Reborn: Mafia Queen

The moment Shen Qingjiu opened her eyes, the pungent smell of rust still lingered in her nostrils. She instinctively reached for her chest—there should have been a knife there, a knife piercing her heart. But her fingertips only touched smooth skin, unharmed. She froze. Her eyes fell upon a familiar yet strange ceiling. A white chandelier, pale pink curtains, and her study materials from before the college entrance exam still on the desk. This was…her room? The room she lived in when she was eighteen? Her phone screen lit up, the date displayed: June 9, 2024. The day after the college entrance exam. Shen Qingjiu sat bolt upright, her heart pounding wildly. She clearly remembered dying—being pinned to an iron table in the black market by Chen Ye's men, a dagger piercing her heart. That icy pain, that feeling of weakness from drained blood, was still etched into her bones. And Lu Zichuan. The man she loved for three years in her past life, the man who ultimately sent her to hell with his own hands. “Qingjiu, actually, I’ve always hated you. Your Shen family has been oppressing me for too long. That old bastard of yours, why does he look down on me?” Lu Zichuan squatted down in front of her, looking at her bleeding wound, his tone as gentle as if he were speaking sweet nothings. “So I told Master Chen about your schedule. Don’t blame me, blame your surname, Shen.” Standing beside him was her best friend, Lin Xue. Lin Xue was holding his arm, a sweet smile on her face, just like the countless times she had smiled at her before. “Qingjiu, don’t be sad. Brother Zichuan has always been one of my people, it’s just that you introduced us.” Lin Xue tilted her head, her eyes innocent. “I also told Master Chen about your family’s secret underground businesses. Thank you for trusting me so much.” At that moment, Shen Qingjiu realized how stupid she had been. She hugged her knees and sat in this familiar room for a long time, until the light outside the window changed from bright to dim. Memories of her past life flooded back like a tide. How did she get into university at eighteen? How did she fall for Lu Zichuan's pursuit? How did she become Lin Xue's best friend? How did she take over the Shen family's underground business after her grandfather's death? She remembered every transaction, every contact, every smuggling route. She also remembered Lu Tingshen. That man only appeared in her life once. She remembered it clearly—it was the winter when she was nineteen, in a dark alley in Rome, Italy, when she unintentionally saved a man covered in blood. She didn't know who he was; she just instinctively called an ambulance for him and then left. Later, she learned that the man's name was Lu Tingshen, the Chinese godfather of the Italian Mafia "Dark Night Group," who controlled the entire European underground arms and intelligence network. If only she had met him earlier in her previous life… No, Shen Qingjiu shook her head. Since God had given her a second chance at life, in this life, she would never believe anyone's sweet words again. She picked up her phone. On the screen was an unread message from Lu Zichuan: "Qingjiu, congratulations on finishing your college entrance exam! I've booked a table at the Rose Restaurant tomorrow to celebrate your liberation, you have to come!" Such a familiar invitation. In her past life, when she received this message, she was so moved she almost cried, thinking Lu Zichuan was so gentle and considerate. But now, looking at it again, she could only sneer. The Rose Restaurant, ha, that was the restaurant where Lu Zichuan confessed his love to her. In her past life, she fell for him there, and then it took her three years to see the true face of this man. Shen Qingjiu's slender fingers tapped on the screen, replying with a message: "Okay, see you tomorrow." She opened another chat window, her chat history with Lin Xue. Lin Xue's message was still full of concern: "Qingjiu, is Senior Lu asking you out tomorrow? Wear that white dress I helped you buy last time, it looks amazing!" In her past life, she really did wear that white dress. Now, thinking back, Lin Xue recommended that dress simply because Lu Zichuan liked the pure and innocent style. A cold glint flashed in Shen Qingjiu's eyes. She replied with a message: "Okay, shall we go together tomorrow?" Lin Xue quickly replied: "No, no, I won't be a third wheel! Have fun tomorrow!" Shen Qingjiu put down her phone and walked to the window. The world outside was exactly the same as in her previous life. People came and went on the streets, everything was so peaceful. But Shen Qingjiu knew that under the calm surface, currents were surging. The Shen family's underground business would soon be exposed, her grandfather would be assassinated in six months due to a business conflict, and she would face difficulties after taking over the Shen family, ultimately being betrayed and killed by the two people she trusted most. No, she would not let any of this happen in this life. She took a deep breath, and a maturity and calmness beyond her years appeared on her eighteen-year-old face. "Lu Zichuan, Lin Xue, I will take back what you owe me, bit by bit." "Master Chen, I will repay you for the knife I stabbed you in the past life." "As for the Shen family... Grandpa, I will protect you in this life." As the night deepened, a cold light flickered in the girl's eyes. A moth flew towards the lamp, making a clattering sound against the lampshade. Shen Qingjiu reached out and turned off the light, plunging the room into darkness. She wasn't afraid of the dark. Because those who had returned from hell were themselves part of the darkness. The next morning, Shen Qingjiu changed her clothes in front of the mirror. She didn't wear the white dress Lin Xue had recommended, but instead chose a black dress, her long hair casually draped over her shoulders. The girl in the mirror had delicate features, but her eyes held a coolness beyond her years. She applied lipstick and slightly curved her lips in front of the mirror. Lu Zichuan, I'm here. This time, it's my turn to surprise you.