It’s her.

From the first moment he saw Yin Tianyu, Lu Bochen made up his mind.

Upon hearing his decision, his friend Wei Xiang frowned. “Do you know who she is?”

“Yin Tianyu, the apple of Yin Shiyu’s eye,” he answered clearly, gazing steadily at the frail girl half-hidden behind a potted plant in the distance.

What a pitiful girl! She was too thin in places that should have been full, and overly sunken in places that should have been curved. Tall and skinny like a bamboo stick, her features were ordinary, and her small, timid eyes squinted almost into slits.

“She’s…well, not very attractive,” Wei Xiang commented as politely as possible.

“I know.”

“There are plenty of wealthy heiresses out there. Why does it have to be her?” As he spoke, a strange shadow flickered across Wei Xiang’s deep-set eyes.

Lu Bochen noticed it and smirked slightly. “You don’t approve?”

“Do I have the right to object?”

Lu Bochen chuckled softly. “I know you hate the Yin family, but it’s exactly because she’s a daughter of the Yin family that I want her even more.”

For anyone aspiring to a political career, who wouldn’t want to attach themselves to the Yin family? This family had always been entrenched in politics—Yin Tianyu’s grandfather was a founding elder of the party, her uncle had held several ministerial positions, her father was a former county magistrate, and her aunt was a congresswoman in a U.S. state. Even her cousin Yin Haitang was ambitiously planning to run for public office.

With the Yin family’s power and wealth, they could effortlessly propel an unknown young man into a smooth political career, ensuring his success and rise.

As long as one latched onto the Yin family, even just a little, they could benefit for a lifetime.

So what if she’s ugly?

Yin Tianyu was undoubtedly the most coveted prize among the men around her, Lu Bochen thought mockingly.

“I didn’t expect her to be a wallflower tonight,” he murmured softly.

“It’s not surprising, considering who’s at this party,” Wei Xiang replied indifferently. “Standing next to her three beautiful cousins, she looks like an ugly duckling born into the wrong family.”

True enough, Lu Bochen agreed.

Among the Yin family heiresses, the three sisters, Haiqiang, Haiwei, and Haitang, were famous beauties in high society—one noble and elegant, another fresh and ethereal, and the third spirited and charismatic, each with their own charm.

Compared to her outstanding cousins, Yin Tianyu’s plain appearance made people want to shed a tear of sympathy for her. Even her brother, Yin Fanya, was a handsome and refined gentleman. Only she…

Lu Bochen withdrew his gaze from Yin Tianyu and turned to his friend.

Wei Xiang also seemed to be intently watching someone, and only after a few seconds did he notice Lu Bochen’s gaze. He collected himself and waved to a waiter for two glasses of champagne.

Lu Bochen accepted one and sipped it, marveling at the fine texture—truly, no detail was overlooked at a party hosted by the Yin family.

“I’ve heard that Yin Tianyu is very self-conscious about her appearance,” Wei Xiang suddenly said in a low voice.

Lu Bochen thoughtfully watched the golden liquid in his champagne glass, the lazy ripples reflecting his slightly stirred heart.

If he were Yin Tianyu, he would feel self-conscious too, surrounded by such dazzling people.

“Are you sure you want her?”

“It’s her.” He nodded without hesitation. “She will be my ticket to power and privilege.”

With that, he carried his champagne glass and resolutely walked toward the woman he had decided to possess. He walked slowly, wiping away the deep smile from his face and donning the mask of a young, anxious man.

He had to pretend not to know who she was; he had to make himself seem like a simpleton, utterly unaware of her identity. He couldn’t let her suspect that he was approaching her with an ulterior motive.

He had to show her the old him—Lu Bochen frowned slightly at the thought.

No, it couldn’t be the old him. The weak, timid Lu Bochen who was bullied and humiliated because of his family’s poverty was dead.

No, what she would see could only be a naïve young man, perhaps a bit clumsy, unaccustomed to mingling in such social settings.

Yes, a rash, enthusiastic, and clueless man—he bet she would like that type.

He quietly approached her, like a leopard stealthily closing in on its prey. She didn’t notice him at all, preoccupied with nervously clutching her skirt and clearly wanting to escape.

He took a deep breath, turned his foot, and pretended to trip over the potted plant, losing his grip on his glass, causing the liquid to splash onto Yin Tianyu’s ill-fitting designer dress.

She let out a startled cry.

He followed with a regretful exclamation, turning to face her.

“I’m sorry, miss, I didn’t mean to. Oh dear, did I stain your dress? I’m really sorry… Oh, let me wipe it for you with my handkerchief.”

He spoke hurriedly, nervously, and breathlessly, even more exaggerated than he had intended. His heart inexplicably raced when his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of Yin Tianyu’s flushed face.

Damn! Lu Bochen silently ordered himself not to overdo it—she was just a shy, helpless girl, not a stunning beauty capable of captivating nations.

He pulled out his handkerchief, pretending to clean up the mess he had made, but when he realized the spill was on her small chest, he froze in shock.

His hand awkwardly stopped in midair, and his expression also stiffened.

This deliberately foolish display clearly amused Yin Tianyu, who let out a soft, suppressed laugh, her laughter like a fugue endlessly repeating the same melody, the theme being joy.

Good, he had made this melancholy heiress laugh.

He quickly withdrew his hand, perfectly embodying a flustered man’s embarrassment. “Ahem, I’m sorry for making a fool of myself. I’m really not used to this kind of occasion.”

“Is this your first time at such a party?” She mustered the courage to ask, pulling her golden shawl, which had been casually draped over her shoulders, to cover the few stains on her dress.

“Yes, Representative Wu brought me along—I’m his assistant. I just graduated from law school last year and am preparing to take the bar exam.”

“You want to be a lawyer?”

“I hope I can pass.” He smiled shyly. “I want to contribute to society. My parents have high hopes for me, too.”

In fact, the only person who had expectations of him was his deceased mother. As for that old drunk who wasted his life away—well, no comment.

“You have lofty ideals,” she said, her tone affirming.

It should have been a question, Lu Bochen silently noted to himself.

“And you? Are you an assistant to some important person too? Or a secretary?” The insincere question was so fake it almost made him cringe.

Her cheeks reddened further, and her dark eyelashes lifted to reveal unexpectedly clear eyes.

His heart skipped a beat.

“I’m…uh,” he could see she was struggling with whether or not to reveal her true identity to him—”I’m still a student. I’ll graduate next year.”

“You’re still a student?” He feigned surprise. “Then how did you end up here? Could it be that you’re—”

“I came with my teacher!” She quickly interrupted him, seemingly afraid he would guess her identity. “My teacher… uh, he said I’m too shy and brought me here to build up my courage.”

“I see.” He nodded thoughtfully, noticing that the blush staining her face had spread liberally to her neck.

It was probably her parents who wanted her to build up her courage, not her teacher. She certainly needed the practice; her timid demeanor was unlike the polished personas of the Yin family members.

Lu Bochen smiled slightly, steering away from the sensitive topic. “By the way, have you heard? There’s a great movie out recently…”

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