I endured the entire meeting in a daze, fighting off yawns as they discussed business matters. By the time it ended, the sun was already dipping below the horizon. Fang Yichen stood up and said coolly, "Let's go. Take me back."
His tone made it clear—he already saw me as the next Leo.
I tensed. "Am I supposed to be your assistant until Leo recovers?"
Fang Yichen shot me a disdainful look. "Of course someone will replace Leo." He paused, then added, "Besides, you're too clumsy. Even if you begged to be my assistant, I wouldn't want you. Today was just an exception."
I rolled my eyes so hard I almost saw my own brain. This greedy capitalist!I had just been discharged from the hospital—sure, the doctor said I was fine, but between the livestream, driving him around, and playing assistant, I was completely drained.
But just as I stepped out of Huadu's grand entrance, my vision blurred. The world tilted.
Then—darkness.
In the haze, I thought I heard Fang Yichen calling my name, his voice sharp with urgency. But I couldn't respond.
The void swallowed me whole, and in its depths, my nightmares returned.
My mother's lifeless hand slipping from mine.The hospital bed, the crushing emptiness where my child should have been.
Lin Xuyan and Qingqian Baby standing over me, smirking as they mocked my scars, my loss.
Then—a car speeding past. A shadowy figure inside.
Was that accident really just bad luck?
I jolted awake with a gasp, immediately patting myself down in panic. Still Nan Zhi. Still in this body. The relief was dizzying. Candy, hovering nearby, confirmed it—yes, I was still me.
I needed this identity. I had a revenge to carry out.
"What… what happened?"
Candy explained that I had collapsed outside Huadu. Fang Yichen had called an ambulance and told her I needed rest—no more work for now.
I scoffed under my breath. "Since when does he care? He's the one who forced me into that livestream right after the hospital."
Candy waved a hand. "Mr. Fang doesn't handle small details—that was all Mr. King's idea! But Mr. Fang already ordered him to back off. No one from the team will bother you anymore."
That afternoon, I lounged on my apartment sofa, idly scrolling through my phone. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, warming my bare ankles. Thanks to His Highness the CEO's decree, I finally had peace.
Then I landed on her livestream.
Qingqian Baby giggled like a wind chime in a storm, her pink camisole straps sliding off her shoulders. Highlighter dusted her collarbones, catching the studio lights with every practiced tilt of her head.
"Thank you, Sun, for the sports car! Love you~" She blew a kiss to the camera, voice syrup-sweet.
My fingers tightened around the phone. The top donor's username—Sun1014—burned into my retinas. October 14th. Lin Xuyan's birthday. (Xu—like the sun.)
This "Sun" was absolutely my worthless ex-husband.
"Thank you all for the gifts, mwah!" She batted her false lashes, pupils dilated by colored contacts. "If we hit top three on the hourly rankings today… I'll dance for you~"
A notification flashed:
[Sun1014 gifted Luxury Sports Car × 5]
Qingqian gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth. "Oh my god! Sun is too generous! Mua!" Another exaggerated kiss. "I'm so lucky to have supporters like you!"
Bile rose in my throat.
Months ago, I'd been hospitalized for severe pregnancy complications, hooked to an IV while Lin Xuyan—my then-husband, the man I'd loved—claimed he had "an important client dinner."
Later, I found the photos.
Him and Qingqian in a KTV booth, his palm splayed on her bare waist, her head on his shoulder. Both grinning like they'd already won.
Back in the livestream, she was still simpering. "Don't get the wrong idea, everyone! Brother Sun and I are just good friends~" A coy dip of her chin, then— "But he did say I'm the most special girl he's ever met…"
Enough.
I switched to a burner account and typed:
"Care to explain how you and your #1 fan drove his wife to lose her child?"
Send.
On screen, Qingqian froze mid-sentence while showcasing a new bracelet. Her smile twitched.
"Uh… that…" She stammered, shooting a frantic look off-camera. "Thanks so much for the gifts,let's keep going…"
But the damage was done.
[Wait, what??]
[Homewrecker alert?]
Her face paled. "Ignore the trolls, babies! Some people just hate seeing others happy—"
[You have been banned from the room.]
I threw my phone onto the couch. Candy raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I forced a smirk. "Just… studying the competition, like Mr. King said. Too bad I can't act that fake."