Despite hearing what Auntie Lan had to say, Su Li remained outwardly composed, her expression as steady as ever. Inside, however, her heart was churning with turbulent waves of shock.
She should not have been surprised by the information Auntie Lan provided. After all, having married into the Ji Family in her previous life, she knew everything about them by heart. Yet, what she had not anticipated was that such precise intelligence would come from Auntie Lan, a woman who usually kept to herself and lived a secluded life. Auntie Lan had not only accurately identified their identities and family backgrounds but had spoken with such seamless precision—without a single wasted word—that it was clear she had once undergone professional training.
Su Li felt a surge of regret and self-reproach. It dawned on her once more how aimless and oblivious her previous life had been. She had never truly understood even Auntie Lan, who had been by her side all along. It seemed that her maternal grandfather’s family—who had never appeared during her short life in her past existence—was by no means an ordinary household. She only knew that her father and mother had fallen in love freely, but her maternal grandfather’s family had adamantly opposed the union. To be with her father, her mother had severed ties with her own family, leaving only Auntie Lan, who had grown up with her, to accompany her into the marriage.
Su Li was no fool. Especially now, having lived two lifetimes and standing as a family heir, she understood the obscure secrets of prominent clans. Many great families possessed their own "death soldiers"—loyalists who took over their parents' roles or were orphans raised from childhood with rigorous training. Some stayed in the light, helping to manage family businesses; others worked in the shadows, handling thorny problems that could not be solved openly; and some became the dedicated protectors of the heirs and the family bloodline.
A daring conjecture rose in Su Li’s mind: perhaps Auntie Lan was of the third type, a protector of the bloodline. If so, what had really happened to her mother back then?
For a moment, countless questions swirled in Su Li’s mind, but she quickly calmed herself. *Forget it, don't think about that for now.* Since she had been reborn, she would have plenty of time to unravel everything she had never known before. What mattered most now was to make herself strong; otherwise, everything else was just empty talk.
With that thought, Su Li stopped dwelling on Auntie Lan’s identity. Together, they walked with steady strides toward the Su Family Villa.
Unlike the Su Family Ancestral Residence, the Su Family Villa did not have so many rigid rules. Breakfast was taken together in the dining room, but lunch was more casual—whoever was home ate, or they could have servants prepare their favorite food to be brought to their rooms. Dinner, like breakfast, was required to be eaten in the dining room. However, for Su Li, these rules were essentially non-existent; where she ate depended entirely on her mood. For many years, Father Su had doted on her; though he was not a man of many words, his love for his daughter was genuine, and he never forced her to do anything she disliked. Thus, Father Su had been quite surprised to see Su Li appear in the dining room for breakfast this morning.
As they walked, Auntie Lan continued, "After you went out this morning, Mr. Su was in exceptionally good spirits. He said the weather was fine, so he arranged to meet some friends for golf and then headed out. Not long after he left, Ms. Li said she had plans to go shopping with friends, claiming she wouldn't be back until evening."
"Hmph." Su Li let out a cold scoff. So, Father Su was not home. She had thought as much. She could understand the Ji siblings not knowing their manners—after all, they were just nouveau riche, and their lack of breeding was to be expected. But the fact that the Shen siblings had come as well meant this was no casual drop-in; Li Xueyao must have called to invite them.
As Su Li and Auntie Lan crossed the small garden and passed the rockery fountain by the entrance, stepping onto the porch, Su Li felt a subtle shift within.
*Ji Qinchuan, are we meeting at last? I had thought I would have a few more days to prepare, but it seems you’ve delivered yourself to my doorstep ahead of schedule. I am no longer that foolish woman willing to sheathe all her sharpness for your sake.*
Living life once more, many things were changing silently in the wake of her rebirth. Su Li remembered clearly that in her previous life, her first encounter with Ji Qinchuan had not been today, but on her twentieth birthday.
Her hypocritical stepmother and her "good daughter," in order to achieve an ulterior motive, had pretended to fawn over her and Father Su. They had suggested to him—ostensibly to mend the relationship between father and daughter—that they host a grand birthday party for her at home, all without her knowledge. Father Su, pleased by the idea, had invited many guests: heads of wealthy families, heirs of noble houses, and influential figures in politics, all of whom brought their families along.
The scene had been incredibly overwhelming. Su Li, informed only at the last minute, had been filled with shock and agitation, feeling completely at a loss. Though she was ill-suited for noisy, crowded occasions, she knew she could not make Father Su lose face. She suppressed her discomfort, returned to her room to change into a gown, tidied her makeup, and steeled herself to go out.
Once outside, she saw Li Xueyao dressed to the nines in a magnificent gown, her makeup exquisite, looking as if *she* were the true star of the birthday celebration. Back then, Su Li was cold and indifferent, never keen on such boisterous occasions. She frowned slightly at Li Xueyao’s smug expression, yet felt no great ripples in her heart. Her gaze always held a faint sense of detachment, as if she were separated from the world by an invisible barrier. Regarding the behavior of the Li mother and daughter, she merely scoffed internally, too proud to lower herself to bicker over such trifles.
However, as she was heading downstairs, her gown’s hem was too long, and Li Xueyao, walking behind her, deliberately stepped on it. In that instant, Su Li lost her balance, her body lurching forward. She fell, and not only did she end up on the ground, she nearly suffered a wardrobe malfunction. At the time, being a woman of few words, she felt only intense humiliation; her cheeks flushed crimson. Fighting back tears, she scrambled up and, before anyone could react, hurried away to hide.
In the dim garden, Su Li stood quietly, her eyes filled with exhaustion and helplessness. Her cold, aloof temperament became all the more pronounced in the silence, like a solitary orchid blooming in the dark.
Just then, a strange young man whispered to her, "Are you alright? Have you run into some trouble?"
Su Li looked up, guarding herself. "I'm fine."
Ji Qinchuan smiled gently. "The garden is very quiet today; it's a relaxing place. Why are you here all alone?"
Su Li sighed softly. "I don’t like such noisy occasions, and... something unpleasant just happened."
Ji Qinchuan frowned slightly. "Unpleasant? Did someone bully you?"
Su Li paused. "Not bullying, exactly. Just a little accident."
Ji Qinchuan’s eyes were filled with concern. "If you’re unhappy, stay in the garden for a while longer. It’s very quiet here. My name is Ji Qinchuan. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Su Li hesitated. "I am Su Li."
The two had chatted aimlessly, and Su Li’s mood had gradually calmed. In her past life, she had naively believed that Ji Qinchuan had not known who she was at the time. But thinking back now, he had known perfectly well—and this entire cliché "chance encounter" had been a plot they had staged themselves.