Chapter 1: Reunion after a long separation

After five years, Qin Huan returned to Beicheng on a rainy spring day.

The drizzle fell endlessly, like threads of silk, accompanied by the rumbling of thunder, making it impossible for her to sleep peacefully that night, haunted by one nightmare after another.

Her dreams were chaotic.

A man’s burning body entwined fiercely with hers, whispering her name over and over by her ear. “Huan’er, Huan’er…”

The passion in the dream left Qin Huan soft and melting, like a pool of spring water.

Just as she was about to wrap her arms around the man’s neck and lean in, a great force suddenly shoved her away.

The man’s expression suddenly changed for no apparent reason. His gaze turned cold and distant, his entire being exuding a chilling hostility as he retreated.

Qin Huan’s heart instantly felt hollow. Instinctively, she reached out to chase after him only for her forehead to be struck hard by a cold, blunt object.

In an instant, the world turned blood-red. Warm drops of blood trickled down from her head to her face.

Qin Huan jolted awake, her back soaked in cold sweat. She reached out to turn on the light, only then realizing that she hadn’t fully shut the window last night. Rain had been blown in by the wind, landing on her face.

It had been a long time since she last dreamed about the past.

Qin Huan rubbed her face, got out of bed, and shut the window. By the time she lay back down, all trace of sleep was gone.

After a moment’s thought, she couldn’t help but reach for the financial newspaper on her nightstand.

On the front page, bold and enlarged text read: “Heir of the Jiang Group to Wed the Ji Family’s Young Lady Soon.”

The accompanying photo took up nearly a quarter of the page.

In the picture, the man stood tall and striking, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, exuding a sense of noble aloofness.

Leaning slightly against him, smiling up at him, was a graceful and elegant woman with bright, almond-shaped eyes that shimmered with charm.

Together, they looked like a perfect match an ideal couple anyone would praise.

After finishing the article, Qin Huan set the newspaper down with an expressionless face. She checked the time it was late already. Remembering she had a client meeting the next day, she forced herself to close her eyes for a bit of rest.

This would be her first client since returning to the country, so she got up extra early for it.

She braved the morning rush hour and squeezed into the subway, arriving at Hengfeng Jiayuan at exactly nine o’clock.

Located in the heart of the city, it was the most luxurious high-end residence in Beicheng. It was said that all units were pre-booked before the complex even officially opened everyone who lived here was either rich or powerful.

Her client had been living abroad for years and had only recently returned. He wanted to completely redesign his home’s interior.

They had already discussed the project briefly over WeChat.

Today, she was here to take measurements on-site.

Qin Huan waited at the security gate for the client to come pick her up.

Before long, she saw a tall young man walking toward her.

Qin Huan stepped forward first, her lips curving into a polite, perfectly measured smile.
“Mr. Zou, I presume?”

Zou Shikai paused slightly, taking in the woman before him.

She wore a neat, light professional outfit that framed her slender figure. Her tea-brown, slightly wavy hair rested gently on her shoulders. Her features were delicate and picturesque, especially those deep, almond-shaped eyes dark and lively, like a still, mysterious pool that drew people in.

A flicker of undisguised admiration flashed in his gaze as Zou Shikai extended his hand toward her.
“I didn’t expect last year’s Asia-Pacific Gold Award-winning interior designer, Miss Qin, to be such a young and stunning beauty.”

Qin Huan only offered a polite smile at his words and followed Zou Shikai into the residential area.

The property was a small duplex, and the measurements took quite a bit of time. Fortunately, Zou Shikai showed no impatience; instead, he stayed by her side the whole time, sharing his ideas as they went.

The process went smoothly until, on her way out, Qin Huan accidentally stepped on a fallen trinket by the doorway and twisted her ankle.

Biting back the sharp pain, she limped to the elevator. Watching the numbers on the display change, a trace of frustration flickered in her eyes.

She had another client meeting tomorrow. How would it look if she showed up limping?

Zou Shikai, feeling guilty, offered, “Why don’t I take you to the hospital? After all, you got hurt at my place. It’s my responsibility to make sure you’re okay.”

Qin Huan shook her head, about to refuse, when the elevator chimed with a soft “ding.”

The doors slid open, revealing two men.

The one in front wore a formal suit, a gray shirt, and a tie. His neatly cropped hair framed a pair of narrow, slightly upturned eyes, giving him an air of detached indifference.

The Buddha says: all partings are for the sake of a better reunion.

Qin Huan had been mentally preparing for this moment ever since she decided to return to the country. But she hadn’t expected it to come so suddenly.

It was Jiang Jingchu.

The instant their eyes met, memories from the past flooded her mind like scenes from a film.

Her feet refused to move, frozen in place.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, Zou Shikai quickly reached out and supported her, easily bearing her weight as he led her into the elevator.

Qin Huan felt her entire body enveloped by a familiar, oppressive presence. Her nose filled with the faint, cool scent of pine she remembered so well.

Gao Fei was in the middle of briefing Jiang Jingchu on his schedule. After being interrupted by the two newcomers, he continued, “President Wu from Huida has invited you to lunch at noon. And at 3 PM, you need to personally attend the contract signing with Baisheng Company…”

But halfway through, Gao Fei noticed that his boss seemed distracted.

Lifting his gaze toward the elevator’s mirrored wall, he realized Jiang Jingchu’s eyes had been fixed on the woman who’d just entered.

“Don’t leave right away after we get downstairs. I’ll drive over to pick you up,” Zou Shikai said.

Qin Huan, lost in thought, was startled by his words. She instinctively looked up and her gaze collided with Jiang Jingchu’s cold, disdainful eyes in the mirror.

Following his line of sight, she suddenly became aware that Zou Shikai’s hand was still holding her arm, their posture close enough to appear intimate like a couple.

Her face flushed. She instinctively stepped aside and replied softly, “Alright.”

At that moment, the elevator reached the ground floor.

As they exited, Qin Huan, slowed by her injury, fell a few steps behind just in time to hear Jiang Jingchu’s cold voice as he passed by: “Cancel the lunch. I suddenly feel nauseous. No appetite.”

Nauseous. No appetite…

Qin Huan’s heart clenched painfully, as if someone had gripped it tightly.

So this… this was Jiang Jingchu’s first impression of her after five years apart.

Qin Huan had no intention of going to the hospital. She asked her client to drop her off near her company instead.

She bought some ankle spray from a nearby pharmacy and headed back to the office, determined to draft a floor plan for the client as soon as possible.

As soon as she walked in limping, Song Yali let out a mocking laugh. “Well, well. You’ve only been back at work a few days, and you’ve already managed to get yourself injured?”

Qin Huan glanced at her calmly. “Nothing serious. Just twisted my ankle.”

“Uh-huh. Of all times, you just happen to twist your ankle while meeting with a male client? Qin Team Leader, your intentions seem awfully suspicious.”

Qin Huan immediately understood the implication. She had deliberately asked Zou Shikai to drop her off far from the office to avoid exactly this kind of gossip, but apparently, someone still saw her.

She also knew why Song Yali disliked her because she had parachuted in and “stolen” the team leader position Song Yali had always thought was hers.

Office politics. Always the same.

Qin Huan couldn’t be bothered. “Think what you want,” she said indifferently before heading back to her office.

Behind her, Song Yali stomped her foot in frustration, snorting coldly before saying to a few nearby colleagues, “See that? People with connections sure do talk with confidence!”