Chapter 4: Ruined home, not ruined spirit

Li Xinyue walked through the main gates of the residential complex, pulling her coat tighter around herself.

The security guard stationed there gave her a once-over and smirked, muttering, "Oh, it's the 'fake heiress' herself. Lost your way?"

Ignoring him would have been easy, but the disdain in his tone was unmistakable.

She stopped, her gaze cold as she stepped closer to him. "Say that again," she challenged, her voice low and dangerous.

The guard chuckled, not realizing his mistake until her grip closed around his wrist, a swift, painful twist. With a sickening crack, he let out a howl of pain.

"Remember this," she said in an icy tone that sent shivers down the spines of the other guards watching. "I might not have the title, but don't test me again."

She released him, and he clutched his broken wrist in shock, wide-eyed. Satisfied, she stepped into the building and pressed the elevator button to the eight floor, ignoring the murmurs behind her.

As she arrived, Xinyue pulled out the pass key and stepped inside. Her eyes narrowed immediately at the sight that greeted her: the entire apartment was trashed. The TV lay shattered on the ground, the chairs were ripped, and furniture was strewn around, broken and upturned.

"Zhang Yujin," she muttered under her breath, feeling a wave of anger. This must be her doing—clearly, someone had taken their time to send a message.

Xinyue walked further in, heading towards the bedroom, only to find it in an even worse state. Clothes were tossed all over, cosmetics were destroyed and splattered, and school books lay shredded across the floor.

She took in the damage, feeling a sudden ache in her chest that wasn't hers—an echo of the original owner's sadness. Xinyue closed her eyes, offering a silent moment of comfort.

Just then, a phone began ringing somewhere beneath the mess. She dug through the pile, retrieving the phone with "Mom" flashing on the screen. The name caused her expression to harden.

Madam Liu. The so-called mother.

The phone rang three more times before she finally answered.

"Come back to the Zhang residence within 30 minutes." Madam Liu's voice was cold, devoid of warmth or concern.

"..."

The line went dead before Xinyue could say a word. She lowered the phone, feeling a faint pang of sorrow from the original owner. Let it go, she thought, calming her emotions. They'll regret this soon enough.

Determined to make herself at home despite the mess, Xinyue decided to check what was still usable. She spotted a new laptop among the wreckage and felt a spark of relief—it wasn't broken. Setting it on the counter, she inspected it quickly.

She'd been an expert hacker in her previous life, known in the dark web as "Zero 9." The laptop's security was laughable, so she immediately added layers of encryption, strengthening the IP address protection until it was virtually untraceable.

They trashed the place out of spite, she thought, but this won't be my permanent home. First, I'll find my real family. If they're decent, I'll accept them. If not, I'll go my own way.

She moved to the kitchen, which was a mess as well, but after clearing a small space, she began looking for food. She found a pack of noodles, a few eggs, prawns, and some vegetables.

Guess it'll do. She was used to cooking for herself in her past life and had a knack for it, though she rarely took the time to enjoy her meals.

She began prepping, cracking the eggs and boiling the noodles before tossing in the prawns and chopped vegetables. Her method was efficient and precise, almost like an art form, as she layered flavors with minimal effort.

Just as the broth was simmering, her phone began to ring again. This time, it displayed "Dad."

They can wait, she thought, ignoring it and focusing on her food. Nothing's more important than my stomach.

After a few minutes, the noodles were ready, and she plated them with a small bowl of broth on the side. She picked up her chopsticks and was just about to take her first bite when the phone started ringing again. Annoyed, she turned it off, deciding she would enjoy her meal in peace.

Her eating style was unique—quick yet graceful, honed from years of needing to eat efficiently while on missions.

Each bite was fast but elegant, a stark contrast to the original owner's dainty and restrained eating habits. In her past life, Xinyue had a big appetite, necessary for her martial arts training, so a meal like this was barely enough to satisfy her hunger.

After finishing her meal, she cleaned up and took a short nap. When she woke, she felt refreshed and ready.

Gathering her packed a few important documents—including the original owner's ID card, bank cards, and a small stash of cash totaling about 400 dollars she found in a drawer.

She also slipped the laptop into a school bag she found lying around. Clothes, she ignored. The original owner's flashy style didn't suit her preference for understated attire, so she simply picked out a gray pair of shorts and a plain white shirt.

Once ready, she checked her reflection. Her long legs looked striking under the casual shorts, and her big almond eyes, red lips, and sleek, waist-length hair added a touch of quiet allure. She gave herself a nod of approval, looking every bit like a different person—a quiet beauty with an edge of mystery.

As she headed down, the security guards barely recognized her. The original owner had always favored bold, gaudy outfits, but Xinyue's simple elegance seemed to throw them off.

She smirked at their confusion, savoring their reactions as she stepped outside and flagged down a taxi, giving the driver directions to the Zhang family's estate, Golden Orchid Estates.

The drive was silent, giving her time to think about her next steps. The Zhangs would surely be expecting the same docile girl they had once controlled. Let's see how long that lasts, she thought, her lips curving into a cold smile.