Chapter 10

"Gu Jiuci, you idiot! How could you carelessly give your family heirloom to someone else!"

Gu Jiuci angrily picked up her pillow and hit herself with it a few times. However, the scene of her being held in the devil's arms and their almost-kiss rose in her mind again.

She almost...

In her previous life, she had feared him like the plague. Yet, in this life, on her first day of rebirth, she had fallen in love with him?

A confused expression rose on Gu Jiuci's face. Although she had given her entire heart to Jiang Yutang in her previous life, she hadn't actually felt what it meant to be in love. Perhaps she was just bewitched by Jiang Yutang and it couldn't be called love...

No, what love? Huo Mingche was the most handsome man in the imperial capital; she was just enchanted by his appearance!

"No! Gu Jiuci! This is not the time to be distracted by a pretty face!"

Gu Jiuci clapped her hands on her face and forced herself to calm down.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I have to treasure it. I must change my path, change everyone who loves me..."

Inside the Huo Family's study...

The man wore a dark shirt that blended in with the night. His aristocratic and coldly arrogant aura was like that of a vampire who had lived for thousands of years.

He leaned lazily against the leather chair as his eyes focused on the elegant necklace inside the jewelry case on the desk.

The blue gemstone shimmered under the light like the tears of a mermaid. It made one want to cherish it and admire its stunning beauty.

Just like Gu Jiuci...

At this moment, a video call came through on the computer in front of him.

"Master, Miss Gu has arrived home safely. We will continue our 24-hour surveillance!" Zhan Ying, his assistant, respectfully said through the video call.

But secretly, he was cursing Gu Jiuci. "What is so good about that kid? In my opinion, she's not worthy of our master.

"Who knows what spell she had put on him to make him want only her?

"Even worse, the girl cast aside my master, the best man in the world, and instead gave her affection to that wastrel Jiang Yutang!"

"Master, rest assured, I will help you keep a close eye on Miss Gu. I won't let her do anything that betrays you!"

Zhan Ying solemnly swore.

"No need."

Huo Mingche lightly pursed his lips.

"What? Are you serious? Even though Miss Gu behaved well at the dinner tonight, who knows what sinister trick she's trying to pull?!

"You can't trust her again! Giving her freedom is indulging her..." Zhan Ying argued, in a panic.

Suddenly, through the screen, he felt the man's very dangerous gaze and cold murderous intent.

Fear stopped him completely and he quickly replied, "Yes, sir!"

When he once again raised his pale face, the screen was pitch black. Zhan Ying let out a breath and, for some reason, felt a joy akin to being reborn.

...

Early the next day...

Sunlight filtered through the half-transparent curtain and landed gently on the bed, kissing the girl who had the face of an angel.

However, the girl furrowed her brows tightly. Her face was pale and her expression was pained and twisted.

"Ah!"

Gu Jiuci woke up abruptly from a nightmare. She clutched the bedsheets tightly and stared at the ceiling for a long time before she could control the trembling of her body and return to her senses.

In the dream, she was still in the hot and damp prison cell. A rancid, rank scent mingled in the air, and she was slowly decaying like a corpse.

Rubbing her temples, she walked into the bathroom. She turned on the water and washed her face vigorously before feeling slightly more awake.

After a long time, she slowly raised her head and stared at herself in the mirror.

The person in the mirror was not a female prisoner with a heavy aura of death. Instead, it was a vibrant and beautiful young woman.

"Gu Jiuci, you've been reborn. You will have a good life!"

"Ah Ci! Are you awake? If you don't get up now, you're going to be late!"

Her second brother's voice rang out from outside her door.

Gu Jiuci hurriedly replied, "I'm up. I'll be ready in a moment!"

Right now, she was only 18 and was still a high school student.

That year, her entire mind had been occupied with pursing Jiang Yutang, so her grades... were a mess!

"Ah... Let's first save my grades, a situation not easily explained..."

Gu Jiuci sighed and quickly cleaned up before walking out of her room and down the stairs.

At the dining table, only her eldest brother and second brother were still eating.

Gu Jiuci faintly remembered that her father, Gu Qingyuan, had a regular pattern of work and rest and that her brothers were also very busy. The only time the entire family could get together was every day at breakfast.

But in her past life, she had always woken up late and practically never ate breakfast with the family.

On the contrary, it was Su Furong and Xu Yun'er who were certain to appear at the dining table each morning to eat with Gu Qingyuan. Gradually, they seemed like a family of three.

At this time of day, Gu Jiuci had already risen late. Gu Qingyuan had already eaten and gone to the company. As for Su Furong and Xu Yun'er, each morning they would do yoga.

"To keep their beauty, the mother and daughter work very hard and have very strict self-discipline...

"Yet, Xu Yun'er always encourages living a happy life in front of me.

"Saying something about how a person only lives once, so eat what you want and do what you want.

"Thinking about it now, what bullshit!"

Gu Jiuci took a deep breath and walked downstairs.

Hearing the footsteps, the two brothers at the table turned their heads in unison, and their faces were immediately filled with surprise.

Gu Qijue even blinked his eyes furiously.

On the stairs on the second floor was a young woman wearing a white summer dress with straight ink-black hair whose each move carried a lazy aristocratic air and resembled an angel who just awoke in heaven. "Is this truly my sister, Gu Jiuci?"

Gu Qian did not appear as shocked as his brother. Surprise flashed through his eyes followed by a look of relief.

"Ah Ci, the food is getting cold. Come quickly."

Her second brother, Gu Qijue, called her repeatedly.

"I'm coming!"

Gu Jiuci smiled slightly and quickly walked over to sit down. The appetite-ruining mother and daughter were not here, so her mood was very good.

"Eat lots of shrimp to replenish your protein."

Her second brother immediately placed a peeled South American shrimp on her plate.

"Drink lots of milk to grow taller."

Before she had time to express her thanks, a cup of warm milk was pushed in front of her.

Gu Jiuci's gaze followed the slender fingers upward and saw that her big brother, Gu Qian, was looking at her warmly, as he always did.

Her big brother was a talented young man, almost on par with Huo Mingche. He was also a Prince Charming that the women of the imperial after chased relentlessly after.

He was supposed to inherit the Gu Family. His future was assured, but...

The image of Gu Qian's deathly pale face coughing up blood at his work desk rose in Gu Jiuci's mind.

In her last life, she had listened to Jiang Yutang's words and used the Gu Family's public funds to fill Jiang Yutang's financial black hole. Not only had her big brother not investigated this matter, but he had also worked hard to smooth things over for her. In the end, he worked too hard and got stomach cancer. Before 30, he had already...

"Ah Ci, why are you crying?"

Her big brother waved his hand in front of her face and stared at her worriedly.

"It's nothing. I just yawned, that's all. Brother, you should also drink milk. In the future, no matter how busy you are, you have to eat on time. Have you had a check-up recently?" Gu Jiuci asked in a very serious tone as she immediately poured a glass of milk for him.

"Check-up? The company does an annual check-up. I'm very healthy."

Gu Qian raised his brows in surprise, but out of habit, answered every question asked by his sister.

"Ah Ci, why don't you show some concern for your second brother?" Gu Qijue said with jealousy as he placed another peeled shrimp onto her plate.

"You have always been very healthy. There's no problem..."

Gu Jiuci casually patted her second brother's shoulder, but her expression gradually darkened.

Her second brother was very healthy, but in her last life, he had killed for her and ended up as a criminal on death row...

In this life, she would not allow these tragedies to happen again!