I woke up as the Villainous Empress

The bustling restaurant hummed with chatter as Fang Li and Zheng Lei settled into their seats. Fang Li's heart raced as she observed Zheng Lei, noting how his every gesture and mannerism mirrored Zheng Liang's. It wasn't just their faces; their attitudes and actions were strikingly similar. Experience more content on empire

Zheng Lei sat with an air of cool detachment, his eyes briefly scanning the menu before setting it aside. His gaze, sharp and observant, seemed to take in everything while revealing nothing.

Without consulting Zheng Lei, Fang Li confidently ordered several dishes. "We'll have the Dongpo Rou, Mapo Tofu, and Hongshao Rou," she told the waiter, then turned to Zheng Lei with a smile. "Trust me, you'll love these."

Zheng Lei raised an eyebrow but remained silent, his face impassive.

When the food arrived, Fang Li gestured to the braised pork belly. "Try the Dongpo Rou first," she suggested. "It's really good."

As Zheng Lei took a bite, his eyes widened slightly, a flicker of pleasure breaking through his cool facade. "It's excellent," he said, his voice low. "Actually, it's my favorite dish. How did you know?"

Fang Li's breath caught, surprise flickering across her face. "I... I just had a feeling," she stammered, her mind whirling. She realized with a start that she had unknowingly ordered all of Zheng Liang's favorite dishes.

As Zheng Lei tried each dish, his usual aloofness melted slightly. He didn't speak much, but his enjoyment was evident in the way he savored each bite. Fang Li's surprise deepened.

'Isn't this too much of a coincidence?' she thought, her heart racing. 'Not just his face and mannerisms, but even his tastes are identical to Zheng Liang's.'

With each shared plate, Fang Li felt a bittersweet closeness, as if Zheng Liang was there with her. She watched Zheng Lei, her mind grappling with the uncanny similarities between the two men.

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As they ate, Zheng Lei's icy demeanor began to thaw. "You know," he said, leaning in slightly, his voice low and intimate, "when I saw you confronting your friend that day, I was genuinely taken aback."

Fang Li's eyes widened with curiosity. "Oh? How so?"

A hint of amusement flickered in Zheng Lei's eyes as he recalled the scene. "After everything that happened, your friend's betrayal... I expected you to cry, maybe even beg to explain everything. But instead, you slapped her and threatened her. You declared you wouldn't take the betrayal lying down."

He paused, his voice carrying a note of admiration. "In that moment of helplessness, you didn't crumble. You didn't show a shred of weakness. That kind of strength... it's rare. Honestly, I was impressed by your strong mental fortitude."

Warmth bloomed in Fang Li's chest at his words. "It wasn't easy," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I refused to let her see me cry. Crying then would have meant defeat. And as you must know from my career records, I hate losing. I'm not called the National Knight Treasure for nothing."

Zheng Lei chuckled, clearly impressed by her unwavering spirit. "I captured that scene by pure chance. I was recording a clip of the campus arena for my mother when it captured you in the video. After that, I left for a competition abroad. That's why I couldn't step in sooner." His expression darkened. "When I returned and heard about your accident, your coma...

I was stunned. Finding that video then, posting it was the least I could do."

Fang Li's smile turned bittersweet. "Some things happen for a reason," she mused, her words heavy with hidden meaning. "Perhaps it was fate."

Their eyes locked, and Fang Li felt her heart skip a beat. Staring at the familiar face, those eyes, she couldn't help but wonder, 'If not for that accident, would I have ever met you? Would I have experienced the best moments of my life and felt what it means to be loved?'

Their moment was interrupted by the arrival of a group of girls. One of them, known as the campus belle, approached their table. She was from the female swimming team, her high heels clicking against the floor as she walked. Her outfit, a short dress that revealed more than it concealed, drew attention from nearby diners.

"Zheng Lei?" she called, her voice overly sweet. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed Fang Li. "Oh my, I didn't expect to see you dining with an... outsider. Especially one from the archery team with such a... colorful history."

Fang Li felt a flicker of annoyance, but instead of responding, she calmly picked up her chopsticks and continued eating. She refused to give this woman the satisfaction of a reaction.

Zheng Lei's cold voice cut through the air. "Who are you to be talking to my friend like this? Do I know you?"

The woman's smile faltered slightly. "Zheng Lei, don't you remember me? I'm in the female swimming team. Our teams even had a dinner together last time, and we talked."

"Oh? I don't remember," he said indifferently.

The woman's face flushed with embarrassment at being ignored like this. Her friends exchanged glances and controlled their giggles. They had heard her boast many times about how close she was to Zheng Lei, the heartthrob from the male swimming team, and how they were in touch.

But he clearly didn't remember her. How embarrassing!

Seeing this awkward interaction, Fang Li, who was focusing on her meal, couldn't help but let out a chuckle but accidentally choked on her food. Seeing her coughing, Zheng Lei got worried and handed her a tissue and a cup of water. "Here, take it."

He even stood up to lightly pat her back to soothe her discomfort. Seeing his careful, concerned actions, the woman couldn't help but frown. After Fang Li calmed down, he said with concern, "What are you doing? Can't you eat slowly? See, you choked while eating."

"I didn't mean to. It was just too awkward," she said honestly, revealing her clear discomfort.

Hearing this, Zheng Lei glared at the woman who was standing there with a flushed face and said coldly, "Are you going to stand here all night? Can't you see I'm having dinner with my friend? I don't like when people disturb me." He said, not even giving her an ounce of face.

The campus belle who was adored by everyone was ignored by the heartthrob of the campus. After the woman left, Fang Li couldn't help but chuckle at what happened. He was still the same, bad at dealing with women.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

This reminded her of the moments when other noble ladies tried to act coquettishly to impress him, but he didn't even give them a glance or, more rightly, didn't even acknowledge their existence in front of him.

'How can someone still be the same?' she thought.

When this thought came to her, something hit her hard! Right. How could a man from her dream or illusions be so similar to this man in front of her?