Cinderella in Shadows

I, the Cinderella Targeted by a Rich Second-Generation Heir

The young stepmother of a rich second-generation heir asked to meet me. “I’ll give you twenty million if you break up with my son.”

“How much is your son worth? I’ll buy him,” I replied.

Her eyes lit up. “Ten million flat, take it or leave it.”

“Fine. I’m done with him.”

In movies and TV shows, the Cinderella targeted by a rich second-generation heir follows a pretty predictable script.

First, she has to work part-time and study hard. She ties her hair in a simple ponytail, goes bare-faced, and wears a faded white t-shirt and old, worn jeans. And, of course, she carries a big backpack — the same one from high school.

I’ve always followed that script.

My father died in a construction accident. My mother remarried into a well-off family, and my grandmother raised me and my younger brother. She hoped I’d marry soon, take care of her in her old age, and use the money to send my brother to school.

But, thanks to some pressure from the local community, my grandmother allowed me to continue my studies. I had just completed nine years of compulsory education when she pointed a finger at me and scolded, “You lazy girl, always thinking about other things. What’s the point of studying? You’ll just marry and serve your husband’s family. Stop wasting time. Let your brother have a chance!”

I’ve always been rebellious. When she said I couldn’t go to school, I made sure to top the high school entrance exam. She used her connections to get my brother into high school, but I reported him to the education department. In the end, my brother got expelled and ended up on the streets.

Grandmother was furious and kicked me out. But then, one day, she called me back, treating me like royalty. That’s when I overheard her plotting to sell me off to some poor village guy for money.

I ran away, spending the next three years living in the school dorms, never returning home.

My younger brother, spoiled and unruly, cursed like a sailor, and by age ten, he had become a popular influencer on a short-video app. Every day, he’d wait for me outside school, demanding money, acting like the king of the house.

That summer, after the college entrance exams, he beat someone so badly they ended up in the hospital. Grandmother secretly gave him money to help him escape, but I walked in with the police just seconds after.

She fainted from the shock. When she came to, she started throwing things at me, cursing me as a “money-grubber” and wishing I’d just die.

I held my college acceptance letter in one hand, grabbed my suitcase with the other, and walked out. Seeing her tear-streaked face, I almost laughed.

“While you’re still alive, I’m sending you to jail.”

“I’m not dying, and you won’t either. You’ll just have to watch me become rich, and not a single penny will go to you,” I swore, the eighteen-year-old He Yang making the most serious promise of her life.

Once in college, I met plenty of rich people. Some were spoiled princesses, others reckless heirs, some were ambitious young men, and there were even nouveau riche who burned money just for fun.

My roommate, Li Xingxing, was the perfect example of “rich but not smart.” She spent her days humiliating me for sport.

She often scanned my closet with disdain, asking, “Can’t you wear something better?”

When she found out I’d gotten a scholarship, she laughed in front of the whole class, “Oh, He Yang? She’s always running to the teacher’s office. Who knows what she’s doing there so often? Hmm… ”

But the most memorable moment was when my food delivery got stolen. Li Xingxing saw me talking to the delivery guy downstairs. With her arms crossed, she sneered, “Look, there’s a pair of dogs over there.”

I never paid her any attention. Because deep down, I knew one day, I’d have a use for her.

Li Xingxing, eager to put me in my place, introduced me to a high-class cocktail party as a part-time server. Dressed in a sparkling evening gown, she flitted effortlessly through the crowd of elites, toasting and laughing, while I, in a tight black-and-white uniform that barely fit, awkwardly carried drinks.

At first, I planned to do my job and leave quietly. But the moment Yuan Yi stepped into the venue, my plans changed instantly.

Cinderella is always a bit clumsy, right? I managed to spill some wine on the young master’s expensive suit. But don’t judge her for being careless—after all, she managed to bump into the most aristocratic man in the room.

The event coordinator wasted no time in firing me, and Li Xingxing shot me a cold, disapproving glare before turning away, making sure to distance herself from me.

Surprisingly, Yuan Yi didn’t get angry. Instead, he bent down and looked at me, his voice calm but curious. “What’s your name?”

I was mortified, tears welling up in my eyes, before I turned and ran off.

Don’t worry, my blind prince—one day, we’ll meet again.

After the party, Li Xingxing made sure to make my life miserable. Every day, she would scold me, “I tried to give her a taste of the real world, and she just screwed it up! Can’t do a single thing right—she’s completely hopeless!”

But in the end, I learned something important. I had always thought only blind princes could fall for Cinderellas, but now I realized there were blind princesses out there who could fall for a guy from humble beginnings too.

That same night, I saw the captain of the school basketball team visit Li Xingxing. I caught a glimpse of them in the bathroom, kissing and sneaking around like they were tasting forbidden fruit.

There she was, a beautiful princess in a shimmering gown, letting a sweaty, scruffy boy touch her.

I couldn’t resist—my phone came out, and I secretly recorded the shocking scene.

The new semester brought fresh drama.

Soon, the presidents of all the student organizations received an anonymous email. They opened the video, and what they saw was an entirely new world.

The rumors spread like wildfire across the campus, as if carried by the wind—everyone knew about Li Xingxing and the basketball captain’s bold little secret.

In the end, Li Xingxing dropped out and left for overseas studies. On her departure day, she was practically hiding herself, wearing a baseball cap and a mask, desperate to avoid being recognized—like a scared bird.

But even then, she didn’t forget to order me to carry her luggage.

With a smile, I asked, “So, what’s the name of your new school?”

She snorted, “You wouldn’t have heard of it.”

I raised my hand, pretending to fix her messy hair, but in the next moment, I ripped off her mask. “No matter where you go, I promise you, everyone you meet will get that email.”

Under the scorching sun, Li Xingxing trembled, her eyes blank as she stared at me. Then, suddenly, she screamed and raised her hand to slap me. People nearby stopped and turned to look. Her parents, mortified by her behavior, quickly rushed over and dragged her away.

But there was a tall, thin man leaning against their car, his gaze fixed not on Li Xingxing, but on me. His eyes were cold, dangerous, almost hostile. A shiver ran down my spine, and I quickly looked away.

I recognized him—he was Li Xingxing’s half-brother, the man I’d seen in her phone.

I could hear her crying to her parents, but it seemed like even her own family didn’t believe her.

No one would ever believe that I was a malicious person, because I looked so simple, so innocent, so poor—especially when I was just standing there, helping her carry luggage.

Dear little princess, you’ve always used money to humiliate others, but you don’t realize that for someone like me, with nothing to lose, the best way to get even is through the power of the internet.

Yuan Yi was even more blind than I thought.

He really liked me. From Monday to Friday, while I worked part-time at a café, he’d sit there for hours, just watching me work. On weekends, I worked as a cashier at a convenience store, and every day, he’d come by, sweeping the shelves clean. He’d buy everything, but never take any of it, shoving all the snacks into my hands instead.

One day, he leaned his hands on the counter, looked up at me, and said, “Why not just come with me? What’s the point of working part-time? Come with me, and I’ll take care of you.”

But I was still that Cinderella, convinced that hard work and perseverance were the only real ways to get ahead. I refused to accept his charity. I grabbed his bank card and threw it on the floor, snapping, “What do you think I am?!”

I didn’t want his money, and Yuan Yi, furious, grabbed the store manager by the collar and demanded, “Give her a raise! If you don’t, I’ll report you to the authorities!”

The manager just stood there, speechless.

Of course, even Cinderella knows how to keep things interesting. Sometimes, a little sweetness is necessary.

Yuan Yi stepped out of his sleek, expensive car and spent the afternoon handing out flyers with me in People’s Square.

He took off my ridiculous mascot headpiece, shoved me onto a bench, and then grabbed the thick stack of promotional flyers from my hands. From being shy and hesitant, he quickly turned into a pro, approaching pedestrians confidently. He even picked up phrases like “Take a look” and “Thank you” in no time.

I gave him half of the money I earned. His eyes widened in disbelief.

The young master was enjoying himself. This was his first time working for a living, and everything about it was new and exciting to him.

But inside, I was cursing him out. He had me hand out flyers, yet I was the one sitting in the sun waiting for him? He could’ve just dragged me into his car and taken me somewhere nice for dinner. What a fool.

Yuan Yi didn’t hear my internal rant. Instead, he gazed at me with intense affection and said, “From now on, you’ll earn money with your own two hands. Will you let me be with you?”

I froze, pretending to be moved. I stood there like an idiot for a moment, then leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek—just a light touch.

But deep down, I was grinding my teeth.

I was so tired of those days when my hands were calloused from working hard.

If anyone ever dares to ask me to earn money with my own two hands again, I swear I’ll chop their hands off and smash them.

News of my relationship with Yuan Yi spread across the campus. Some people thought we weren’t a good match, while others found it perfectly normal. After all, wasn’t this just like something out of a drama? The female lead goes through hardships and finally gets her rich and handsome hero, and everyone cheers them on.

But here’s the catch: All the wealth belonged to the hero, not the heroine. Why should the heroine remain poor?

Yuan Yi spent a lot of money on me. He bought me cosmetics, jewelry, and designer bags. I secretly exchanged them for cash, buying cheap knockoffs instead. He didn’t notice, because all he saw was me.

He even threw me a lavish birthday party. I’ll admit, I’d never felt more special in twenty years.

Most of the guests were Yuan Yi’s friends—people I didn’t know well—but the atmosphere was lively. I sat in the middle of a group of rich young men and women, holding a bouquet of flowers. Someone even called the waiter over to take photos of us.

My eyes landed on the waiter, and I froze. It was me, from six months ago.

Someone, clearly drunk, loudly asked Yuan Yi, “Did you book a hotel room for tonight?”

Yuan Yi wrapped his arm around me, silencing the room, and whispered in my ear, “I’ll respect you, baby. We’ll wait until we’re married.”

I gave a small laugh but said nothing. I looked up into his eyes, but he quickly looked away.

Was Yuan Yi being too serious with me? Or was he hiding something?

Later that night, the pumpkin carriage disappeared. I carried the bags full of gifts back to the small rented apartment I had for the holidays, off-campus.

At the corner, someone was waiting.

When I saw their face clearly, all the joy of the day evaporated in an instant.

“Happy Birthday, Sis.”

The parasite raised a small chocolate cake, the flickering candlelight barely visible in the wind.

Without thinking, I grabbed a watch from the gift bag and threw it at He An. “Get lost.”

He An carefully placed the watch back in the bag. “Sis, don’t be mad. It’s your birthday… just make a wish first.”

The weak flame illuminated half my face, and in He An’s eyes, I saw my own malicious expression reflected back at me.

“My biggest wish? To kick you to death while you’re still in the womb.”

The cake toppled. I turned and walked away, hearing He An’s voice calling after me, “Sis, I’ve changed. I really have changed!”

You said the same thing seven years ago. You promised you’d changed, but then you turned around and tricked me into that man’s house.

Of course, even if He An hadn’t done those things, my wish to kick him to death while he was still in the womb wouldn’t have changed.

It seemed like both of us were born to be hopelessly rotten.

One day, I was stopped at the school gate by a white sedan. The driver motioned for me to get in. “Miss He, Mrs. Yuan sent me to pick you up.”

As soon as I heard “Mrs. Yuan,” I knew the day every Cinderella dreads had finally arrived.

Three years ago, Yuan Yi’s mother passed away, and his father quickly remarried a woman three decades younger. The old-man-young-wife thing wasn’t surprising in wealthy circles.

What I hadn’t expected was how young Yuan Yi’s stepmother was.

As I approached, the woman—dressed in understated, high-end fashion from the latest season—smiled slightly and took off her sunglasses. Her delicate, oval face, smooth, full forehead, and beautifully angled eyes appraised me in silence. A hint of makeup, the sunlight catching in her brown eyes, made them look as clear and tranquil as lake water.

Not at all like I had imagined—no bright red lips or gold and jewels everywhere—she was elegant and poised, yet still exuded a youthful energy. She was about to turn thirty, but she could easily pass for twenty.

Just as I expected, she got straight to the point. “I’ll give you twenty million to break up with my son.”

Twenty million? There was no way the sole heir to the Yuan family was only worth twenty million.

I didn’t budge, responding with a bold counteroffer, “How much is your son worth? I’ll buy him.”

For a split second, I saw a flash of surprise in her eyes.

“Ten million. Take it or leave it.”

Well, Yuan Yi really wasn’t worth much after all.

I gave in. “Fine, I’ll take it.”

Her stepmother sneered. “Looks like you don’t love him at all. You only care about the money.”

I gave an awkward smile. “…You too, sis.”

When I called her “sis,” she froze for a moment. Her pretty eyes flickered, then she extended her hand. “I’m Man Jin.”

“I’m He Yang.”

We shook hands, and for a brief moment, I thought I smelled the luxurious scent of her perfume. When I looked up, she was studying me with an inscrutable smile, as though calculating something in her mind.

I didn’t tell Yuan Yi that I’d met Man Jin. That weekend, we went on a picnic like nothing had happened.

He invited his friends, all sons and daughters of rich families, and we raced cars along the coastal highway.

“Yang Yang, come. Let me introduce you to a new friend.”

I stood next to Yuan Yi, looking up at his “new friend.” In an instant, I was stunned.

The new friend was looking at me with a knowing smile in his eyes. I recognized him. We weren’t strangers.

He greeted me politely, “Hello, I’m Su Yan.”

I had a feeling there was something he hadn’t said—he was Li Xingxing’s older brother.

I forced a smile. “Hello.”

Yuan Yi didn’t notice my shift in mood. He was too absorbed in his new motorcycle. He and Su Yan raced off, disappearing around a bend in the road.

I stayed behind, my mind wandering. What had Li Xingxing said to Su Yan, and what would he tell Yuan Yi?

The ride ended, Yuan Yi and Su Yan were both laughing, surrounded by their friends. Yuan Yi didn’t notice me standing at the edge of the crowd. He received a text, then quickly took off his helmet and walked away.

His sudden departure was suspicious.

I followed him, watching as he walked into the parking lot. A girl was waiting for him. He grabbed her and pulled her into his car.

The girl leaned in to kiss him. He pushed her away, but she came at him again. It didn’t take long before things escalated.

I felt oddly calm, maybe because I had already expected this.

“Still watching?” A voice came from behind me, tinged with amusement.

I turned to see Su Yan’s profile as he stepped closer.

He glanced at me briefly. “I’m about to head out. Need a ride? You can cry in my car for a bit, but you’ve already pushed my sister away, so I don’t think you’re that fragile.”

I turned and walked away, not wasting my time on someone who thought so little of me. I pulled out my phone and dialed Yuan Yi. “Baby, I’m not feeling well, so I’m going home. You enjoy yourself.”

He didn’t catch the weight of my words, responding in his usual dismissive way. When he hung up, I could hear the girl’s muffled moan in the background.

It wasn’t until I got into the car that I remembered who she was.

She was the waitress who had taken our picture on my birthday.

Seems like every rich kid eventually ends up in the hands of a waitress.

I couldn’t believe that my first high-society ball had been one Man Jin invited me to.

She picked out a stunning gown for me and had a makeup artist give me a flawless look. Yuan Yi only said, “I didn’t realize you two got along so well. Now I can relax,” and then disappeared.

Man Jin’s cold fingers rested lightly on my shoulder as she leaned in and whispered, “Men who are running away can’t be caught, no matter how hard you try. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can hold onto him. What you need to learn is how to extract everything he’s worth. Got it?”

Her words were blunt and to the point.

We exchanged a glance in the mirror and smiled at each other.

Meanwhile, Yuan Yi, dressed in his sharp suit, was hurrying to leave the ball.

At the door, Su Yan caught up with him, his voice low and serious. “The ball starts in ten minutes, and your girlfriend is waiting for you.”

Yuan Yi looked helpless. “I know, but my friend’s in trouble at the bar. She really needs me.”

“If you leave now, there’s no turning back,” Su Yan warned, his tone firm.

“Alright, alright. I’ll explain everything to Yang Yang later.”

Yuan Yi rushed out, off to save his new Cinderella. After all, he was the all-powerful prince charming, destined to rescue one damsel after another!

Su Yan stayed where he was, still and quiet.

Two seconds later, he rubbed his nose, lowered his head, and a small, barely perceptible smile curled at the corner of his mouth. It was restrained, but there was a quiet malice to it.

He had warned his friend. Once he stepped out that door, there would be no turning back. He’d done all he could.

Man Jin and I walked in together, scanning the room, but there was no sign of Yuan Yi.

Without a flicker of emotion, Man Jin muttered under her breath, her teeth clenched, “Ungrateful little brat.”

It seemed like tonight I was going to be left to fend for myself.

But then, out of nowhere, a hand slid around my waist, and before I knew it, I was being guided onto the dance floor.

Su Yan leaned lazily against me, his eyes catching the light, gleaming with a seductive edge.

“For the length of this song, you’re mine,” he said, his voice smooth.

Yuan Yi and I were already teetering on the edge of a breakup.

In a desperate, misguided attempt to win me back, he made an unbelievably stupid decision.

He flew my grandmother, whom I hadn’t seen in years, all the way from across the country to his home. And, of course, my grandmother—seizing the chance—didn’t forget to bring along my brother, He An, as well. Then, in front of both families, Yuan Yi proposed to me.

It was as if he had dragged the family I’d fought so hard to escape from out of hiding and put them on display for everyone to see.

He took my hand, looked me in the eyes, and swore, “I’ll marry you, no matter what.”

Yuan Yi was a total fool. He lived in a romantic fantasy, oblivious to my dignity, and to the fact that his seventy-year-old father was literally turning purple with rage at the table!

Grandmother was over the moon. “Oh, my dear granddaughter! Say yes, say yes!”

I stared at Yuan Yi, my gaze growing colder by the second. Even he, for all his cluelessness, could sense that something wasn’t quite right.

Man Jin, who had been watching from the sidelines, cleared her throat and stepped forward. “Alright, let’s calm down—everyone’s tired. This is a big decision, so let’s all get some rest and discuss it later.”

The old man huffed in frustration and demanded that Yuan Yi follow him into the study.

Man Jin, still lounging lazily on the sofa, turned to glance at my grandmother and smiled coldly. “Such a long journey, and you’ve brought your whole family along. That must’ve been exhausting.”

“Oh, no trouble at all,” Grandmother beamed proudly. “She’s my only granddaughter. Of course, I want her to have a good life. She’s my treasure! When she marries into the family…”

“What did you just say?” Man Jin’s voice rose with genuine surprise. “Yang Yang is your granddaughter? What are you talking about? She’s such a wonderful girl—educated, sensible, and wise. There’s no way she could be your granddaughter. Have you seen what your grandson is like?”

Grandmother’s face turned red with rage as she began to throw a tantrum, but I just stood there, watching, detached. It was as if I were observing a stranger. I didn’t feel ashamed, let alone sad.

Man Jin, equally infuriated, stood up, arms crossed. “Listen here, old woman. You’d better go back where you came from! I’ll give you enough money to live out your days, but don’t ever come near Yang Yang again. Don’t expect her to take care of your good-for-nothing grandson! Go back, pray for him to get some sense, and stop playing the helpless fool!”

The two parasites were unceremoniously thrown out of Yuan Yi’s house.

I thanked Man Jin, though just a simple “thank you” didn’t even begin to express my gratitude.

She took my hand. “Yang Yang, as long as you’re on my side, helping you is worth it.”

She wanted Yuan Yi’s last remaining thread in the Yuan family to be completely severed.

With her husband—three decades older than her—already halfway in the grave, she wasn’t going to let anyone take what was rightfully hers.

Yuan Yi and I were done, completely.

Saying goodbye to my first “blind prince,” I slipped back into my usual white sneakers and walked under the moonlight toward the dorm. My heart felt fuller than before—thanks to my now thicker wallet.

But He An wasn’t ready to let me go yet.

He was waiting at the street corner when I arrived. The moment he spotted me, he rushed over, grabbed my shoulders, and screamed, his eyes wild with rage, “I need money for school! Give me money! Give me money!”

Before I could even respond, a figure lunged toward us, grabbed He An, and started pummeling him.

I stood there, coldly watching as Su Yan knocked He An to the ground, delivering sharp kicks with precision.

He An, on the ground, shouted, “I’m her brother! I’m her brother!”

Su Yan froze mid-kick and looked back at me.

Without a word, I turned, opened the door to his car, and got in.

Su Yan landed one final kick, the force enough to make He An curl up, groaning in pain.

I didn’t feel a flicker of sympathy—not even a hint. I wouldn’t care if he ended up on the streets begging for scraps. I just hated that he wouldn’t leave me alone.

Su Yan drove me away. I glanced at him. “What are you doing here?”

“I heard you broke up, so I came to block you,” he said, as if it was no big deal.

I stayed at a hotel that night, and the next morning, Su Yan knocked on my door.

When I saw the breakfast in his hands, a thought echoed in my mind: I’ve already met my second blind prince.

But for some reason, I quickly dismissed it. I didn’t want to think of him that way.

“You’re too considerate,” I said, stepping into my room to grab my coat.

“Well, isn’t that a good thing?” he replied nonchalantly.

The doorbell rang again. Su Yan went to answer it, and just as I was about to leave, I heard Yuan Yi’s voice. He teased Su Yan, “Hey, bro, I saw you just now. What’s up, coming this early to meet someone?”

Su Yan paused, then responded, “What are you doing here?”

“I’m in the room next door. Last night, I was with Xiao Tian. Hey, bring your girl along, let’s all go out for breakfast,” Yuan Yi said, casually.

It was hard to believe that just last night, Yuan Yi had been in bed with his new Cinderella. But before falling asleep, he’d sent me a voice message, his tone sad as he begged me to come back.

Su Yan didn’t hide the sarcasm in his voice when he replied, “Didn’t you just break up?”

It was obvious he wanted me to hear it.

Yuan Yi sighed. “Yang Yang’s heart changes too quickly. I really don’t get her.”

“You don’t get her?” Su Yan asked, genuinely surprised.

Yuan Yi, completely lost, said, “Huh? No, I don’t.”

“Yeah, I don’t get it either,” Su Yan drawled, his voice carrying a teasing, almost flirtatious edge.

I stepped out of my room, peeking around the corner to look at Yuan Yi. “Hey.”

His face immediately dropped.

Su Yan, arms crossed, leaned casually against the doorframe, clearly enjoying the moment. His lips curled into a smile that was equal parts smug and satisfied.

The door to the room across from us opened, and Xiao Tian, the girl Yuan Yi had been talking about, stepped out. She walked toward him, swaying her hips, her pretty face unfamiliar—definitely not the same girl he’d kissed in the car that night. The little beauty wrapped her arms around Yuan Yi’s shoulders. “Baby, let’s go eat.”

I waved at them. “Bye, don’t let me stop you from having breakfast together.”

Su Yan chuckled softly and raised his hand, signaling for Yuan Yi to leave.

Yuan Yi and Su Yan had fallen out, and now he hated me—regretting ever falling for me, this troublesome Cinderella.

I never expected that the very next day, I’d end up at the Yuan family’s banquet again.

Man Jin grabbed my hand and led me straight to Yuan Yi’s father. Her voice was sweet as she said, “I’ve decided to make Yang Yang my sister.”

The old man was thrilled.

On one hand, he was completely captivated by Man Jin, who could do no wrong in his eyes—everything she wanted, he supported without hesitation. On the other hand, me being her “sister” made it crystal clear that I was now fully estranged from his son.

Yuan Yi stood frozen for a moment, then flipped the table and stormed off.

The old man, furious, huffed and puffed, muttering curses under his breath, calling him an ungrateful son.

Because of me, Yuan Yi’s image in his father’s eyes plummeted, and his trust in him took a nosedive. It was obvious—this was exactly what Man Jin had wanted.

That night, Yuan Yi went to a bar to drink away his misery. A sweet, innocent-looking girl approached him, and before long, they were heading to a hotel together.

What he didn’t anticipate was that she had come prepared. Completely drunk, Yuan Yi was taken advantage of. The next morning, when he sobered up, she demanded fifty million from him.

He didn’t have that kind of money and certainly couldn’t ask his family for it.

In the end, it was Man Jin who had to bail him out.

I saw him standing outside the hotel, clutching his jacket, trailing behind Man Jin with his head hung low, looking utterly pathetic. In that moment, it hit me—he was nothing but a spineless coward.

Yuan Yi hated me, calling me a scheming bitch, and soon my reputation spread like wildfire.

But I still warned him kindly—the situation wasn’t over yet. The girl was planning to extort him again.

He didn’t believe me—until I showed him the surveillance footage of someone waiting outside his house.

The panic in Yuan Yi’s eyes was unmistakable. He had no money, no sense, and no way of solving his problems. It was clear—panic was inevitable.

I reached out, gently cupping his face, and reassured him, “Don’t be afraid… Uncle is still furious. Why don’t you leave the country for a while and lay low? I’ll ask Man Jin to help you with things here.”

He seemed to snap out of his daze, staring at me in confusion, “But… but my card’s been frozen—”

I smiled softly, “It’s fine. I’ve saved the money you gave me. When the time comes, I’ll send someone with cash, and your father won’t be able to find you.”

Then, he threw himself into my arms.

How touching.

I gently patted his shoulder, “I really hope things work out for you.”

Yuan Yi quietly fled the country, his heart racing with fear.

I didn’t hide anything from Man Jin, but she was clearly displeased with what I’d done. “Who told you to do that? I never meant for him to disappear. He’s the old man’s only son, after all.”

I hadn’t expected her to be so soft-hearted.

“The farther he goes, the better. I hope he never comes back. If he does, I really don’t know how I can help you,” I snapped, unable to hold back. “Do you really think he loves you more than he loves his own flesh and blood?”

Man Jin’s eyes flickered, and she fell silent. When she looked at me again, there was something different in her gaze—perhaps she thought I was too ruthless.

I didn’t try to hide it.

To break through her softness, I had to strike hard—showing her that I would never be her puppet. I needed to be her equal, her partner.

She had been too kind to Yuan Yi, so I decided not to tell her that the money I gave him was nothing but a stack of blank paper.

And I made sure he ended up sharing a room with a bunch of perverted guys who worked as waiters in some sleazy bar.

He likes waiters, doesn’t he?

Well, let the waiters take care of him.

It had been a while since I’d seen Su Yan.

The moment I realized I wanted to see him, I went straight to find him.

The receptionist at the lobby of his office building looked me up and down with open disdain, clearly unimpressed.

A few minutes later, Su Yan appeared, his jacket in hand, looking completely drained—like he’d been pulling all-nighters at work for days. When his eyes landed on me, his brows lifted in surprise.

Without missing a beat, he threw his arm casually over my shoulder. “What are you doing here? Waiting for me?”

I glanced over at the receptionist, whose awkward expression was still frozen on her face, and answered, “Who else would I be waiting for?”

Lately, Su Yan had been incredibly busy, and when he got caught up in something, I was the last person on his mind. In his world, protecting his assets always came first.

His mother was the daughter of a famous entrepreneur. She married for love, only to lose most of her family’s fortune in the divorce, with his father taking the lion’s share. His father remarried, and from that union came Su Yan’s half-sister, Li Xingxing.

Turns out, Su Yan, like me, had nothing but disdain for the family he’d spent so many years with.

That’s why, when I forced Li Xingxing out of the picture, Su Yan found it amusing. Without even realizing it, I had set the stage for him to reap the benefits.

“The first thing I’ll do when I turn eighteen is change my last name,” he casually revealed.

He spilled his entire backstory like it was no big deal.

“I’ve told you everything. Aren’t you going to say something?” He looked at me intently, his eyes lingering on mine with an almost flirtatious intensity.

I shook my head. What was there to say?

The rich have their own brand of misery, just like the poor all share the same kind of struggle.

Later that night, Su Yan drove me back to school. But when we reached the gates, he refused to let me get out of the car. He grabbed my hand and insisted I stay a little longer.

I stared at his profile for quite a while before finally speaking. “If you’re tired, just go home.”

“If you hug me, I’ll feel better instantly.”

I opened the car door and got out without a word.

Just as I was walking away, I heard him call out, “By the way, Li Xingxing is coming back to the country next week.”

I paused, a small laugh escaping me.

One leaves, and another returns.

The first thing Li Xingxing would do when she got back would probably be to try and take me down.

When she saw the expensive things I was wearing, her eyes narrowed in disdain. “Long time no see. So, who’s keeping you now?”

“Your brother.”

“…” Li Xingxing froze, shocked and furious. She immediately grabbed her phone and dialed Su Yan. “Brother, you—”

She barely got halfway through before Su Yan’s voice came through the phone, a sharp curse followed by a click. “Don’t bother me,” he snapped, before hanging up on her.

“Yang Yang, how shameless can you be? Are you trying to seduce everyone?” Li Xingxing grabbed my collar, her face flickering between anger and disbelief. “Even my brother? Really?”

I bit back a smile, playing the innocent.

“Do you want to say something to him? I’m afraid he might end up liking me more,” I teased.

Li Xingxing’s eyes gleamed with malicious delight. “I just wanted to tell you—your little brother told me that the rapist got out of prison last month…”

Her eyes shone with cruel satisfaction as she smirked.

“Would you like to meet him?” she asked, her smile as beautiful as it was wicked. “If you don’t want to, I’ll take him to see my brother first.”

Everyone has a weakness that can bring them to their knees.

I had to admit, Li Xingxing had become much sharper. She hit me right where it hurt, without hesitation.

I gritted my teeth, rooted to the spot, unable to move.

She turned and walked away with casual grace, her proud, haughty figure making it clear: she would always be the little princess who could order me around, always keep me beneath her, never letting me rise.

After all, she wasn’t the one who had been tricked into a forty-year-old man’s bed when she was just thirteen.

I stood there, stunned, for what felt like an eternity, then nearly frantic, grabbed my phone and dialed He An’s number.

The ringing echoed in my head, each tone like a hammer striking my skull.

No answer.

At thirteen, I had been naive enough to believe my brother’s lies. He promised he’d changed, that he’d never steal from me again. He swore if I just helped him pay off his debts this time, he’d turn his life around.

So, I took two hundred yuan and went to pay his debt for him. I entered an old, crumbling apartment building and climbed a narrow, dark hallway. It smelled foul, the walls seemed to close in, and the floors were littered with garbage that had clearly been there for far too long.

For a split second, I thought I heard a voice calling out, “He Yang, turn back, run!”

When I listened closely, It turned out that it was the present me crying out for help.

Li Xingxing sent me a message in the evening: “I’m bringing a guest to see my brother.”

A moment later, another one: “We’re heading to dinner now. Want to join us? We can talk at the table.” She even included the address.

I paused for a moment, but in the end, I decided to go. I stepped out of my apartment, then hesitated, returning to put the fruit knife from my bag back in its place.

I shouldn’t have brought the knife. It was foolish. It would only destroy my future.

What I needed to destroy was the weakness inside me—the reflex that made me sick to my stomach every time I thought of that man.

Once I severed the tangled hate and pain in my heart, I would be fearless. I would become invincible.

When I arrived at the address Li Xingxing had given me, she wasn’t there. I called her, but all I heard was the sound of a phone ringing somewhere in a narrow alley.

I walked toward the sound, my steps slow and deliberate.

As I got closer, I began to hear the faint sound of a woman crying, mixed with a man’s groaning in pain and the ringing of the phone.

I rounded the corner and froze. A wave of unease rushed over me.

In the dim light of a streetlamp, Li Xingxing crouched in a corner, face buried in her hands, crying. He An was beside her, also crying, his face swollen and bruised.

The man on the ground had been beaten badly. He was older now, no longer the powerful figure who could just grab me and throw me onto his bed with one hand.

It was Su Yan kicking him, each blow landing with a sickening thud. His body twitched, like a fish flopping on a chopping board. Thankfully, he was still alive, groaning weakly with each kick.

When Su Yan saw me, he stopped.

He picked up the jacket from the ground, dusted it off, and then walked toward me, blocking my view.

He casually draped an arm over my shoulder. “What’s the point of looking?”
I saw the marks of a wooden stick on his white shirt and noticed the cuts on his face. His eyes were bloodshot.

I stood there, frozen, for a long time, unable to speak. Finally, I broke the silence, my voice cold as I asked, “Doesn’t it hurt?”

Su Yan suddenly laughed. “If you hug me, I’ll heal instantly.”

I stiffened, unable to move.

He An was crying out, “Sister,” and crawling toward me.

“Enough. No more talking.”

Su Yan raised a hand and covered my ears, half-pushing, half-carrying me away.

I stubbornly muttered, “What did they tell you? What you heard isn’t nonsense. It’s the truth.”

“Whatever.”

Su Yan flagged down a cab at the side of the road, then told me to go back and rest. He leaned against the car door, looking down at me.

“No one will ever use this against you again.”

Li Xingxing had deliberately bribed He An, intending to expose my deepest, most shameful secrets in front of Su Yan. But to her surprise, Su Yan beat them both senseless, smashed her phone, and kicked it far away.

He acted like it was no big deal—like a thug who had just walked away from a street brawl.

But the words he spoke were unexpectedly sincere.

As Su Yan had promised, no one could ever use this against me again.

Maybe he paid that person off, made him disappear without a trace, or maybe it was some other method—I had no way of knowing.

I was grateful to him, but more than that, I despised myself for being poor. If I had money, I could have transformed myself into a well-behaved, wholesome girl with a bright future. I could’ve walked through life on a red carpet, with rose petals falling around me, appearing beautiful and noble.

But instead, in my moment of desperation, I had to rely on someone else’s mercy to save me.

Just as I was lost in these thoughts, Man Jin called. She said Yuan Yi’s father had been admitted to the hospital.

So the old man had finally reached the end of his life. I could hear a slight tremor in Man Jin’s voice—a tremor of relief, after all the years she’d endured.
But she had made a mistake. She wanted me to contact Yuan Yi and have him come back.

I agreed, though reluctantly.

The next day, I went to the hospital. The old man was hanging on, clearly waiting for his son to return.

Man Jin pulled me out of the room.

“Did you get in touch with Yuan Yi? He doesn’t have much time. Let them at least see each other one last time.”

I stayed silent.

“He Yang!”

“Let him come back, and all your sacrifices over the years will be wasted! You really think he wouldn’t want to ensure his son’s future?” I sighed deeply and handed her my phone. “Otherwise, you can watch Yuan Yi cry by his father’s bed and see what you get out of it.”

Man Jin snatched the phone from my hands, her fingers shaking slightly. Her voice was low, almost hesitant. “I know what I’m doing.”

But it was clear she wasn’t sure of herself.

She dialed Yuan Yi’s number. After a long pause, someone finally picked up.
Man Jin told him to come back immediately. To our surprise, the voice on the other end muttered weakly, “I don’t have the money.”

Man Jin looked at me, her expression tight. “I’ll transfer it right now.” I shot her a blank look, almost laughing.

She hung up, handing the phone back to me. “Yang Yang, I know you’re doing this for me, but you really don’t understand family, do you?”

I shrugged.

In the end, Yuan Yi managed to make it back just in time to see his father one last time. But the idiot couldn’t help himself. He kneeled there, accusing me of sowing discord between father and son, claiming I had driven him away.

The dying man, too weak to care, wasn’t interested in hearing his son’s excuses.

But Yuan Yi wouldn’t stop. He sobbed, “Dad, I didn’t mean to! I just took a chance. I never thought it would end up in debt. Please forgive me!”

It turned out he had been gambling abroad, got swindled, and ended up with a mountain of debt.

Some people are just born idiots.

Man Jin, furious, slapped him across the face.

The old man, barely holding on to life, grabbed her hand and insisted that she must pay off Yuan Yi’s debt.

With those final words, he passed away.

Yuan Yi stood frozen, his face showing no trace of the grief one might expect from the loss of a father.

Likewise, Man Jin’s tense brow slowly eased. She looked at her husband’s lifeless body, her expression strangely composed, almost unsettlingly so.
She reached out, smoothing the wrinkles from her clothes.

The room was unnervingly quiet, the only sound the rustle of clothes as everyone left, each with their own hidden agenda.

Man Jin stood up, grabbed her purse, and walked out of the room, casting a cold glance at Yuan Yi, still kneeling on the floor.

“Don’t expect me to pay your debts. Your father left you plenty. Take what you can and leave.”

I leaned against the doorframe, watching the scene unfold.

Man Jin put on her sunglasses, half hiding her face, and as she passed me, she whispered, “Come by my place for drinks tonight.”

“Sure,” I replied with a faint smile.

Only then did Yuan Yi seem to realize what had happened. He burst into tears—probably because no one was there to clean up his mess.

I walked up and patted his shoulder, offering a half-hearted attempt at comfort.

“Must be rough, huh? Coming all the way back just to drive your father to his grave.”

Later that evening, for the first time, I drank freely with Man Jin in her lavish mansion.

She seemed relaxed, swirling the wine in her glass. “I know it’s cliché, but I’ve got to say it—I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”

This day was significant for her, and I was ready to listen as she shared the struggles she had endured over the years.

“When my father died, both my brothers took their share of the business. If I hadn’t married into this family, I would’ve never gotten what was rightfully mine. Yang Yang, it’s not that we’re bad people—it’s just that we were all forced into a corner, right?”

I didn’t answer.

“Yuan Yi took the money his father left him and ran. I didn’t cut him off, but don’t say I’m soft-hearted. I was worse than you back then. Maybe I’ve just softened with age.”

Man Jin stared blankly at the wine in her glass. I couldn’t tell if it was the lighting or the years, but for the first time, I noticed the subtle traces of age on her face.

“Once I settle everything here, I’m planning to go abroad and build my own career, Yang Yang” She extended an olive branch. “Have you thought about it? Would you consider coming with me?”

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

“Or do you plan to stay for Su Yan?” Man Jin tilted her head back, as if she already knew the answer. “I had a boyfriend once, too. After I got married, he even wanted to run away with me—”

I lowered my gaze, watching the wine gently sway in my glass.

“I didn’t choose him. I chose money. Now, I sometimes regret it. But if I had chosen him and not the money, I’d probably regret that every day.”

“Yang Yang, what would you choose?”

I paused, the question hanging in the air.

What would I choose?

Su Yan and I finally had our first proper date.

Over dinner, I found myself opening up about my past more than I ever had before. A past full of scars, painful memories I’d rather forget, but for once, I let it all pour out.

Su Yan didn’t offer any empty words of comfort. He simply sat there, listening quietly.

We looked into each other’s eyes, exchanged a soft laugh, and raised our glasses.

It turned out our pasts had both been hard, and maybe that’s exactly why we found ourselves on the same path, meeting each other here, at this moment.

After dinner, Su Yan took me to the top of a mountain to catch the breeze. I used to think going to a mountaintop to admire the night view was the kind of date only the wealthy would come up with. But now, I understood—it felt incredible to stand on the highest point of the city, looking down at the sparkling lights below as night settled in.

Of course, the prerequisite is that you don’t have to worry about having to work yourself to death the next day.

I wore Su Yan’s jacket, and the night wind tousled my carefully styled hair and makeup.

That night, we ate, talked, exchanged gifts, kissed, and even had a brief moment where tears almost came to my eyes. It was truly a perfect evening.
Before we knew it, the night was almost over.

Su Yan looked at me. “Is there anything else you want to ask me? If not, I’ll take you home.”

I thought to myself that, if I were being honest, there were so many things I could ask—

For instance, Su Yan, if I decided to stay with you, would you be surprised?

Would you tell me you love me?

Would you love me forever?

Would you marry me?

Would you help with the housework?

Will you wash my clothes?

Will you mop the floor?

Will you do the dishes?

Will you keep sending me roses?

Would you think I’m ugly if I get pregnant?

Would you resent me if I couldn’t work?

Would you kick me out if we fought?

Can you swear to me?

Can you trust your own promises?

Can you really guarantee that you’re worth me staying for?

These questions, important as they were, felt too trivial to ask. There was no need.

My decision had always been clear from the start.

I smiled and said, “No, nothing.”

I heard that He An had found a decent job, but then I also heard he was arrested again for stealing.

I don’t know the details, and frankly, I don’t care.

Grandmother has become senile, spending her days in a delusional state, ranting at the neighbors.

The gossip never stops. Her granddaughter doesn’t care about her, and neither does her precious grandson.

The community service called, suggesting I figure out how to care for her properly.

I transferred some money and arranged for her to be placed in a nursing home.

The amount I gave her would cover her stay there until she passed, and even pay for a spot in a prestigious cemetery afterward. Anyway, I am not going to visit her.

Some people said I should reconcile with her before I leave, that I should be grateful, let go of the grudges, and smile in forgiveness. After all, they claimed, without her “encouragement,” I wouldn’t be where I am today. She’s family, they said—

No. She never deserved that.

Suffering isn’t something to celebrate. The only person I owe anything to is myself, He Yang.

Once everything was settled, Man Jin had wrapped up all her affairs back home.

We boarded a flight to the other side of the world. As the plane taxied down the runway, we casually talked about everything we were leaving behind—the people we would never see again.

“Su Yan told you, didn’t he? I went to him, told him I was taking you with me, and asked if he wanted to keep you.”

I shrugged, signaling that I didn’t know. “He said, ‘Neither of us can keep the other.’”

A few days ago, I heard that Su Yan had gotten engaged. His fiancée came from a well-off family, a perfect match for him in terms of status. I was sure the marriage would bring him plenty of benefits. Over time, he’d probably regain the wealth his mother left behind—after all, that was his true priority in life.

I stared out the window, feeling certain that we were both on our own paths now, heading toward the lives we had chosen. Whether it was Su Yan, ambitious and always chasing his own interests, or me, He Yang, doing whatever it took to escape my fate.

As the plane ascended and we left the ground behind, a fleeting tremor ran through me. In that moment, I remembered our last night on the mountaintop with Su Yan.

We exchanged gifts. My gift to him had been an embrace. “You said I’ve never hugged you, so I’m giving you one now.” I wrapped my arms around his waist, my cheek pressed against his warm chest. I could almost hear his slow, steady heartbeat—or maybe it was my own. I quickly pulled away, unwilling to let myself get too lost in the moment.

I looked up at him and asked, “So what are you giving me?”

Su Yan smiled softly, then seriously pulled out a square gift box from the backseat of the car. The wrapping was immaculate.

I hadn’t expected him to actually have a gift ready. For a moment, I stood stunned, silently waiting as he opened it.

He stood in front of me, carefully untying the ribbon, the wind swirling around us.

The box opened, revealing a watch, resting quietly inside.

The howling wind seemed to die down. My hair stopped moving, my breath quieted, as if the world itself had stilled.

It was as though our fates—so chaotic during our brief time together—had finally frozen in place.

“You need to keep moving forward, like the hands of a clock. Never stop for anyone.”

I pretended not to understand. “So, you’re giving me a watch?”

“I’m giving you… your life.”

Was it a joke? But still, I heard it—the catch in Su Yan’s voice, barely audible, but full of emotion.

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