The Story in 3 Sentences
A modern woman transmigrates into the body of Lu Jiaxin, a teenager who failed her high school exams and is trapped in a toxic family with a scheming stepmother and an indifferent father, forcing her to scrap her initial despair and forge a new path from absolute zero.
She leverages her future knowledge to ace her education, then dives headfirst into the burgeoning 1980s Hong Kong business scene, turning small ventures into a sprawling empire while systematically dismantling her family’s attempts to control or undermine her, transforming from a victim into an untouchable tycoon.
Her journey culminates not just in unimaginable wealth and power, but in a hard-won personal freedom and a life lived entirely on her own formidable terms, proving that the ultimate revenge is a life too successful to be touched by the past.
Why It Stands Out
1. The Unapologetic Architect of Her Own Fortune
This isn’t a story of passive luck or sudden windfalls. Lu Jiaxin is a strategist, a builder. She meticulously plans her education, her investments, and her counterattacks with the cold precision of a general. Her victories feel earned, brick by brick, deal by deal, making her rise from a failed student to a business titan deeply satisfying. She doesn’t wait for rescue; she engineers her own salvation and dominance, turning every obstacle into a stepping stone with ruthless, intelligent efficiency.
2. A Vivid Time Capsule of 1980s Ambition
The novel doesn’t just use 1983 as a backdrop; it breathes life into it. The clunky mobile phones, the beepers, the neon-lit dance floors, and the raw, unregulated energy of Hong Kong’s financial markets are rendered with immersive detail. You feel the grit, the opportunity, and the sheer velocity of a world on the cusp of massive change, making Lu Jiaxin’s conquest of this landscape feel like a thrilling historical adventure as much as a personal one.
3. Revenge Served Ice-Cold and Professionally
The family drama is electric, but it’s never melodramatic for its own sake. Lu Jiaxin’s retaliation against her stepmother and father is a masterclass in controlled power. She doesn’t scream; she outmaneuvers. She doesn’t beg; she buys them out or renders them irrelevant. Her revenge is her success, her independence, and her ability to dictate the terms of any interaction, turning familial betrayal into the fuel for an unstoppable engine of personal and professional growth.
Characters That Leave a Mark
There’s Lu Hongjun – her biological father, whose initial paternal authority and indifference crumble as he’s forced to confront the powerhouse his daughter has become, often reduced to a flustered bystander in her meteoric rise.
You’ll meet Tang Sufen, who is the sweet-faced, dark-hearted stepmother whose schemes to favor her own daughter and control the family fortune are met with Lu Jiaxin’s devastatingly precise counterattacks, turning her from a hidden threat into a publicly humiliated non-entity.
And Su Heyuan? They’re the one who emerges as a potential partner, not just romantically but as a fellow ambitious player in the business world, someone whose capabilities and background make him a rare equal whose presence adds a layer of complex alliance and possibility to Lu Jiaxin’s solitary climb.
The Flaws Fans Debate
Some readers found the ending’s resolution for certain character arcs, particularly regarding the family dynamics, to be rushed or lacking the same meticulous detail as the business-building segments.
A common point of discussion is the pacing in the middle chapters, where the focus on business expansion can sometimes overshadow the personal stakes, making the narrative feel slightly procedural for a stretch.
While romance is present, fans occasionally note that the development of the relationship with the potential male lead, Su Heyuan, takes a definitive backseat to Lu Jiaxin’s empire-building, which, while true to her character, leaves some readers wanting more depth in that specific subplot.
Must-Experience Arcs
Ch. 1–100: The Phoenix Ignition – Lu Jiaxin wakes in her new life, fails the exam, and immediately begins her counter-offensive against her stepmother and father, securing her right to retake the exam and laying the groundwork for her first, small-scale business ventures while navigating treacherous family politics.
Ch. 300–400: Conquering Victoria Harbour – With a solid educational foundation and seed capital, Lu Jiaxin dives into the heart of Hong Kong’s financial district. This arc details her shrewd investments, the founding of her core companies, and her first major public victories that establish her as a serious player, all while dealing with external business rivals.
Ch. 600–700: The Empire’s Apex – Lu Jiaxin’s businesses are now multinational powerhouses. This final arc focuses on consolidating her power, going public with her flagship company, managing a vast corporate empire, and delivering the final, elegant strokes of her long-term plans for personal autonomy and legacy, including navigating complex relationships with allies like Su Heyuan.
Killer Quotes
“if her stepmother made a move, she’d countermove tenfold! If her father failed to act like a human, she’d teach him how to!”
“You know best how to live your life. We need to look forward.”
“As long as the company is managed well, with an annual profit growth of over twenty percent, the stock price will naturally rise.”
Cultural Impact
The novel has cultivated a dedicated fanbase who particularly admire Lu Jiaxin’s no-nonsense, strategic approach to both business and personal vendettas, often citing her as a favorite strong female lead in the urban rebirth genre.
Readers frequently share their satisfaction with her character development, praising how she “balances all the aspects in life very well” while remaining decisive and true to her goals, making her a relatable fantasy of control and competence.
It has sparked discussions online about the appeal of the 1980s Hong Kong setting, with fans enjoying the nostalgic yet aspirational depiction of a time when fortunes could be made through sheer grit and foresight.
Final Verdict
Start Here If You Want:
A cathartic power fantasy where the underdog doesn’t just win, but builds an empire and becomes utterly untouchable.
A meticulously detailed journey through the exciting, cutthroat world of 1980s Asian business and finance.
A protagonist who is relentlessly proactive, intelligent, and whose greatest weapon is her own strategic mind.
Study If You Love:
Narratives that explore the intersection of personal trauma, familial obligation, and the ruthless pursuit of economic independence.
The urban rebirth genre’s unique blend of historical setting, modern protagonist knowledge, and wish-fulfillment through capitalist success.
Character studies of female protagonists who redefine strength not through physical power, but through financial acumen, strategic planning, and emotional resilience.
Avoid If You Prefer:
Stories where romance is the central, driving plotline over personal or professional ambition.
Narratives with fast, action-oriented pacing; this novel thrives on slow-burn strategy and detailed business maneuvering.
Plots that offer easy forgiveness or reconciliation; Lu Jiaxin’s path is one of calculated dominance, not sentimental healing.
