Chapter 003:

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Lin Mo snapped her eyes open – only to be slammed by a reality more shocking than death itself. She’d rewound time, eleven years before her tragic end! Cold realization washed over her: this world was nothing but the script of a novel… And her three younger brothers? They were the novel’s destined antagonists! Her second brother: the ruthless CEO – fingers coiled around Buddhist prayer beads even as he crushed his enemies. Her third brother: the controversial top idol – a wildfire sparking outrage with every word, yet blazing across every chart. Her youngest brother: the undisputed school bully – ruling the halls with clenched fists and a sneer. The brutal truth choked her: all three brothers were doomed. All three would meet tragic, undeserved ends.

Shen Yihan finally remembered why he’d come to this mall today.
The shock of seeing his sister, dead for eleven years, had obliterated all thought of Li Huanyu.
He frowned, his left fingertips unconsciously tracing the dark Buddhist prayer beads on his right wrist.
Jiang Tang knew that expression. A furrowed brow paired with bead-tracing meant the CEO was deep in thought.
She’d also heard the distinct notification chime – Shen Yihan’s special alert for Li Huanyu. Sitting beside him, she glimpsed the message easily.
Is the CEO figuring out how to tell his sister he needs to leave? We didn’t close the mall; she could shop elsewhere. Jiang Tang recalled this was Li Huanyu’s first invitation for the CEO to go shopping. A golden opportunity!
Meanwhile, the “greedy girl” Lin Mo was engrossed in ordering food, oblivious. “Shen Yihan, what do you want?” she asked after finalizing her choices.

Shen Yihan looked up, but before he could speak, Jiang Tang intervened smoothly, “I’ll order for him. The CEO is… occupied.”
“Occupied with what?” Lin Mo pressed.
Shen Yihan shook his head, fingers already typing on his phone:
[The mall's open. Can't shop with you today. Something came up. Next time.]
My sister just came back. I’ll explain Huanyu later. Once she meets her, she’ll adore her too – everyone does.
Jiang Tang’s eyes widened in shock. He didn’t immediately jump up for Li Huanyu! He’s a siscon! There’s hope!

Inside her chauffeured van, Li Huanyu was equally stunned. He was just spamming me asking if I’d arrived! What changed? She’d already hired paparazzi. Photos of Shen Yihan closing the mall just for her would infuriate Gu Jingchuan! He was already begging for her back, regretful. But she wasn’t easy to please. He needed to learn his lesson!
After a moment’s thought, she replied:
[Yihan-gege, are you mad at me? I fell asleep in the car, didn’t see your messages. Didn’t ignore you on purpose!]
[/puppy-dog eyes emoji/]
The long, distinctive notification chimed twice in quick succession. This time, Lin Mo heard it clearly. “Who’s texting you?” she demanded.
The hotpot dishes arrived swiftly. Shen Yihan focused on blanching Lin Mo’s favorite tripe, barely glancing at his phone. “Nothing important. Don’t worry. Try this tripe – see if it’s crisp enough.”
Jiang Tang’s jaw nearly hit the table. I’ve never seen him cook for anyone… or ignore Li Huanyu’s messages!
“Why are you staring? Food on my face?” Shen Yihan shot her a look. “Order what you want.”
Jiang Tang’s lips twitched. “Yes, CEO.” First time eating hotpot with him too… He usually just inhales meals between deals. Steam curled around the dark beads on his wrist, lending him an unexpected touch of warmth. Jiang Tang had watched him transform Starflash Group from a dying real estate firm into a diversified conglomerate in just four years. That company had been in his uncle’s hands. The ruthless CEO had crushed his uncle, sending him to prison without mercy! The business world called him the Black-Faced Yama King. Jiang Tang had thought so too – he’d always seemed… lifeless. Except around Li Huanyu, where he became terrifyingly intense. Only now was she seeing this gentle side.

After fifteen minutes with no reply, Li Huanyu’s face darkened. The paparazzi were calling her assistant, impatient.
That pathetic simp Shen Yihan, playing hard to get NOW? Fury burned in her chest. “Let’s go!” she snapped at her assistant. “Tell the paparazzi to leave too! How dare he stand me up!” Still, she fired off one last message:
[I'm leaving, Yihan-gege. You're busy. I won't bother you.]
This time, a reply came instantly:
[I'm not angry. Just some business.]
[Transfer: 100,000 yuan]
[Sorry Huanyu. Next time.]
Li Huanyu scoffed, ignoring it. 100,000 yuan? Pocket change! An insult! She wouldn’t accept it. He always sent more if she refused. She’d judge his “sincerity” later!

Lin Mo, however, nearly fainted seeing the casual 100,000-yuan transfer. Think of the gold you could buy with that! She took a deep breath. My own flesh and blood. Can’t kill him.
“Arigatou, Fei Yangyang-san!” Lin Mo smiled sweetly at Shen Yihan as they left the hotpot place.
“What does that mean?” Shen Yihan frowned, confused.
Lin Mo, sparing him embarrassment in front of his assistant, just strode ahead. Should’ve borrowed money from security for a leather belt!
Shen Yihan turned to Jiang Tang. “What did she mean?”
The ever-capable assistant coughed. “Not entirely sure. I know Fei Yangyang adored Mei Yangyang, but Mei Yangyang only had eyes for Xi Yangyang…”
Shen Yihan’s gaze turned icy. “So?”
Jiang Tang offered a tight smile. “So… she’s probably calling you a simp.” She hurried after Lin Mo without looking back. “Lin Mo, wait up!”
Shen Yihan: “…” This misunderstanding is huge. I am NOT a simp!

Lin Mo, fueled by the thought “If I don’t spend this idiot brother’s money, the female lead will!”, marched through the mall. She bought the latest, most expensive phone. Then she hit every luxury boutique, shopping bags multiplying until all three of them were laden.
Her mood lifted slightly. Unseen, the paparazzi Li Huanyu had summoned were packing up… until they spotted Shen Yhan with another girl! Shutters clicked frantically. Shen Yihan was internet royalty – devastatingly handsome, filthy rich, ruthlessly efficient, yet known as the Capital City’s Buddha Prince for his prayer beads. His rumored romance with rising starlet Li Huanyu was massive gossip fodder! They’d been hired for sweet couple shots. But seasoned paparazzi knew drama outsold fluff. Buddha Prince dumps sweetheart for new flame? Explosive! Disguised as a janitor, the photographer nearly wept with joy at his luck.
However, Shen Yihan stayed close to the girl, flanked by his assistant. The paparazzo couldn’t get a clear front shot, only side profiles and back views. It was enough. Posted online by 7 PM, the hashtags exploded:
#ShenYihanSpendsMillionsShoppingWithMysteryBeauty Boom!
#ShenYihanLiHuanyuOver?
#BuddhaPrincesNewFlame

Inside a moving, custom grey Rolls-Royce:
Jin Yang glanced at his phone and sneered, turning to his boss. “CEO Xie, Shen Yihan’s in the news again. Lately, he’s been acting possessed, obsessed with women. Should we reduce our investment in Starflash? Their Q2 profits are dipping.” He couldn’t fathom what Xie Guanyan saw in Starflash. Since Shen Yihan took over, Xie had continually invested, expanding the other’s empire.
Seated on the right, the man in pristine white tailored suit adjusted his silver-rimmed glasses. His face was impossibly beautiful, ethereal and untouchable as an immortal. Yet a tea-colored mole on the tip of his nose, caught in the flickering streetlights outside, added a startling, sensual vibrancy. He seemed weary, removing his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Which starlet this time?” he asked lazily.
Jin Yang shook his head, zooming in on a photo. “Unclear. Paparazzi missed her face. But her profile and figure suggest a beauty.”
Xie Guanyan held his glasses loosely, his gaze drifting casually to Jin Yang’s phone screen. The photo showed three people: the imposing Shen Yihan, prayer-bead wrist weighed down by five shopping bags; his tall, coolly elegant assistant similarly laden; and the girl between them, only her profile visible.
Xie Guanyan’s focus snapped instantly to the girl.
Long hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her profile was exquisite, porcelain-fine.
There were no identifying details.
Yet, in that single glance, the world dissolved.
His breath hitched. All sound vanished except the deafening hammer of his own heart.
THUD! THUD!! THUD!!!
Jin Yang’s phone was suddenly wrenched from his hand.
Startled, he looked at his boss.
His pupils contracted in shock.
He had never seen the ethereal, untouchable Xie Guanyan wear an expression of such obsessive hunger, such undisguised, cloying intensity.