I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Seeing Fang Li's low energy, Bolin's excitement bubbled over again. "Oh! You know what, Sister? The best part is that the guy who helped you is from our university—he's a swimming athlete! He's not just famous for his records but also for being known as honest and upright. If it had been someone else, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly.

But because of his reputation, your situation was cleared up much faster."

"A swimmer?" Fang Li echoed, still in disbelief. "Why would he get involved, though? Athletes usually avoid controversy—one wrong move and their whole career could be over."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Bolin shrugged, smiling. "Maybe he's just one of those rare good guys who can't stand injustice. He practically saved your career, Sister. Everyone's talking about it. You're not just cleared—you're becoming a symbol. A comeback story in the making!"

"Even your anti-fans have gone quiet. You used to be known for being outspoken and scandalous, but now everyone's focused on your achievements. They see you as a hardworking, talented athlete, who was betrayed by her best friend. And since you won that gold medal right before the scandal, people have been taking your side."

"..."

Fang Li stayed silent, watching her brother's enthusiasm. He was clearly trying to praise her, though his words felt a bit off. Still, she decided to let it slide and take it as a compliment. For now, she'd forgive him for being overly excited—not beat him up... just this once.

___

After being observed for three more days, Fang Li was finally discharged from the hospital. In that time, she had slowly started coming to terms with the fact that the life she had lived for the past year was nothing more than a vivid dream, a side effect of her coma.

But accepting it didn't make the heartbreak any easier. Every thought of Zheng Liang, the baby, and the love she had felt left her feeling hollow. Still, with her family's support, she tried her best to hide her gloominess and focus on moving forward.

"I can't keep dwelling on a dream," she whispered to herself, staring out the hospital window before leaving. "Even if it was the happiest part of my life, I have to let it go."

__

"I'm home. Finally," Fang Li muttered as she stepped inside her family's house, forcing a smile as the familiar surroundings flooded her with memories. It had been so long since she'd last been here. Even before the accident, she had been too busy with her training and competitions to visit.

Read new adventures at empire

Now, she had time to rest and recover without the pressure of immediately preparing for another competition.

"Sis! You won't believe it!" Bolin's voice boomed as he bounded toward her, wrapping his arms tightly around hers and pulling her into a side hug. His eyes sparkled with excitement. "I took a whole week off from college just to spend time with you! I'm not even going back to the dorm."

Fang Li raised an eyebrow and gently poked his forehead. "A whole week? Bolin, the university is only an hour away. You could visit every day and still go to class. Why take such a long break?"

Bolin pouted, still holding onto her arm. "Because I'd be too tired from all the traveling! This way, I get to hang out with you all day."

Before Fang Li could respond, their father came into the room, wiping his hands on his pants after having put her luggage away in her bedroom. His face softened when he saw her. "Bolin, don't keep your sister standing there. She just got out of the hospital. Let her rest."

Fang Li chuckled softly and playfully swatted Bolin's arm. "Alright, I'm going to my room." She gently tugged her arm free from Bolin's grasp and headed down the hallway.

But the moment she entered her bedroom and closed the door behind her, her bright smile faded. The empty feeling that had been gnawing at her since waking up resurfaced.

Even being surrounded by her family, the people she loved, didn't fill the hollow space inside her. It was as if a part of her was missing, and no matter what she did, she couldn't shake the overwhelming urge to cry.

"I know it was just a dream. I know I'm crazy for being upset over it, but it still hurts," she whispered, leaning weakly against the door. Her body trembled, and despite her efforts to hold them back, tears slipped down her cheeks, one after another, as she stood there in silence.

__

After a week of staying mostly inside her room, eating, sleeping, and isolating herself, Fang Li's sadness deepened. The heaviness in her chest seemed to grow stronger with each passing day. Even the things that used to bring her joy now felt distant, unreachable.

Her parents watched her closely, their concern growing. They tried everything to cheer her up. When Fang Li was with them, she would smile and laugh, but they could see through it—her smiles were forced, her laughter hollow.

They exchanged worried glances, fearing that the scandal and everything that had happened had taken a toll on her mental health. "Maybe you should go out, meet your friends," her mother suggested one afternoon, her voice soft but full of concern. "Do something fun to lift your spirits."

Fang Li only nodded, but deep down, she wasn't sure if seeing anyone could help her at all.

__

After Fang Li returned to her bedroom, she sat in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. She let out a helpless sigh and whispered, "I'm not ready to see anyone yet."

Her fingers traced the edge of the table as she continued to look at herself, feeling the weight of her own words. She had once been surrounded by people she called friends, but now, the thought of facing them twisted her heart. Those same people had turned their backs on her the moment things went wrong, accusing her of cheating despite all the hard work she had poured into her career.

She could still remember the way they looked at her—some with taunts, others with pity, and a few who simply acted as if she were invisible. The cruelty from strangers online had hurt, but the betrayal of those she thought of as friends cut far deeper. Their disbelief and harsh words still echoed in her mind, playing on a loop she couldn't escape.

Strangers were easy to dismiss, but the people she trusted? That betrayal lingered, sharp and fresh, an open wound she couldn't ignore.

"Friends," she scoffed, the word dripping with bitterness. "Some friends they turned out to be."

She sighed, picking up her phone and scrolling through her contacts until she found the number Bolin had given her—the number of the man who had posted the video that had saved her reputation. She hesitated for a moment before typing out a message.

[Hi, this is Fang Li. I wanted to thank you for posting that video. I've recently woken up from a coma and learned what you did to clear my name and bring justice. I know it's sudden, but I would like to meet you and thank you in person if that's possible.]

After sending the message, Fang Li wasn't expecting a reply right away—or rather, she was hoping to be left on read. The truth was, she didn't want to go out at all. Bolin had mentioned that the man was known to be cold, aloof, and always busy. Why would he even agree to meet her? She only sent the message out of formality, knowing she owed him for what he did.

After all, the man had done her a huge favor.

But before she could even put her phone down, it buzzed with a new message.

[7 pm. Swimming Centre. Haixiang Sports University.]

Fang Li blinked in surprise, staring at her phone. "Wait… isn't this guy supposed to be cold and distant? How did he reply so fast?"

Her gaze shifted back to the message, noting the location. Of all places, why the university? It was her university too. The last thing she wanted was to return there, and yet this man wanted her to meet him there of all places.

A small frown formed on her face as she stared at the message. "Is this even the right guy? Or... is this some kind of scam? This doesn't sound like the upright, distant man Bolin described. Who agrees to meet that quickly, and at night, no less?"

She bit her lip, her suspicion growing as she reread the message. Something didn't sit right with her.