Without any warning, Chi Yu collapsed on the sports field. 

It happened during gym class. Chi Yu noticed that Ning Jin was wearing a pair of limited-edition running shoes—the very same pair that she had just had air-shipped from England a few days prior. She had instructed the household staff to clean them, but she hadn't even had the chance to wear them herself yet. 

Confronted by Chi Yu's stern questioning, Ning Jin blushed with embarrassment and immediately took off the shoes, apologizing to her. 

"I'm sorry, Miss. The maid must have mistakenly grabbed them while collecting shoes. I thought they were the new sneakers my mother bought for me."

"What do you mean, 'you thought'? Are you blind?"

Chi Yu sneered. "Mistaking shoes, mistaking clothes, mistaking backpacks—what will you mistake next?"

Her words were so harsh that Ning Jin's eyes reddened with humiliation. The classmates whispered among themselves, feeling sympathy for Ning Jin, but nobody dared to stand up against Chi Yu due to her status.

But someone willing to challenge her did appear. 

Jin Yao from Class Seven, Chi Yu's fiancé and the notorious school tyrant of Smo, had been playing basketball on the adjacent court. Seeing a crowd gather around Class One, a bad feeling prompted him to leave his teammates and run over.

Chi Yu's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but just enough for Jin Yao to hear every word clearly.

The insults made a wave of anger rise within him. Pushing through the crowd, he confronted Chi Yu and coldly commanded, "Apologize to Ning Jin."

Chi Yu's face remained expressionless. "Why should I?"

"Because I bought these shoes for her!"

"Oh?" Chi Yu smirked.

She gazed at her handsome fiancé, her alluring cat-like eyes widening slightly in feigned curiosity. 

"Didn't she say these were bought by her mother? Why would she lie to everyone? Is she feeling guilty? And why are you buying her such expensive shoes, anyway? Aren't you my fiancé? Are you playing both sides now? You two—"

She tilted her head mockingly, her expression full of derision. "How far have you gone?"

"Chi Yu!" Jin Yao snarled, his handsome face twisting slightly in frustration. "Do you always have to be so insufferable?"

Chi Yu couldn't be bothered with him and casually bowed to Ning Jin. "I'm sorry for falsely accusing you just now."

In front of their classmates, Ning Jin, ever so kind, waved her hands. "It's nothing…"

Before she could finish, Chi Yu interrupted with a smirk, "You didn't just mistake the shoes, you mistook the person. Should I be generous and let you have Jin Yao?"

Ning Jin was stunned and burst into tears of grievance on the spot. "There's nothing improper between Jin Yao and me, Miss! You can't tarnish my reputation!"

Hearing this, Chi Yu clutched her stomach, laughing uncontrollably. "Reputation? You, a thief who keeps taking my things, have the nerve to talk about reputation?"

Her words became more outrageous, and Jin Yao couldn't stand it anymore. He roared, "Enough!"

"Enough, my ass."

Chi Yu's smile vanished, and she spoke to Jin Yao coldly. "I'll talk to my uncle and have our engagement annulled. From now on, you can openly be good to her, and no one will stop you."

Jin Yao had long had enough of her bad temper, and upon hearing this, his emotions surged.

"That's fantastic! On the day our engagement is annulled, I'll set off ten thousand firecrackers to celebrate, and invite the whole school to witness my freedom, finally rid of you, this arrogant…!"

He was venting his emotions freely when he suddenly saw Chi Yu collapse.

No one went to catch Chi Yu.

Like Jin Yao, everyone despised this arrogant and self-centered heiress.

But Ning Jin rushed forward, anxiously patting Chi Yu's face.

"Miss! Miss, what's wrong with you?"

Jin Yao stepped forward and pulled her back, his face cold. "She's probably faking it. Let's not bother with her. Let's go."

"No!" Ning Jin clung tightly to his hand, her tone urgently pleading. "We need to take Miss to the hospital, or she might die!"

Why was she always so kind, repaying evil with good? Even after Chi Yu humiliated her, she was still thinking about her.

Too kind-hearted—she's bound to suffer for it.

Jin Yao's face showed a hint of reluctance. "Alright, we'll do it for your sake."

Chi Yu was taken to the hospital.

Within half an hour, the head of the Chi family rushed to the scene upon hearing the news.

While the doctor was performing surgery inside, a tall and handsome man stood outside with a dark expression, scrutinizing Jin Yao with displeasure. He coldly asked, "Why did Chi Yu faint?"

Jin Yao had always been somewhat intimidated by Chi He. Meeting his cold gaze, he felt a bit uncertain for some reason.

Even though Chi Yu's collapse had nothing to do with him, Chi He's gaze made it seem as if he believed Jin Yao was at fault.

Jin Yao hesitated for two seconds, but Ning Jin stepped forward to defend him. "The afternoon sun was too intense; Miss probably suffered from mild heatstroke. It's nothing serious."

Chi He's gaze fell on her, equally cold and devoid of warmth. "Are you a doctor?"

His sarcastic tone made Ning Jin's face turn pale, and she stammered, "I'm sorry, Second Master. I spoke out of turn."

Jin Yao couldn't bear to see Ning Jin wronged and faced the powerful man's aura with defiance. "She fainted on her own; it has nothing to do with anyone."

Chi He's eyes darkened, brimming with a frightening fury. 

"Whether it has something to do with you, your parents will explain it to me."

Jin Yao hated it when people used his parents against him. He wanted to argue with Chi He, but Ning Jin held his wrist.

Stop talking, Ning Jin signaled with her eyes, warning him not to provoke Chi He. It would not end well.

Jin Yao, still aggrieved, was about to speak when the door to the operating room opened.

Ning Jin, more anxious than anyone, rushed to the doctor, urgently asking, "Doctor, is Miss alright?"

The doctor didn't respond to her but instead looked at Chi He.

Chi He made a gesture, and the doctor followed him to the side.

Jin Yao scoffed, "Making it seem so serious, as if she's gravely ill."

Ning Jin stood behind him, a glimmer of light in her eyes.

Chi Yu must not have anything happen to her, or she would be devastated.

Chi Yu woke up in the evening.

Dazed and confused, she heard someone speaking in the hospital room.

"…At most six months. Her heart and lungs are deteriorating rapidly. If there's anything she wishes to do, try to fulfill it."

Six months?

"I want to do everything possible to prolong her life, no matter the cost," came Chi He's voice.

"Of course."

Ah, they were discussing her condition.

Did she really only have six months to live?

Chi Yu lay on the hospital bed, her expression calm, but her eyes were filled with deep despair.

Why did the heavens give her a body plagued by illness, tormenting her since she could remember?

Chi Yu was still young, only seventeen this year.

For others, life was just beginning, but she was forced to accept the arrival of death.

Nothing in her life had gone right; she was always unlucky, as if she was born as a sinner condemned by heaven, bearing all the malice in the world.

Why was she being targeted like this?

The water cup by the bedside fell to the ground, startling Chi He and the doctor discussing her condition.

Chi He quickly walked to the bedside, pressing Chi Yu back down as she tried to get up, coaxing softly, "Yuer, be good. You need to rest."

Chi Yu pushed his hand away, insisting on getting out of bed.

Chi He wouldn't allow it.

They struggled, and Chi Yu, in a fit of anger, screamed and bit down hard on Chi He's hand.

Chi He endured the pain without making a sound.

He watched as the girl's frail shoulders trembled, a hot tear falling onto the back of his hand. Pressing his lips tightly, he pulled her into his arms.

Chi Yu clung tightly to Chi He's clothes, breaking down in tears. "Uncle, save me! I don't want to die. I want to live…"

Chi He patted her back, soothing her gently, "Uncle won't let you die, Yuer."