chapter 1

When the bandages were removed from my face, every doctor and nurse in the room stared in amazement.

The corner of my mouth lifted. At last, I could breathe.

After all, I had paid for this flawless beauty with my own skin and bone.

My attending physician, Dr. Xia, asked, “Was it really worth turning yourself into someone else for revenge?”

I smiled brightly and answered without hesitation.

“Yes.”

Hell was too cold.

It would be better with company.

Three years earlier, I had been expelled from school with old and new scars covering my body. The worst of them was the face someone had carved apart with a knife.

I had no money for treatment. After wrapping the wounds as best I could, I entered the workforce.

“Monster.” “What a disgusting face.”

I ignored every insult. All I wanted was to work, save money, and spend every spare hour in the library so I would not fall behind in my studies.

Day after day. Month after month.

Three years passed that way.

Once Milu University accepted me, I went to Xia Zhi with the design I had prepared long ago.

Skin pared away. Bone carved down.

After an entire year, I emerged with the perfect face I wore today.

I had done it so I could claw my way back out of hell and collect the lives of those who had put me there.

The director who had forced me to kneel.

Zhao Ruo, who had ruined my face.

Zhao Ming, who had tormented and isolated me.

I would spare none of them.

Two weeks later, I attended the Milu University student council elections.

That was where I first met the famous council president—the heir to the Ji family, Ji Yanli.

He was looking down at the documents in his hands. His fingers were long and elegant, and the innate reserve and nobility in his bearing made him seem like a cedar beneath snow.

I smiled. “Hello, President Ji.”

He looked up. His gaze paused on me before sliding away as if nothing had happened.

“For years, no scholarship student has ever joined the student council. Why do you want to?”

It was a pointed question, but I answered calmly.

“Probably because the hierarchy here is so rigid. Scholarship students are afraid of drawing attention and inviting trouble they don’t need. But I’m not afraid. I have nothing to lose.”

I smiled with easy confidence. “Rather than merely becoming someone good at learning, I want to become someone others can learn from. If I join the student council, I’ll set a strong example. After that, I believe more scholarship students will be willing to join.”

My answer was poised and coherent, without the slightest trace of inferiority or timidity over my background.

Approval entered Ji Yanli’s eyes. I answered every question that followed just as smoothly and reasonably.

The result was exactly what I expected: I passed the interview.

Before I left, he extended a hand. “Shen Man, I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

I took it and gave him a dazzling smile.

“Of course.”

His entire body stiffened, and his grip tightened slightly.

Pretending not to notice, I smiled more deeply.

This face had been recreated feature for feature from a portrait of his ideal woman.

How could he possibly remain unmoved?