At the thought of Cen Zhi Ning, an unconscious smile curved his lips.
“She’s the only asset in this world I haven’t completely brought under control—yet desperately want to obtain.”
Qi Rumei’s heart trembled with rage. She had always known her nephew was a monster.
But now this monster had developed feelings for Cen Zhi Ning.
“Just for Cen Zhi Ning? Have you gone mad?”
He let out a scornful laugh, full of disdain.
“Why not? Ning Ning can only belong to me.”
Qi Rumei froze completely. A chill shot from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head, making her teeth chatter.
She finally understood.
Her nephew’s obsession with Cen Zhi Ning had nothing to do with the family fortune. It was something deeper, more twisted, more terrifying—an absolute desire to possess.
Not only could she no longer understand him, she felt, from the bottom of her heart, a fear she had never known before.
What kind of monster had she personally unleashed?
And this monster had clearly broken free of her control—perhaps even regarding her as nothing more than an insignificant chess piece on his board.
Qi Yanheng withdrew his gaze and looked again at his pale-faced aunt. His tone returned to calm, which only made it more chilling.
“So from now on, don’t interfere in my affairs—especially anything concerning Ning Ning. And have Uncle Cen give up the idea of a marriage alliance as soon as possible. If he still thinks he can maintain the cash flow through marriage, he’s dreaming. Advise him to start pleasing me, begging me. Only then will the Cen family have a chance to survive.”
He smiled faintly.
“And Aunt, just play your role as a wealthy lady obediently. Perhaps then I’ll allow you to peacefully enjoy the last of this false prosperity.”
Without another glance at her, he turned and walked into the house, leaving Qi Rumei slumped alone in the cold shadows, shivering.
For the first time, she clearly realized that this household had long since changed hands.
And the new master was far more terrifying—by hundreds of times—than she had ever imagined.
She suddenly flung the flower basket to the ground.
“You monster!!!”
Qi Yanheng returned to his bedroom. He picked up the photograph on the bedside table.
In the picture, Cen Zhi Ning wore twin ponytails, smiling brightly at him.
He gently stroked the photo.
“Monster?”
He gave a low, self-mocking laugh.
He didn’t deny it.
He was indeed a monster.
Born with intelligence far beyond ordinary people and a photographic memory, yet emotionally stunted to an extreme degree.
He had never acknowledged any form of affection—whether familial or romantic. To him, the world was merely a cold, complex system of logic and rules.
From childhood, he had been solitary and quiet, unable to fit in with his peers.
His mother had been a minor celebrity—beautiful and ambitious.
He was the result of her premarital pregnancy, a tool meant to secure her marriage into a wealthy family and consolidate her status and benefits.
Unfortunately, that wealthy family refused to acknowledge him and would not allow his mother to marry in. They gave her thirty million in compensation and emigrated.
His mother, thrilled with the money, quickly found another man.
He no longer remembered how many families he had moved through.
She had never shown him much affection. The only lessons she instilled were to fight, to seize, to achieve goals by any means necessary.
After she fell into depression and jumped to her death, he was taken in by his aunt, Qi Rumei, and brought to the Cen household.
That was when he met Cen Zhi Ning.
Qi Rumei, in order to seduce Cen Zhi Ning’s father, Cen Zhenguo, took the initiative to become Cen Zhi Ning’s private dance instructor.
Ironically, Cen Zhi Ning was kept completely in the dark and wholeheartedly tried to please him.
At first, he thought she was foolish—a piece of sticky plaster he couldn’t shake off.
Later, he gradually began to enjoy being around her.
Who wouldn’t love warm sunlight?
He liked listening to her chatter and complain.
He loved watching her dress like a little princess and spin around him.
Each day, he looked forward to the time when Qi Rumei came to teach her.
He became infatuated with her—until Qi Rumei successfully secured her position in the household.
Cen Zhi Ning felt humiliated. She saw both him and Qi Rumei as snakes and rats in collusion, destroyers of her family.
While he was rejoicing at being able to see her every day, thrilled to live next door to her, she had already begun to resent and retaliate against him.
He gradually grew accustomed to her little acts of spite—even enjoyed them.
The first time he wanted to press her beneath him and kiss her, he realized something was wrong with himself.
Every time he heard her angry voice, watched her lips open and close, he only wanted to personally taste their warmth.
But she no longer gave him a pleasant expression. He tried to ease their relationship.
Everything exploded before she left the country.
A maid delivering freshly cleaned clothes mistakenly sent Cen Zhi Ning’s intimate garments to his room.
On impulse, he kept them.
The childish, laughable lace underwear.
A week later, Qi Rumei discovered the undergarments hidden beneath his blanket, along with the stained sheets. She understood his filthy thoughts.
He had expected her to fly into a rage.
Instead, she left without saying a word.
Later, Qi Rumei manipulated the situation and lured Cen Zhi Ning into his room.
Cen Zhi Ning discovered his secret desire for her.
She was furious, shouting, disgusted—her face full of revulsion.
She fled in fear and avoided him for a week.
It didn’t matter.
Better she knew early.
Sooner or later, she would belong to him.
But then something unexpected happened.
Qi Rumei claimed that Cen Zhi Ning had lost her beloved earrings and was hiding alone in the bathroom, crying stubbornly.
Without thinking, he went straight to the bathroom.
When he pushed open the door, he saw Cen Zhi Ning completely naked—
The next day, she was sent abroad.
Before leaving, she looked at him with venomous hatred.
“You think sending me overseas will let you sleep peacefully? Just wait. I’ll come back one day. Everything that belongs to the Cen family—none of you will touch a single thing.”
He no longer remembered exactly how he felt then.
Numb. Twisted. In pain.
But he understood one truth.
If what Cen Zhi Ning wanted was the Cen family, then he would hand it to her.
Three years.
Just three years.
All the eyesores would be cleared away.
He didn’t want the family fortune.
But if she wanted it, he would organize everything neatly and present it to her with both hands.
The only condition—
She had to be his.
His phone buzzed. Mu Chenchuan was requesting a video call.
Qi Yanheng suppressed his emotions and answered.
Mu Chenchuan appeared in the back seat of a sports car, face brimming with excitement.
“President, let me show you something funny.”
He tilted the camera toward the driver’s seat.
Jiang Jingmian was driving.
In the passenger seat, Jin Yi Han slumped back, head lowered, eyes half-closed. His long lashes cast shadows over his face. He looked exceptionally dejected, a violent aura radiating from him.
Qi Yanheng had never seen the Jin family’s crown prince like this. A playful smile tugged at his lips.
“What’s wrong with Young Master Jin? Possessed by a ghost?”
Mu Chenchuan burst out laughing.
“Hilarious. He got dumped by his online dating girlfriend after meeting in real life…”
He rambled on at length.
Qi Yanheng narrowed his eyes slightly, questioning the credibility.
“You’re saying Young Master Jin met his online girlfriend offline, and in less than a month got dumped out of nowhere? A cliff-style breakup? She just disappeared?”