Chapter One: Crossing Through Time

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Slap! Slap! Slap!

“You filthy woman! Open the door!”

01 was standing atop the zombie king’s shoulders, prying open its skull, when the sounds in her ears abruptly shattered the apocalyptic world she knew.

“Damn it! Get out here, you bitch!”

Bang, bang, bang—

The knocking became pounding.

A sharp pain throbbed at 01’s temple and, as her dilated pupils slowly refocused, she moved her limbs and sat up from the floor in confusion, looking around.

She was in an extravagantly luxurious bathroom, dazzling yellow lights glaring down. Beside her, an inset tub large enough for three, and on the carved countertop, several drops of crimson blood clung.

Bang—

As the door behind her shuddered, a wave of dizziness washed over her. In that instant, a torrent of unfamiliar memories flooded her mind.

She had transmigrated—from the apocalypse overrun by zombies to an era of peace.

Except, this was the world inside a novel.

And the original owner of this body, Gu Lingyi, was the cannon fodder “real heiress” in a tale of mistaken identities.

In the story, Gu Lingyi grew up in an orphanage. She was scouted by an agency at a college audition and officially debuted as an actress. When she appeared on the big screen for the first time, her uncanny resemblance to the Gu family triggered a dramatic “real and fake heiress” scandal.

As a minor supporting character, Gu Lingyi was timid and petty. She pined hopelessly for the male lead, Huo Qi, resented the fake heiress Gu Yanyue, and desperately tried to please the Gu family.

She was, in every way, a pitiful creature crawling in the shadows, desperate to be seen.

But what Gu Lingyi didn’t know was that the Gu family only acknowledged her in order to have her take Gu Yanyue’s place in a horrifying arranged marriage. Her intended was that unspeakably violent tycoon of the upper echelons.

After the marriage, Gu Lingyi all but vanished from the narrative, only for her tragic fate to be hinted at just before the happy ending—she had been tortured to death by her husband.

Today, Gu Lingyi had come to this suite, heart fluttering, at Huo Qi’s invitation. But waiting for her was not her childhood savior, Huo Qi, but a greasy, obese man with a piggish face.

By the time she realized what was happening, the door was already locked by an electronic system. She barely had time to lock herself in the bathroom, where she slipped in panic and fell. That was the moment 01 crossed over.

Gathering her thoughts, 01 stood up. The mirror on the wall reflected her current appearance.

Her snow-white slip dress was wrinkled, waist-length hair a tangled mess. Her amber almond eyes, high nose, red lips, and oval face were pale as paper, making the blood at her temple stand out in vivid contrast.

The woman in the mirror raised a hand to smooth her hair, leaning closer.

At ten centimeters, even the tiny mole at the tip of her brow was clear.

“Gu Lingyi,” she murmured, scarlet lips moving gently, “we look exactly the same.”

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Facing this familiar face, 01 accepted her new identity with ease. After tidying her hair, she rubbed her temple with a fingertip.

The blood smeared away, revealing unblemished skin beneath—no wound in sight.

Her brows lifted slightly as she swiftly concluded that her physical abilities had transmigrated with her.

In the apocalypse, only a handful of mercenaries reached S-rank, each uniquely gifted. Gu Lingyi’s most remarkable trait was her extraordinary healing ability.

One might even call it “immortality.”

Contemplative, Gu Lingyi reached out to touch the mirror with her index finger. Instantly, spiderweb cracks spread from her fingertip, glass shattering to the floor.

As expected, her body’s powers had come with her.

A satisfied smile curved her lips, her gaze growing darker.

Since she had taken this body, she would settle all the original owner’s debts.

Anyone who had hurt the original—anyone who, intentionally or not, played a part—none would be spared.

The commotion outside quieted. Gu Lingyi opened the door carelessly.

A greasy, bloated face, dripping with sweat, greeted her. Clearly, the man’s efforts at the door had exhausted him.

Seeing Gu Lingyi emerge, Zhang Linhai’s beady eyes lit up. “Finally willing to come out?”

“Don’t bother with any chaste-woman games. If you behave, I’ll give you the second female lead in ‘Cloudshine.’” He tossed out the offer as if throwing her a gold bar. “Please me, and you can have any resource you want.”

Gu Lingyi’s brow furrowed at his words, her gaze sliding past this lump of fat to the sofa.

Her bag and light cardigan were still there.

Being ignored, Zhang Linhai’s face twisted with rage and he lunged to grab her.

In a flash, his hand snapped like a twig, a sharp crack echoing as he howled in pain, clutching his right hand with his left and curling up. “You! You—”

From above, Gu Lingyi gazed down, eyes half-lowered, empty of emotion. “What’s wrong? Not satisfied?”

“You—you crazy bitch, do you want to end your career?” Zhang Linhai trembled as he fumbled for his phone, trying to call for help.

But as soon as he unlocked it, the phone was in Gu Lingyi’s hand.

He gritted his teeth and tried to snatch it back, but met only a barrage of clean, efficient punches and kicks.

“Damn it—Gu Lingyi! You’re finished! Do you know who sent me? You were offered as an apology, you know that?” The memory of that dinner made Zhang Linhai seethe. He slumped on the floor, glaring up at her. “You think you’re protected like Gu Yanyue? Offend me and you’ll never work in Jiangcheng again!”

As he finished, Gu Lingyi kicked him toward the sofa, answering the call ringing from her bag as she did.

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Before she could speak, a barrage of questions erupted from the phone: “Gu Lingyi! What’s going on with you and Zhang Linhai? Why are you in a hotel together? What are you doing?”

The questions went unanswered, but the sounds of a man’s wailing drifted through. On the other end, Tang Shu’s voice unconsciously lowered. “Gu Lingyi, there are paparazzi—”

“Hmm?” Gu Lingyi pressed her foot against Zhang Linhai’s back while scrolling through his phone, her tone flat: “I’m calling the police.”

At these four words, not only her manager fell silent—even Zhang Linhai stopped screaming.

This woman…

As Gu Lingyi scrolled through the phone’s contents, her expression grew colder.

A famed producer in the entertainment industry, a major shareholder of Jiangcheng’s leading media company, and a man who wielded power over the entire circle.

Yet on his phone were over a hundred videos—men and women, adults and minors, from consensual trysts to outright coercion, even some unconscious and unresponsive. The contents were beyond vile.

Her slender fingers tensed, knuckles cracking. Gu Lingyi suppressed her urge for violence, silently reminding herself: This is a society ruled by law, an era of peace.

Only when the police arrived did she finally relax her taut nerves.

She was new to this world—her violent instincts still ran too deep.

Before following the officers out the door, Gu Lingyi glanced up, her gaze pausing unintentionally on a certain spot. A smile curved her lips.

Not long ago, at a dinner, Zhang Linhai had drugged Gu Yanyue, only for Huo Qi to intervene.

So, today—what role did Huo Qi play?

Heh.

Gu Lingyi raised her hand toward the red light in the corner, gesturing a universal sign of “friendship,” then turned and left.

…

Meanwhile, in a similarly arranged suite on one of the hotel’s upper floors, the flickering glow of monitors lit the room.

On the screen, wide-angle footage captured every corner of the suite Gu Lingyi had just left. High-definition pinhole cameras were hidden everywhere.

Qin Xiao sat at the business desk, the split screen frozen on the moment Gu Lingyi raised her middle finger.

His phone heated in his hand as he said, unusually serious, “Qi-ge, we’ve got a problem…”