Lin Rong died at eighteen.
Her brakes failed on the overpass. To avoid innocent pedestrians, she jerked the steering wheel. The car shattered the guardrail and plunged into the river.
As icy water swallowed the vehicle, her dying mind conjured a dream: This world is a novel. My three brothers are villains.
#1 Villain: CEO Shen Yihan, the "prayer-beads flicking menace." Obsessed with the female lead, destroyed by the male lead.
#2 Villain: The blacklisted pop star who harassed the award-winning actor on TV shows. Died by suicide after cyberbullying.
#3 Villain: The campus gangster who hospitalized the male lead's honor-roll brother. Now rotting in prison.
And her? Just the male lead's dead high-school sweetheart—a romantic speed bump for the protagonists.
Lin Rong cheated death out of pure rage.
When her eyes snapped open, she stood before a luxury mall. A neon banner screamed:
"LUCKY YEAR OF THE SNAKE: 2025"
Reality hit like a freight train.
She'd been reborn—eleven years post-death, at the novel's climax.
Lin Rong bolted into the mall's restroom. The mirror reflected the same delicate face, same little black dress she'd worn for that fateful date. Still eighteen. Still broke. Phone? Gone.
Of course it's the damn Snake Year. She could already feel the python's suffocating squeeze.
Icy water splashed her fingers as she rinsed her face. Adapt. Survive. That was her superpower. When their parents died, leaving three brothers—the youngest only two—she'd simply rolled up her sleeves.
As she dried her hands, two salesgirls in uniform ducked in, whispering:
"Did you hear? Mall's closing in 30 minutes! They're clearing customers now!"
"Obviously CEO Shen's here. Probably clearing space for her again!"
Lin Rong's ears perked up. Shutting down a premium mall at peak hour? Only in novels do CEOs flex with such stupid extravagance.
"Lu Huanyu's coming! He'd pave roads with gold for her. Remember that movie he funded?"
"Ugh, I ship her with Gu Jingchuan! His loss when she moves on—burning ex-boyfriend intensifies!"
Lin Rong froze. Lu Huanyu—the female lead. Gu Jingchuan—the male lead. That brainless CEO? Her second brother.
Target acquired.
She flashed the salesgirls a smile sharp enough to cut glass. "Excuse me—where's the Seven Wolves store?"
"Second floor," one stammered, staring at her face. "Buying... for your dad?"
Lin Rong's smile turned lethal. "Nope. Need a belt to discipline someone."
The salesgirls' jaws hit the tiles. CLATTER!
This mall reeked of money. Shutting it down at noon? Financial suicide. Customer loyalty? Obliterated. No wonder Brother #1 gets bankrupted later. Who runs a business like this?
Memories surfaced: Fifteen-year-old Shen Yihan flipping game consoles for profit, buying her that Chanel bag. Their parents' real estate empire explained this mall—but not his current zombie-brained decisions.
A security guard materialized. "Ma'am, we're closing. Please exit immediately."Lin Rong dialed up the charm. "I need to speak to the manager. Urgently."
Manager Zhao's office
The manager sweated as CEO Shen Yihan spun prayer beads like a mob boss counting bullets. A phone rang.
"Some girl downstairs demands to see you, Sir. Insists on speaking to—"
A fiery female voice crackled through the speaker: "Put Shen Yihan on. NOW."
Zhao muted the call. "Shall I—?"
Shen Yihan snatched the phone. "Name. Purpose."
"Your sister. Listen—"
"Get lost." The temperature plummeted. Ice crackled on the windows.
Zhao scrambled to text security: <
Pathetic. Shen Yihan's thumb hovered over his favorite contact:
>> To Lu Huanyu: Cleared the mall. Text when you arrive. <<
His last message sat unanswered—typical when promoting her new film. A rare softness touched his eyes.
Zhao seized the moment. "Sir, Miss Lu's movie was masterful! My family watched it four times!"
Shen Yihan's lips twitched. "Oh?"
"Perhaps... the entire staff should see it? Company-funded, of course?"
"Approved." Shen Yihan sipped tea, looking utterly pleased.
His assistant, Jiang, stifled a scream. This meeting was vital! Now we're hemorrhaging profits for a shopping spree?!
"Manager Zhao," she cut in, "shouldn't you oversee the evacuation?"
Zhao shot her a venomous look. "It's handled, Assistant Jiang."
Shen Yihan's gaze frosted over. "Continue, Zhao."
Jiang's knuckles turned white. One mention of "Lu Huanyu" and his IQ evaporates!
SCRREEEECH—
The office door flew open. Security panted behind a furious girl.
Zhao roared, "Who let her—?!"
Jiang froze. That face...
Shen Yihan's prayer beads clattered to the floor.
Lin Rong stormed in, grabbed his ear, and yanked like ringing a church bell.
"Shen Yihan! Who gave you the guts to hang up on me?!"