A stack of legal documents lay on the table, with a lawyer seated across from her.
“The inheritance matters here in the UK have all been settled. Are you really going back to Hong Kong?”
Lei Shaoxin gripped a document titled Financial Statement, her fingertips tightening until the thin paper wrinkled.
“Yes. Thank you, Mike. My mother was forced into suicide—I have to go back and find out the truth.”
She clenched her teeth, silently repeating the name that appeared in the report: Zhuosheng Group.
Hong Kong International Airport
People hurried through the airport. A light breeze lifted loose strands of hair by her ear. Lei Shaoxin stood at the exit, waiting for a car—an electric guitar slung over her right shoulder, a travel bag in her left hand.
Dressed in a leather jacket, skinny pants, and combat boots, she looked every bit the rock girl. Her tall, striking figure drew glances from passersby.
Back in this city where she had lived for ten years… after nine years away, she wondered—was the tram fare still the same? And the brother who used to ride the tram with her… was he still living in Hong Kong?
At that moment, the airport’s automatic doors slid open.
A row of burly bodyguards stepped out first, instantly creating an imposing presence. In the center stood a tall man—so tall that even the guards couldn’t block him. He wore a custom dark navy suit, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a phone as he spoke while walking.
Who was important enough to travel with such a grand entourage?
Curious, Lei Shaoxin glanced over and instinctively stepped aside.
The man raised an eyebrow and gave a brief “Mm.”
Then he hung up and got into his car.
“Hello?”
The voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned toward it.
“Excuse me, are you Miss Lei Shaoxin?”
A driver held up a sign with her name in one hand and a phone displaying her photo in the other. Lei Jiu had already hired a private investigator to look into her and obtained a recent picture.
Lei Shaoxin glanced at the sign and nodded.
“Miss Lei, hello. I’m the Lei family’s driver. Master Lei asked me to pick you up.” He took her luggage.
“Alright, thank you.” She got into the car.
Fu Residence
“I heard the Lei family’s eldest daughter went straight to their anniversary banquet after landing. You should take good care of your little sister tonight,” Chen Jenny said while flipping through a magazine. “Her mother helped us a lot back then.”
“Got it,” Fu Haoyan replied coldly as he adjusted his tie. “Otherwise, who would waste time on this?”
The Lei family had invited him every year, and he had never attended. No particular reason—he simply didn’t think they were worth it.
Junyue Hotel
The hotel radiated luxury, overlooking the entire Victoria Harbour at night.
Lei Shaoxin changed into a red evening gown prepared for her. The spaghetti-strap dress made her skin look as smooth as milk. Her side-parted, voluminous curls fell naturally along her face.
Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, she absentmindedly swirled a glass of champagne handed to her by a waiter, gazing outside.
“Big sister!”
The voice came from a distance—it was Lei Zhiying, her half-sister.
The sickening title made Lei Shaoxin roll her eyes when no one was looking. She had been brought here straight from the airport, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. These so-called relatives she was meeting for the first time filled her with an inexplicable sense of disgust.
Still, appearances had to be maintained.
She composed herself, turned around with a polite smile, and faced a man she had only seen in photos before.
“Dad.”
Lei Jiu said, “Xinxin, let me introduce you. This is Aunt Gao Man, and this is your younger sister, Zhiying.”
In her heels, Lei Shaoxin stood more than half a head taller than Lei Zhiying, giving her a subtle air of dominance.
She nodded slightly. “Nice to meet you.”
Her gaze then shifted past Lei Jiu—to a man sitting in a wheelchair behind him.
“Master Lei, my apologies for being late.” An assistant pushed the man forward.
Dressed in a custom black suit, with broad shoulders and a slim waist, the man exuded elegance and refinement. Even in a wheelchair, his presence was undeniable.
Lei Jiu bent slightly in greeting.
Looking at Lei Shaoxin, he said, “Xinxin, this is Mr. He Zhuosheng from Zhuosheng Group.”
At the mention of Zhuosheng Group, her brows subtly furrowed as she looked at him—but she quickly concealed it. Still, the fleeting change didn’t escape his notice.
“Hello, Mr. He,” she said politely, her tone distant.
“Just call me Zhuosheng. No need to be so formal.” He raised his hand to shake hers.
So you’re He Zhuosheng.
“That’s Young Master Fu, isn’t it?” one guest whispered.
“Who?” The people around him immediately stirred.
“The Fu family is at the very top in Hong Kong. I can’t believe he’d attend a small event like the Lei family’s anniversary,” the guest continued.
The Fu family dominated the top tier of capital in Hong Kong. After Fu Haoyan took over, they controlled nearly 80% of the market. No one in Hong Kong dared to underestimate them.
Murmurs spread throughout the hall.
A man in a fitted white shirt walked in, one hand in his pocket, his expression cold as ice. Behind him, his assistant carried a silver-gray suit jacket.
As he approached, the temperature in the room seemed to drop. No one dared to whisper another word.
Hearing the commotion, Lei Jiu turned around. His expression froze—clearly not expecting the man to show up. He quickly stepped forward.
“President Fu, welcome! It’s truly an honor for the Lei family that you’re here.”
Lei Jiu shook hands with Fu Haoyan.
Fu Haoyan glanced at his assistant behind him.
“Master Lei, I heard you enjoy collecting calligraphy and paintings. I hope you’ll like this.”
The assistant understood immediately and respectfully handed the calligraphy painting to Lei Jiu.
“Thank you, President Fu,” Lei Jiu said with a smile. “You’re too kind.”
They weren’t standing far apart, so their conversation could be overheard. When Lei Zhiying heard her father address him as “President Fu,” she quickly guessed who he was. Her eyes lit up—this man, rarely seen but widely known by name, was someone countless socialites dreamed of meeting.
Since he had finally appeared tonight, there was no way she would miss the opportunity.
She hurried to Lei Jiu’s side. “Dad, aren’t you going to introduce us?”
“President Fu, let me introduce you—this is my younger daughter, Zhiying, and this is my elder daughter, Shaoxin. She just returned from the UK.”
Holding up the hem of her dress, Lei Zhiying walked toward Fu Haoyan. Wearing a strapless gown, she leaned in close—almost pressing against him—and said shyly, “Hello, Young Master Fu.”
Fu Haoyan frowned slightly, clicking his tongue in annoyance as he stepped half a pace away.
Lei Shaoxin simply nodded politely. “Hello, President Fu.”
Fu Haoyan gave a brief nod in return.
Seeing his arrival, Lei Jiu didn’t dare neglect him. He soon went on stage to give a short speech, officially opening the banquet.
Fu Haoyan was seated at the main table—with the Lei family.
The dinner was unbearably dull. Lei Shaoxin felt restless and wanted to step outside for some air.
Just as she stood up, Lei Zhiying and Gao Man exchanged a glance with Lei Jiu, who immediately understood.
He grabbed Lei Shaoxin’s wrist and pulled her onto the stage, taking the microphone.
“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight is a double celebration—the Lei Group’s anniversary, and also the engagement of my eldest daughter, Shaoxin, to Zhuosheng.”
Shock filled Lei Shaoxin’s face. She looked at Lei Jiu, clearly caught off guard.
Her wrist was still tightly held. Summoning all her strength, she shook him off and rushed toward the stairs.
But Gao Man and Lei Zhiying were already blocking her path at the bottom. Meanwhile, He Zhuosheng’s assistant pushed his wheelchair toward her.
Surrounded from all sides, only one thought remained in her mind—escape.
But Lei Zhiying had no intention of letting her go. She reached out and grabbed her wrist.
Lei Shaoxin forcefully shook her off again, but this time she lost her balance. She collided with a passing waiter carrying champagne and red wine, falling backward. The glasses crashed to the floor, and the air filled with the sharp mix of alcohol and blood.
Lei Shaoxin frowned deeply, propping herself up on one elbow as she hissed in pain. Her patience was gone.
No wonder they had taken her straight here from the airport. No wonder they had been so polite all along—it had all been planned.
He Zhuosheng’s assistant moved forward to help her up, but before he could reach out, a warning look from He Zhuosheng stopped him. He stepped back.
He Zhuosheng leaned forward slightly and extended his hand.
Lei Shaoxin met his gaze—but acted as if she hadn’t seen his hand, forcing herself to stand on her own.
Lei Zhiying still wouldn’t stop. The moment Shaoxin stood, she lunged at her again.
This time, as soon as Zhiying grabbed her, Lei Shaoxin twisted her arm behind her back. With a firm grip, she dragged her to the nearest table.
Forced into an awkward position, Lei Zhiying bent forward in pain.
Without hesitation, Lei Shaoxin grabbed a full bottle of champagne from the table.
The next second, she poured the entire bottle over Lei Zhiying’s head.
Zhiying struggled wildly, splashing champagne everywhere—some of it landing on Fu Haoyan, who stood nearby.
Lei Shaoxin glanced at him.
His white shirt was soaked, clinging to his body, faintly revealing part of a tattoo on his arm and a raised scar. She couldn’t make out the details—but his defined abs were unmistakable.
Fu Haoyan’s expression darkened. His assistant handed him a towel. After wiping his hands, he turned and walked away.
“This is outrageous!” Lei Jiu snapped, glancing at Lei Shaoxin before noticing Fu Haoyan had already reached the exit. It was too late to smooth things over.
Lei Shaoxin set the empty bottle down and ignored everyone, heading straight for the door.
Her vision began to blur, darkness creeping in. She forced herself forward.
At the entrance, Fu Haoyan stood adjusting his cufflinks. The anger on his face had mostly faded. A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
After all these years… still the same fiery little chili.
A dull thud echoed behind him.
He turned—and saw Lei Shaoxin collapse to the ground.
The car had just pulled up.
“Ale, to the hospital.”
Seeing the situation, Ale immediately jumped out, rushed around the car, and opened the back door.
Fu Haoyan bent down to lift Lei Shaoxin—but as his hand touched her waist, he felt something sticky… and the sharp grit of glass embedded in her skin.
Carrying her improperly would only worsen the injury.
“Ale, come help.”
The two of them lifted her carefully by the arms and got her into the car.
The air inside filled with the smell of blood. Fu Haoyan frowned deeply. With glass still in the wound, he couldn’t apply pressure to stop the bleeding.
Leaning against him, Lei Shaoxin’s face had gone pale. Her body was turning cold.
He wrapped his suit jacket around her and instinctively tightened his grip on her icy hand.
Ale floored the accelerator. They reached the hospital quickly.
He had already contacted the hospital director on the way, who was waiting at the entrance.
Only after watching Lei Shaoxin being pushed into the operating room did Fu Haoyan finally feel a slight sense of relief.