She actually knew Shen Mingyou as a child. They were in the same school during elementary years.

Shen Mingyou was famous at school. Zhao Qi knew Shen Mingyou, but she did not know her.

Shen Mingyou was like a little princess—always beautifully dressed, adored by classmates, and had a brother who cared for her. Her things were always the most expensive, and she bought costly snacks for her classmates. A luxury car brought her to school and took her home.

Zhao Qi, who started working at a young age to support her mother, envied Shen Mingyou’s privileged life.

Soon after, Zhao Qi’s mother married into the Zhao family and became Zhao Yan’s sister. Shen Mingyou, the beautiful little princess, moved abroad because her parents divorced.

Zhao Qi felt like she was dreaming, thinking she was the luckiest person in the world.

But reality wasn’t as perfect as she imagined. Her mother’s remarriage brought her to the Zhao family, where she felt like a burden. Despite trying hard to fit in, Zhao Qi was always kept at a distance by Zhao Zhenhai and Zhao Yan, who was distant and rejecting.

Over time, her malice grew. When Shen Mingyou called home, Zhao Qi, out of jealousy, would lie and say that Zhao Zhenhai and Zhao Yan were not home.

When Zhao Yan’s phone was lost and found, Zhao Qi secretly hid it. She saw Shen Mingyou’s messages but didn’t reply. She sometimes ignored calls from Shen Mingyou or lied about Zhao Yan’s whereabouts.

She pretended she was close to Zhao Yan and popular in the Zhao family to avoid being looked down upon by Shen Mingyou.

She hoped to become someone Shen Mingyou envied.

So, after the fire, Zhao Qi hatched a plan to replace Shen Mingyou and gain true acceptance from the Zhao family. Before her operation, she begged her mother to help her lie, claiming it was she who saved Zhao Yan.

Initially, her mother refused, fearing the lies would be exposed. But Zhao Qi threatened not to have the operation if her mother didn’t comply. Her mother, who had always given in to her, eventually helped her lie.

After the operation, Zhao Qi got what she wanted. Zhao Yan treated her as a new person, and Zhao Zhenhai was more sincere. She seemed to have truly become part of the Zhao family and Zhao Yan’s sister, living happily.

But she knew this happiness was stolen. She felt like she was walking on a cliff, fearing she would fall at any moment.

And that day had come.

“I know I lied, and you won’t forgive me,” Zhao Qi cried, looking at Zhao Yan. “But you should know how my mother treated you over the years. She treated you sincerely and like her own son.”

Zhao Yan closed his eyes in pain.

Zhao Qi’s mother and his mother Shen Yuan are completely different.

Before marrying Zhao Zhenhai, though life was tough, Zhao Qi’s mother gave all her love to her child.

Zhao Qi’s mother was very gentle, always smiling, cooking, and caring for Zhao Yan. Zhao Yan wished his own mother could be like Zhao Qi’s mother.

Shen Yuan was not a cooperative mother.

Before marrying Zhao Zhenhai, Shen Yuan had someone she liked. However, Zhao Yan’s grandparents forced her to break up for business reasons and marry Zhao Zhenhai. There was no love between them. After having a child, she ignored him.

During the divorce, Shen Yuan fought over property and told Zhao Yan to forget her and start a new life without her. She said to pretend she didn’t exist.

Although Zhao Yan knew Shen Yuan wasn’t a good mother, her words still hurt. Being abandoned by his mother felt like being abandoned by the whole world.

Zhao Yan hated Shen Yuan.

With resentment and teenage pride in his heart, Zhao Yan decided that since his mother no longer wanted him, he would stay away from them as she wished. He thought it would be better to let them start a new life without him.

After Shen Yuan took Shen Mingyou away, Zhao Yan became very rebellious. He skipped school, fought, and didn’t go home. Even Zhao Zhenhai couldn’t control him.

It wasn’t until a fire broke out and Zhao Qi was seriously injured while trying to save him that things changed. Zhao Qi’s mother didn’t blame him for the trouble; instead, she took care of him. That was the first time he felt maternal love, and it was very warm.

But now Zhao Yan realized that even that maternal love was fake.

Zhao Qi’s mother was kind to him only out of guilt. She might not be a bad person, but she deceived him for her daughter’s and her own selfish interests. It felt like she had stabbed him and then helped him stop the bleeding, and he was still foolishly grateful.

That’s why his hatred grew even more.

It’s so ironic. He felt like such a fool for being deceived by them. How could he have been so stupid?

“Go away. I don’t want to see you again. Don’t come to the Zhao family or in front of my sister.” Zhao Yan said. “From now on, you have nothing to do with us.”

_

Zhao Yan got drunk and ended up at Shen Mingyou’s home in S City.

Jiang Chen opened the door for him and helped him inside.

Shen Mingyou had just returned home from filming a night scene and had put Nian Nian to bed. When she came downstairs and saw Zhao Yan so drunk he could barely stand, she frowned.

Zhao Yan tried to stand up straight when he saw her, but he was too drunk. He staggered, and Jiang Chen had to support him.

Jiang Chen had already heard from Butler He and Nian Nian about what happened earlier. While he felt sympathy for his brother-in-law who mistook him for his savior, he felt more for his wife.

“What are you doing here?” Shen Mingyou asked, frowning. “If you’re drunk, go back to sleep and don’t come here acting crazy.”

Zhao Yan didn’t mean to act crazy. He just wanted to see Shen Mingyou.

He tried to pull away from Jiang Chen’s support but stumbled and fell to the ground. Even Jiang Chen couldn’t catch him in time.

Shen Mingyou and Jiang Chen rushed over to check on him. Luckily, Zhao Yan wasn’t hurt badly except for his knees.

Seeing that he was okay, Shen Mingyou tried to walk away. But then, Zhao Yan grabbed her right foot and wouldn’t let go, starting to cry.

“… Youyou, I’m sorry. Brother was wrong. I’m sorry for you!” Zhao Yan sobbed, holding onto her legs tightly.

Shen Mingyou kicked him lightly and tried to pull her foot away, but Zhao Yan held on tightly, not letting go.

Shen Mingyou: “…”

Zhao Yan continued crying, “Youyou…”

Seeing Zhao Yan acting so dramatically, Jiang Chen tried to pry his fingers off her foot, but it was difficult.

“Forget it.” Shen Mingyou shook her head and let him cry. However, his loud crying might wake Nian Nian, so she told him to be quiet.

Zhao Yan switched to soft sobs, but Jiang Chen was unsure if he was pretending.

Jiang Chen checked and confirmed Zhao Yan was very drunk.

After crying, Zhao Yan tried to get up and go home, but Jiang Chen didn’t want him to go alone. He insisted Zhao Yan stay with them.

Zhao Yan cried and insisted on leaving. Shen Mingyou didn’t want him to stay, so Jiang Chen had to take him to the European Emperor Hotel.

At the hotel, Zhao Qi, seeing how drunk Zhao Yan was, rushed over to help him. Zhao Yan saw her and yelled in disgust, “Get out!”

Zhao Qi pulled back and noticed Jiang Chen ignoring her.

Zhao Qi retreated to a dark corner, watching as Jiang Chen helped Zhao Yan into the hotel.

After taking care of Zhao Yan, Jiang Chen came outside. Zhao Qi stopped him, waiting on purpose.