Chapter 1: A New Beginning
The moon shone faintly in the sky, its soft glow illuminating the world below. A sturdy dam protected a small, traditional fishing village nestled beneath sea level.
Moonlight danced with the shimmering waves, reflecting off the red-roofed brick and wooden houses. Lined up neatly, the colorful homes exuded a quaint European charm. Under such moonlight, the village looked like a peacefully slumbering child.
The simple fisherfolk were accustomed to their early-to-rise, late-to-bed routine. However, tonight was different at the Ling household; the lights were ablaze.
"Wuwu… Jie, I don't want you to leave!"
Fourteen-year-old Ling Weiwei sobbed, her face streaked with tears, as she clung to her older sister, Ling Olivia, who was packing her belongings. It wasn't the first time she'd wailed those words.
"Weiwei, be good. I'll call you as soon as I get there, and I'll write letters too, okay?"
Ling Olivia, only a year older than her sister, was far more mature. Despite having repeated those comforting words countless times, her sweet face maintained a gentle smile, showing no sign of irritation.
"But Jie…"
"Miss Ling, it's time. Shall we go now?"
In the modest house, two tall men in black suits stood stiffly, their presence stark and out of place. Ling Olivia stuffed the last piece of clothing into her worn suitcase and zipped it shut.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Let's go."
Casting one last reluctant look at her sister, Ling Olivia turned to address the two men.
Her father lay gravely ill in the hospital, unable to leave his bed. Her mother spent most of her time caring for him, rarely returning home. The family hadn't had a source of income in a long time, and her father's treatment costs were astronomical. When someone offered a hefty sum in exchange for her, it felt like a blessing from above for her impoverished family.
She had heard the other party was a wealthy heir suffering from a rare, incurable condition. The fortune-teller claimed that her compatible horoscope could bring him good luck and possibly cure him.
Ling Olivia wasn't some grand "bride for good fortune." At best, she was merely a "fortune-bringing maid," tasked with caring for the young master until he recovered.
Even so, she had to leave her home, the small fishing village she'd never stepped out of before, and venture into an unfamiliar world. She knew she had to face it with courage and not let herself cry.
"Jie! Jie!"
Her sister's heartbroken cries echoed behind her. Ling Olivia's chest tightened with pain, and as she stepped out of the house, her tears finally flowed uncontrollably.
Ten minutes later, stepping out of the car, Ling Olivia gaped in shock at the helicopter waiting for them in the open field.
A private helicopter?!
What kind of extravagant wealth did these people have to casually use a private aircraft to fetch someone like her?
The person she was about to meet must be no ordinary figure but someone truly formidable.
Several hours later, at four in the morning, Ling Olivia arrived in a city that never slept—a world of bright lights, lavish indulgence, and endless nightlife.
She was greeted by Wang Fu, the butler of the Leng family.
"Miss Ling Olivia, welcome."
Wang Fu was a tall, slender man in his middle age, with meticulously combed hair and a crisp English-style butler's uniform trimmed with gold. Though his words were respectful, Ling Olivia could detect a trace of disdain in his otherwise superior gaze.