At the agreed-upon spot, Yi Lingfan smiled warmly as she watched Pei Zhaohe approach with takeout boxes, her heart filled with comfort. The two of them ate together, feeding each other bite by bite, their joy palpable. Meanwhile, the atmosphere elsewhere was far from pleasant.
As the saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” The Tan and Du families, who collaborated in business, shared similar methods and temperaments to a certain extent. To maximize profits and avoid outsiders cutting into their gains, they resorted to unscrupulous means.
In fact, if not for the difficulty of a single family fully securing and developing the project alone, they would have preferred to monopolize it entirely, not even wanting the other party involved.
Due to their ruthless tactics (and Yi Lingfan’s covert “protection”), only the Tan and Du families were entangled in the project, investing enormous resources. But now, an unexpected turn of events caused the half-completed project to vanish into thin air, leaving Old Man Tan and Mr. Du nearly hospitalized from rage.
With the Du and Tan families on the brink of collapse, both scrambled to survive the crisis. However, their past unscrupulous behavior meant few were willing to lend a hand, while many waited to take advantage of their downfall.
In desperation, they resorted to sending out attractive young members of their lesser branches, hoping to trade them for financial relief. Chaos ensued.
Most of those sent away weren’t entirely unwilling—some sought a life of luxury through attachment to others. But Du Shi was a vehement exception.
Her parents, the mistress, and the illegitimate son were stunned when the usually meek Du Shi displayed such fierce resistance. Yet, her refusal alone couldn’t change her fate.
The illegitimate son had long envied Du Shi, the legitimate daughter, while the mistress wanted her gone. Mr. Du, biased toward his mistress and illegitimate son, saw Du Shi as expendable to save the company. As for Du Shi’s mother, she was a weak-willed woman who prioritized keeping her status as Mrs. Du over protecting her daughter.
Had Du’s mother been stronger, Du Shi might not have met such a tragic end in her past life. Frankly, Du’s mother was selfish—she knew her husband no longer loved her but clung to her title, sacrificing her daughter to please him.
Now, facing crisis, Du Shi found no allies in her family—only betrayal and indifference. Her childhood illusions about familial love shattered with a cold laugh.
This time, however, forewarned by Yi Lingfan, Du Shi escaped unharmed. She borrowed a substantial sum from Yi Lingfan, severing ties with the Du family. From then on, she was free—no longer a pawn, but master of her own destiny.
Any lingering affection for her family vanished when they tried to sell her to an old man for profit.
Du Shi scoffed, “If they don’t treat me as family, why should I?”
The Du family, desperate for money, had intended to trade Du Shi and eliminate her to pave the way for the illegitimate son. When Du Shi’s departure achieved the same goal, her father and the mistress feigned reluctance before letting her go.
Before leaving, Du Shi confronted her mother: “Do you truly see me as your daughter?”
Avoiding her gaze, her mother stammered, “Of course, Shishi… but he’s my husband. I love him too much…”
“Tell me honestly—do you love him or his money?” Du Shi cut in.
Her mother’s evasive answer spoke volumes. With a nod and a final goodbye, Du Shi walked away without looking back.
Alone, Du Shi wandered the country, finding solace in anonymous online chats (with Yi Lingfan). Once her emotions settled, she discussed her future with Yi Lingfan.
Having left with little, Du Shi needed work to survive and repay her debt. Yi Lingfan, who held a soft spot for her, introduced her to her family’s company—the Su Group, known for fairness and good benefits.
Little did Yi Lingfan know, this casual act of kindness would inadvertently play matchmaker for her elder brother.
Free from her family’s constraints, Du Shi embraced her true self—a confident, ambitious woman. She climbed the ranks rapidly, from a junior employee to a high-flying executive.
Frequent encounters with Su Boxiao at work led to mutual understanding, then love. Both career-driven, their relationship flourished.
Meanwhile, the Tan and Du families struggled after their downfall. Initially, their deep roots allowed some recovery, but internal strife sealed their fate.
The Tan family, after stripping Tan Shengjun of his inheritance, descended into a vicious succession battle, crippling the already weakened business until rivals picked it apart.
The Du family, led by the incompetent illegitimate son—handpicked by the mistress-addled Mr. Du—collapsed under his arrogance and poor decisions.
Post-collapse, the Du parents and the mistress met grim fates. The mistress, a once-celebrated actress, saw her dark past exposed and reputation ruined without the Du family’s protection.
Learning of her family’s fate, Du Shi sighed but said nothing. A dinner invitation from Su Boxiao brought a smile to her face. She dressed up and left, ready to embrace her new life.
The past was behind her.
As for Yi Lingfan, she soared higher, winning accolades and advancing technology, becoming a national treasure. Her bond with Pei Zhaohe remained unshaken over the years.
Now middle-aged, Yi Lingfan’s elegance only deepened. Spotting Pei Zhaohe waiting for her, she quickened her steps, smiling.
Onlookers marveled, “No wonder their love lasts. Our ‘unapproachable ice queen’ melts only for him.”
“Years pass, yet their love never wanes—no ‘seven-year itch’ for them. How enviable! Where’s my soulmate?”
“Remember when they went public? So many were jealous, whispering behind their backs. Now? Everyone agrees they’re perfect for each other.”
Amidst the admiration, Yi Lingfan and Pei Zhaohe exchanged a glance, sharing a quiet laugh. Hand in hand, they drove home—together, as always.
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