Chapter 1

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In early April, the sunshine was bright and clear, warming the body and making one's mood bright and cheerful.

But the people who came to the cemetery to pay their respects could never feel at ease. Some had gloomy faces, while others sobbed uncontrollably.

However, there were also those who, on the surface, appeared very sad but were secretly smiling inside.

Just like Qi Manjing, every time she came to pay respects to her deceased husband, who had been dead for three years, she felt particularly happy.

Usually, once a woman passes the age of twenty-five, she starts to decline. But she was an exception. Her luxurious lifestyle and the use of various high-end skincare products kept her skin as smooth and tender as a young girl's. However, compared to the innocence of a young girl, she was more like a ripe peach, exuding a sweet and alluring aura all over.

Even in such an environment, most of the men who came to pay their respects couldn't help but fix their gaze on her, unwilling to look away. A tall and slender woman, dressed in a noble yet not vulgar manner, even in a simple hairstyle, still appeared graceful and charming. With a cold and faintly sad expression on her face, could there be a more captivating woman to men?

Especially those men in their thirties and forties who felt they had achieved some success in their careers. Although they were better at concealing their true thoughts compared to younger men, they still couldn't control themselves and would occasionally steal glances. They all secretly planned in their hearts how to get in touch with her, hiding their thoughts from their families and relatives.

It was clear that this woman would be hard to approach. Her age was no longer that of a naive and lively young girl who could be easily deceived. More importantly, by their standards, they could see the understated yet extremely expensive attire she wore. The seemingly inconspicuous ladies' watch on her smooth, jade-like wrist was worth about the price of a Mercedes-Benz.

But the more so, the more valuable it was to conquer her. In fact, the mausoleum here was very expensive, so expensive that only the rich could afford it. Therefore, most of the people who came here were either wealthy or noble.

Of course, the reason they thought this woman could be approached was that they had seen the words on the tombstone: "The spirit of the late husband, Mr. X." Clearly, this woman was a widow. A beautiful, mature, and noble widow was a heavenly gift that no man could resist.

Qi Manjing looked at the luxurious tomb, her pretty and charming face showing a hint of melancholy and sadness. But in her heart, she was laughing. Three years had passed since the old man died. Every time she saw the tombstone, she felt a sense of complete liberation and freedom. However, years of experience had taught Qi Manjing the value of patience and discretion.

But as she laughed, Qi Manjing suddenly felt an urge to cry. She had done so many things and paid such a high price to achieve her current status and wealth. Was it all worth it?

After a long time, just as she completed the routine rituals to avoid criticism and was about to leave with a calm heart, she suddenly noticed the side profile of a man in front of a nearby tombstone.

She was slightly stunned, and her expression instantly turned from surprise to joy.

It wasn't that the man in the gray-white windbreaker had attracted her. In fact, after all the hardships and storms she had endured to reach this point, she no longer judged people by their appearance.

It was just that when her gaze inadvertently swept over him, her heart suddenly "thumped" and trembled slightly. The distant memories buried deep in her heart, which she was reluctant to touch, suddenly surged like a flood. The innocence, shyness, and the sweetness and bitterness of secretly watching someone from a distance, which had long since vanished, instantly dominated her thoughts, causing her expression, which she thought she could control, to change subtly.

Wang Yong! Qi Manjing never dreamed that she would have the chance to see him again in her lifetime. From the occasional conversations with a few old classmates, she learned that Wang Yong had joined the military after high school and rarely kept in touch with his old classmates. After his mother, a teacher, died in a car accident five years ago, he suddenly disappeared. Even the few old classmates who occasionally talked to him lost all contact with him. It was as if he had vanished from the world without a trace.

If it weren't for the graduation photo that still perfectly preserved his image, which occasionally reminded her, Qi Manjing, who had experienced several lifetimes over the years, would have doubted whether she had ever had such a classmate. And whether Wang Yong was the prince on a white horse that her naive self had imagined.

Subconsciously, she took a step forward, and the name "Wang Yong" almost slipped out of her mouth. But a sudden sense of shame held her back. Her face turned slightly pale, and her breathing quickened as she took a step back. From a distance, just like in high school, she gazed at his side profile from afar. Her intertwined hands trembled, almost losing all color.

The tombstone below must be his mother's, Qi Manjing thought, feeling a pang of sorrow for him. But his face seemed very calm, showing no signs of grief. He had changed a lot, and others might not recognize him on the street. But she was not just anyone. Her keen and sharp observation, combined with the memory etched deep in her heart, allowed her to recognize him at a glance.

"I'm not the naive girl I used to be. I am Qi Manjing, I have a fortune, and I have immense confidence. I..." Qi Manjing hadn't felt this kind of confusion and helplessness in a long time. She tried to boost her confidence through self-affirmation, just to muster the courage to greet him calmly.

"But if he knew everything I've been through these years, what would he think? With his proud personality, he would definitely look down on me, despise me. No, no, that's not my fault. If it weren't for... If it weren't for..." Whether it was the ruthless battles over the inheritance with the old man's children, the tyrannical consolidation of his assets, and the elimination of rivals, or the invincible strategies in the business world, Qi Manjing believed she could remain calm and ruthless. But at this moment, she was afraid, afraid that he would know about the heinous things she had done. Tears, which hadn't flowed for a long time, suddenly blurred her vision. She only knew how to hypnotize herself, telling herself it wasn't her fault, that she did it just to survive, just to keep her mother alive...

Suddenly, Qi Manjing felt a cold current surge from the depths of her heart, spreading throughout her body. He turned his head, and his calm and resolute face showed no expression. His eyes were calm and peaceful. But her intuition told her that she was being watched by a fierce predator, and any movement would result in her being torn to pieces.

"What, what's happening?" Never before had Qi Manjing felt so small and fragile. Her throat felt constricted, making it hard to breathe. Her legs and hands turned weak and trembled, as if she had lost all strength. Am I going to die? A huge fear struck her heart, and Qi Manjing's eyes were fixed on his face. Her tear-filled eyes showed a mix of bitterness and confusion, but more than anything, a sense of relief.

"Huh?"

Just as fear and panic overwhelmed Qi Manjing, making her almost collapse, a slightly hoarse, puzzled voice sounded.

In an instant, the feeling of being choked disappeared. Qi Manjing, supporting her dizzy head, straightened her body. When she looked at Wang Yong again, he was nowhere to be found. The tombstone was empty. If it weren't for the white lily still lying there quietly, Qi Manjing might have doubted whether what she had just seen was an illusion.

"Wang Yong!" Finally, Qi Manjing's pale lips softly called out his name. She didn't shout or search for him, but tears uncontrollably streamed down her face.

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