Chapter One

Li Mengze gritted her teeth as she glared at the affectionate couple outside the Civil Affairs Bureau. Did they have to be in such a hurry? The divorce certificates had barely been handed over, and here they were flaunting their intimacy right in front of her.

Fortunately, she had never wanted children. Over the years, she had been so focused on her career, believing she couldn’t manage both work and a family, so she’d insisted on not having any. Otherwise, now with a child, she could easily imagine how this man would resort to any means to fight for custody, and then shamelessly use the child as leverage for support payments. If it were more than a decade ago, before the Li family’s collapse, how would this damned upstart ever dare such a thing? Divorce would have been out of the question—he would be lucky just to kiss the tip of her shoe.

But this wretched man could never have guessed that the so-called bankruptcy of the Li family was nothing but a smokescreen. The family simply shifted from being out in the open to operating in the shadows. After all, when a tree grows tall, its branches spread; when a family prospers, it divides. To prevent the younger generation from coming to blows over inheritance, it was better to divide the assets while the elders still had the strength to guide and support them onto the right path. Then the older generation could spend their remaining years in peace.

She hadn’t expected, though, that the division of the family would cause such a stir, with rumors of the Li family’s bankruptcy spreading like wildfire. Uncles and cousins from all over returned, and these unfamiliar faces were soon rumored to be representatives of foreign conglomerates buying up the family’s assets. No one in the family bothered to clear up the confusion; in fact, they leaned into it. The Li Group was split into pieces, the names all changed, and soon the whole country believed the Li family was ruined, so poor they couldn’t even afford underwear. Just look, people would say, even the eldest legitimate daughter is out working for a living, and another branch’s girl isn’t even wearing designer clothes anymore—once, she wouldn’t be caught dead in anything but a world-famous brand.

Following the principle of keeping a low profile, Li Mengze always had to bite her tongue when she saw such news. Please, before the family split, she was already working outside. You can’t expect every Li family member, regardless of their skills or interests, to cram into one company. Even if it’s a family business, from the chairman down to the cleaning lady, they can’t all be Lis. And as for her cousin not wearing designer brands anymore, that was easily explained—the girl was now obsessed with custom tailoring, all high-end bespoke. The tailors she sought out had ancestors who once served royalty. Who cared for brands now? These clothes were more comfortable, stylish, and exclusive—people were overthinking it.

Li Mengze glanced contemptuously at her ex-husband, who was still playing the lovesick youth in his thirties. Thank goodness their marriage had only happened because it was the right age to settle down, and the Li family had no need for a strategic match. She’d simply chosen a man who seemed honest and reliable. Looking back, she’d been so young and naïve, treating this social climber as a treasure. Over the years, she’d probably poured enough of her own money into his family and his mistress. Now, without her as their personal ATM, she’d love to see how he managed those huge expenses. Let him try loan sharks—he’d get what he deserved.

Who knew if, when this man discovered the Li family was never bankrupt, that her finances were perfectly intact, and her savings had multiplied many times, he would still walk past her with his head held so high?

Hmph. Li Mengze had no interest in getting involved with them. Let them flaunt their happiness; their good days were yet to come.

Her car was parked across the street. Why hadn’t she parked at the entrance? At least she wouldn’t have to watch this sickening display.

She was just about to cross when she felt a force push her from behind. Suddenly, she was propelled into the street, feeling weightless, before landing softly.

Instinctively, Li Mengze checked her arms and legs. Thankfully, nothing was wrong. Just as she was feeling relieved, her anger surged. Even after divorce, these people wouldn’t let her be. What, now they wanted her dead?

Li Mengze was no pushover. Furious, she stormed over to confront the pair, ready to slap that bastard. How dare he cheat on her and then play the victim? And now, using dirty tricks behind her back? She would make him pay.

But to her shock, when she swung her meticulously manicured hand at his face, it passed straight through him.

Just then, she heard commotion behind her—someone shouting that there’d been an accident and to call the police.

She touched herself—everything seemed fine. What was going on? Looking back, she saw a body sprawled beside a Volkswagen, in those all-too-familiar clothes. It was the very dress she’d chosen today to humiliate her ex and his mistress—a favorite, praised by many.

Soon, the ambulance arrived. Li Mengze had no interest in the frantic pair; with so many witnesses, they’d have no chance to escape responsibility. For now, her concern was herself. She could only hope it was a simple case of soul shock—recover, and she could return to her life.

Unfortunately, as she followed that scoundrel, watching him joke and laugh with his beautiful new companion, she couldn’t help but lament how much a handsome face and a silver tongue mattered for a man’s fortunes.

Look at him—he’d managed to talk his way into one foolish woman after another, always wriggling out of trouble, and now luck had landed him a wealthy, idle heiress.

After spending some time as a ghost, Li Mengze had started to notice the differences between people—visible in the columns of light that shone from their souls. The Li family, of course, was blessed with great fortune—far above the average person. But compared to this piece of trash? That was nothing. He must be fate’s favored child; the pillar of luck above him had grown since her death, shifting from pale pink to deep red, and soon, she guessed, it would turn almost black.

She’d spent these days researching how to become a vengeful spirit—she refused to die in vain. Since no underworld minions had come to fetch her, perhaps this was her chance, and she meant to seize it.

Unfortunately, after all her efforts—even haunting old cemeteries alone for days, trying to absorb the chill of the night—she gained nothing. Meanwhile, the scoundrel thrived, which was enough to drive any ghost mad.

One night, Li Mengze found herself following him again, as he sweet-talked another young woman, claiming to be an expert in antiques, boasting of noble Manchu ancestry, and insisting on inspecting her family heirlooms to “authenticate” them.

Listening to his pompous lies, Li Mengze was disgusted. He was descended from generations of poor farmers, not Qing Dynasty nobility. There was no shame in farming, and if his family had hundreds of acres today, that would be something to be proud of.

Yet someone believed his nonsense. Li Mengze could only cover her eyes and sigh inwardly: Girl, what did your family do to deserve such squandering from you?