At the foot of Yunli Mountain lay Pinghai City’s most prestigious residential district. Luxurious villas and towering mansions lined the streets—home to celebrities and the city’s elite.
The Qin and Si families resided here, and so did the Cheng household.
Naturally, Yu An, Cheng Du’s daughter, lived within this affluent enclave. Right now, she sat quietly in her bedroom.
Faint dark circles shadowed her eyes. Her weary gaze drifted toward the window now and then. Her room’s position was unique—just enough to glimpse the entrance to Yunli Mountain’s foothills.
She’d spent the whole night turning it over in her mind, yet still couldn’t gather the courage to ask her father about things between her and Yu Zhe.
She didn’t want to believe Qin Cheng’s words… but they’d pierced her heart like needles. A faint unease had lingered ever since.
Yu An was gentle—but not indecisive.
She hated having unresolved worries weigh on her heart. That subtle anxiety always dragged her mood down.
So she always took initiative, resolving every thought that troubled her.
Yet many things remained beyond her power. Having lived in the Cheng home for over a decade, she’d endured cold neglect—her status barely above a servant’s.
Lately, her once-cold father had suddenly grown kind. At first, panic seized her. But time softened the memory of past treatment.
Until Qin Cheng shattered that fragile illusion. Memories rushed back.
Yes. She was just an illegitimate daughter—born from a “wild” woman’s insistence.
That identity had always shadowed her. Under Qin Cheng’s icy words, Yu An felt the weight of her lowly status once more.
Years ago, Father took her elder sister to high-society banquets. She, deemed unworthy, only received sneers.
But she didn’t mind. More solitude meant more time to quietly study medicine~
Her one true solace. Diving into medicine washed away the noise. For Yu An, that was enough.
Father’s kindness began only after her second sister left home.
That timing made Qin Cheng’s words cling stubbornly in her heart. She’d once believed Father had seen the error of his ways—learned to cherish family.
But now? Had she been naive?
If he truly valued kinship… why did Mother receive zero care? Why was *she* the favored one?
Maybe he resented Mother’s past.
Yu An wanted to believe. She chose to trust him. But a seed of doubt had taken root.
“Yu Zhe…”
Muffled against her pillow, Yu An murmured, voice low.
Perhaps… he was the only one left to trust?
While she drifted in thought, Cheng Du’s car neared home—just minutes away.
...
...
Bang—
“You ungrateful bastards! How dare you treat me like this!”
Cheng Du stormed into the living room, fury boiling over. He slammed a fist onto the table—fruit platter rattling, teacup hurled onto the rug, shattering.
Servants flinched and scattered. None dared approach.
“How dare you sideline me?! Without me, would any of you even *exist*?!”
Panting, he swung again at the glass table—stopping only when pain shot through his knuckles.
Cheng Du slumped onto the sofa, brow furrowed tight. He rubbed his sore palm, breath ragged with rage.
Traitors. Every single one.
Just recalling their smug faces at the office made his blood boil. Those obedient-looking dogs dared sneer at *him*?
Thanks to those scum, he was officially stripped bare—shares, authority, everything secretly twisted behind his back.
He itched to punch every smug face he remembered.
“Big… Brother Cheng Du. I’ll be blunt—I’m done pretending.”
“Of the seven brothers, only *you* aren’t a traitor.”
“Starting today, you’re no longer this company’s sole ruler. Maybe retire early, huh? Hahaha~”
How dare Second Brother speak like that?! Throwing away all pretense, even discarding brotherly respect.
Cheng Du expected betrayal—but not *all six* of the top executives turning traitor?!
“Who’s behind this?! Tell me!”
As he fled the building, he’d roared the question.
They just laughed. Eyes dripping contempt.
“You deserve to know? You? *You don’t.*”
Humiliated, Cheng Du drove home in silence.
“Damn… those bastards… I’ll make you pay…”
He gritted his teeth, muttering. The sofa cushion crumpled under his grip. Overnight, a director reduced to nothing. Unthinkable.
He burned for revenge—but didn’t even know the mastermind before collapsing.
A lifetime of work, gone in one night.
Suddenly, Cheng Du stilled. Pupils flickering. Deep in thought.
Then—his phone buzzed in his pocket. Annoyed, he nearly tossed it… until he saw the contact name. His pupils snapped tight.
“Perhaps we have something to discuss?”
...
...
Lush trees, fragrant blossoms. In a garden delicate as a fairyland, a swing swayed gently.
A girl lounged on it, seemingly asleep.
A breeze stirred the swing. Ripples danced along the hem of her long maid-style dress.
Tranquil. Beautiful.
Beside her, a strikingly handsome man in deep black attire—out of place yet graceful—lightly touched a petal.
“Young Master Qin… are you *really* that obsessed with her body?”
The little maid tilted her head.
“…”
“Yes! Hers *and* yours! Damn it…”
