Chapter 1 — When You Shine, I Am Still Here

I am a humble servant by the side of a prominent heiress from a prestigious wealthy family. She refers to me as her dearest sister, swiping her card to buy me designer clothing and luxury handbags, and whenever we go strolling through the upscale districts, she never lets me spend a single coin. Recently, the young lady has developed a passionate crush on a breathtaking campus heartthrob. She instructed me to pursue him on her behalf. Between her and him lies a destined chasm that can never be bridged, yet such a delectable morsel going to waste on someone else would break her heart. She told me to go seduce him and freely offered him to me as a gift. Emergency rescue required! How on earth am I supposed to confess to her that just last night, I shared a bed with her own older brother?

Xsi Xsi, you are the absolute best sister in the entire world. All those other superficial people only ever target my money, but you, you care for nothing of the sort. The young lady linked her arm intimately through mine, gently resting her head against my shoulder. Hearing her speak those words filled my conscience with a suffocating wave of guilt, because I was not merely targeting her wealth—I was actively targeting her older brother. Back during our high school years, I had once caught sight of her older brother dropping her off at the school gates. That breathtaking face, that impeccably tailored physique, he looked precisely like a high-fashion male model. The moment he lowered his head to extinguish a cigarette, the razor-sharp contour of his jawline struck a devastating blow straight to my heart! And thus, I clung tenaciously to the young lady. Her circle of indolent friends was practically boundless, yet after a thorough period of filtering, she ultimately kept only me by her side. Being friends with an heiress is genuinely exhilarating. Following in her footsteps meant being chauffeured in luxurious foreign cars and swiping credit cards without ever glancing at the price tags. Thanks to this arrangement, someone of utterly ordinary origins like myself managed to taste the extravagant lifestyle of the ultra-rich. I studied day and night, pushing myself relentlessly to pass the exams and enter the exact same university as her, driven solely by the sheer inability to bear the thought of relinquishing this luxurious existence.

Xsi Xsi, lately I have fallen completely head over heels for Tran Noc Bach. Recently, the young lady had been plagued by restless anxiety, terrified of losing what she could not even grasp. Fulfilling my role as a loyal hound, I immediately chimed in to appease her. He is entirely worthy of such affection, being both strikingly handsome and academically brilliant. The only minor flaw is that his family background is rather ordinary, much like mine. In truth, ordinary mortals like the two of us filled every corner of this vast world, and while Tran Noc Bach was immensely popular across the campus, to an aristocratic heiress, he was simply out of her league. But there is zero possibility between him and me, and letting such a delectable morsel fall into someone else hands is simply too agonizing to contemplate. You go pursue him instead, I am giving him to you as a gift. She suddenly halted in her tracks, wearing an expression of absolute determination, before lifting her hands to cup my face. With a playful chuckle, she jabbed her finger right into my dimple. My gorgeous Xsi Xsi, with your stunning looks, conquering Tran Noc Bach will be an absolute breeze! Gazing into her fiercely earnest expression, I began to panic. Save me, my dear heiress, exactly how am I supposed to break the news to you that just last night, I slept with your brother, and my legs are still so weak I can barely stand?

If one were to view this situation entirely from the perspective of the young lady, I was undeniably a wretched scoundrel. Forcibly squeezing out an exceptionally awkward smile, I stammered, Well, it seems Tran Noc Bach is not really my type. But that was not what you were saying just a moment ago! The young lady narrowed her eyes, casting a suspicious glance in my direction. This matter is somewhat inappropriate, considering that you harbor feelings for him after all. I fumbled and stuttered, desperately trying to talk her out of this utterly absurd notion. But if he ends up with someone else, it will torment me endlessly. If it is you, however, I will feel completely at peace. I will know that my beloved sister has found a wonderful harbor, and that alone will allow me to let go. Her laughter grew progressively more carefree, while my sense of gnawing guilt intensified exponentially. After a brief flurry of frantic thought, a sudden flash of inspiration struck my mind. Compared to Tran Noc Bach, I actually find your older brother infinitely more handsome. What if I went after your brother instead? I tested the waters, half-joking and half-in-earnest. She dismissively waved her hand through the air. That is entirely out of the question. My brother is bound to obey the arrangements dictated by our family, and eventually, he will marry someone of equal social standing. My parents are already actively arranging an engagement for him. If you were to develop feelings for him, the ultimate outcome would be utterly tragic, much like my situation with Tran Noc Bach—the gap between our worlds is simply too insurmountable.

My head began to buzz with a dull, persistent ache. The truth was, I had foreseen this exact conclusion long ago, and I understood the harsh reality of those social barriers all too well. I had even previously comforted myself with the thought that I had nothing to lose; to love with reckless abandon and to have spent time by the side of someone so brilliantly exceptional was already more than enough. I suppose I shall give it further thought. I lowered my head, my voice shrinking down to the delicate buzz of a mosquito. Xsi Xsi, trust me on this, Tran Noc Bach is genuinely a wonderful catch. You and he truly belong to the exact same world. Right. Ordinary individuals naturally belong to the very same ordinary world, and one should never indulge in delusional fantasies. To have slept with Chu Dien Chi for such an extended period was, in all honesty, a massive profit on my part. If you truly do not mind, then I will go ahead and pursue him.

Lately, Chu Dien Chi had been overwhelmingly occupied, occasionally lowering his voice to murmur into his phone—doubtless his family members continuously pressing him regarding matters of marriage. As for myself, a thoroughly unqualified girlfriend, I was not even granted the basic privilege of stepping foot across his threshold. Xsi Xsi is such a good girl. I quickly gathered my scattered composure, plastered a brilliant smile across my face, and set off to purchase the items listed on the young lady's meticulous shopping itinerary. She even forwarded Tran Noc Bach WeChat contact information to my phone, followed enthusiastically by an encouraging fighting sticker meant to boost my morale. She had a grand social banquet to attend that evening, an elite gathering that required strict screening—precisely the kind of exclusive circle where someone of my humble background was barred from entering. After we parted ways, I stood alone for a long moment lost in deep contemplation before squatting down by the quiet curbside to compose a farewell text message. The lengthy essay stretching over a thousand words was subjected to endless cycles of typing and deleting, yet I never mustered the courage to press send. A full year spent living as a clandestine lover, this thrilling underground romance, had finally reached its inevitable expiration date.

What kind of love declaration takes over half an hour just to type out? From the receiving end of the screen, Chu Dien Chi transmitted a short voice message—his tone carrying that familiar, intoxicatingly deep and magnetic warmth. I let out a soft, melancholic sigh and ultimately deleted the remaining fragments of that unsent essay. I was merely an illicit shadow in his life, what possible right did I have to demand a breakup? Being dumped was a humiliation reserved for women of his own social class. I miss my husband so terribly. My resolve faltered once again, and I casually typed out those affectionate words. Thick-skinned by nature, fully aware that Chu Dien Chi would never legally marry someone like me, I nonetheless addressed him as husband dearest with every single message I sent. Initially, he found the endearment somewhat peculiar, but as time passed, he grew accustomed to it and even seemed to harbor a quiet fondness for the title. He was in the midst of typing a reply when my fingers moved swiftly across the screen to add another sentence: Husband, I recently laid eyes on a designer handbag priced at two million, and I yearn for it so desperately, please grant my wish! Accompanied by an animated sticker of a tiny kitten aggressively nuzzling a baby. Throughout my time entwined with Chu Dien Chi, I had never once experienced financial scarcity; compared to the generous allowances provided by the young lady, the sums he gave me were exponentially greater.

Yet actively opening my lips to explicitly beg for a luxury handbag like today was an absolute first for me. Having shared his bed merely last night, I was demanding a two-million-dollar luxury item this very morning—no matter how one analyzed the situation, I appeared entirely as the stereotypical gold-digging woman clinging desperately to a wealthy man for his assets. Yet, without the slightest fraction of hesitation, he executed an immediate electronic transfer. Take this and spend it as you please. Staring blankly at the staggering two-million-figure glowing on the screen, hot tears suddenly welled up and spilled over my lashes. Perhaps, within the cold calculation of Chu Dien Chi's worldview, this transaction represented the most correct and natural state of our relationship. I—a woman who lingered by his side purely for the sake of material wealth—was fulfilling a predictable role, and maintaining this transactional dynamic allowed him to feel the most at ease. If I were foolish enough to demand genuine emotional attachment from him, it would undoubtedly transform me into a pathetic laughingstock. Weeping softly for a brief moment, I wiped my eyes, grabbed the phone once more, and tapped out another text: Husband is truly extraordinarily generous! Would husband be willing to bestow a real estate property upon me? Specifically in the prestigious Hao Dinh Flower Garden district, I wish to reside in that neighborhood.

How much? He replied with astonishing swiftness. I hurriedly checked the skyrocketing property prices within that specific residential enclave and nearly choked on my own breath. The starting price alone easily exceeded tens of millions. I typed out a random figure: Ninety million. Letting out a self-deprecating laugh, I ultimately lacked the sheer audacity to round it up to a full hundred million. I could vividly picture the slight frown creasing his brow as he read those words, mentally confirming once and for all that I was indeed the archetypal woman who came exclusively for monetary gain. Tomorrow, I will have Secretary Truong escort you to complete the legal procedures. My eyes widened in sheer disbelief as I bolted upright from the bench—what did he just say?! Big boss! He was actually not going to fly into a rage over this?! My internal emotions were thrown into complete, chaotic disarray, prompting me to resolutely switch off my phone and refuse to ponder the matter any further.

The following afternoon, the young lady cornered me with an eager inquiry: How is the progress coming along? It was only then that I snapped back to reality, realizing with a start that Tran Noc Bach had not even accepted my WeChat friend request yet! Current progress: minus one. What do you mean minus one? He still has not added me back. Oh, just forget about it, he is notoriously aloof like that. Back then, it took a grueling five hours before he finally agreed to add me. I patiently forced myself to linger and converse idly with the young lady for a considerable stretch of time. Having consumed a slightly excessive amount of alcohol the previous evening, she was currently suffering from a dull, throbbing headache—an ideal scenario for me to showcase my devotion by visiting her, delivering soothing water and medicinal remedies, and accumulating valuable Brownie points. Yet, every single time my thoughts drifted back to Chu Dien Chi, a strange and unsettling heaviness churned violently in my chest. By the time late afternoon rolled around and I finally stepped out of the university library, my phone chimed with an incoming call from Secretary Truong, informing me that all the necessary paperwork had been finalized and requesting my presence to affix my signature.

This cannot possibly be real, can it? Gritting my teeth, I climbed into the waiting vehicle, bracing myself inwardly for an inevitable wave of scathing contempt—much like the dramatic scenes unfolding in melodramatic romance films: Just who do you think you are to harbor such delusions of grandeur? Such a shameless, gold-digging creature... and so forth. Yet, nothing of the sort materialized. Secretary Truong treated me with absolute, deferential politeness, escorting me directly into the private office of the senior VIP client manager. Are we actually signing this contract? I genuinely wanted to voice the question aloud: at this stage of the game, did they truly have no intention of cursing me out as a shameless mercenary? Secretary Truong blinked in mild surprise before sliding the thick leather-bound document across the polished mahogany desk in my direction. President Chu personally selected this specific luxury villa, noting that this residential sector is situated much closer to your university campus, which will render your daily commute considerably more convenient. My gaze swept down the pages until my eyes locked onto the contract. My own legal name was printed clearly across the opening page. With a heavy sigh of resignation, I lowered the pen. I am terribly sorry, but I no longer wish to accept this property. Secretary Truong froze in stunned silence, while the client manager seated beside him looked as though he had just been struck by a bolt of lightning. If Miss encounters any hesitations or discomforts, please communicate them directly to me, and I shall endeavor to resolve every single issue to absolute perfection. Financial gifts could potentially be returned, but an entire real estate property was genuinely a tangled mess far too difficult to untangle. I simply could not comprehend what was churning inside Chu Dien Chi's mind, nor why he had so readily consented to purchasing a house for me. In the end, I panicked and fled the scene. Engaging in this peculiar brand of romantic entanglement while acquiring real estate meant that upon an eventual breakup, demanding the assets back would prove an agonizingly complicated ordeal.

Do you not like it? The telephone began to ring insistently—it was Chu Dien Chi calling. His voice resonated with the exact same familiar cadence: deep, low, and dangerously intoxicating, yet dripping with absolute, freezing composure. I do not like it. Chu Dien Chi, I have thought long and hard about this, let us end things here and break up. You no longer harbor any affection for me anyway.