乐湘毫不掩饰自己的好心情.郑满福立刻注意到了,虽然不明白原因,但她还是忍不住跟着笑了.
"顺便问一下,你想和我一起去马来西亚吗?"乐湘一边开车一边问."本来应该是私人行程,但现在变成了工作任务,机票和酒店都成了免费."
"马来西亚?"满芙眨了眨眼,表情有些动摇."你打算待多久?"
乐翔思考了片刻."我得在下个月一号前回来交照片."
满府算了算.已经是17号了,这意味着这次旅行不会超过两周.她坚定地点了点头."我去."
乐湘没有探听曼福的严肃想法.在那句"蟾蜍和天鹅"的话之后,她对那个女孩的看法明显改善了."很好.那就准备好吧.别带太多——只带几套换洗衣服.酒店通常会提供洗漱用品,其他需要的东西我们可以在当地购买."她停顿了一下."你有护照吧?"
满芙微微低下了视线."是的."
"那我们就准备好了,"乐湘说."把你的身份证号码给我.我会订票,告诉你航班时间."
马来西亚之行非常顺利.多亏了洛宇推荐的导游,他们发现了比预期更多的美食宝藏,乐湘的照片也拍得非常漂亮.
然而,满夫...投入.Lexiang放下单反相机,转向助理."你确定不想自己出去探险一会儿吗?"
满芙摇了摇头."我会陪着你."她抿了抿嘴唇."一个人到处闲逛本来就无聊."
乐湘叹了口气."你真的不用一直用正式的敬称."她已经多次提起这件事,因为他们已经更熟悉了,但满夫就是拒绝听.
还没等Lexiang追问,她的手机响了.是于浩.
"需要什么吗?"她接起电话问.
自从多年前"那件事"后,曾经在她面前表现得像个被宠坏的孩子的余浩,变成了一只胆小的小猫.他们的关系随着时间慢慢修复.
"妈妈让我打电话的,"余浩说,声音因犹豫而紧绷."她想让你回家."
Lexiang僵住了."发生什么事了吗?"
"某种程度上,"余昊叹了口气."爸爸被诊断出肝硬化.这很严重.医生让他戒酒,他起初听从,但坚持不了几天.妈妈为此和他吵了起来.他推了她一把,她撞到了头.她需要缝七针."
乐湘犹豫了."她想让我回来是因为...?"
"主要是抱怨,"余浩苦涩地说."爸爸不常回家,所以她找不到他唠叨.她心情很差.昨天,她看着美美分心,宝宝差点吞了弹珠.丽阳看到了,两人大吵一架."
梅梅是于浩的小女儿,刚满一岁.钟立阳是他的妻子.他们是青梅竹马,李阳是孤儿,在正式结婚前就一直和于家同住.李阳曾经耐心且尊重人,但在乐湘婚后不久,两人之间产生了裂痕.
当时,江慧芳——乐湘的养母——突然自负,因为女儿嫁入了一个亿万富翁家庭.她开始看不起李阳,认为他没受过教育又是个孤儿,总是挑起争吵.当时的余浩软弱,站在了母亲那边.李阳最终愤怒逃离.
江慧芳很激动,但余浩却陷入了深深的抑郁.他终于鼓起勇气,无视母亲,追踪到丽阳工作的工厂.他们回来时,已经有了儿子和结婚证.丽阳不再是曾经那个软柿子;她对丈夫管得很紧,对婆婆一点耐心都没有.
多年来,乐湘听过母亲无数次抱怨,通常暗示乐湘应该"让丽阳知道她的位置".最终,乐湘不再愿意接她的电话.
"那么,你觉得我应该回来吗?"Lexiang问道.
余昊犹豫了."大概不会.我想你了,但如果你回来,妈妈会唠叨你,邻居们又会开始窃窃私语你.不值得."他停顿了一下,听起来有些不好意思."姐姐..."
"说吧.为什么结巴?"乐湘不耐烦地问.
"有...沈明远最近有烦你吗?"
"你怎么看?"乐湘反驳道.
当然有.
余昊的语气变了.他害怕沈家——他们一句电话就能毁了他.但尽管害怕,他并不像他的父母;他不相信Lexiang应该和那样的男人继续结婚.
"Sister… maybe you shouldn't stay in the capital anymore," he suggested. "Sell the house. Move to a different city. Maybe if you're far away, he'll lose interest."
Lexiang remained silent. She'd considered it, but her life was here. Her friends were here. And then there was Qiao Zhi…
The thought of him made her irritable. "We'll see. I—"
"I'm serious," Yu Hao interrupted. "Or just get married again. That would force him to give up. The Shen parents might let their son harass an ex-wife, but they'd never allow him to chase a woman who is already married to someone else. It's a matter of face for them."
Lexiang's heart skipped a beat. Yu Hao was right. It was a logical solution.
She immediately thought of what Qiao Zhi had said before he left. But she shook her head just as quickly. No, I can't drag him into this mess. Besides, we're completely incompatible.
The Jackpot
Even after returning to China, Yu Hao's suggestion lingered in Lexiang's mind. When you lack power, the only way to protect your will is through strategic maneuvering.
Find someone to marry…
She couldn't ruin Qiao Zhi's life by using him, and finding a random man to play the part seemed like more trouble than it was worth.
After Lexiang submitted her photos to Luoyu, a notification popped up on her phone: a payment of 10,000 yuan. Manfu happened to catch a glimpse of the bank alert and looked shocked. "That's all?"
Lexiang laughed. "How much did you think it would be?"
Manfu looked genuinely confused. "I thought… at least 100,000 or 200,000?"
"In your dreams," Lexiang teased. "I'm a 'moderately famous' freelancer. A photo sells for maybe a thousand or two. I'm not one of those legends who commands seven-figure contracts just to show up."
Manfu opened her mouth to argue, then thought better of it. "I think your photos are just as good as theirs," she said firmly.
Lexiang didn't take it to heart, assuming it was just loyalty talking. Since it was the end of the month, she transferred 2,000 yuan to Manfu—payment for the ten days they had worked.
Manfu looked at the money, feeling a bit guilty. Her goddess only made 10,000, and she was taking 2,000 of it?
Unaware of her assistant's internal turmoil, Lexiang opened a shopping app to check the status of some "free trial" applications she'd submitted. She'd been playing this trial game for two months, meticulously applying for fifteen items every day. So far, all she'd won was a snack box.
She only applied for the big stuff—electronics, furniture, high-end brands. Nothing under 500 yuan. Her logic was simple: it's a lottery, so you might as well play for the jackpot.
She didn't expect anything. But then her eyes widened. "No way…"
"What is it?" Manfu leaned in and froze.
On the screen, one "Success" notification followed another. Lexiang scrolled down. And down. There was a page 2. And a page 3.
"Is the system broken?" Lexiang whispered. "Did I accidentally get assigned the items meant for the 'VIP' accounts?" She wasn't naive; she knew these "random" draws weren't always random.
Manfu, however, looked more knowing than surprised. "Whatever the reason, hit 'Claim' now. Don't give them a chance to change their minds."
Lexiang snapped into action. These weren't cheap items. There was a European-style bed worth 15,000 yuan, a high-end robot vacuum, a high-speed blender, a stand mixer, a set of non-stick pans, an air purifier, a smart TV, a premium fridge, an inverter AC, a chest of drawers, a bean bag chair…
Her entire apartment was about to get a total makeover.
A week later, the hallway outside her door was a fortress of cardboard boxes.
"What am I going to do with all this?" Lexiang asked, feeling a headache coming on.
"What do you mean 'what'?" Yao Qi said, green with envy. "Replace your old junk! Every single one of these is better than what you have."
"But I like my stuff," Lexiang said, looking torn.
Yao Qi rolled her eyes. "You're a hoarder!"
"I am not!" Lexiang snapped. "It's called being sentimental."
Lexiang was the type of person who formed attachments to objects. Most people wanted the newest model, but Lexiang felt a lingering affection for the things she used every day. Even if the new thing was objectively better.
"Fine, 'sentimental,'" Yao Qi smirked. "So you're going to throw away the brand-new luxury furniture and keep the old stuff?"
Lexiang looked pained. She was a commoner at heart—these new things were worth a fortune. But she couldn't bear to dump her old memories.
"Um… could you give the old furniture and appliances to me?" Manfu asked softly. She looked a bit nervous. "My grandfather is very frugal. Most of our stuff is twenty years old and barely works anymore."
Lexiang blinked. "Of course! If you want them, they're yours." She thought for a second. "Do you need me to call a moving company for you?"
"No, no," Manfu shook her head. "I'll just call a few of my fellow disciples and borrow a truck."
Sure enough, a small flatbed truck arrived a short while later. When the doors to the elevator opened, Lexiang and Yao Qi were greeted by a group of men who radiated an aura of raw power. They weren't all bodybuilders, but they carried themselves with the unmistakable confidence of trained fighters.
Until they spoke.
"Big Sister-Disciple!" the lead man said, scratching the back of his head with a goofy, honest grin.
The others chimed in, bowing respectfully to Manfu.
Manfu looked embarrassed. "This is my boss and her friend. You can call them Ms. Lexiang and Ms. Yao."
"HELLO, MS. LEXIANG! HELLO, MS. YAO!" They barked in unison, bowing forty-five degrees.
Lexiang didn't know how to react. Manfu turned to her. "Should I start moving things out?"
Lexiang nodded, but she didn't realize what Manfu meant until the girl walked into the living room and picked up a heavy flat-screen TV by herself.
"Wait! Let them help you! You'll hurt yourself!"
The men all looked over, clearly ready to jump in.
Frugality
"No," Manfu insisted, shaking her head. "I can't let these ruffians into your house."
The disciples looked wounded. Ruffians? That's cold, Big Sister.
Lexiang felt awkward. "It's not that big a deal. I've had repairmen in here before."
Qiao Zhi usually did her repairs, but he was often busy, so she wasn't a stranger to hiring help.
"Still, no," Manfu said firmly. "From now on, if anything breaks, call me. I'll fix it."
Lexiang was speechless. Eventually, she decided to help out herself. She rolled up her sleeves and grabbed the indoor unit of the air conditioner they had just uninstalled.
Manfu paused, watching Lexiang work. Her eyes softened, turning slightly misty. She looked away to hide her face, but a small smile played on her lips.
The Goddess is as warm as ever. Coming back to her was the right choice.
When Manfu arrived home with a truckload of furniture, her grandfather was standing at the gate, hands behind his back, squinting at the cargo. "What's all this?"
Old Man Zheng was a wiry little man in a traditional red padded jacket. His white hair was thin, and his face was a map of wrinkles, but his eyes were sharp. He didn't look like a martial arts master; he just looked like a typical grandpa.
"Good things," Manfu said, directing her "brothers" to unload the truck.
The old man didn't push for answers, but he followed them in and out. When he saw the "new" furniture—all barely used and in excellent condition—his face clouded over.
"I told you not to spend money! Our old stuff is fine. Why buy new things? Even secondhand, this must have cost a fortune!" He looked genuinely distressed.
Old Man Zheng was famously cheap. Having lost his son and daughter-in-law early, he had spent decades hoarding every penny to ensure Manfu had an inheritance. He had lived like a miser for so long he didn't know any other way.
Manfu smiled. "I didn't spend a cent. My boss gave them to me. She won a huge lottery for new appliances and didn't need these anymore." She called it a "lottery" because explaining the concept of a free trial platform to a man of his generation was a losing battle.
"Really?" The old man's face transformed into a toothless grin. "Well, your boss sounds like a decent person."
Manfu rolled her eyes. "Oh, now she's a decent person? A few days ago, you told me women bosses were unreliable and that I'd probably work myself to death for nothing."
The old man ignored her, busy stroking the screen of the TV. "How old is this? It looks brand new. Not a scratch. Your boss is a very careful woman."
"About ten years old," Manfu replied.
"Incredible. She really takes care of her things," he noted with genuine respect. "Young people today treat their belongings like trash. Your boss is a good one. You should learn from her."
"I know, Grandpa."
By dinner, the old man was still singing Lexiang's praises. "Manfu, since your boss is a good person, you work hard for her. Don't embarrass the Zheng family name."
He was stingy, but he was also traditional—he never took something for nothing. "By the way," he added, "how old is this boss of yours?"
"Why are you asking?"
"Just curious!" He glared at her.
"She's thirty-five," Manfu answered cautiously.
"Her kids must be getting big then," the old man mused. "Even if they aren't naturally talented, I could take them on as disciples. It's good for their health. Tell your boss to send her kids to the gym. I won't charge her a dime."
Manfu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "She doesn't have any kids, Grandpa."
The old man paused. "At her age? Is she… unable to have them?"
Manfu felt a pang of discomfort. Her grandfather didn't mean any harm, but the topic was a sore spot. He noticed her expression. "Is there a story there?"
Manfu hesitated, then sighed. "Grandpa, she's amazing. She's beautiful, kind, and a graduate of the best university in the country. But she had terrible luck. A spoiled rich heir became obsessed with her."
Her voice started to crack. "He framed her brother for a crime to force her to marry him. She only did it to save his life. Even after they married, she ran the family business for them while he just played around. He had a mistress who was evil—she intentionally hit Lexiang with her car. That's why she lost her baby and her ability to have children."
Heart-Stopping
Manfu was getting emotional, but her grandfather sensed something was off. The story was tragic, but why was his granddaughter so invested? She looked like she wanted to hunt that man down and tear him limb from limb.
They'd only known each other for a month. How deep could a bond go in thirty days? Unless…
The old man's heart skipped a beat. "You… you haven't fallen in love with your boss, have you?"
It made sense to him. Manfu had never acted like a typical girl. She was one of the boys. He used to be glad because it meant he didn't have to worry about her dating, but now she was twenty-one and had never shown interest in a man.
He might be old, but he listened to the gossip of the younger disciples. He considered himself an open-minded man of the times. But even he couldn't handle this!
"Manfu! You're the last of the Zheng line! You're supposed to carry on the name!"
"Grandpa! What are you thinking? I don't love her like that!"
"You're not lying?"
"I'm not lying! I already told you I'd find a husband who would move in and join the family!"
The old man exhaled in relief, but then narrowed his eyes. "Don't you try to stall me until I'm dead just so you can 'find yourself.'"
"I'm not stalling! But I can't just find a husband on the street tomorrow! We have to find someone trustworthy, right?"
"I suppose so," he grumbled. "Maybe I'll ask Matchmaker Wang to keep an eye out?"
"Grandpa, please. I have more important things to do right now. My 'market value' will only go up later anyway."
He grumbled about "market value" not being a stock price, but Manfu just smiled. She knew what was coming. The future.
"Grandpa, can you do me a favor?"
"What favor?" He was still thinking about grandsons-in-law.
"Don't you have a friend in Tianjin? The one you said was a bit thick-headed? The one who almost got killed by his 'brothers' because he was too trusting?"
"Gu Qing?" The old man's face went cold. "Don't even think about it. I told you, Gu Qing is in the underworld. He's successful now, but men like him always end up behind bars. Why do you think I never visit him?"
Manfu knew he was right—in a normal world. But the world was about to change.
"I don't want to make 'dirty' money, Grandpa. I just need a favor." She looked at him. "You said you didn't want to owe him or have him owe you. This is his chance to pay back the life he owes you."
The old man softened. "Fine. What is it?"
"I want him to find a way to put a man in jail."
His eyes widened. Manfu rushed to explain. "He deserves it. His name is Yue Changjun. He's a college grad, but back in school, he posed as a construction worker to assault a student. She was too scared to report it. Later, he killed a colleague by swapping their heart medication for vitamins. During the Wenchuan earthquake, he knocked his girlfriend unconscious and left her behind because she was 'slowing him down,' then killed a witness to cover it up."
She looked at him with burning sincerity. "Grandpa, doesn't a man like that deserve to be in prison?"
"Yes," the old man said, his gaze complex. "But those crimes are so hidden… how do you know about them? Ever since you woke up from that fever, you've been… different."
"Grandpa!" she interrupted, her voice urgent. "I can't tell you how I know. Not yet. But you have to believe me—everything I'm doing is for the sake of this family."
She squeezed her hands into fists, her eyes pleading. Please don't ask. Just trust me.
The old man stared at her for a long time. Finally, he asked, "Why this man? Why now?"
Manfu wanted to scream the truth: Because in six months, this man will become Shen Mingyuan's right-hand man. He's the one who will teach Shen Mingyuan how to use drugs to control Lexiang. He's the one who will destroy her life so completely she has to flee the country, which leads to her being captured by the US government when the Interstellar Era begins…
She didn't realize how pale and full of hatred her face had become.
Hesitation
Old Man Zheng sighed. "Fine. We'll do it your way."
He didn't know what she'd been through, but he knew she was carrying a heavy burden. She wasn't a girl who could keep secrets, so if she wasn't talking, there was a very good reason.
Back in her room, Manfu exhaled, but her brow remained furrowed. She was torn about one thing: should she find Qiao Zhi?
She had never met him, but she knew his legend. He was the man who would do anything for the Goddess. Without him, Lexiang would never have escaped the Americans. But to achieve that, Qiao Zhi had sacrificed his life and dragged the Chinese government into a nightmare of sanctions.
For a long time, he was hated. A traitor who sacrificed the nation for one woman. Even Manfu had hated him once. It wasn't until Lexiang established herself in the stars and used her power to save China and make it the world's leading superpower that Qiao Zhi's name was cleared.
Lexiang never spoke of him. Manfu used to think he was just an unrequited admirer. Until she discovered that the porcelain vial Lexiang wore around her neck contained Qiao Zhi's ashes. He had been "scattered to the winds" by a mob, and Lexiang had spent years painstakingly recovering what little was left.
Lexiang had stayed single—not just unmarried, but completely alone. Manfu realized then that Qiao Zhi was the only man she had ever loved.
But Manfu was scared. Qiao Zhi was a "rational madman." He had orchestrated terrorist attacks to distract the Americans and sacrificed his own comrades to smuggle Lexiang onto a starship. In his eyes, nothing—not even a nation—mattered more than Lexiang.
If she told him the future, what would he do? The thought was terrifying. But without him, could she really protect her goddess alone? She could barely put one criminal in jail without help.
While Manfu agonized, Lexiang was dealing with her own headache. "Mom, I don't have time to come back. I'll send you some money, okay?" She was idly editing photos on her iPad.
"I know Dad is sick," she continued, "but what can I do? I'm not a doctor, and he never listens to me anyway. All I can do is pay the bills."
Lexiang was exhausted. Her mother only called to dump her emotional baggage, regardless of whether Lexiang was busy. And the truth was, she didn't want to help her father.
He had beaten her her whole life. She had zero affection for him. Her mother had stayed with a man who hit her and drained the family dry for alcohol because "life would be harder without him." Lexiang couldn't understand it.
"…You're not getting any younger," Jiang Huifang's voice droned on. "If you won't remarry Mingyuan, find someone else. A widower with kids would be best. You can raise them as your own so someone will take care of you when you're old."
Lexiang's face hardened. "Mom! My life is my business. I'm not becoming anyone's stepmother, and I'm not relying on anyone to 'take care' of me. I can take care of myself!"
"Listen to me! If you won't do that, then go back to Shen Mingyuan! You can't have kids anyway, so you should have just stayed a Shen. They would have provided for you…"
"Manage your own life, Mom. Leave mine alone."
Peace of Mind and Joy
Lexiang hung up. On the other end, Yu Hao snatched the phone from his mother's hand. "Who told you to say that? Rubbing salt in her wounds—do you enjoy making her miserable?"
"I'm doing it for her!" Jiang Huifang cried. "She thinks she's fine alone now because she's young. But what happens when she's old and sick? Who will be there for her?"
"ME!" Yu Hao roared. "And my kids!"
"It's not the same! They aren't her own!"
"It's better than a stepson!" Yu Hao glared at her. "Don't think I don't know what you're doing. If you're so worried about her, stop asking her for money!"
"I never asked for money!"
"You just nag her until she pays you to go away!" Yu Hao sneered. His sister was too soft-hearted to see it, but he knew. "She's spent so much on my kids already. When she's old, they will take care of her. I've already decided."
Jiang Huifang froze. "But she isn't your 'real' sister. You don't owe her. Besides, marrying into the Shens was a blessing. She didn't lose anything!"
"MOM!" Yu Hao snapped. "What happened to you? You used to love her. You used to walk miles in the summer sun just to bring her a chicken leg at school. You used to protect her from bullies. You took a beating from Dad for two weeks just to save her high school tuition… what changed?"
He didn't understand. His father only loved him, but his mother used to love them both. Then, after college, she just… turned cold.
Jiang Huifang looked away. "I still love her. But she's grown now. And Mingyuan loves her. If she just said yes, her life would be perfect. I wouldn't have to worry anymore."
"She doesn't love him! You want to sell her off just so you can feel 'at ease'?"
Yu Hao realized his mother was terrifying. He used to agree with her, until he almost lost his own wife.
His sister was "willful." She would do chores if she had to, she would marry if she was forced, but if there was any other way, she would never compromise on her happiness. Being with Shen Mingyuan made her miserable. You could see it in her eyes—they were dead. After the divorce, even in a hospital bed, her eyes had finally started to shine again.
A person needs two things in this world, Yu Hao remembered Qiao Zhi saying once. Peace of mind and joy.
Yu Hao didn't like Qiao Zhi. He hated that the guy called her "Xiangxiang" as if he owned her. But while Yu Hao was too scared to face the Shens, Qiao Zhi had marched into the capital and stayed by her side.
Yu Hao decided then: he would help Qiao Zhi. He would convince his sister to marry him.
"If you want me to take care of you in your old age," Yu Hao told his mother, "leave my sister alone."
Comrades
When Qiao Zhi returned to the dorms, his comrades pounced.
"Old Fourth! Did you really submit a marriage request?" Yang Liang's eyes were gleaming.
"Did the Goddess finally say yes?" Wu Zhile teased.
They were the last four of their original unit. The others had retired or died. Only the "Four brothers" remained in this dorm. Qiao Zhi was the youngest, but he was still on the front lines, while the others had moved to training or technical roles.
Qiao Zhi had joined the Special Forces at fourteen. He was a cold, silent kid who only ever softened when he received a package from "Lexiang" every two weeks. Eventually, everyone knew: Lexiang was his world.
They had watched him grow up, but his heart had never changed. When people tried to set him up or told him to move on, he didn't argue—he just acted like they didn't exist.
When Lexiang got divorced, they placed bets on how long it would take him to win her back. Years passed, and he did nothing. They called him a coward. But now… a marriage request?
Yue Yilong, the oldest, looked awkward. His sister, Yue Yixian, had been in love with Qiao Zhi for years. Qiao Zhi, of course, hadn't noticed. Yilong had told his sister that Qiao Zhi had someone else, but since he never named her, she didn't believe him. Now, she would finally have to face the truth.
"Wait for the good news," Qiao Zhi said, a small smile playing on his lips.
The others were stunned. They thought maybe he'd finally given up on the Goddess and found someone else. But he looked more determined than ever.
"Yilong," Qiao Zhi said, his voice dropping. "I need a favor."
"What is it?"
"If I remember correctly, your cousin is a private investigator?"
Yilong rubbed his nose. "He's a hack. He can follow cheating spouses, but nothing serious."
"I don't need anything serious," Qiao Zhi's eyes narrowed. "I just want him to keep an eye on Shen Mingyuan. Specifically, I want to know about every new person who enters his inner circle."
Qiao Zhi knew Shen Mingyuan. The man wasn't clever. The IVF scheme had likely been the work of a butler. Mingyuan himself was just a spoiled, stupid brat. He wasn't truly evil—he was just a fool.
But a fool could be manipulated. Qiao Zhi needed to make sure no real predators got close to him. Especially now that the Shen parents were wavering on letting Lexiang back into the family.
The Threat
Lexiang hadn't expected to see Xu Lan again.
She felt nothing for her former mother-in-law. The Shen family had never been a home. Even Shen Mingyuan hadn't actually tried to integrate her. To the Shens, she was just a toy their son liked.
Xu Lan and Shen Yu were a "power couple" who only shared a mutual interest in their son and their business. Everything else was a transaction.
"Let's have lunch," Xu Lan invited.
Lexiang didn't refuse. She knew Xu Lan—a workaholic who only appeared in high-end restaurants for business. To be here, alone, without her secretarial staff, meant this was a personal mission.
Once they were seated, Xu Lan studied Lexiang. She finally understood why her son had been obsessed for decades. Lexiang hadn't aged; she had simply become more refined.
"Mingyuan says you're a photographer now. How is that going?" Xu Lan asked, as if she hadn't just ordered Lexiang's studio to be trashed a week ago.
"I'm happy," Lexiang said simply. "The money doesn't matter much."
Xu Lan sighed. "Happiness is important. I've given my life to the Shen Group, but I'm getting old. Mingyuan isn't a leader. We need a grandson to train. If the daughter-in-law were as capable as you, I could finally retire."
The offer was clear: Remarry my son, give us an heir, and I will give you the keys to the empire.
Lexiang almost laughed. She didn't want the empire. She didn't even want the keys.
"Mrs. Shen," Lexiang said, setting down her water. "I've been wondering how to avoid being forced into this marriage again. I realized that if you frame my brother again, I still can't stop you."
Xu Lan's lips curved into a satisfied smile. She thought Lexiang was being realistic.
"But!" Lexiang stared her down. "Even a rabbit bites when cornered. What do you think happens if you push me too far?"
Her voice was calm. Terrifyingly calm.
Xu Lan felt a chill. She remembered the time Lexiang held a knife to Mingyuan's chest because he tried to force himself on her. Lexiang had said: "I am perfectly calm. If the only way to keep you off me is to go to prison for killing you, I'll take that deal."
Xu Lan had threatened her family back then.
Lexiang had replied: "If I kill him, the Shen Group's stock will tank. Your rivals will tear you apart. I wonder if they'll find the evidence of how you framed Yu Hao? I wonder if that'll be enough to end your husband's career?"
Paper Tiger?
In that moment, Xu Lan had been furious, because she knew Lexiang was right. Lexiang was "too clean." You could pressure someone like that once, but if you pushed them until they had nothing left to lose, they became a wildfire.
Back then, Shen Yu had warned her: "Lexiang has no greed. That makes her impossible to control."
That was why Xu Lan had only blacklisted her from the industry instead of destroying her.
Today, she had tried a bribe. She thought no one could refuse the Shen Group. But Lexiang had just called it a "paper tiger."
"You're overthinking things," Xu Lan said, her voice smooth as silk. "The Shen family runs a legal business. What happened to your brother was a misunderstanding."
Lexiang just smiled. She knew Xu Lan. The woman was a shark who only played nice when there was no profit in being mean.
"Wasn't that a bit too much? Won't she retaliate?" Manfu asked nervously as they walked away.
Lexiang was surprised she had heard. "She won't care about the words. She's far too cold for that."
"But as long as Shen Mingyuan wants you, she'll keep coming for you," Manfu worried.
"Probably," Lexiang laughed.
"How can you laugh?"
"Because panicking won't change the reality," Lexiang said. "I'm just a paper tiger making threats. I have no real power against them."
A paper tiger? Manfu thought.
In her past life, the day after Lexiang fled to America, the Shen family had been hit with a tidal wave of lawsuits, tax evasion charges, and drug trafficking scandals. It had crippled them. Was that Qiao Zhi's doing? Or was it… Lexiang's?
Manfu realized the Goddess she knew—the serene, all-powerful being—had once been a woman who had to fight with everything she had just to stay free.
So-Called Love
Manfu looked at her goddess. The serene, distant deity was gone, replaced by this vibrant, clever woman. And Manfu liked this version better.
"Can't we just make Shen Mingyuan fall for someone else?" Manfu suggested. "A beautiful woman to distract him?"
Lexiang turned to her. "What makes you think he loves me?"
"Doesn't everyone know that?"
"He doesn't know how to love," Lexiang said flatly. "He has an obsession. I'm a pet to him. Does a man feel 'love' for a cat?"
"But he's so persistent!"
"Because I'm the only thing he's ever failed to own," Lexiang explained. "For a man with no achievements, a reputation as a 'devoted romantic' is a nice ego boost. Eventually, he started believing his own lie."
Lexiang knew the truth. A man who loves you wants you to be happy. In ten years, Mingyuan had never done a single thing to make her happy—except sign the divorce papers. He bought her cars and roses and jewelry to show off his wealth, not because she liked them. When he framed her brother, he looked triumphant, not guilty.
That isn't love, Lexiang thought. Real love… is what Qiao Zhi feels.
The thought of Qiao Zhi's handsome, intense face flashed through her mind.
Manfu felt her world-view shattering. In the future, people had spared Mingyuan because they thought he was "devoted." They blamed the people who manipulated him, but they never questioned his love.
Now she knew: it was all a lie.
"I'm sorry," Manfu whispered.
Lexiang smiled. "Don't be. Most people don't believe me when I say that."
Years ago, Lexiang had planned to kill Mingyuan and then herself. She was ready to burn everything down.
But Qiao Zhi had found her. He had begged her: "Don't die. If you die, I'll have nothing to live for. Give me time. I'll get strong enough to save you."
He had stopped her from becoming a murderer. And then she had seen the Shen parents and realized that if she killed their son, they would destroy everyone she loved—including Qiao Zhi. So she had endured.
Manfu made a decision. "Shen Mingyuan is easy to deal with. He cares about his reputation. If we make him a laughingstock, he'll hide in his house for six months."
"And how would you do that?" Lexiang asked.
Manfu's eyes lit up. "Leave it to me."
She would break his legs. Not just a fracture—a complex break that would take months of rehab. That would buy Lexiang a year. And in a year, everything would change.