It was a sunny day in a small town within B-City.

Xia Yishan sat on a thick branch, chewing on a strand of green bristlegrass. Her hand could not help touching a bump on her head.

‘Ouch!

‘It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!

‘Look at you! Why’d you have to touch it?! Now you’re in pain!’

Ahh, the pain sure woke her up!

...

It had been three days. She finally accepted the fact that she had been reborn. She had returned to her own life five years ago.

Hah…

Everything really began five years in the past, so the timing was just right. At least God had been nice to her.

The view from the tree was extensive, so she was able to see the only broad cement road in town.

According to what had happened in her past life, someone would be coming over the next day. She had to change her life no matter what. She was given a chance to live again, so she should not make the same mistakes!

“Xiaxia!”

Xia Yishan’s train of thought was interrupted. She watched Shen Jiashu scramble up the tree in a flash.

She was annoyed. This little guy, nimble as a monkey, was one of her few friends in B-City. When she thought about it, she recalled he was the one that taught her how to climb trees.

“What are you doing here alone?”

“Enjoying the view.”

“What’s there to look at? Let’s go fishing in Zhenbei tomorrow. Xiaoling is going too!”

Xiaoling. Tan Xiaoling. Xia Yishan’s eyes turned grim as soon as she heard the name.

She leaped from the tree agilely and said two cold words, “Not going.”

“Well, don’t go then. Why are you being so mean? And where are you going now?”

“Back to the orphanage!”

“Are you really not going? I’ve already promised Xiaoling that I’d bring you along…”

Xia Yishan ignored him.

She walked to the orphanage, the same one she had grown up in for as long as she could remember. She took over the retired vice president’s job when she became an adult. She had never expected she was the Xia family’s young mistress.

In her previous life, the three of them happened to be fishing by the lake when the Xia family sent people to pick her up. Tan Xiaoling pushed her into the water by accident, making her appear clumsy. The group from the Xia family looked at her with disdain. They decided to invite Tan Xiaoling and Shen Jiashu to the Xia residence.

She, Xia Yishan, became Tan Xiaoling’s stepping stone. Tan Xiaoling leaped right into high society. She even destroyed Xia Yishan’s future by backstabbing her. It was devastating.

Xia Yishan wanted to slap herself as she remembered it. She was such a fool to have allowed that to happen!!!

…

The people from the Xia family arrived the next day. Xia Yishan went with them obediently.

The car entered Beijing after five hours on the road.

Looking through the windows of the car, Xia Yishan’s eyes were drawn to the streets on both sides of the capital. Who would have thought that these streets would transform five years later? The capital lived up to its reputation as the core of the country’s economy. The speed of its development was jaw-dropping.

The Xia family was one of the many members of Beijing’s high society. When she came here in her past life, she was shocked by the city’s hustle and bustle and had overlooked those unpredictable, wicked humans. This time, she would be wary and teach those monsters a good lesson!

Xia Yishan stood obediently in the living room of the Xia residence.

Wan Yuning took a good look at the girl before her. She had exquisite features, with a high ponytail on her head. The white dress she wore was clean and neat and neither worn nor new. Although she was in the simplest of clothes, that could not hide her charisma.

This was a kid who grew up in the rural landscape of B-City? She would not believe that no matter what. Even Xia Zhirou, who she had raised properly since young, did not have such a gift!

As Wan Yuning was observing Xia Yishan, Xia Yishan was checking her out too.

The Xia family knew about her existence from the beginning. The reason they had been silent was the fact that she was not a child of Wan Yuning, the official wife. As Xia Qihua’s illegitimate daughter, she was not recognized by the Xia family at all.

They only recalled there was an illegitimate daughter wandering out there since something happened to Xia Zhirou. They then brought her back immediately.

Wan Yuning felt she had taken everything from Xia Zhirou. How could she be nice to her? If not for the fact that she was still useful to the family, they would have chased her away from them.

At that moment, familiar footsteps came from the entrance, and Xia Yishan felt a chill down her spine…

Xia Yishan turned around.

She saw a man in a dark-blue suit walking next to Xia Qihua, a smile on his rather seductive face. His eyes lit up; he seemed to be charmed by Xia Yishan’s appearance.

In her past life, Lin Chengze was perfect in Xia Yishan’s eyes. An elegant young man from out of her dreams, Xia Yishan did not care what she had to do to be with him. In the end, she was betrayed and abandoned.

And now, there was only one word Xia Yishan would describe Lin Chengze – scumbag!

He was the ultimate scumbag! Xia Yishan clenched her fists instinctively. She was eager to slap him to death.

.....

Wan Yuning did not take the initiative to introduce the people who were coming. However, Xia Yishan was already smiling. She called out to Xia Qihua, “Father.”

“I’m happy that you’re home. This is my youngest daughter, Xia Yishan. This is the Lin Group’s young master, Lin Chengze. You’ve just arrived, so let Chengze show you around the house.”

Xia Yishan’s slight nod was taken as consent. She really did not want to talk to that scumbag!!!

“After you, Sister Yishan.”

“Hmm…”

‘After you, my a*s!’ she thought.

Xia Yishan went with Lin Chengze with a faint smile and a secret grudge.

The Xia residence’s villa was huge. As the pair walked quietly, Xia Yishan slowed down. She did not walk right next to Lin Chengze, making it hard for him to strike up a conversation.

Lin Chengze had always been confident in his charm. If he managed to win the heart of the Xia family’s young mistress, he would win their support. After that, the Lin Group would definitely rise further. He could no longer pin his hopes on Xia Zhirou, as nobody knew where she was now.

‘This Xia Yishan is just a hillbilly growing up in a village. How hard could it be for me to win her over?’

As Lin Chengze thought about it, his confidence grew. He slowed down, “Sister Yishan, are you tired? Would you like to take a rest?”

He thought what he said was sweet, but Xia Yishan did something out of the ordinary.She turned around and walked away as soon as she heard that.

Lin Chengze looked dumbstruck. He snapped back to his senses immediately and went after her. He grabbed her arm, “What’s wrong, Sister Yishan?”

Xia Yishan shook off his hand. “Didn’t you say I should take a rest if I’m tired? Well, I’m tired.”

Xia Yishan walked away as soon as she finished speaking.Lin Chengze could not wrap his head around it!

‘Tired? Taking a rest? We’ve just been walking for five minutes!’

He was just being nice to her! This dumb village girl was rude!

Lin Chengze walked back while suppressing his anger.

…

Xia Yishan walked fast, and she soon returned to their started point. She happened to bump into Xia Qihua, still yet to leave.

“Father…”

“You’re done looking at the house so quickly?” It was impossible to see all of his villa in five minutes.

“I…” Xia Yishan looked troubled, “Brother Chengze said I should take a rest if I’m tired. Father, I’ve a feeling that he doesn’t like me…”

Xia Qihua was speechless, and he looked rather upset. Although Xia Yishan grew up in a village, she was the Xia family’s young mistress. The brat from the Lin family had no right to give her the cold-shoulder. Fortunately, he had not intended to matchmake both of them.

“Don’t worry about it. Ask the butler to bring you to your room to take a rest.”

“Hmm.”

Lin Chengze had caught up with her and heard her accusation. He was pissed. He went up to Xia Qihua immediately, with a broad grin and false politeness.

Meanwhile, Xia Yishan had gone far away…

After returning to the Xia residence, Xia Yishan was very obedient. She allowed Wan Yuning to arrange all sorts of courses mandatory for a high society young mistress. For instance, etiquette, make-up, fashion styling, flower arranging, tea tasting, and art appreciation. Not only had she learned of those things in her past life, but she had also practiced them countless times. She could do all of it even with her eyes closed.

Naturally, she was not so naive to think what Wan Yuning made her do was really for her own good. Wan Yuning merely wanted to train her as fast as she could to be the replacement for Xia Zhirou, doing what she should have done.

Coincidentally, Xia Yishan had completed her college entrance examination before returning to the Xia residence. Although she had yet to receive the admission letter, she was accepted into the Beijing Western Film Academy, majoring in Drama and Performance.

Her heart was heavy when she stepped into the academy again. There were many posters promoting the important speech happening at Auditorium No.10 on the wall. If she remembered correctly, today was…

Xia Yishan headed straight to Auditorium No.10. Eighty percent of the seats were taken by the students, with the only ones left in the last two rows.

There would be a VIP giving a speech today, and steps had been taken to ensure its success. Not only did the school not reveal the speaker’s name, but they also hired numerous security guards to keep things under control. It seemed the coming speaker was someone big.

...

A slender figure entered the auditorium under the protection of his bodyguards, with the academy’s principal and vice-principal following behind him. Those two usually only appeared during graduation ceremonies and the academy’s promotional videos.

The crowd auditorium screamed as soon as the VIP took off his sunglasses.

“Best Actor Su!”

“Is he really Best Actor Su? Pinch me now so that I know I’m not dreaming!”

“Oh, my. Best Actor Su saw me. He saw me. I’m so happy I’m going to pass out.”

“H-he’s so handsome!”

The principal spoke first, “Students, please remain silent…

“Students, we’re fortunate to have Best Actor Su, Su Jingling speaking to us today. Please give him a round of applause, everyone…”

Su Jingting walked onto the podium and adjusted the mic higher. “Hello, everyone. I’m Su Jingting…”

The university students were gazing at him throughout the speech which lasted more than an hour. There was cheering almost every ten minutes, and everyone was interacting with him.

Everyone except Xia Yishan.

Very soon, the speech and Q&A session ended. Xia Yishan got up immediately. She was even holding a bouquet of flowers in her arms.

Su Jingting received so many gifts from his fans before that he had lost count. However, the speech today was kept a secret. Nobody prepared gifts, so Xia Yishan was the only person who knew that he would come beforehand.

Su Jingting was surprised, too. He could not believe someone had prepared flowers for him.

‘That girl holding the flowers…’

Xia Yishan approached him openly to give him the flowers right in front of the students and school leaders in the auditorium. Many female students were flustered seeing that someone was giving him flowers.

“Oh my god, why didn’t I think of giving him flowers?”

“Best Actor Su, please give me your autograph!”

“Sign your name on my clothes!!!”

“Please take a picture with me, Best Actor!”

Walking in front, Xia Yishan did not notice the crowd behind her pushing each other.

“Ahh!”

The people behind Xia Yishan pushed her, which caused her to fall on Best Actor Su.

Su Jingting grabbed her, accidentally removing Xia Yishan’s hairband.

Her hair was messy, and the actor was pushed onto the ground.

As both of them fell to the floor clumsily, Xia Yishan’s forehead hit Su Jingting’s chin….

“Ouch!”

Having been tossed in the air, the bouquet fell back down and hit Xia Yishan’s head…

Thud!

Xia Yishan slammed into Su Jingting again as she lifted her head.

Su Jingting inhaled sharply.

‘Ow, that’s a little painful…’

He protected her with his arms instinctively, covering the girl’s face.

“Ahhhh!!!”

Thunderous screams came one after another. All of their phone’s cameras were pointing at the duo.The principal was dumbstruck as soon as it began.

Assistant Sun experienced chaos like this in the past. He showed up to sort things out immediately, sending the duo out of the auditorium in one piece. Meanwhile, Su Jingting wrapped his arms all the way around Xia Yishan, keeping the students from seeing her face.