Chapter 1

📖 CHAPTER 1: BACK TO THE PAST!

A sharp gasp tore through Gu Qingyan's lips as she jolted upright.

Her chest heaved, her fingers clenching the silk sheets beneath her. She could still feel the phantom pain of her wounds, the cold bite of the prison floor, and the cruel laughter of those who had destroyed her. But instead of the damp, suffocating darkness of her cell, she was surrounded by the familiar warmth of a luxurious chamber, bathed in the soft glow of morning sunlight.

Her gaze darted around in disbelief.

Intricate gold embroidery adorned the silk curtains, and the delicate scent of peonies filled the air. A bronze mirror sat on a carved wooden vanity, reflecting a figure draped in white sleepwear.

Her reflection.

She stumbled toward the mirror, her hands trembling. The face that stared back at her was young, untouched by suffering. Her once-pale, lifeless skin was now soft and radiant. Her dark, silk-like hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes—once dulled by betrayal—now gleamed with fierce determination.

She touched her face, her heartbeat hammering in her ears.

This was her sixteen-year-old self.

She had truly gone back in time.

Memories flooded her mind, colliding like waves in a storm. She was at the peak of her youth, barely two months away from the grand selection where she would be officially named Crown Princess. It was during this time that Gu Ruoyun had begun spreading whispers, subtly painting her as arrogant and unworthy of the position. This was when the first cracks in her perfect life had begun to form.

This time, she wouldn't let history repeat itself.

Before she could gather her thoughts, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in her mind.

[Ding! 999x Cheat System Activated.]

[Welcome, Host! Preparing Skills…]

Gu Qingyan froze.

What… was that?

Her breath hitched, her fingers tightening around the edge of the vanity. The voice had been clear, ringing inside her head as if it were part of her very being.

Was she hallucinating? Had her suffering driven her mad?

[Host has successfully reincarnated. The 999x Cheat System has been granted as compensation.]

Compensation?

For what? Dying unjustly?

Gu Qingyan took a step back, her pulse pounding. This was impossible. Things like 'systems' belonged in bizarre tales, not reality. And yet—

A translucent screen suddenly materialized before her, glowing faintly with golden characters.

⟪ 999x Cheat System ⟫

— Host: Gu Qingyan

— Age: 16

— Skills: Locked (To Be Unlocked)

— Current Buffs: 999x Intelligence, 999x Learning Speed, 999x Charm…

Her breath caught in her throat.

999x Intelligence? 999x Learning Speed? 999x Charm?!

What kind of monstrous abilities were these?

Gu Qingyan's mind raced. If this was a trick, it was a cruel one—but the evidence was right in front of her. She could see it, hear it, feel it. The cold logic of her rebirth had already shattered everything she thought she knew.

And if this was real…

A slow, chilling smile curled her lips.

This wasn't a curse. It was a gift.

A weapon.

A second chance had already been an impossible miracle. But now, with this system, she wouldn't just rewrite her fate.

She would crush those who had betrayed her.

Before she could process further, a crisp voice called from outside.

"Miss, are you awake? The Crown Prince has sent a gift!"

The Crown Prince.

Xu Minghao.

The man who had mocked her as she lay dying, who had crushed her underfoot like she was nothing. The man she had once loved with all her heart.

Gu Qingyan's lips curled into a slow, merciless smile.

Her rebirth was a gift. And this time, she wouldn't waste it.

She would tear apart the lies before they could take root. She would make those who betrayed her regret ever crossing her.

And as for the Crown Prince…

She would show him exactly what it meant to lose something he never deserved.