Lin Yao’s biological mother died in a car accident when she was in middle school. Not long after, her father remarried, bringing home a stepmother and a six-year-old younger brother.
It was then that Lin Yao learned her father had long been unfaithful to her mother.
Young Lin Yao could do nothing about it and even had to live under her stepmother’s watchful eye.
At first, her stepmother treated her decently on the surface, but over time, she stopped hiding her true nature—beating and scolding Lin Yao, sometimes even depriving her of meals.
The saying “with a stepmother comes a stepfather” didn’t apply in Lin Yao’s home.
Her father treated her well, but he was always busy and rarely had time to come home. In front of him, her stepmother acted kindly toward her.
But once her father left, her stepmother’s treatment worsened. Young Lin Yao couldn’t fight back, nor could she tell her father—even if she did, he likely wouldn’t believe her.
By the time she graduated from university, Lin Yao knew her stepmother would never let her take over the family business.
So, using the money her father gave her, she opened a dessert shop. Though the income wasn’t high, at least it was something she enjoyed doing.
As soon as Lin Yao arrived home, she saw her stepmother sitting in the living room, clearly waiting for her. The living room, once filled with collectibles, was now almost empty, with only a few pieces of furniture left.
Seeing Lin Yao return, her stepmother rushed over like a lifeline, grabbing her hands and saying excitedly:
“Yao Yao, only you can save your father and the company now! You must save him!”
Lin Yao pulled her hands away, not daring to agree immediately. “What exactly happened?”
Her stepmother burst into tears.
“Your father was tricked into investing company funds, and now he can’t get the money back. The company is on the verge of bankruptcy!”
“The company is his life’s work. He can’t just watch it go under!
“So he borrowed money. We’ve sold everything we could, but we still owe ten million. Only you can save him now!”
Lin Yao couldn’t believe how much had happened in just one year away from home. Even if she wanted to help, she had no way of coming up with that much money. “But I don’t have that kind of money.”
“You don’t need to pay!”
Seeing that Lin Yao was willing to help, her stepmother grabbed her hands again, as if afraid she might run away.
“I don’t need to pay? What do you mean?” Lin Yao didn’t understand. If she didn’t need to pay, how could she possibly help?
“Do you remember Uncle Qian? He’s willing to help your father repay the debt. Once the money is paid back, the company won’t go bankrupt! But he has one condition.”
Her stepmother’s voice grew softer, and she lowered her head, avoiding Lin Yao’s gaze.
Of course, Lin Yao remembered who Uncle Qian was. He had visited their home during her university years, and the way he looked at her still made her sick to this day.
A terrible thought crossed Lin Yao’s mind. She stared at her stepmother and asked loudly, “His condition isn’t for me to marry him, is it?!”
Her stepmother kept her head down, too guilty to look at her.
“He’s already over sixty years old!
“And his son is even older than me! You actually want me to marry him?! You’re trying to sell me to him!”
Lin Yao was on the verge of breaking down, staring at her in disbelief.
Seeing Lin Yao’s refusal, her stepmother knelt down and clung to her legs, crying out loudly,
“I know, but this is the only way!”
“I know I haven’t treated you well since you were little, and you hate me—I accept that!”
“But think about your father, and your brother—your brother sees you as his own sister!”
“And your father—yesterday he tried to jump off a building behind my back. Luckily, I found him in time, or else you’d be seeing his corpse right now!”
“Your father has been so good to you! Do you want to watch him die?! Please, this is the only way!”
Lin Yao never imagined that her always cheerful father would attempt suicide. Her whole body trembled as she asked tearfully and despairingly, “Does Father know about this?”
Stepmother, of course, knew what Lin Yao was asking and quickly shook her head:
“No, he has no idea about this matter. I made the decision; he doesn’t know anything. If he knew, he would never agree to what I’m doing.”
“But I can’t just stand by and watch your father die! If you want to hate someone, hate me. I—”
“Enough, don’t say anymore. I agree!”
Lin Yao interrupted her, not wanting to hear another word. At least it wasn’t something Father had agreed to, which made her feel slightly less terrible. At the very least, this was the last thing she could do to help her father.
That evening, Stepmother brought out an evening gown for Lin Yao to wear, saying she was taking her to a banquet where Uncle Qian would be waiting.
It was only at that moment that Lin Yao realized Stepmother had known all along that she would agree.
Strangely, she found herself thinking it was fortunate that Chen Dong had broken up with her—otherwise, how could she ever face him?
The banquet was extravagantly decorated, and everyone in attendance was a notable figure in the capital’s elite circles. Rumor had it that the banquet was ostensibly a birthday celebration for the Huo family patriarch, the wealthiest man in the city.
But everyone knew it was actually a welcome party for his grandson, who had just returned from abroad, meant to introduce him to the circle.
A family like Lin Yao’s would never have had the chance to attend such an event. It was all because of that so-called Uncle Qian, who had provided the invitation.
By the time Lin Yao arrived with Stepmother, the banquet had already begun.
Huo Boyan recognized her the moment she walked in. She wore a pale blue strapless gown, with tiny diamonds shimmering along the hem, accentuating her figure.
For some reason, Huo Boyan suddenly recalled that night when she was beneath him—clearly in pain but silent, biting her lip until it bled.
She was here today too? Which family’s daughter was she?
Stepmother led Lin Yao to Uncle Qian and urged her to greet him. His eyes roamed over her body, and Lin Yao forced herself to smile and greet him despite her disgust.
Stepmother and Uncle Qian exchanged a knowing smile, their eyes conveying an understanding only they shared.
Lin Yao couldn’t bear to stay any longer. Making an excuse to use the restroom, she slipped away. Only when she reached the garden and saw no one had followed did she let out a sigh of relief.
“What are you doing here?”
A man’s voice suddenly sounded behind her, startling Lin Yao. She turned to see a tall, handsome man.
Thank goodness it wasn’t that disgusting Uncle Qian.
But why did this man in front of her look more and more familiar the longer she stared?
“It’s you!”
Lin Yao remembered—this was the man from the bar that night!
“You recognize me?”
Huo Boyan asked again,
Lin Yao nodded, “What do you want? I paid you that day! Could it be that the money wasn’t enough, and you want to ask me for more?”
Huo Boyan didn’t know why he had followed her here, but he never expected that she hadn’t recognized him! Was his face so easily forgotten?!
“Do I look like someone who lacks that kind of money?” Huo Boyan scoffed.
True, everyone attending the banquet today was either wealthy or influential—how could they possibly be short of money?
Wealthy or influential?
Suddenly, an incredible idea flashed through Lin Yao’s mind. Perhaps the man in front of her could save her?
“Can you lend me ten million?!”
Lin Yao spoke directly to the man. Even though she knew he might refuse, this was her only hope.
“Sure.”
Looking at Lin Yao’s pleading eyes, Huo Boyan agreed as if bewitched.
Lin Yao was stunned. She had already anticipated the outcome—after all, who would lend ten million to someone they barely knew, someone they had only slept with?
But the man in front of her actually said yes!
“But there’s one condition: marry me.”