A Brand New Life

"Since my appearance has altered the plot of the book I transmigrated into, what consequences might that bring?"

Liu Muye sat on a bench beneath the academic building, replaying in his mind the scene of the male and female leads' first encounter. After pondering for a few seconds, he gritted his teeth, as if steeling himself for a decision.

Muttering under his breath, he said, "Screw it. I’ve crossed into this world as a rich guy—might as well enjoy my brand-new life to the fullest!"

His own happiness came first. As for the rest of the messy complications… who cared?

With that thought, Liu Muye instantly felt lighter. He stood up and headed toward the gates of Siliya Academy, hailing a taxi outside.

"To Toad Palace Manor."

"Right away!"

...

Toad Palace Manor.

One of the most luxurious estates in Liu Muye’s novel, and one of the few properties with no ties to the male lead.

Nestled in the heart of Shangjing City’s inner ring—a district where land was worth its weight in gold—the manor was where the waters of the Shang River converged, forming a lake shaped like a treasure basin. At its center lay an island, and from an aerial view, the entire landscape resembled a golden toad perched atop a basin of wealth—hence the name "Toad Palace."

The fertile soil and lush greenery had been largely preserved even after the area was developed into a private residential zone.

The car pulled up at the entrance of Villa No. 1. Liu Muye casually pulled a few bills from his wallet and handed them to the driver, not even bothering to say "keep the change" before stepping out.

He was getting better and better at playing the rich guy—no, scratch that. He wasn’t pretending anymore. He was rich now.

Villa No. 1 faced Treasure Lake. From a distance, Liu Muye could make out the opulent structure on the island at the lake’s center.

That island was Toad Palace Winery—the setting in the novel where the male and female leads attended a masquerade ball. Masquerades, a staple trope in cheesy romance novels, were where the protagonists broke the ice and deepened their bond.

Scenes like these always included background characters badmouthing the female lead or a scheming rival ruining her dress—cliches so old they’d been around for twenty years and still popped up today.

Ahem, getting sidetracked. Those plot points were for later.

Hands in his pockets, Liu Muye turned and strode into the villa’s courtyard.

"Oh! Young Master is back!"

"Young Master, you must be tired."

"Did everything go smoothly with your enrollment today, Young Master?"

The moment Liu Muye stepped past the gates, two neat rows of servants bowed and greeted him in unison.

The flattery around him brought a mix of joy and an inexplicable pang of bitterness.

Back when he’d just graduated college and was struggling to make it in the city, who’d ever spared him a second thought?

Returning daily to a coffin-sized rental with barely enough space to stand between the bed and the toilet, eating cheap, pre-packaged takeout with its gimmicky "liquid spoon" and off-brand soda, then collapsing onto a cold single bed—he’d felt like his life was already over.

Thankfully, those days were behind him. Now, he was living the high life.

The thought only solidified his resolve to stay in this fictional world.

Screw the real world. I’m never going back, he grumbled inwardly.

Oddly, aside from the servants, the villa was empty. He’d half-expected to meet his "parents" from this world.

Maybe it was for the best. Having parents around would’ve felt awkward anyway.

Liu Muye flopped onto the lavish sofa in a classic "Gyou-tāng" pose.

The butler approached and asked softly, "Young Master Liu, would you like something to eat?"

"Do you have soy milk?"

"Yes."

"Bring me two bowls."

"Right away."

Soon, two maids emerged, each carrying a bowl of soy milk.

"I’ll drink one. Pour the other into the trash," Liu Muye said, downing one bowl in a single gulp.

The maid hesitated. "Throw it away?"

"Yeah." Liu Muye nodded.

Without another word, the maid promptly dumped the second bowl into the bin.

Liu Muye eyed her. "Aren’t you going to ask why I’m wasting it?"

The maid smiled politely. "Young Master must have your reasons. It’s not my place to question."

"...Alright."

Liu Muye pressed his lips together, as if holding back words, then finally said nothing and headed for the villa’s elevator.

The reason for tossing the second bowl?

One late night, after finishing a writing session, he’d slurped instant noodles and sworn to himself:

When I strike it rich, I’ll buy two bowls of soy milk—drink one, pour the other away.

[Author’s note: Fictional behavior only. Don’t waste food in real life.]

Now that his old vow had been effortlessly fulfilled, Liu Muye felt oddly hollow.

...

After spending the afternoon indulging in every luxury the villa had to offer, Liu Muye suddenly found it all… dull.

Floating in a sprawling, thousand-square-meter pool, sipping fresh coconuts hand-fed by bikini-clad beauties, he sighed. "So this is the life of the rich. Predictably boring."

The women giggled. "Does the Young Master want to try something else?"

They encircled him in the water, but Liu Muye felt no spark. It wasn’t that they weren’t beautiful—his mind was fixated on another image.

Those striking, deep, alluring eyes, tinged with mystery…

Han Juyou?

We only met once. Why can’t I stop thinking about her?

The realization startled him.

Splash—

Liu Muye bolted upright from the pool. A servant immediately draped a plush, snow-white towel over his shoulders, its faint scent of white camellia lingering in the air.

White camellia?

That smell again.

Identical to Han Juyou’s.

Frowning, Liu Muye said, "I don’t like this towel’s scent. Change it next time."

"But Young Master, this one—"

The servant reached to remove it, but Liu Muye waved her off. "Keep it for now."

Drying his hair with the towel, he padded barefoot through the villa’s floor-to-ceiling glass doors.

After changing, he picked a sports car at random from the garage, familiarized himself with the controls, and drove off.

With the convertible top down and the lakeside breeze in his face, his mind cleared. Running his fingers over the shield emblem on the steering wheel, Liu Muye smirked.

His new life had only just begun. Why wouldn’t he enjoy it?

...