Returning to the age of 15 – living again in her own body for the second time, Nhu Nguyet stood in front of the mirror, looking at the child in the reflection with eyes as cold as the morning dew.
It was her – but she was no longer the girl from the past.
In the eyes of others, she was just an ordinary girl, of average academic performance, quiet, often criticized by teachers for being "lacking ambition." But only she knew – within this fragile body was a soul that had walked through red flames, that had died and come back from hell.
She was originally a genius. Sharp-minded, with superior memory and calculation abilities. But all of it had been buried – by the very family that once called her "daughter."
The more obedient she was, the more she seemed to understand… after enduring a tragic life, tolerating to the end… she had learned one thing: kindness does not save anyone, and tears do not soften the hearts of the wicked.
In this life, Nhu Nguyet promised herself – she would never bow her head again.
She would return every knife that they had stabbed into her.
And above all… she would not allow her three sisters – Bach Yen Dao, Luc Tinh Nghi, Jiang Ha Vy – to walk down that cold-blooded path ever again.
Returning to the age of 15, Nhu Nguyet was no longer the innocent girl who once yearned for familial love. She was now someone who had walked through hell, understanding human nature, comprehending society, and seeing through the professions that held power.
This time, she would not confront directly.
She chose a different way — using her intelligence, experience, and her weak facade to slowly gain the trust of the Lam family. She appeared gentle, excelled in her studies, lived harmoniously with that "fake younger sister," gradually making the family believe that… she was the daughter worthy of love.
And then — when they all truly trusted, cared for her, willingly offered everything to her...
She would end it all.
In her past life, living in a cold prison, Nhu Nguyet had never eaten her fill or slept warmly. Having her freedom taken away, she was chained both physically and spiritually. Therefore, when she was reborn, the first thing she did… was not to seek revenge.
But to have a hearty meal of grilled meat.
She used all her meager savings as a student to buy a generous portion of grilled meat. Sitting in the old room, under the warm yellow light, she ate slowly, chewing each bite carefully — as if she were consuming the memories of hunger from years ago.
After that, she lay on the bed as hard as stone, covered with a thin blanket, and closed her eyes.
For the first time in many years, she was able to sleep like a human.
In her dreams, she found herself in the freezing cell again, the clanking of chains, cold gazes, random beatings, and hunger that made her tremble…
A cold voice echoed, pulling her from the nightmare:
— "It's nine o'clock and you're still asleep? Not only foolish but also lazy. Don't know who you take after in this house."
It was the eldest brother – Lam Da Than.
The coldest man in the Lam family. In her memories of her past life, he was always busy, almost never entering her room unless there was a reason."Why are you in my room today?" - Before Nhu Nguyet could finish her thoughts, Lam Da Than continued to order:
— "Hurry up and change. We're going to school."
She looked up at his handsome, cold face, not resisting or bowing her head like before - just softly replied:
— "Okay."
Then she stood up and quietly changed her clothes.
Lam Da Than was slightly taken aback. Normally, whenever he shouted, Nhu Nguyet would lower her head, tears welling up. But today... she was just quietly calm.
Something was... very different.
She quickly grabbed her bag and went downstairs, getting into the car driven by the Chu driver.
Uncle Chu spoke softly, his voice full of respect: "Miss Nhu Nguyet, we have arrived at the Shen family. Do you need me to wait for Young Master Shen?"
Nhu Nguyet gently closed her eyes, searching for memories. She remembered—her family had arranged a betrothal with the Shen family since she was little.
Although it was a nominal engagement, Shen Vu had never regarded her as anything. He always looked down on her, especially after learning she was just the "unloved child" in the Lam family.
In her past life, she was blind, always clinging to him like someone begging for affection. In response, he repeatedly humiliated her in front of his friends, made her run errands like a slave, treating her no better than a loyal, foolish dog.
But this life...
She would no longer be anyone's dog.
Uncle Chu was a bit surprised. In his memory, Nhu Nguyet was the girl who used to be infatuated with Tham Vu, and just hearing his name would make her sparkle with joy. But today, she sat silently, her gaze strangely calm, not asking a single question, nor bothering to look up at the floor where young master Tham was.
Finding it odd, Uncle Chu reported back to Lam Da Than.
The elder brother coldly replied, "Just playing tricks again. Keep an eye on the girl for a bit."
I arrived at school. As soon as I entered the classroom, I saw Van Van standing by my desk, holding a bottle of glue and pouring it straight onto the chair with a delighted expression. She sneered and said loudly, "Oh look, not making the young master Tham's dog lick your feet today? Ha ha, probably got scolded right to your face, huh?"
The whole class burst into laughter, unable to hide their amusement. Joining her, a few others threw in mocking remarks. Van Van was a close junior of Tham Vu – a genuine bully, used to covering for his gang with lavish parties at expensive bars.
They forced me to sit in the chair already covered in glue. I looked at them, my gaze not angry but just... cold.
I had anticipated this. And I also had my own plan.
I stepped forward, without saying a word — and slapped Van Van hard, causing her to stagger, her face turning green like a banana leaf, stunned before shifting to anger.
Just then, the bell rang.
The first period was with the homeroom teacher. As soon as he entered the classroom, before he could settle down, Van Van raised her hand to tattle, "Teacher! Nhu Nguyet hit me!"
She tried to squeeze out a crocodile tear, her face contorted as if she had been wronged her entire life.
I cried too. But my tears were more genuine – my face smudged, sobbing as if I had just been severely hurt. "Teacher, she poured glue on my chair and forced me to sit down; I was just defending myself..."
The homeroom teacher turned pale. Clearly, he knew the situation but didn't dare to investigate further. Who didn't know that Vân Vân was under Thẩm Vũ's influence? And the Thẩm family was a major shareholder of this school.
He just sighed and said evasively, "Ms. Như Nguyệt... please invite your parents to meet with me."
As soon as he finished speaking, the door swung open.
A tall young man, nearly six feet, dressed in a black suit walked in. Beside him were the principal and a few others with sycophantic expressions – the school's shareholders.
The whole class was silent.
The homeroom teacher quickly bowed his head, "Mr. Dạ Thần... why have you come to the school in person?"
Lâm Dạ Thần didn't answer. He coldly scanned the classroom, his gaze stopping at me, where I was sitting and crying.
I looked up, my eyes filled with feigned panic, as if my mental state was about to collapse, my lips trembling. He coldly declared, "I am the parent of Lâm Như Nguyệt."
The atmosphere was dead silent.
The class buzzed, "When did the Lâm family have a daughter?" "Isn't Như Nguyệt an adopted child?"
The teacher's face drained of color. Vân Vân stood frozen, her face pale.
As for me... I simply wiped my tears gently, bowed my head obediently like a weak little rabbit – but inside, I was smiling coldly:
The daughter of the Lâm family... is also my identity. Even if it's just a name – borrowing it temporarily is fine too.
The classroom atmosphere was still vibrating when a lazy male voice rang out from outside the door:
"Oh, everyone is here. Even the principal?"
Shen Yu walked in, his uniform altered in his own style, tie loosely tied, with an arrogant expression as if the whole world owed him something. He glanced at me, a half-smirk on his lips full of sarcasm:
"Tsk, what chaos are you causing this time? Can't handle being scolded, so you cried like a baby?"
I didn't reply. I just lowered my head to wipe my tears, intentionally revealing a few red marks on my hands as if I had been pulled down by a chair – a gentle blow but enough to make others think I was weak and bullied.
Lam Ya Shen slowly turned to Shen Yu, his gaze as cold as ice sweeping over him: "Is this how you and your minions treat my family?"
Shen Yu paused for a moment, his fingers twitching.
"Your... family?"
"Can't you hear clearly? Lam Ru Yue – she is my family."
The classroom atmosphere turned icy as if all the oxygen had been sucked out. A few classmates began to look at me differently – cautiously, fearfully, even regretfully.
As for Van Van, she stammered, about to explain, but Lam Ya Shen interrupted:
"Don't make me call your father directly. I'm not used to talking much."
She fell silent.
I looked up, my eyes slightly red as if I had just cried, but my lips curled up gently — soft as if nothing had happened, weak yet not useless.
"Thank you... brother."
The words "brother" were light as water, but they made the entire class silent, not daring to breathe loudly.Thẩm Vũ stood still, looking at me for a long time for the first time. In the depths of his eyes, something flickered — doubt, suspicion... and something that seemed about to slip away.
Thẩm Vũ frowned slightly. He looked at Như Nguyệt – the girl he had never paid attention to before.
In his memory, she was a docile, submissive child. He could yell at her, order her around, even ignore her presence like a shadow in the school – no one cared, no one defended her. A well-known but unrealized heiress.
Yet now...
In front of many people, she stood beside Lâm Dạ Thần – the third-generation heir of the Lâm family, a name that everyone in the business world had to respect. She no longer hid behind the door waiting for him, nor did she have the joyful gaze when seeing him. Instead, there was a calm demeanor, even... distant.
She smiled gently at the principal and the homeroom teacher, as if everything was unrelated to her:
"I don't want to make a big deal out of today's incident. But if someone pours glue on my chair again next time, I will think the school is condoning school violence."
Her voice was clear and sweet – but hidden within was a sharp knife.
The principal wiped the sweat from his forehead, repeatedly nodding:
"No... there won't be a next time, Miss Lâm. The school will handle it seriously."
She smiled again, gently nodded, and then turned away.
Thẩm Vũ clenched his fists. In his eyes, she was gradually transforming — no longer the obedient puppet of the past.
He unconsciously called out:
"Lâm Như Nguyệt!"
She stopped, turned around, her eyes showing no emotion:
"Young Master Thẩm called for me?"
That distant form of address made his heart skip a beat.
He didn't understand... how someone like her could make him waver?