The next morning, Lu Mian left the house early - deciding to run to school as a way to train her body. As for what the Lu family thought about her new habit, she didn't care. If she wanted to regain the martial arts of her life before, she needed to get fit. Fast.
Her goal was the National Defense Academy. It was THE top institute in the country for Military Cadets, where Leaders frequently scouted talent for their teams.
To get in, good grades alone weren't enough. They checked for fitness, general knowledge, aptitude for strategy and, most importantly, any other extra curricular activities that could speak to your skills.
Which of my skills should I use? Wondered Lu Mian as she turned the corner. In Aegis's team she was the Shadow Strategist. Her skills lay in data analysis, encryption, and information warfare. Under his mentorship, her genius mind developed predictive models based on war strategies so that they could uncover sleeper cells. She became their key operative - both for national defense, and internal security because her programs saved countless lives, without spilling a single soldier's blood.
Most of what she did was top secret, and was hardly known to anybody beyond the 3 members of Aegi's team.
What was well known was her other identity. To the public, and the wider Military community, she was known as the genius researcher "The Divine Alchemist". She combined Traditional Chinese Medicine in Bioengineering to influence advanced gene therapy technology.
She led the team that revived buried research in the field and had achieved a breakthrough that would make the nation way ahead of any other country in the world.
That life is still ahead of you Lu Mian. You are only 17 now. Take it steady. Right now, she needed highly visible, yet intelligent projects that could build a portfolio of success.
I will revive my old account in the Dark Web and take on "popular" projects she decided.The harder, the better - it would get her fame that she could use for admission and would be the first step in building a name for herself.
Halfway through the run, her body gave out. Pathetic. Huffing and puffing, she lugged her bag and walked the rest of the way. I need to train harder she thought, disgusted by how little stamina her body actually had. At this rate, she wouldn't clear even the first selection rounds.
Luckily, she spotted a little breakfast shop nearby. It seemed new. And very clean. I don't remember this from my previous life she mused idly. Mentally shrugging, she collapsed at the nearest char "Boss, a basket of steamed buns please" she gasped. She was starving!
"Well well, look who it is - it's the good for nothing Lu family heiress" came a mocking voice. It belonged to a school girl, rather chubby, with designer bag and jewellery that screamed nouveau riche. She's the silly sidekick to Lu Xinya. Lu Mian recognised her. But could not remember her name.
"What did you get so upset your brain got fried? Looks like CEO Pei finally got tired of you - and ditched you for our Xinxin" That's sidekick no.2.
"I don't respond to barking dogs" replied Lu Mian loftily and took out her cell phone to distract herself.
"Whom are you calling a dog, watch yourself" roared sidekick no.1.
"Whomever responds" replied non-chalantly and went back to waiting for her breakfast order.
"You-"
"Lina, please don't yell at sister. I know her. She would've just spoken out of temper. I am sure she didn't mean it" on cue, the sweet voice of Lu Xinya broke in.
A lightbulb went off in Lu Mian's brain. The nouveau riche is Meng Lina and the loud one is He Yuting. She had no idea what happened to these two idiots in her past life. She knew that He Yuting was related to Aunt He from her family (a well covered secret that she had stumbled on by accident). The reason they hung around Lu Xinya was simple - benefits. They thought Lu Xinya would inherit the Lu Enterprises and get married into the Pei family.
They weren't wrong. I was the only one dumb enough not to see the full picture in my last life she cursed bitterly.
"Did CEO Pei drop you off at school again?" simpered Meng Lina. "You look so shy".
"Li Na, you shouldn't say it like that, we all know sister likes Yan ge. Besides, Yan ge didn't intentionally drive me. It was in the way.."
Not waiting for Xinya to finish, He Yuting interjected "Nonsense, we all saw the pictures in the school forum. CEO Pei looked so sincere, and you were sitting in the front with him!"
Lu Xinya turned victorious eyes at Lu Mian. Aunt He had secretly recorded Lu Mian's outburst last night - the one where she promised to win Pei Yan back. Xinya, to keep Pei Yan interested in her, had sent it to him with the note "Yan ge, sister is too sad. I think we should stop."
She had calculated right. Pei Yan immediately started talking to her, even allowing her to sit in the front seat when he came to pick her up. He had looked around hopefully for Mianmian, wanting her to witness this show. Thankfully, her mother had made up some excuse about extra study sessions because she was failing her grade and he reluctantly drove away.
It galled her to see Pei Yan look so disappointed. Keep at it Xinxin. You will get him soon. "I didn't know sister walked here today. We could've…"
"I don't need your ride or your man Lu Xinya." scoffed Lu Mian. "If marrying into the Pei family means achieving the pinnacle of life for you, I am sad for your lack of knowledge!"
"Nonsense, the Pei enterprises is the top company in City C. How dare you…" started He Yuting.
Lu Mian had had enough. She was tired, hungry and had a full day ahead of her. She did not have patience for these idiots.
"His company was built on the Lu family prescriptions. Some fame. With his sloppy business skills, I bet they will go under in 2 months. I don't want idiots like that, thank you" brushed off Lu Mian.
"Mianmian, how dare you speak about me like that! As my fiancee is this what you should be saying?" Pei Yan had noticed her in the breakfast shop and thought he would make the effort to talk to her. She had looked too pitiful in the video and his sanctimonious male ego was soothed. He could lower himself to throw her one tiny bone and then allow her to help him with the prescription.
"So CEO Pei knows sister is not his fiance and is still so close to her? Isn't that being too shameless?" Pei Yan turned red. "And I mean what I said. Which of your high selling products isn't based on my Lu family prescription? It's not shameful to get help. It's shameful to eat and be ungrateful"
There was pin drop silence in the breakfast place. Everyone turned to look at them. "So Lu Mian was the fiancee after all. Isn't this too shameless"
"Cheating with her brother-in-law and still acting so high and mighty, what school flower. I think she is an embarrassment"
"The fiance is a scumbag for sure. Taking benefits and then having the gall to cheat. What utter shamelessness".
The whispers in the cafe started. Lu Xinya turned red with embarrassment. She never imagined things would turn out this way.
"You, I can't believe I pitied you…" Pei Yan was beside himself with fury.
"Pitied me so much to beg me for another prescription? CEO Pei, I told you I don't want a shameless scumbag like you for fiance. You should stop showing up in front of me."
"It's hilarious, they actually tracked her down to flaunt their relationship in front of her. This is too bloody".
Pei Yan couldn't take it anymore. "Nonsense. Lu Mian, we are breaking off…"
"Finally. You have finally understood. That's right CEO Pei - we have broken up. It is I Lu Mian who did not want you, because you are an ungrateful, shameless cheating scumbag."
It was too much for Pei Yan. It was unseemly for him to bicker with a school girl. And, he had never known this version of her. He turned on his heel to leave the cafe.
"Wait CEO Pei". His leg paused for a second, his heart almost soothed.
"A kindly word of advice, you should focus more on the company. Now that I am no longer there to oversee the contracts, your loss would be higher." she smirked.
"Stop lying Lu Mian.."
"In 3 days, your top client X will pull out because your initial contract quote can't keep up with demand." Pei Yan froze.
"Nonsense! X has…" Pei Yan blubbered. "You know the contract term you changed." It had happened in her last life and she clearly recalled the mess she had to clear up. "Your father doesn;t know you made that edit. If I were you, I would go and correct it. Or, you can just sit back and wait for daddy to wipe your ass"
"How dare you Lu Mian. Just because you gave me a few measly prescriptions you dare spew nonsense?"
Lu Mian chuckled. "Measly prescriptions? CEO Pei. Let's have a bet. If within 3 days, client x backs out, you will return the measly prescriptions back to me"
Pei Yan paused. Despite speaking in anger, he knew if he actually said yes his father would murder him.
"Sister, I know you are hurt because Yan ge dropped me off today. But this is going too far" Lu Xinya tried to make her presence known. Unfortunately, Lu Mian had all the cards.
"I don't speak to cheap women who seduce their brother in law. And, what are you saying? Do you mean your mighty CEO Pei can't take a single bet? Who bragged that he was the no. 1 in City C?"
"I agree." Interjected CEO Pei curtly. "If you loose, you kneel down and kowtow to me." he urged.
"Done. agreed Lu Mian easily. "And don;t even think about backing out - we have the surveillance video here for proof. CEO Pei, I won;t accompany you anymore"
Pei Yan flushed slightly, and the watching crowd openly laughed - this shameless person had indeed considered it. Not getting a single advantage, Pei Yan once again bolted.
Lu Mian turned to her sister and sidekicks who were gaping at her dumbfounded. She walked to her sister and said in a low voice "Want to bet if the Pei families'stocks will fall tomorrow? Whom do you think Uncle Pei will blame,Mistress?"
The blow was too much for Lu Xinya. She turned on her heel and ran out, with her two friends in tow.
Lu Mian lazily turned back to her seat. "If you want more melons, you should pay me some fees you know" she told the guy who was watching the show.
"Sister - you are great! Your attack power is too good! And you are so good looking too! The spineless fool doesn't deserve you" gushed the man. He looked to be in his early twenties, a sharp nose and a playful vibe. He was handsome enough she supposed, in a cute little brother kind of way.
Lu Mian merely smiled at him and moved to pick up her buns. "Thank you, boss" she smiled at the shopkeeper and turned to leave.
"Will the stocks really fall? And why are you so sure client x will pull out?" the young man wasn't done.
"Watch Pei Enterprises and you will know" winked Lu Mian and walked away. She had things to do and a lot of her morning was already wasted.
I think I have a new goddess, thought Lin Ke as he watched Lu Mian walk away. He called his friends right away and shared the update. "She's so cool and so beautiful. I am going to pursue her" he gushed.
"Is it a fictional character from a video game?"
"Met on weibo again? This time make sure it's not a 45 yr old man"
"Though if it is, and if you are into that, we are not judging you."
Lin Ke turned off the phone in a huff. Plastic brothers.