Chapter 2

    When She Opened Her Eyes Again

    Her childhood bedroom…

    Li Yin frowned as she looked around the room. Glancing down at herself, she found the delicate form of a young woman in a light pink, lacy dress. She tentatively touched her slender waist with her small, pale hand to test the reality of what she saw. Her gaze then drifted to her long, slender legs standing firmly on the floor, feeling the softness of the light pink carpet beneath her.

    Even after so long, who wouldn't remember these things?

    This was no one else but her younger self. Everything was so vividly real that it was frightening, making it impossible for this to be just a dream.

    "What's happening?"

    In the young woman's eyes, there was a mixture of curiosity about her current situation, concern for her future from this point on, and reflections on her past.

    After a moment, Li Yin decided that sitting around pondering the reason behind her situation until her head exploded wouldn't yield any answers. It would be better to explore and find out what she should do next.

    At the very least, she wanted to confirm something.

    The spacious, luxurious bedroom decorated with white and gold furniture had truly turned into the pink childhood bedroom.

    Around the room were plush toys and various cute animals, the kind that teenage girls often collect. But looking at them now,

    she felt utterly indifferent...

    "My mind must have aged a lot, indeed," Li Yin sighed to herself.

    She picked up a teddy bear from the bed, a toy given to her not long ago by 'him,' or the 'husband-to-be.'

    Thinking up to this point, Li Yin's hand impulsively threw the innocent teddy bear on the floor, irritated by the giver.

    "It's not even cute. This is ridiculous."

    Despite her words, she couldn't take her eyes off the little teddy bear’s bright, innocent eyes, knowing nothing of her turmoil. Eventually, the heartless Li Yin sighed and picked it up to put it back in its place.

    "I suppose I could be kind enough to keep it."

    She then moved on until she reached a large mirror, and gasped at the reflection, making her eyes immediately sparkled.

    Of course, returning to a younger body meant her face was free of the wrinkles she had grown accustomed to. Every part of her face was naturally firm.

    Her hair was glossy, deep black without any strands of white. Her eyes were bright and clear, with not a single wrinkle of concern, her cheeks were naturally firm without needing expensive facelifts. Not to mention her figure was fit, without having to worry about dieting as much as before.

    Heaven indeed…

    Just having this body again, I could die happily in my sleep!

    Truthfully, someone like her might just want this in life. No need for a husband, no need for heirs, just being beautiful forever would make her happy just looking in the mirror every day!

    "I never thought I was this beautiful before,"

     Li Yin was very satisfied with her current figure. From her memories in this time, a young woman like Li Yin never really appreciated this natural beauty much.

    "Now, when have I gone back to?" She mumbled as she picked up the mobile phone from the table, seeing the date clearly. If she calculated based on the year displayed, she was now in her final year of university.

    Buzz...

    Suddenly, her phone vibrated from a call. The name displayed was 'Donglu' – her then-future husband. At this time, they were together.

    Li Yin was about to dismiss the call, but she thought dismissing it wouldn't help since he would just call back a hundred times, possibly even coming to her home.

    He and her parents were close…

    She still remembered how madly in love he was with her in this time and she didn't even want to imagine being harassed. There had been times in the past when they fought and broke up. She remembered how he would pursue her so persistently.

    And finally, her finger pressed to answer.

    "What's up?"

    "Why do you sound so cold?" He joked, thinking his girlfriend was just pretending to be mad at her boyfriend. "Are you still mad about yesterday?"

    "I've forgotten about it."

    The truth was she knew nothing more than that something had happened yesterday.

    "That sounds like you're still really mad."

    Li Yin rolled her eyes, being completely over the stench of romance.

    She had been single and disappointed for too long to be into these sweet things anymore. Her heart no longer fluttered for him, after being hurt to the point of numbness, she could barely remember if she even had a heart.

    She might never love anyone again in this lifetime...

    "I'm not mad."

    "Don't be mad, how about I take you out tomorrow? Would you like that?"

    "No."

    "Wow, you’re harsh, makes me sad."

    "So?"

    He laughed, probably thinking her act of sulking was genuine. Finally, he took a deep breath and said, "Alright... You can be mad at me and I'll just make it up with you. But, Li Yin... About that thing we talked about."

    "What thing?"

    "Our marriage."

    "Oh... Well, the answer is no."

    "Don't say that yet. I haven't even bought the ring and kneeled before you." He seemed teased by his sulking girlfriend before shifting into a serious tone. "We're both about to graduate soon. We're not the kind to date just for fun. We've always been serious about our future. I think at least planning our marriage would be a good idea."

    "I think not. I'd rather go solo... forever."

    "I get that you want to do everything on your own, you've always been that way, and I love you for it. I would never stop you. It's just... What happens after you succeed if there's no one beside you? What does it matter?"

    His words made Li Yin think back to her recent experiences. Although she didn't want to hear his youthful idealism, what he said wasn't far from the truth.

    She died alone, completely and utterly alone...

    "I know you, Li Yin. How about we make a deal? We compete. You do your part, and I do mine. But if one day you want me there with you, ready to have me on your path, this competition ends. How about that?"

    As he spoke to this point, Li Yin began to recall what he was about to say next, and just a moment later, his words came through the phone.

    "If you lose... you must marry me, Li Yin."

    Her heart once fluttered at his ambitious desire to win, but now, she felt like bursting out in laughter.

    Lose?...

    "Agreed."

    "I knew you'd agree."

    "Yeah, ‘cause I'm addicted to competition. The pursuit of victory runs in my blood. And remember, Donglu, this time I won't lose to you."

    "If you don’t lose... does that mean you'll never marry me?"

    "Who would want to marry you?" Li Yin retorted before hanging up the phone, then turned to look at herself in the large mirror, seeing her eyes sparkling brilliantly as they once did.

    The heart of an old woman was becoming young again.

    She didn't know what was happening to her, but suddenly, the chance to correct everything had returned to her, and she wouldn't let it slip away.

    Her ending would not be the same this time!

    "This time, I won't go easy on anyone for sure."