How Did the Reborn Empress Become My Bootlicker? - Chapter 1:

Chapter 1: The Cold Co-Living Girl Is a Reborn Empress?:

A year ago…

“Xiao Yuan, this will be your new home from now on.”

At the open doorway, a gentle young woman smiled brightly. The gold-rimmed glasses resting on her nose added an air of intelligence to her soft and elegant appearance.

Her name was Xu Qingling—Lin Wan’s close friend and Su Yuan’s mother’s best companion. When Su Yuan was young, whenever his parents were away, Xu Qingling would always take him along and look after him. Because of this, the two shared a very close bond. Even after Xu Qingling moved to a different city due to work, she still maintained frequent contact with Su Yuan’s family.

Not long ago, after learning that Lin Wan and her husband had died tragically during a fierce beast hunting trip, Xu Qingling decided to bring Su Yuan into her home.

As for Su Yuan, he had heard his mother talk about her before, saying that Aunt Xu was now doing scientific research and had a daughter. What puzzled him was that his mother never mentioned Aunt Xu’s husband… but that was her personal matter, and he naturally wouldn’t pry.

Snapping back to reality, Su Yuan smiled at Xu Qingling and said, “Thank you, Aunt Xu.”

Before he could finish speaking, a slender finger gently tapped his forehead. The fingertip felt soft and cool, accompanied by Xu Qingling’s feigned irritation, “Oh, look at you. It’s only been a few years and now you’re treating me like a stranger?”

Even after so long, Xu Qingling’s personality was just as warm and cheerful as when Su Yuan was a child. That warmth eased some of the grief that still lingered in Su Yuan’s heart.

After helping Su Yuan put down his luggage, Xu Qingling called into the house, “Anyan, come say hello to Brother Su Yuan.”

Soon, a girl walked up to Su Yuan. She wore a simple and neat sports outfit, hands in her pockets, her posture lazy and indifferent. Her long legs were slender and well-shaped.

Xu Anyan—Xu Qingling’s daughter—was the same age as Su Yuan, both seventeen. Her facial features differed somewhat from her mother’s, but she was equally beautiful. Her skin was smooth and pale, her clear eyes sparkled, her delicate eyebrows looked like distant green hills, her nose was just right, and her lips were soft and thin.

Unfortunately, unlike her mother, Xu Anyan didn’t show much enthusiasm when faced with this peer who had suddenly entered her life. Her gaze was calm, her expression indifferent, and her tone cold. 

After a brief “Hello,” she looked away without saying more.

Xu Qingling apologized, “Xiao Yuan, don’t take it to heart. This child’s personality is just naturally aloof…”

Su Yuan shook his head, unconcerned. “It’s okay.”

…

One year later.

Morning. Bedroom.

Su Yuan lay on the bed, hands behind his head, staring blankly at the ceiling.

It had been a year since he moved into Aunt Xu’s house. She had taken very good care of him, and it was her kindness that helped him gradually move past the grief of losing his parents.

In contrast, her daughter seemed a bit… excessively cold.

Thinking carefully, even though they lived under the same roof and were schoolmates, they hardly talked in the past year. The only things they exchanged were phrases like “time to eat,” “excuse me,” or just “mm.”

Of course, Su Yuan knew this wasn’t aimed at him specifically. At school, she was famously known as the Iceberg Goddess. She lacked the liveliness and joy typical of girls her age. Her attitude toward everyone—even teachers and school leaders—was always distant, detached, and cold.

The only person she smiled at was Aunt Xu.

Su Yuan shook his head, letting go of thoughts about Xu Anyan, and turned his attention to the awakening ceremony happening today. “Since I’m a transmigrator, going by the usual novel logic, today should be the day I awaken a system, right?”

That’s right. Su Yuan was a transmigrator from Earth—born into this world.

It wasn’t until a year ago, after his parents’ accident, that the overwhelming grief triggered the awakening of his memories from his past life.

This world was called Blue Star, a high-martial world.

At the age of eighteen, once one’s genes matured, they would begin sensing the universal energy known as Origin Energy and embark on the path of cultivation.

Moreover, a very small number of chosen ones could awaken innate talents and gain a head start.

Unfortunately, the odds of that were less than one in a hundred.

But not having a talent didn’t mean one couldn’t become strong. Even now, nearly half of the topmost experts in the Great Xia Empire were people without talents.

In fact, on the first page of the compulsory high school textbook, Introduction to Martial Arts, there was a quote from one of the nine 9th stage Supremes of Great Xia:

“Talent? It’s just a shortcut. Without shortcuts, I can still carve a path to the peak myself!”

At that moment…

Knock knock knock—

A knock came from outside the door, followed by Xu Anyan’s pleasant but cold voice, “Breakfast is ready.”

A classic phrase. Probably the one she had said to him the most all year.

“Coming,” Su Yuan replied, flipping off the bed.

When he reached the living room, Xu Qingling had already made breakfast. Even in an apron, her beauty was undeniable.

Seeing him arrive, she brought the breakfast to the table with a warm smile, “Starting today, you two will be stepping onto the path of cultivation. Do your best~”

“And don’t get discouraged, whether you awaken a talent or not. Talent is just the icing on the cake.”

Su Yuan smiled, “Got it.”

Xu Anyan also nodded slightly.

After eating, Xu Anyan put down her utensils and said, “I’m done.” Then she stood up and went straight back to her room.

Well, Su Yuan was used to it and didn’t mind. He tilted his head back and gulped down the freshly ground handmade soy milk Aunt Xu had made.

Xu Qingling, watching her daughter’s retreating figure, sighed helplessly.

Anyan was great in every way… except for being too cold.

She had hoped that bringing Su Yuan here would make her daughter livelier, but it hadn’t changed anything at all.

Sensing her disappointment, Su Yuan set down his cup and offered some comfort, “Aunt Xu, everyone has their own personality. Some are warm like fire, some are cold like ice. That’s just how they’re born. It’s not a big deal.”

“Besides—Anyan’s personality has its own advantages.”

Xu Qingling blinked curiously, “What advantages?”

Su Yuan said seriously, “She won’t fall into early romance, won’t be kidnapped by a blond-haired punk riding a scooter, and she’s a proper, well-behaved girl…”

“Pfft.” Xu Qingling couldn’t help but laugh, feeling much better.

…

In her room.

After closing the door, Xu Anyan took a deep breath. For the first time, a strong emotion flickered in her usually calm eyes.

She walked to the window, looked up at the clear sky, and murmured softly, “Finally, the day has come. I will return to the stars.”

That’s right. Xu Anyan had been reborn.

The time she was reborn was precisely the day Su Yuan arrived at their home.

In her previous life, she awakened an unparalleled talent and became invincible all the way to the martial arts peak. She had thought she’d reached the limit, but a sudden event caused great upheaval on Blue Star. Using that as an opportunity, she broke free from Blue Star and stepped into the stars.

It was only then that she realized how small Blue Star really was.

The universe was vast beyond imagination, full of ancient powers and boundless civilizations. Blue Star was just a speck of dust in the grand cosmos.

On Blue Star, the martial peak was the 9th stage—Supreme level in the Great Xia Empire. But in reality, that was merely an entry ticket to the universe.

Only by advancing beyond the 9th stage could one adapt their body to the starry sky and roam freely among the stars.

The stars—were a much grander stage!

A sacred battleground where countless races and powerful beings unleashed their brilliance!

The inner universe, the outer universe, the cosmic sea…

Just the outer universe alone was divided into ten major star regions, each split into territories ruled by powerful factions and empires.

Blue Star was simply a small planet on the edge of the Ancient Source Star Region in the outer universe.

And she, after stepping into the stars, continued her legendary rise.

That was a once-in-a-lifetime golden era in the universe. Countless geniuses and monsters emerged from ancient sects and bloodlines.

In the end, after overcoming countless dangers, she ascended to the Emperor Realm, dominated a corner of the cosmos, and alongside nine other peerless young Emperors, became known throughout the universe as the [Ten Radiants].

The Ten Radiants—were a title that shook the cosmos!

It meant they shone brighter than the most dazzling stars in the universe!

They surpassed their predecessors, crushed their peers, and reigned supreme in the stars, aweing the entire cosmos.

Their words alone could decide the fate of entire star territories.

They were the strongest among the younger generation of the universe, revered legends.

Of course, that was in her previous life.

Having been reborn, she had to start from scratch.

Every time she thought about it, a cold glint flickered through Xu Anyan’s eyes.

In her last life, after reaching the Emperor Realm, she had a chance to climb even higher—but was ultimately betrayed and killed.

She swore that once she returned to the stars, she would personally bring that chapter to a close!

“Hu—”

Taking a deep breath, Xu Anyan closed her eyes. A few seconds later, she reopened them, her mood calm again.

“In the universe, some monstrous talents even start cultivating in the womb before birth.”

“Unfortunately, the civilization level of Blue Star is too low. Only when a person reaches eighteen and their genes naturally mature can they sense Origin Energy and start cultivation.”

“But…”

“Eighteen years isn’t much.”

“In my last life, I reached the Emperor Realm.”

“This life, I will do it again.”

Just then, a notification sounded in her mind: [Ding! Binding Comparison System… Binding complete!]