1.7

Why did it feel like I had upgraded one jail cell for another? Sure, this one was much larger, prettier, and had lots of fun and interesting things for me to do and explore. Still, I was growing so bored of it, so very, very bored. 

"Go outside then," System whined in my head, equally as bored. You would be too if your TV turned off all your telenovelas to force you to watch documentaries instead. 

However, it had been only a few weeks since my house arrest to recover. Dr. Li visited me every day the first week, then every other day the second week, and now she was just happy with phone calls, and impressed at my progress.

Me, I was just impressed with the acting skills I had been secretly practicing. After all, this would not be my last life. According to System, there was no end to reviving as somebody new. So, I figured this was the first and foremost skill to learn to adapt. Not to mention, I needed to convince all these people I was Zhiyue.

I felt that Zhiyue lived a very, very repressed lifestyle. Even her bookcases were filled with educational, non-fiction books. -Handy for me to read up on, but boring!- Going off everything I had learned online from her fanbase and the media, she was a hardworking person who only focused on reaching the peak of her career. 

Me? I discovered a donut floaty in the outdoor cupboard beside the pool and spent the majority of my free time living the life, whilst browsing this thankfully waterproof phone. I'd spent so long in the pool today that the only wet parts of me were my butt and wrinkly feet. 

Jianyu appeared to be another career-driven person, out at dawn, home way after dusk. We barely crossed paths, and when we did he was always cut off short by a phone call. Out of courtesy he even slept in a guest room, maintaining his distance. 

At least he cooked for me…

"Why do I feel like you'll follow whoever makes the tastiest food Host?" System whined. 

Ignoring System, I groaned out loud, pushing the pool floaty from the edge of the pool, "Su Meng I'm bored…"

Su Meng, who spent the majority of her time babysitting me on her phone or laptop, finally put her devices to one side. 

"I've never seen you sit still for so long," she laughed lightly, "I'm surprised you're not dragging me to the company by now."

My face twisted at the thought. It was enough hard work doing the small tasks I set for myself.

"What else would I do?" I groaned loudly, making it clear the company was a no-go.

At first, I thought Zhiyue would be a fun, party girl, going off the amount of space in her penthouse dedicated to entertaining. A fully stocked bar not only beside the pool but in the dining room, and living room, plus a bonus minibar in every bedroom.

"What, you really don't want to go at least see the company?" She asked, genuinely surprised, "because CEO Jiang has been asking after you."

Who the fuck was he? I rubbed my temples at the thought of more people I had to act for.

At least I have the excuse of amnesia for now, but if I did recover her memories…

"When it's only a matter of time," System chided. 

"Fuck it," I cursed quietly, reaching the other end of the pool to place my phone down and climb out. Grabbing a towel next to Su Meng I sternly told her, "we're going out, but I'm not working."

***

It took two hours before Su Meng was happy with the way I looked to leave the house. For a while, I wondered if she was planning to parade me in front of some cameras, but she sternly warned me, "the paparazzi were everywhere."

Catching my reflection in the hallway mirror I paused a moment, twisting my face to ensure it was actually mine. Dressed in a soft pastel pink dress, like a sweet princess. I felt worlds apart from the body I was using. It almost felt like a costume.

"First we're shopping," I ordered as we took the elevator down to the driver and car waiting.

Su Meng nodded, "your wardrobe does need a refresh."

In the car I felt very much like a dog, pried to the window, gazing out at the brightening lights as the sun was due to set. 

We pulled up to a large mall, though we entered through a back door where the staff was waiting. Su Meng ushered me inside quickly. 

After half an hour of browsing the clothes brought to me in the private VIP room, I grew bored. They were all the same bland, pastel-coloured clothes that were in my wardrobe at home. 

"Do you have something a bit more…" I hung the short lilac dress back onto the rack, "just bring me whatever will fit in different colours at least." I sighed, sinking back into the chair to sip the tea I was given.

"What's wrong with you?" Su Meng asked, sitting beside me. "You usually aren't that interested in what you wear?"

That was because I was a different person entirely, but how could I say that out loud?

Should I just endure and act like Zhiyue?

I shook my head, trying to dissipate the thoughts of living this life like a puppet on strings. 

"I want to figure out what I actually like," I explained, deciding to play on the amnesia yet again.

"Okay, so you want to rebrand?" She asked, making me feel more like an object to sell than a living, breathing person.

"I guess," I did not bother to hide the disappointment in my voice at her words. This was Zhiyue's bestie? More like her pimp.

"Leave it to me," Su Meng jumped up oblivious, then began to instruct the staff to bring in more clothes. 

Shortly after, just as I was getting to a good part of the drama playing on my mobile, she snatched my phone away. She gestured to the new racks of clothing filling up the room.

"It's good to rebrand at a time like this, PR has just been pulling out the sympathy card, but the netizens are bored of it already."

Fuck the netizens, I just wanted clothes that felt like me.

"Why don't you just tell people Jianyu's my fiance, won't that calm them down?" I shrugged, lifting a pair of black leather pants. 

"Fiance?" Her voice rose a pitch higher, "since when?"

I shrugged carelessly, "how am I supposed to know?"

"Fine, fine," she cleared her throat, pretending she hadn't just blown a fuse, "let me call PR, you just play dress-up." She waved her hand dismissively and walked away with her phone out.

***

"I never should have left you alone," Su Meng covered her face, sinking into the car seat. 

I rolled my eyes, continuing to scroll through the social media app.

"Where are we going now?" She asked, sighing and admitting defeat. 

"Nightclub," I smiled brightly, happy the driver was sent by Jianyu and listened to me when instructed. 

"What?" Su Meng looked close to having a heart attack, then soothed herself with some deep breaths. "Fine, fine, not like anyone will recognise you like this anyway…" She leaned back into the seat with obvious disdain on her face. 

I glanced at my reflection in the car window with satisfaction, she wasn't wrong.

I'd allowed the professionals to style me, cutting my hair a bit shorter and styling it up in a sleek ponytail. My makeup was dark and sultry. If I had to fit into a niche, my black crop top, cut-out jeans, and platform boots put me into rock chic I think the staff said.

To me, the clothes just helped me move freely, and the boots were good for kicking pesky paparazzi in the shin…

"Is this belated puberty? Are you going through a rebellious stage now?" She continued to whine melodramatically, obviously not pleased with the changes in her previously obedient product.