Awakening to a New Reality

Jiang Zhe felt a flicker of confusion.

Not long ago, he had just resolved an urgent company file. After days of relentless overnight work, he had mustered his remaining energy, intending to return home for a much-needed rest. Instead, an oncoming truck had collided with him head-on.

The vehicle was obliterated, and his life was extinguished.

He distinctly remembered the searing pain as shards of metal pierced his chest, his heart succumbing to the icy grip of death.

Such grievous wounds could only mean one thing: he had undoubtedly perished.

Yet, upon reopening his eyes, he found himself alive.

Clad in a school uniform, his body felt unnervingly youthful and unfamiliar. The surreal absurdity of waking up in a school left Jiang Zhe with the unsettling sensation that he was still caught in a dream.

If it truly was a dream, it was far too vivid.

And why, of all things, would he be dreaming this particular scenario?

“Jiang Zhe, a pauper like you is nothing more than a begging dog. Your proper place is to fawn and grovel with your tail tucked between your legs. Kneel before this young lady today and bark a few times, and I might just let you off.”

A cold voice delivered these scathing words. Jiang Zhe lifted his gaze to see a girl standing before him, also in a school uniform. Her face held an expression of undisguised disdain, her long, wavy red hair cascaded down her back. Her chin was slightly upturned, radiating an air of utter arrogance, and her captivating ‘peach blossom’ eyes gleamed with haughty defiance.

Her black blazer and striped skirt had clearly been tailored, cinching her waist to an even slimmer dimension. The hem, originally meant to reach her knees, had been dramatically shortened, revealing long, shapely legs.

At approximately one hundred and seventy-five centimeters, she towered over most other girls, standing out like a crane among chickens.

She was undeniably beautiful: fair-skinned, with a full bust, slender waist, and long legs. Despite her alluring features, she carried herself with the imperious air of a pampered young mistress.

Jiang Zhe quietly observed her for a few moments. Besides this arrogant girl, four other girls stood behind her. Their appearances were unremarkable, and they clearly acted as her subservient entourage.

“Exactly, Jiang Zhe! You can’t even beat Sister Ran in academics, what do you have to be proud of?”

“Who knows how you even snuck into Fenghua Private High School? You probably took someone else’s spot!”

“Our principal is just too soft-hearted, giving free tuition and board to poor students. Even a dog will bark when you feed it, but what can you do, Jiang Zhe?”

“You’ve offended Sister Ran, so your good looks won’t save you!”

The last girl, as she spoke of his looks, cast a quick, surreptitious glance at Jiang Zhe.

Her heart filled with pity as she gazed upon his handsome face. ‘Why did Jiang Zhe have to offend Ning Ran?’ she wondered. ‘What terrible luck!’

“Alright, why are you all spouting so much nonsense? Jiang Zhe, hurry up and kneel. Don’t waste my precious time.”

While her followers reveled in the unfolding spectacle, Ning Ran frowned, clearly annoyed.

Recalling the whispers she’d heard from other students had put her in a foul mood. She had never even met Jiang Zhe before, yet he dared to stir up trouble at Fenghua. It was truly infuriating.

He needed a good lesson!

Ning Ran didn’t allow her followers to continue their chatter. She strode a few steps towards Jiang Zhe, and as soon as she was close enough, she raised her leg and delivered a powerful kick towards his knee.

The kick wasn’t particularly fast, or perhaps, she simply hadn’t anticipated Jiang Zhe would dare to evade it.

As Jiang Zhe instinctively dodged the incoming foot, his hand shot out, firmly grasping her slender ankle. Though Ning Ran was tall at one hundred and seventy-five centimeters, Jiang Zhe’s current body was also of a decent height. The difference in their positions forced Ning Ran’s captured leg upwards.

Despite wearing white stockings, which prevented any accidental exposure, the humiliating posture flushed her cheeks crimson. Her large, cat-like eyes widened in fury, and she ground her teeth, looking as if she wished to tear Jiang Zhe to shreds.

Coming back to his senses, Jiang Zhe observed the scene. He felt an uncharitable urge to laugh, a mischievous impulse to tease this ‘little cat’ and see if she’d truly explode in anger.

Having spent several years navigating the complexities of adult society, Jiang Zhe was no longer the naive, reckless youth he once was. He wouldn’t be provoked by a few insults; he was far too composed for that.

After all, during his entrepreneurial days, he had endured far harsher words—though he had eventually repaid them all, leaving his adversaries begging for mercy. Still, Jiang Zhe believed in being more lenient with women.

Especially such a beautiful woman, one who perfectly aligned with his aesthetic preferences.

Moreover, he hadn’t yet grasped the full situation. Getting angry would only hinder his investigation and cloud his judgment.

“Jiang Zhe, how dare you grab my foot?! I’ll kill you!”

The furious shout was rather shrill. Jiang Zhe merely smiled, not releasing her ankle. Instead, he exerted a slight pressure with his hand, causing her to stumble and her body to lean even closer to him.

She nearly fell into his arms, but managed to halt herself an inch away, a precarious stop. This unexpected turn of events elicited a small gasp from Ning Ran. Her red hair swayed, falling over her chest, partially obscuring her startled face. Her breathing became erratic, and she hurriedly raised her hands, bracing her elbows against Jiang Zhe’s chest to maintain a distance.

Up close, he caught a strong, sweet scent. It didn’t quite match her alluring, seductive face, but instead possessed a charming girlish quality.

Jiang Zhe’s sudden action not only left Ning Ran dumbfounded but also stunned her four followers. They couldn’t fathom what had gotten into this usually timid boy.

How dare he treat Sister Ran like this? Was he tired of living?

After all, the Ning family possessed immense power and influence, consistently securing a spot in the top ten of the global rich list every year.

Even Fenghua Private High School had Ning family shares. Not even the school’s teachers dared to cross Ning Ran, fearing immediate dismissal.

Now, Jiang Zhe, a mere poor student, was manhandling Ning Ran. He truly had a death wish!

Unlike the collective shock, Jiang Zhe calmly looked down at her, his expression relaxed, making no further moves. He simply asked with a gentle smile, “Still want to kill me?”

His casual, teasing demeanor infuriated Ning Ran, making her eyes red. If she had a knife, she would likely stab Jiang Zhe without hesitation.

Having successfully provoked Ning Ran to the point of ‘exploding,’ Jiang Zhe felt immensely satisfied. He rather enjoyed seeing her eyes redden with anger; she looked quite beautiful that way.

“Ning Ran, please forgive Jiang Zhe. He didn’t do it on purpose…”

Just then, a female voice drifted from not far away. Jiang Zhe released Ning Ran, stepping back a few paces. He watched the delicate girl, who now stood before him with tear-filled eyes, and his eyebrows furrowed, then quickly relaxed.

‘Who is this woman now?’

Jiang Zhe’s confusion didn’t last long. Soon, one of the followers provided the answer: “Su Lianlian, what does this have to do with you? Why are you putting on an act?”

In an instant, upon hearing the name Su Lianlian, Jiang Zhe’s pupils contracted sharply.

No wonder the name sounded familiar. And now, this scene felt even more so.

The delicate ‘white lotus’ heroine, Su Lianlian, the vicious female antagonist, Ning Ran, and her followers…

He had transmigrated into a female-oriented campus romance game.