Even so, her grandmother still made sure she went to high school—right up until the day she passed.

Following the path from memory, Shi Han finally found her grandmother’s old house.

The neighboring homes had all been rebuilt into two-story buildings, but this dilapidated little house still stood in its original spot.

The mudbrick walls had partially collapsed, and wild grass grew thick inside. Shi Han could no longer remember how she had managed to live here before—only the last words her grandmother had said to her remained clear.

“You should look ahead, don’t come back anymore.”

At that time, she had already found her biological parents. Her grandmother, afraid she wouldn’t be able to fit in with the Shi family, had gently urged her:

“Nannan, relationships are built on sincerity. Treat your parents well.”

Shi Han looked up at the hazy sky above her.

“I’m sorry.”

She was breaking her promise.

Shi Han stood there for a long time before finally turning to leave.

People passing by had never seen such a stunning young woman—more than one cyclist nearly lost control of their bikes at the sight of her.

“Who is she? She looks a lot like that old lady’s granddaughter, doesn’t she?”

“No way. The old lady’s granddaughter was decent-looking, sure, but she was dark and skinny. This girl looks like a goddess—there’s no way it’s her.”

“Right? Her figure, that walk—she must’ve had professional training. You think she might be some actress here to film a drama?”

…

Shi Han took a car back to the heart of the capital, still holding a half-eaten steamed bun in her hand as she walked into the real estate sales office.

Maybe she had picked the wrong day—there were an unusually high number of people touring the property. Shi Han sat quietly for a while, but not a single real estate agent came over to assist her.

She didn’t mind. This was a development she had been eyeing for a while—not too expensive, not too cheap—just right for a university student living on her own.

She casually scanned the property layout in the front lobby, getting a general sense of the available units.

Shi Han was dressed simply: a floral dress and white sneakers—the typical look of a student. Most people in similar outfits were just here to browse, maybe motivate themselves to study harder and one day afford a place of their own.

But her beauty was simply too striking. Several of the men who were there to tour properties couldn’t help but stare, a few even tempted to strike up a conversation.

With a face like hers, if she were willing to play the game, buying a home here would be the easiest thing in the world.

A middle-aged man with a bulging stomach left the woman he had been viewing properties with and strolled over to Shi Han’s side.

At that moment, Shi Han was lightly tapping her chin with a finger, trying to decide whether to buy a small villa at the foot of the hill—or halfway up.

If she chose a place halfway up the hill, she’d have to buy a car too.

“Hey there, young lady,” the middle-aged man said, rubbing his belly and lowering his voice to sound friendly. “I know a lot about the properties here. Want me to walk you through some of them?”

Just as he was about to continue, a sudden chill ran down his spine—like a wild predator had locked its gaze on him. For a moment, it felt like he might be torn apart in the very next second.

But with such beauty right in front of him, he shook off the strange unease and leaned in closer.

Up close, the girl was even more stunning.

Her jawline was pale and smooth, her fingers slender and graceful, like scallion stalks—unpainted nails tinted a natural pink, soft and clean. One finger rested lightly against her chin, the simple gesture somehow mesmerizing. The contrast between her delicate hand and flawless skin made the image all the more alluring.

The middle-aged man’s breathing grew heavier.

He had worked hard for years, accumulated some wealth, and kept two or three mistresses on the side. Today, he was here with one of them to look at properties.

But none of those women—no matter how many—could compare to the delicate beauty in front of him. If this girl was willing, he’d drop every single one of them without hesitation.

Shi Han looked up.

The man straightened instinctively when he met her gaze, but his eyes remained glued to her face. The moment her almond-shaped eyes swept over him, he felt weak in the knees.

“No, thank you,” Shi Han said with a slight frown.

She had assumed he was a sales agent—only to realize upon looking up that he was just another middle-aged man trying to strike up a conversation.

It wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.

Without another word, Shi Han pulled her sun hat a little lower and walked off toward a different set of model homes.

=^_^=