[How could this be…]

Cheng Yu An’s mind flickered with a trace of shock and disbelief.

She remembered clearly: Qin Cheng and his lackeys had indeed been beaten by Yu Zhe. Qin Cheng himself was kicked to the ground, then tumbled down the stairs and passed out.

So why was he now standing before her, completely unharmed?

As a medical student, she knew a fractured rib couldn’t heal in a day or two.

She’d seen Qin Cheng’s hospital report while he was unconscious—confirmed rib fracture, signs of blunt force trauma to the occiput.

Qin Cheng met her stunned gaze with a smirk, peeled off his shirt, and asked, “After all, it was a criminal charge. So why wasn’t it mentioned *at all* in the case file between me and Yu Zhe?”

“Why were the streets—usually packed—so empty that day?”

“Why did Comrade Yu Zhe, who’d left earlier, suddenly reappear at the critical moment?”

“Well… there’s only one answer.”

He sank back into his chair with an exasperated sigh. Talking this much had left his throat dry.

“I…”

Cheng Yu An’s thoughts tangled. Under Qin Cheng’s crushing aura, she stammered like a child.

A faint suspicion stirred—but she refused to believe it. *Yu Zhe wouldn’t do that.*

*He must be lying…* Yet she couldn’t explain Qin Cheng’s flawless body, the missing assault charge in the case file, or why her own lawsuit had changed nothing.

Who *was* Yu Zhe? Did he have hidden connections?

*[I feel like… I don’t know him at all…]*

Questions crashed through her mind like a tidal wave. A single thought surfaced—and refused to fade.

The memory of him blurred, suddenly distant.

“Because if it was all staged… everything makes sense.”

His words struck like a judge’s final gavel. Qin Cheng watched her turmoil, amusement deepening in his eyes.

*Keep lying. Go on.*

“No… you’re deceiving me. I won’t believe it…”

Her voice lacked its former certainty—but that was enough.

The earlier points had gaps. The real blow was coming.

“How pitiful. Sold off without knowing a thing. Did you *really* think meeting Yu Zhe was coincidence?”

Qin Cheng clicked his tongue, shooting her a blatantly mocking glance.

His little maid had just sent all gathered intel to his phone. A quick skim, and his strategy was set.

Her part was done. Time for phase two.

Honestly? Tricking a girl like this was kinda fun. Hhh.

Still, one doubt nagged him.

Above his head floated [Failed Villain]. Yu Zhe had [Protagonist]. Even his stepdad bore [One of the Villain Bosses].

So why did Cheng Yu An—so close to Yu Zhe—have *no label at all*?

Was she not an important character…?

“What do you mean?”

“Your sisters—how were they ‘married off’? You suspect how Yu Zhe appeared… but know *nothing* of his background?”

“You’ll share their fate: ‘sold’ by your father to climb higher. Did you think graduating would free you to study medicine peacefully?”

“Don’t kid yourself. Your sisters believed that too.”

“You call it coincidence? There’s no such thing as *that many* coincidences.”

“Think it over~”

“You and your sisters? Ultimate, universe-class plot devices~”

Demon Sovereign’s Persuasion Skill +1 EXP.

Ding~ Level Up: Master Deceiver~