When Shen Yiran finally understood who the "young madam" was, a cold scoff escaped his lips. "So, the Liu family has already started clinging to the Wang family's wealth?" he said with a dangerous smile. "That Liu Wuxin… truly a vixen. Not even married yet, and she's already reaching for property to buy with Wang's money?" His eyes flashed like sharpened blades. He rolled up his sleeves slowly, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. "Since she doesn't know her place, I might as well go down there myself and teach her a proper lesson."
Just as he took a step forward, Wang Hao moved like lightning and blocked his path. "No," Wang Hao said firmly. "You've misunderstood everything. And if you go there like this, you'll only frighten our Young Madam."
Shen Yiran froze. "Young Madam….?" he repeated slowly, turning back to stare at him in disbelief. A strange look crossed his face, part shock, part irritation. "When did you start protecting women who aren't under Wangs?" he complained. "And how can you allow that woman to treat your young master like a money tree? You're even speaking for her now?" Then his tone sharpened, edged with visible hostility. "And since when was Liu Wuxin ever afraid of me?"
In her eyes, Shen Yiran was nothing more than an orphan who had risen by clinging onto powerful friends. She had never once shown him respect, always believing his success came from standing in Wang Lingxuan and Lu Zeyan's shadows. But what she never knew that Shen Yiran was the one who had built his empire from the ground up with his own blood and bones.
Behind the glamorous name "Golden Crest Properties," lay a man who silently controlled numerous powerful companies. The world only knew of this one because it had been his very first step, the foundation stone of his vast, unseen dominion. He was not a man who borrowed power but he was a man who created it.
Seeing Shen Yiran's misunderstanding deepen with every passing second, Wang Hao finally decided to reveal the truth. He narrated everything - from the moment he stepped into the Liu residence to receive the bride, to the shocking switch of identities, the so-called "restored" wedding and the carefully disguised poison hidden inside the dowry gifts which he found while coming over here. Then, Wang Hao spoke of Wu Qingyi's strange innocence, her seemingly muddled mind, and the way she had outplayed the entire Liu household without raising her voice once.
However, he deliberately omitted certain parts. He did not mention how she had slapped Liu Wuxin for insulting their master, he did not speak of how she had shielded Wang Lingxuan's dignity like a blade drawn from its sheath and he did not reveal the terrifyingly pure image of "weak, gentle, pitiful husband" that existed in her heart. Because if Shen Yiran ever discovered that… he would laugh at Wang Lingxuan for the rest of his life. When Wang Hao finished, silence filled the room.
Shen Yiran lowered his head, his shoulders trembling. Then, he burst out laughing, but it wasn't a light laugh. It was low, dangerous and suppressed. A laugh that sounded like the prelude to someone's funeral. After a long moment, he finally raised his head, his eyes now cold and sharp as frost. So… the Liu family dared to play tricks with Wang Lingxuan? He stood up slowly, adjusting his cuffs with elegant, ruthless calm. "They're courting death."
Then, a slow, unreadable smile appeared on his lips. "I really want to meet this Wu Qingyi," he said quietly. "A woman who can step into that viper's nest and walk out untouched… and who is the only person in this world willing to marry Wang Lingxuan." He turned toward Wang Hao. "Let's go."
What Wang Hao didn't know was this that very soon, Shen Yiran would suffer the same shock they had felt… the moment he heard Wu Qingyi casually describe her "weak, poor, pitiful" husband and that shock? Would shake even his perfectly controlled world.
While Wang Hao was occupied upstairs, Wu Qingyi grew restless waiting alone. With soft, curious steps, she wandered deeper into the grand sales hall of Golden Crest Properties, her wide eyes taking in everything like a child discovering a new world. Unknowingly, she strayed into the exclusive display zone where miniature architectural models of luxury villas, towering penthouse suites, glass-walled business towers, lakefront mansions, and sprawling aristocratic estates were arranged like a silent city of dreams.
She leaned closer, her eyes lighting up. "Wow… it's so tall," she whispered, staring at a needle-like tower. Then she moved to the next model, clasping her hands together in delight. "Wow… it's so big…" Her gaze fell upon a villa surrounded by a tiny shimmering blue pool. She gasped softly, almost bouncing on her toes. "Oh my… it even has a swimming pool!" A moment later, she frowned slightly at a model painted in muted gold and grey. She tilted her head in confusion. "I don't like this colour…" Her unfiltered reactions drew subtle glances from the people around. The sales agents exchanged awkward looks, the elite clients quietly stepped aside. From their perspective, she appeared harmless but… clearly different.
Murmurs stirred. "Is she lost?" "She shouldn't be here…" No one approached her, no one cared for her and no one realized that the seemingly naïve girl who stood among miniature empires of wealth was quietly deciding which kind of world she wanted to build for the man she loved.
Wu Qingyi's gaze drifted around the vast showroom, eyes bright with curiosity and quiet hope as she searched for someone who might help her. Yet wherever she looked, the property agents either turned their faces away or suddenly busied themselves with invisible tasks, their expressions filled with thinly veiled avoidance. Just as a flicker of confusion crossed her face, she noticed a young girl sitting alone in a far corner, a modest badge pinned to her chest that read "Junior Property Agent." So, without hesitation, Wu Qingyi walked toward her, her soft footsteps echoing faintly across the polished floor.
The junior property agent had joined the company barely a month ago, clinging to this job as her only lifeline to repay her mounting debts. She had fought hard to earn her place, believing that honest work would finally give her a future. But now she sat alone in a quiet corner, her head lowered, blinking back unshed tears. In this company, every agent lived and died by their monthly targets when fail to meet them, you are quietly erased.
At first, she had secured a promising client, her heart soaring with hope. Yet just as the deal was about to be sealed, her manager had swooped in, casually replacing her with another agent. From then on, no matter how hard she worked, no matter how sincerely she impressed clients, the same thing would happen. Right at the final signature, her manager would push her aside, handing the credit to someone else and none of them ever refused, because who would say no to easy commission?
At first, the junior agent couldn't understand why misfortune kept circling her like a shadow. Only later did she learn the ugly truth that her manager had fallen for the very man who had once confessed to her. Though she had rejected him without hesitation, jealousy had already taken root in the manager's heart, blooming into silent sabotage and cold cruelty. Her beauty, her sincerity, even her capability had all become invisible thorns in another woman's eyes.
That day marked the last page of her patience. It was the final day of the month, and she knew with a quiet, aching certainty that she would not close a single sale. It would be her last day in this glittering cage of glass walls and false smiles. She sat in the corner, fingers clenched tightly in her lap, forcing the tears in her eyes not to fall and then, she saw her.
A girl walking toward her with light, wandering steps. She had noticed her earlier, the way she gasped at model villas, the way she laughed softly at swimming pools and frowned seriously at paint colours. She was clearly… different, not broken, just pure in a world that had long rotted inside and strangely, her smile made the room feel less cold. Without caring whether this visitor would ever sign a deal or not, the junior agent stood up. For the first time that day, she chose kindness over commission.