Song Zhining didn’t hear the malicious speculations Zhang Pu made about her.  

But even if she had, she wouldn’t have cared.  

You can never wake someone who is pretending to be asleep.  

After completing the check-in procedures with Xu Guang, Song Zhining took the key and soon arrived at Room 1508.  

This entire floor had only this one room—meaning the whole floor belonged to her.  

Xu Guang opened the door for Song Zhining and explained, “Here at Sunshine Gardens, Room 1508 is exempt from all property management fees, utilities, and water charges. Additionally, whenever you need it, a single call to the property management will get you free housekeeping services.”  

“Furthermore, the property management will deliver fresh ingredients to your fridge daily, all sourced that same day. If there’s anything you don’t finish, we’ll promptly remove it for you.”  

“On top of that, we’ll also provide you with a complimentary housekeeper. When would you like the housekeeper to start?”  

Song Zhining was still processing the sight of the 268-square-meter luxury apartment with its tasteful decor and private garden when she heard Xu Guang’s words.  

She couldn’t help but feel shocked—since when were property management services this exceptional?  

“Do all homeowners in Sunshine Gardens get this treatment?” Song Zhining asked.  

Xu Guang smiled. “Of course not. Only the crown jewel of each Sunshine Gardens community receives this privilege. Currently, you’re the only one in this neighborhood.”  

Song Zhining, who had just opened the fridge to find organic vegetables, along with abalone and lobster: !!! Thank you, generous client!  

After Xu Guang left, Song Zhining took a quick tour of the apartment, placed her luggage in the master bedroom, and tidied up a bit before booking a flight to Beijing.  

The client had been so good to her—the advance payment and rewards hit all the right notes.  

Song Zhining felt that if she didn’t complete the task soon, she wouldn’t be able to live here with a clear conscience.  

So, Shen Xingyi, wait for my arrival.  

Unwilling to delay any further, Song Zhining called her father at the hospital to let him and her cousin know she was going to Beijing for a business trip and might not return for several days. Then, with just a backpack, she headed to the airport.  

After a three-hour flight, the plane landed in Beijing.  

Song Zhining checked the date: September 6. Tomorrow, the 7th, was the day Shen Xingyi would take his own life. Her arrival today should be in time.  

She didn’t know where Shen Xingyi lived, but she did know his company and who his agent was. However, given that the company and agent were either complicit or outright perpetrators, Song Zhining couldn’t turn to them.  

So, there was only one person she could reach out to.  

Song Zhining took out her phone, dialed a string of numbers, and made the call…  

…

In a cramped rental apartment, 20-year-old Su Jing, his eyes red and dazed, stared at the man sitting across from him on the sofa—a man in a black suit who bore a striking resemblance to him—while clutching a paternity test report in his hand.

Su Jing grew up in an orphanage. From the director, whom he called “Mom,” he learned that he had been trafficked as a child. After the criminal gang was caught, since his family couldn’t be found, he was sent to the orphanage.  

Knowing from a young age that he hadn’t been abandoned, Su Jing had spent years searching for his family.  

This search lasted over a decade.  

Just when he thought he might never find them, this man—who claimed to be his biological brother and bore a striking resemblance to him—appeared before him.  

From him, Su Jing learned that he truly hadn’t been abandoned. Instead, his parents’ business rivals had bribed the nanny, who then handed him over to human traffickers.  

All these years, his parents and brother had never stopped looking for him.  

And his true background was far more privileged than he could have imagined—because his surname was Li, as in the Li Group.  

“Xiao Jing, this paternity test confirms that we’re brothers. Of course, Mom and Dad might want you to come back to Shanghai with me for another test.”  

“Mom hasn’t been in good health lately. She’s been recuperating at the family estate in Shanghai. I think if she knew you’d been found, she might recover immediately.” Li Heng knew that his mother’s illness stemmed from the heartache of losing her youngest son.  

“I’ll make the arrangements. You’ll come back to Shanghai with me later, okay?” To outsiders, Li Heng was the stern and unyielding CEO, but in front of his brother, he showed a gentleness and caution few ever saw.  

Su Jing hesitated for a moment, then nodded.  

His heart was also filled with longing, but…  

Su Jing thought of Shen Xingyi.  

At 18, fresh out of college and job hunting, Su Jing had stumbled into becoming Shen Xingyi’s assistant by chance. Two years had passed since then.  

He had witnessed Shen Xingyi’s journey from obscurity to overnight fame—and then to being ruthlessly vilified.  

This year, the smear campaign against Shen Xingyi had been relentless. But Su Jing knew the truth: Brother Shen was a genuinely good person. He had long become Su Jing’s idol, even a brother-like figure in his heart—kind, caring, and supportive. When Shen Xingyi learned Su Jing was searching for his birth parents, he had given Su Jing his first acting paycheck to help fund the search.  

How could someone like Shen Xingyi not inspire warmth and gratitude in Su Jing’s heart?  

But now, when Brother Shen was in trouble, Su Jing felt powerless to help.  

The forces targeting Shen Xingyi were too powerful. Both he and Shen Xingyi were ordinary people with no backing, no match for corporate might.  

Lately, Shen Xingyi couldn’t even secure work. Whenever he stepped outside, he faced harassment from anti-fans. Now, he had shut himself indoors, his mental state deteriorating. He had even insisted Su Jing take time off, refusing to let him visit.  

But now… things might finally take a turn.  

If he really was a member of the Li family, with the Li Group behind him—could he finally help Brother Shen?

The thought of this possibility sent a thrill of excitement through Su Jing’s heart.  

Once he went to Shanghai, confirmed the paternity test, and met his parents, he would talk to his brother and ask for his help.  

But for now…  

Su Jing really wanted to call Shen Xingyi and tell him the news, but he held back. It was better to wait.  

Nothing was certain yet.  

Once everything was confirmed, he would return from Shanghai and give Shen Xingyi a surprise—at the latest, it should only take a day or two.  

Soon, Su Jing shouldered his backpack and followed Li Heng to the private airport. Staring at the private jet before him, he thought again: The Li Group should be able to help brother Shen, right? 

“Xiao Jing, let’s board the plane,” Li Heng called out, extending a hand.  

“Okay.”  

Just as Su Jing was about to step onto the plane, his phone suddenly rang.  

He froze instinctively, pulling out his phone. Seeing an unfamiliar number, he frowned slightly.  

Could it be another anti-fan calling to curse at Brother Shen?  

Ever since Shen Xingyi had been targeted, such calls had become frequent.  

Su Jing’s delicate face darkened. He immediately hung up and was about to block the number when a message popped up.  

His eyes skimmed over it—and then widened in shock.  

[Shen Xingyi may be suicidal. Answer my call. I can help him.]

Before Su Jing could process the words, the same number called again.  

After a brief hesitation, he answered, gritting his teeth. Fine, worst case, I’ll get yelled at. The moment they start cursing, I’ll hang up and block them.

Half a minute later, Su Jing ended the call, dazed. After a long pause, he looked up at Li Heng and said, “I’m sorry, Brother. I can’t go to Shanghai with you right now.”