Chapter 2

It had been over a month since Lin Shizhao moved into the Gu family home with her mother. The summer vacation was nearing its end. Morning. Lin Shizhao woke up from a dream, her pillow damp with tears, and her eyes slightly red. Last night, she had a long dream—one that took her back to when her parents had not yet divorced, and her father had not abandoned them. Outside, snowflakes were falling, and the brightly lit square was filled with fireworks. Her parents held her hands as they watched the display together. Back then, she was small, with a round and chubby face, sitting on her father’s shoulders, laughing as she watched the fireworks. Her father’s gaze was filled with love as he looked at both her and her mother. Those were their hardest yet happiest times. Lin Haiping had been struggling to build his career back then, and her mother, Xia Wen, was always his strongest support—gentle and virtuous. But everything changed when Lin Shizhao turned ten. With the support of his current wife, Zhao Man, Lin Haiping’s business thrived. However, people change. No longer the man he used to be, he caught Zhao Man’s attention with his good looks, and surprisingly, she didn’t mind that he had been married before. Without hesitation, Lin Haiping divorced Xia Wen. Naturally, he didn’t take their daughter with him, leaving Lin Shizhao as a burden for Xia Wen. Prideful and elegant, Xia Wen valued her reputation and refused to accept her fate. She decided to revive her passion for fashion design—a career she had once given up for Lin Haiping. But after ten years as a housewife, she had no money and no connections. Lin Haiping had left them with nothing but the house, which she eventually sold. She rented a small basement apartment and opened a tiny tailor shop. After years of hard work, her business slowly grew, and during that time, she met Gu Zhiwei. The Gu family was famously wealthy in City A, known for their vast business empire, Gu Corporation, which spanned various industries, including fashion design. Gu Zhiwei’s first wife had passed away due to childbirth complications, and he had remained single for years to care for his son. Many women dreamed of becoming the new Mrs. Gu, but he had never remarried—until he met Xia Wen. He was deeply attracted to her elegance and unique charm. At first, Xia Wen had no romantic interest in him, but Gu Zhiwei’s sincerity won her over. He helped her through the darkest period of her life, and over time, she developed feelings for him. They decided to marry, but out of consideration for their children, they skipped a wedding ceremony and simply registered their marriage. Shortly after, he moved Xia Wen and Lin Shizhao into the Gu family estate. After freshening up, Lin Shizhao changed into a sporty outfit: a white T-shirt paired with black joggers and a pair of simple white sneakers. Her long black hair cascaded down her back. She grabbed a black hair tie, gathering her hair into a high ponytail, the loose strands framing her face perfectly. A high ponytail and youth were always a perfect match. When she went downstairs, Gu Zhiwei and Xia Wen were already at the dining table having breakfast. Gu Zhiwei spread blueberry jam on a slice of toast and handed it to her in a warm, fatherly gesture. The scene was so gentle and caring that Lin Shizhao felt a lump in her throat, her nose tingling with emotion. "Come, Shizhao, have some breakfast," Gu Zhiwei said. She froze for a moment before slowly walking over and pulling out a chair next to Xia Wen. The morning sun shone brightly, its rays streaming through the window, illuminating the young man's jet-black hair. Gu Helin, dressed in a casual sports outfit, descended the stairs with a black backpack slung over his right shoulder. He ate a few slices of bread before announcing that he was full and getting ready to leave. "Xiao Lin, drink your milk before you go. You're still growing, and this isn't enough food," Xia Wen said kindly, handing him a glass of milk. The boy frowned slightly, hesitating. Xia Wen’s outstretched hand lingered awkwardly in the air. "Helin is allergic to milk," Gu Zhiwei quickly interjected, easing the situation. "Oh, I see. My apologies! I'll get you something else next time," Xia Wen said with a smile. The boy hummed in response, his tone unreadable. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked out the door. "Helin, wait for your sister," Gu Zhiwei called out. Lin Shizhao quickly put down her half-finished milk, grabbed her pastel yellow school bag, and hurried after him. Before they left, Gu Zhiwei reminded Gu Helin that he and Xia Wen would be traveling abroad for a business trip and might not be back for a few months. He instructed him to take care of both himself and Lin Shizhao. Gu Helin had always been low-key and disliked the idea of having a personal driver. He commuted to school by bus every day. At only sixteen, he was already 182 cm tall, striding ahead with an effortless grace. Lin Shizhao, who was also quite tall at 167 cm, followed behind at a steady pace, her long legs making it easy to keep up. The bus stop was a short walk away. There, a small crowd had gathered—office workers rushing to their jobs and students in neatly pressed uniforms waiting for their ride. While waiting, Lin Shizhao pulled out a small pink notebook and began memorizing new English words for her first year of high school. The second bus soon arrived. Following Gu Helin, she boarded, and the seats quickly filled up. She managed to find a spot in front of him. Moments later, a greasy-looking middle-aged man with a beer belly boarded. He glanced at Lin Shizhao and signaled for her to give up her seat. She pretended not to see him, focusing on her notebook. "Hey, young lady, have some respect for your elders! I've been standing here for ages, and you’re just sitting there, ignoring me?" the man said impatiently. Lin Shizhao kept her eyes on her book, remaining silent. "Tsk, you look pretty, but where are your manners?" the man pressed on, causing a few passengers to turn and glance at the girl in the seat. Just as Lin Shizhao was about to stand up, a firm hand suddenly pressed her back down. A crisp, clear voice came from behind her. "Everyone here paid for their tickets. First come, first served. Ever heard of that?" Gu Helin’s tone was cool and unwavering. Hearing the boy’s words, several passengers nodded in agreement. "He's right." "Well said! Young people these days should speak up more!" "Someone record this and post it online!" A few people even took out their phones, ready to capture the moment. Under the weight of the stares, the beer-bellied man finally backed down, pretending not to hear anything as he leaned against the bus pole. When the bus arrived at their stop, Gu Helin stepped off and walked straight toward the school gates. Lin Shizhao jogged to catch up. "Thanks for that, back there," she said softly. "It was nothing," he replied lazily, his figure disappearing into the distance.