Chapter 1: The Fragile Moon Returns

"Brother Lucian, are you truly abandoning me?"

Cold rain pelted down on the young girl’s pale face. Serena’s lips trembled, her eyes bloodshot and swollen as she knelt on the muddy ground, pleading toward the dark-haired youth standing inside the luxury villa.

"Lucian! Over ten years of devotion—do you truly no longer love me?!" she shrieked, her voice hoarse and desperate.

From the third-floor balcony, Lucian watched her with icy indifference. He stubbed out his cigarette, idly tossing down an umbrella. It tumbled through the mud, coming to a rest right beside Serena’s bruised, swollen knees.

Serena shuddered. Looking up, she saw a beautiful, graceful figure wrapped in the young man's arm. Lucian tilted his chin up, his tone frost-bitten and contemptuous. "Don't be so pathetic, Serena. Go home."

"Lucian, I..."

"You aren't worth a single hair on Clara's head," Lucian spat without a trace of emotion.

Ironically, half a year ago, Lucian had uttered a nearly identical line—except back then, Serena was his cherished first love, and he had claimed that no woman in the world could ever compare to a single strand of her hair.

The air grew suffocatingly still. Rain spilled into her eyes, but Serena simply bit her lip. "Fine, Lucian. I will voluntarily break off our engagement. Anyone who dares harass the woman you love, I will personally discipline. For the sake of our past, please... spare my family."

*Clack.*

The window slammed shut. The only warm light in the stormy night vanished.

The faint glimmer of hope in Serena's eyes died out. After an agonizing silence, she dragged herself up from the mud. Suddenly, she began shouting Lucian's name toward the closed window over and over again. As he impatiently threw the window open once more, Serena lunged forward, slamming her head violently against the stone wall.

With a sickening *thud*, blood blossomed across the stone like crimson begonias.

Through this final act, she delivered her silent message: do not drag down her family; she would take every ounce of his wrath to her grave.

---

"Miss Serena? Miss Serena?"

Aboard a private jet, a young girl lay on a white bed, her face paper-pale and beads of fine sweat glinting on her forehead. Beside her, a butler removed his gloves and gently wiped her brow with a perfumed silk handkerchief, calling her name with patient concern.

The restless girl knit her brows. As her arm twitched slightly, the butler, Anderson, immediately leaned closer.

*SLAP!*

A stinging palm struck Anderson across the cheek—not overly forceful, but enough to leave a light red imprint. The handsome, mixed-race butler didn't flinch, his expression remaining perfectly calm. The attendants standing by behind him were equally unfazed, though their eyes involuntarily gravitated toward the girl on the bed.

Cascading black hair, translucent pale skin, long feathered eyelashes, and a tiny crimson mole perched on the bridge of her delicate nose—every feature was an absolute masterpiece of aesthetic perfection. Even with her eyes closed, her delicate face carried an air of fragile exhaustion that turned icy and distant in the absence of a gentle smile.

Some looked on with gazes as tight and tangled as spider silk. Others quietly held their breath.

Finally, the girl trapped in the nightmare opened her eyes. They were an extraordinarily pale, translucent color, resembling the clear hue of a jellyfish, refracting shimmering light under the ambient cabin lamps.

Her eyes drifted passively across the room before landing on Anderson, who was half-kneeling by the bedside.

More specifically, her eyes landed on his cheek.

After a brief pause, Serena lowered her gaze, her voice smooth and devoid of heat. "I'm sorry, Anderson."

"Miss," Anderson murmured softly, his deep, magnetic voice filled with deference. "It is not your fault."

As soon as he spoke, a sleek female assistant with short, sharp hair stepped forward, carefully retrieving a syringe and a glass vial filled with a rose-colored liquid from a pastel pink medical case. With practiced ease, she drew the shimmering, dreamlike fluid into the barrel.

She passed the syringe to a black-haired doctor in a white lab coat. Meanwhile, Anderson thoughtfully rolled up Serena's sleeve, exposing her porcelain-white, flawless skin to the cool air, raising faint goosebumps.

"Bear with it for just a moment, Miss," Anderson whispered softly.

Serena’s brow furrowed slightly as the fine needle pierced her skin, slowly infusing the neuro-calming medication into her veins.

"..."

Pressing a sterile cotton swab against the tiny puncture, Anderson spoke in a low, raspy tone. "Miss, we are still three hours away from Lida Island. You may rest a bit longer."

"Mmh."

The medication contained sedatives. Under the watchful eyes of Anderson, the female assistant, and the doctor, Serena drifted peacefully back to sleep.

---

"Do you want some ointment for that?"

In the crew lounge, the female assistant looked at the faint red mark on Anderson's cheek and offered.

"No need," Anderson replied, his gloved fingers idly adjusting his cuffs. He maintained a refined, flawlessly aristocratic smile. "It doesn't hurt."

The assistant clicked her tongue in mild annoyance. *Miss's hands carry such a lovely fragrance—you miserable dog, you're probably secretly thrilled.* If she weren't a woman herself, such a privileged duty would never have fallen to him.

Suppressing her envy, she tried to probe further. "Miss's illness seems to be getting worse."

Serena—heiress of the prestigious Vance family—had sent shockwaves through high society the moment her face was first revealed to the public. While beauty was subjective, no one could find a single flaw on her perfect face.

Tragically, the Vance family's eldest daughter suffered from a congenital heart condition. In high school, she was additionally diagnosed with a severe rage disorder accompanied by physical impulses of violence.

One night, during a sudden episode, she had pressed a lit cigarette butt into the abdomen of young Master Lucian, leaving a nasty burn. The incident was swiftly buried by Serena's older brother, and overnight, Serena was packed off abroad to pursue her studies while receiving specialized psychiatric care.

Three years had passed since then.

Over those three years, Serena was provided with a top-tier medical team, an attentive blonde butler, and a female assistant with a military special forces background.

Yet her condition showed no signs of improvement.

Normally, Serena was gentle, reserved, and quiet—like a pristine white begonia blooming in a peaceful courtyard. Anyone who looked at her felt an immediate sense of calm, as if all negative emotions were washed away, keeping her popularity immensely high.

Yet without warning, her delicate, slender hand would deliver a sharp slap across someone's face.

By all logic, she should have remained abroad for continued treatment.

Yet suddenly, the girl who usually expressed no desires or demands had taken the initiative to say: *"Anderson, tell my brother I want to go home."*

*Go back? Why return home? Isn't it better to stay here?*

Every person who heard her words had thought the exact same thing.

Yet despite their private thoughts, no one dared challenge her decision. Contrary to her soft and fragile appearance, she possessed an extraordinarily resolute mind. A decision she made was never altered by others. And her inner thoughts remained locked away inside her frail body, leaving others only to guess.

As the butler responsible for her daily life, Anderson might know the true reason behind her return.

Noticing the assistant purposefully bringing up Serena's illness, Anderson instantly caught on to her intent. It was a question that plagued his mind as well. The curve of his lips deepened slightly. "The force Miss used when she slapped me was very light."

*Light meant she lacked physical strength.* The assistant's pupils widened slightly. "Then what is the real reason? Is Miss..."

"Hush."

Anderson placed a gloved forefinger over his lips. His pale green eyes darkened slightly. "Miss Valerie, you have been with us for a long time. You should know what ought to be said and what should not."

Valerie's expression turned pale, then flushed with frustration.

"..."

After a long, tense silence, she turned on her heel and left in anger.

Removing his gloves, Anderson repeatedly stroked the faint mark on his cheek. The faint, sweet fragrance of the young girl still lingered in the air. He walked slowly into the washroom, letting out a low, satisfied sigh.

---

Meanwhile, inside Serena's mind space:

【*Host? Host?*】

【*Host, are you there?*】

On the bed, Serena's eyelashes fluttered slightly, but she didn't open her eyes, answering the System with a passive *"Mmh"* in her mind.

【*Host, your condition is way too severe!*】

Serena: *"Mmh."*

【*Don't worry! As long as you complete the mission, you'll be rewarded with a completely healthy body!*】

Serena: *"Mmh."*

【*...*】

【*Can you show a little enthusiasm?! Don't you want to complete the mission?!*】

Serena: *"I do."*

*(Emotional fluctuation index: 0)*

【*...*】

The mission the System spoke of was to protect the female lead and act as a matchmaker between the hero and heroine.

It all started a month ago.

At the time, Serena was living her usual routine—reading, studying, and undergoing various experimental treatments tailored for her. But after a high fever, a strange System voice suddenly appeared in her head.

From the System, Serena learned that the world she had been born into was actually a trashy web novel set in an elite academy, detailing the romantic entanglements between a scholarship student and four noble "princes." It was a multi-male-lead stock-buying romance.

And she was the original "white moonlight" first love of the winning male lead, Lucian—only to eventually become a discarded memory.

In the original timeline, her return from abroad dealt a heavy emotional blow to the scholarship heroine. But as the bond between the hero and heroine deepened, the white moonlight lost her place. Overwhelmed by jealousy and failure, she ended her own life by crashing into a wall.

Serena had laughed when she heard the plot. She valued her own life more than anything; how could she possibly commit suicide over a man she couldn't even keep?

So, no matter how much the System bugged her, Serena simply ignored it.

Gradually, however, Serena began having recurring dreams. In those dreams, her health was slightly better. After returning home, she revolved entirely around Lucian. Yet Lucian's eyes slowly shifted toward that resilient, weed-like scholarship girl. Driven by dark jealousy, the white moonlight sabotaged the heroine, only to be exposed, abandoned by Lucian, ruined along with her family, and forced to smash her head against a wall in despair.

The visceral details were so realistic that it felt as if it had actually happened.

That was when Serena finally believed the System's words.

"So why did you come to me?" Serena had asked.

She only cared whether this would disturb her current life.

【*It's urgent! Super urgent!!*】 The System rushed to explain: 【*What you saw in your dreams was supposed to happen—the original plot. But somehow, after the heroine entered the academy, she didn't fall in love with any of the male leads. Instead, after provoking Lucian, she was bullied so severely that she committed suicide! The story ended in a tragic Bad Ending, and the world collapsed!*】

【*This current timeline is a reset! A world can only be reset three times at most! I'm a system specifically deployed to save your world! Your mission is to protect the heroine and ship her with the male lead—Lucian! According to data analysis, you are the absolute best candidate bound to me. Host, I need your help!!!*】

*The heroine died?*

Serena's eyelids twitched slightly. Recalling the atrocious things the male leads had done to the heroine in the original plot, she felt it was actually quite reasonable that the heroine hadn't fallen in love with them.

Still, Serena remained largely indifferent. The heroine was pitiable, and a collapsing world was a major crisis, but what did any of that have to do with her? Everyone dies eventually, and a sickly person like her would just die a bit sooner.

Just as Serena was weighing the possibility of turning this strange entity over to government researchers, the System finally hit the key point:

【*Don't worry! If you save the world, your effort won't go unrewarded! Once it's done, you can unlock the System Shop and exchange points for god-tier rewards!*】

That finally caught Serena's interest. *"Can I exchange for a completely healthy body?"*

In her previous life, Serena had died young from an illness because her family lacked the money for treatment. In this life, she was born into immense wealth, only to suffer from incurable conditions that money couldn't fix. Tormented by pain and weakness, she spent most of her time confined to rooms and hospital wards. In neither lifetime had she ever experienced running, jumping, or playing freely like a normal person.

Serena dreamed of having a healthy body above all else. What would she do once she got one? She couldn't imagine it just yet—she lacked interest in most things. But that didn't stop her from craving it.

【*Of course! As long as you complete the world-saving mission, you can have whatever kind of body you want!*】

"Deal," Serena said.

Only then did Serena direct her attention toward the main leads.

The heroine's face was blurry in her memories, appearing only as a trembling figure covered in bruises, cowering in dark corners.

As for the male lead...

Whether it was his twisted "affection" through harassment in the original timeline or his brutal bullying in the collapsed world, his actions were utterly lawless and appalling.

To be honest, the Lucian in the dreams was quite different from the Lucian she personally knew.

The Lucian she interacted with was cold, taciturn, and perpetually impatient, yet he possessed impeccable aristocratic manners. As long as he was asked to do something, he would fulfill it.

Serena still remembered the scent of smoke rising when she pressed that lit cigarette butt against his tight abdomen.

It was during one of her worst manic episodes. Desperate for a physical outlet to numb the chaotic rage in her head, she had taken his cigarette and asked him softly, *"May I?"*

She had anticipated being refused. But after realizing what she intended to do, the tall, proud young master merely knit his brows, lifted the hem of his shirt, and exposed his firm, sculpted abs.

*"For the Vance family's sake,"* he had said.

Chapter 2: A Gift for the Guess

Rewinding back to the present moment.

After chatting with the System for a bit, Serena felt her energy slipping and drifted off to sleep once more. When she finally woke up, a warm, golden hue—resembling liquid metal—filtered into the cabin.

"What time is it?"

Her head felt heavy, and her voice sounded faintly raspy.

"Six in the evening, Miss," replied Anderson, who had been waiting attentively nearby. "We have already entered Anta airspace."

The jet was scheduled to land at 4:20 PM at the very latest, meaning she had completely slept past the arrival time. Serena knit her brows. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"Never mind." Without waiting for Anderson to explain, Serena turned her head away and spoke to Valerie on her other side, "Pick out an outfit for me."

She had business to attend to today.

"Understood." Valerie walked over to the wardrobe.

The wardrobe was packed with options. Valerie selected a pearl-white, satin ankle-length gown styled with delicate frilled edges. The skirt had just the right amount of volume, exuding a quiet, noble elegance. To complement the dress, she chose a matching set of pearl earrings, a pearl necklace, and a pearl bracelet. The highlight of the ensemble was a pair of custom-made, soft-soled Mary Janes—crafted to perfectly fit Serena's feet, complete with cushioned insoles. Finally, as the sun had not yet set outside, she added a soft, wide-brimmed feathered hat.

When all was done, Serena looked like an elegant lady stepping straight out of a classic, century-old ball.

To finish, Valerie cleansed Serena’s face, dabbed a bit of lip balm onto her fingertips, and gently pressed it onto the young girl's lips.

"All set, Miss," Valerie said softly.

"Thank you for your hard work," Serena replied.

"It is my duty," Valerie bowed her head.

Once dressed, Serena slowly disembarked from the aircraft under Anderson's guidance, followed by her streamlined medical team.

This was a private charter arranged specifically by the Vance family. Originally, no other flights were scheduled to land during her reserved slot, but because Serena had slept for two extra hours, her arrival coincided with another landing.

The passengers disembarking from the other plane immediately noticed the private jet and its grand arrangement, casting curious glances over.

"Look at that setup..."

"Is it some celebrity?"

"Where are the camera crews though?"

"Could it be a high-ranking official on an inspection tour??"

Bystanders stood on tiptoes to peer ahead, only seeing a handsome, mixed-race man step off the plane first, followed by a sharp, agile woman assisting a girl in a white dress. The girl's face was mostly obscured by her broad feather hat, exposing only her fair, delicate skin. When a few onlookers tried to step closer for a better look, a young woman in a blue uniform raised her hand to bar their path.

"Apologies, but you cannot proceed any further." The guard wore her dark hair in a high ponytail. She was tall and slender, standing as straight and firm as a mountain pine. She had fair skin and slightly downturned almond eyes of a warm brownish-red, giving her the appearance of a gentle deer—yet her actions and tone were remarkably decisive.

"What's wrong with just looking?"

"Yeah, we aren't bothering anyone!"

"My apologies. Please take the designated lane and exit quickly."

"You—!" The disgruntled passengers flushed with anger, wanting to shove their way past. However, they quickly realized that the girl's lean frame was as immovable as a mountain. Left with no choice, they grumbled bitterly and shuffled away in frustration.

Having cleared the path, Jade swept away the sweat from her cheek. Just as she turned to leave, an exclamation echoed from the distance.

"Miss, why have you stopped?"

It was Valerie who spoke, her eyes filled with confusion. Up ahead, Anderson halted as well, casting a concerned glance back.

Serena, who had abruptly come to a standstill, extended her hand. It was encased in delicate white lace, which did nothing to hide the slender, jade-like grace of her fingers.

"My ring is gone," she said plainly.

Both of them froze. Anderson, who had a sharp memory, recalled that Serena had been wearing a exquisite white opal ring today. Opals were not extraordinarily expensive, but every single stone was one of a kind. Serena had never cared much for material possessions, so her sudden mention of the ring caught him off guard. Unsure of her true intent, he remained silent, awaiting further instructions.

"Search for it," Serena commanded.

The Vance family's reception team outside the airport had already been waiting for a while, but a few more minutes wouldn't hurt. Valerie and Anderson exchanged a quick glance.

"Of course, Miss."

The ring had only been put on when she changed clothes, meaning it could only have been dropped inside the jet or within the airport grounds. Since Serena’s immediate retinue consisted of only seven or eight people, several airport staff members were dispatched to assist in the search as well.

The airport manager offered to escort Serena to a private VIP waiting lounge, but she declined, indicating that a simple table and chair would suffice.

The manager didn't dare be careless. Not only did he personally bring out a pristine table and chair, but he also wiped them spotless and served a pot of fine tea. Serena didn't drink it. She curled her slender fingers around the warm cup for heat, sunlight bathing half of her face. Sitting there, looking as if she were enjoying an afternoon tea at an airport-themed cafe, she formed a striking contrast with the frantic crowd searching around her.

Serena could feel the heroine’s gaze drifting toward her repeatedly.

To be honest, the heroine in real life felt quite different from the one in her dreams. She was not meek or timid at all; instead, she stood tall and unyielding, like a stubborn pine tree.

Serena recalled the original plot. In the original timeline, due to an accident on the first day of school, the heroine accidentally lost Lucian's ring. Lucian was furious and demanded full compensation, forcing the heroine to take on multiple part-time jobs to earn money. The heroine suffered endless bullying from Lucian over this incident, yet through that very harassment, Lucian gradually fell for her. Paired with rivalries from other male leads, his affection only grew deeper.

However, after the world reset, no romantic spark ever formed between them. Lucian constantly suspected the heroine of harboring ill intentions and bullied her relentlessly. The heroine never fell in love with her abuser, and this terrifying dynamic only ended when she took her own life.

As for the three other male leads who were supposed to save her—one of them, Lucian's close friend, actively aided his tyranny, while the other two merely stood by with cold indifference.

Serena’s entire purpose in returning home was to break the heroine out of this cycle of torment.

She had chosen this exact time to return because the heroine was working part-time here. She intended to "coincidentally" cross paths with her, secretly cover the cost of the lost ring on her behalf, and free her from the vortex of bullying before it even started.

Of course, helping her in secret was primarily out of caution regarding her own status as the "white moonlight." Although Lucian didn't seem to treat her like the white moonlight from the novel, it was better to play it safe.

Losing the ring was merely a pretext.

At this thought, Serena gently swirled the jasmine tea in her glass cup. The pale white petals swayed gracefully in the clear liquid, and the corners of her lips curved into a faint, serene smile—she seemed to be in a wonderful mood.

The heroine finally made a move.

"Um..." Jade stepped forward softly, stopping three paces away. From this distance, she could clearly see the delicate, slender jawline and faint pink lips beneath the girl's wide hat brim. Her gaze flickered briefly before she continued, "Hello, Miss."

"Hmm?" Serena lifted her head slightly.

Their eyes met.

The girl's icy, breathtaking beauty caused Jade's mind to go blank for a split second. After a brief silence, she lowered her eyes in a fluster, hurriedly explaining her approach. "Miss, I heard you lost a ring."

"I did."

"I can help you find it, but... it might require me to step a bit close to you."

"Is that so?"

"Yes," Jade lowered her gaze.

After a moment of silence, Serena said, "Go ahead."

"Excuse me then." Jade stepped forward. Her fingers were long, but her palms were rough, covered in dark calluses from years of hard manual labor—hardly looking like the hands of a young girl. She wiped her palms against her uniform pants and began searching the area around the seat.

Though both were young girls, Jade was taller, extremely lean, yet broad-framed, giving her a raw, angular presence. A faint, thin scar marked her neck.

"What happened to your neck?" Serena asked, a rare curiosity in her voice. For reasons she couldn't quite articulate, Jade was different from the heroine she had envisioned.

"Strangled by a rope," Jade replied casually.

As she spoke, her gaze darted left and right, inspecting every single inch of the floor with meticulous care.

She looked a bit like...

A sniffer dog on a drug bust.

Serena gently swirled the cup in her hands.

"Have you found it?" she asked.

"Yes." At that moment, Jade stepped into the sunlight and suddenly leaned down slightly. Her dark ponytail cascaded forward, resembling dark tendrils. Her eyes were a soft brownish-red, staring straight at Serena. For a split second, she exuded the sharp, calculating aura of a predator locking onto its prey—yet in the very next moment, she looked as innocent and harmless as a young fawn.

In the shadow, a large, rough hand reached out and gently covered Serena's hand as it held the glass cup.

The jasmine tea inside trembled slightly, sending ripple after ripple across the surface.

"I found it," Jade said, lowering her eyes.

Silence.

A dead, heavy silence.

Serena seemed to spark with a faint touch of amusement. "How did you work it out?"

*How did she work it out?*

The moment this distinguished guest stepped off the plane, Jade had noticed her—specifically, the opal ring worn over her white lace gloves.

That ring looked strikingly similar to the one Lucian wore.

When clearing the area, Jade had caught the guest's subtle movement: her slender fingers gently, slowly sliding the ring off her finger and palming it in her hand. Then, with total composure, she had instructed her servants to look for it, forcing everyone around her to participate in this meaningless...

Prank.

A spoiled, pampered young lady of privilege.

Treating working people like absolute playthings.

As expected, everyone from the privileged class shared the exact same despicable face.

Jade did not possess a gentle temperament; whenever something angered her, she was used to settling it with her fists. But three years of struggling at the bottom had taught her that she could no longer act recklessly as she once did. She had merely put on a show of searching, approached the instigator, and put an end to this vile game.

Yet this young heiress possessed something undeniably unique.

Beautiful, breathtaking—like a delicate doll in a display window, radiating a harmless vulnerability that practically begged for protection. Yet such an aura would only invite hungry wolves crawling out from the dark.

Fortunately, she was born with the right status.

A dark shadow flickered deep within Jade's eyes, gone as quickly as it had appeared. Looking down at her large, rough hand covering the delicate, lace-wrapped one, Jade carefully considered her words. "Miss, you lost your ring, yet you don't seem upset at all."

"I am not short of a single ring."

Serena tilted her head slightly. Light flickered through her translucent, dark-hazel eyes, lending a touch of playful mischief to her cold, delicate face and instantly bringing her entire persona to life.

"Indeed," Jade withdrew her hand, staring down at her own palm. "It was merely a guess."

She locked eyes with Serena. "Miss, what do you intend to do now?"

"I like your guess," Serena said softly.

As she spoke, she gently nudged her fingers beneath Jade's palm. The heroine blinked, caught off guard for a moment. When realization hit her, she hurriedly retracted her hand. "My apologies, I didn't mean to—"

"Hush."

Serena opened her hand, resting atop her translucent lace glove. There, gleaming with a soft, ethereal radiance, sat the opal ring. Its primary body was a pristine white, refracting brilliant, kaleidoscopic hues under the light.

Sunlight glinted off the girl's breathtaking face. Serena held out the ring toward Jade, a faint, lovely smile curling the corners of her lips.

"Consider this a reward for guessing correctly."

*Sell this ring and pay Lucian back—then he won't have any excuse to bully you anymore.*

Chapter 3: The Mad Dog in the Dark

After giving the ring away, Serena sent Jade on her way, treating the whole affair as nothing more than a trivial interlude.

Meanwhile, Valerie stepped out of the aircraft looking thoroughly mortified after searching high and low to no avail. Just as Valerie was mentally preparing an explanation, Serena stood up from her seat.

She cast a light glance at Valerie and said in a noticeably bright mood, "There's no need to look for it anymore."

"...Are you truly certain, Miss?" Valerie hesitated. This was the first time she had ever seen her young mistress display such explicit interest in a piece of jewelry.

"I am certain."

And so, the search was called off.

---

Since Serena’s return had been arranged under strict confidentiality, her travel plans were kept entirely low-key aside from the brief commotion over the ring. She was met on the tarmac by just three sleek black luxury vans.

She went straight into one of the spacious executive vans.

The remaining logistics, including luggage and personnel assignments, were left entirely in the hands of the Vance family butler and Anderson.

The interior of the van was remarkably spacious, designed like a mobile living room. Seated on a warm tan leather sofa was Zachary Vance, dressed in a sharp suit as though he had just stepped out of a high-society banquet, casually skimming through a financial magazine.

His features were deep and chiselled, bearing a cold, sharp edge. When focused, he naturally projected an air of lofty, disdainful detachment that invariably put those around him on edge.

Serena, however, felt no such tension. She walked forward a few steps and sat on the opposite end of the sofa. "Brother, I'm back."

Zachary had known the moment she boarded the vehicle, but he favored his sister taking the initiative. Setting aside the magazine—which he hadn't flipped a single page of in quite some time—he lifted his head, a soft, subtle warmth melting the depths of his eyes. "Mmh."

Following the brief greeting, Zachary’s naturally domineering and controlling nature resurfaced as he knit his brows in query. "What took you so long to come out?"

"I overslept."

"Uncle Gong mentioned you lingered at the airport for half an hour," Zachary said, narrowing his pale eyes with a quiet, probing scrutiny.

"I dropped a ring," Serena explained casually.

"Did you find it?"

Serena had no intention of mentioning Jade, knowing her brother would inevitably interrogate her for half the day about any stranger.

"I decided I didn't want it anymore," she said.

"Which means it wasn't found," Zachary said flatly. "Serena, it's time you replaced the staff serving you."

The turnover rate among Serena's personal retinue was notoriously high. Every so often, someone would inexplicably confess their feelings to her or act in ways she found baffling and unsettling. Finding such behavior immensely tiresome, Serena typically replaced them at the first sign of trouble.

However, while Anderson and Valerie occasionally stepped out of line or made minor blunders, they were generally obedient and capable.

Serena had no immediate plans to replace them.

"Let's wait and see," Serena murmured.

"You are simply too kind-hearted," Zachary frowned, his face filled with disapproval. "You let people walk all over you far too easily."

This wasn't the first time she had heard such a statement, and Serena couldn't help but arch an eyebrow. The Vance family built its fortune in the defense and military industry; though they were now transitioning toward philanthropic endeavors due to regional peace, Serena was hardly someone who got picked on—if anything, it was usually the other way around. Still, she didn't bother arguing, long accustomed to her brother’s tendency to make a mountain out of a molehill where she was concerned.

Her features relaxed, her jet-black hair falling quietly around her shoulders like a exquisite glass doll sitting in a boutique window. "Brother is right."

Even her quiet, airy voice carried a subtle trace of amusement.

Zachary lowered his gaze, a complex swirl of emotions pooling across his features. After a long silence, he spoke softly, "Serena, you are going to live a long and healthy life."

By then, the luggage had been fully loaded, and the convoy glided smoothly onto the main road. The journey was filled with Anta’s picturesque scenery. Serena watched the passing view while listening to her brother catch her up on family matters—many of which he had mentioned before, albeit without much detail.

For instance, her long-lost younger brother had finally been found and was currently enrolled in high school.

Despite their shared bloodline, Zachary’s tone remained distinctly detached. He was a cold-hearted man by nature; had he not raised Serena with his own hands, his relationship with her wouldn't be particularly warm either.

"He doesn't have much of a brain," Zachary remarked dryly. "If he steps out of line or offends you after we get home, just tell me."

Serena: "..."

"Alright."

"By the way," Zachary leaned back against the plush sofa, resting his hands together. "Did you block Lucian?"

Zachary had deduced this on his own. Over the past month, several major contracts from the Lucian family's defense enterprises had mysteriously landed on his desk. The young heir—whom he usually ran into perhaps once every few months—had shown up three or four times in a single month alone, greeting him with uncharacteristic patience, making polite small talk, and casually steering every conversation toward Serena.

*"The weather in Kenlin is cold enough to freeze one's bones to dust,"* Lucian had remarked casually during one of their meetings.

Kenlin was the nation where Serena had been receiving her medical treatment—a small country, but one with an exceptionally advanced medical infrastructure.

Zachary hadn't taken the bait.

Lucian had knit his brows slightly. *"My grandmother received a velvet blanket as a gift from the President of Kenlin. She asked me to pass it along to Serena."*

Zachary had remained silent.

Lucian turned his head, his tone clipped. *"I have no use for it anyway. Mail it to her."*

Fairness dictated that while Lucian's temperament paled in comparison to the heirs of the Vance or Sterling families, his family background was top-tier, making him a far easier variable to manage.

Serena lowered her eyelids, giving a subtle nod.

"Did he cross you?"

Serena shook her head. Before learning about the book's plot, her relationship with Lucian had been mild and distant at best. Though there was an implicit understanding regarding a future engagement between their families, they were strictly speaking just acquaintances.

"I just didn't feel like talking to him," Serena said softly.

"You don't like him?"

Serena didn't hold any strong feelings of affection or dislike. Among the prospective matches available to her, Lucian was relatively suitable—cold, non-clingy, and not prone to prying into her affairs. He carried a bit of an arrogant young master's air, but he was easy enough to humor. And if she didn't feel like humoring him, it didn't matter either.

"He's fine," Serena remarked indifferently.

Observing his sister's utter detachment, Zachary lowered his eyes. If that arrogant young master ever found out she had returned home without telling him, there was no telling how wild he would go.

His sister truly possessed an inexplicable charm—simply standing there doing nothing was enough to drive people to madness.

---

An hour and a half later, Serena arrived at the Vance estate. The grand mansion was ablaze with lights, its massive front gates thrown wide open as rows of servants stood in neat formation to welcome the young master and mistress home.

Serena promptly dismissed the elaborate welcome, heading straight to the first-floor living room with her brother. Her parents were already seated at the dining table waiting for them. Seated beside them was a teenage boy with dyed pink hair, a baby face, and the same distinct pale eyes characteristic of the Vance bloodline.

"Julian, quick, this is your older sister," Mrs. Vance tugged gently at the boy's sleeve, a soft, warm smile gracing her face.

The boy ignored her, huffing impatiently, "I'm starving to death. Can we finally eat now?"

Zachary’s gaze turned icy and dark.

Julian immediately shrank behind his mother, looking genuinely startled. His eyes, however, darted toward his newly returned older sister.

*She looks just like a porcelain doll.*

*And her face is so cold.*

*Just a sickly weakling.*

Julian ground his teeth in annoyance. *Why does everyone revolve around her?*

"Alright, alright, Zachary. I know how much you adore your sister, but Serena just got back today, and Julian suffered so much before we finally found him. Let's not argue," Mrs. Vance smoothed things over.

"Yes, exactly," Mr. Vance agreed unconditionally. "We're a family—come sit down and eat."

Zachary didn't bother replying, guiding Serena to her seat at the table. Only after Serena picked up her chopsticks did the rest of the family begin eating.

Having been away for three years, the atmosphere at the table was somewhat stiff at first, but it gradually thawed as the meal went on.

"I'm Julian," the boy sneered softly, stealing a cautious glance at Serena. When she looked over, his breath hitched for a split second, and he intentionally mouthed the words in an exaggerated, mocking tone: *"Sickly weakling."*

"Hello, Julian," Serena replied calmly, placing a piece of tender chicken into his bowl with her chopsticks.

Julian ground his teeth.

*Out of everything on the table, she just had to pick the one thing he hated eating.*

Serena didn't eat much; her physical strength was limited, and she politely excused herself from the table once she finished. Exhausted from the long day of travel, she retired to her room, where—under the care of her attendants—she took her prescribed medication, received her injection, and quietly fell asleep.

---

Meanwhile, in an upscale apartment near Saint Jude Academy:

The third-floor apartment was brightly lit, but its luxurious interior was in complete ruin. Exquisite handcrafted art pieces lay shattered into pieces across the floor, as if a violent hurricane had swept through the room. Sitting amid the debris, Lucian struggled to suppress the explosive rage surging beneath his brow.

"Lucian, take it easy, man. Maybe she's just throwing a little tantrum."

"I mean, sure, she blocked your number and came back to the country without telling you, but you know you're the only one she truly cares about."

"In all of Anta, who else could possibly be worthy of her besides you? Come on, calm down."

A youth with dyed pink hair leaned lazily against the doorframe, watching the wild dog going mad inside the apartment with an amused, nonchalant expression.

Far removed from the refined, cold, and noble prince he portrayed to the outside world, Lucian’s chest heaved heavily with ragged breaths. His hands were stained with blood, and veins bulged aggressively across his forehead like jagged crevices. Those dark eyes—usually so adept at maintaining a polite facade—were now burning with the fury of a volcanic eruption.

Julian Sterling actually wanted to snap a photo for his private collection, but offending this revered academy prince wasn't worth the trouble. He strolled into the room, pulling a few tissues from his pocket and tossing them over. "Wipe off the sweat, Young Master Lucian. If your precious girl saw you in this state, imagine how terrified she'd be."

Lucian pressed his lips tightly together, saying nothing.

Julian couldn't resist throwing in another provocative line. "There are plenty of fish in the—"

"Shut up."

Lucian snatched the tissues, roughly wiping away the blood on his lip.

As the eventual winning male lead of this world, Lucian was blessed with breathtaking good looks. His grandmother had been an extraordinary beauty who married into the Royal House of Hikelao, becoming the foreign royal family's very first non-native princess. His mother was even more captivating—though her beauty was often overshadowed by her stellar political achievements. His father, meanwhile, was widely regarded as the most handsome among all retired generals.

Having perfectly inherited such elite genetics, Lucian's face evoked a single word in anyone who laid eyes on him—

*Stunning.*

Saint Jude Academy was a hub for top-tier talents, filled with countless handsome men and beautiful women, yet it had never possessed a universally acknowledged "school prince."

Lucian was the sole exception in history to earn that title by unanimous consensus.

Yet calling him "handsome" was far too broad. His looks were not defined by typical bold features, but rather an exquisite, classical refinement that carried an innate sense of highborn nobility.

Of course, that was merely his outer shell.

Beneath that striking, beautiful skin lived a vicious, unhinged wild dog.

"Fine, fine, I'll stop talking," Julian picked up a broken chair with a missing leg, carefully balancing himself on it. "Though, Lucian, I actually stumbled upon a very interesting discovery."

The news of Serena’s return had actually been uncovered by Julian. Anyone who ran in Lucian's inner circle naturally possessed a formidable background. The Sterling family dominated the business sector with extensive holdings; as it happened, Anta International Airport had recently been acquired by his family's enterprise. That was how word had leaked out to him.

The great heiress had returned to the country, yet the proud Young Master Lucian had been kept completely in the dark.

Intriguing—far too intriguing.

Julian had immediately relayed the news to Lucian, prompting him to rush back from abroad at once. Knowing better than to let his precious Serena see him in such a terrifying state, Lucian had holed himself up in this apartment the moment he landed just to vent his rage.

By the time Julian arrived, Lucian had already been smashing furniture for three straight hours.

"What discovery?" Lucian demanded, his brows furrowing darkly.

Julian pulled out his phone, unlocked a surveillance video clip, and handed it over to Lucian.

It was security camera footage from the airport.

In the video was the young girl he hadn't seen in far too long. She was sitting gracefully on a chair, bathing in the warm sunlight like a breathtaking painting come to life.

And right at that moment, a familiar figure stepped into the frame.

The two were speaking about something.

Their intimate proximity caused Lucian’s brows to lock tighter and tighter in irritation. Then, the two parted ways.

Julian pressed pause right at that exact frame.

And there, plain as day, Lucian saw that wretched girl holding a pristine white opal ring in her hand.