Chapter Two: The Arrogance of the Wealthy

In the old Yuan family residence, the television was broadcasting a news report: “A pipeline explosion on the fifth floor of the Central Tower has triggered a massive fire. The resulting chain reaction has engulfed the entire building in flames. Firefighters have rushed to the scene, and so far, nine people have been injured…”

Behind the reporter on screen, the camera caught Jin Yuan carrying a woman out of the burning building in his arms.

Yuan Yao’er stared in shock. Wasn’t that Jin Yuan, the president of the Jin Corporation, the second master Jin? Had he lost his mind? He actually rushed into a raging fire alone to save someone? Was this a joke? Rumor had it he was always distant from women, cold and unapproachable, and now he’d risked his life for a woman he’d never even met before?

Wait a minute…

Yuan Yao’er’s eyes burned into the image of the woman being rescued. Though three years had passed, she recognized her at a glance… Wasn’t that the wretch, Xiang Die?

She glared at the butler beside her. “Didn’t I tell you to bring her back?”

“Yes… it’s just that for some reason, the young miss didn’t get in the car. She took a taxi to the nearby commercial street…”

But why was it Jin Yuan who ended up saving her?

Yao’er, fuming, threw a cushion and glanced at her mother, Zhang Xi. As a mother, Zhang Xi immediately understood the jealousy flickering in her daughter’s eyes. “Butler! Use whatever means necessary—bring Yuan Xiang Die home at once!”

...

South China, First People’s Hospital.

Yuan Xiang Die woke up groggy and found herself lying in a hospital bed. Her lower abdomen felt strangely heavy. Looking down, she saw Little Softie sprawled across her stomach, fast asleep! Drool covered her, but instead of disgust, she found it unbearably cute.

Wait… now wasn’t the time to be lost in Little Softie’s charms. Was she not dead? Oh… she’d only scraped her forehead.

Yuan Xiang Die marveled at her own luck. Suddenly, Little Softie woke, rubbed his eyes, and threw himself into her arms. His tiny hands clung to her neck, his chubby face nuzzling against her slender neck…

“Thank goodness you’re alright… See, I’m fine too. By the way, how did I get here?”

Little Softie didn’t answer; he seemed unwilling to speak.

Yuan Xiang Die slipped on her slippers, picked up Little Softie, and was about to go find a nurse when the door flung open. A tall man squeezed in, startling her into stumbling back nearly to the floor.

Jin Yuan narrowed his eyes, studying the somewhat silly but cute woman before him. Her eyes were so bright, her lips red, her teeth white. She wasn’t dainty or delicate, but had a natural beauty, like scattered blossoms and shattered jade. Among women, she stood out—striking and unforgettable.

His gaze drifted downward and saw Little Softie still clinging to her, refusing to let go, not even sparing his own father a glance. Fury simmered within him.

The boy was so smitten by a pretty lady that he ignored his own father!

Yuan Xiang Die instantly recognized Jin Yuan as the child’s father. Without thinking, she tried to hand Little Softie to him. “Sir, if I’m not mistaken… this is your child…”

“Don’t want him!” Jin Yuan’s face was thunderous.

“Huh?” Yuan Xiang Die’s expression darkened. “But—”

“He’s yours now!” And it didn’t sound like a joke.

“???” Countless question marks seemed to float above Xiang Die’s head. Though she desperately wanted to “accept” this child, he did have a father… A glance at the man—expensive suit, designer watch, a face both cold and noble, exuding an air of intimidation and wealth.

A rich man!

Of course, the wealthy never lacked children!

Well, then, she’d really keep him!

“But sir… do you know what happened? How did I end up in the hospital? Someone saved me, didn’t they?”

Jin Yuan didn’t answer. He strode in, sat down naturally on a chair, crossed his long legs, picked up the remote, and turned on the television. He switched the channel to a news broadcast covering the building explosion.

Following the shaky camera, Yuan Xiang Die watched as Jin Yuan carried her out from the blazing inferno. Under his inky hair, his eyes were so cold they sent shivers down her spine. His stunning profile lit up the screen; every strand of hair, every nuanced expression, the way his tie fluttered as he ran—the slow-motion replay made it look like an epic blockbuster! Anyone would have thought it was a scene from a movie.

Damn! He was handsome!

Yuan Xiang Die was stunned. Now, the man who looked so incredible on television was standing in front of her, staring at her with an unreadable expression.

She grew inexplicably nervous and nearly forgot what to say: “Did you really risk your life to save me? Thank you!”

The man waved dismissively, as if it had cost him nothing. “Your name.”

“Yuan Xiang Die.”

“I’m Jin—” He was interrupted by a loud thud at the door.

“Savior! Oh, our savior!” The door burst open again, and a group of bodyguards rushed in, all kneeling properly before Yuan Xiang Die. One of them, full of emotion, spoke: “Oh, kind and beautiful lady! Thank you for saving our young master—and for saving all our lives! From this day forward, I swear my allegiance not only to the Jin family, but to you as well! To the death!”

Jin family? Yuan Xiang Die glanced at the man beside her.

She’d thought he looked familiar! It really was him!

“The president of Jin Corporation, Jin Yuan?” So she had saved Jin Yuan’s son!

Those eyes of his, equally scrutinizing, bored into her with a piercing intensity—like a bolt of lightning, swift and ruthless, striking straight to the heart. During her three years in prison, she’d seen her share of murderous glares, but being stared at by him made her inexplicably tense.

She had saved his son, not tried to harm him, so why the hostility…?

The bodyguard explained confidently, “Don’t worry, our second master looks at everyone this way.”

“I’ll take your word for it…”

“Little Star, we’re going home.” The man’s eyes were sharp as he glared at Little Softie in her arms, his voice tinged with warning. “Now!”

Little Softie trembled, then threw his head back and howled, childish yet fierce, “Waaah! Bad Daddy! Bad Daddy!”

Xiang Die scrambled to soothe him. “Be good, go home with Daddy. Auntie has things to do… Oh, I see, you can’t bear to leave Auntie, can you?”

Little Softie nodded miserably.

“All right, Auntie will give you her address. If you miss me, just come find me, okay?” Yuan Xiang Die scribbled an address on a slip of paper—not the Yuan family’s, but a small shop she’d bought before going to prison. It would be her first boutique, and just in case Little Softie couldn’t find her, she added her phone number. “Keep it safe, don’t lose it, all right?”

Little Softie clutched the note as if it were treasure and carefully tucked it into his pocket.

Jin Yuan pulled a check from his pocket, signed it, and tossed it to her. “Fill in any amount you want.”