Chapter One: A First Meeting Upon Returning Home

Lin Xi sat in the car with her eyes half-closed, clutching her stomach tightly as the pain gnawed at her. She had only just returned to the country, and her chronic gastritis had flared up the moment she stepped off the plane. And now, before she could even return home, she had to make a detour to the hospital.

"Xijie, hold on a little longer—we'll be at the hospital soon," her assistant Mia said anxiously, gently rubbing Lin Xi's back.

Suddenly, a screeching "screeech" of emergency brakes split the air, immediately followed by a sharp "bang" as two vehicles collided. Lin Xi, jolted in the back seat, braced her legs against the front seat, her face drained of all color. The seatbelt dug into her, intensifying the wrenching pain in her stomach. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead as she fought the urge to vomit—trouble truly never comes alone.

Mia held Lin Xi protectively and shouted toward the front, "What happened?"

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to rear-end them," the driver, Xiao Li, quickly apologized, springing out of the car to check the situation.

Forcing herself upright, Lin Xi peered out the window and saw a man step out of the other vehicle. He was tall and slender, his jet-black hair softly draping over his forehead, half-veiling a pair of cool, narrow eyes as deep as icy pools. His nose, high and straight, was outlined above a mask, and an aura of chilling intimidation radiated from him.

His gaze locked onto Lin Xi for an instant. His pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, and a sharp glint flashed in those eyes, as if he could see straight through her soul. That piercing look made Lin Xi's heart pound with dread, and she quickly shrank back into her seat.

This man seemed cold and hostile, his presence almost oppressive. But he must be good-looking, Lin Xi still found herself thinking, even in this moment.

Xiao Li approached the man to apologize and explain the situation. The stranger stared fixedly at Lin Xi's pale face, his expression unreadable, his eyes passing over her with a hint of scrutiny and curiosity. Complex emotions flickered within him as he took out his phone and made a call.

Moments later, another car arrived and two men stepped out. "Boss, are you alright? Are you hurt?" Zhou Jun, the assistant, hurried over and checked Lu Yuxiu from head to toe.

"Take them to the hospital," Lu Yuxiu instructed calmly, "Hu will handle the rest. I'm leaving now." With that, he put on his sunglasses and walked away, though the slight tremor in his posture betrayed something unspoken.

From behind, his agent Hu Zixiao called, "Be careful!"

Returning home, Lu Yuxiu was awash in emotion. Closing his eyes, he drifted back to childhood memories...

Lin Tianmu clutched her tattered workbook, looking utterly aggrieved. Lu Yuxiu, watching her, held his own neat workbook and smiled slightly, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk as he waited for her to speak.

Sure enough, Lin Tianmu, cheeks flushed, finally asked, "Brother, can we swap?" Lu Yuxiu looked at her smile and teased, "Why?"

"Because I like it," Lin Tianmu replied, beaming.

For a moment, Lu Yuxiu was stunned, quickly lowering his head. "Is that all? You're letting me off that easily?" Lin Tianmu pouted in mock protest. At last, Lu Yuxiu handed over the workbook, chuckling. "Here you go, yours."

Her face bloomed with happiness as she opened her clenched fist under Lu Yuxiu's puzzled gaze, offering him a White Rabbit candy. "This is for you!"

Her eyes had always been so bright and pure, like clear water—he could never mistake them.

But today, when Lin Tianmu looked at him, her gaze was unfamiliar and distant. Lu Yuxiu narrowed his eyes. It seemed she no longer remembered him.

He sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down at the bustling street below. Since the day she had left without a word, he had searched for her ceaselessly, year after year. Even his ascent in the entertainment industry, standing at its very pinnacle, was for her to notice him, to find him.

He knew well enough that he had fallen for her long ago, but he had never expected that she would forget him. He yearned to know what she had gone through over the years to become this person.

Lifting the coffee cup beside him, he took an unhurried sip, his fair, slender fingers wrapped elegantly around the handle. The taste lingered, suffusing every fiber of his being.

Sunlight slanted through the window, spilling across him. Gradually, the lines of tension in his brow relaxed. At least he had found her now—it was not too late.

A storm brewed in those cool eyes, a will that brooked no defiance, as if anything that stood in his way would be crushed: "It's alright, Lin Tianmu. We have all the time in the world."

——————————————

Lin Xi and her group were escorted to the hospital by Zhou Jun. After a battery of tests in the emergency room, the doctor approached Lin Xi with a stack of forms, his expression grave.

"Your stomach pain is due to irregular habits and poor diet, which have led to excessive strain on your stomach. You must be more careful: eat regular meals, cut back on late nights, and avoid irritating foods, or things will worsen. I'll prescribe something to help ease the symptoms."

"Of course, thank you, doctor!" Mia quickly took the forms and handed them to Xiao Li, then helped Lin Xi to a seat outside.

While Xiao Li went to get the medication, Mia suddenly remembered to thank Zhou Jun. Looking up, she was struck speechless. "Oh my God! You're Zhou Jun, the assistant to Master Xiu!"

Zhou Jun hurried over and covered her mouth, stopping her from shouting, "Yes, yes, we'll take full responsibility for today's accident, but please, we hope you can—"

Mia immediately caught on, miming a zip across her lips. "Absolutely, you can count on us. We'll keep it confidential. It was our fault for being in a rush today—we're fully responsible."

Relieved, Zhou Jun smiled, and they quickly exchanged WeChat contacts in a spirit of goodwill.

Just as Lin Xi and her companions reached the hospital entrance, a Bentley pulled up, and a dignified elderly man stepped out. It was the Lin family's steward. He hurried over. "Miss Xi, are you alright?"

Lin Xi's complexion had improved somewhat, and she smiled softly, her tone playfully coquettish. "Uncle Li, I feel much better now. Please don't tell my brother, or he'll scold me again."

Uncle Li shook his head in exasperation. "It was Young Master You who asked me to fetch you. He's in a meeting right now, otherwise he'd have come himself."

At this, Lin Xi's face fell. Mia helped her into the car, while Uncle Li nodded politely to Zhou Jun before driving off.

Zhou Jun was left standing alone in the wind, muttering, "Just what kind of situation is this? Quite the background!"

On the drive, Mia couldn't help but gush about the man they'd collided with—Lu Yuxiu.

For a diehard admirer of good looks like Lin Xi, her curiosity was naturally piqued by this Lu Yuxiu who had Mia positively starry-eyed.

"Xijie, you wouldn't know since you've been abroad. This Lu Yuxiu—Master Xiu—is the dream of countless women in China. His mother, Ning Wan, is the reigning queen of romantic ballads, and his father, Lu Jin, is a legendary director whose films are coveted by every actor, though few ever get the chance. It's fair to say he was born with a silver spoon—destined for greatness."

"Master Xiu more than lived up to that. At eighteen, he won the International Magnolia Award for Best Actor with 'Double Faces,' becoming the youngest recipient in history. Every film since has been a masterpiece, sweeping all the major awards and earning him the title 'Master Xiu' among fans. But he's notoriously low-profile..."

Mia went on and on, extolling her idol's illustrious background.

Lin Xi nodded in understanding—so he was a superstar in China. No wonder he had such presence, and naturally, his looks would be exceptional.

"That's not all—his uncle, Ning Heng, inherited the vast Ning family enterprise and is now chairman of Starlight Group. He never married or had children, and has publicly declared that one day the entire group will go to Master Xiu. Lots of netizens joke that if Master Xiu ever tires of his career, he can just go home and inherit the family business."

Mia's enthusiasm only grew as she painted the full picture for Lin Xi.

After listening, Lin Xi stroked her chin thoughtfully and couldn't help but sigh, "What an impressive background—enough to fill several pages of A4!"

"..."

Mia, however, could only shake her head in silence. Young Miss, your own background is just as powerful—perhaps even more so than Master Xiu's. Though, of course, she only complained in her heart.

***

The next day, Lin Xi visited her brother's company—Ai You Group.

It was the largest financial company in Longcheng, the most prosperous city in China, and a leader in the nation's economy, holding the lifeblood of countless enterprises.

As soon as she entered, the receptionist greeted her politely, "Hello, who are you here to see?"

"Hello, I'm Lin Tianmu," Lin Xi replied with a gentle smile, using her real name to avoid unnecessary complications.

The receptionist was momentarily stunned, then immediately stepped out from behind the desk, her smile broadening. "So you’re our young lady—boss has instructed us to expect you. Please come this way."

Lin Xi smiled amiably and gestured with a wave, "Thank you for your hard work—please share these." Even before she'd finished, Mia and the driver had already placed their coffees on the counter.

The receptionist's smile became even more sincere as she led them to the elevator and sent them up to the ninety-ninth floor.

No sooner had the doors closed than the receptionist grabbed her phone and began messaging,

"Oh my God, our young lady who’s been abroad just returned—she’s so beautiful!"

"She’s not the least bit arrogant."

"She even brought us coffee! Come quick!"

Unbeknownst to Lin Xi, her small gesture had already won the staff’s hearts.

Before long, news of the Lin family's young lady returning from abroad spread like wildfire, circulating among both elite families and major corporations.

The public knew only that the Lin family had a precious daughter, but her parents had shielded her so well that nothing was ever leaked—not even a photograph. Her air of mystery was absolute.

Many heirs of prominent families eyed this legendary Miss Lin with ambition. To marry her was to secure a powerful background and financial support—one could practically retire at home, saving twenty years of struggle.

Upstairs, an assistant escorted Lin Xi to the president’s office. Upon learning of his sister’s arrival, Lin Tianyou halted his meeting at once and rushed to her.

After a warm embrace, Lin Tianyou’s face grew stern. "How many times have I told you? No matter how busy you are, you must eat regular meals. You never listen, do you? Your stomach is acting up again, isn’t it?"

Feeling a little guilty, Lin Xi quickly grabbed his arm and promised, "Brother, I know, I know. From now on, I’ll eat on time, I promise!"

Lin Tianyou sighed, knowing she was only humoring him, but there was nothing he could do.

"Are you alright? You were in an accident on the way here?" he asked, looking her over anxiously.

"Oh, come on, I’m fine! See, I’m standing here, lively as ever." She even spun around a few times to prove her point.

"But..." Lin Tianyou still looked worried.

Before he could continue, Lin Xi quickly changed the subject. "Brother, you know I’ve come back to develop my career here. I want to enter the entertainment industry."

Lin Tianyou was silent for a moment before he spoke softly, "Xiao Xi, I know why you’re doing this. You want to find that important friend you lost as a child. But all I want is for you to be happy and carefree, do you understand?"

Lin Xi’s eyes grew moist as she gently hugged her brother’s waist. "Brother, I’ve always been happy and blessed with your protection. Besides, I love acting—it doesn’t stop me from looking for him."

"Alright! If you want to, then we’ll support you all the way." Placing his hands on her shoulders, Lin Tianyou affectionately smoothed her long hair.

Lin Xi didn’t protest or insist on making it on her own. With her third brother, Gu Jue, running an entertainment company, she had her own connections—success was within easy reach.

As for her brothers:

The eldest: Feng Mo.
Second: Lin Tianyou.
Third: Gu Jue.
Fourth: Gu Yao.
Youngest: Lin Xi.

Lin Tianyou and Lin Xi (Lin Tianmu) are biological siblings; Gu Jue and Gu Yao are also brothers.

Feng Mo and Lin Tianyou were childhood friends who later moved overseas with their parents. The Lin and Gu families are old allies, and the Gu brothers grew up alongside the Lin siblings. Lin Tianyou brought them together, and they became sworn brothers at first meeting. With Lin Xi as the only girl and the youngest, she was naturally doted on beyond measure.