When people joked about Chi Yu and Ning Jin being born on the same day of the same year, yet leading entirely different lives, Chi Yu couldn't help but feel a small measure of relief in her heart.
She had been frail and sickly from birth, countless times teetering on the brink of death. If not for her illustrious family background, those exorbitant medical expenses would have been insurmountable.
Had she been born into an ordinary family, she feared her parents might have already given up on her long ago.
Chi Yu could have never imagined that she could have had a healthy body, growing up in peace and happiness, without constantly fearing being kidnapped, hit by a falling flower pot, involved in inexplicable car accidents, or choking on a fishbone, followed by stalking by some pervert…
It was Chi He!
He brought Chi Yu back to the Chi family to shield Ning Jin from disaster, making her Ning Jin's scapegoat for seventeen years!
It wasn't that Chi Yu was paranoid, blindly and absurdly believing a book to conclude that her doting uncle was a demon.
Rather, it was because this book meticulously and flawlessly documented every little thing that had happened around Chi Yu for the past seventeen years, including some of her deepest secrets.
It was like a God looking down on the world, not only knowing the past but also predicting the future.
The book clearly indicated that Chi Yu would die on her eighteenth birthday.
When Chi Yu read those words, she suddenly remembered what the doctor had said.
"... Just six more months... If there's anything you wish to do, try to fulfill it..."
Chi Yu felt a chill run down her spine.
What she initially thought was a cruel twist of fate turned out to be a human conspiracy.
Chi He, her dear uncle.
How ruthless must he be to commit such an utterly heartless act!
Chi Yu forced herself to calm down.
She repeatedly told herself that the immediate priority was not to alert the enemy but to first find out who her biological parents were and where the unscrupulous Taoist who read Ning Jin's fortune was. She needed to use every possible means to lift the curse placed on her…
—But Chi Yu simply couldn't stay calm!
Anyone who discovers their life is on a countdown cannot pretend to be carefree.
Unless they already have no will to live.
Chi Yu had a strong desire to live. She couldn't wait for her investigation; she had to find Chi He now and demand an explanation!
The woman beside him, twisting her snake-like waist, leaned close to Chi He, her boneless arms wrapping around his shoulders. Seeing that he didn't show any sign of displeasure, she felt a surge of joy in her heart and daringly leaned her face closer.
Chi He, whose expression was still gentle just a moment ago, suddenly changed his demeanor.
He pinched the woman's chin, seeming to squint at her for a moment before pushing her away.
"Inferior product," he muttered under his breath, frowning.
Then she was driven out.
Wei San, holding a pure-looking schoolgirl in his arms, accidentally turned his head and, seeing Chi He alone, raised an eyebrow in amusement. "I say, Master He, she's the belle of the club, at least give her some face."
Chi He lost interest. If it weren't for the prior arrangement, he wouldn't have come tonight. He had planned to spend the evening at the hospital with Chi Yu.
That child was sensitive, and Qi Hun was too dull, like a stone, incapable of comforting anyone.
He shouldn't have left her alone.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt he had made a mistake coming here tonight. His voice involuntarily carried a hint of annoyance and displeasure: "Artificially created products, making a living by selling laughs, what face do they need?"
He rarely spoke so harshly.
Wei San was taken aback, then something occurred to him, and the smile on his lips became meaningful.
"It was my slip of the tongue, I'll drink three cups as a penalty."
He went to pour the wine, but Chi He buttoned up his suit and stood up.
"Tonight's on me. You all have fun. I have some matters to attend to, so I'll leave first."
Wei San was about to say something when a familiar ringtone rang out.
Someone beside them was singing off-key, their raspy voice buzzing in their ears.
Strangely, though, Wei San heard the ringtone amidst all that.
As one of Chi He's few friends, Wei San knew that ringtone was reserved for only one person.
Chi He's cold expression melted away when he answered Chi Yu's call.
He smiled, his handsome, well-defined face stunning the innocent schoolgirl next to him.
"Yu'er—"
His gentle voice rang out as he walked out of the private room.
Chi Yu's voice was no different from usual. When she asked Chi He where he was, he instinctively lied.
"At the company."
"I'm coming to find you."
Chi He's eyelids twitched, his tone suddenly becoming severe: "You're still unwell, and you have a major surgery in two days. You can't run around. Be good, go back to your room, and Uncle will come to the hospital now to see you."
Chi Yu lied, "I'm already in the car."
In fact, she had just gotten out of the elevator.
"Where is Qi Hun?" Chi He's voice lowered, clearly showing his anger.
Now wasn't the time to deal with Qi Hun, so Chi Yu continued to fib: "I sent him away. Uncle, wait for me, I'll be at the company soon."
He really couldn't do anything with her.
It would take at least half an hour to return to the company from the club, while the hospital was only twenty minutes away from the company.
Chi He couldn't make it back in time to cover his lie, so he had no choice but to confess to Chi Yu: "I'm at the Long Night Club. Have the driver go slow. I'll wait for you here. No rush."
Chi Yu didn't understand why Chi He lied, but she couldn't worry about that now.
After assuring Chi He that she would be careful, she hung up the phone.
Fifteen minutes later, downstairs at the Long Night Club.
Chi Yu, clutching the book, ran towards Chi He.
She ran so fast that she almost stumbled.
The emotions she had kept in check all the way here collapsed the moment she saw Chi He.
Chi He, worried about Chi Yu, quickly walked towards her, "Didn't I tell you to slow down..."
He swallowed the rest of his words when he saw Chi Yu's red eyes. He frowned and asked, "Who bullied you?"
Isn't it you, you trafficker!
Chi Yu brushed away Chi He's hand, pointing at the book, and demanded harshly, "How do you explain this!?"
Chi He glanced at the book in her hand.
"Aurora Flame," this year's highest award-winning work of literature. The content of the book was not obscure or difficult to understand; its humor and wit made it suitable for readers of all ages.
He thought Chi Yu would like it, so he had specifically instructed his men to buy a copy and deliver it to her.
He didn't expect it to upset her.
"Uncle judged wrong. If you don't like it, I'll exchange it for another one, alright?"
Had anyone else lost their temper with Chi He over a book, he would have been furious long ago. Only Chi Yu could be gently coaxed by him with such patience.
With the evidence right before her eyes, how could he still shamelessly pretend to be oblivious?
Chi Yu was about to explode with anger. She thrust the book into Chi He's arms and, her voice sharp with fury, shouted, "Chi He! This is a crime! You bastard, how dare you make me Ning Jin's scapegoat! I'll report you to the police!"
Chi He: "... Yu'er, what's gotten into you?"
Is this a joke?
In her rage, Chi Yu failed to notice anything wrong. She glared at Chi He with hatred, seeing him still stubbornly denying his wrongdoing.
In a fit of rage, she raised her hand and slapped him across the face.
Chi He, his head tilted, was stunned for half a minute before turning his face back, frowning slightly, studying the clearly abnormal Chi Yu, and asking in a deep voice, "What exactly happened?"
Chi Yu broke down completely; she couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into tears.
"I just want an answer, Chi He, can you stop pretending? Tell me, who are my biological parents?"
"..." Chi suddenly realized something seemed wrong.
She looked at Chi He's obscure expression and tried to speak, "Does Ning Jin know she's the eldest daughter of the Chi family?"
Mysteriously, it was as if some force was controlling Chi Yu, preventing her from speaking the contents of the book.
(End of Chapter)