Ten years ago in Haicheng, the local talk wasn't just about the legend of Wan of the South and Ling of the North; it was also about Xia Xiwang and Su Xi, the city's golden couple. So everyone present knew that Xia Xiwang had once been Su Xi’s fiancée. But a man’s heart can be fickle, changing as quickly as one flips a page. Now, Xia Xiaodie was Su Xi’s fiancée, the future young mistress of the Su family. The crowd, knowing which way the wind was blowing, quickly adopted the attitude that “the past is just water under the bridge.” Just moments before in the ballroom, Xia Xiwang had scored a brilliant victory, turning the tables on her detractors. But with Su Xi’s sudden appearance, everything changed. While the guests might have felt a flicker of sympathy for her, their actions spoke louder than their thoughts, and they all sided with Xia Xiaodie. At that moment, the family of three—the Xias—were so smug they could burst. Xia Xiwang’s slender frame was poised and elegant, her beauty clear and captivating. Under the weight of everyone’s stares, a slow, deliberate smile curved her red lips. “It’s rather amusing, watching someone treasure my cast-offs. Still, I wish you two a lifetime of happiness. You truly are a perfect match.” With that, Xia Xiwang turned and left. The crowd was stunned. Calling the young master Su her cast-off… Miss Xiwang certainly had some nerve. The triumphant expression on Xia Xiaodie’s face froze. She didn’t know whether to feel proud or humiliated. … Xia Xiwang walked out of the six-star Dihao Hotel. Just then, Su Xi emerged with his arm around Xia Xiaodie, who immediately clung to his arm, feigning concern. “Brother Su Xi, Xiwang is so pitiful. She doesn’t even have a car to pick her up. Why don’t we take pity on her and give her a ride?” Su Xi glanced at Xia Xiwang. “Since Xiaodie suggested it, get in. I’ll give you a lift.” Xia Xiwang refused. “No, thank you.” “Why not?” Feeling empowered by Su Xi’s presence, Xia Xiaodie now acted like a true princess. She turned to Xia Zhenguo, her voice trembling with manufactured hurt. “Dad, I was just trying to be nice and offer her a ride, but she refused! Brother Su Xi and I have a candlelight dinner to get to. Don’t you think she’s doing this on purpose?” Xia Zhenguo truly doted on Xia Xiaodie as if she were a princess, mostly because he desperately needed a prize catch like Su Xi for a son-in-law. His only demand for his daughter was to marry into one of Haicheng’s four great families, and no one, especially not Xia Xiwang, was allowed to jeopardize this union. Xia Zhenguo’s voice was stern. “Xiwang, stop throwing a tantrum. Get in the car now. Don’t waste Mr. Su and Xiaodie’s time!” Li Yulan was the most delighted of them all. She sneered, “Xiwang, this is the Dihao Hotel. You can’t just hail a cab out front. Swallow your pride and let Mr. Su and Xiaodie give you a ride.” Xia Xiwang found their family’s behavior utterly bizarre. A small, knowing smile played on her lips as she shot a meaningful look at Xia Xiaodie. “I may not be able to pull out a five-hundred-thousand-dollar check, but I have my own ways of getting home. I’d advise some people to steer clear of me. Otherwise, I might just…” Xia Xiaodie’s face instantly paled. Xia Xiwang was bringing up the check! If Su Xi and her parents found out she had once tried to pay off that pretty boy of Xia Xiwang’s with five hundred thousand dollars, only to fail and then be humiliated by a group of thugs, she would be in deep trouble. Xia Xiaodie had to admit, that boy toy had bewitched her for a time. But she had adored Su Xi since childhood, vowing to marry him and become the young mistress of the Su family. Su Xi was her ultimate prize. With Xia Xiwang holding this over her head, Xia Xiaodie’s arrogance evaporated. She tugged on Su Xi’s arm. “Brother Su Xi, let’s just go.” Just then, the manager of the Dihao Hotel walked out, asking politely, “Excuse me, which of you is Miss Xia?” The sudden appearance of the Dihao’s manager startled everyone. They all knew the Dihao Hotel was an asset of the Lu Corporation. The Lu family, Haicheng’s most powerful and secretive clan, practically held the city in the palm of their hand and lived a life shrouded in legend. Even the city's elite had to book reservations at the Dihao far in advance for its world-class service, and seeing the hotel manager in person was a rarity. Li Yulan was the first to react, quickly pulling Xia Xiaodie forward. “Manager, hello! Miss Xia is right here!” The involvement of the Lu Corporation made Xia Zhenguo tremble with excitement. “Yes, yes, Miss Xia is here. Manager, is there something you need with my daughter?” The manager approached Su Xi and Xia Xiaodie, first greeting Su Xi with polite, professional courtesy. “Mr. Su, a pleasure.” His calm and composed demeanor, showing no sign of flattery even before Su Xi, marked him as a man who had seen the world. Su Xi, one hand in his pocket, gave a slight nod. The manager then turned his gaze to Xia Xiaodie. “Excuse me, are you Miss Xia?” Xia Xiaodie couldn’t believe her luck. Even the manager of the Dihao was seeking her out. She shot a triumphant glance at Xia Xiwang before turning back with a sweet smile. “Hello, Manager. Yes, I’m Xia Xiaodie.” “Xia Xiaodie?” The manager shook his head. “My apologies, but you’re not the one I’m looking for. I’m looking for Miss Xia Xiwang.” The words hung in the air, followed by a collective gasp from the onlookers. Looking for… Xia Xiwang? Xia Xiwang’s eyelashes fluttered. She hadn’t expected this at all. Li Yulan quickly interjected, “Manager, you must be mistaken. Our Xiaodie is the real Miss Xia. Why would you be looking for Xia Xiwang?” The manager didn’t even spare Li Yulan a glance. He walked directly to Xia Xiwang, his polite expression shifting to one of distinct respect. “You must be Miss Xia?” Xia Xiwang nodded. “Hello, I’m Xia Xiwang. You were looking for me?” The manager smiled warmly. “Miss Xia, hello. We were concerned that it might be difficult to find a ride from here, so we have arranged a car for you.” As he spoke, an extended Rolls-Royce Phantom glided to a stop beside them. The manager respectfully opened the rear door. “Miss Xia, please.” Oh my god. A Rolls-Royce Phantom. This world-class luxury car was here to pick up Xia Xiwang? Xia Xiwang looked at the manager with a hint of suspicion. He just offered a mysterious smile. “Please, Miss Xia. We will take you back to Youlan Garden.” Under the shocked gazes of everyone present, Xia Xiwang settled into the Rolls-Royce Phantom and was whisked away. … The manager watched until the luxury car had completely vanished from sight before turning to go back inside. Xia Zhenguo quickly blocked his path. “Manager, what on earth is going on?” The manager’s polite mask was back in place. “My apologies, Mr. Xia. This is a private matter of our president’s. I’m not at liberty to discuss it.” The manager left, but his words left behind a bombshell. The president of the Dihao Hotel… wasn’t that the young master of the Lu Corporation, Lu Hanting? When had Xia Xiwang met Lu Hanting? And what was their relationship? Xia Zhenguo’s expression became a storm of conflicting emotions. Li Yulan scoffed. “Zhenguo, Xiwang just came back from the countryside. How could she possibly have any connection to the president of the Lu Corporation? But I have to say, she’s certainly inherited her mother’s talent for seducing men. Not long ago she was keeping a boy toy, and now she’s putting on this mysterious act at the Dihao.” The moment the words left her mouth, Xia Zhenguo raised his hand and struck Li Yulan across the face with a resounding slap. Li Yulan was stunned into silence. Xia Zhenguo’s face was darker and more terrifying than she had ever seen it. He hissed through clenched teeth, “First, take a good look at yourself. Then, if there are names you shouldn’t be speaking, you will keep your mouth shut!” Li Yulan froze in shock, and even Xia Xiaodie was too frightened to move. Su Xi remained impassive, merely casting a cool glance at Xia Zhenguo before his eyes drifted to the direction Xia Xiwang’s car had disappeared, a distant look filling them. … The Rolls-Royce dropped Xia Xiwang back at Youlan Garden. Inside her room, she was texting Ye Ling. Ye Ling: You’re telling me the President of Lu Corp sent you home? Xia Xiwang: Seems like it. Ye Ling: Girl, I bow down to you. How many new lovers do you have? Is the mysterious Lu president already wrapped around your finger? All the way home, Xia Xiwang had been racking her brain, trying to figure out how she could possibly be connected to this President Lu. Suddenly, she remembered a detail she had consistently overlooked. Lu Hanting… his surname was Lu. He… he was… Xia Xiwang: My husband’s last name is Lu. There was no immediate reply from the other end. Ye Ling was probably in shock. Two minutes later, a new message popped up. Ye Ling: Send me a photo. The one from our hot springs trip, where you’re in a swimsuit. What for? Though puzzled, Xia Xiwang opened her photo album, found the picture, and sent it. A few seconds later, she stared at her phone in horror. What had she done? She had sent that photo… to Lu Hanting