From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

I suppressed my anxiety and followed her into the villa's lobby.

The lobby has a high ceiling and a spacious interior. The minimalist yet luxurious decor is elegant and sophisticated, and all the decorative items, paintings, calligraphy, and lighting fixtures are valuable collectibles.

The air was filled with a delicate fragrance, exuding an aloof and noble air that clashed sharply with my perception as a nobody from the lower class.

Two people sat upright on the main sofa in the living room.

The middle-aged man on the left is nearly fifty years old. He wears gold-rimmed glasses and has a refined and reserved demeanor. His dark gray custom-made polo shirt is clean and appropriate.

His deep-set eyes and brows exuded a restrained and imposing aura, carrying the decisive and ruthless presence of a superior. One glance was enough to tell that he was Su's father.

Beside her, Su's mother was extremely well-maintained and looked incredibly young, with her black hair neatly styled and her makeup exquisite and appropriate.

Two pairs of eyes locked onto me simultaneously, scrutinizing me from top to bottom.

The oppressive feeling brought about by social class is overwhelming and makes one feel uncomfortable.

Su Qing tightened her arms again and introduced confidently, "Dad, Mom, this is Lin Ye."

Father Su raised his eyelids slightly, his voice calm and even: "Sit down."

I know this is the calm before the storm.

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I sat down as instructed, keeping my back straight and maintaining a composed and respectful demeanor throughout.

The servants quietly went forward to make tea and pour water, and the atmosphere in the hall was deathly quiet and oppressive.

The first to speak was Su's mother, a polite smile playing on her lips:

"Mr. Lin, right? We don't mean any harm, we just want to meet Qingqing's friends and have a simple home-cooked meal."

I didn't say anything, just nodded.

Su's mother scrutinized her with a critical look, and asked bluntly, "I heard you used to work full-time delivering food?"

"Yes," I answered readily.

"What do you do now?" she pressed, her eyes piercing through his heart.

"I've taken over a local courier station and am starting my own small business." I suppressed my nervousness and answered calmly.

To be honest, I couldn't help but feel nervous being so directly scrutinized and interrogated by this couple from the top echelons of society.

Su's mother nodded slightly, glanced at Su's father, and indicated that the questioning was over.

Mr. Su stared intently at me and slowly said, "It's commendable for young people to start their own businesses. I only have one question for you: what is your relationship with my daughter?"

The questions were direct and sharp.

Before I could even choose my words, Su Qing immediately spoke up: "Dad, I've said it countless times, he's my boyfriend!"

Su's father ignored Su Qing, his gaze remaining fixed on me, his tone commanding:

"You answer."

An oppressive feeling washed over me, as if he could tell at a glance that I was an imposter.

When I'm nervous, I want to smoke a cigarette, but of course I can't.

I simply changed my posture, sat up straight, looked at Su Qing's father, and said, word by word:

"Uncle, your daughter and I aren't even friends."

Su Qing suddenly turned her head, her eyes filled with astonishment and shock.

Her mother was stunned for a moment.

The room fell silent. Su's father remained expressionless, waiting for my next words.

"I am sitting here today not to deliberately deceive my two elders."

I spoke frankly and openly, without dodging or avoiding the topic.

After a pause, I faced the two members of the Su family directly and continued, "Su Qing asked me to help her with the act at the last minute. I don't need to explain any other reasons."

Su's mother narrowed her eyes and suddenly asked, "So, you were all pretending?"

"Yes."

As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his waist.

Su Qing pinched my waist hard with her fingertips, her anger palpable.

I knew she was angry—angry that I wasn't cooperating with the act, angry that I exposed everything in public.

But I was not cowardly, nor was I afraid of pressure from the Su family, or of Fang Heng's retaliation.

The Su family has already investigated my background and seen through my act. Why should I lower my pride and play along here to humiliate myself?

I endured the pain in my lower back and laid everything bare: "Uncle and Aunt, to be honest, I was just a temporary tool that Su Qing found to deal with the family's arranged marriage and Fang Heng..."

"Enough! Lin Ye, what exactly do you mean?!"

Su Qing suddenly stood up and shouted at me sharply, "I paved the way for you, prepared clothes for you, and protected you, and you still had to expose everything in public?"

"Let him finish speaking." Su's father raised his eyes and said in a deep voice to suppress Su Qing's emotions.

"What's there to say? There's absolutely nothing to say!"

Su Qing completely lost control and grabbed my arm.

"Lin Ye, get out! Get out of here right now!"

"Su Qing, rein in your willfulness!" Su's mother scolded sternly. "Your father and I know perfectly well that you two are faking it, yet you insist on putting on an act. Why bother?"

Su Qing gave a self-deprecating bitter laugh, her eyes suddenly reddening, and her voice hoarse as she said, "Why bother? How dare you ask me why I bothered?"

"From childhood to adulthood, you've forced me to marry Fang Heng, dictating my life! I'm telling you clearly, Fang Heng is a despicable person with a chaotic private life, but you've always turned a blind eye!"

"All you ever care about is the group's interests and your network of connections; you've never cared about me, your daughter! Am I even your biological child?"

Su's mother's expression turned cold, and she said in a harsh tone, "We're giving you such good resources, all for your own good."

"Your older sister, Su Wan, is only two years older than you, and she has already taken over the main affairs of the group. And you? You're rebellious and willful all day long, causing trouble and disobeying your family. I also want to ask, are you really our daughter?"

Every word is piercing to the heart.

I sat to the side, feeling cold all over and my scalp tingling.

Having lived in this family for over twenty years, Su Qing has been living in a world of comparison, control, and intertwined interests every day.

This suffocating family bond is far more hurtful than any interference from outsiders.

Su Qing listened quietly to her mother's harsh lecture without getting angry or interrupting to argue.

A self-deprecating yet sorrowful smile slowly tugged at the corners of her lips, and crystal tears slid down her cheeks without warning.

At that moment, I finally saw Su Qing without her spoiled, pampered exterior.

She also experienced sadness, grief, and pain.

She closed her eyes, her chest heaving violently.

He opened his eyes after a long while, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Listen to yourselves honestly, aren't you being incredibly selfish?"

"Do you think that just because you provide me with a life of luxury and unlimited spending, I should be grateful and let you do whatever you want with me?"

"In these past twenty years, have you ever cooked me a single meal? When I come home late at night, has anyone ever waited for me? From childhood to adulthood, have I ever received even a shred of parental love?"

She held up three fingers and said, slowly and deliberately, with great emphasis:

"Three years old! I've been living with a nanny since I was three."

Su's father, who had been observing coldly all along, finally spoke up:

"Su Qing, I know you harbor resentment. But your sister Su Wan is exactly like you, lacking companionship since childhood. Why is she so sensible, able to shoulder the family's responsibilities, and obediently follow arrangements?"

"Don't mention her to me!"

Su Qing instantly lost control of her emotions and interrupted sharply, "I admit I'm not as good as her—in ability, temperament, and vision—but can you please stop comparing me to her for the rest of your lives?"

"Do you all think I should be an obedient puppet, obediently marry Fang Heng, and use this marriage to solidify the Su family's business?"

"Then let me tell you. It's absolutely impossible in this lifetime!"

"Because I'm essentially a promiscuous woman..."

As she spoke, she suddenly walked towards me and continued:

"He was indeed someone I hired to deal with you, and I really have nothing to do with him."

"But things are different now. Now he's my boyfriend."

My heart sank, and I instantly anticipated what she was going to do.

Sure enough, the next second...

She leaned down and kissed me...