Chapter 5
Everyone brushed had brushed it off as suicide n her both lives. Nobody truly cared whether it was or not.
The police sealed the area, questioned a few students, and wrapped up the investigation within an hour. By lunch break, most people in Saint Orchid Academy had already moved on to discussing luxury brands, parties, and upcoming examinations as though a girl had not just fallen from the rooftop minutes earlier.
Ruji sat silently by the classroom window, her fingers resting stiffly against the edge of her desk while Lin Yue's final moments replayed endlessly inside her head.
The fear, the humiliation, the sound of students laughing while she stood exposed before the entire school.
And then that final voice "Jump." Ruji slowly lowered her gaze as she pondered the possibility. That voice had belonged to a woman. She was certain of it. And yet, the necklace she saw during the vision belonged to Liang Chen, Her own fiancé.
Ruji frowned deeply. That silver dragon necklace was custom-made. There was no way she could mistake it. Liang Chen wore it often in the past, especially during their teenage years. She had seen it countless times before her death.
But the person standing behind Lin Yue on the rooftop had clearly been female. Unless…
Her thoughts suddenly wondered to this morning. Shen Xin.
In her previous life, Shen Xin eventually started an affair with Liang Chen behind her back just to get on her nerves. At first, Ruji never believed the rumors because she felt that Liang Chen was a good man and she was fairly obsessed with him. By the time she discovered the truth, it was already too late.
So if Shen Xin already had a relationship with him at this age, then it would make sense for her to possess his necklace. Moreover, earlier this morning, they looked quite close.
Did Shen Xin really push Lin Yue? But why?
"Ji'er?" A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
Ruji turned her head and looked at the girl that called her. The girl stood beside her desk holding two bottles of juice. Her expression looked pale as usual, but her eyes still carried warmth.
"You've been spacing out since morning," the girl said softly as she sat down beside her. "Are you okay?"
Ruji stared at her quietly, tring to remember whom this girl is.
"I'm fine," Ruji answered quietly.
The girl placed one of the juice bottles on her table. "You don't look fine."
Ruji forced a faint smile. "After seeing someone die in front of me, I think I'm allowed to look disturbed."
She sighed tiredly and leaned back against the chair. "True. Honestly, I lost my appetite after that too."
Ruji looked at her properly this time, she suddenly remembered who this girl is. Gan Shu. She was her only real friend in her previous life. The only person who stayed beside her even after the scandals, addictions, and humiliation destroyed her reputation completely.
Unfortunately, Gan Shu died before turning twenty from stomach cancer. At this point in time, she must have already started chemotherapy treatment.
Gan Shu looked thinner than she remembered. The chemotherapy had probably already started affecting her body.
"Did your treatment go well yesterday?" Ruji suddenly asked.
Gan Shu blinked in surprise. "You remembered?"
Ruji recalled attending her funeral alone. None of Gan Shu's so-called friends came. Not even her family cried much. Ruji immediately realized her mistake. In this timeline, she normally never paid attention to details concerning other people.
Gan Shu laughed lightly. "It went fine. I still had to beg my dad before he allowed me come to school today though."
"We should go for lunch," Gan Shu suggested gently. "Staying here won't help your mood."
Ruji shook her head slowly. "You go ahead. I want to head home early today."
Gan Shu studied her face carefully before nodding. "Alright. Just don't disappear again, okay?"
Ruji hummed softly in response. As Gan Shu walked away, Ruji leaned back into her chair and closed her eyes briefly.
Everything around her suddenly felt wrong, she really didnt want to believe that her own sister was capable of murder.
By the time Ruji arrived home later that evening, exhaustion had already settled deep into her bones.
The moment she stepped into the Shen Mansion, loud voices echoed from the sitting room.
"You can't do this to her!" A woman's furious voice rang through the hall. "She's your daughter!"
"So what if she's my daughter?" Father Shen's cold voice replied immediately. "I have other daughters." Ruji paused near the entrance.
Another voice joined in shakily. "Father… what exactly did I do wrong?"
Shen Ling. Ruji stepped further inside slowly, the entire living room had fallen into chaos.
Her fathers first wife stood beside her first sister Shen Ling with an ugly expression on her face, while Bai Xing remained seated nearby watching the drama unfold with hidden satisfaction.
Shen Ling herself looked pale. Her eyes were red from crying, yet she still tried hard to maintain composure.
Father Shen sat calmly on the sofa as though he wasn't destroying someone's future with a few simple sentences.
"I already made my decision," he said coldly. "From today onward, Ling'er's authority within the company will be reduced."
Shen ling mother's expression twisted instantly. "Reduced? She is the first daughter of the Shen family!"
"And?" Father Shen's voice carried no emotion. "If she lacks ability, then she doesn't deserve everything handed to her."
Shen Ling's lips trembled violently. "Father…"
"You'll retain your position within the company," he continued flatly, "but outside the Shen Corporation, my personal inheritance will no longer prioritize you."
Even Bai Xing looked stunned this time, Ruji frowned slightly. This made no sense to her.
Just days ago, Father Shen openly favored Shen Ling more than every other child in the house. He practically treated her as his successor already.
Her thoughts went back to that day in his office. Her father sitting behind his desk, back then, she had used her powers on him.
"Which daughter do you value more?"
"Ling'er."
"Would you do something for me?" she had asked him
"What is it."
Another memory followed immediately after, a memory she did not remember saying or doing.
"Then hurt her, make her hate you badly."
The memory shattered fully into place. She had run out of her father's study that day into her room and stood before the mirror.
That day, her reflection had smiled at her— She then compled herself to forget what she had asked her father to do until he had done it. Only then was she allowed to remember.
Ruji stumbled backward slightly, her heartbeat pounded violently against her ears. This were memories that she didnt know she had made. She is not even safe for her self.
She could not just read minds, see memories, compel people but also erase memories. And the most horrifying part is that she wasn't fully controlling it.
"Miss Ruji?" A maid's voice snapped her back to reality. "Master is asking for you."
Ruji slowly looked up at her father, he was looking at her and so was everyone in the living room. Su Zhang her fathers first wife looked at her with disdain flowing through her eye. As she turned toward her father, another figure suddenly blocked her path.
Shen Xin. She didnt know she was back already. Her half-sister folded her arms lazily while staring down at her with obvious mockery. Not caring to hid her jealousy or her image infront of her father.
"What exactly did you say to Father?" Shen Xin asked coldly. "Did you cry to him again? Is that why he suddenly decided to hand you everything?"
Ruji frowned slightly. '' hand everything to me?''
'' Ji'er, come to me'' her father instructed
"You should know your place," Shen Xin continued harshly. "Even if Ling'er loses her position, you'll never compare to her."
Her lips curved mockingly. "You're still the same useless Shen Ruji everybody looks down on."
Seeing Ruji confused, Shen Xin continued "Tell me," Shen Xin while stepping closer, "did you hypnotize Father or something?"
'' I dont need to go that far, things like this happen to the people that you love.'' Ruji paused a bit as she stepped closer to speak slowly '' maybe if your mother married a man that loved her, ull exprience this too.''
Shen Xin's face dropped instantly, Ruji didnt care about her nor Ling'er. She ignored them both and made her way to her father.
However, she stopped in her track as something glimmered faintly against Shen Xin's chest.
Dragon-shaped necklace. Ruji's eyes widened, it was the same necklace from Lin Yue's memory. The same necklace worn by the person standing behind her before she fell from the rooftop.
Slowly Ruji lifted her gaze toward Shen Xin's face. She realized her sister might actually be a murderer.
But something wasn't right. it was the same design, the same pattern, but this necklace is golden. The one in her vision seemed to be silver. At this point, Ruji was drained. Was Shen Xin the killer or not