After transmigrating into the body of a scheming, fake heiress, she and the real heiress ended up happily ever after

Chapter 1

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Let me look at you

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Chapter One: Han Shu's Mirror

Han Shu's ideal scenario is this: a leisurely morning, waking up naturally in his own bed, stretching his limbs, sipping a homemade lemon tea, and enjoying a honeycomb cake from the old-fashioned bakery on the corner downstairs—that's the perfect breakfast. He can even catch up on the news while eating. Music is optional, but his favorite tune will always be playing on his player. Before leaving, he'll change into his favorite slightly worn casual clothes for a date he's looking forward to but not too excited about. He'll open the door to find the weather neither sunny nor rainy, neither cold nor hot, with a clear sky, fresh air, and ideally a slight breeze. All the work and life issues will have been perfectly resolved, and he can do what he wants when he gets home in the evening, without having to rush to work the next day…

At this moment, he stood near the flowerbed in Times Square, the commercial district of G City. Everything was perfect, though not quite reaching his ideal, but not far off. Besides the weather and his favorite team winning the game, there were countless other reasons to be in high spirits. Yesterday, Friday, he won his case in court. The notoriously cunning defendant finally faced justice. Even the chief prosecutor said he had indeed won brilliantly, maintaining his record of the highest win rate in the Chengnan District People's Procuratorate over the past ten years. This could be seen as a perfect ending to his work experience in Chengnan District, because according to reliable sources, his promotion order had officially reached the Municipal Procuratorate, and a further advancement in his career was a certainty.

Last night, Han Shu's colleagues and friends celebrated with him, and the four of them drank four bottles of vodka. Surprisingly, he didn't have a headache when he woke up this morning. The weather was as good as he had hoped, with nothing to complain about. Even when he parked his car in the underground parking lot of the square, he found the perfect spot. So, although his girlfriend was twenty-five minutes late, it wasn't enough to dampen his good mood.

Four or five young women, who looked like college students, walked past him, chattering and laughing, their eyes constantly glancing at him. Han Shu looked up and returned their smiles, but the girls blushed with embarrassment and ran away, pushing and shoving each other. He hummed a song that only he could hear, one hand in his pocket, the other casually picking at the faded azalea blossoms in the flowerbed. These flowers didn't fall off naturally after they faded; they withered and remained on the branches, consuming the plant's nutrients and detracting from its ornamental value.

Just as he picked the seventeenth flower, a sudden, sharp pain shot through his shoulder. Han Shu's good mood, like a mirror, cracked for the first time under this heavy blow.

Han Shu took a few deep breaths, turned around, and sure enough, saw that familiar smiling face. He originally wanted to say, "I prefer saying 'Hi' to Iron Palm as a greeting." But after thinking about it, he decided against it and just smiled and said, "You finally arrived. I don't know who said on the phone that the person who arrives late has to treat everyone to dinner."

Zhu Xiaobei, with an air of magnanimity, stood on tiptoe, hooked his arm around Han Shu's shoulder, and said, "What's a dinner invitation? We're like brothers, aren't we? Sorry, I was delayed while changing clothes. Did you keep me waiting?"

Han Shu clearly felt a little awkward with Zhu Xiaobei's arm around his shoulder. He coughed, moved his shoulder slightly, and broke free from her grasp, saying as she wished, "It didn't take long."

Zhu Xiaobei had been waiting for these words. She never liked people who were late, and since she was late today, she felt quite guilty. So she successfully shed her guilt and said, "I knew you wouldn't be here long."

“Yes, it’s only thirty-seven minutes. Usually, thirty-seven minutes is enough time for me to finish a twentyprofessional report, and if I’m quick, I can even finish a court hearing. Of course, waiting for you is only fair…” Han Shu looked at Zhu Xiaobei’s dejected expression with a half-smile, his gaze inadvertently shifting downwards until he finally saw her attire clearly. Han Shu’s mirror shattered with a loud crash, revealing an even deeper crack. “You, you… Zhu Xiaobei, what are you wearing!”

No wonder he was surprised. Zhu Xiaobei, who usually dressed in a neutral and casual style, was wearing a skirt today, which was unusual for her. Fine, a skirt is a skirt, a skirt can show a woman's gentleness, but, but! Her black striped blazer and matching pencil skirt, along with her black stiletto heels, made Han Shu have to use a lot of effort to control his somewhat distorted expression.

"Is there a problem?" Zhu Xiaobei tugged at her skirt awkwardly, seemingly unsure of her unconventional attire. Han Shu and Zhu Xiaobei had known each other for six months and had been dating for two months. When they were together, Han Shu was always impeccably dressed, while Zhu Xiaobei was always in a T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. Their matchmaker, Zhu Xiaobei's good friend Zheng Wei, had repeatedly reminded Xiaobei privately, "Han Shu is a very particular person, very detail-oriented. Can't you dress up a bit? Don't look like a construction worker next to him." Although Zhu Xiaobei looked herself over and didn't see any resemblance to a construction worker, after several dates, she did realize that her attire was far too casual compared to Han Shu's. Since she had decided to pursue a serious relationship, she felt she needed to consider his feelings, so she took Zheng Wei's advice and wore her only dress to her date with Han Shu this Saturday morning. Because she hadn't worn high heels for many years, it took Zhu Xiaobei twice as long to walk from her dormitory to the bus stop, which was why she was late.

Zhu Xiaobei believed her formal attire was sufficient to demonstrate her sincerity, but Han Shu, standing before her today, wore a striped polo shirt, adorned with a bee motif, jeans, and Vans sneakers. He'd also switched to a sporty watch, carried a large crossbody bag, and even sported black-rimmed glasses. This guy had good looks; nearing thirty, he convincingly dressed as a college student. However, once again, the two of them were utterly mismatched.

"Damn it, why aren't you wearing a suit and tie today?" Zhu Xiaobei felt a surge of frustration.

Han Shu's smile was a little stiff. "Because I usually just got off work or finished court, but today I'm here to go shopping. Also, can you please not say 'damn' in front of me?"

"I swear I'll never wear this shabby outfit again. This is what it means to put in effort for nothing." Zhu Xiaobei said, waving his hand.

Han Shu comforted himself, thinking that she had meant well, and then smiled and patted her shoulder, "Alright, your mother's outfit is not bad."

"Damn, this is mine—"

"I told you not to say that word."

"Hey, Han Shu, you look pretty presentable all over, not bad, not bad."

I took that as a compliment.

"Of course I'm praising you, but I've heard that if a man is too particular, he's probably gay..."

"I have also heard that it refers to the act of deliberately fabricating and spreading fictitious facts to denigrate another person's personality and damage their reputation, which can constitute the crime of defamation. If the circumstances are serious, the offender may be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, public surveillance, or deprivation of political rights."

The two walked into the mall, chatting away. Han Shu mentioned that he had replaced all the bed sheets at home, and Zhu Xiaobei volunteered to help him choose with her "excellent" eye. This was also the first weekend date for the new couple.

Han Shu met Zhu Xiaobei at the wedding of his former colleague and friend. He was the best man, and Zhu Xiaobei was the bridesmaid—a relationship supposedly most likely to spark a romance. However, Han Shu didn't experience any sparks that day; instead, he broke out in a cold sweat. He had never seen such a fierce female PhD; she was practically a female hooligan. They say refined scoundrels, but Zhu Xiaobei wasn't even remotely refined. At the time, he was engaged, and his only hope was to avoid this ordeal on his own wedding day. Unexpectedly, three months before the wedding, he and his fiancée parted ways. Lin Jing's bride, Zheng Wei, insisted on comforting his wounded heart, and so she proudly introduced Zhu Xiaobei.

Zhu Xiaobei had just returned to G City from Xinjiang. Han Shu had no idea why she had gone so far to pursue her doctorate, or why she had returned before receiving her degree. He didn't refuse this arranged marriage primarily out of boredom, and secondly, because he didn't want to offend Lin Jing and her husband. So, with the attitude that "existence is its own justification," they went out a few times. Unexpectedly, after several encounters, he and Zhu Xiaobei hit it off immediately, practically ready to become sworn brothers.

Zhu Xiaobei may seem a bit roguish and give off a carefree vibe, but she is actually a very sentimental person. She is more open-minded and generous than many girls, and she is also quite sensitive. She is also good-looking. In addition, the two have similar family backgrounds, educational backgrounds, and work conditions, and they both plan to find someone to marry. Therefore, they both feel that the other is a good partner.

So, one day two months ago, Han Shu and Zhu Xiaobei made an appointment to play badminton together. During the break, both of them were covered in sweat. Han Shu handed Zhu Xiaobei some water and said, "I can't take it anymore. I'm going to die if my mom and dad keep nagging me like this."

Zhu Xiaobei scoffed, "What are yours compared to my tigress? At 27, my mother still scolds me in front of everyone, both acquaintances and strangers, for not having a single male mosquito around me, making a complete disgrace to the Zhu family. I feel like dying. I was doing just fine in Xinjiang, but then my mother showed up and gave me two choices: go back to the Northeast or find her a good son-in-law. Without a second thought, I packed my bags and came here. I lied to my mother, saying that men from the South are easy to hook, otherwise she wouldn't let me go..."

Han Shu realized that confiding his misfortunes to Zhu Xiaobei was a complete mistake. She was the type of person who, if you told her "I have a headache," would reply, "A headache is nothing, I have a tumor in my brain." However, besides feeling a pang of sympathy for Han Shu, Zhu Xiaobei's painful memories also sparked a certain inspiration within him. So he smiled slightly and said, "Zhu Xiaobei, how about... I make do for a bit?"

Zhu Xiaobei paused for 0.1 seconds, then patted Han Shu's shoulder forcefully, "Then you'll get off easy."

And so began their "romantic life." Han Shu had been busy with a rather tricky case recently, and Zhu Xiaobei had just become a teaching assistant in the Mechanical Engineering Department of G University. They were both very busy. Their so-called dates were nothing more than going out for dinner together after get off work. The only time they went to see a movie, Han Shu was called away by a business phone call less than five minutes into the movie, leaving Zhu Xiaobei half asleep for the remaining 85 minutes in the theater. Strictly speaking, this Saturday was the first time they had a serious date.

Just as they reached the mall entrance, they heard an argument. Han Shu and Zhu Xiaobei looked in the direction of the sound and saw a middle-aged couple arguing. The man was trying to leave, but the woman was clinging to his sleeve, crying and saying, "Where are you going to die? Don't you care about your family?" The argument escalated as they pushed and shoved each other, and they started fighting in public. The man, naturally stronger, nearly pushed the woman to the ground several times, drawing stares from passersby.

"I can't stand it." Zhu Xiaobei was getting angry. She glanced at Han Shu, who remained calm and indifferent, but his hand was tightly gripping hers, clearly subconsciously resisting her meddlesome impulse.

For Han Shu, years of experience in the procuratorate had brought him to witness countless instances of feuding couples who fought like mortal enemies. When he first entered society, he too was fiercely opposed to injustice, unable to bear seeing the vulnerable bullied, and eager to uphold justice. However, his intervention turned the couple's feud into an internal conflict, with the couple uniting to deal with meddling individuals and organizations. The best solution for such situations is to let the people resolve their internal conflicts themselves.

Zhu Xiaobei knew something about Han Shu's thoughts. She told herself, "Why did I have to get involved in this mess?" Just as she stepped into the mall entrance, a crisp "slap" rang out. She turned around abruptly and saw that the man, enraged, had slapped his wife hard across the face. The woman fell sideways like a rag doll.

"Damn! This is outrageous!"

Before Han Shu could speak, Zhu Xiaobei rushed towards the center of the trouble like a rocket launched from Shenzhou VI. She first helped the woman up, and then angrily berated the man, "Have you no shame? Using your wife as a punching bag? What kind of skill is it to bully women? I despise men like you the most!"

Zhu Xiaobei was already tall, and with high heels, she was more than half a head taller than the thin southern man. In addition, with her eyebrows raised and her almond eyes wide open, she immediately overwhelmed the man with her presence. For every centimeter she took forward, the man took back the same amount of centimeters. The woman leaning against the marble pillar covered her face, seemingly stunned by the sudden change.

The man took a few steps back, finally realizing what was happening. Although Zhu Xiaobei's intervention was sudden and forceful, she was, after all, a woman, dressed like a white-collar worker. How strong could she possibly be? In front of so many people, he couldn't let himself be laughed at. Perhaps fueled by anger, the man roared, "Who do you think you are? What business is it of yours if I hit my woman?" Then, as if to prove something, he shoved Zhu Xiaobei aside and kicked his woman, who was trembling by the pillar.

Normally, Zhu Xiaobei would never have let him succeed so easily, but she was at a disadvantage because she was wearing high heels she wasn't used to. She stumbled and couldn't stop him in time. The man's arrogance and disregard for women almost made her explode with anger. In her rage, she didn't care about anything else, took off her high heels, and slammed them hard into the man's shoulder. The man cried out in pain and actually turned around and started fighting with her.

"...Yes, Lao Li, it's right at the entrance of XX Shopping Mall. Could you please find a few brothers on duty nearby to come and take a look?" Han Shu, who was still hoping for a civilized solution, was shocked to see the change in the situation. He no longer cared about making a phone call. His good mood was now destined to be ruined. He glanced at the sky and had no choice but to join the battle. He hurriedly took a few steps forward and forcibly separated Zhu Xiaobei and the man.

It seems that Zhu Xiaobei and that man were both serious. If Han Shu hadn't been a diligent exerciser, he really wouldn't have been able to act as a peacemaker.

"That's enough! Nobody move!" Han Shu shouted sternly.

It's said that people who work in the public security, procuratorate, and judicial system for a long time often have a violent streak. Although Han Shu usually appears to be a model young man who loves life, he also has a dignified aura beneath his righteous and stern words. The man stopped moving his hands and feet, but he didn't let up with his mouth, pointing at Zhu Xiaobei and saying, "You crazy woman, don't think I'm afraid of you just because you've brought a lover."

"What did you say?" Zhu Xiaobei tried to pounce on him again, but Han Shu pulled him behind her. He pointed at the man's nose and said, "Say it again, that's enough. Watch your mouth, or the forty-eight hours in the detention center won't be easy."

There was a security post nearby, and Han Shu's phone call proved very effective; two young men in uniform were already on their way. The woman who had been beaten sobbed and grabbed her husband's arm, "Let's go, let's go, let's not cause any more trouble."

"Isn't it all because of you, you jinx?" the man cursed his wife, taking the opportunity to back down. "I'm not going to bother with you." With that, he and the woman turned and left angrily.

Zhu Xiaobei watched the woman carefully help her husband away, a look of astonishment on her face. Han Shu was busy greeting and thanking the auxiliary police officers who had rushed over. After seeing them off, he silently looked Zhu Xiaobei up and down. Her hair was disheveled, there were shoe prints on her skirt, and there seemed to be bruises on the back of her hands. If Han Shu remembered correctly, the man's condition was only worse than hers. He took out a tissue and handed it to Zhu Xiaobei without saying a word.

Zhu Xiaobei realized he had gone too far and felt a little embarrassed in front of Han Shu. He took the tissue and wiped his disheveled appearance haphazardly.

"Well... it's not my fault. That man was so hateful. I hate men who hit women the most. If I ever run into him again, I'll..." Zhu Xiaobei tried her best to defend herself.

Han Shu sneered, but remained silent.

Zhu Xiaobei knew Han Shu always had a smile on his face, but she had never seen him like this before. For some reason, she felt a little guilty, so she coughed twice and changed the subject: "I didn't realize you were so resourceful. One phone call and the police came. Not bad, not bad."

"Their boss is only giving face to my old man." Han Shu said indifferently, clearly not buying her act. "Zhu Xiaobei, I have some doubts about whether you are a man who has undergone gender reassignment surgery."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiaobei thought to herself, "Oh no! I finally found a decent-looking husband, and now it might all fall through. Why did I have to meddle in their fight? What if her mother comes and beats me to a pulp? Who will care then?" Thinking this, an indescribable sorrow welled up inside her, and she involuntarily lowered her head. Rather than letting others reject her, she decided to be more self-aware. So, in an unusually low voice, she said, "Han Shu, this is my business."

Han Shu, this is my business...

Such an ordinary sentence shattered the mirror in Han Shu's heart, but every single fragment was so bright, so bright that he had nowhere to hide. That sentence, that lowered head, seemed like a memory from a past life, both distant and near. Many fragments he longed to remember, and feared to recall, flashed back within each piece. That name was almost out of his mouth, and Han Shu gritted his teeth, preventing those two words from slipping out. His heart, which had begun to question whether he and Zhu Xiaobei were suitable, softened without any principle. He bent down to pick up her high heels that had fallen to the side, intending to put them on for her, only to discover that the heels were broken.

Han Shu finally couldn't help but laugh, "I'm impressed, Goddess of War."

Zhu Xiaobei, oblivious to the pain in her body, laughed heartily, casually slipped on the broken-heeled shoe, and said to Han Shu, "Come on, let's go buy a pair of sneakers first." When she looked up, she didn't notice the momentary disappointment on Han Shu's face.

Han Shu helped Zhu Xiaobei, who was walking with one leg higher than the other, and asked earnestly, "Hey, what was that move you just used called again... Dynamic Light Wave?"

"I haven't used my Wolf-Slaying Hammer yet. I'll show you next time."

Chapter Two: Reunion After Eleven Years

The biggest advantage of breaking a shoe heel in a fight at the mall entrance is that you don't have to walk many steps to buy a new pair. This kind of luck is basically equivalent to fainting in a hospital and being carried straight to the emergency room. As Han Shu thought this, he suddenly felt that this tone and logic were very similar to someone else's. He remembered that person saying that her luckiest thing was having a nightmare and waking up to find that everything in the dream was not real; the sense of relief and satisfaction she felt was indescribable.

Han Shu didn't know why he was thinking about people and things from the past so easily today. Even a small detail was enough to make him think. Could it be that he had entered the aging stage before his thirtieth birthday? Isn't the important psychological characteristic of people entering old age being too nostalgic?

Zhu Xiaobei was planning to head straight for the CONVERSE counter, but Han Shu stopped her, saying, "Zhu Xiaobei, if you wear this outfit and a pair of sneakers, you might as well just step over my dead body." Hearing him say that, Zhu Xiaobei had no choice but to obediently comply.

To Zhu Xiaobei's surprise, Han Shu not only had a good eye for dressing himself, but also for choosing women's shoes. The pair of flat shoes that he picked out for Zhu Xiaobei at first glance were acceptable to her, even though she had always been quite dismissive of ladylike styles.

"Hey, do you often give women shoes?" Zhu Xiaobei asked, deliberately glaring at her as she bent down to try on the shoes.

Han Shu laughed and said, "How could that be? Picking shoes only requires a good eye, not practice. This is the first time I've accompanied a girl to buy shoes."

"Haha, to be honest, I don't really believe it, but it doesn't matter." Zhu Xiaobei was quite honest.

Han Shu shrugged and offered no further explanation. He knew that this was actually his second time at the women's shoe store. As for the last time... it was too long ago to mention.

Before even putting the shoes on, Zhu Xiaobei suddenly stopped and examined them from all angles. "Now I'm starting to believe this is your first time. Han Shu, these aren't my size at all."

"What, this is a size 6?" Han Shu asked, somewhat puzzled.

Zhu Xiaobei waved the shoes in front of her, "Who told you I wear a size 6? I wear a size 9... What's with that look? Haven't you ever seen a woman with big feet? Or do you think all women in the world should wear a size 6?"

Han Shu was a little embarrassed by her exaggerated expression. He rubbed his face and laughed to himself. No two leaves are the same, so naturally no two feet are the same. How could he have thought that way? It was a very basic mistake that showed a lack of common sense.

After Zhu Xiaobei changed into her new shoes, the two of them strolled around the home textile section upstairs. Zhu Xiaobei thought everything was fine, but Han Shu couldn't find anything suitable. So she complained, "I've never seen such a picky man as you. You're more troublesome than a woman. It's just a piece of cloth for the clothes we wear at night. Is it really necessary to go to such lengths?"

Han Shu disagreed with her view, saying, "A person spends more than a third of their life sleeping, and suitable bedding can improve the quality of rest, which is very important."

"I really want to visit your home sometime."

Zhu Xiaobei was just saying this offhand, but Han Shu took it seriously. He stopped and said, "That's true. There's no time like the present. Why don't we go back to my place together after we're done shopping? My Western food is pretty decent."

Zhu Xiaobei wasn't stupid; she knew what Han Shu's invitation meant. Since they met, although they were nominally boyfriend and girlfriend, their closest intimacy had been holding hands while walking side-by-side; they hadn't even hugged. Zhu Xiaobei considered herself a pure person, and it wasn't strange that she'd met another pure person. However, her friend Zheng Wei asserted that one of them must have something wrong with them, and from Zheng Wei's tone, it seemed certain that the problem was with Zhu Xiaobei. This made the proud and self-respecting young woman somewhat discouraged. Han Shu's suggestion might be the catalyst for their relationship to develop further. Isn't that what men and women are all about?

Thinking of this, Zhu Xiaobei nodded solemnly, and Han Shu felt somewhat puzzled by her sudden serious expression.

"Didn't find anything suitable? I have a friend who works in a fabric shop, I think it's nearby. I've heard they make really nice things, perfect for a petit-bourgeoisie like you. How about I take you to check it out?"

Han Shu thought about it and figured he had plenty of time today, so there was no harm in taking a look. He nodded dismissively.

Zhu Xiaobei's concept of "not far" was quite different from Han Shu's. They got into Han Shu's car, passed five intersections, and made several turns before finally arriving at their destination. Han Shu parked the car and discovered that the fabric store was actually a fairly large chain store. It seemed there was a branch even closer, right next to the shopping mall they had just visited. Of course, Han Shu could completely understand Zhu Xiaobei's desire to bring business to his friend and keep the profits within the family, so he didn't say anything and followed Zhu Xiaobei into the store.

Perhaps because the store is relatively remote, even though it was the weekend, there weren't many customers in the large store. Several female employees in uniforms were idly chatting in twos and threes.

Since he was already there, he figured he shouldn't leave empty-handed again. With that in mind, Han Shu carefully selected the items. Zhu Xiaobei seemed to have already found her friend, and they were chatting enthusiastically in another corner. It wasn't until Han Shu had flipped through the entire catalog of bed sheets that he heard her and her shop assistant friend approaching.

"Well, Your Majesty the Picky One, have you found any treasures that catch your eye?" Zhu Xiaobei asked with a smile, standing behind Han Shu.

Han Shu turned around, and Zhu Xiaobei pointed to the person next to her and introduced her to Han Shu: "This is the friend I was talking about."

Han Shu smiled politely at the woman and continued to focus on selecting bed sheets. There were many samples of fabric beside him: white, blue, purple, checkered, floral, embroidered... too many, too chaotic. It took a full few seconds for the colorful array to explode in his somewhat sluggish mind, with a blinding white at the center of the dazzling display.

"Don't you have any suitable ones? Would you like me to recommend a few?"

Han Shu turned around very slowly. He had heard people say that when you are dreaming, you should turn around gently, otherwise you will wake up. Although he still couldn't figure out whether this was a good dream or a nightmare.