Author: Ning Yuan

Translators: Shigure, Serena

 

Chapter 1

 

Chi Yu could immediately tell this was Ran Jin’s room; it smelled exactly like the beautiful woman.

 

She stepped inside and looked around. The bedroom was tidy—immaculate, even. An ordinary walk-in closet occupied the left side of the room, while on the right, a corridor adorned with oil paintings and fossil stone rubbings led to an expansive study.

 

The study’s reading lamp was on, forgotten, and cast a warm glow. A few books with protruding bookmarks lay on the desk. Chi Yu could imagine Ran Jin reading late into the night, unable to fall asleep after fleeing from Chi Yu’s car the previous evening.

 

Within the sparsely-filled wardrobe, her black business suits and long cocktail dresses for social occasions were meticulously organised. Watches, cufflinks, and rings hung on display stands according to their categories. Lifting a necklace with her fingertip, Chi Yu examined it briefly before releasing it. The design of the necklace reminded her of Ran Jin—dull and unchanging regardless of the passage of time.

 

Apart from the king-size bed, the bedroom lacked any other source of entertainment such as a television. A large desk and two computers stood out among the furnishings. Chi Yu took a seat. An orderly stack of file folders rested atop the desk. She leafed through them, only finding documents and blueprints related to projects supervised by Ran Jin, some of which contained her handwritten annotations.

 

The choice of drab grey bedding and the placement of the desk in their bedroom were characteristic of Ran Jin, but not Chi Yu’s sister. The bed also turned out to be considerably smaller than Chi Yu had expected. She could hardly imagine how her sister, someone she believed enjoyed the finer things in life, could share this bed with another woman without feeling cramped.

 

To Chi Yu’s knowledge, her sister had purchased this apartment five years ago to be closer to her workplace. It served as a convenient place to rest after late-night work sessions, allowing her to easily return to her office the next morning. Today, any remnants of her sister’s presence in this temporary haven had vanished without a trace.

 

Chi Yu leant back in the chair and swivelled slowly. Beyond the sunlit window, U.P. Tower, jutting high into the sky, seemed almost within arm’s reach. This magnificent edifice, reminiscent of alien architecture, housed the business empire that Chi Li had single-handedly built. Like an extraterrestrial creature, it towered over the tangle of flyovers, establishing itself as one of the metropolis’s most iconic landmarks.

 

With the appetite of a ravenous beast, the CF Group swallowed up swaths of the energy industry. Now, the conglomerate to which Chi Li had dedicated her blood, sweat, and tears rested in the hands of her former protégée and ex-lover, Ran Jin. Yet this transfer of ownership did not halt the beast’s advance; if anything, it only fueled its ferocity, making it even more fearsome.

 

Six years ago, Chi Li introduced the twenty-three-year-old Ran Jin to her family. No one knew who this half-dead woman was, where she came from, and how she had crossed paths with Chi Li. People only witnessed how the businesswoman diligently mentored this enigmatic lady, gradually entrusting most of the family business to her.

 

Aside from overseeing the CF Group, Ran Jin became a regular feature in prestigious business publications and on the silver screen, emerging as the most recognisable it-girl in business, tech, and entertainment. Beautiful, astute, flawless—having basked in the spotlight time and again, Ran Jin steadily ascended to the pinnacle of public admiration and gained the nickname, the “Creator’s Grace”. In the eyes of her devotees, she embodied perfection itself, a Venus sculpted by the hands of the divine.

 

Meanwhile, Chi Yu was a high school student who prioritised her studies over the family business. Following the death of their parents many years ago, Chi Li, sixteen years her senior, had nurtured her with the tenderness of a mother. The two sisters relied on each other and shared a deep, intimate bond.

 

Chi Li never forced her to do anything she did not want to do, instead giving her the freedom to chart her own path. Her sister often repeated one particular advice: “You don’t need to walk the same road as everyone else. Do what you like to do and be who you want to be.” Chi Yu knew that her life was largely unaffected by her parents’ early demise thanks to her sister providing her a loving home where she could thrive without burdens or worries.

Engrossed in her schoolwork, Chi Yu raised no objection as her sister progressively ceded control of the conglomerate to Ran Jin. She trusted her sister, confident that she would always make sensible decisions. She also considered Ran Jin, who had swiftly transitioned from an outsider to the second mistress of the household, as part of their family.

 

No one doubted the closeness between Chi Li and Ran Jin. Despite gossip tabloids relentlessly churning out sensationalised tales and fabricating scandalous details about their relationship in myriad imaginative ways, the chairwoman and her personal assistant were as inseparable as ever. For all intents and purposes, Ran Jin had fully integrated into their family. Chi Yu respectfully referred to her as “sister-in-law”, while the employees jokingly referred to her as “boss”. Whenever she heard these titles, Ran Jin would offer a fleeting half-smile before carrying on.

 

Her “sister-in-law” might have been rather demure in private, but her decisive and uncompromising approach to work made her the perfect aide for her sister. Ran Jin possessed remarkable business acumen and a keen intuition for market trends. During Chi Yu’s studies in the USA, Ran Jin helped her sister overcome their most formidable competitor and secure exclusive rights to exploit mare basalts and helium-3 from the Moon. And thanks to her sister’s unwavering support, Ran Jin had become an indispensable figure within the CF Group. Her rapid rise to power sent shockwaves throughout the energy industry, sparking all sorts of speculations. And yet, Ran Jin paid no heed to the swirling rumours, remaining steadfast in her commitment to assisting Chi Li.

 

Chi Yu had been reluctant to part with her beloved sister, but Chi Li promised that when she returned after graduation, they would never be apart again. Chi Yu could never have imagined that this moment would mark her final farewell to her sister, nor could she have foreseen that her next homecoming would be to attend her sister’s funeral.

 

The agonising pain that engulfed her during the funeral, threatening to tear her heart out, felt just as excruciating now as it had when she first learnt of the death. Her sister, who had endured countless hardships for her sake, had been her final refuge in this world. And now, that loving soul was gone, her life cut short under mysterious circumstances.

 

Dealing with the heart-wrenching grief was painful enough, but Chi Yu felt even more frustrated when the police hastily closed the case. The official conclusion, fraught with troubling inconsistencies, left her more questions than answers. Everyone claimed that her sister—the optimistic, idealistic, and ambitious Chi Li—had taken her own life. Chi Yu rejected that explanation. Her sister couldn’t have committed suicide. Besides the lack of motive, she would never have done so without leaving so much as a note for her closest kin.

 

Fortunately, Chi Yu had begun her own investigation even before getting on the flight home. Each piece of evidence that she painstakingly unearthed from the murky depths pointed to one individual—Ran Jin. As early as four years ago, she caught wind of gossip about Ran Jin’s background. The nasty rumours also described her as a deceitful woman who didn’t return the affection of her doting girlfriend. Instead, she harboured a secret agenda—to exact revenge by taking over the business empire. Chi Yu had brushed off these whispers as baseless nonsense. Having shared a roof with her “sister-in-law” for many years, she had grown quite fond of that beautiful and intelligent woman. Before her departure for the States, she even sent the most outspoken of the rumour-mongers to prison for libel. How could she have guessed that one day, everything would take a turn for the worse, just as the rumours had predicted?

 

Sorrow tore at Chi Yu’s heart as thoughts of her dear sister, condemned to eternal rest for reasons unclear, consumed her mind. She tugged the curtains in Ran Jin’s bedroom with such force that the tension rod threatened to snap. What if the rumours held some truth after all?

 

As Chi Yu delved into the investigative report, each detail revealed how Ran Jin had been stealthily expanding her influence within the CF Group right under her sister’s nose. Though Ran Jin’s origins remained shrouded in mystery, her actions hinted at a carefully orchestrated plan. Before Chi Li’s death, the couple had unexpectedly ended their relationship. The breakup might have been the catalyst for her sister’s murder. Perhaps Chi Li had stumbled upon Ran Jin’s long-buried secrets, prompting her ex-lover to silence her and seek to usurp her greatest achievement.

 

Dream on! The Chi family isn’t out of the picture yet.

 

Chi Yu had never experienced such intense hatred. Remembering how she had once regarded Ran Jin as a close family member filled her with overwhelming disgust.

Her mobile began ringing.

 

“Zhang, I’ll head out soon. Where is she?”

 

“Miss Ran left with Sergeant Lu about an hour ago,” came the answer.

 

Lu Siqing, that cop again. No wonder the police overlooked basic evidence that even Chi Yu was able to gather all while the suspect roamed freely.

 

She thanked the PA and hung up. She inspected Ran Jin’s closet one more time. Indeed, not a single piece of clothing belonging to Chi Li remained. She scoffed.

So eager to erase my sister from your little world, aren’t you? But that doesn’t matter. I’ll carve the memory of the woman who saved you and cherished you more than anything into your mind, so that guilt will eat you alive no matter where you go.

 

Later that evening, the CF Group would host a press conference under the guise of a dinner party, where Ran Jin would announce her acquisition of the rights to exploit energy resources on the Moon. Needless to say, Chi Yu couldn’t possibly miss such an eye-catching occasion. She was determined to make Ran Jin regret and suffer. Once she dragged Ran Jin’s reputation through the mud, she would make sure that both the siren and her policewoman accomplice faced the justice they deserved.

 

Chi Yu soon met with her sister’s personal stylist.

 

“Miss Yu, I’ve brought what you asked for. Would you like to put it on now?”

 

Chi Yu accepted the garment—a long, silky dress in a light pecan brown. The dazzling gown hugged her figure snugly. Once she was dressed, the stylist skillfully applied her make-up.

Clad in her sister’s dress, she opened her eyes and checked her reflection in the mirror. Lavish curls of auburn hair cascaded over her delicate collarbone. Her scarlet lips curled into a smirk.

 

“I want to use my sister’s perfume as well.”

 

“Of course, miss.”

 

A blend of fir, black truffle, and jasmine—the top notes of Chi Li’s fragrance of choice—teased Chi Yu’s nostrils.

 

Surely, Ran Jin would “appreciate” this too.

 

 

 

The interior of the car was as quiet as the void of outer space. Ran Jin sat in the front passenger seat, arms crossed, eyes closed, ready to doze off when the ringing of Lu Siqing’s phone jolted her awake.

 

“Sorry about that.”

 

Frowning, the sergeant reached for her Bluetooth headset while steering the car. She whispered into the mic, “I’m out with Jin... Uh-huh, talk to you later. Bye now.”

 

She ended the call and glanced at the woman beside her. Ran Jin struggled to open her swollen eyelids, the dark circles beneath them lending her a weary look. Then she gazed outside to gauge the remaining distance to her destination.

 

“Didn’t sleep well last night?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“Actually, did you catch a wink at all?”

 

Ran Jin’s silence spoke volumes to Lu Siqing; she knew her old friend all too well. But even so, she felt irked.

 

“I thought her death would set you free, but look at you now.”

Ran Jin’s elegant eyebrows knit even more closer together as her eyes squeezed even tighter.

 

Lu Siqing caught a glimpse of Ran Jin’s neatly fastened cufflinks. Her friend always concealed her slender wrists beneath long sleeves, even on the warmest days. Yet, despite the covering, Lu Siqing could still see faint red marks on her wrists.

 

“Did Chi Yu do that?” the sergeant asked gruffly.

 

The mention of that name made Ran Jin slowly open her eyes, staring directly at her reflection in the window. Her long black hair falling over her shoulders, her hauntingly vacant gaze, and the unexpectedly bloodshot sclerae combined to create a striking portrait.

 

“Do what?” Ran Jin replied flatly.

 

Lu Siqing’s temper flared. “Don’t act like she hasn’t been harassing you!”

 

The policewoman drove on, her heart smouldering with anger. However, not wanting to antagonise a victim, she suppressed her indignation.“Do you have to be there tonight?”

 

“Of course, it’s an important press conference.”

 

Lu Siqing grunted.“In that case, I’m coming with you.”

 

Ran Jin gave her a weak smile. “No need. I can handle her.”

 

“Handle Chi Yu? That little brat? Are you even hearing yourself? Sure, you’re a force to be reckoned with. You’ve curbstomped enough rivals over the years to fill a small town. Hell, you could probably make your own army with the number of people bowing down to you. Take the lunar resource war this month. Aion Tech went from being your competitor to declaring bankruptcy, and then their founder Wang Yan ended up dead. Look, I get that you’re smart and resourceful, but everyone has a weak spot—there’ll always be someone more powerful than them. Now that your nemesis is back and gunning for you every chance she gets, what’s your plan? Let all those years of hard work go down the drain?” With each word, Lu Siqing grew more impatient. “Are you seriously going to give up everything? Just for Chi Yu?”

 

Lu Siqing’s voice echoed within the confines of the car, yet Ran Jin maintained her impeccable posture. She took out a mint sweet from the glove compartment and unwrapped it before handing it to her chauffeur with a smile. Before shutting her eyes again, Ran Jin made one last remark.

 

“Don’t worry. I can take care of myself.”