The early morning sun poured through the window of a cramped, secondary bedroom in the Lin family villa. Unlike the master suite across the hall, this room was sparsely furnished.
Ethan Lu sat on the edge of the bed, staring at a small, silver crescent-moon pendant in his palm. It was the only thing that remained of that rainy night five years ago.
The morning after the motel encounter, he had woken up to an empty room and a scent of jasmine that lingered in the air like a ghost. He had waited, hoping the woman would return, but she never did. Shortly after, he had left the capital entirely, wandering from city to city, working as a construction laborer, a delivery driver, and a kitchen hand.
He had survived the "mortal world," just as his grandfather had demanded. But he had done it with a heart turned to stone.
"Ethan! How long are you going to sit in there? The floor won't mop itself!"
The shrill voice of his mother-in-law, Elaine Lin, shattered his thoughts.
Ethan sighed, tucked the pendant under his shirt, and walked out. In the hallway, he ran into Rachel Lin, his wife. She was dressed in a sharp white blazer and skirt, looking every bit the high-powered CEO. Her beauty was undeniable—cold, elegant, and distant.
They had been married for three years. It was a marriage of convenience orchestrated by Rachel's grandfather, Old Man Lin, after Ethan had saved the old man's life during a roadside accident. To the rest of the Lin family, Ethan was a "leech"—a man with no background who had tricked his way into a wealthy family.
"I'm heading to the office," Rachel said, not meeting his eyes. She paused, her voice softening just a fraction. "My mother is in a bad mood because the bank rejected our loan application again. Just... try to stay out of her way today."
"I'll have dinner ready when you get back," Ethan replied calmly.
"Don't bother," she sighed, her shoulders drooping. "There's a business gala tonight at the Emerald Hotel. I have to go, even though I know the other families are just going to laugh at our financial situation."
She walked away before he could respond.
As soon as Rachel left, Elaine appeared, her face twisted in a sneer. She tossed a pile of laundry at Ethan's feet.
"Look at you," she spat. "Three years you've been in this house, eating our food and using our electricity. What have you brought to this family? Nothing but shame. While other sons-in-law are bringing in million-dollar contracts, you're busy deciding which brand of detergent to buy."
Ethan picked up the laundry without a word. Over the last few years, he had learned that silence was his best shield.
"If it weren't for the Old Man's stubbornness, I would have kicked you out and married Rachel off to Young Master Zhao by now," Elaine continued, pacing the living room. "At least he has the power to save our company. You? You're just a broken umbrella in a storm."
Ethan headed toward the laundry room, his expression unreadable. Five years, he thought. Today marks exactly five years since I was tossed out of the capital.
While the washing machine hummed, Ethan's old, cracked smartphone vibrated in his pocket. It was a restricted number—one he hadn't seen in half a decade.
He answered it, stepping into the backyard for privacy.
"Speak," Ethan said, his voice dropping an octave, losing the humble tone he used with the Lins.
"Young Master," a deep, gravelly voice came through the line. It was Butler Han, the only man in the Lu family who had ever shown him kindness. "The period of your 'exile' has concluded at noon today. The Patriarch has seen the reports of your conduct. He is satisfied."
Ethan felt a surge of cold anger. "Satisfied? He threw me to the wolves over a lie, Han. I don't care if he's satisfied."
"The truth of the North-Shore project has been revealed," Han continued, ignoring Ethan's tone. "Your cousins have been stripped of their ranks. The Lu family assets that were frozen in your name have been restored—with interest. You are currently the wealthiest individual in the province, Ethan. The Black Gold card in your wallet... it is active again."
Ethan pulled a tattered wallet from his back pocket. Inside, hidden behind a grocery receipt, was a matte-black card with a gold dragon emblem. For five years, it had been a useless piece of plastic.
"And one more thing," Han added. "The woman from that night... the one you asked me to track down three years ago? We found her. But you should be careful, Young Master. She isn't just anyone. She is Diana Song, the head of the Song Conglomerate. And she is currently in Riverview City."
Ethan's grip on the phone tightened.
"The gala tonight at the Emerald Hotel," Ethan murmured. "She'll be there, won't she?"
"She is the guest of honor," Han replied. "Shall I prepare the car?"
"No," Ethan said, a dark glint appearing in his eyes. "I'll go on my own. It's time I stop playing the role of the beggar."
He hung up and looked at the kitchen where Elaine was still screaming about the breakfast dishes. A cold, calm smile played on his lips. The five years of "mortal experience" were over.
The dragon was about to show its claws.