Inside the restaurant, the air was still thick with tension, even after Li Jianfang stormed out with Li Jianping and Li Zian. The lingering echoes of her words seemed to reverberate against the walls, leaving behind a suffocating silence that not even the clinking of cutlery or muffled chatter from ground floor could dispel.
Wang Yunmei stood stiffly, her chest heaving as fury coursed through her veins. Though she had vented her anger, the fire within her refused to die down. She had failed—failed to humiliate Li Jianfang properly, failed to extract the money she had hoped to squander from Li Ziqing. The bitterness gnawed at her insides.
"This is outrageous! She actually dared to defy you today?" The shrill, commanding voice of Old Lady Li broke the silence. Her sharp eyes bored into her husband, demanding an explanation, her face twisted with indignation. "Tell me, do you still believe improving ties with her is a good idea? You've embarrassed yourself in front of the whole family!"
Old Man Li remained silent, his expression grim. In truth, his heart was unsettled. He had ruled the Li family with unchallenged authority for decades, yet today—today of all days—someone had dared to oppose him openly. And it wasn't just anyone. It was this daughter he thought was nothing. The taste of that defiance was bitter and unbearable.
Wang Yunmei seized the moment, her lips curling into a cold sneer. "Mom is right. I always said this was a bad idea. Even if today's conflict hadn't happened, Li Jianfang would never have given us any face. She's no longer the trembling, submissive girl she used to be. Keeping ties with her will only bring us humiliation."
Li Weimin also slammed his fist in the air, his swollen eyes still rimmed red from tears of rage. "Dad, why didn't you scold that beggar aunt from the Northern District? She dared to look down on us, mocked us, and even said we couldn't afford a fruit-brand phone!" His voice cracked with indignation, his pride still raw. Now that Li Jianfang's oppressive aura and An Lizi's hawk-like glare were gone, his bravado returned, and he felt bold enough to spew venom, calling her names with impunity.
Chen Lihua's lips twitched in disdain. Beggar aunt from the Northern District? Did he also call her that? She sneered inwardly but held her tongue.
"Don't worry, Minmin," Wang Yunmei cooed, patting her son's arm soothingly, though her eyes glinted with malice. "Her so-called wealth won't last. It came too suddenly—don't they say sudden windfalls never last long? Look at her, squandering everything on luxury clothes, branded cars, and even hiring chauffeurs. Just wait. The day her fortune collapses will come soon enough." Her lips stretched into a cruel smile. "And when it does, I'll be the first to exact revenge."
Old Lady Li's wrinkled face twisted into a snarl as she nodded. "Absolutely. I hope she rots like a rat in the gutter, dragging her children down with her once she loses everything. This arrogance of hers won't last."
In the corner Wang Weiqiang's fists clenched tightly. Today's humiliation was carved into his bones. His pride, trampled by a girl four years younger, was unbearable. Yet he didn't dare voice his anger against his father; instead, he seethed inwardly, placing all the blame on Li Ziqing. That wretched girl… if not for her, none of this would have happened.
The oppressive silence returned, thick with venom and resentment, until a strange sound broke through.
A chuckle.
Low at first, but growing steadily louder.
Everyone froze. Slowly, all eyes turned to the source of the laughter—Li Jianguo. His shoulders trembled, his lips stretched into a grin that did not reach his eyes. The laughter grew, rolling out of his chest until it filled the room, unsettling and discordant.
"Heh… heh-heh-heh…"
It wasn't joy. It wasn't amusement. It was hollow, bitter, and edged with madness.
Old Lady Li stiffened, unease prickling across her skin. "Aiguo?" she snapped sharply, her voice rising. "What's wrong with you? Why are you laughing like that?"
But Li Jianguo didn't answer. His laughter only grew louder, more hysterical, echoing through the hall like the unhinged cries of a man who had lost all reason.
Li Jianjun leaned toward Chen Lihua, his brows furrowed in alarm, and whispered, "What's wrong with him? Is he possessed?"
Chen Lihua's expression was cold as she shrugged, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Who knows?"
Li Jianguo's laughter finally ebbed, leaving behind a chilling silence. His face, twisted in frustration, slowly settled into a grim mask. His jaw clenched tight as he turned his glare on Wang Yunmei, his voice low at first, then rising with the force of suppressed rage.
"Are you satisfied now? Li Jianfang is gone. You tried to humiliate her, but instead she slapped us all in the face and walked away. Did you hear her final words? She said she isn't part of this family anymore, that we are never to call her again. It's ruined—all of it. Everything I planned, my last chance at promotion, everything is gone!" His voice cracked into a hysterical shout, his fists trembling against the table.
Wang Yunmei's face paled at her husband's fury. Still, pride made her cling to bravado. "D-Don't exaggerate, Jianguo. Didn't you hear what Mom just said? She dared to defy Dad himself! Do you really believe she would have helped you with money even if things had gone smoothly? Her wealth won't last long. Sooner or later, she'll come crawling back, and then…"
Old Lady Li immediately nodded in agreement, her tone sharp and dismissive. "Exactly, Aiguo. Yunmei is right. So what if she's stumbled upon some wealth? She's nothing more than a middle-school dropout with a dropout brother at her side, and two fourteen-year-old children. How long can they possibly manage such fortune? Mark my words, she'll be stripped of everything soon enough and come walking back to the Northern District in shame."
"Shame?" Li Jianguo's lips twisted into a bitter sneer. His eyes gleamed with something between madness and revelation as he slammed his palm on the table, making everyone flinch. "Mother, are you truly that delusional? You think her wealth will vanish? On what basis?"
The room fell into a tense silence as his voice grew sharper, cutting like a blade.
"What I told you before was merely the tip of the iceberg. I spared your egos, so I mentioned only two properties. But you have no idea what Jianfang truly owns. I've investigated everything through Wuhan's Real Estate Administration. Do you even know the scale of assets tied to her household registration?"
His voice rose as he counted on his fingers, his anger now mixed with a strange kind of awe.
"Let's start with what you already know. The property on Jiangshan Road—do you have any idea how coveted that location was before it was sold? It sits boldly at the very curve of Jianghan Road, where the pedestrian street splits from the motor road, right at its intersection with bustling Mingxin Street. A corner jewel in the very crown of the district, worth not less than hundreds of millions. A landmark property."
He leaned forward, his eyes burning.
"And the duplex in the school district? That's a Hongtian Real Estate project. Market price, no less than 2 million yuan."
He paused, his words striking like hammer blows before continuing, his voice dripping with venom and irony.
"But that's nothing. She also owns a fifty-five–floor commercial tower in the Central District. Yes, an entire building! If she were to sit idle and do nothing, the rent alone brings in 250 million yuan per quarter. That's one billion yuan a year. Turn it into a number and do you know how many zeros it has? 1,000,000,000. Now do you grasp what kind of astronomical sum that is?"
A collective gasp rippled through the family. Faces turned pale.
But Jianguo wasn't finished. His laughter returned, bitter and sharp.
"And beyond that—she owns a sixteen-thousand-acre tract of land on Airport Road. A commercial property in Nanjing. And finally…" He paused, savoring the silence as if tightening a noose around their necks. "A villa in Yunqi Shanzhuang."
The air in the room froze.
"Yunqi Shanzhuang?" Li Weiqiang's voice cracked in disbelief. He shot up from ground, eyes wide.
Li Jianguo sneered at his useless son. "Yes. A villa in Yunqi Shanzhuang. And not just any villa, but Tianyuan No. 1."
A thunderous silence followed. For a long moment, no one dared to breathe.
Everyone in Wuhan knew Yunqi Shanzhuang. Even across China, its name carried the weight of myth.
Yunqi Shanzhuang.
Perched along the mist-veiled ridges on the outskirts of southern district of Wuhan, Yunqi Shanzhuang was not simply a residential community—it was legend incarnate. Conceived by the nation's most elite developers and landscaped by world-renowned designers, it was said to be a place where wealth was no longer counted, but displayed like destiny.
Guarded by three tiers of private security, with a perimeter that rivaled military bases, no outsider could enter without invitation. Its roads were paved with imported Italian stone; its gardens bloomed year-round with rare flora brought from as far as South America and the Mediterranean. Each villa was a masterpiece of architecture, combining ancient Chinese aesthetics with modern luxury—residences that looked less like homes and more like palaces carved into the mountains.
Whispers claimed that within Yunqi Shanzhuang resided fewer than twenty five families—each one among the untouchable echelon of China's wealthiest: billionaires, magnates, and political titans. Deals worth trillions were rumored to be made behind its gilded gates. It wasn't just a place to live; it was a declaration of dominance.
And among these mythic residences stood the crown jewel—Tianyuan No. 1.
The villa that few had even glimpsed, yet everyone in Wuhan spoke of in hushed tones.
Set at the highest vantage point of the community, it overlooked the sprawling East Lake, its reflection shimmering like a mirror under the rising sun. Stories claimed that the villa alone had cost billions to construct—every beam carved from rare sandalwood, every marble tile flown in from quarries in Italy, every wall embedded with hidden artistry from master craftsmen.
Some said the central hall's chandelier was crafted from over three thousand hand-cut Austrian crystals. Others swore the private gardens contained bonsai trees worth millions, some over five hundred years old. Legends even whispered that the underground wine cellar stored vintages no museum could afford.
But the true allure of Tianyuan No. 1 lay not in its extravagance, but in its exclusivity. No one knew who truly owned it. The title deed had always been hidden in shadows, speculated to belong to foreign dignitaries, oil tycoons, or the most powerful financiers in Beijing. To learn that Li Jianfang owned that villa—it was a revelation so shocking, so unfathomable, that it stripped the room of breath itself.
Li Jianguo's sneer widened as he watched the color drain from their faces.
"So tell me again," he said slowly, his voice like ice, "how long will her wealth last? How soon will she return to the Northern District in shame?"
The silence that followed Li Jianguo's words was suffocating. For a long while, the only sound in the corridor was the faint ticking of the antique wall clock, each second heavier than the last.
Old Lady Li's legs quivered against the floor as if her strength had drained away. Her pupils widened, and she gasped, her voice cracking, "Tianyuan No. 1? Impossible… utterly impossible! That place is for the most powerful and wealthiest in the country. Even provincial leaders may not gain entry there—what right does she have to live in such a place?"
She shook her head vehemently, almost as if denying reality would change the truth. "No! This must be a lie. Jianguo, you must be lying to scare us. That shameless woman, owning that villa? Heaven must be joking with me!" Her words, though fierce, carried an undertone of panic she could no longer hide.
Wang Yunmei, who had been standing stiffly, felt her legs grow weak. Her throat went dry, and for the first time, the smugness drained completely from her face. She opened her mouth but found no words, only a choked whisper slipping through. "How… how could she…?" Fear, jealousy, and fury collided in her chest, leaving her breath shallow. The image of Li Jianfang walking arrogantly into Yunqi Shanzhuang, her head held high among China's elite, burned her eyes like poison.
Her hands clenched into fists so tight her knuckles turned white. "No! No matter what she owns, she's still the same lowly creature. A street rat pretending to be a phoenix!" But even as she spat the words, her voice trembled, betraying her disbelief. The truth gnawed at her insides—Li Jianfang had soared far beyond their reach.
Li Weiqiang, who had been pale since the beginning, stumbled backward as though struck. His eyes bulged, and he stammered, "Tian… Tianyuan No. 1? That… that's where the richest families in all of Wuhan—no, all of China—live. Even the top businessmen and international dignitaries fight for the right to own a piece of Yunqi Shanzhuang. And she…" His voice broke, his pride shattering into dust. "She actually owns it?"
The disbelief in his voice cracked into despair. "Why… why did I ever provoke her?!" His knees buckled, and he slumped against the wall, face drained of color, his earlier arrogance now reduced to pathetic dread.
Old Man Li's expression was a storm of suppressed rage and humiliation. His hands, once steady and commanding, now trembled against the armrest of his chair. For decades, he had prided himself as the pillar of the Li family, the one whose authority none dared question. Yet today, reality had slapped him harder than Li Jianfang's words ever could. His jaw tightened, and a vein bulged at his temple. His voice was low, gravelly, as though dragged across shards of glass. "We… we underestimated her. And now, the entire Li family has become the laughingstock.",
The weight of his fury silenced everyone once more.
In the far corner, Chen Lihua exhaled slowly, almost imperceptibly. She had remained silent through the storm, her eyes lowered, her presence small. For once, she felt grateful she hadn't uttered a word during the chaos earlier. If she had mocked or provoked Li Jianfang alongside the others, her shame would be unendurable now. A faint shiver ran down her spine as she realized the narrowness of her escape. Clutching her dress tightly, she thought, Silence saved me today.
And in that moment, for the first time, Chen Lihua understood—Li Jianfang was no longer someone they could trample upon. She had risen to a place where even the Li family's combined venom could not touch her.
The realization left the hall colder than ever.
---
"Miss, are you sure you want to go to Yunqi Shanzhuang?"
This was the third time the taxi driver had asked the same question, his tone hovering between disbelief and caution.
Li Ziqing's brows drew together, the faintest crease marring her otherwise serene face. Her voice, soft yet firm, carried a trace of irritation.
"Yes, I'm sure. But I don't understand—why do you keep asking me the same thing?"
The driver hesitated, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel as though weighing his words. "It's just… I've never once heard of anyone booking a ride to Yunqi Shanzhuang. In fact, in all my years of driving, I've never seen a resident come out in a regular taxi either. That place…" His voice lowered instinctively, tinged with awe, "…that place is not somewhere ordinary people can set foot in. Miss, you look so young—what business could you possibly have there?"
Li Ziqing's lips pressed into a thin line. She exhaled slowly before replying, her tone clipped, cold, and carrying an authority beyond her years.
"I am not obliged to explain myself to you. But since you've asked three times—I'll answer once. I own a house there."
The words dropped like thunder inside the cramped taxi.
"What—?!" the driver exclaimed, his shock so violent that the steering wheel jerked. The car veered dangerously toward the concrete divider. For a terrifying instant, the headlights painted the wall, rushing closer.
"Focus!" Li Ziqing's voice lashed out like a whip. Calm yet edged with steel, it snapped the driver out of his panic. He gasped, yanking the wheel back under control, his breath coming in ragged bursts. The taxi swerved safely back onto the lane, though the echo of tires screeching against asphalt lingered.
Li Ziqing's gaze, cool and unyielding, cut into him through the rearview mirror. "If you cannot even keep both hands steady on the wheel, perhaps you shouldn't be driving passengers at all. Do not let your imagination cloud your judgment. Your only duty here is to drive."
Her words, spoken with such composure and icy elegance, left the driver flushed with embarrassment. His mouth opened, then closed again before he managed to stammer out, "I—I'm sorry, miss. Truly, I meant no offense. I just… it's hard to believe, you know? A young lady like you… owning a property in that place."
He swallowed hard and bowed his head slightly, gripping the wheel tighter as he forced himself into silence.
For the rest of the ride, the atmosphere inside the car thickened with unspoken tension. The driver, though subdued, couldn't resist the urge to glance repeatedly at her reflection in the mirror. His eyes, filled with disbelief and curiosity, kept flicking upward—searching, wondering what kind of young woman this was who claimed ownership of a home in Yunqi Shanzhuang, the most untouchable enclave of the wealthy.
But Li Ziqing noticed none of it. Her gaze was turned toward the window, her expression calm yet faintly puzzled at the driver's exaggerated reaction the moment he heard her destination was Yunqi Shanzhuang.
To be honest, she knew very little about the villa community. She had only heard fragmented whispers in her past life—that it was the most exclusive, high-end residential estate in Wuhan. Beyond that, she had no clear concept of it.
It wasn't her fault. Li Ziqing had never been the type to mingle. In school, she had no friends. In the narrow alleys of the Northern District where she once lived, gossip never reached her ears. And so, unlike most of Wuhan's youth, who dreamed and speculated about Yunqi Shanzhuang as if it were a mythical realm, she remained one of the few who carried no impression of it at all.
The Tianyuan No. 1 Villa had been bestowed upon her by the System three weeks ago—just before the grand opening of Qingyan Pavilion. At that time, her hands were full preparing for the ceremony. Afterward, schoolwork and daily routines swept her along. She had neither the time nor the inclination to see it for herself.
Today's visit was purely coincidence. The luxury car dealer had called just now, informing her that her Bugatti Veyron 16.4—rewarded by system day before yesterday—was ready for delivery. Unlike the Ferrari California in Blu Tour de France, which had been delivered directly to her, this Bugatti had a stipulation: it could only be received by the registered owner, in person, at the property tied to its ownership. A rule, they said—ironclad, unbendable.
And so here she was, for the first time setting out to step into the villa that was hers on paper, but still a stranger in her reality.
One reason she had avoided it until now was simple: distance. Yunqi Shanzhuang lay in the southern outskirts, nearly swallowed by forested hills. It took almost an hour and twenty minutes for the taxi to finally reach its entrance.
The sight that greeted her was nothing short of breathtaking.
The road leading up to the estate unfurled like a ribbon of black silk, flanked on both sides by towering sycamores and century-old camphor trees. Their dense canopies arched overhead, weaving a natural corridor that filtered the late afternoon sunlight into dappled patterns on the pavement. The air itself seemed different here—cooler, cleaner, carrying the faint scent of resin and earth. It felt like crossing an invisible threshold into another world, one untouched by the dust and clamor of Wuhan city.
At the end of that green tunnel stood the gates of Yunqi Shanzhuang.
They were monumental—towering wrought iron doors gilded with subtle, intricate patterns that gleamed under the sun. On either side, stone columns rose high, carved with reliefs of auspicious beasts—dragons and qilins—that lent the place an aura of solemn majesty.
But it wasn't the gate itself that made Li Ziqing's breath catch.
It was the men who guarded it.
A squad of security stood poised at attention, each one tall, broad-shouldered, and built with the kind of musculature that could only come from rigorous training. Their posture was impeccable, their chiseled features hard, eyes sharp as blades. They wore fitted black uniforms that seemed more like military attire than standard security gear, and the faint bulge at their waists hinted at concealed weapons.
Formidable. Dangerous.
Yet undeniably striking.
Even the driver tensed, his hands tightening on the wheel as if the weight of those men's gazes pressed down on him. He whispered under his breath, "Heavens above… they look like they walked straight out of a special forces camp."
The taxi slowed as it approached the gate. The guards shifted subtly, like wolves scenting movement on the wind, their cold eyes locking onto the vehicle in perfect unison. The atmosphere grew so taut it was as if the very air had solidified.
Li Ziqing sat in the back seat, expression unreadable. While the driver nearly trembled under the intensity of those gazes, she only lifted her chin slightly, her youthful face composed, as though this overwhelming scene was nothing more than expected, the self cultivation she practiced in system space was coming handy here.
One of the guards broke formation and strode toward the taxi. His movements were precise and measured, every step exuding disciplined strength. When he stopped by the driver's side, he rapped twice on the window—sharp.
The driver nearly jumped out of his seat. His fingers fumbled clumsily as he pressed the button, and the window slid down with a faint whirr. Cold air swept in, carrying the faint scent of pine and something sharper—gun oil, perhaps.
The guard leaned slightly, his shadow spilling into the cab. His close-cropped hair, angular jawline, and dark eyes gave him the aura of someone forged in steel. He glanced briefly at the driver, then his gaze flicked to the back seat.
"Purpose of visit?" His voice was low, calm, but it carried the kind of authority that made the driver's throat dry instantly.
The driver stammered, "I–I'm just a taxi driver. I was hired to—"
Before he could finish, Li Ziqing's voice cut through the cab like a cool blade.
"He's not your concern."
The driver froze. The guard's brows lifted, almost imperceptibly, as his gaze shifted fully to the young girl in the back seat.
Li Ziqing met his eyes without flinching. Her posture was elegant yet firm, her tone carrying no hesitation. "I am the resident. Tianyuan No. 1."
For a moment, silence reigned. The driver's mouth hung open, incredulous, but he didn't dare interrupt. The guard studied her, his gaze keen, as though weighing the truth of her words.
"Identification," he said simply.
Li Ziqing retrieved a sleek leather card holder from her bag, her movements unhurried. She pulled out her property card and household registration slip which was given to her along with property certificate and other documents by system, which she has already retrieved when she sat in the taxi. With a graceful hand, she extended them toward the guard through the open window.
The guard accepted them, his gloved fingers brushing the edges, and examined the documents with utmost seriousness. He then reached for the small communication device clipped to his collar.
"Verify. Tianyuan No. 1. Name: Miss Li Ziqing."
Static crackled faintly from the earpiece. After a few tense seconds, a crisp voice replied, "Confirmed. Identity verified. Access approved."
The guard's demeanor shifted ever so slightly—not enough to soften his severity, but the respect was there, evident in the way he inclined his head as he returned the documents.
"Miss Li," he said, his tone now markedly formal. "Welcome to Yunqi Shanzhuang. Your residence is waiting."
The driver nearly choked on his own breath. He glanced through the rearview mirror, his eyes wide as saucers, watching the fifteen-year-old girl receive such treatment usually reserved for magnates and dignitaries.
Li Ziqing accepted the documents back, her expression calm, her voice carrying a touch of quiet frost. "Drive."
But before the driver could put his foot on the accelerator, the guard stepped forward again. He placed his right hand over his chest and bent slightly at the waist, his posture respectful yet firm.
"My apologies, Miss Li," he said, his deep voice tinged with courtesy.
Li Ziqing's brows drew together, a faint crease forming between them. Her irritation flickered to the surface. "What now?"
The guard straightened, his gaze steady but deferential. "I regret to inform you, taxis are not permitted beyond the residential gate of Yunqi Shanzhuang. If it pleases you, I will arrange for one of our property cars to escort you to your villa directly."
For a brief moment, silence filled the cab. The driver blinked, his face falling in visible disappointment. His hands tightened on the wheel as he swallowed hard. This was probably the first—and likely the last—time he would ever come so close to Yunqi Shanzhuang. Yet the fabled heart of the community remained hidden, just beyond the guarded threshold.
Li Ziqing lifted her gaze to the guard again, and with a small nod, unfastened her seatbelt. "Fine. I'll get down."
The driver immediately turned around, his voice low and almost pleading. "Miss Li, the fare—"
Before he could finish, the guard raised a gloved hand, his tone courteous but leaving no room for argument.
"I will settle the fare," he said firmly.
The driver's jaw dropped. He glanced between the young girl and the imposing guard, utterly stunned. Li Ziqing herself stilled for a heartbeat, taken aback by the arrangement. This level of service… it was completely beyond her expectations.
Still, she schooled her features back into composure, lifted her bag, and opened the taxi door. Without another glance, she stepped out onto the clean stone pavement, her figure elegant and unhurried.
The taxi driver watched her leave with a heavy sigh. So close, yet so far… He forced a professional smile, nodded to the guard, and drove away slowly, all the while peering through his rearview mirror at the gates, wishing he could have glimpsed what lay within.
Meanwhile, Li Ziqing approached the side pedestrian gate, a smaller arched entrance beside the grand wrought-iron main gates. The guard pressed a discreet panel, and with a soft hum, the single-person gate swung open.
As she crossed the threshold, her steps slowed involuntarily.
Her breath caught.
The world inside Yunqi Shanzhuang was nothing like what she had imagined.
Immediately to her right, at the corner, rose a three-story glass building, sleek and modern, sunlight glinting off its reflective surface. From its polished signage and immaculate landscaping, she guessed it was the property management office.
She turned her head, and her eyes widened further.
In the distance, dotted across the vast expanse, were villas—each one separated by huge swathes of green, like pearls strung far apart on an endless thread. Their outlines shimmered faintly through the curtain of trees, their roofs peeking above landscaped gardens. The sheer distance between them was staggering; it was clear privacy here was absolute.
Beyond, the far horizon was dominated by rolling mountains, lush and crowned with more hidden villas perched in seemingly impossible spots. She had only ever seen such scenery in glossy magazines or documentaries.
And right before her, at the heart of the entrance plaza, a grand fountain rose. Crystal water shot high into the air, cascading down in silvery arcs, sparkling like diamonds under the noon sun. The air carried the soft mist of its spray, cooling and fresh, laced with the faint fragrance of pine and blossoms drifting from the landscaped trees around her.
For the first time that day, Li Ziqing found herself speechless. Just as she was busy taking in the scenery, a voice called out from behind, "Miss Li?"
___
Thank you so much for your support guys, third chapter of this weekend, one more and I'm off my promise 😅