The sky above Azure Lake Residences shimmered like polished glass, tinted gold by the setting sun. The entrance gate—towering, ornate, and guarded by two uniformed security officers—slid open smoothly the moment Su Ning's Phantom IX Sport approached.
As the sleek car glided past the archway, Chen Anya and her parents collectively gasped.
It was like stepping into another world.
Inside the gated community, the streets gleamed silver under the late sun, paved with marble stones that reflected the light like gentle ripples. Rows of manicured cherry blossoms lined both sides of the road, petals fluttering in the wind. The villas themselves stood proudly, each one unique yet harmonious—modern glass walls framed with carved stone, reflecting the tranquil shimmer of the artificial lake that ran through the estate.
Every turn revealed elegance: crystal lampposts, trimmed lawns, small bridges arching over koi-filled ponds.
Even the air here smelled different—fresh, light, tinged with the faint fragrance of olive.
Liu Ting pressed a trembling hand to her mouth, eyes wide. "Heavens… where are we?"
"Azure Lake Villas," Su Ning replied calmly, her voice carrying that same steady grace she always had. "It's one of the top residential areas in City F."
Chen Wei could barely blink. "Top…? This place looks like something from a dream."
Anya, meanwhile, was pressed against the window, her eyes darting left and right like an excited child. "Mum, look! The flowers! And that fountain—oh my god, it's moving!"
Su Ning's lips curved faintly upward. "We're almost there."
The car made a smooth turn and came to a halt in front of Villa 089—a mansion of understated luxury, built in European contemporary style. Its cream-colored walls gleamed softly beneath the golden sky, framed by tall glass windows and a white stone balcony adorned with vines of wisteria.
Each villa at Azure Lake was numbered from 001 to 100. Within mere weeks of its launch, eighty-eight villas had already been sold, each to people of high rank or deep pockets—business magnates, government officials, and elite heirs
Now, the Chen family stood before one of them.
Su Ning stepped out gracefully, the sound of her heels echoing softly against the marble pavement.
Waiting not far away was Yang Feng in an immaculate black suit beside a grand Lexus 9.0 Jeep, its mirror-like finish glinting under the sunlight. The moment he saw Su Ning, he straightened immediately and walked forward with respect written in every line of his posture.
"Miss Su," he greeted, bowing slightly. "Everything has been arranged as you instructed. Here are the documents."
His tone was formal but gentle, carrying a polished authority that made Chen Wei and Liu Ting instinctively straighten their backs.
Su Ning accepted the folder with an elegant nod. "Thank you, Director Yang."
Only then did the man turn toward the Chen family, offering a polite smile. "Good evening. You must be Miss Su's guests."
"Ah—yes, Good evening," Chen Wei replied hastily, bowing his head slightly. He had never been greeted so respectfully by someone so well-dressed. Liu Ting mirrored him awkwardly, smiling nervously.
Yang Feng's presence alone was impressive—his tailored suit, his calm composure, his air of confidence—it was clear he wasn't just anyone.
Su Ning, seeing their confusion, decided to clarify. "Uncle Chen, Aunt Liu, this is Yang Feng, the managing director of Shennan Real Estates."
For a moment, silence.
Then, shock.
Chen Wei blinked rapidly, trying to process her words. "S–Shennan Real Estates? The Shennan Real Estates that built half the luxury complexes in Jiang City?"
Yang Feng chuckled modestly. "That would be us."
Liu Ting's lips parted slightly. "I've seen your company's advertisements on television…"
"Yes," Su Ning interrupted softly, her tone as calm as ever. "And this villa, uncle, auntie—" she handed the document folder toward them, "—is yours."
The words hung in the air like a thunderclap.
Chen Wei stared at her blankly, as if he had misheard. "W-what… did you say?"
Su Ning's eyes softened. "This villa is now yours. It's a gift from me."
Liu Ting took a shaky step forward, her fingers trembling. "Ning Ning, you can't be serious. This—this kind of place—it must cost millions!"
Yang Feng supplied politely, "Villa 089 is valued at about one hundred and twenty million yuan."
Liu Ting nearly stumbled.
Chen Wei felt his mind go blank. "We… we can't accept this. This is too much, Ningning, we—"
Su Ning raised her hand, her tone gentle yet firm. "Please don't reject it. If you refuse, I'll feel hurt."
Her words weren't commanding—but there was an unspoken authority behind them, something that made refusal feel impossible.
"This isn't charity," she added quietly. "It's gratitude. You and Aunt Liu took care of me when no one else did. Now that I can, I want to take care of you too."
Her voice, calm yet resolute, carried a warmth that melted the tension.
Liu Ting's eyes welled up instantly. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she pressed a hand to her mouth. "Child… how could we ever deserve this?"
Chen Wei's eyes reddened too. "You're too kind, Ning Ning… we're just ordinary people."
"Not anymore," Su Ning said softly, handing the documents into their trembling hands. "You're family."
Yang Feng, smiling lightly, excused himself after offering a respectful bow. "Miss Su, I'll take my leave. Please contact me if you need anything."
Su Ning nodded, and as his Lexus rolled away, she turned to the Chen family.
"Come. Let's go inside."
She took Chen Anya's hand and led them toward the villa's entrance. The tall wooden doors opened with a quiet chime, revealing the grandeur within.
A faint fragrance of sandalwood drifted through the cool air.
The foyer was vast, with Italian marble floors and a chandelier that cascaded like a waterfall of crystal above their heads. The walls were painted ivory, accented with silver trims, while the grand staircase curved upward like flowing silk.
Every corner spoke of elegance—the gleam of polished brass, the soft light filtering through tinted windows, the faint melody of water trickling from an indoor fountain.
Liu Ting felt dizzy just looking at it.
"Anya… pinch me," she whispered.
Anya, still speechless, reached out and pinched her own arm instead. "It's real, Mum. It's really real."
At the garage, two cars gleamed side by side under soft overhead lighting:
—A black BMW X8, sleek and commanding, its logo glinting like a badge of power.
—A red Ferrari Roma, fiery and smooth, its curves whispering speed and status.
Chen Wei's knees nearly gave out. "I've… I've never seen such expensive cars upclose."
Su Ning smiled. "Don't worry uncle, you will get used to it "
Inside the living room, they found soft leather couches, a glass coffee table, and a wall-sized television that blended seamlessly into the décor. The kitchen shimmered with chrome appliances and crystal utensils; upstairs, the master bedroom offered a balcony view of a private artificial lake where koi fish swam lazily under the water's mirrored surface.
Every villa here had its own lake and fountain—a signature of Shennan's craftsmanship.
To the Chen family, it was paradise.
They all sat down finally—except Su Ning, who stood by the window, the soft light casting a glow on her porcelain-like face.
"I told you," she said quietly, "I'd never forget the people who helped me when I had nothing."
Chen Wei lowered his head, his throat tight. Liu Ting was openly crying now, clutching the document folder as if it might vanish.
"Ning Ning…" Liu Ting's voice broke. "How can we ever repay you for this?"
Su Ning chuckled softly, sitting beside her. "I don't need you too."
She brushed a tear from Liu Ting's cheek gently. "Just live happily. That's enough."
Anya sniffled and suddenly threw her arms around Su Ning, hugging her tightly. "You're the best, Ningning… I'll never forget this!"
Su Ning laughed quietly, patting her back. "Silly girl."
After a long, emotional silence, Su Ning pushed the property documents forward.
"These are in your names now," she said. "You should sign them."
Chen Wei's hands trembled as he took the pen. "I… I don't know what to say."
"Say nothing," Su Ning said with warmth. "Just sign."
With shaking fingers, both Chen Wei and Liu Ting signed the papers. Their names looked small against the crisp, golden-lettered documents—but to them, those strokes were everything.
As they handed them back, Chen Wei glanced up, eyes glimmering. "Ningning, Anya, since we're here… there's something we want to tell you."
"Oh?"
He smiled faintly. "I've been offered a new job. As the general manager of the Imperial Skies International Hotel."
Su Ning's eyes lit with quiet pride, though she didn't reveal her involvement. "Really? That's incredible, Uncle Chen. Congratulations."
"Mom, is dad for real?" Chen Anya asked her mom in disbelief.
Liu Ting nodded proudly, wiping her eyes. "He received a personal call from the director himself. I don't even know how it happened."
"Fate," Su Ning said with a knowing smile. "Sometimes, life rewards good people in unexpected ways."
Liu Ting suddenly looked at her curiously. "By the way, Ningning… how did you know Director Yang Feng?"
Su Ning sipped the tea she had just poured, her tone unchanging. "Well, he works in my company."
The room went silent again.
Chen Wei blinked. "In your company… you mean—?"
"Yes," Su Ning replied casually, setting her cup down. "Shennan Real Estates belongs to me."
The silence deepened, filled only by the faint trickle of water from the lake outside.
Then Liu Ting laughed weakly, half in disbelief, half in admiration. "I should've guessed… only you could walk into a place like this as if it were your living room."
Chen Wei shook his head slowly, still overwhelmed. "You're truly something else, Ningning."
Su Ning laughed. "Just someone who refuses to be ordinary."
The Chen family looked at her—the once quiet, unassuming girl they had known—now radiant, powerful, and untouchable. Yet beneath that brilliance, she was still the same Su Ning who spoke softly, who remembered kindness, who gave without expecting anything in return.
And in that grand villa overlooking Azure Lake, surrounded by luxury and emotion, a new chapter of their lives quietly began.