Fan Chenxi had left when Su Qingyu was eight years old. It was Su Qiping’s birthday, and she had come home, bursting with excitement to celebrate with her father, only to be met with her parents’ divorce papers. To chase after her mother, Su Qingyu had scrambled down the stairs, tumbling and falling. One of her shoes flew off, but she didn’t even notice, her small hands clutching Fan Chenxi’s leg as she cried, “Mama, don’t go!” The elegant woman stroked her daughter’s tear-streaked face. “I’m sorry.” “Mama, I got first in my class this time! You haven’t even seen my test paper yet. It needs a parent’s signature.” “Mama, please don’t leave me. I’ll be good, I promise I won’t ask to go to the amusement park anymore. I won’t make you mad again, I’ll listen, I promise…” She poured out her heart in a desperate, jumbled plea, hoping the woman would stay. But Fan Chenxi only told her that her marriage to her father had not been a happy one, and that now, she had found true happiness. Su Qingyu watched as a strange man loaded her mother’s suitcase into a car. Then, hand in hand, they drove away. She chased the car for hundreds of meters, barefoot, until she fell hard on the pavement, scraping her knees and piercing the soles of her feet. She just stared, numb, as the car disappeared, a distance she could never hope to cross. She didn't understand then. It was only when she grew up that she learned the truth: her mother had been having an affair, her father had found out, and she had been the one to demand a divorce, leaving with nothing. She wanted none of the assets—not even her own daughter. For over a decade, there had been no contact. Su Qingyu had come to hate her with a burning passion, vowing to never see her again. Fate had a sick sense of humor. In the end, she was the one who had to come begging. A lump formed in her throat. She stood frozen by the door. Fan Chenxi, seeming to understand her turmoil, rose and gently pulled her to sit down beside her. “I know you hate me. You were too young then, and things weren’t as simple as you thought. Mama couldn’t explain it to you.” Fan Chenxi reached out, her hand brushing against Su Qingyu’s cheek. “My daughter is all grown up. My dear, Mama’s back for good this time. I know the Su family is in trouble, but don’t worry. I’ll take care of you now.” At that moment, Su Qingyu found that all her years of hatred dissolved at the sound of that single word. Her voice choked. “Mom.” “Good girl. Since you’re here, stay for dinner. Your Uncle Bai has been very good to me all these years. He has a daughter, a couple of years older than you. She and her fiancé are coming over soon. I’ll introduce you.” Su Qingyu had no intention of being welcomed into this new family. She cut in quickly, “Mom, I came because of Dad. You know the Su family went bankrupt. Dad had a heart attack, and I can’t afford the surgery bills. Can you… can you help me? I swear I’ll pay you back.” Before Fan Chenxi could answer, a familiar, mocking voice cut through the air. “Well, if it isn’t Ms. Su, truly desperate for cash. To think you’d come begging at my door.” The voice struck Su Qingyu like a bolt of lightning. She looked up in disbelief at the people standing in the doorway. It was Bai Yuanyuan and Li Tingchen. Fate was playing another cruel joke on her. Her own mother was Bai Yuanyuan’s stepmother. Her husband, her mother—they were all *her* family now. And here she was, caught in the act of begging her mother for money by Bai Yuanyuan and Li Tingchen. Her acute discomfort did not escape Li Tingchen’s gaze, but he merely watched her, his expression unreadable. “Waaah… waaaah…” The wail of a baby shattered the unbearable tension. Only then did Su Qingyu notice the twin stroller being pushed by a nanny. The instant the cry began, Li Tingchen had already scooped up one of the babies, expertly soothing him. The picture-perfect image of their family of four was a blinding, painful sight to Su Qingyu. If her child had lived, he would be this age now. A wave of regret washed over her. Why had she come here? She felt like she was nailed to a pillory, being flayed alive for all to see. Strangely, the baby wouldn't stop crying today, no matter how he was comforted. The nanny hurried over with a bottle, but that only made the child cry harder. Li Tingchen cooed patiently, “Hey, little guy, it’s okay. Don’t cry.” The sight of such a tall, powerful man holding a tiny infant was surprisingly tender. Watching his gentle, patient demeanor, a sudden, wild thought sparked in Su Qingyu’s mind. She shot to her feet, closed the distance between them in three strides, and took the baby from his arms. The strange thing was, Li Tingchen didn't stop her. Even stranger, the moment she held the baby, he stopped crying. He even smiled. Nearly a year old, the baby’s features were clear. The corners of his soft, pink mouth turned up as he let out a gurgle of laughter, his babbling interspersed with a faint, slurry sound: “Ama~” His chubby little hand reached for the fluffy pom-pom on her hat, his smiling eyes an exact replica of Li Tingchen’s. A knife seemed to twist in Su Qingyu’s heart, shattering the last of her composure. She had once naively believed that Li Tingchen loved her. In the first year of their marriage, he had been so, so good to her. He would wrap his arms around her waist in the dead of night, whispering in her ear, “Susu, give me a child.” How could she deny him what he wanted? Even though she hadn't graduated yet, she had gotten pregnant without a second thought. Only now did she realize that during that same time, while he was whispering sweet nothings to her, every business trip he took abroad was an opportunity to be tangled up with another woman. Her stomach churned violently. She shoved the baby back into his arms, turned, and ran into the washroom, locking the door behind her. She hadn’t eaten anything. All she threw up was a mixture of bile and blood. The vivid, crimson splashes in the pristine white sink seared her eyes. Tears she couldn't control streamed down her face. Good. Oh, this was just perfect. Their entire marriage had been a joke from the very beginning. Everything that hadn't made sense before suddenly clicked into place. The signs had been there all along. Why he had saved Bai Yuanyuan without a second thought when they both fell into the water. Why he had been by Bai Yuanyuan’s side when they both went into premature labor. Because the child in her womb was Li Tingchen’s, too! After a long moment, a knock came from the other side of the door. “Qingyu, are you all right?” Su Qingyu cleaned up the mess, splashed cold water on her face, and stumbled out. Fan Chenxi, oblivious to the tangled history between them, grabbed her arm with concern. “Qingyu, are you not feeling well?” “I just felt sick looking at them,” she said, her voice dripping with ice. “I feel much better now that I’ve thrown up.” “Qingyu, do you know Yuanyuan? She’s been abroad for years. Is there some kind of misunderstanding between you? And this is Mr. Li…” Su Qingyu cut her mother off coldly. “I know. Li Tingchen, CEO of the Li Group. Who doesn’t?” “Yes, Mr. Li is so young and accomplished. To have achieved so much at his age.” “Of course Mr. Li is impressive,” Su Qingyu said, her words laced with venom. “Rushing to get married before he’s even divorced. Not many people have that kind of nerve.” The statement left Fan Chenxi utterly confused. “Qingyu, what nonsense are you talking about? Mr. Li has never been married, so how could he be divorced?” A mocking smile twisted Su Qingyu’s lips. “He’s not married? Then what does that make me? Mr. Li,” she said, turning her gaze on him, “why don’t you tell my mother… who I am to you?”