C1 I Have Just Arrived

Lightning, a rainy night, a muddy gravel road.

Suddenly, headlights flash, and a speeding car veers toward her. In the next second, a searing pain tears through her body.

Chiang Ci awoke with a start, drenched in sweat and gasping for air. Even after more than two months in this body, she often dreamt of that scene.

Just over two months ago, she was the "Demon Consort," who had wielded power in the palace for eight years to conceal Monarch Jiaxi's true identity. But a slip from the Cloud Viewing Pavilion sent her tumbling into the present, into the tragic life of Chiang Ci.

Upon waking, the original owner's memories flooded her mind. Seeing the original Chiang Ci's misfortunes, even she, the so-called "Demon Consort," couldn't help but sigh at the saying: with a stepmother comes a stepfather.

Chiang Qiyuan, her neglectful father, had a true love before he met Chiang Ci's mother, Faang Yun. Ultimately, he married Faang Yun, the only daughter of the Faang's Construction CEO.

Four years ago, Faang Jingcheng, the CEO, suddenly fell into a coma after a stroke, and the Faang's company became the Chiang's. Three years ago, Faang Yun, battling depression, jumped to her death. Since then, Jian Yating, the true love, moved in with her daughter, Chiang Xinxin, who was eight months older than the original Chiang Ci.

The original owner had a slight stutter and, under her neglectful father's indifference, her stepmother, Yating, would openly and secretly mock her, making her too afraid to speak. This led to rumors that she was a mute. Her sister, Xinxin, would often bully and beat her, turning her into a pitiable figure everyone could push around.

It wasn't until she got accepted into Z University—a place her sister only got into through their father's connections—that Xinxin became furious. Taking advantage of their father's absence, she drove the original owner to the outskirts and hit her with a car, leaving her for dead. This was when she was reborn.

Chiang Ci sat at her desk, plagued by nightmares, knowing the resentful spirit within her hadn't fully dissipated. She gently touched the photo on the desk. The girl in the picture was truly beautiful, with delicate features and clear eyes, looking soft and innocent.

The girl was bending down, hugging a gentle woman with a sweet smile, and standing with a white-haired elderly man—her Grandpa Faang, Faang Jingcheng.

With a smile matching the one in the photo, Chiang Ci whispered, "Don't worry. Since I've taken on this fate, I'll avenge you and take good care of Grandpa Faang. We'll settle the score with them, one step at a time."

The next morning, she headed to the law firm.

After finishing her conversation with her grandfather's lawyer, Chiang Ci walked into the elevator with a frown. Even as more people entered, she kept her head down.

The lawyer had advised her that she needed to have sufficient financial means before turning eighteen to gain custody rights. It was going to be tough.

"Crack—clunk—crack—"

Without warning, a sense of weightlessness swept over her. The elevator car tilted, and she was thrown into the corner by the force.

Another passenger collided with her, pressing against her back. The weight was overwhelming, and she cried out, "So heavy!"

"Sorry... but we better not move right now, or we might fall faster!" The man's voice was low and strained, as if he was gritting his teeth.

How did she end up in such a mess? This was supposed to be a high-end office building, yet the elevator was malfunctioning and plummeting. Now the entire car was wedged at an angle in the shaft, and she had no idea if it would hold until help arrived.

Thankfully, there were only the two of them in the elevator. If they stayed still, maybe it would hold a bit longer.

"Miss, could you please reach into my pocket and grab my phone?"