Female lead’s Delusion of Starting Over

Chapter 119: Li Ruolan’s Previous Life, The Darkness of That Day

Li Ruolan, despite being the young mistress of the Li family, neglected and her mother abandoned, was never bullied. Su Linya, her stepmother with a tough exterior but a soft heart, and Li Zichuan, her brother, mostly just ignored her. Her life was quite pleasant, and logically, she didn’t need to go out of her way to please them. If they didn’t care for her presence, it was fine by Li Ruolan. She had seen too many dramas where stepmothers bullied children without their own mothers, and considered herself lucky in comparison.

In her previous life, full of grievances towards her ‘mother’ and brother, harboring resentment, believing their lack of pampering was neglect. It was as if they were mistreating her by not kowtowing to her every whim. They didn’t love her, but they never harmed her either.

Looking back, Li Ruolan found her past self laughably ridiculous and deserving of her lonely, dismal end. Everything was her own fault. Her brother, Li Zichuan, though stern, was gentle by nature and never oppressed anyone. The stepmother, Su Linya, though strict and disgusted with her, never deliberately suppressed her. They were kind people, and she was fortunate.

But back then, she was like someone suffering from persecution delusion, feeling mistreated, as if the whole family despised and looked down on her, a colossal humiliation.

Recalling those thoughts, Li Ruolan found herself ludicrous.

After being reborn, she strived to build good relationships with her mother and brother, partly to make amends, and for today. Her mother and brother hold unparalleled places in Lu Li’s heart; to each other, they are irreplaceable.

If they were willing to help her, winning over Lu Li would be a breeze.

This life had seen significant changes from the moment she was reborn. Lu Ya being expelled from the Lu family and Lu Li taking over seemed normal to others, but Li Ruolan knew it was far from normal. The Lu family’s parents were clearly delusional, neglecting their son in favor of an adopted daughter.

Could sane people do such a thing?

Subsequent developments diverged from her previous life, most notably the bankruptcy of Zhang Corporation and Lu Li’s public appearances with Chen Xiaoyi. That Lu Li would do such a thing was unimaginable to the reborn Li Ruolan.

Aware there must be issues, she simultaneously worked on her relationships with her mother and brother while keeping an eye on the situation. Fortunately, many things had changed, but Lu Li’s arrival in Magic City still occurred.

She had been waiting for this day!

Lu Li breaking ties with Zhang Ziqin was more than welcome, saving her the effort of driving a wedge between them.

In her previous life, when Lu Li came to Magic City, he stayed at the Li residence. That day, her usually serious brother and tirelessly working mother, under pressure from their father, dropped everything. They didn’t let the servants interfere, personally preparing a room for Lu Li to stay in.

Li Ruolan felt fury and disdain as they treated this wastrel with such regard, degrading the Li family’s reputation.

Before Lu Li’s arrival, she overheard their joyful conversations, an unfamiliar happiness permeating the Li estate, which Li Ruolan found irritating.

She watched her brother and ‘mother’ eagerly waiting at the door. The moment Lu Li appeared, the dignified lady, who never smiled, laughed for the first time as she embraced the notorious playboy. Her brother’s face lit up with excitement, despite his complaints about ‘mom,’ unable to hide his joy even from a distance.

And when ‘mom’ released Lu Li, her brother couldn’t wait to hug him tightly.

They were all laughing, transformed at the sight of Lu Li, while Li Ruolan clenched her fists in indignation.

Why the hate, she didn’t know, but it was there. Perhaps it was a spiteful desire for no one to be happy because she wasn’t.

A miserable and pitiful mindset indeed!

Lu Li stayed at the Li residence for a few days… not long, but she did interact with this infamous playboy, albeit not amicably.

Always observing him coldly when her ‘mom’ and brother weren’t around.

“What are you doing in Magic City? Trying to prove something?”

“Disgusting, you don’t even know basic manners. No wonder the Lu family raised such a wastrel.”

“A wastrel will always be useless.”

These were the words she said to Lu Li, disgusting even to herself and regretted for life. What annoys her most is that she never said such things in front of her ‘mom’ and brother, acting like someone who only bullies the weak.

Regardless of what she said, Lu Li always maintained a nonchalant demeanor, at most offering a polite smile, which only fueled her anger. A mere wastrel, daring to look down on her.

Her past self was pitifully laughable!

Her feeble pride is amusing in retrospect.

Her words grew more cutting… more malicious…

This scenario lasted a few days until Lu Li moved out, despite ‘mom’ and brother’s protests.

Back then, she laughed happily, considering it her victory. A mere wastrel dared to ignore her…

Overall, not a noble thought.

Life went on uneventfully; her brother remained serious, ‘mom’ still cold, their affection seemingly taken with Lu Li when he left. Everything returned to the starting point.

But for some reason, Lu Li’s voice kept echoing in her mind, unable to be dispelled, causing great irritation.

That smile, seemingly indifferent yet carrying a hint of bitterness, puzzled her yet remained unforgettable.

But there was no chance to probe further. Their worlds became parallel lines, never to intersect again.

Perhaps on sleepless nights, she still thought of that man, but never saw him again.

Then, she began competing with her brother Li Zichuan, initiated by meeting Ye Chen. After being swayed by him, she blamed all the pain from being ignored by her father on her ‘mother’ and brother. She wanted to prove herself, to fight, to oppose the so-called ‘brother’ and ‘mom.’

Days like these lasted a long time…

Until one day, news came: Lu Li was dead.

She saw ‘mom’ and brother panic; her heart seemed to be gripped tight. Brother, frantic, ran out of the house, returning a day later, his face numb with shock.

That day, ‘mom’ and brother embraced, crying for a long time, long time.

She too knelt on the ground, engulfed in indescribable pain.

Then the next day, ‘mom’ saw brother off.

Just half a day later, news came: Li Zichuan had attempted to assassinate Ye Chen of the

Tianlong Group but was killed instead.

That same day, dad flew into a rage, cursing ‘mom’ viciously. She remained silent, calmly handling brother’s death procedures, opting for immediate cremation.

That day, ‘mom’ hanged herself in her room, leaving behind a will.

‘My two children are gone. There’s nothing left in this world for me. Die with your wealth!’