Volume One, Chapter Two: Only then would one be worthy of Lu Chaoxi’s tears.

Little Wanyan stood up, dusted off the dirt on his clothes, and was about to head home when he noticed his mother holding some vegetables nearby, glaring hatefully at the mother-and-daughter duo.

He ran over and habitually took the vegetables from her hands. “Mom, why are you staring at them like that?”

Wanyan’s mother glared fiercely at the figure that had long disappeared around the corner. “That woman caused me to be expelled from university and stole the man I loved most. Am I not allowed to look at them like this?”

Wanyan grabbed his mother’s hand and started walking home. “Mom, Dad is back. He’s awake and needs to eat. We have to go cook.”

“Did he hit you again?” His mother squatted down and lifted his shirt, seeing the red marks of various sizes. She cursed softly, “That bastard!”

Wanyan opened his eyes, fully awake now. His hatred deepened with the memories, and even the slight pity he once felt for Lu Chaoxi had completely vanished.

His mother had accidentally killed his drunken father while trying to save him from being beaten to death, and she was still serving time in prison.

He had endured scorn and contempt all his life, only remembering the words, “He’s so dirty.”

His mother dreamed of avenging herself on that woman, but that woman was already dead. It was Lu Chaoxi who had forced the association onto him, and he had merely gone along with it.

Wanyan had graduated from university with excellent grades, but because Lu Chaoxi’s father had spread word forbidding any company from hiring him, all his paths to survival were cut off.

In truth, Wanyan only wanted to earn money so that when his mother was released from prison, they could live a good life. His thoughts were that simple.

Yet Lu Chaoxi clung to him like a ghost—no matter how he tried to shake her off, she wouldn’t leave.

This wealthy girl cared only about her own happiness, indifferent to the suffering of others.

“Handle the news carefully. Don’t let Lu Chaoxi see any of it. Take away all her electronic devices.”

Wanyan’s voice grew colder with each word. “And her friend Luo Ci—she’s not allowed to appear in front of her.”

Song Yin looked troubled. “But Madam will definitely find out in a few days; after all, the chairman’s death can’t be hidden.”

No explanation could justify a father’s absence during his daughter’s injury.

Song Yin added, “If you’re worried about Madam, why not stay with her at the hospital? She loves you so much; it might comfort her.”

Wanyan tapped his thigh with his index finger, a disdainful smile curling his lips. “I’m not worried about her. I just want her to suffer more.”

His tone was calm but firm, causing Song Yin to slow his breath.

At this moment, Lu Chaoxi lay in her hospital bed, smiling foolishly, feeling as if it were all a dream. She was still a university student, yet she had suddenly woken up at twenty-four years old!

She had married Wanyan, just as she wished—she really had!

It felt unreal. Lu Chaoxi pinched herself countless times, and the pain confirmed it was true.

This was the happiest day of her life, and she believed her happiness would last forever. After all, she had spent nine years chasing the man she loved.

Nine years ago, the entire high school in Shancheng knew that wealthy girl Lu Chaoxi adored the poor boy Wanyan in her class. For three years of high school, she revolved entirely around him, doing everything to please him.

But Wanyan never gave her a friendly glance, always watching her flattering attempts with cold eyes.

Luo Ci, who was close to Lu Chaoxi, often advised her to stop following Wanyan like a shadow. It was embarrassing—everyone at school saw her as a joke.

Lu Chaoxi ignored all this because her father had told her that liking someone was what mattered most.

As an only daughter, a pampered little princess, and the heir to a major conglomerate, there was nothing Lu Chaoxi couldn’t have—except for Wanyan. He was the exception.

So Lu Chaoxi held her breath and vowed to win Wanyan’s heart!

Finally, at twenty-four, she realized her dream, wearing her favorite wedding dress and marrying the man she had longed for.

Though she had lost two years of memory, that didn’t matter as long as the outcome was right.

Luo Ci rushed anxiously to the hospital but was blocked at the door by men Wanyan had arranged. She didn’t even know whether Lu Chaoxi was alive or dead.

Pointing at one of the men, she gritted her teeth and said, “Tell that phoenix man Wanyan that if I don’t see Lu Chaoxi tomorrow, I’ll smash his office! I’ll have the media camped outside Lu Corporation’s gates every day, asking how the chairman died!”

Luo Ci had never liked Wanyan and had repeatedly tried to persuade Lu Chaoxi, but the girl’s foolish love wasted all her words.

The woman who ruined the wedding today, and Lu Chaoxi’s suicide attempt, only confirmed her suspicions.

Wanyan had only married Lu Chaoxi for her family’s wealth.

“Go ahead, Miss Luo,” the guard said dryly, ignoring all her threats.

Angrily, Luo Ci left to find another way.

The next morning, Song Yin received a call from the hospital and hurried to Wanyan’s office.

Without looking up from his documents, Wanyan said, “Come in.”

Song Yin entered and said, “Madam ran out of the hospital. She changed clothes and wore a mask; the bodyguards didn’t notice.”

Wanyan paused his paperwork and looked at Song Yin calmly. “Where do you think she will go?”

Hesitating, Song Yin answered, “Could it be that Madam ran out after learning about the chairman’s death?”

Wanyan laughed softly, closed the file, and stood up. “She went to see my mother.”

His expression was so certain it seemed he fully understood Lu Chaoxi—confident that she was a fool whose thoughts and actions revolved entirely around him.

And indeed, Lu Chaoxi was such a person.

“I’ll go pick her up.”

Wanyan was in a good mood, his face no longer cold and distant.

As he reached the door, he stopped and turned back to Song Yin. “I don’t trust anyone else to arrange Chairman Lu’s funeral. You personally oversee it. I’ll be there in two hours.”

He emphasized, “It must be grand and luxurious.”

Only such a funeral would be worthy of Lu Chaoxi’s tears.

Song Yin responded and left. Wanyan adjusted his cuffs before heading to the prison to pick someone up.

Lu Chaoxi had quietly escaped the hospital and taken a taxi to the southern city prison, remembering that Wanyan’s mother was serving time there.

When she had been chasing after Wanyan, she often visited his mother in prison since high school, but Wanyan’s mother had always treated her coldly.

Perhaps it was due to their personalities—Wanyan’s character was much like his mother’s.

Later, when Lu Chaoxi tried to bring up Aunt Wan in conversation with Wanyan, she learned that he had never once visited his mother in prison.

Not because he was ashamed, but because they simply would not let him in.

Even though Wanyan’s visiting documents were always complete, the prison refused him entry.

Lu Chaoxi, with her wealth and power, used her connections to get Wanyan into the prison to see his mother after five years apart.

She remembered that was the first time Wanyan had shown her a kind face, making her happy for an entire month.

“Mom, Wanyan and I are married.”

Hearing that word "Mom," Lu Chaoxi blushed and lowered her head.

She wanted to share the good news with this mother first. All she could do was show her the utmost respect since she couldn’t serve tea or get Wanyan’s mother released from prison just yet.