Volume One, Chapter One: Cast Out from the Wealthy Family, Awaiting Rescue by Five Impoverished Farming Brothers

Page 1 of 3

June, with its brilliant sunshine, bathed everything in gold.

Chu Mian returned home from her shift at the hospital, a lightness in her heart.

But the moment she stepped through the grand gates of the Xie family villa, a twenty-four-inch suitcase hurtled toward her.

The zipper burst open, clothes scattering across the floor.

The butler, dressed in his uniform, stood by the doorway, his gaze full of disdain.

“Since you refuse to appreciate our kindness, it's time for you to leave!”

“Madam said, you’re just a lowly life from a rural gutter. Go back to your filthy ditch where you belong!”

Chu Mian gave a cold, inward laugh.

She’d long known this day would come, that she’d be thrown out—she just didn’t expect the Xie family to toss her things out without so much as a word.

Such ruthless resolve, all because she’d refused to marry the head of the Liu family.

But that man was nearly forty, with three dead wives behind him.

Clearly a wife-killer!

How could Chu Mian possibly throw her life away like that?

Her heart already chilled, Chu Mian stooped to gather her scattered belongings.

Fourteen years she’d lived in the Xie family, and all her possessions amounted to a single suitcase.

Fourteen years ago, the Xie family had lost their daughter. Xie’s mother, Xu Yun, unable to conceive again, went to the orphanage and adopted her.

At first, Chu Mian had dared to hope for a family, but only a month after her adoption, the real daughter, Xie Anyue, was found and brought home.

Xu Yun wanted to send Chu Mian away but feared gossip, so she continued raising her with a pinched nose.

Unlike the pampered Xie Anyue, Chu Mian was merely a tool for Xu Yun to save face.

Daily scolding and beatings were routine; to keep her slim, they never allowed her a full meal.

Once she reached adulthood, the Xie family dropped all pretense and focused solely on marrying her off to secure a place among the true wealthy elite.

When Chu Mian finally refused, the Xie family decided in a fit of anger to send her back to her biological parents.

It was only then that Chu Mian learned her birth parents were still alive, living somewhere in the mountains, and that she had five older brothers who worked the fields.

She truly longed to experience real familial affection, but in these final days, the Xie family couldn’t even part on civil terms.

Now, with her belongings packed, Chu Mian frowned.

She searched through everything twice but couldn’t find the most important item: her brooch.

It wasn’t in the suitcase, which meant it must still be inside the Xie house.

Chu Mian tried to go back for it, but the butler blocked her way.

“Don’t push your luck. Get out now! Stop clinging to the Xie family!”

Chu Mian shot him a frosty look.

All these years, he’d bossed her around, making her do every chore.

Did he still think she was the meek little girl who’d let anyone walk over her?

“Either you move, or I’ll call the police. If this blows up, let’s see how Xu Yun scolds you.”

The Xie family cared deeply about appearances and would never allow themselves to become the talk of the neighborhood.

Intimidated by her words, the butler dared not stop her again.

Page 2 of 3

Chu Mian brushed past the butler and pushed open the villa’s main doors, walking straight into the Xie family—Zhi Xing, Xu Yun, and Anyue—entertaining a guest in the grand hall.

Zhi Xing wore a bespoke suit, Xu Yun was elegant in a deep blue cheongsam, her well-maintained face showing only the barest hint of fine lines at the corners of her eyes.

As for Xie Anyue, she was even more meticulously dressed, her limited-edition Chanel skirt set off by a saccharine smile on her lovely face.

When Chu Mian saw the cultured, refined middle-aged man seated across from them, she finally understood why she’d been so abruptly expelled.

Fu Xing, head of the Fu family.

If the Xie family was a minor player with tens of millions in assets, the Fu family was an untouchable titan, worth tens of billions.

She remembered how Xu Yun had once boasted that the Xie and Fu families had a marriage contract.

Sure enough, later Xie Anyue had begun interacting with Fu Yun, the young master of the Fu family, and with Xu Yun’s vigorous support, they’d reached the stage of discussing marriage.

So today was the so-called “meet the family” day.

Looking at the Xie family, all perfect poise and elegance, Chu Mian found it laughable.

Ah, such a “fine” family, yet they’d tried to marry her off to a bloated forty-year-old widower.

Chu Mian cast them a bland glance and walked straight upstairs without a word.

Her sudden appearance left the Xie family momentarily frozen, cursing the incompetent butler who couldn’t even guard the door.

But Chu Mian’s silence made Zhi Xing feel his authority as head of the household was being brazenly challenged—a humiliation.

He barked, “The Xie family raised you for over a decade, and you can’t even greet us when you come in? Where are your manners?!”

Fu Xing raised an eyebrow. “And this young lady is…?”

Xu Yun, afraid Fu Xing might take an interest in Chu Mian, pressed a hand to her heart and affected a wounded look.

“That’s our disappointing adopted daughter.”

“We fed and clothed her well, but she treats us like enemies.”

“She’s been staying out late for half a month without a word—if only you knew how worried we were…”

She paused, then took Xie Anyue’s hand and smiled warmly.

“Not like Yueyue, who stays home every day to keep us company—arranging flowers, making coffee, cooking—she excels at everything.”

“Sigh, people say dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and the child of a rat will dig holes. I used to think nurture mattered more than blood, but now…”

She dabbed at imaginary tears with a handkerchief, playing the role of the heartbroken mother, all the while comparing the two girls and grinding Chu Mian into the dust.

Favoritism, pure and simple.

But Chu Mian would not let herself be smeared. She laughed coldly and fixed Xu Yun with a steady gaze.

“I won’t come home? The moment I refuse to cook, you beat and scold me. You accuse me of staying out late, but the one sneaking off to bars every night isn’t me.”

Xu Yun’s eyes flickered with guilt—she dreaded Chu Mian making a scene and letting Fu Xing see the Xie family’s shame.

If she ruined Fu Xing’s impression of her precious daughter, a hundred Chu Mians couldn’t pay for it!

Seeing her mother falter, Xie Anyue’s eyes immediately filled with tears.

“Mama, don’t be angry with my sister… Sister, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have come back all those years ago and stolen Mama’s love from you. If you’re angry, blame me instead.”

Seeing her daughter in tears, Xu Yun hugged her close.

“It’s not your fault, Yueyue, you’re still Mama’s good girl…”

Chu Mian watched the mother-daughter performance with cold amusement.

Page 3 of 3

This act had been playing for fourteen years, and she was utterly sick of it.

Of course, they were never at fault—the only mistake was hers!

Her mistake was letting herself be chosen by the Xie family all those years ago, shouldering so much undeserved guilt for so long.

Fortunately, she’d quietly worked through school, repaying every cent the Xie family had spent on her over the years.

She owed them nothing now.

After Xu Yun and Xie Anyue had finished displaying their mother-daughter affection, an awkward silence fell—Fu Xing gave no response.

Xie Anyue had to wipe her tears and switch to a more delicate tone.

“Sister, I know you’re upset, but feelings can’t be forced. Brother Yun doesn’t like you, and there’s nothing I can do…”

“If he liked you instead, I’d give you my blessing.”

As she spoke, Xie Anyue “accidentally” revealed the engagement ring on her finger.

In looks and achievements, she was no match for Chu Mian—but what did it matter?

She was simply better at winning a man’s favor.

Chu Mian could scarcely stand to look at her. She felt her patience for such stupidity wearing dangerously thin.

“If you like Fu Yun, then cling to him all you want. As for that arrogant playboy, you couldn’t pay me to take him!”

At this point, Chu Mian felt no need to be polite, not even to Fu Yun’s father.

Without waiting for their reaction, she turned to leave.

But as she turned, she finally saw it—the brooch pinned to Xie Anyue’s chest.

In the sunlight, the tiny stones on the brooch scattered a rainbow of colors.

Compared to Xie Anyue’s countless Swarovski pieces, that brooch was worth next to nothing.

But Xie Anyue had always loved taking her things.

She’d done it since they were children, and now she couldn’t resist one last time.

Chu Mian let out a cold laugh and finally spoke.

“The Xie family has certainly taught its daughter well—such clean hands. When you threw me out, you managed to lose a brooch. What’s the meaning of this?”

At her words, all eyes turned to Xie Anyue’s chest.

Xie Anyue cursed inwardly. She’d originally gone to Chu Mian’s room to cause trouble, but the brooch was too beautiful to resist, so she took it.

Normally her parents would back her up—this wretched girl couldn’t do anything about it.

But today, the head of the Fu family was present!

That wretch—she was trying to ruin her marriage!

With Fu Xing also watching her, Xie Anyue’s eyes immediately filled with tears as she feigned innocence.

“Sister, I know you’ve never liked me, but I’ve always seen you as my real sister. Why be so petty between siblings?”

Xu Yun quickly came to her real daughter’s defense. “It’s just a brooch, why make such a fuss? People from the countryside are always so small-minded!”

She paused, seeing that Chu Mian refused to budge, then pulled an envelope from her bag and threw it at her.

“Since Yueyue likes it, I’ll buy it from you for fifty thousand.”