Volume One, Chapter 1: Treat Life and Death Lightly

One moment, Jiang Rui had just destroyed a thousand-year-old fox demon; the next, she had somehow crossed over into another world. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a hospital.

What the hell was going on? Wasn't she just battling that fox demon a second ago? Her mind was a mess.

"You're awake?"

Only then did she notice that there was a man standing by the bed, handsome almost to the point of being unreal. He glanced at Jiang Rui and let out a contemptuous smile.

That laugh was hard to describe. It made Jiang Rui deeply uncomfortable.

Before she could speak, the man raised a hand and adjusted his hair.

"Jiang Rui, you really had this coming. I told you long ago not to cling to me, but you never listened.

"Do you even think you're worthy of me? Honestly, it's a toad lusting after swan meat. You aren't pretty, but your dreams are sure bold."

Suddenly, Jiang Rui tore at her own hair with both hands, her expression twisted with pain, as a flood of memories that did not belong to her rushed into her mind.

The original owner of this body was also named Jiang Rui, and the man standing before her was her boyfriend, Yang Mo, whom she had pursued for years.

Ever since college, the original Jiang Rui had been hopelessly infatuated with Yang Mo. After her relentless pursuit, Yang Mo finally, though unwillingly, agreed to let her become his girlfriend.

For Yang Mo, the original owner had done part-time jobs, taken work outside, even become a livestream host. Every penny she earned was spent on her bloodsucking family and on Yang Mo.

Every time she gave him money, he would put on a false, tender expression and say, "Baby, when I have money in the future, I'll make sure you live well. I'll give you the best of everything in this world."

At those moments, the original Jiang Rui would feel like the happiest girl alive, and all the hardship she had endured would seem worth it.

Later, Yang Mo entered the entertainment industry, and his very first drama became a smash hit. From that point on, he treated the original Jiang Rui like a plague.

He avoided her as far as he could. If the hospital had not called to say that she had suffered a sudden heart attack during a livestream and been rushed in, Yang Mo probably would not have come to see her at all.

The reason was simple. Recently, Yang Mo had been pursuing Chen Manman, the daughter of the owner of a film and television company. Chen Manman would also be involved in the drama Yang Mo was about to begin filming.

There were even rumors that Yang Mo would be paired with her as a publicity couple. Once that rumor spread, the idiotic fans online went completely crazy.

During her livestream, a flood of rabid fans of Chen Manman and Yang Mo had barged in, hurling insults that attacked every boundary and trampled on family and dignity alike.

The original Jiang Rui could not bear the blow. Her heart gave out on the spot, and she blacked out and died just like that.

One had to admit, her death was reckless, wild, and unrestrained.

It was then that Jiang Rui crossed over into this body. After absorbing all of the original owner's memories, Jiang Rui let out a silent sigh. That damned scum of a man and that vile woman.

Even now, her heart still throbbed faintly with pain, and tears had somehow slipped from her eyes.

Yang Mo gave a cold snort. "What, tears of regret now? How ridiculous. Who are you trying to put on this act for, with that wounded little expression?"

Jiang Rui looked at him, quietly pulled the needle from the back of her right hand with her left, and then, with a sudden burst of force, sprang upright.

She slapped Yang Mo three times in rapid succession, so hard that stars burst before his eyes.

Then came a left hook, then a right hook. Before he could react, Jiang Rui spun into a flying side kick and drove her foot straight into his belly. Yang Mo was sent hurtling through the air in a perfect, 360-degree, no-blind-spot aerial performance.

A trail of bright red blood followed behind him.

"Sorry, scum. I just couldn't stand looking at you, and my hands got a little itchy. My bad. Don't take it to heart. I was too impulsive, forgive me, I didn't mean it..."

Yang Mo: "..."

He sprawled on the floor like a dead dog, groaning miserably, with two tears barely visible at the corners of his eyes.

What did she mean, itchy hands? This woman had clearly just found an excuse to beat him.

Yang Mo wanted nothing more than to roar, If your hands are so itchy, why don't you slap your own face? Why hit me?

Jiang Rui jumped straight down from the bed and strode over to him. Bending slightly, she looked down at him with those beautiful eyes.

"I think I heard you cursing me. Oh dear, you were cursing me, and now you're crying too? I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

Though she said that, her hands were anything but polite. She seized Yang Mo from the floor and drove a knee straight into his chest, then delivered several more crisp, ringing slaps.

Yang Mo only felt dizzy and disoriented, while blood sprayed wildly from his mouth and nose. Damn it, why had this woman become so violent?

Jiang Rui dusted off her hands and, as if nothing had happened, climbed back onto the hospital bed and lay down.

Ha. Much better now. Her chest was no longer tight, her breathing was steady, and everything felt right again.

Yang Mo, still on the floor, let out a furious roar and struggled to his feet before storming into the room.

"Jiang Rui, you bitch, I won't let this go. You're insane, do you hear me? I'll tell you this, in a few days I'm going to be filming a variety show with Chen Manman, so you'd better behave yourself."

There it was again. That attitude.

That trash of a man had only ever treated her this way because he relied on the original owner's devotion to him.

"Really? I'm sorry! I shouldn't have done that to you. It was all my fault. I won't dare again. Actually, there's something else I forgot to tell you.

"Come a little closer. Let me tell you."

"What is it? Say what you want, spit it out." Yang Mo leaned slightly toward Jiang Rui.

Jiang Rui rose and kicked him.

"I forgot to tell you. Am I being too kind to you?"

At that moment, Jiang Rui had never felt so refreshed in her life. The instant she realized she had crossed over and been reborn, she had understood something.

Life and death were to be taken lightly. If she didn't like it, she'd just fight back.

Jiang Rui didn't even bother looking at him again. She reported that Yang Mo was disturbing her rest, and the security guards promptly carried him away.

Yes, carried away, just like hauling off a dead dog.

"Ha. Ridiculous. Those days are over for good. Damn it, don't they see who's in charge now? That kind of miserable life will never happen again."

As he was being carried out, Yang Mo shouted at Jiang Rui in fury, "Jiang Rui, you bitch, just you wait. This isn't over!"

Jiang Rui waved at him. "Go on, then."

Yang Mo: "..."

She casually grabbed a banana and took a big bite, looking utterly pleased with herself.

The original owner's death had been far too worthless, all for that kind of trash. Unbelievable.

So Yang Mo was going on a variety show with Chen Manman in a few days, was he? Fine. Then she'd make sure to send them a truly grand gift.

Yang Mo, Chen Manman, you two dogs will be locked together by my hand. I, a great master of mystic arts, will show you exactly how to die.

This original owner was pitiful enough already. Even the way she died was eerily similar to the way I crossed over.

Damn. We really are ruthless people. You left, and I came. From here on out, I'll live the rest of your life for you.

After finishing the banana, Jiang Rui picked up her phone and logged into the streaming app where the original owner had worked as a broadcaster.

The moment she entered, private messages in the backend flooded in like a nest of ants that had been kicked open.

Jiang Rui opened them and read:

"Seriously, this host looks doomed this time, doesn't she? The way she looked, it was like she was about to die."

"Come on, what do you know? It's all a routine, a marketing stunt. The host knows exactly how to market herself."

"I don't think so. Didn't you see what happened? Jiang Rui just fainted dead away."

The more she read, the more her eyes hurt, so she simply posted a status update:

"I'm fine, thanks for everyone's concern.

By the way, is there any guy who's 6'1" with abs? Need comfort. Private messages welcome..."

After she posted it, Yang Mo's brainless fans and Chen Manman's brainless fans all swarmed in.

A war without gunpowder erupted in the comments.

"Who's got dark enough piss to come and wake her up?"

"Sorry, I'm afraid she'll get a taste for it."

Just then, Jiang Rui's phone suddenly rang. When she looked at the screen, it was her stepmother.

"Interesting. Everyone who should come has come..."