Chapter 1: Exposed After a Tragic Car Accident

A fierce wind arose, the sky darkened, and rolling clouds gathered to shroud the heavens. Ye Chunxi pulled her thin coat closer around her, eyes fixed on the luxury car slowly approaching the orphanage gates, lost in thought.

Three days earlier, the young master of the influential Mu family in Yanjing had unexpectedly sought her out, claiming she might be his long-lost sister and insisting on a paternity test. When the DNA results came in, the remarkably high match confirmed that they were indeed immediate relatives. It was undeniable—Ye Chunxi was the true daughter the Mu family had lost for so many years.

While the eldest Mu son was overjoyed by this discovery and eager to take her back to Yanjing, she refused, giving the reason that she was reluctant to leave. From what he’d gathered, Ye Chunxi had arrived at the orphanage already older, likely cast out by her previous family. The staff had gossiped that she was withdrawn and prone to violence; only days after her arrival, she’d pinned down a boy two years her senior and left him bleeding, causing the others to keep their distance.

Wild and difficult to tame, and with her parents still abroad, the Mu eldest agreed to let her remain for a while longer. But with pressing affairs in Yanjing, he could not stay himself, so he left a few people to watch over her before departing.

Just moments ago, Ye Chunxi had asked to visit a few familiar places before returning home, and the Mu family’s people had somehow conjured up a luxury car at a moment’s notice.

“No wonder they’re called Yanjing’s top family—even in Jin City they keep such cars at the ready,” the orphanage director remarked, appearing out of nowhere, his words and gaze brimming with envy and longing for the wealthy.

He turned to Ye Chunxi, his tone earnest and cajoling. “Chunxi, you should make your decision about returning to the Mu family soon. Of course, don’t forget it was the orphanage that raised you. In the future, we’ll be counting on you to look after us.”

“I know you’re reluctant to leave the orphanage and your friends here, but that’s your real home—you’re meant to return. If you miss us, you can always come back and visit.”

He glanced at her expression, then gently enticed, “You know the orphanage is struggling these days. The Mu family is powerful—don’t forget to seek some investment for us when you go back.”

Ye Chunxi gave a soft, cold snort, slowly turning to him. Her voice was cool and clear. “Didn’t my brother just give you twenty million?”

When the relationship was confirmed, the Mu eldest had already written a check for twenty million, in gratitude for the orphanage’s years of care.

Her large, round eyes were lively and innocent, like a young fawn’s, brimming with vitality. Now she lifted her gaze, a faint chill flickering in her eyes.

For a moment, the director’s face stiffened. After a brief pause, he frowned. “That’s true, but with so many children, we have everyday expenses and so much more. Especially those top-performing high schoolers—take Mingjie, for instance…”

At the mention of that name, the director grew even more animated. “He’s studying in the honors class at Hengde High—the best school in Jin City! Being in the honors class is nearly a ticket to Yanjing University. Mingjie is the best student here; of course, we must do all we can to support him. You’re on good terms with him, and the Mu family is so wealthy—a bit more funding is hardly a burden…”

Ye Chunxi listened in silence. A chill flickered in her deer-like eyes as she immediately strode to the car, unwilling to entangle herself any further.

Every encounter with him bred a natural sense of aversion within her.

Composing herself, Ye Chunxi pulled out her phone and opened an unfamiliar app. There was an unread message from several hours ago:

[It’s all done. That group won’t bother you for a while. Just focus on reuniting with your family.]

She replied with two words: [Thank you.]

A response came at last, swiftly followed by another message: [The master of Guyue Sect personally placed an order—wants you to investigate someone.]

A link appeared. Ye Chunxi clicked it and found a concise task description: [Find: Bai Lan.]

Her eyes flickered. After a moment’s thought, her slender fingers tapped out a reply: [Handle it as you see fit.]

The reply was immediate: [Understood, I’ll turn them down right away.]

...

Rain began to pour.

Ye Chunxi gazed out the window as the raindrops hammered down in sharp, unbroken lines, blurring the scenery beyond the glass.

Her phone vibrated, a red light flashing. Before she could react, a piercing horn blared in her ears.

A violent collision followed.

The crash, muffled by the rain, sounded all the more tragic. Tires screeched, leaving a dark mark along the road.

Meanwhile, in another car—

In the back seat sat a man of aloof, noble bearing. His white shirt was fastened to the very top, his tie perfectly straight, his skin pale and cool.

Before him was a laptop with no identifying marks.

Beneath gold-rimmed spectacles, his light eyes were fixed intently on the screen, his expression grave.

[I’ve breached the firewall. I’m very close to you. Sending you my location now.]

A string of code followed.

Jin Yuchuan clicked the message. Before he could examine it, a sudden jolt sent a wave of foreboding through him.

His assistant turned around. “Master Jin, there’s been an accident up ahead.”

Jin Yuchuan’s brow furrowed, his subordinate’s warning ringing in his mind: “Master Jin, this Bai Lan is highly mysterious. Apart from basic details, the Medical Alliance refuses to disclose anything further. She’s clearly under special protection. Even if we trace her movements, finding her won’t be easy.”

It had taken so long to find a lead, and now, at the final moment, this.

Even a single wasted second could mean missing Bai Lan forever.

Suppressing his impatience, Jin Yuchuan ordered tersely, “Save the injured first.”

Suddenly, a new message appeared on his phone: [You found her?]

For a split second, Jin Yuchuan was puzzled. Then he looked up.

On his computer, the red dot marking the location overlapped exactly with his own. He glanced at the wreckage ahead, at the injured being pulled from the cars by a few helpful bystanders, searching each face with a deepening frown.

The rain showed no sign of letting up. Goodhearted strangers sheltered the wounded with umbrellas, including Jin Yuchuan’s own secretary and driver.

Jin Yuchuan strode from the car, umbrella in hand, and approached.

He surveyed each of the injured one by one.

Bai Lan was the rising star of the medical world, the personal disciple of a master in traditional medicine, whose remarkable skills had cured countless rare illnesses and saved innumerable lives.

What astounded everyone most, however, was her age.

In traditional medicine, age was highly prized. Yet her teacher had declared publicly that Bai Lan was still young, about the same age as his granddaughter—a shining example of the new generation, and had expressed his hopes for young people today, hoping to attract more youthful talent to the field.

Among those present, only Ye Chunxi, lying in a pool of blood, fit that description.

Blood trickled from her head, staining the ground red as the rain washed it away. Her skull throbbed with pain. She forced her eyes open to a blur of color.

Her senses were fading. Through the heavy scent of blood, she caught a whiff of fresh pine—deep, reserved, and comforting. It reminded her unconsciously of her newly found brother…

But in sharp contrast to her fleeting sense of peace, panic mounted in Jin Yuchuan’s heart.

His hand clenched at his side as he spoke, his voice cold and low. “Get her in the car. Take her to the hospital. Now.”