It was still early morning when Uncle Zhang and the supervisor checked in. Lu Nanzhi immediately apologized, refunded their fares, and even gave them a day off along with some money for a meal.
The house was far from presentable. With the renovations still ongoing, the living room and balcony were cluttered with construction materials. Although Uncle Zhang and his team were meticulous in cleaning up their workstations, the space was still unsuitable for receiving guests.
In the open kitchen, Lu Nanzhi hurriedly wiped the counters, her movements slightly flustered. Her gaze inadvertently drifted toward the little boy and the man seated across the room.
Her eyes lingered on the man for a moment longer than intended.
He sat with his long legs carelessly crossed, exuding an air of effortless elegance. His tailored suit hugged his broad shoulders and tapered perfectly at his slim waist. The white buttons of his shirt were fastened all the way up to his collar, adding a touch of cold formality to his demeanor.
The soft morning sunlight filtered in through the open balcony, casting a warm glow over him. Yet, despite this, his entire presence seemed to be cloaked in an icy film, as though the light dared not approach him fully. His aloof expression and imposing aura reminded Lu Nanzhi of an ancient monarch, sitting high above the common people.
Just as she was about to look away, the man suddenly lifted his gaze, revealing a pair of deep, obsidian eyes. He had been silently surveying the house, his gaze lingering briefly on the new installations.
Their eyes met, and Lu Nanzhi froze.
His sharp, tepid gaze seemed to pierce through her, as if stripping away all her defenses layer by layer. A chill crept up her spine, and she instinctively increased her vigilance.
"If it's about repaying me, you really don't need to go through all this trouble. It's unnecessary," Lu Nanzhi said, forcing herself to remain calm.
A low, assertive voice answered her. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Miss Lin. The favor you've granted is far too significant to be left unrepaid."
Her heart tightened.
The way he said her name—with that subtle shift in tone and the faint glimmer in his eyes—made her feel as if he already knew something about her carefully forged identity.
Although her expression remained calm, unease rippled through her heart like a stone dropped into still water.
Just then, a small figure leapt off his chair and ran toward her.
"Sister! I brought you gifts and ointment! The doctor uncle said it's great for burns. Let me help you apply it!" Lin Yicheng chirped, his childish voice brimming with enthusiasm.
Lowering her gaze, Lu Nanzhi saw the little boy's chubby jade-like fingers gently grasping her wrist.
"Chen'er," Lin Weihao's voice called softly, with a hint of reproach.
Lu Nanzhi couldn't help but glance between the two. The resemblance was uncanny. It was as though they had been carved from the same mold. She frowned slightly, confused. Lin Yicheng had introduced himself as the man's nephew, but the similarity between them was far too striking to ignore.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Lin Yicheng quickly withdrew his hands, realizing he had overstepped. Straightening his posture like a little adult, he cleared his throat. "Sister, my name is Lin Yicheng. You can call me Chen'er, just like my uncle does."
A moment later, the man across her finally spoke. "Lin Weihao."
The name struck her like a thunderclap.
Lin Weihao?!
Isn't he the legendary base leader of Pearl City?
A tidal wave of emotions surged within Lu Nanzhi.
This man was someone whose name alone carried the weight of authority and reverence. She had once wished to meet him out of curiosity, but now that he stood before her, she was overwhelmed.
To think her mission target would turn out to be this man. Did the game system already know about his identity?
And what about the boy? She racked her brain, but Lin Yicheng's name hadn't been mentioned in any of the rumors about Lin Weihao. Not even once.
Even as she tried to suppress her emotions, the small trembles in her hands betrayed her.
Lin Weihao's dark eyes quietly observed her, taking in every minute change in her expression.
The lack of greed or calculation in her gaze confirmed something for him—this woman truly didn't know who he was.
His lips curled slightly, but his deep eyes darkened further, as though attempting to unearth more of her secrets.
With pale, slender fingers, he pushed a stack of documents across the table toward her.
Curious, Lu Nanzhi hesitated before taking a glance. The sight made her heart skip a beat.
They were land deeds and property ownership transfer agreements—with her forged name listed as the recipient.
Villas, penthouses, business establishments in the busiest districts… And this—this 40-story apartment complex! The combined value of these properties must easily amount to 2 to 3.5 billion yuan.
This is too much! Lu Nanzhi's forehead broke out in a cold sweat.
"Miss Lin, these are the dowries I've prepared. There are others still being processed, but I hope they meet your expectations."
Dowries?
To casually throw around assets worth billions and refer to them as dowries… Lu Nanzhi's initial impression of her mission target shattered completely.
Wait.
Something wasn't right.
Lu Nanzhi stared at him blankly, wondering if she had misheard. "Dowries? What… what do you mean by dowries?"
Lin Weihao's deep voice was calm, but his words carried a gravity that made her chest tighten. "The favor you granted is far too great to repay with material possessions alone. So, I decided to repay it with myself—an eye for an eye, a life for a life."
Lu Nanzhi's mind blanked. She stared at him in stunned silence, her lips parting slightly as if to speak, but no words came out.
Is he… is he proposing marriage?
Lu Nanzhi: "..."