I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Fang Li stood at the entrance gate of Haixiang Sports University, her heart pounding with a mixture of anxiety and reluctance. The familiar campus, once a second home, now felt alien and unwelcoming. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead.

As she was about to step inside, a group of familiar faces caught her eye. Her old teammates, the very ones who had turned their backs on her during the scandal, were huddled together near the gate, seemingly ready for a night out. Their eyes widened as they spotted her, a mix of guilt and surprise etched on their faces.

"Fang Li!" one of them called out, her voice hesitant. "You're... you're back."

Fang Li forced a polite smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Just visiting," she replied coolly.

The group exchanged uncomfortable glances before one of them, Liu Mei, stepped forward. "Listen, Fang Li, about what happened... We're sorry. We should have believed in you. It's just... the situation was so complicated, and—"

"And you chose to believe the worst about me," Fang Li cut in, her voice level but sharp. "I understand. The situation was... difficult for everyone."

Liu Mei flinched at the underlying bitterness in Fang Li's words. "We feel terrible about it. Can we... can we start over?"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Another girl, Zhang Wei, chimed in, her tone almost cheerful. "Yeah, don't be too sad about it now, Fang Li. The situation has been resolved, and honestly, what happened was for the best. Haven't you seen how popular you've become?"

Fang Li's eyebrows shot up at the audacity of the statement. Before she could respond, another teammate added, "Right! And Ye Lei has already been punished. You're fine and looking good. I don't think you should be that hard about it now. You should also relax now and not be so serious."

Their words, meant to be comforting, only served to fuel the anger simmering beneath Fang Li's calm exterior. She looked at their hopeful faces, a mix of emotions swirling within her. Part of her wanted to lash out, to make them feel the pain and isolation she had endured. But she was tired of anger, tired of dwelling on the past.

Taking a deep breath, Fang Li spoke, her voice controlled but tinged with unmistakable sarcasm. "I appreciate your... unique perspective on my ordeal. It's comforting to know that my public humiliation, the destruction of my reputation, and the betrayal by those I considered friends were all just stepping stones to popularity. And thank you for the advice on how I should feel and act.

Clearly, you all have a deep understanding of what I've been through."

The group shifted uncomfortably, the forced cheerfulness fading from their faces.

"As for Ye Lei's punishment and my apparent 'fine' state," Fang Li continued, her gaze sharp, "I'm glad my trauma has been so neatly resolved for you. It must be a relief to wash your hands of any guilt so easily. And you're right, I should just 'relax' and forget about the most challenging period of my life because it's inconvenient for you to deal with."

Liu Mei stepped forward, her face pale. "Fang Li, we didn't mean—"

"I know what you meant," Fang Li interrupted, her tone softening slightly. "And I understand you're trying to make amends. But trust, once broken, takes time to rebuild. I appreciate your apology, but I need time. Real healing doesn't happen overnight, and real friends would understand that."

Without waiting for their response, Fang Li turned to continue her walk towards the Swimming Centre. As she moved away, she heard Liu Mei call out, "Can we... can we try again sometime? Maybe grab coffee?"

Fang Li paused, looking back over her shoulder. "Perhaps," she said finally, her tone neither warm nor cold. "But not today. Today, I have somewhere to be."

Your next chapter awaits on empire

Leaving her former friends in stunned silence, Fang Li walked away, her steps purposeful as she headed towards the swimming center, the weight of the encounter still heavy on her shoulders.

As she approached the pool area, Fang Li noticed the eerie quietness. The lights were dimmed, casting long shadows across the water's surface. A shiver ran down her spine as she glanced at her watch. 7:05 PM.

"Who asks someone to meet at a pool this late?" she muttered, her unease growing. "This guy must be crazy. Or worse..."

Doubt gnawed at her. Was this a mistake? Fang Li's mind raced with possibilities, each more unsettling than the last. 'I shouldn't have come here alone,' she thought, her heart rate picking up. 'What was I thinking? This could be dangerous.

What if it's some creep or someone looking to take advantage of the situation?'

She took a step back, ready to leave. 'I should go. Better safe than sorry. I can always message him later and apologize.'

But just as she was about to turn away, a familiar voice cut through the silence, stopping her in her tracks.

"Are you going to run away without even saying thanks? Looks like I expected too much from you, someone who was being sincerely grateful to me."

The words, laced with sarcasm, made Fang Li's blood boil. She whirled around, a retort on the tip of her tongue, but the sight before her made the words die in her throat.

Emerging from the shower room was a man that made her heart skip a beat. Clad in jeans and a simple white t-shirt that clung to his toned frame, he exuded an aura of casual confidence. His dark hair was still damp from the shower, droplets of water clinging to the ends. The dim light cast shadows across his chiseled features, highlighting his strong jawline and piercing eyes.

But it wasn't just his striking appearance that left Fang Li frozen in place. It was the overwhelming sense of familiarity that washed over her. The voice, the face, the way he carried himself – it all resonated deep within her, stirring memories she thought were nothing more than a dream.

Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. 'How is this possible?' she thought, her heart pounding. 'He looks exactly like Zheng Liang. The same eyes, the same jawline, even the same way of walking. But Zheng Liang was just a dream... wasn't he?'

The man before her was undoubtedly handsome, but it was more than that. He was the spitting image of Zheng Liang, the man she had loved in what she thought was just a coma-induced fantasy. Every step he took towards her, every gesture, every nuance of his expression was achingly familiar.

Fang Li's lips parted, but no words came out. She stood there, rooted to the spot, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at the living embodiment of the man she thought she'd never see again.

The stranger – or was he? – raised an eyebrow at her stunned silence. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" The man asked, a hint of amusement in his voice that was so reminiscent of Zheng Liang, it made her heart ache.

Fang Li's heart thundered in her chest as she struggled to find her voice. This couldn't be real. It had to be some kind of hallucination, a cruel trick of her mind. Yet there he stood, as real as the pool beside them, waiting for her response with an expectant look that was so achingly familiar, it took her breath away.

'Am I going crazy?' Fang Li wondered, her mind reeling. 'How can he be here? How can he be real?'