"Young master, you clearly saw it coming—why didn’t you dodge?" The two walked home, the massive villa looming ahead.

The girl’s sudden question made Hu Ming pause for a moment.

But soon, he gently touched the swollen redness on his face. It was quite noticeable.

"Su Liu’s been clinging like glue lately," he said. "I was just looking for a legit excuse to ditch her. Never expected her admirers to be this crazy. So I went with it and took his punch."

"But you actually dodged it, didn’t you?"

"Yeah, I lessened the impact. Doesn’t really hurt—just looks bad."

Hu Ming wasn’t stupid enough to deliberately offer his face to be punched.

Kangxin had seen the whole scene clearly.

But for her, she might be confused about why she cared.

Hu Ming had no intention of explaining it. He kept his guard up around everyone here.

Who knew if someone might stab him in the back someday?

He hated traitors the most...

With a maid by his side, the scenery on the way home seemed much nicer to Hu Ming.

"You came here broke? I told you they’d never agree!" A middle-aged woman’s voice cursed from a nearby street.

She had a fierce look, ranting at the man beside her.

The scolded man stayed silent, as if used to it.

Hu Ming glanced a bit longer as he passed. The woman noticed and shouted at him.

"What’re you staring at? Never seen people argue before?"

*What kind of argument is this? It’s just one-sided abuse.* Hu Ming thought. But he couldn’t be bothered with others’ messy affairs.

The man was willing to be a coward. Were you going to force him out of his shell? Not realistic.

The cursing faded behind them. When Hu Ming reached home, unfriendly gazes met him.

Inside the hall, Han Shuyi sat beside Madam Han, comforting her.

Madam Han had red-rimmed eyes, clearly wronged.

"Sorry, Mother. I didn’t expect them to cause trouble at our door."

"Not your fault. They’re just unreasonable." Madam Han soothed her son.

But recalling that couple’s attitude, anger flared again.

Just then, Hu Ming returned.

For some reason, Madam Han saw Hu Ming as resembling that middle-aged pair.

Shuyi was her real child. Hu Ming’s willful, spoiled nature mirrored theirs!

Resentment flickered in her eyes.

"Hu Ming, what’ve you been avoiding? Afraid the Khan Family won’t support you?!"

The blame shifted suddenly. Hu Ming’s expression barely changed.

From their talk, he was one hundred percent sure—the couple outside were Han Shuyi’s adoptive parents.

Zhao Wei and Lu Guifang!

His silence infuriated Madam Han. Since his identity was exposed, he hadn’t spoken to the family.

Though mischievous, she’d never looked down on him.

Now, her dissatisfaction amplified to the extreme.

"Your birth parents came just now! They begged for Shuyi back—but never mentioned you!"

Hu Ming calmly watched the raging woman.

The image she once held in his eyes shattered by her own hands.

For the original owner of this body, he’d been truly unfortunate.

In the end, everyone forgot him.

He became a stepping stone—a laughingstock at class reunions years later.

Villains truly don’t have good endings.

"They brought a few thousand dollars for my child. But you’re worthless to them!"

"Mom!"

Han Shuyi’s voice cut her off.

Madam Han turned instinctively. Han Shuyi shook his head, signaling her to stop.

Seeing her son’s face, she instantly cooled down.

Only then did she realize her words.

She turned sharply to Hu Ming. But only two retreating figures remained.

The setting sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling window, casting their silhouettes in lonely light.

Madam Han slumped on the sofa, hands covering her head. Utterly dejected.

Beside her, Han Shuyi’s lips curled into a faint cold smile.

...

"Young master, it seems Madam dislikes you."

"Thanks for the heads-up. Otherwise, I’d still be clueless."

Hu Ming’s lips twitched. Kangxin was great—but too blunt.

She never read the room. Said whatever she thought.

Of course, only to him.

Kangxin fetched medicinal wine from her room. "Let me apply it, Young master."

"I’ll do it myself."

"I’ll handle this. You should worry about surviving the coming days."

She dipped a cotton swab, leaned close, and carefully dabbed the bruise.

A faint lemon scent lingered near his nose.

Hu Ming stared at the girl. Her dark hair hid her face, but he glimpsed stunning beauty beneath—no less than Su Liu’s.

Dressed up, she’d be many people’s goddess.

His hand unconsciously brushed her hair aside.

A porcelain-doll face. Flawless jade skin. A delicate nose above rosy lips. Her long lashes cast shadows like a winter birch forest.

Just as he’d imagined—truly beautiful.

*The original owner was blind. How’d he miss such a girl by his side?* Hu Ming thought.

Kangxin froze slightly at his touch.

They held each other’s gaze until she broke it, putting away the swab.

Silently, she let her hair fall back. Returned to her usual self.

"Kangxin, ever thought about school?"

She shook her head. Never considered it.

"Young master saved me. I’m grateful enough. School’s beyond my hopes."

"What if I want you to go?"

Kangxin stared at the boy before her, his gaze piercing.

Suddenly, she felt like she’d never truly known him.