood at the door. Upon receiving no response, she simply pushed the door open and entered.

At this moment, Xie Fanyin was a bit disheveled. Jealousy had crossed Ji Xiana's eyes, but she feigned an expression of heartache, seemingly on the verge of tears.

She ran over and said, "Fanyin, you and him... last night..."

She had really reincarnated! And today was just that day...

Even the words Ji Xiana said were exactly the same as her previous life!

Xie Fanyin concealed the hatred in the depths of her eyes and said in a low voice, "Isn't it an obvious fact?"

Ji Xiana's face was filled with heartache and disappointment. "How could you do this, didn't you promise to remain pure for Mo Ye Bai?"

Mo Ye Bai was Xie Fanyin's ex-boyfriend.

In her previous life, Xie Fanyin had been forced by her adopted parents to marry Mo Yu Han, and she never really accepted him. Instead, she relied heavily on Mo Ye Bai. With Ji Xiana's constant instigation, Xie Fanyin finally agreed to meet with Mo Ye Bai.

But before she could meet Mo Ye Bai, Mo Yu Han had arrived.

When she woke up, it was the scene from last night.

Ji Xiana wiped some nonexistent tears and said, "Mo Ye Bai waited for you all last night, yet you never showed up. If he knew you were in bed with another man..."

Not again!

Ji Xiana knew precisely where Xie Fanyin's weaknesses lay in her past life.

If it were the Xie Fanyin from her previous life, she would surely feel immense guilt and distress.

But now...

Xie Fanyin made a confused expression, "Other men? Do you mean, Master Liu?"

Ji Xianna said as a matter of fact, “Who else could it be! You hate him too, don't you? Just yesterday, you even said that you wish he would die sooner so you can reclaim your freedom!”

Her voice rose lightly, as if she meant for someone to overhear it.

Ji Xianna looked blankly towards a mirror not far ahead, which reflected a man standing on the balcony, his aura growing darker as he listened.

Ji Xianna felt somewhat gleeful about it.

This fool Xie Fanyin probably has no idea that man is standing there. If she did, she would be too scared to say anything.

And now, with her hate for Ma Yihan, her words are sure to be sharp.

I wonder what Master Liu's reaction will be when he hears this?

However, Xie Fanyin's reaction was unexpected.

She raised her eyes to look at Ji Xianna, “When did I ever say that?”

Ji Xianna was momentarily stunned, hurriedly holding her hand and saying, “You said it a few days ago, you claimed that you and Mo Ye are truly in love. You even said you were going to elope with him. Don't you remember?”

“Xianna,” Xie Fanyin brushed her off coldly, “I am already Mrs. Ma, such things might be okay to discuss privately. However, if Master Liu hears it and misunderstands, it could lead to unnecessary trouble.”

Ji Xianna was taken aback.

God damn it!

This fool would usually only agree with her; now, however, his attitude was completely different!

"I've never met Mo Ye Bai in person before. The only reason I agreed to see him last night was to clear things up and tell him to forget me. But I don't know which gossiping woman blabbed the news to Mister Liu..."

Ji Xia Na felt unsettled.

This gossiping woman could be anywhere, even right before her eyes.

Xie Fan Yin looked at Ji Xia Na, saying, "That's why Mr Liu was so angry last night. He is usually quite gentle..."

As she went on, she became shy.

The man smoking on the balcony swallowed hard.

Usually?

Where did this 'usually' come from?

This woman normally couldn't wait to distance herself from him. What on earth was she playing at now?

However, Ji Xia Na was dumbstruck, both jealous and resentful. "Are you saying this has happened many times before?"

Lowering her gaze, Xie Fan Yin nodded, "Mmm... So, could you tell Mo Ye Bai to stop pestering me? Otherwise, Mr Liu might get jealous again, and I'm not sure I can handle it."

Ji Xia Na clenched her fists, even more frustrated, her face full of disappointment. She choked out, "The weather in the capital was so cold last night. Mo Ye Bai waited for you at the café until after 10 o'clock. He only left when the café closed, and he even cried. While he was heartbroken over you, you were with another man...

I know you have your difficulties, you need to repay the Xie family for their nurturing. But does this really have to cost you a lifetime of happiness?"