Six years after breaking up with Julian Thorne, I died from an illness caused by overworking, leaving behind our five-year-old daughter. Julian, devastated, handled my funeral. He raised our daughter with spoiling love and care. But our daughter always resented him for my death and even ran away from home with a gold-digger boyfriend. The System had no choice but to recall me. "Every time she causes trouble, she uses you, her dead mother, as a shield." "Hurry back and set her straight." "Your stay is limited, so hurry up." 1 The living room was a mess. Porcelain shards littered the floor, and tea stains spread across the carpet. The girl in the center was still looking for things to smash. Julian stood in the entryway. His back slightly bent, eyelids lowered, taking a deep breath. "Are you done venting?" He said. "Put on your shoes, don't cut your feet. I'll have someone clean up." The girl's face visibly flushed red again. "I don't need you to care! What right do you have to manage me!" "Because I am your biological father." "You didn't even marry my mom, who recognizes you?" "...That guy is no good. He can't give you a good life." "Hilarious. You were bankrupt when you were with my mom. Now you look down on others?" "I just didn't have money back then, not lack of ability." "Right, you're capable. Did she enjoy a day of blessing from you?" Silence fell. Julian's Adam's apple bobbed several times. Head lowered, he adjusted his cuffs helplessly. The girl stepped over the shards and ran upstairs. Stopped at the turn of the stairs. Maliciously, she spoke again. "My mom broke up with you even when she was pregnant. How good could you be?" Julian raised his bloodshot eyes. "I didn't know she was pregnant with you!" "If you knew, you wouldn't have borrowed money to invest?" She enunciated every word. "Stop pretending to be affectionate." The servants were silent as cicadas in winter. Julian walked to the center of the living room and sat on the sofa. Arms resting on his knees, looking around at the mess. Bullet comments flashed before my eyes. [Bringing up the past as soon as they argue, Julian really has no moves left.] [Lily knows exactly where to stab to hurt the most.] [With this mental state, I feel she has a psychological disorder.] [Normal. Julian was almost breaking down when he collected the heroine's body. Lily was only five then, watching her own mom vomit blood and die, definitely traumatized.] [Where's the heroine? Didn't they say she's resurrected? Why haven't I seen anyone?] [Heard she's still a ghost.] [Reshaping the body takes time, just wait.] So much happened in these eleven years. A massive amount of information impacted my mind. I recalled the girl just now in disbelief. Silver hair, tube top, low-rise cargo pants. Obvious lip piercing, and seemed to have a tattoo on her waist. Sixteen years old? My daughter? Lily Thorne, you really need a slap in the face. The System ran back and forth in my mind. "She just got caught running away from home with a gold-digger boyfriend." "Luckily she wasn't tricked into pregnancy." "If she got pregnant, this NPC would completely collapse. My points would be deducted to zero!" "Think of a way to straighten her out. My year-end bonus depends on you!" Making it hard for a ghost? I didn't say a word. Floated to Julian's side and sat down. Sixteen or seventeen years have passed since we broke up. You're old. I said in my heart. Didn't expect you to still be so handsome in your forties. Indeed, an old Ferrari is still a Ferrari. Julian pressed his brow. Took out his wallet and pulled a photo halfway out. ... I was slightly stunned. It was a two-inch ID photo with a blue background. Used for submitting resumes after graduation. Wearing a suit from the photo shop. Smile stiff, photoshopped deadly white. Consciousness dissipated for too long; I almost forgot what I looked like when I was young. I thought it was ugly and should have disposed of the unused ones. Don't know where this one came from. Over the years, the photo had blurred a lot. Only the eyebrows and mouth were still somewhat clear. Julian touched the face in my photo. The phone suddenly popped up a call. He slowly put away the wallet and calmly started talking about business. I floated up and circled him a few times. Things in the past had their difficulties. He wasn't wrong, and neither was I. I stopped blaming him long ago. 2 Julian came from a Hong Kong merchant family. He was a rich young master when he was young. It's just that his father went bankrupt, and he had to make a living himself. If not for this, he wouldn't have met me. Wouldn't have been chased and caught by me relentlessly. Wouldn't have squeezed into a tiny rental apartment with me. I was 22 when I met Julian. Just graduated. Sending resumes everywhere in the talent market. Couldn't find a job. Had to look at the long line of applicants, thinking about which bubble tea shop was better to work at. But Julian was different. He was very popular. Luxury counters and high-end sales positions fought over him. There were also some livestreaming positions and bar waiter jobs trying to squeeze in. It took Julian half a day to escape the crowd. I kindly went to help him avoid pitfalls. Sales is tiring, luxury counters are competitive. Livestreaming and bars trick people into shady business. Don't go to any of them. If asked, say they contacted me too, and I know the inside story. Julian listened to me patiently. Then said, he wasn't looking for a job. ... I knew it. Wearing this old-school custom suit, he didn't look short of money at a glance. Didn't expect. That night I saw him being kicked out of an office building by security. He sat under a tree, slowly patting the dust off his clothes. Later I learned he was seeking investment. Seeking investment, finding talent, cultivating an unknown team. Many said he was a madman. Including my boss. Julian was too good-looking. I thought about getting close to him and introducing him to rich ladies. Then I could definitely get a big, big red packet. Heard someone did this. A rich lady wanted to keep him with a Maserati. An intermediary came to persuade him to sell himself. Resulted in eating a punch from Julian, getting a black eye. I started paying attention to Julian. His actions were very regular. People around occasionally mentioned him with mockery. Fragments plus action trajectory could piece together what he did and who he met. During a carefully arranged encounter. He came out of the office building where I worked. Obviously, seeking investment failed again. Too many "chance encounters," we were familiar with each other. He recognized me and nodded politely. I treated him to a glass of draft beer. Then said, I thought he could make it. After all, the bosses only mocked him for wanting to take a radical path in a conservative market. Never said his eye for products was bad. Julian's polite and gentle expression froze. Lifted his bloodshot eyes, staring at me motionless. Corners of his mouth trembled. Before lowering his eyelids and forcing a bitter smile. Drank a bit too much that night. Life taught me to strike quickly and grab everything I wanted. Even failure wouldn't lose anything. So borrowing the courage from alcohol, I kissed him in the alley. Julian's back pressed against the alley bricks, frozen. He was at a loss, very embarrassed. Maybe felt I was offensive. But he started adding me to his social circle. Introducing me to others, from shyly teasing me as "talent scout." To serious "friend." Finally becoming "my lover." I was satisfied to have him in my bag. He was a qualified lover. Loyal, patient, unruly, a bit machismo. Cohabiting for two and a half years, never let me spend a penny. But what made us quarrel and part ways in the end was also money. Julian disregarded his life when he acted. Could bet his entire net worth on one choice. When the team he favored officially started financing. He mortgaged all his remaining fixed assets in Hong Kong for cash. Plus borrowed money, exchanged for more than eight million. Invested all into the market. During this period, he made many similar investments. Just not heavily invested. He also didn't ask me for money, so I had no reason to object. But this time it was eight million. He was 27. I had also been working for two and a half years. Knowing what a figure in the millions meant for ordinary people. I wanted to ask him to be more cautious. Ask him to consider our future. ... And I was pregnant. I didn't say this sentence. Because Julian's expression was too cold. Too stubborn. On the table was the money he borrowed from former friends. And loan certificates from the bank. A few thin sheets of paper, pressed under the ledger. Julian sank into the sofa, smoking one cigarette after another. I choked and wanted to cry. "Can you not smoke?" He put out the cigarette and went to rinse his mouth. I grabbed his sleeve tightly. "Carrying so much debt, have you considered me?" "That check in the room is for you." He lowered his eyelids. Emotionlessly, wiped away my tears with his thumb. "Following me, you don't need to carry debt. If you want to leave, that money counts as my compensation to you." Maybe pregnancy makes one easily break down. I started screaming in disbelief. "Do I want your money? Have you ever thought about what if you don't succeed? Will you commit suicide?" "I will succeed." "So many times before, which time did you bring back good results?" Julian pursed his lips tight, looking at me. The light in his eyes seemed to go out. Half disappointment, half relief. He gently brushed away my hand and turned his back. The smell of smoke rose again. He leaned sideways against the wall, back bent wearily. Simple white shirt and suit pants, worn nobly. His back blurred in my eyes. I knew he would succeed. But didn't know how many times he would fail before succeeding. Also didn't know if I could last until the day he succeeded. He was ambitious. And I wanted a stable life. Not on the same path, we would separate sooner or later. I wiped my tears and went to pack my clothes. Counted everything I could take away. Walked towards the door. Julian suddenly called me. Rarely, a bit incoherent. He said, "A few days ago... a friend of mine said he saw you go to the hospital." I touched my stomach. The test strip result was only a faint gray double line, uncertain. So I went to the hospital to confirm the pregnancy. He didn't know. I originally wanted to tell him tonight. Then we could have a good talk about the future. I said softly. "Nothing, endocrine disorder, prescribed some medicine." Suitcase wheels rolling. "Chloe!" He called me. Lips moved, then said. "I remember that suitcase is broken." I didn't respond. His retention was too euphemistic. So I had the right not to understand. I packed a few clothes and moved out that night. Didn't take the check he gave. Didn't take anything related. Every penny might be his future retreat. This was my last kindness. No contact after separation. That year at 25. I gave birth to Lily, still drifting in Beijing. Her arrival brought me good luck. In the next four years, I kept getting raises. Salary enough for me to move into a slightly larger rental in the East City, and still have savings. I didn't pay attention to financial news. Until Julian's face frequently appeared in short videos, I realized. He indeed succeeded. That eight million investment leveraged everything. His net worth skyrocketed, and he began to redeem assets in Hong Kong one after another. We were all moving in a good direction. Thought I could raise Lily smoothly. Then let her choose whether to see her biological father. Things went contrary to wishes. Long-term accompanying dinner parties, I drank a lot of alcohol. Alcohol caused problems in my body quickly. After drinking once, the sink was dyed red by the blood I vomited. Premonition before death. Too late. I didn't call 911, nor the police. Because I wasn't sure who the police would give custody of Lily to after I died. I wasn't assured leaving her to my parents. Even less hoped she would be sent to an orphanage. So while vomiting blood, I dialed Julian's number. Didn't even finish that call. Just reported the community unit. Before losing consciousness, I felt pity. Pity dying at home instead of the company. Couldn't get compensation. Lily cried loudly by my leg. I heard Julian's voice. Panicked, hoarse, and broken. "Chloe Vance!" He was calling me. "I'm coming right away, you can't hang up!" Vaguely heard him choking. All sounds faded away. I thought he would take good care of Lily. He did take good care. Raised her into whatever. Spoiled into lawlessness. When I come back, I'll slap her. Bullet comments suddenly covered the sky, dense and invisible. [Holy crap holy crap, what is Lily Thorne doing!] [Want to escape prison shouldn't jump off building damn it] [That dead mother phoenix man is still tricking her to secretly transfer dad's money!] [Anyone with a brain wouldn't jump from the third floor right?] [Break a leg then, taken away by phoenix man exploited completely, honest at home] [Where's the butler, servants, no one found the miss climbing the window?] I floated to the third floor. Thanks to wall-passing skills, found her quickly. She hesitated by the window. Even with the green belt as a buffer, injury was inevitable. "Too high, have to think of other ways." She was on the phone, rubbing her head irritably. The person on the other side answered quickly. "Okay, no rush. Your dad shouldn't have cut off your card yet, right? Need to prepare early." "Cut off long ago. It's okay, I know what to do, don't worry about money. You book the hotel and tickets first." "...Lily," the man smiled bitterly, "Booking a hotel will max out my card, you book the ticket yourself." "I'll transfer to you." "Sorry, letting you burden this little money." "Take it and cut the crap." Anger rose from my heart. Wanted not to look at her to calm down, turned head, saw the magnificent room. One room, with a living room and terrace, cloakroom full of luxury brands. Bathroom bigger than the bedroom I rented before. Even more annoyed. Julian raised her like gold and jade. For her to let a phoenix man suck blood? I wanted to wake her up. Hands passed through her shoulders, grabbing nothing. I called out the System. "Hurry up and give me a body, my hands are itching." System categorical. "Tech department is working overtime, definitely ready by tomorrow evening!" Have to wait another day. I gritted my teeth. She shuffled in slippers, lying on the bed. Familiar with tapping the screen. Opened a bank account. Frowned, as if hesitating. Repeatedly deleted and typed password. Finally gritted teeth, transferred a sum of money. And dashingly transferred twenty thousand to another account. [Using dad's money to tip men... hard to comment.] [Not earned by self so no heartache ha] [Hey where is she going?] [I remember Lily Thorne specifically contacted a servant before, probably running away] I followed her closely. Sure enough. A middle-aged woman pushed a dining cart, stopped at the room door. Quietly dropped a key on the carpet. Kicked it into the door crack. Lily lay on the ground, quickly grabbed the key. Cautiously waited half an hour before opening the door to leave. I gritted my teeth following Lily. Probably her grounding wasn't public. Security heard she was going to dinner with a friend, quickly dispatched a car. [Why isn't Julian home?] [He just finished a call and went to the company] [Male lead come back quickly, daughter gone if not back!] [He's still in a meeting now, can't even answer phone.] [It's okay, finishing meeting seeing bank card transaction info will know] Arriving at the restaurant. Driver drove away. She went into a coffee shop. Quickly put on mask and cap. Sat by the window, looking around. Ten minutes later. A tall and thin handsome man knocked on the glass. Lily walked a few steps fast, jumped into his arms. I closed my eyes tight. Too late to curse, sudden dizziness. System shouted excitedly. [Fast fast! Loaded complete you have a body!] 3 I felt death again. No concept of time. Only void blackness left. Like the black seen covering one eye. Sound arrived one step before light. Quarreling again. Lily had been caught back home. [Actually hiding under Julian's information network for three days, Lily Thorne still has some skills] [Originally not stupid, just pure rebellious] [She's underage can't lock hotel info, otherwise caught back in half a day] I opened my eyes. Soul half stuck outside body, half melted into flesh. Crying in the study. Julian pursed his lips tight, hands curled stiffly. Finger marks clear on the girl's face. Staring in disbelief, tears popping out quickly. Julian swallowed slightly, didn't move gaze. "Know your mistake?" Lily gritted teeth staring at him fiercely, not saying a word. "Lily Thorne, speak!" Desk thudded heavily. "Buying gifts to see that man's family, showing off wealth?" "If I didn't find you, do you know how dangerous you were?" "This kind of place, police can't even enter the village entrance when you die!" Julian threw a stack of HD photos on the table. "How did I know his home was so remote?" She wiped eyes talking back, sobbing intermittently. "My mom never hit me... if my mom was still here she definitely wouldn't let you hit me." Julian clenched fists tightly, red oozing out of eyes again. Turned back, breathing deeply and shallowly. Lily bumped past his shoulder, pulled door hard. My body loading complete. Feet on ground. Through soft carpet, still had unrealistic floating feeling. I couldn't see my face. Delicate reflective skin on back of hand made one trance. Door in front suddenly pulled open. I met Lily's gaze. She inherited her father's height advantage. Already grew a bit taller than me. Seeing me, she froze for a long time. Suddenly grabbed my hand, dragged me into the study. "Julian!" She pointed at me, questioning him angrily. "Who is she? When did she come?" "Finding such a young one, do you have no shame!" Julian slammed desk with anger, "What did I find?" I was dragged staggering. Stumbled forward a few steps, barely stood firm. Julian leaned sideways on desk, gaze slanting disdainfully. Atmosphere stagnated instantly. On his face was nearly foolish blankness. Long time, only slightly moved cervical vertebra. Driving body, slowly turned front to me. I unconsciously smoothed hair. Didn't know where to put sight. Had countless words to say when ghost. Old friends reuniting, after years, how to greet. ... You aged a lot? Seems inappropriate. Directly confess? Probably too scary. Resurrection from dead, facing it know how absurd. Lily between us, looking left and right. "What do you mean?" Her breathing slowly weakened, somewhat unstable. "You guys hooked up long ago? Just happened to be here this time, accidentally bumped into?" "Lily out!" Julian suddenly spoke. She stubbornly fixed in place, "Why should I go out?" "Lily Thorne!" Julian pointed at door, harsh voice and stern countenance. "Out, close the door, don't let me repeat." Door slammed an echo. Ground vibrated. I looked back, no one there anymore. Julian cleared throat. Futile, vaguely carried choking. "Miss, you are..." He covered face pressed temples, exhaled. "Estate security very strict, may I ask how you entered?" I hesitated to speak. Words to mouth, turned corner. "Convenient to let me go to bathroom first?" Julian stunned again. Trance-like, pointed to northeast corner. "There... over there." I supported wall, walked crookedly to bathroom. Just entered this body. Limbs soft like noodles, forgot how to walk. Guess I should be like a congenitally disabled person with cerebellar hypoplasia now. Door cut off that sight always following my back. Face in mirror childish. Hair down, no makeup, youth that staying up late eating takeout couldn't hide. Was me just graduated. System urged me out to see Julian. [How long can you hide here?] "Then what to do," I said, "Go out say hi I'm your ex-girlfriend, I'm reborn, in this life I want to take back everything belonging to me?" System didn't squeak. I splashed water rinsing face. "What identity did you arrange for me?" [You have no new identity.] System silent a while. [Inserting a completely new name register is troublesome, need match very much social information. You won't stay long, no need arrange new card.] "Meaning I am currently undocumented?" [Strictly speaking, yes.] No money no phone. Face recognition would recognize me as dead Chloe Vance. Hard to move an inch out door. I dried water on face, walked out of bathroom. Warm yellow desk lamp soft and dim. Study not bright, blackout curtains to ground, swallowing sunlight. Julian stiff on sofa like stone block. Laptop in front honestly presenting surveillance screen. No one seen entering estate. Outside study. I appeared out of thin air. He repeatedly dragged progress bar, looked up in disbelief. Looking at me, eyes full of bloodshot. I put hands behind back clenched fists, clench release. I said, "Long time no see." He motionless, staring at me himself. Suddenly stood up, one arm supporting waist, paced a few steps back turned, then turned back. Seemed to have tears. I inexplicably had a kind of guilt of faking death. "Julian, hard to explain, but..." I paused a while, anger surfaced with hindsight. "Let's not talk about this first, you raised Lily too spoiled, she actually wanted to jump off building to find her boyfriend, I very much support you beating her once in this situation. Who did she learn this from?" His Adam's apple rolled violently. Light suddenly appeared in eyes. I stood by bookshelf, watching him approach. Heartbeat fast for no reason. Only one arm distance left. He lifted arm. Closed eyes eased a bit, reached out to me. I conditionally reached back to hold, unconsciously shook lightly. He swallowed, voice a bit shaky. "Recently okay?" "Should be not too good," I incoherent, "You know, just came back to life, a bit unaccustomed." Unexpectedly cold field. I lowered head, withdrew hand awkwardly. But couldn't pull back. Julian tightened knuckles increasingly, almost wrapped my whole palm. He asked hoarsely. "Can hug once?" "Ah, sure, sure... mm!" Air squeezed out of chest cavity. I felt I became a stress relief toy, squeak once when pinched. Body temperature conducted through thin shirt. Muscle direction, breathing ups and downs, belt edges, all printed on body front. He bowed body, pushed me to chest. Embrace completely strange. But swept away the restraint just now. Forty-four year old Julian's fitness traces very clear. Although I can't remember his figure in twenties clearly. But seems, more lean and strong than before. "Have time to work out, seems life is good." I pressed against his chest. Pulled out a section of shirt, probed into hem. Apollo's belt deep on waist side, just right to put thumbs. Julian grabbed my hand, pressed on face. "I'm old." He said. "Arrived age to maintain body." Skin under palm, had matte texture. Couldn't see stubble, rubbing sandily on hand, itchy. Compared to plump collagen, more was bone. Bone covered with thin layer of skin and flesh, showing cold hardness familiar with worldly affairs. Julian buried in my hair. Hugged hard once, slowly released. His breathing calmed down, couldn't see more emotions in eyes. "Just live here?" "I can't go out, I'm undocumented." "It's okay," He raised hand, supported my back neck, pulled towards front, "Many rooms at home. Are you hungry?" "Not hungry." "Mm, good. Good." He responded absently. Gaze wandered several times, fell on my face again. His eyelids flushed. Suddenly circled me tight again, air sound low and weak. "Hug again." 4 The study was like a barrier. Just stepped out the door, bullet comments covered the sky. [What happened just now? Why all black screen] [What thing not let my noble VIP see?] [Heroine hurry to third floor, your daughter seems to have 1.4 (GPA? or height? assuming trouble/height of conflict)] [No big deal, Lily Thorne thinks dad has new love, crying in quilt] Julian gently pinched my fingertips. "What's wrong?" I came back to senses. "Want to see Lily, she looks misunderstood." Julian let go, sighed deeply and shallowly. "There's a monitor at her bedroom door, easy to find. I won't go up, she doesn't like me finding her." I spoke coolly. "Aren't you afraid she beats me as mistress?" He pursed lips, led way silently. I gestured. "She's so much taller than me, not like me at all." Julian laughed once. "Yes, she looks like me... temper like you, does whatever she wants, listens to no one's persuasion." I said, "Aren't you the same?" His smile solidified, quickly put away. Probably both remembered those not so good memories. Simply silent. Corridor extended front and back, music low and slow. Not approached yet, a surveillance probe slowly turned over. Aimed at me, started talking. "Take your mistress roll as far as you can!" "I move out next month, give each other some face these days, don't disturb each other, okay?" Julian pressed operation screen on wall, asked servant to bring key. I frowned, "Open directly?" "Can't communicate at this time." Julian pulled a bitter smile. "If talk nicely to her, she will leave us hanging here all day." I waved hand, signaled him to go first. "I talk two sentences with her first." Julian silent moment, nodded. Footsteps away. I faced monitor, puzzled. "Lily Thorne, is your brain damaged?" "I worked hard to find you a good dad, you play cutting off relations this play?" "Still move out, don't want money?" Silence inside for a while. Inconceivable tone exactly same as mine. "Are you f***ing crazy?" I pointed at myself. "Recognize my face before speaking." "Also, if you say one more dirty word involving mom—" "I will let people beat your boyfriend into a sandbag." [Holy crap laughing to death] [Boyfriend: Who made a sound for me] [Being only child too long brain easy to rust, suggest send to study abroad deep cultivating] [Fighting for property with illegitimate child is honest] Door pulled open fiercely. Lily Thorne shuffled in slippers, whole body alert. "Who are you?" She stared at me, trying to identify. "My mom died early, never said she had any sisters." "Letting people stand at door talking is very impolite." "You haven't even entered Liang family door, still want me to talk politeness with you?" "Whether your boyfriend will become hand-beaten beef balls depends on you." "Haven't become my stepmom yet f***ing pretending high right? Don't know who I am? Julian gave you much face?" Small age. I raised palm, slapped crisply. She visibly furious, grabbed my collar. I sneered, "Knew earlier you would be crooked like this in Liang family, my call should have been to your grandma. Also, running away from home still saying I definitely won't hit, now I tell you, I not only will whip you, but also whip you into a top." Strength on her hand suddenly loosened. I finished scolding word after word, palm hot. Surged a few points of regret again. Did I hit too hard. This situation, asking me to talk nicely, unacceptably too hard on people. Which biological mother seeing daughter like this can be calm. She stared at me dead. "Who exactly are you?" I looked up at her. She gritted teeth, "My mom died early." "Then just treat me as temporarily returned soul." I withdrew sight, passed by her. Didn't walk a few steps, feet started to become weak. Buzzing non-stop in brain. System beeped warning. [This body rushed made a bit rough, not compatible with your soul nodes, need repair now] [Quickly protect head, you going to faint!] No... I fell straight down. Lily Thorne jumped like thunder. "??? Doing what?" "Framing?" "Loss I still believed you—Hurry help me! Call my dad!"
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