Brother Qin was shocked. He instinctively took two steps back, but Ji Mochen grabbed him by the collar. The hatred in his eyes was evident, and his cold voice was like a snake's hiss.
"Wasn't it you who went behind my back to persuade Ruo first? Otherwise, such an obedient child would not have pestered me about being bored and wanting to make new friends."
Upon hearing this, Brother Qin's face turned pale. Ji Mochen pushed him hard, "Go back and process my contract termination. Don't show up in front of me again in the future."
"...I understand." After a long while, Brother Qin finally responded and left.
Tan Ruo watched as he stumbled out of the Ji house heartbroken and weeping with his face in his hands.
But there was nothing she could do besides letting out a helpless sigh.
What Ji Mochen said wasn't wrong. Brother Qin had come to persuade her before discussing it with Ji Mochen. His coaxing words back then were so ridiculous that she had almost rolled her eyes.
But in the end, she still nodded, following the strong desire in her heart.
To be honest, if it wasn't for this incident, Brother Qin's decision would have been perfect.
Not only did this show allow Ji Mochen to embark on a career transformation, but it also dispelled the long-standing rumor of a "love-hate relationship between the Heavenly King and Queen of the screen".
But just at this critical juncture, an accident happened. A little one whom everyone doted on like a treasure just left like that.
Thus, everything underwent earth-shattering changes.
The once harmonious family became fragmented after losing their child. The previously cheerful partner had become silent...
Upon realizing this, Tan Ruo couldn't help but sigh. My god, wasn't this the plot of those "everyone goes crazy after the female lead's death" dramas that she used to act in?
This was truly...a case of life imitating art.
Thinking of this, her earlier doubts surfaced again—So what does this have to do with her?
Why did she become Ji Ruochu?
And why, after overcoming the calamity of death, did she see the truth of the matter in her dreams again?
Was it to tell her?
"The calamity has been overcome. From now on, the grace of your past life fades. The fate of your original body changes. Everything henceforth will be for you to decide on your own."
A gentle voice floated over from the distance. At the same time, a memory emerged from Tan Ruo's mind, revealing another layer of the mystery.
So it turned out...she didn't immediately become Ji Ruochu after her death. Instead, she had wandered the world unrestrainedly for four years before encountering that child at the studio, that child with peach blossom eyes that were as soft and cute as could be.
"Hey kid, I've noticed you sneaking peeks at me for a few days now. What's up?"
At that time, Tan Ruo was lazily leaning against a beam, lethargically asking with a remarkably translucent soul.
"Nice to meet you, sister. I'm little Ruo," the little one greeted sweetly, somewhat embarrassed. "I just...think you're very pretty."
The four-year-old girl looked up at her timidly. Her head of black hair was half draped down, and the butterfly knot on her pearl pendant swayed twice with the movement—utterly adorable.
"You naughty kid," she slowly moved closer, and upon seeing the seemingly talking eyes on the child's face, she disdained, "Although your eyes are ugly, your gaze isn't bad."
"Huh?" The little one touched the corners of her eyes in confusion. "But my dad said my eyes are the prettiest in the world!"
"Then your dad must be blind," she bluntly stated.
"..." The little one pouted as if about to cry but managed to hold it in. "Sister, why are you always at the studio every day?"
"Cause I'm bored and wanted to watch other people acting...it hurts my eyes." She sneered.
"Sister, do you like acting a lot?"
"It's alright. After all, it's the only thing I can do."
"Do you still want to continue acting?"
"Doesn't matter what I want. I've been dead for years."
"That's not true! I can help you go back, sister!"
"Tsk. Naive kid."
Tan Ruo sneered dismissively.
"I'm telling the truth!" The little one floated persistently to her. "I have a way to send you back if you want!"
"Stop messing around. If you really have a way, why are you still here? Go back yourself."
"I can't go back anymore..." The little one sobbed twice in grievance before continuing. "But you can, sister!"
"..."
"I really mean it! That uncle said little Ruo did an extremely, extremely amazing good deed. So I can send a lingering soul who is unwilling to let go, to fulfill my unfulfilled wish in my place."
"Oh."
"Sister, my wish is very simple. I just want everyone to stop being sad over me! As long as you go be my mom and dad's baby, then everything will be fine! That way, dad and mom won't feel heartbroken anymore, and you can keep acting too, sister!"
"...Thanks but no thanks." The corner of Tan Ruo's mouth twitched as she ruthlessly rejected the offer. "Don't need that."
Who in their right mind would willingly become someone else's child?
It's better to just wander freely as a ghost.
"But sister, in three more days, you won't even exist as a ghost anymore." The childish voice rang out from behind, seemingly having heard her thoughts. "Just give it a try, sister! If you end up not liking it, you can come back in four years to continue being a ghost!"
"..."
"Pleeease! Anyway, sister will cease existing soon even continuing as a ghost. The uncle said with your kind of situation, it's already impressive having endured four years of ghost life. If you keep at it, you'll truly dissipate."
"..."
And so three days later, the woman who didn't want her ghost life to end either, still agreed to the child's request in the moment before her soul dissipated completely. The two made a pact.
After that, time rewound.
Tan Ruo's memories of those four years were erased. She became the infant Ji Ruochu in swaddling clothes, thinking she had just died and transmigrated as her nemesis's daughter.
Now, four years have passed. It was time again for her to choose―either fulfill little Ruo's wish and become Ji Ruochu from then on, or...truly perish.
"The road back is there. Return and you shall find peace. Move forward, and everything will fall into place."
Accompanying these words, two paths appeared on either side of her.
On the left was the sound of Ji Mochen's angry accusations. On the right were the noisy auditions from the studio.
Which path led back was clear at a glance.
Tsk. That kid didn't lie alright. If she didn't want to, she could really go back out to be a ghost. Of course—
"Only an idiot would want to keep being a ghost."
Without looking back, Tan Ruo sprinted towards the left, afraid he would change his mind if she was a second late.
Ridiculous. Has auntie's cooking gone bad? Or did she get tired of wearing all those big brand clothes?
She would never be so desperate as to continue existing as a short-lived lone ghost.
...
"So you really found her a soul with emotional ties."
A sigh rang out.
"Yup! Little Ruo is so smart! This sister is the person dad and mom care most about other than family!"
?
What does that mean?
While Tan Ruo was running and panting, she was also distracted by the confusion.
Did it mean in her past life, she was the person Ji Mochen and his wife cared most about other than family?
She'd believe it if said Ling Chujin cared a lot about her since she was a diehard fan, but Ji Mochen...
"In the past, whenever mom mentioned this sister, dad would get so angry he'd blow his top. So he cared a lot!"
Tan Ruo: ...What a way to "care".
Before long, she arrived at the end of the path where a door stood.
A family photo of three was on the door. In the picture, the child with peach blossom eyes smiled vibrantly.
Tan Ruo halted. Even the action of pushing open the door stopped.
"Sister? What's wrong?"
Perhaps noticing her lack of movement, the previously cheerful childish voice grew anxious. "Don't tell me you regret it now?"
Regret?
She slowly turned back. The two paths still existed. If she wanted, she could run it again with no issue, but...
"Thank you, little Ruo."
"Rest assured, I will take good care of your...our family."
With that said, Tan Ruo didn't hesitate anymore and directly pushed the door open without looking back. Ji Mochen might discover something off about her if she was away for too long.
What she didn't know was the moment she left, the family photo on the door started changing. The eyes of the child gradually transformed from gentle peach blossoms into spirited fox eyes.
An ethereal voice sounded from the darkness.
"As the Sun Gate closes, the pact forms. Blessings disperse, reincarnation begins...such a fool..."
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