Yu Yang cursed silently in her heart.
What “dad”!
Her father had long been dead!
Disappeared for so many years—when she needed parents the most, where had they been?
Now that they had shown up, Yu Yang just felt annoyed.
She agreed with a nod, burying her head in the soft blankets.
The next second, she bounced up again.
As a “fairy,” there was absolutely no way she could go without removing her makeup.
“Yu Yang, what time is it? Get up already!”
“Didn’t I text you last night? How could you forget again?!”
Yu Yang sat up straight, staring at her phone, a little dazed.
“I didn’t even have time to read your message!”
She got up.
“Did you reschedule the flight?”
“Of course! Count your blessings. There was a minor issue with the venue over there, otherwise today your rivals would have ambushed you!”
Listening to Song Li ramble on the phone, Yu Yang suddenly remembered the instructions her so-called “dad” had left.
“Song Li, after the Kyoto event is over, push back my subsequent schedule a bit. You know, as a newly minted heiress, I have a lot of things to handle.”
Song Li stared at her phone in disbelief, making sure she hadn’t dialed the wrong number.
“Oh my god, say that again. I didn’t hear you just now!”
“Hang up. So annoying.”
Yu Yang looked at her pale face in the mirror, shaking her head helplessly.
When Song Li came to pick her up, seeing Yu Yang so listless, she said,
“Cheer up. Having a dad and mom is always a good thing!”
“That’s what you think, not me!”
Yu Yang stared at the clouds outside, her thoughts growing heavy.
The plane carved a line across the sky.
As Yu Yang walked out of the airport, a group of fans surrounded her.
She exchanged glances with Song Li for a few seconds, then reluctantly removed her sunglasses.
Her schedule couldn’t remain secret!
It was truly impossible.
Helplessly, Yu Yang efficiently took the items the fans handed her—signing, smiling.
She was like a robot running on a preset program.
Once in the car, Yu Yang finally let out a breath.
She leaned lazily against the seatback.
“Are we heading straight to the event venue?”
“Yes.”
Yu Yang closed her eyes to rest for a moment. When she opened them, the roads around her looked different from her memory.
Grasping Song Li’s arm, she asked,
“Are we going the right way?”
“Yes!” Song Li patted her hand. “Sister, you’re too famous. If we had gone the other way, we probably wouldn’t have made it to the venue!”
“Still, you can’t blame me!”
Yu Yang spread her hands in a way that looked slightly bratty.
Today’s event was a brand appearance for a necklace line she endorsed. Normally, she didn’t need to attend in person, but since it was the brand’s anniversary, she was asked to show up.
Yu Yang had just debuted and wasn’t popular yet. The brand hadn’t abandoned her, so she had cooperated with all their requests over the years.
One must remember to repay kindness!
After the event ended, Pei Yucheng appeared in front of Yu Yang punctually.
Perhaps knowing Yu Yang didn’t want her identity widely known, he didn’t show up directly in front of everyone.
He called her, telling her where he was waiting.
Yu Yang glanced at Song Li, standing stiffly outside the window.
“You don’t need to worry about me. Go back to the hotel and rest! I’ll let you know later whether I return to the hotel or not.”
Song Li watched as her “money tree” abandoned her.
She knew her beloved money tree wasn’t that kind of person.
Yu Yang felt constrained and a little lost.
Pei Yucheng glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
“What’s wrong? Not satisfied with your driver?”
“I didn’t say that.”
His low, rich laughter reached her ears, and Yu Yang focused on him intently.
“What about her?”
Pei Yucheng paused for a moment before realizing who Yu Yang meant.
“She’s at our house. You know, her health!”
Yu Yang wanted to ask more, but seeing Pei Yucheng so focused on driving, she stayed silent.
The Pei family ancestral home sat in Kyoto’s old, pricey southern district.
Generations here were all people who couldn’t be ignored.
Noticing Yu Yang’s wandering gaze, Pei Yucheng said,
“In Kyoto, old wealthy families’ ancestral homes are mostly here. Once you get used to it, it’s hard to leave! These houses may not look low-key or sophisticated like those in the new districts, but the older generation’s standards can’t be changed.”
“Oh!”
At that moment, a pure gold plaque caught Yu Yang’s eye.
Her inner thoughts:
—Wow… how much money is that worth!
“I arranged a property for you in Kyoto. Your little uncle will take you to see it later.”
Yu Yang repeated “little uncle” in her mind.
“Pei Yuheng?”
“He’s too reclusive and doesn’t like the old house, so he’s always lived elsewhere. Thanks to him, your property turned out well!”
“Oh!”
Pei Yucheng recalled what the old master had investigated.
“Ah Yang, always remember your identity. Your grandfather values your little uncle greatly and doesn’t want him tainted in any way!”
Yu Yang felt dazed.
For a moment, she remembered the “real vs fake heiress” novels she had read.
“You… checked up on me!”
“It was your grandfather, not me!”
Pei Yucheng showed a smile Yu Yang couldn’t read.
“Of course, I also found some information. But don’t worry, I am your father. Anything harmful to you, I can erase.”
Yu Yang clenched her palms tightly, forcing herself to calm down.
“What… do you mean by that?”
“Don’t you understand?”
Pei Yucheng turned to look at her.
“What happened between you and Pei Yuheng is in the past. As long as you don’t affect him in the future, you will always be my daughter!”
“Actually, the wealthier the family, the more dirty secrets there are. Some things may even shock your morals. Some things are best left in the past.”
“Today, your little uncle’s fiancée will also be here. Be sure to get along with her!”
Yu Yang increasingly felt this wasn’t a welcome-home banquet at the Pei family at all—it was clearly a warning banquet, a reminder to always remember her status.
She followed Pei Yucheng into the house.
The further in she went, the colder it felt behind her.
Pei Yucheng led Yu Yang to a house that looked very old. Glancing around, Yu Yang noticed this courtyard didn’t fit at all—it was excessively elegant.
Pei Yucheng slowly said, “Dad, this is Ah Yang, my daughter.”
“Look up, let me see!”
Yu Yang’s arm was gently nudged by Pei Yucheng. At her “cheap dad’s” reminder, she looked up—but recoiled a step in fear.
Inside stood a gaunt, skeletal figure.
Yu Yang hesitated.
Was that… even a human?