Reconnected

Feng Ruoxi strode through the school gates, her head held high as she made her way towards the sleek, unfamiliar car waiting for her. All eyes were on the vehicle, whispers and curious glances following her every step.

Among the onlookers was Feng Airi, Feng Ruoxi's cousin, accompanied by her gaggle of friends. Feng Airi's eyes widened in disbelief as she watched the backseat door open, revealing the unmistakable figure of Jiang Yukang, one of the most eligible and powerful young men in the city.

"That slut has seduced him!" Feng Airi gasped, her voice dripping with jealousy and disdain. She couldn't wait to rush home and inform the rest of the family about this scandalous development.

Feng Ruoxi, however, paid little attention to the stares and murmurs. She simply climbed into the car, closing the door behind her without a second thought.

"Where to?" Jiang Yukang asked, his tone neutral.

Feng Ruoxi rolled her eyes slightly. "You're really taking this chauffeur thing seriously, aren't you?"

"If I don't, who will?" Jiang Yukang retorted, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Spring Avenue," Feng Ruoxi replied tersely, not in the mood for banter.

Jiang Yukang relayed the destination to the driver, and the car smoothly made its way through the streets, eventually arriving at the quieter, more quaint area of Spring Avenue, lined with antique shops and herbal stores.

"Buying antiques?" Jiang Yukang inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Feng Ruoxi fixed him with a cold stare. "Is that any of your business?"

"Well, I might be able to give you some pointers if you tell me what you're looking for," Jiang Yukang offered, undeterred by her frosty demeanor.

"I wouldn't have come here if I didn't know what I wanted," Feng Ruoxi stated matter-of-factly, stepping out of the car before Jiang Yukang could respond.

She made her way through the quiet street, her eyes scanning the various shops until she found the one she was looking for – a traditional Chinese medicine store. Stepping inside, she quickly gathered the herbs she needed to tend to her wounded shoulder, the pain a constant reminder of the events that had led her here.

When Feng Ruoxi emerged from the shop, Jiang Yukang was waiting patiently in the car, his brow slightly furrowed. "That doesn't look like antiques," he observed.

Feng Ruoxi leveled him with an indifferent stare. "Are you always this nosy?"

"I was just asking," Jiang Yukang replied, his tone neutral. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"Then don't ask," Feng Ruoxi retorted, her patience wearing thin.

The rest of the ride was spent in utter silence, save for the hum of the car's engine. As they approached the grand estate where the Feng family resided, Feng Ruoxi spoke up.

"Drop me off here."

"Suit yourself," Jiang Yukang said, a hint of resignation in his voice.

Feng Ruoxi opened the door and stepped out, pausing for a moment. "Thank you for the ride," she said, her words clipped but sincere.

"Same time tomorrow?" Jiang Yukang asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Feng Ruoxi couldn't suppress the twitch of her lips. "Your choice," she replied, before closing the door and making her way towards the house.

As soon as she stepped into the living room, Feng Ruoxi was assaulted by the shrill voice of Feng Meiling.

"You vixen!" the younger twin shrieked.

Feng Ruoxi frowned, bracing herself for the onslaught.

"I knew it, I knew you had seduced Young Master Jiang!" Feng Meiling continued, her eyes narrowed in accusation. "I saw him pick you up from school an hour ago, yet you only came back now!"

Feng Xuiying, the other twin, chimed in, her voice dripping with venom. "You're a bitch, seducing men at such a young age!"

Feng Ruoxi regarded the two with a cool, indifferent gaze. "Are you two done?"

"You don't even have anything to say for yourself!" Feng Meiling screeched. "I'll tell Dad and Grandpa about this!"

"Whatever," Feng Ruoxi said, pushing past the twins. "Now get out of my way."

Feng Airi, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Hey, we're still talking to you! Don't forget you promised to reject Young Master Jiang on Saturday!"

Feng Ruoxi simply ignored them, climbing the stairs to her room. Once inside, she immediately set to work, removing the bandage from her wounded shoulder and carefully grinding the herbs she had purchased.

The sting of the medicine as it came into contact with the open wound was excruciating, and Feng Ruoxi had to bite down hard to hold back a scream. After the initial pain subsided, she sat down in front of her laptop, eager to move on to her next task.

However, as soon as she powered on the device, a message chimed through the encrypted chat interface she and her brother had set up. Frowning, Feng Ruoxi leaned back, rubbing her eyes to ensure she wasn't seeing things.

But there, on the screen, was the username she had been both dreading and longing to see: "Spybro" – her brother, Bai Chengling.

Feng Ruoxi's heart raced as she clicked on the message, her fingers trembling slightly. Could it really be him? Had he also transmigrated, like she had?

The message read: "Remember our secret hideout by the old oak tree? I found another safe spot. Everything's green here too."

Feng Ruoxi felt a rush of emotions as she recognized their coded communication. With a deep breath, she quickly typed her response: "Ah, the memories by the oak tree always bring a smile. Glad to hear you've found another green spot. Our roots are strong. All clear on my end too."

She waited with bated breath, and the reply came almost instantly, as if Bai Chengling had been waiting for her.

"Is that really you?" the message read.

Tears streamed down Feng Ruoxi's face as she typed her response. "Yes, it's me. Where are you?"

"In Kyoto City," Bai Chengling's message appeared.

Feng Ruoxi's eyes widened in disbelief. "Me too! We should meet!"

"Well, it's not safe for us to meet, at least not now," Bai Chengling's reply came, dampening her excitement.

"What do you mean?" Feng Ruoxi typed, her brow furrowed in concern.

"Well, the scene you caused at the casino... that man is my new uncle," Bai Chengling explained.

Feng Ruoxi's eyes narrowed as the realization dawned on her. "You're a Xiao?"

"I go by Xiao Zheng now," Bai Chengling confirmed.

Feng Ruoxi let out a heavy sigh. "I see."

"What did he do?" Bai Chengling asked.

"He was causing trouble for a friend," Feng Ruoxi replied, a hint of mischief in her tone.

"Okay, I could tell it was you. Your modus operandi is still the same," Bai Chengling said, and Feng Ruoxi could almost hear the smile in his voice.

She sent a wink emoji in response, a silent acknowledgment of their shared past.

The siblings continued to chat for over two hours, sharing the details of their new lives and the challenges they faced. Feng Ruoxi was relieved to know that her brother was safe, even if he was now part of the Xiao family, one of their most formidable adversaries.

Meanwhile, in his villa, Xiao Zheng – or rather, Bai Chengling – had a wide smile on his face as he conversed with his beloved sister. He had forgotten, for a moment, that they were now on different sides, united by the shared experience of transmigration.

"They want you dead, sis," Bai Chengling typed, his fingers trembling slightly.

Feng Ruoxi's response was calm and confident. "Understandable, but I'd like to see them try. Oh and I am about to get married." 

Bai Chengling frowned, his worry for his sister's safety evident. "What!?, but you're only 18! What kind of man wants to marry a teenager?"

Feng Ruoxi rolled her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's okay, bro. I can handle myself. He doesn't scare me."

Bai Chengling let out a frustrated sigh, but he knew better than to argue with his headstrong sister. He was just relieved to have found her, even if their circumstances were far from ideal.

As they continued to catch up, Feng Ruoxi couldn't help but marvel at the irony of her situation. She was now trapped in the body of Feng Ruoxi, a bullied debutante, and engaged to the arrogant and aloof Jiang Yukang.

************************

Jiang Yukang, on the other hand, was the quintessential privileged heir, accustomed to having his every whim catered to. He had a reputation for being cold, distant, and unapproachable, traits that only served to fuel the gossip and speculation surrounding their impending marriage.

Yet, as Feng Ruoxi interacted with him, she couldn't help but notice the subtle nuances in his behavior. While he maintained an air of indifference, there were moments when his gaze would linger, his brow furrowing ever so slightly, as if he were trying to unravel the mystery that was Feng Ruoxi.

It was a far cry from the submissive, doe-eyed debutante that Feng Ruoxi had been expected to portray. Her sharp tongue and unwavering confidence only seemed to pique Jiang Yukang's interest, much to the dismay of Feng Meiling and Feng Xuiying, who had been vying for his attention.

As the days passed, Feng Ruoxi found herself navigating the treacherous waters of the Feng household, her every move scrutinized by the jealous twins and the disapproving patriarch. But she refused to be cowed, meeting their disdain with a cool indifference that only served to infuriate them further.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yukang's visits became a regular occurrence, his chauffeur duties a thinly veiled excuse to spend time in Feng Ruoxi's company. And despite her best efforts to maintain a aloof demeanor, Feng Ruoxi couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity towards the enigmatic young man.

As they engaged in their verbal sparring matches, Feng Ruoxi couldn't help but notice the subtle shifts in Jiang Yukang's demeanor. The way his eyes would linger on her, the faint quirk of his lips when she delivered a particularly scathing retort – it was as if he were slowly chipping away at the icy walls she had erected around herself.

But Feng Ruoxi remained firmly in control, her focus unwavering as she continued to navigate her new life, all the while keeping a watchful eye on her brother's wellbeing and the Xiao family's movements. She knew that the path ahead would be fraught with challenges, but with Bai Chengling by her side, she was determined to overcome any obstacle that stood in their way.