Inside the Zheng family's bedroom.
Le Yao was curled up in the corner, holding tightly onto her arm full of bruises, silently shedding tears.
She was violated by a strange man the night before.
Thinking of what transpired, she felt both furious and wronged.
Who could have thought that her kind intention to save someone would inadvertently lead to such a disaster.
She was feeling rather down as she was living under her aunt's roof, leading a somewhat displaced life. So she headed out alone towards the outskirts to refresh her mind.
Unexpectedly, she encountered a strange man on the mountain.
He was weakly leaning against a tree. The moonlight was obscured by the leaves overhead, so she couldn't clearly see his face.
However, she vaguely heard the man's heavy breathing and also a faint scent of blood wafting in the air.
She thought that the man was severely injured and, moved by kindness, approached to see if he needed any help.
Little did she know, as soon as she stepped closer, he suddenly grabbed her and threw her to the ground. Following which he tied her hands with a rope and forcefully pushed her down.
What was more absurd was that the man even claimed he would take responsibility for her...
She struggled fiercely, but the man was surprisingly strong and she couldn't break free from his grip.
At last, she resigned to her fate as she was violated by this man.
After the incident, she took advantage of his carelessness, picked up a stone and knocked him out cold, then escaped back home.
Fortunately, when she returned, her aunt's family had already gone to bed. No one saw her disheveled state.
She quietly returned to her room, feeling more wronged the more she thought about it, and couldn't help but sob in secret.
Ever since her parents had died, the family company was usurped by her aunt's family on the pretext of stewardship.
If it hadn't been for her admission to Huahai University and her move to this city, her aunt would have trapped her in the South City under various pretexts for her entire life.
The villa that her aunt's family lived in was meant to be hers, left by her parents.
But her cousin had taken over her large bedroom, and she could only live in a small room cleaned out from the storeroom.
She had sworn she would reclaim everything that belonged to her, but she hadn't expected to encounter such an event before her revenge even began...
With a fierce wipe of her tears, Yue Yao tried hard to collect herself.
Since the incident had already happened, it was pointless to dwell on sadness and grief. She had many pending matters; she couldn't afford to wallow in desolation.
Once her transition recovered, as she stood up to tidy her clothes, a black jade pendant suddenly fell from her body.
She didn't recognize the jade pendant, but she recognized the cord tied around it.
It was this black cord that the man had used to bind her hands, rendering her unable to break free...
Seeing the pendant triggered Yue Yao's emotions once again.
She immediately threw the jade pendant into the trash bin - out of sight, out of mind!
……
The next morning.
Zheng Yingxue was escorted home by two men in black.
Only then, did Mr. and Mrs. Zheng realize that Yingxue hadn't come home overnight.
Mrs. Zheng was taken aback when she saw that Yingxue's clothes were disheveled and that she was covered in injuries.
Just as she was about to ask what had happened, she saw Yingxue signaling her to keep quiet for the moment.
Although Mrs. Zheng was puzzled, she managed to keep quiet due to the presence of strangers.
Bodyguard: "Miss Zheng, Mr. Fu asked me to let you know that you should rest for the next few days. Once he finishes his busy schedule, he'll come to ask for your hand in marriage."
After giving his message, the bodyguard quickly left.
Seeing that the bodyguard had left, Mrs. Zheng hurriedly pulled Yingxue aside and asked, "Yingxue, what on earth has happened? How did you end up like this all of a sudden?"
"And what was that about a marriage proposal?"
With joy written all over her face, Zheng Yingxue replied, "Mom, I'm okay. These injuries are not real, so don't worry."
"Last night, I saved Fu Yanchen. He said he would marry me. That's what the bodyguard was just talking about."
"Dad and Mom, once I marry into the Fu family and become Mrs. Fu, fortunes will bless you too!”
Shocked by the news, Mr. and Mrs. Zheng could hardly believe it.
"The Fu Family? Fu Yanchen? Is it that notorious Fu family that's richer than some countries?"
"Indeed, it's the Fu family that rules over the Huahai area with absolute authority."
Joy flooded Zheng Yingxue's heart, and she couldn't help but feel as if she had been hit by a falling pie from heaven.
Yesterday night, during her run up the hill, she came across Fu Yanchen, Unclothed and unconscious on the ground.
Taking into account the context and markings on Fu Yanchen's body, she quickly gathered what had unfolded.
A thought crossed her mind - if she could latch onto Fu Yanchen, she'd wallow in endless wealth and glory in the future!
Upon this thought, she immediately dressed Fu Yanchen and called an ambulance.
Subsequently, she staged herself in such a way that, at first glance, it certainly appeared as if she had had an affair with Fu Yanchen.
In this manner, she had become Fu Yanchen's savior in his eyes.
"Yingying, could you have mistaken him for someone else? How could ordinary people like us ever cross paths with a big shot like Fu Yanchen?" Zheng's mother was somewhat dazed.
"Fu Yanchen frequently appears in magazines and on TV. How could I mistake that face! Didn't you just hear the bodyguard say that Chairman Fu would come to ask for my hand in marriage in a few days?"
"Besides, in the whole of Huahai city, who else besides Fu Yanchen could dispatch bodyguards to escort me home in a luxury car worth tens of millions?"
Zheng's mother thought for a while, it was indeed the case.
She embraced Zheng Yingxue, excitedly exclaiming, "I knew it, my darling daughter was born with a silver spoon in her mouth! You've really made your mother proud this time!"
Hearing all this, Zheng's father on the other hand felt an ominous sense of foreboding.
"Yingying's ability to marry into a prominent and wealthy family like the Fu's is her own merit. But now, the Zheng company is in trouble. If Mr. Qian decides not to renew his contract with us, the Zheng company will face bankruptcy."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Yingxue's face turned pale.
"Dad, I'm just about to be Madame Fu, Zheng corporation surely cannot hold me back in this important moment!"
"That dirty old man, already in his sixties, still fancies me. It's disgusting! Anyway, I won't let him take advantage of me!"
"Why not send Le Yao to him instead?"
Upon hearing this, her father fell into deep thought, and her mother hesitated, "Le Yao wouldn't agree."
Zheng Yingxue didn't seem to mind: "I can make her agree."
She then laid out her plan. To ensure the company and her daughter's happiness, her mother had no choice but to sacrifice Le Yao.
"Then let's do as you said."
After the discussion, Zheng Yingxue and her mother went to Le Yao's room.
Zheng Yingxue didn't even bother to knock, straightforwardly pushing open the bedroom door and walking in with an air of superiority.
"Le Yao, as you know, Zheng corporation has been strapped for cash lately. My dad will invite Uncle Qian for dinner in a few days, and you need to come as well."
Le Yao furrowed her eyebrows, "Your brother-in-law never concerns me with company matters. What could I possibly do at a dinner party?"
Zheng Yingxue scoffed, "Well, of course you'll serve Uncle Qian wine. Even if you wanted to sleep with him, he may not necessarily be interested in you."
Le Yao turned beet red, ready to retort when her mother cut in quickly.
"Yao Yao, you're not experienced in corporate affairs now, but with time, you'll learn. Zheng corporation was founded by your father. This family business will eventually fall into your hands."
"Our company is currently facing difficulties, and your uncle has been soliciting help from others to raise funds and save the company. President Qian finally agreed to give us an opportunity, showing his face to us. It would appear more sincere if our whole family could attend."
Yue Yao looked at her aunt, appearing gentle on the surface, yet she held doubts about these words.
However, she did not voice her suspicions immediately. Instead, she calmly asked, "So, the entire family is going? That means you and my sister will also be present, right?"
Her aunt immediately responded with a smile, "Of course."
Anything unusual is usually not a good sign.
Yue Yao knew that if her aunt and cousin had suddenly invited her, there must be a hidden agenda.
However, the Zheng Corporation was her father's years of hard work. If her presence could help raise the necessary funds and rescue her father's company from an economic crisis, she had no reason to refuse.
Considering this, she nodded in agreement, "Alright, I'll go."
