The decision to sue her own family was not taken lightly, but for Ye Xia, it was a strategic necessity. The letter of demand was a declaration of war from Wang Yan, and a weak, predictable one at that. A strong, preemptive counterattack was the only language bullies understood.
Attorney Li, once she got over her initial shock at her young client's ruthlessness, embraced the challenge with professional zeal. "We'll file a countersuit alleging breach of fiduciary duty, emotional distress, and seek a full accounting of your mother's estate. The burden of proof will largely be on them to show that no separate trust existed, which will be difficult. The discovery process alone will be a nightmare for them."
Preparing the lawsuit became Ye Xia's new focus. She spent hours with Attorney Li, going over every detail of her life under Wang Yan's thumb—the psychological abuse, the nutritional sabotage, the neglect. It was cathartic, in a dark way, to weaponize her pain.
She also used the system's funds to hire a private investigator to dig into Wang Yan's finances and her relationship with Zhao Hai. The evidence piled up: receipts for expensive gifts, hotel bookings, the monthly payments. It was more than enough to destroy Wang Yan's marriage and social standing.
The news of the impending lawsuit, as Ye Xia intended, leaked quickly. The scandal rocked their small social circle. Ye Zhentao was humiliated, becoming a recluse. Wang Yan, terrified of the financial records being exposed, became hysterical, calling Ye Xia non-stop with increasingly desperate pleas and threats, which Ye Xia ignored or recorded.
At school, Ye Xia became utterly untouchable. The story of her suing her family, combined with her dramatic transformation, painted a picture of a tragic, powerful figure. The whispers were now tinged with awe and fear. Liang Rui watched her from a distance with a new, grudging respect mixed with unease. Lin Wanwan was utterly terrified, avoiding her like the plague.
Amidst the legal storm, Ye Xia's financial empire continued to grow silently. The Sohu stock had doubled in value since her initial purchase. She sold a portion of her holdings, realizing a profit of over $100,000 USD, which she reinvested into other tech stocks she knew were poised for growth—Apple, Tesla. Xing Guang Capital was no longer a shell; it was a thriving investment vehicle.
The system reached Level 3 (400/500). She was wasting 200,000 RMB daily with practiced ease, her personal wealth accumulating at an astonishing rate. She used some of the profits to upgrade her lifestyle in ways that mattered—a better apartment with a proper gym, a nutritionist on retainer, self-defense lessons. Her body was transforming. The weight was melting away, replaced by lean muscle. Her face had sharpened, revealing the fine bone structure that had been hidden for so long. She was still not conventionally beautiful, but she was powerful, striking, and radiated an intensity that commanded attention.
One evening, as she was reviewing legal documents, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Mo.
[The lawsuit is a bold move. It draws a line. Be prepared for them to cross it.]
The message was typical Mo: cryptic, observant, and slightly ominous. She wondered, not for the first time, about the source of his information. Was he having her followed? It was a disquieting thought, but she couldn't afford to alienate him.
[I am always prepared,] she typed back.
His reply was almost immediate. [Good. An opportunity may present itself soon. A test. Be ready.]
A test? From him? What did that mean? Before she could ask, another message arrived, this time from an unknown number with a foreign country code.
[Miss Ye? My name is Anya. I was a friend of your mother, Lijuan. I have been trying to find you for years. We need to talk. It is about who your mother really was.]
Ye Xia's breath caught in her throat. She stared at the message, her heart hammering. Her mother. The greatest mystery of her life. The woman who had died so young, whose past was shrouded in silence, a subject Ye Zhentao and Wang Yan refused to discuss.
Who your mother really was.
The words echoed the synopsis of her new life. This was it. The secret that could change everything.
The legal battle, the financial games, the revenge against Liang Rui and Lin Wanwan—all of that was important. But this… this felt fundamental. This was about her identity. About the roots of the strength she was now discovering in herself.
She quickly typed a reply, her fingers trembling with a excitement she hadn't felt in two lifetimes. [This is Ye Xia. Tell me everything.]
The reply came swiftly. [Not like this. It is not safe. I am in Paris. Can you come? I will explain everything when you are here.]
Paris. It might as well have been the moon. She was a minor. She had no visa. But she had money. And she had a system that could waste incredible sums of money on international travel and "cultural experiences."
A plan formulated in her mind. She could use the system to book a first-class ticket, a luxury hotel, a "tour." It would be the ultimate wasting experience. And it would give her the answers she craved.
But it would mean leaving the battlefield at a critical moment. The lawsuit was about to be filed. Liang Rui's company was gaining traction. Was this a distraction? Or was it the key to unlocking a new level of power?
Mo's warning echoed in her mind. "An opportunity may present itself soon. A test."
Was this the opportunity? Was Anya connected to Mo? Or was this a separate thread in the tangled web of her destiny?
Ye Xia looked out the window of her apartment at the glittering city lights below. She stood at a crossroads. One path led deeper into the war she had started. The other led to the truth about her past, a truth that might hold the key to her future.
She made her decision. She would go to Paris. The lawsuit could be managed by Attorney Li. Her investments were on autopilot. The enemies would keep. But the chance to uncover her mother's secret was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
She opened the system's interface and began searching for first-class flights to Paris. The storm of revenge would have to wait. A voyage of discovery was calling.
The ugly heiress was reborn. And she was about to discover that she was much, much more than anyone had ever imagined.