Only then did she let go of the tension within her and feel relieved of a heavy burden.
"Should I be grateful that Mum and Dad won't have me in this life? I hope this time they are all well."
Shi Nian couldn't help but feel there was more to this lifetime, her intuition had never been wrong, hearing what the maid said about being controlled, and her presence here.
Although it was a bit unnerving to live in this unfamiliar place without her family she decided not to find or actively seek them out.
"Wan Wan" She called out.
Noticing Wan Wan she instructed her.
"Get me a laptop or any device that can be connected to the internet." Without her family to worry over her decision not to struggle in this lifetime became firmer.
But still she needed to know where she was right now and more about Shi Nian and her parents company.
Shi Nian clenched her fist and began planning the steps to resolve the body's regrets and obsession.
The first step was to help claim her family's company from her uncle and ensure it doesn't go bankrupt. The most important thing was to help Shi Nian's parents get justice.
"Don't worry, Shi Nian. Although my fate isn't easy, I'll make sure to help resolve your regrets and live well, as you promised your parents."
With just this promise, she could feel the obsession lighten. "What a naive girl," she chuckled.
"Young mistress, your breakfast is on the dining table. Please come have your meal," Wan Wan called out.
"Hmm, this maid is indeed sharp. She can certainly be useful. Hardly anything can be done as this body is still weak," Shi Nian thought.
She stood up and walked over. The meals on the table were light, just what she needed. Although satisfied, she made no expression on her face.
For the next few weeks, Shi Nian nursed her body. Though it wasn't in perfect condition, she was far better than when she arrived. During this time, her uncle and niece never appeared—it seemed the way she had frightened them had left quite an impression.
"Ring, ring…"
A slender arm reached out to stop the alarm. Shi Nian got up, freshened herself, and quickly had breakfast.
She looked much healthier. As she had said, this body was comparable to her previous self, and with careful nursing and exercise over the past two months, she was ready.
The Shi Consortium held its shareholder meetings every tenth month, and Shi Nian had been preparing for this.
Though the Shi Consortium was among the richest companies in the capital, it wasn't at the very top aristocratic level. Still, it ranked among the top 100 richest families in the capital.
Shi Nian's father, Shi Beicheng, had single-handedly built the consortium. The Shi family originally came from City H outside the capital and owned a modest fabric manufacturing factory.
Though wealthy, it was nothing remarkable until Shi Beicheng graduated and started his own company, investing in an industry different from his family's. From this initial investment, the company grew rapidly. Later, honoring his father's request, he merged both businesses, and the Shi Consortium as it stood today was the result of his blood, sweat, and vision.
Yet, after his death, his only daughter was treated as less than a rat.
Dressed in a black blazer and skirt just above her knees, paired with stilettos, Shi Nian walked to the garage. Fortunately, the former Shi Nian had a driver's license, and she knew how to drive. It would have been a shame if, after so many lifetimes, she hadn't picked up such mundane skills.
When she arrived, her father's lawyer was waiting at the door. With him in tow, she walked inside. The receptionist and other staff recognized her. Though stunned, they did not stop her.
As the elevator doors closed, a buzz began.
"Isn't that the previous chairman's daughter?" someone whispered.
"Yes, that is indeed Shi Nian. I heard she's seriously ill," another added, gesturing to her head.
"She looks healthy to me," a voice commented.
"Mmm, I heard she was forcibly locked up because the previous chairman willed all his shares to her," another whispered.
"Yeah, I heard that too. This is like one of those conspiracies in TV shows. And we get to watch it live—so exciting!"
Just as they whispered and conversed, a stern voice rang out from behind them.
"What is going on here? You all must be really bold to gossip during working hours, and not just about anything—you dare discuss your superiors!"
Spooked, they scurried back to their positions. Yet, they couldn't resist discussing it further in their personal group chats.
On the top floor, Shi Nian stepped out of the elevator. Memories of the previous owner stirred. She felt emotional; her father used to bring her here and show her around. Shi Nian shook off the emotions overflowing in her.
Although she pitied this body and knew her misfortune might have ended her life, she could not bear feeling out of control over her emotions.
"I have to get rid of this obsession soon," Shi Nian thought. Resolving it wasn't difficult, but it would be troublesome, given her internal struggles.
Inside the Shi Consortium meeting room, shareholders were in a heated argument. When Shi Beicheng had been in charge, he maintained unity because all they wanted was profit—and he could maximize it. Now, with him gone, those vying for power could not contain their ambitions.
The shareholders were divided into three factions: one supporting Shi Wang, another supporting the ambitious Ning Baocheng, and the last, smaller faction of Shi Beicheng's trusted aides and supporters. Each faction held 23%, 23%, and 21% of shares, respectively.
In the end, all businesspeople wanted profit. At the moment, Shi Wang could no longer be trusted to maximize their gains. This led to a shift in the balance when one neutralist decided to support Ning Baocheng, granting him his current 23%.
The stalemate brought silence for a moment, the atmosphere was quite intimidating as no faction wanted to back down for the other. .