Mom, help! I've been beaten!

Qin You, in truth, had no desire to pick up Xia Anran. Ever since that day outside the Qin family home, when he overheard Xia’s parents mention that Xia Anran had orchestrated the assault on Wen Shuang, all the affection he once held for her had plummeted to the depths. Wen Shuang had already told him long ago that the kidnapping was Xia Anran’s doing. How laughable that he hadn’t believed it then, insisting that Xia Anran was pure and sweet. At most, he thought she had a bit of a princess’s temper, a touch of willfulness. Who could have imagined that beneath the surface, Xia Anran was a woman with a venomous heart?

These days, every time he remembered how Wen Shuang had almost fallen victim to those men, Qin You's chest tightened with suffocating guilt. Yet, for the sake of the Xia family’s future wealth and connections, he forced himself to come and coax the woman in his arms.

"My poor precious Anran," he murmured.

Xia Anran sobbed endlessly in his embrace, recounting the grievances she’d suffered in the detention center. How those people had soaked her bedding in the middle of the night to keep her from sleeping, withheld her meals to starve her, snatched her blankets at night, forced her to sleep by the bathroom, and if she dared disobey, slapped her across the face!

Since childhood, Xia Anran had been pampered and sheltered—when had she ever endured such humiliation? Madam Xia was beside herself with distress, pressing Mr. Xia to deal swiftly with those vile women who dared bully her daughter.

Mr. Xia had been run ragged by Anran’s troubles these past few days, spending untold amounts of money and pride to smooth things over and secure her early release.

"You’d do better to teach her to behave herself from now on! I won’t tolerate any more disasters like this! Two weeks in a detention center—have you ever seen a daughter from a decent family suffer such disgrace? She’s brought utter shame upon the Xias!"

At his words, Xia Anran burst into renewed, heart-wrenching sobs, wailing that even her beloved father no longer cared for her and that she might as well be dead.

Qin You continued to comfort her in gentle tones. "Don’t get upset, Anran. Uncle’s just speaking out of anger. He’s been so worried about you while you’ve been away."

Madam Xia urged her husband to say no more—Anran had only just returned, why add to her distress?

"In a few days, Hanyan will be back from abroad," Mr. Xia announced. "I’ll have your brother keep a proper watch over you, so you don’t cause any more trouble."

Xia Hanyan was Xia Anran’s elder brother by five years, educated overseas since childhood, and now a magnate on Wall Street. He would soon be returning to China to expand his career.

Dabbing her tears, Xia Anran sniffed, "When Brother comes home, he’ll dote on me as always!"

...

During her time in the detention center, Xia Anran had been so battered by hardship that her emotional defenses were left in tatters. Qin You stayed by her side, soothing her for hours, but when evening came, he had to leave to deal with matters at the corporation.

Xia Anran clung to his sleeve, pleading in a plaintive, childish voice, "Brother Qin, won’t you stay with me tonight? I get nightmares when I sleep alone. You know... I’ve hardly slept these past few days."

Now, whenever Qin You so much as touched Xia Anran, a deep-seated aversion rose within him. He reasoned that he’d already spent the day comforting her; it should be enough.

"Anran, I really do have urgent company affairs to attend to. Lie down and close your eyes, and you’ll fall asleep soon."

No matter how desperately she begged, Qin You ultimately closed the door behind him.

Left alone, Xia Anran tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Her heart was heavy with anxiety, terrified that Qin You would abandon her because of her time in jail.

Then there was Wen Yao—that wretched woman who dared covet her Brother Qin!

But having just returned from the police station, Xia Anran dared not take any rash actions. The next day, she took the initiative to visit the Qin household, discreetly voicing her worries to Madam Qin.

"Don’t you worry, Anran!" Madam Qin declared. "From beginning to end, the only daughter-in-law the Qin family accepts is you. All those other riffraff aren’t even fit to lift a finger in your presence!"

Xia Anran clung affectionately to her arm, calling her "Auntie" in the sweetest tones.

...

Once the Wen family’s company was restored, Wen Yao resumed her life as a wealthy young lady. She had majored in acting at university, and after graduation intended to become an actress. With her looks and figure, she was sure she could climb to the top tiers of stardom.

During the family’s financial difficulties, Wen Yao had cut back on purchases of the latest fashion and handbags, and could no longer show off before her roommates. So the moment her bank cards were unfrozen, she swept through the mall with Aunt Chun, snatching up all the newest styles.

The shop assistants welcomed her with open arms. Aunt Chun, arms loaded with shopping bags, hesitated. "Yao Yao, your father’s company has only just gotten back on its feet. Are we being too extravagant?"

Though the Wen family was well off, they were still galaxies away from those with fortunes in the hundreds of billions.

"Mom, what’s there to worry about? Men earn money for their wives and daughters to spend." Wen Yao eyed two more outfits and bought them without a second thought. "Besides, if you don’t spend Dad’s money now, are you going to let that little wretch Wen Shuang have it instead?"

"Absolutely not!"

"So, there’s nothing to fear."

After weeks of mother and daughter working together to sway him, Wen Fanhai’s opinion of Wen Shuang had soured noticeably. Now, at the mere mention of Wen Shuang, his brows would furrow in displeasure.

"Mom, I feel like soon Dad will be completely fed up with that Wen Shuang! When the time comes, you should persuade him to transfer the house deed into my name."

Wen Shuang was still eyeing the family’s other property. When Wen Fanhai had bought that little villa, it had been intended as Wen Shuang’s dowry.

Aunt Chun took her arm. "Of course! Ever since that little wretch moved out of the Wen family home, not a single cent in this house has anything to do with her!"

After their shopping spree, Aunt Chun went for a facial, while Wen Yao wandered off to browse the jewelry stores.

The moment the elevator doors opened, several people dragged her into the stairwell.

She screamed instinctively, but a hand clamped over her mouth. Terrified, she was forced to the ground.

"So, you’re Wen Yao—the little vixen who wants to seduce my son?" Madam Qin loomed above her, tilting up her chin.

Wen Yao shook her head desperately, denying everything.

With a glance, Madam Qin signaled her bodyguards. One slapped Wen Yao hard across the face, a burning sting flaring instantly. She cried out in pain, only to be struck again.

"Think you can tempt my son? That’s what you get, you filthy girl!" Madam Qin seized Wen Yao by the hair, slamming her head against the wall. "You think a tramp like you could ever beguile my son? Dream on! My Youyou will marry the heiress of the Xia family—you’re not worthy!"

The more Madam Qin dwelled on how this wretch had nearly jeopardized the Qin family’s future, the more furious she became. She slapped Wen Yao again and again until the girl could no longer make a sound.

"If you want any future in the entertainment industry, you’d better learn your place and stay the hell away from my son. Otherwise, what you’ve suffered today will be nothing compared to what’s coming."

Beaten, Wen Yao lay on the ground for a long while before she could move. Groping for her phone, she called Aunt Chun in a trembling voice. "Mom... come quick! I’ve been attacked!"