Chapter 1 — Called Off Right on the Spot

My father called me while I was working at the National Security Research Institute, instructing me to return to Lam Chau to settle my marriage arrangements. The prospective groom's background was impressive in every aspect; apart from being strikingly handsome, he was the powerful CEO of a notorious local pharmaceutical conglomerate. Because of my specialized security clearance, I was prohibited from boarding commercial flights, so the Director of the Institute had generously lent me his personal sedan used for hosting VIPs, ensuring I would have adequate backing and protection upon my arrival.

Right on schedule, I drove the vehicle to the entrance of my fiance's corporate headquarters. Just as I was preparing to reverse into a parking space, a white sports car zoomed forward at breakneck speed. Before I could even process what was happening, the vehicle veered sharply and slammed directly into the side of my car. The driver furiously rolled down her window and pointed right in my face, screaming profanities.

"You blind little bitch, where were your eyes? Do you even know how to drive?"

I tried to swallow my rising anger and retorted sharply, "You clearly stole my parking spot, so how on earth are you turning around to blame me?"

Faced with my interrogation, she adopted an expression of utter contempt.

"Whose spot? Listen carefully, you little nobody. In this city of Lam Chau, even a falling leaf cannot touch the ground without the permission of the Shen family. Do you understand that?"

I paused for a few seconds, then calmly pulled out my phone and dialed my fiance's number.

"I heard people in your corporation say that your Shen family acts like you own the skies over Lam Chau. Is that true?"

If not out of respect for my father, I would have found making this phone call beneath me. Damaging the Director's official vehicle was not something that could be resolved with a simple monetary compensation. If the attitude of this prospective husband of mine was even moderately acceptable, I might have considered brushing the incident aside.

"I am extremely busy. Say what you have to say quickly," his voice crackled through the phone, dripping with impatience.

"Mr. Shen, I think it would be best for you to come downstairs personally, to avoid—"

Before I could even finish my sentence, the line went dead with a busy tone. I stood frozen in place. Do all wealthy executives share this arrogant lack of manners? Seeing my predicament, the woman who had stolen my parking spot cracked her mouth open in a triumphant grin.

"I thought you were someone of actual importance, but it turns out you are just all bark and no bite."

"If I were you, I would hurry up and pay for the damages. If President Shen finds out his vehicle was rammed, you probably won't be leaving Lam Chau alive."

Seeing that I was barely in my twenties and driving a car with out-of-town license plates, she completely dismissed me as an easy target.

"Miss, are you completely devoid of reason? You clearly cut me off and stole my parking space, and I haven't even settled accounts with you yet. How dare you try to extort me?" I pointed upward at the security camera overhead. "There is a surveillance camera right there. If you continue to distort the truth, do you really think I won't call the police right now?"

Upon hearing my threat to involve the authorities, her tone became even more brazen and insolent.

"Little wretch, I advise you to save your breath. Even if the police actually show up, it will only result in you paying an even heavier fine."

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, and the air around her grew heavy with the pungent smell of alcohol. I glanced down and noticed half a bottle of liquor rolling on the floorboards of her car side.

"You don't want me to call the police because you've been drinking, don't you?"

The moment those words left my mouth, she lunged forward and gave me a violent shove.

"Whether I drank alcohol or not is none of your damn business! Pay for the damages now! If you dare to stiff me on this, I'll make sure you can't crawl out of Lam Chau in one piece!"

Having spent the past few years cloistered within the Research Institute, I had precious little contact with the outside world and had no idea how to deal with such uncultured individuals. Seeing her utterly lawless attitude finally ignited my temper.

"You were the one who crashed into my car, yet you turn around and bite back like a rabid dog. Is something wrong with your brain?"

As soon as those words dropped, the crowd of onlookers gathered around immediately began to murmur and whisper among themselves.

"That young woman has a lot of nerve. How could she dare to curse Assistant Lam?"

"Ordinary people run away just to avoid President Shen's car, yet she actually had the audacity to crash into it."

"She only has her own bad luck to blame. Of all the people to offend, she had to run into Lam Man—the person President Shen trusts the most."

The surrounding gossip only fueled Lam Man's arrogance and conceit.

"You little tramp, you actually dare to curse me? You must be tired of living."

Faced with her intimidation, I remained entirely unfazed, finding the whole spectacle rather comical.

"Assistant Lam, was it? I advise you to watch your mouth and clean up your language. If you truly manage to tick me off, even your precious boss won't be able to bear the consequences."

"Bear your mother's grave!" Not finished venting her rage, she rolled up her sleeves and lunged forward as if she intended to physically strike me.

"What? When the people of Lam Chau lose an argument, do they immediately resort to violence?"

Lam Man swung her hand, attempting to deliver several slaps to my face, but she could not even graze the hem of my clothing.

"Little bitch, you want to dodge again? Do you believe I will call President Shen right this second?"

Faced with her repeated provocations, I did not retaliate, choosing instead to step aside and evade her blows. It was not out of fear, but rather because before I left the Research Institute, the Director had repeatedly admonished me: *Your identity is highly sensitive; once you are outside, you must never engage in conflicts with local residents.* Furthermore, I simply did not know how to fight. The only things my hands normally touched were test tubes and sealed laboratory cabinets. If I truly lost control and fought back, the consequences would be far beyond what she could endure.

Lam Man, mistaking my silence for cowardice, raised her hand to strike my face once more. Suddenly, a furious roar echoed from behind us.

"Stop right there! Lam Man, you are, after all, my executive assistant. How can you casually resort to physical violence against people out on the street?"

Surrounded by a phalanx of security guards, Shen Xingzhou strode rapidly toward where I stood.

"You must be Xu Qinghe?"

I carefully appraised the man standing before me and had to admit that my father's taste in people was not entirely flawed. Tall with long limbs, dressed in a tailored suit without a single wrinkle, he cut an exceptionally striking figure amidst the crowd. If I had to find a single flaw, it would be that his gaze toward me was far too chillingly indifferent.

"Mr. Shen, pleased to make your acquaintance. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Xu Qinghe, and I come from—"

"There is no need." Before I could even finish my sentence, Shen Xingzhou raised his hand impatiently, cutting me off. "You and I are simply not a good match. Wherever you came from, you should just head back there."

At that moment, I almost suspected there was something wrong with my ears. I had driven for over ten hours straight from the Research Institute to Lam Chau, without even having had a chance to drink a sip of water. The moment we met, before we could even exchange proper pleasantries, he was already driving me away. Was he treating me like some sort of fool to be toyed with?

"Mr. Shen, are you entirely certain you do not want to understand the situation first?"

"There is no need." Shen Xingzhou cast a cold glance at the heavily damaged white sports car, his brow furrowing even deeper. "Lam Man has been by my side for five years, and she always acts with proper discretion. She would never make things difficult for you without cause."

Upon hearing this, Lam Man immediately pressed herself against his side, tears springing from her eyes with practiced ease. "President Shen, I only wanted to park in the designated space, but she insisted on seizing it and deliberately rammed my car. I originally wanted to resolve the matter peacefully, but the moment she opened her mouth, she started hurling abuse at me, even claiming that even if you arrived personally, you would have to kneel and beg for her forgiveness."

I stared intently at Lam Man. "Are you certain I said those words?"

She wiped away a tear, her voice dripping with an even greater sense of aggrieved innocence. "Everyone here heard it with their own ears. Are you still trying to deny it?"

Several employees standing nearby exchanged glances, and one of them immediately chimed in to corroborate the lie.

"That's right, we all heard it clearly."