Stepping on the demon door, the witch becomes the strongest

Chapter 849 Nine Lifetimes of Reincarnation
Lin Ning suffered another crushing defeat.

When that girl named Zhou Hongyu had a child with Yan Yu, Lin Ning was already destined to be completely eliminated from this competition—like the rabbit in the tortoise and the hare race, who thought she had a head start but instead gave the latercomers an opportunity to take advantage.

She simply couldn't accept this failure.

The psychological impact of having her home raided far exceeded that of her first reincarnation. Back then, she and Yan Yu were just high school classmates and close friends, but this time they were childhood sweethearts with a much deeper relationship.

The sudden appearance of a blond-haired man shattered her happiness and hopes, causing Lin Ning to become increasingly defensive. In the end, she took a drastic step and deleted Yan Yu from her friends list.

She wants to be in love! Right now! She wants to prove that even without a childhood sweetheart, she can still find the happiness that is rightfully hers!

Before we knew it, several decades had passed.

Lin Ning had tried countless blind dates and met many outstanding men, but they all ended up falling apart just before confirming their relationship, for various reasons.

It seems that no matter how perfect a man is, she can always find something about him that she can't stand.

It wasn't until she turned forty that Lin Ning finally realized:
It's not that there aren't men in this world suitable for him, it's just...

It wasn't him after all.

After her parents passed away, the elderly Lin Ning lived alone for more than ten years. Although her cousins ​​and other relatives would often visit her to chat and keep her company, she could not escape the loneliness and desolation that followed in the quiet of the night.

Until a young, unfamiliar man knocked on her door.

The man claimed to be the son of Yan Yu and Zhou Hongyu, who had passed away last month.

While sorting through his parents' belongings, he discovered his father's diary, filled with his father's remorse, longing, and reluctance to part with a childhood sweetheart with whom he had broken off relations.

“Ms. Lin, I think this diary should still be given to you.” The man handed her the diary. “I don’t know what exactly happened between you and my father, but he’s gone now, so…”

Lin Ning couldn't remember what happened next.

After seeing the man off, Lin Ning sat alone in the bedroom, holding the diary Yan Yu had left behind, and sat silently all night.

She ultimately did not open the diary. Instead, she got up before dawn, locked all the doors and windows of her bedroom, lit a brazier, and threw the diary into the embers.

Then he lay down on the bed fully clothed and fell into a deep sleep.

If there is a next life, Yan Yu...

I hope you can still be happy and joyful in a world without me.

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The fairy in the mirror is almost red-hot.

She had thought Lin Ning might perform poorly, but she never imagined she would be that bad!
I gave you a full ten mock tests! I also gave you plenty of strong hints!
So you messed up in the third round and couldn't hold on any longer? You started to give up?

In the illusions of the mortal world, obsession is the anchor for finding oneself, while abandoning obsession is a very dangerous sign, like a drowning person giving up the last piece of plank.

The possibility of getting completely lost is quite high.

The Fairy in the Mirror didn't intend to provide Lin Ning with any further assistance, because most fools are beyond help. She began to consider finding a more suitable candidate.

Hmm, what do you think of that Li Minghu?

----------

Just as the fairy in the mirror predicted, Lin Ning's fourth, fifth, and sixth incarnations were all a complete mess.

Without Yan Yu's obsession, Lin Ning's subsequent life simulations were utterly devoid of any originality.

Following the established path of studying, taking the college entrance exam, starting work, and living a solitary life without any suspense... This is quite strange, in these reincarnations without Yan Yu, Lin Ning has unanimously chosen not to marry or have children.

Moreover, they were all single into their late thirties and couldn't withstand the pressure from their parents, so they were forced to go on blind dates. But they weren't satisfied with this one or that one, and in the end, they still died alone—it seems that this woman couldn't stand any other man except Yan Yu.

With a little intervention, the Mirror Fairy arranged for "Yan Yu," who was with other women, to appear before Lin Ning in various ways.

But she seemed to have completely forgotten about Yan Yu.

Even immersed in a dream, Lin Ning remains the master of that dream. When she wants to forget something, no one can make her remember it.

Now, the Mirror Fairy only plans to complete the promised ten simulations as soon as possible, and doesn't expect much more from the others.

Without Yan Yu's obsession, Lin Ning's reincarnation began a journey of self-liberation.

In her fourth life, she focused on scientific research and became a leading figure in academia. In her fifth life, she became a successful career woman. In her sixth life, she started her own business and made money. In her seventh life, she became a million-follower blogger and internet celebrity. In her eighth life, after graduating from university, she was selected for a government position and embarked on a political career.

In her later years, Lin Ning had become the first female Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, and a Grand Secretary who remained unmarried and childless throughout her life, destined to be remembered in history—the Mirror Fairy's assessment was that "she had dreamed too big."

In the intensive care unit, on her deathbed, scenes from her life flashed through her mind, leaving her with no regrets. At the end of her life, she could say with a clear conscience that she had dedicated her entire life to the cause of seeking well-being for the people of Lu.

There was only one thing that always concerned her.

It happened when she was inspecting impoverished mountainous areas in southern Xinjiang Province. She met and extended her regards to many young poverty alleviation officers and became quite interested in a comrade surnamed Yan... It wasn't that she thought the other person had any lofty ideals or ambitions, nor that his work performance was outstanding; she was simply interested.

Those below, observing Yan's demeanor, even considered breaking up her family so that she could "marry up," but fortunately, Lin Ning discovered and stopped them in time.

It's merely an interest, not to the point of lusting after beauty and having to possess it. I am a humble public servant, not some domineering and licentious empress. I have long since rid myself of those base desires.

As her life drew to a close, the thought of that young comrade stirred ripples in her heart, which had long been as still as a deep well.

If there is an afterlife, I hope I can have a love affair.

When the fairy in the mirror came to her senses, she saw that Lin Ning had already begun her ninth reincarnation.

Her grades were mediocre this time. After graduating from high school, she gave up going to university and instead devoted herself to the culinary arts with her parents' financial support. She quickly gained the opportunity to study under a master chef specializing in state banquets, thanks to her aptitude for cooking.

This time, I'm going to be a little Chinese chef.

The Fairy in the Mirror wasn't interested in her path to becoming a culinary god, after all, there were no glowing dishes or clothes-bursting dishes in this world... If Lin Ning had a richer imagination, she might have been a little more interested.

Unfortunately, Lin Ning is clearly a rule-abiding person. She first learned Jianghuai cuisine, then switched to studying French cuisine, and then circled back to learning Shandong cuisine, diligently studying various techniques, which bored the Mirror Fairy to no end.

She was just about to do something to relieve her boredom when she suddenly saw someone appear in front of Lin Ning.

Yan Yu.

This is not surprising, because Yan Yu appears in every reincarnation, and Lin Ning always develops special feelings for him, only to have them ruined for various reasons.

If we were to judge Lin Ning by the perspective of the fairy in the mirror, if Yan Yu in reality hadn't been so proactive, considerate, and willing to build a harem, Lin Ning would most likely have ended up in a complete defeat.

This woman, tsk, hopeless!

In the ninth cycle, Yan Yu is a wealthy investor in the hotel industry, searching for a head chef for his flagship hotel. With his lavish spending, finding a highly skilled chef wouldn't be difficult, but Yan Yu has higher standards; he wants to find the best in the country.

Nowadays, the best chefs in the entire continent are basically disciples of those few masters.

"To be honest, Miss Lin," Yan Yu said slowly as he wiped his mouth with a napkin after tasting the dishes Lin Ning had prepared, "I have to apologize to you."

“The kitchen is a very tiring job. When it’s busy, chefs can stand for more than ten hours a day without having time to sit down and rest, so very few women are willing to do this job.”

“I admit, I was a little dismissive of you at first. But after eating these dishes, I’m sure you’re the chef I’ve been looking for.”

He extended his right hand in a friendly manner.

Lin Ning looked at him quietly, her doe-like eyes slightly moist. From the moment they met, she had felt an inexplicable and wonderful attraction to the man before her, but she had simply held back from expressing it.

After all, love at first sight sounds too unrealistic, and the other person would almost certainly think I'm after his money...

Lin Ning could find a thousand reasons to suppress her impulse. But when Yan Yu extended his right hand, she didn't respond to the handshake, but instead abruptly and directly asked:

"Yan Yu, do you have a girlfriend?"

"Hmm?" Yan Yu was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, "I have casual female companions, but I've never had a girlfriend..."

"Would you mind considering me?" Lin Ning asked directly.

Yan Yu was shocked by her audacity, and the Mirror Fairy, who was observing from behind the scenes, was even more astonished and speechless: How could Lin Ning say such a thing?
It's the kind of arrogant person who would say something like, "Hmph, I don't like you, but if you really like me, I might give you a chance."
"Ms. Lin, you..."

"Call me Lin Ning," Lin Ning said frankly. "I'm not proposing to you, I'm just inviting you to date. Marriage may involve considering factors like social standing and family background, but dating only requires mutual affection."

"I think I like you, what about you?"

Yan Yu couldn't deny it. Because whether considering appearance, figure, temperament, or personality, Lin Ning was an outstanding eligible bachelor.

Thus, the two officially established a romantic relationship.

Although they had started dating, they didn't have much intimate interaction, since they had no emotional foundation before.

Lin Ning started working at a hotel under Yan Yu's company. She was shrewd, capable, and experienced in management. In her spare time, she also made videos to attract fans, and she was good at everything from creating memes and engaging in community operations. She made the hotel's business and reputation flourish, and Yan Yu became increasingly impressed with her.

Yan Yu had not originally considered marriage, because given his current wealth, the risks of marriage were simply too great.

He wouldn't even maintain an intimate relationship with the same woman for more than three months, lest he cause disputes such as cohabitation and property division—wealthy people are always extremely careful in this regard, otherwise they will soon cease to be wealthy.

However, Lin Ning is completely different from other women.

She had little interest in wealth and preferred a simple and peaceful life. Based on observations of their daily interactions, Lin Ning showed no covetousness for Yan Yu's money; instead, she was more interested in him as a person.

It wasn't the kind of love at first sight that was faked, because she didn't ask for a more intimate relationship; it seemed more like a Platonic spiritual connection...

A platonic relationship? That's interesting.

For Yan Yu, intimate relationships with men and women are readily available resources, while confidantes are something that can only be encountered by chance, because there are far too many women willing to pretend to be someone else for his wealth.

He started to like Lin Ning.

Yan Yu finally made a decision: he wanted to take it a step further and turn the joking "Let's date" into a more substantial romantic relationship—at least one where they could hold hands, kiss, and sleep together.

He meticulously prepared a candlelight dinner on the hotel's rooftop, a drone light show, and a grand finale proposal ceremony, maximizing both the scale of the event and his sincerity.

After Lin Ning got off work, they sent a car to pick her up and take her to the banquet.

"Why not eat at your own hotel?" Lin Ning's first words after sitting down were a questioning of Yan Yu's thoughtfulness.

“Work and life should be kept separate,” Yan Yu said with a smile. “I don’t want you to be able to pick out which dish was made by which apprentice when you’re enjoying the dinner, and what old problems it has made.”

"You've really thought of everything." Lin Ning looked at him strangely, then picked up her chopsticks and began to taste. "But to be honest, the dishes here don't look as good as those of my apprentices."

"The thickening sauce wasn't prepared properly."

"Too much sugar was added; rock sugar wasn't used."

"The knife skills are wrong; the pieces are too big, and they don't absorb the flavor well."

"This...this is a pre-made dish? The seasoning is not bad."

Yan Yu initially looked at the young cook across from him with a doting gaze and a smile, but when he heard "pre-made dishes," he finally couldn't hold back and waved to call the catering manager over from a distance.

"Never mind, never mind," Lin Ning quickly stopped him. "I'm already very satisfied that you had the thought. The quality of the dishes themselves doesn't matter. No matter how delicious they are, can they be as good as what I cook?"

"Tell me, is there something you want to tell me by inviting me to dinner in such a grand manner?"

"Your intuition is truly sharp," Yan Yu exclaimed. "I hope to become your boyfriend."

"The formal kind." Seeing the puzzled look on Lin Ning's face, he quickly added.

"Aren't we officially a couple now?" Lin Ning asked, puzzled.

“Yes,” Yan Yu carefully chose his words, “but I hope we can be closer. Right now, the relationship between us makes me feel…”

"To give an example, it's like a probationary employee. Although they're officially employed, they still can't enjoy some of the benefits and perks of a regular employee, do you understand?"

"Oh, what specific benefits and perks do you mean?" Lin Ning asked with a playful expression.

“You know what I mean,” Yan Yu said with a smile, “it’s what couples do.”

Lin Ning was silent for a while:

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to keep you hanging, it's just..."

"only?"

“But none of this is right.” Lin Ning turned her head slightly to look at the city night view outside the window, where the lights of drones were simulating a dazzling fireworks show. “I initially asked you to date me because my heart told me that I had to date you, otherwise I would definitely regret it.”

"However, after officially confirming our relationship, I didn't feel the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment I had originally anticipated. Yan Yu, you are an excellent and perfect man, meeting all my expectations and fantasies about a partner, but..."

"But what?" Realizing what the other person was about to say, Yan Yu's expression was already starting to crack, and a cold anger was slowly being released from his suppressed emotions. "If I did something wrong, you can tell me directly instead of bringing it up in this kind of situation. Can we go back and talk about it?"

Lin Ning did not respond to his anger.

She just stared blankly at Yan Yu, her eyes initially showing confusion, but quickly turning into even stronger fear, shock, and disbelief:

"You are not him."

(End of this chapter)