"Qin Xin, are you staying at the Qin family villa now?" After getting into the car, Su Wan asked while fastening her seatbelt.
A Xin answered, "Yes."
"Then I'll take you directly back."
"No." A Xin stopped her. "Could you drop me off at a hotel instead?"
Su Wan froze mid-motion just as she was about to start the engine. She turned around, wanting to read something from A Xin's expression.
"What happened? Why a hotel all of a sudden?"
Before A Xin could respond, Su Wan's phone rang. Whatever concern she had a second ago vanished instantly. She hurriedly took out her phone, eyes full of anticipation. When she saw the caller ID—"Xiao Ge"—the corners of her lips lifted into a delighted smile.
A Xin had been watching Su Wan, and she also caught a glimpse of the caller ID. She sat quietly beside her, and although the sound from the phone wasn't loud, she could hear everything clearly.
"Xiao Ge, did you get home already?" Su Wan asked with concern.
On the other end, Ye Xiaoge spoke apologetically.
"I already went back. Qin Feng drove me home. Wanwan, I originally wanted to message you, but I think I made Qin Feng angry. He insisted on taking me away, and I didn't get a chance to tell you. I could only call you after getting home. You're not mad at me, right?"
"Of course not." Su Wan's smile was relaxed and soft. "That man is really petty."
"Actually… Qin Feng just cares about me too much. I know you don't like him. I'll try to keep you two from running into each other. Wanwan, I hope for my sake… you won't hold things against him anymore."
The smile on Su Wan's lips slowly faded. Her tone remained light, sounding as if she really didn't mind.
"Don't worry. What would I possibly hold against him? If not for you, I wouldn't even bother looking at him. If he ever bullies you, come to me."
"Don't feel pressured, Xiao Ge. Just pretend we're back to how things used to be—back when we were best friends."
Hearing the subtle sigh of relief from the other end, Su Wan quietly pursed her lips.
"It's late. Go sleep."
"Wanwan, I…"
"What is it?"
"Since Qin Feng is here, I didn't dare stay close to you earlier. But… could you come over and spend my birthday with me tonight? Just like before. It used to be only you celebrating with me every year. Wanwan… you're my best friend. I want every birthday to have you there—just you.
There were so many people tonight… but they only came because of Qin Feng. They don't actually think anything of me."
Before Su Wan could answer, Ye Xiaoge's tone softened with disappointment.
"But if it's inconvenient… then forget it. Oh—your necklace gift is beautiful. I really like it."
"I'll come in a bit."
Su Wan replied almost instantly. After she hung up, complex emotions flickered across her face. She truly couldn't refuse Ye Xiaoge's expectant voice. Just as Xiao Ge said—ever since they met, Su Wan had spent every birthday at her side… until Qin Feng appeared.
"Great! Wanwan, I'll be waiting. Hurry, it's already ten-thirty. If you're late, it won't be my birthday anymore."
After ending the call, Su Wan suddenly felt a gaze on her. She turned only to meet A Xin's steady stare. Feeling a little embarrassed, she tapped her own head lightly.
"Sorry…"
"It's fine." A Xin smiled gently, her voice soft. "Just take me to the hotel. I planned to go anyway. It won't take up your time."
Su Wan still felt guilty.
This girl was far too obedient—completely unlike Ye Xiaoge.
When Xiao Ge was upset, she would cry. When she was wronged, she'd look pitiful. When afraid, she'd show fear.
But Qin Xin… From the moment Su Wan met her, she'd always been quiet, gentle, soft-spoken. Even when she was tricked upstairs by three grown men, Su Wan had been terrified for her—only for the three men to be the ones defeated in the end.
Su Wan wasn't stupid. She knew this girl was extremely smart and perceptive.
But in a complicated world like this… she still felt this child was too pure.
"I'll find a hotel for you." Su Wan decided, driving toward one she was familiar with.
At the counter, she took out her card, but A Xin stopped her and smiled.
"I have money now."
"…Alright." Su Wan didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.
That pure, bright little smile washed away much of the heaviness in her heart. But she still asked, "Do you have enough?"
"Enough."
A Xin didn't take out all the cash. She simply opened the corner of her small bag, showing several thousand yuan, then showed Su Wan her phone balance—also several thousand. Su Wan couldn't help laughing.
So the cash in the bag… plus the money in her phone… Was all of that won from those three men?
This little girl was… quite incredible.
Su Wan couldn't stop her smile. Her eyes curved, her lips lifting.
"If I don't show up tomorrow, call me when you get home, alright?"
"Okay."
"And at night—don't go out. Doesn't matter who calls you. Don't open the door for strangers. You won't always be as lucky as you were today."
Su Wan slipped the room card into A Xin's hand.
"There are plenty of good people out there… but plenty of bad ones too."
From the front desk all the way to the room, Su Wan lectured her nonstop.
Maybe because this girl really did seem too pure, too well-behaved… and those clear, bright eyes—Su Wan hadn't seen eyes like that in a long time. She just couldn't bear the thought of this girl getting hurt.
"I'm leaving now."
Su Wan stood at the door. "Lock it after I go."
A Xin watched her hurry off in her heels, then closed the door.
She didn't sleep. She simply walked to the window and looked at the lights outside.
She was thinking—
What could she do to ensure Su Wan lived a happy life?
Su Wan needed someone who genuinely liked her.
Where could she find such a person?
Trying too hard to search might be futile.
For now, what she could do was treat Su Wan well—
and make sure she never got hurt again.
A Xin smiled faintly.
Yes. That was settled.
To stand steadily in the human world, the thing she needed most was money.
And to treat a wealthy young lady like Su Wan well… she would need a lot of it.
She took out her phone and dialed one of the three men's numbers.
The trembling voice answered:
"It hasn't even been a day yet. Can you give us more time? We only have a few hundred left. At least let us eat cabbage noodles…"
"I'm not asking you to repay the money. I just want to know—what's the fastest way to make money?"
"Uh…" The man hesitated, then weakly said, "Find a pillow and sleep. Money comes fastest in dreams."
A Xin: "…"
"Be serious. Tell me the fastest way to make money, and I'll waive your interest."
"O-okay, let me think…"
The three men sat in their shabby apartment, racking their brains.
This girl looked innocent but was terrifying.
Asking them how to make money quickly?
She already had unbelievable card-shuffling skills—wasn't that the best way?
The three exchanged glances, nodded, then said,
"Miss Qin, you have amazing card skills. If you go to a casino, making money shouldn't be hard."
"There are two big, reputable casinos in town. Never heard of them refusing to let winners leave. With your skills, money will come fast."
"Which two?"
Suddenly they remembered—
One belonged to the Qin family.
And her surname was Qin.
…Could she be related?
And the two casinos were direct competitors, always hosting huge prize competitions every year.
"Qin's and Zhou's."
A Xin remembered. The Qin family did own a massive entertainment casino. Every year the two competed with extravagant events. Everything was legal here—as long as you weren't caught cheating. If you were, especially with large amounts… you might end up behind bars for a while.
"Tomorrow, take me to Zhou's Casino."
She had no intention of going to Qin's.
Even if she hid her presence, the moment she stepped inside, Qin Feng would know. She didn't want a clash with him yet.
Zhou's Casino was a safer test run.
After washing up, she prepared to sleep—
but the door was knocked.
Through the peephole, she saw a disheveled, pitiful-looking Su Wan.
A Xin immediately opened the door.
Su Wan didn't say a word. Her eyes looked tired, empty. She walked in and sat on the sofa silently.
A Xin closed the door and poured a cup of hot water, handing it to her.
"Su Wan."
"Thanks."
Su Wan took a sip, leaned back, eyes closed.
Only after a long time did she speak.
"I was holding her cake, helping her blow out candles… when Qin Feng called."
"He said he missed her."
"He said he wanted to see her immediately."
Su Wan's eyes tightened, tears sliding down silently.
"She apologized to me. She said Qin Feng sounded drunk, and she was worried, so she had to go."
"And the ridiculous part?" Su Wan let out a bitter laugh.
"I was the one who drove her over."
"Seven years…"
She opened her eyes, tilting her head slightly upward as if to stop the tears.
"I'm… tired."
"I know there's no ending." She let out a soft sigh. "But I still can't resist. Qin Xin… do you think I deserve this? Deserve to be abandoned every single time it matters?"
A Xin thought seriously.
Su Wan expected comforting words—
but what she got was:
"Mhm."
A Xin nodded honestly.
"A little. If she doesn't like you, why force yourself to like her?"
Su Wan's grief cracked into a helpless laugh.
"That really stabbed me."
"But it's true. If you know being good to someone won't lead anywhere, and they won't respond to you… why keep going? Letting go earlier would be better."
Su Wan shook her head.
"I just can't."
"That's because she still likes benefiting from your kindness," A Xin said. "She can't bring herself to cut you off completely. That gives you false hope and drags you deeper."
"If even one of you were decisive, things wouldn't be like this. If she were firm—or if you were ruthless."
Su Wan laughed again.
"You talk like you've had a lot of experience. You're only eighteen. Such rich love history?"
"No." A Xin shook her head.
"I haven't."
"Then why do you think it's so easy?"
A Xin thought seriously.
"Maybe I'm just rational."
"When you fall in love someday, you won't be this rational."
"I think I will be," A Xin said. "Love has nothing to do with losing reason. At most, it makes you value someone more."
"If the person you love doesn't love you back, likes someone else, and never sees your worth—would you still be so rational?"
Su Wan challenged.
In her eyes, falling in love meant losing all rationality.
"…Would you still treat them well?" Su Wan asked.
This time, A Xin was stunned.
"…I'm sorry. I've never experienced it, so I can't answer," she admitted.
"But if I ever do someday, I'll tell you how it feels."
Su Wan's sadness faded as she looked at the serious little girl in front of her.
"…Let's hope you never have to experience something like me.
Liking someone who doesn't like you back… giving and giving with no return… it's miserable."
"Qin Xin, whoever you like in the future—make sure they like you too. Mutual love is the best. Preferably someone who loves you more… so you won't get hurt."
This obedient little girl… with her pitiful background…
Su Wan couldn't help feeling protective.
"Are you tired?" A Xin asked.
"A bit."
"Then sleep. You probably have to work tomorrow."
"True."
Su Wan stood, smiling softly.
"I'll go book another room."
A Xin spoke without thinking.
"The bed's big enough. We can sleep together."
"You forgot?"
Su Wan smiled with curved eyes.
"I like women.
Since I'm into women, we should avoid suspicion. If I have someone I like in the future, how would they see you if they found out we shared a room?"
A Xin wanted to say she didn't care.
She was here for Su Wan—she wouldn't fall for anyone else.
But Su Wan looked serious, so A Xin let her go.
…
The next morning—
"Really don't need me to drive you?" Su Wan asked.
"It's daytime. I'm not as worried," she thought to herself.
"I have to go to the company early. Driving you home will make me late."
A Xin shook her head.
"No need. Go ahead."
"If anything happens, call me. If I don't pick up, send a message. I'll reply when I see it."
A Xin nodded.
Su Wan truly didn't understand—
How could someone like this girl… be disliked by her own mother?
If her mother had a daughter this obedient, she would've slapped nonsense family members into shape long ago.
After Su Wan left, A Xin looked toward the flowerbed.
Behind it was a man hiding with a camera.
She lowered her head, lips curling.
Qin Feng's man?
All this scheming for Ye Xiaoge.
Of course, A Xin knew he had another motive:
Using Xiao Ge to strike at Su Wan.
The Su family and Qin family were both competing for a major project.
Su Wan was in charge of securing it.
If she became emotionally unstable because of Ye Xiaoge… she might fail.
Now that she was here—
Qin Feng wouldn't get the chance to hurt Su Wan.
Later, she met the three men and went to Zhou's Casino.
They expected her to gamble immediately, but she wandered around for half an hour without making a move.
"You three can go."
"You're… sure?" They were terrified of her.
"Do you think anything will happen to me?"
No. Absolutely not.
They fled instantly.
Soon, she quietly pointed out several cheaters to the casino manager—
with absolute accuracy.
The manager was shocked.
The cheaters were indeed there, well-hidden, targeting regular players.
Removing them caused the casino's business to boom over the next few days.
Customers felt fairness again.
Anyone cheating was thrown out within minutes—and blacklisted.
"Someone cleared out all our people," Qin Feng's subordinate reported.
"…How?" Qin Feng frowned.
"Maybe a highly skilled expert showed up. The new people we snuck in were kicked out within minutes."
"If this continues, the Zhou family might win the cruise-night qualification this year."
The city hosted a "Cruise Night" every year—a one-week event filled with wealthy guests, generating massive profits.
If Qin's Casino performed poorly, they'd lose eligibility.
"Find out what's going on. If necessary, send more skilled people. We must secure this year's slot."
He returned home with a bad mood.
A Xin was sitting on the sofa watching TV.
He sat across from her.
"Haven't gone to see Su Wan recently?"
"She's busy."
Qin Feng sneered.
"Don't forget. If you don't behave, I'll throw you and your mother out."
"She's too busy to see me."
"Then you should go to her!"
He grew irritated at the sight of her silent face.
He hated this half-sister.
Her very existence meant his father had betrayed his mother.
A Xin looked calmly at the hatred in his eyes, then turned back to the TV.
He would cry soon.
"What's wrong with you? Your brother is talking!"
Yu Meiyun stormed over, livid.
"You live in this house, eat what your brother pays for, wear what he pays for, and you can't even answer him?
Why stay here at all?"
"Just get out!"
A Xin looked at her.
So that's why the original Qin Xin would later say:
'Please don't let me starve to death on the street.'
A Xin stood, smiling faintly as Yu Meiyun approached.
"Mama… am I really your biological daughter?"
"You damned girl, what nonsense? Of course I gave birth to you!"
She snorted.
"Though honestly, I wish I picked you up from somewhere else.
How could I give birth to something so dull and embarrassing?
Look at you—how are you a Qin family heiress?"
"Auntie, don't be mad."
Qin Feng smirked cruelly.
"Xiao Xin has always been like this. She doesn't listen to anyone. I don't mind how she treats me…
but isn't she becoming… antisocial? Staying inside all day? Won't that affect her future?"
Yu Meiyun immediately panicked.
"What do you think we should do?"
"She's eighteen. Let her go experience hardship outside.
When she learns how tough life is, she'll finally appreciate everything you've done."
"Yes, yes. She needs to taste suffering! She's always looking at me with those pitiful eyes—people will think I abuse her! And she even asked if she was my real daughter!"
"Auntie, so you agree?"
"Of course! Xiao Feng is so thoughtful."
"Then how much money should I give her?"
"Not too much. Five hundred is enough. Food isn't expensive.
Give her more and she'll just run wild."
Qin Feng chuckled and pulled out his wallet.
"Five hundred is too little. She needs to rent a room too. A single room costs at least a thousand.
I'll give her two thousand. Enough for a month."
"Look how much your brother cares for you! Go pack two sets of clothes and get out.
Don't bring anything expensive. You're supposed to suffer, understand?"
"I'll have the driver take her," Qin Feng said smugly.
A Xin looked at his triumphant expression.
How disgusting.
She wanted to crush his soul.
She packed two cheap outfits and followed the driver—
who dropped her on the side of a highway.
As cars zoomed past, she reached for her phone to make a call—
when a car stopped beside her.
"Qin Xin?" Su Wan stared in shock.
"Why are you here? With a suitcase?"
The moment A Xin saw her, she understood Qin Feng's plan.
He timed this perfectly—waiting for Su Wan to pass by.
Such a vicious, calculating man.
But seeing Su Wan, A Xin felt genuinely happy.
She had been wondering how to get closer to her.
Since Qin Feng wanted to use her…
she might as well use the situation too.
"My mom told me to go experience the hardships of life," she said honestly.
Not that she planned to return home ever again.
Su Wan looked at the thin, delicate girl and felt her heart twist.
She helped load the suitcase and pulled her into the car.
"Come to my place first."
"Then I'll trouble you."
A Xin smiled lightly.
Just hearing she could stay with Su Wan made her strangely… excited.
Maybe because it meant her goal was within reach—
she could take care of Su Wan.
Before finding someone who genuinely loved Su Wan,
she—A Xin—would take that role for now.
"It must hurt, right?" Su Wan asked softly after a while.
She really didn't understand how a mother could throw her daughter out onto a highway like this.
How could anyone be so cruel?
A Xin shook her head.
"No."
Of course it didn't hurt.
She wasn't the original Qin Xin.
If it were the original… maybe she would've cried.
"Don't ever go back," Su Wan said. "Stay at my place as long as you want. I'm older than you. If they don't care about you, I'll treat you like a little sister."
"Su Wan… thank you."
A Xin's eyes curved with a genuine smile.
This soul was truly interesting.
Whenever Su Wan showed concern for her, joy bloomed inside her—so much that even her soul felt like dancing.
Living under the same roof would be… very nice.
Back at the villa, Su Wan helped unpack the suitcase and saw only two or three cheap outfits.
Her heart tightened painfully.
The Qin family couldn't spare even clothes?
"I'll ask someone to send you proper clothes later."
She glanced at the calm A Xin—she was so painfully endearing.
If Yu Meiyun were from the Su family, Su Wan might've beaten her up already.
"Have you eaten?"
"Not yet."
"I'll order two meals then."
"It'll take a long time to deliver… why don't we cook?" A Xin suggested.
Food she made would taste better anyway.
Su Wan patted her head.
"I can't cook. And I rarely eat at home. There's no live-in staff—only a cleaning lady who comes on schedule. The kitchen has nothing in it."
"Then let's order delivery," A Xin conceded.
Of course, Su Wan didn't order ordinary food.
After they finished eating, Su Wan said she needed to go to the company.
She told A Xin to rest.
As soon as she left, A Xin received a message.
Qin Feng:
I've created the conditions for you. Stay there. Don't come back. When it's time for you to leave, I'll tell you.
A Xin:
Got it.
He saw the three short words and sent another message:
If you perform well, I'll transfer 100,000 yuan to you.
Just behave.
He already had a perfect plan:
Break Su Wan down through Ye Xiaoge,
warm her heart through Qin Xin,
then expose Qin Xin's "true purpose" at the perfect time.
He refused to believe that Su Wan could withstand consecutive emotional blows and still focus on the major project the Su family needed.
He also had no confidence left in the upcoming Cruise Night qualification—
so he had to secure this project no matter what.
She shouldn't have been so close to Xiao Ge.
No one is allowed to touch Ye Xiaoge—not even a woman.