Chapter 1

Late August, the tail end of summer.

Sunset clouds stretched across the sky for miles, and the evening wind set the leaves rustling softly.

A long black luxury sedan stopped outside the iron gate.

The butler stepped forward and opened the door, bowing his head respectfully. “Sir.”

The man gave a noncommittal nod. “Is everything arranged?”

“Yes, sir. Rest assured.”

Pei Tiancheng gave a faint “mm,” walked around to the rear door, pulled it open, and extended a hand toward the child inside. “Will you let Grandpa carry you down?”

In the back seat sat a child of five or six, cheeks rosy, bright eyes blinking. She studied him for a few seconds, then shook her head and said quietly, “Mianmian can do it herself.”

Pei Tiancheng said nothing. He withdrew his hand and watched coldly as the little girl clambered down from the car, a little clumsily.

He turned and walked inside, the butler following behind him.

The child carried a huge schoolbag, the too-long cuffs of her trousers rolled up. She stepped in their shadows, quiet and obedient. Secretly she clenched her small fists, glancing around nervously. Everything here was unfamiliar — she couldn’t remember whether she had ever been here before… or, more precisely, the entire world felt strange to her.

She had woken up in a hospital and remembered nothing.

Later, the police came and told her that her parents had died in a car accident, that she had no other family, and that this “Grandpa Pei” had been her parents’ best friend while they were alive and was willing to adopt her. The officer had patted her head and told her not to be afraid.

Yu Mian didn’t know this Grandpa Pei. Perhaps it was his hooked nose that frightened her a little — she was a bit scared of him.

But police officers wouldn’t lie. And she had nowhere else to go; she could only follow him.

She stepped into the Pei Family Courtyard.

There was a small pond in the courtyard, its surface mirroring the sunset clouds, a few goldfish swimming back and forth. She couldn’t help stealing a few extra glances before hurrying to catch up.

The door opened and a smiling middle-aged woman came out, holding a watering can. “Sir, you’re back… Oh? Whose child is this?”

Only then did Pei Tiancheng stop and glance back at Yu Mian, his tone flat. “A friend’s daughter. Her parents passed away.”

Auntie Zhang froze, her heart aching. “Ai… such a small child…”

“Mm. Look after her.”

Auntie Zhang couldn’t yet read her employer’s intentions. She simply walked over, set down the watering can, and held out a hand. “Come along, little one. Come inside with Auntie.”

Yu Mian looked up at her but didn’t take her hand, her eyes full of nervousness and wariness.

Auntie Zhang read the child’s expression and wasn’t offended. She smiled gently. “All right then, let’s go. Dinner will be ready soon.”

Yu Mian silently nodded and, schoolbag on her back, followed her into the house.

Pei Tiancheng took off his coat and sat down on the sofa, rubbing the space between his brows. Days of relentless work had left him tired, but it had all been worth it. The partnership between the two families had been laid on solid foundations; from now on, he need not fear the other side going back on their word.

The servants bustled up and down, footsteps clattering.

Yu Mian instinctively pricked up her ears and caught fragments of their conversation: “The Eldest Miss seems to be back — set another place… no wait, there’s a child too, so two more.”

Eldest Miss.

Yu Mian sat on the stool, swinging her feet lightly, silently turning the words over in her mind. She couldn’t help wondering: was this Eldest Miss a little girl her age? Then… could she maybe have a friend?

She soon learned how wrong she was.

A set of crisp, measured footsteps came down the stairs. She looked toward the sound, and a pair of clear, limpid eyes met hers — then shifted away within a second. “Whose child is this?”

Pei Tiancheng answered with half-lidded eyes. “A friend’s daughter. Her parents passed away.”

The same script, the same flat tone.

Pei Songxi stopped, her gaze settling on the child — the huge schoolbag on those immature little shoulders, the too-long trouser legs rolled halfway up. Her faint brows drew together almost imperceptibly, and her voice was cool. “Are you waiting for her family to come collect her?”

The question irritated Pei Tiancheng. “She isn’t going back. There’s no one left in her family. Her parents entrusted her to me on their deathbeds. She has nowhere to go. Keeping her here is just one more pair of chopsticks.”

Pei Songxi pressed her lips together and looked at him in silence, her eyes holding the knowing clarity of someone who saw through everything, laced with faint mockery.

Pei Tiancheng avoided her gaze and beckoned to Yu Mian. “Mianmian, call her Auntie Pei.”

The child looked at her timidly, dark eyes darting, but for a long while no word came out; her lips were pressed tightly together.

Pei Songxi gave her a cold glance and said nothing more.

The servants had already laid out the tableware and dishes. The butler went upstairs to call everyone down, and Auntie Zhang added a chair at the table, waving Yu Mian over. “Come, sit here.”

Yu Mian hopped down from her stool, the big schoolbag swinging violently with the motion — who knew what was inside, it rattled loudly. A bit noisy.

Pei Songxi rubbed her temple.

Auntie Zhang walked over a little anxiously and took the bag from her. “Let Auntie hold it. You can have it back after dinner, all right?”

The child nodded.

She walked slowly to the dining table. The chair was a bit high for her; she clambered up carefully, only to discover that the person sitting beside her… was the very Auntie Pei Grandpa Pei had mentioned.

She stole glances at her. Between her brows there seemed to linger the mist of an autumn day — faint, quiet, faintly aloof. Sensing her gaze, the woman turned her head and looked back, her eyes equally cold.

Yu Mian looked away, not daring to look again.

Soon, Pei Linmao and Ding Mei came downstairs as well.

Pei Linmao was the Pei Family’s eldest son, groomed by Pei Tiancheng as his heir; nothing was kept from him. He had long known a child would be coming to the household, and his reaction was indifferent. As for Ding Mei, although her husband had told her about it, she remained suspicious, privately wondering whether the child was actually a daughter born of an affair.

She sat down, poured the child a glass of juice, and asked with a smile, “Little one, what’s your name?”

The child spoke, her voice babyish. “My name is Yu Mian.”

Ding Mei’s smile deepened. “What a lovely name. Did your family give it to you?”

Yu Mian’s little face fell at once. “I don’t remember…”

Ding Mei froze, remembering her husband saying the girl’s parents had both died. A wave of pity rose in her, and she patted the child’s head. “There, there. Drink your juice.”

Yu Mian nodded lightly and bit down on her straw.

The meal passed quietly.

Pei Songxi was the first to leave the table.

Yu Mian couldn’t help glancing at her again, and happened to meet her eyes as she turned. Guiltily, she looked away — just in time to hear her tell Auntie Zhang, “It’s getting cold. Clear the juice off the table.”

Ding Mei blinked, looking at the girl’s glass — the juice hadn’t gone down at all. Apparently she didn’t like it. She pursed her lips, a little displeased. This sister-in-law really meddled in everything.

Pei Songxi went upstairs to see her grandmother.

Zhou Ruyun’s health was poor; her meals were usually carried up to her by a dedicated servant. She stayed in her room on the fourth floor and rarely went out.

When Pei Songxi knocked and entered, the old lady had just taken off her reading glasses and set down her newspaper. She waved her over, her expression doting. “Yueyue, do we have guests?”

Pei Songxi’s expression softened slightly. She went over and sat on the edge of the bed. “Father brought back a little girl from outside. He says she’s a friend’s child — her parents have passed away.”

“Is she staying a few days?”

“No. From what he says, she’s staying for good.”

Zhou Ruyun startled at that. “The child has no family left at all?”

Pei Songxi nodded faintly.

The old lady let out a long sigh. “What a sin.”

She had always known her son was ruthless, but a child so small… how could he not spare even her?

Pei Songxi silently patted her palm, then left the room and went downstairs, catching Xu Zhong. “Uncle Xu, whose family is she from?”

The butler gave an apologetic smile, impervious as a brick wall. “Miss, I really couldn’t say. All I know is that Miss Yu Mian’s parents were friends of the sir’s.”

Pei Songxi looked at him coldly and walked past him, knowing she would get no truth out of his mouth.

In the living room, Auntie Zhang was combing Yu Mian’s hair, tying it into an adorable little bun. “Do you like it?”

The child sat on the tall stool, swinging her legs lightly, a hint of a smile escaping her. She touched the little bun on her head and nodded shyly, finally speaking. “I like it.”

Her happiness lasted exactly one second.

Pei Songxi came slowly down the stairs, her voice cool and clear, and said to her father, “Send her back.”

Yu Mian jumped up from the stool, quietly gripping the slipping strap of her schoolbag, her small head slowly bowing.

She thought silently… She probably doesn’t like me.