Li Qiuchi’s demeanor was icy and resolute; she couldn't help but wonder if she was really his biological daughter.

What kind of father does this to his child? Leeching off her wasn’t enough—now he was scheming with others to manipulate her. How could any father do such a thing?

Five minutes ticked by in a blur. Li Qiuchi didn’t linger. She stood up and headed for the door.

Seeing her about to leave, Li Guangliang tried to leap up from his seat, only for the policeman beside him to hold him back.

His voice cracked, desperate and choked with emotion: "Qiuchi, I was wrong. I’m not fit to be your father—I’m scum. Please, save me, Qiuchi. I’m begging you…"

Li Qiuchi brushed past him without a word. After she stepped outside and the heavy door thudded shut, Li Guangliang’s wailing sobs still echoed in her ears.

She slumped weakly against the wall, head bowed, stifling a sob.

But she wasn’t crying for Li Guangliang. Her tears were for herself—for the hopelessness that came from a family she desperately wanted to escape, but couldn’t. The overwhelming powerlessness left her wanting nothing except a good, cathartic cry.

But she couldn’t just break down and bawl; she was, after all, in public. She could only swallow her pain, keeping it hidden…

That was when a gentle hand patted her shoulder. She wiped her eyes, looking up into Bryce Shaw’s face. Fresh tear tracks lingered at the corners of her red-rimmed eyes, and deep inside, she was all fragility and turmoil.

Bryce Shaw opened his arms, pulling her slender figure into his embrace, speaking gently: "If you want to cry, let it out. You'll feel better after. With me, you don’t have to hold back."

He loved her—understood exactly what she needed now. He unzipped his jacket, shielding her face so no outsider could see how vulnerable she was in this moment.

Li Qiuchi buried her face against his chest, arms wrapped tightly around his waist, soaking in the warmth radiating from him.

"I’ll find the best lawyer for him. You don’t need to worry about anything that comes next." He would handle it all.

Leaning into his arms, Li Qiuchi's voice was hoarse. "When I walked out just now, I even caught myself wishing he’d stay in prison for life—only then could I truly be free."

It wasn’t the first time she’d thought this: why did she end up with a father like him?

Ever since she could remember, Li Qiuchi and Li Guangliang had never had a single pleasant conversation. He opened his mouth only to demand money. Sometimes, she even wished he were dead.

Yet, in the end, she carried the same blood as him—a bond she could never truly sever, no matter how much she might want to.

Especially just now, seeing the deep lines etched into his weathered old face, some part of her still couldn't be ruthless.

"No one can choose how they're born, but you can choose the person you want to become." Bryce Shaw was willing to help for Li Qiuchi's sake. If her father was branded a murderer, it would bring scandal upon her too, especially as a public figure.

"Bryce Shaw, you shouldn't love me." She gritted out, her mess of a life never meant to drag him down. His world was all sunshine—nothing like the wreckage of hers.

Cradling her face in both hands, Bryce Shaw stared at her intently. "What nonsense are you saying? It doesn’t matter to me—you deserve all the good in the world, no matter what."

He wouldn’t allow her to think less of herself. She deserved everything life could offer.

—

Snow family.

When Xue Wenchang heard Qian Peng had fled, his anger was explosive.

So much for a peaceful New Year’s Eve.

"Useless! You can’t even handle a tiny errand—and now someone’s dead on top of it!" He ranted and raved at his phone in the study.

On the line, Uncle Lu didn’t dare make a sound, letting Xue Wenchang berate him to his heart’s content.

Only after the tirade quieted did Xue Wenchang's fury ebb.

At length, he asked, "Who is this Li Guangliang, anyway?"

"A gambling addict. I heard his daughter’s a celebrity." Uncle Lu had no idea that single stab wound would be fatal. He’d chased after Qian Peng, but the man was too cunning—he escaped. By the time Uncle Lu returned to deal with Hong Kun’s injury, the place was swarming with people—Hong Kun was already dead.

Uncle Lu lingered nearby. When he saw the police, he quickly slipped away.

A shadow flickered in Xue Wenchang's eyes. "Then we’ll have to make him the scapegoat."

—

Yancy Shaw was just settling in for the night when Yuan Ran’s call came.

No one knew where Qian Peng was hiding, but Xue Wenchang’s people were combing the city for him.

As for Hong Kun’s death, Yuan Ran suspected Xue Wenchang had a hand in it.

Originally, they’d hoped to wait quietly and draw the mastermind into the open—but with Qian Peng missing, Xue Wenchang was clearly losing his grip.

"Keep your wits about you these days. The moment you hear anything about Qian Peng, tell me right away."

After hanging up, Yancy Shaw slipped under the covers. Someone shifted beside him—Lauren Shaw opened her eyes to look at him. "Where did you go just now?"

"Just stepped out to take a call. Did I wake you?" Yancy Shaw swept her into his arms.

Breathing in her soft fragrance, he couldn’t help nuzzling her neck.

Lauren Shaw's hand drifted along his abs, tracing lazy circles.

"Did something happen?" In truth, she’d been awake as soon as he left the bed—a late-night call like this could only spell trouble.

Yancy Shaw paused. "Li Qiuchi’s father was arrested for murder."

Lauren Shaw’s heart skipped a beat. Shocked, she sat up. "Murder?"

This sort of talk was especially startling during the New Year holidays—and it was Li Qiuchi's father, no less. It was hardly a trivial matter.

"Second Brother is already at the station, don’t worry."

Dawn crept into the sky, tinting it pale; Lauren Shaw tossed and turned, unable to sleep, anxiety for Li Qiuchi festering in her heart.

Yancy Shaw pinned down her restless figure beneath the blanket, his voice husky. "Shengsheng, stop moving around."

She had no idea what he was enduring right now. Lying there, she barely dared to move, caught off guard by the warmth of his touch.

"I can’t sleep." She could feel the heat of his palm, and dared not wriggle further.

Yancy Shaw let out a low sigh. "Tonight we’ll sleep at home. It’s awkward here."

Lauren Shaw pouted, "You’re such a bad man!"

"You don’t like me bad?"

No. Quite the opposite—she liked it very much. The chemistry between them had never felt so perfect.

Lauren Shaw traced lazy spirals on his chest with her fingertip. "Then you can only be bad for me."

Her soft touch drew out a certain tension in him, a spark of longing he couldn’t quite suppress.

Realizing she’d pushed enough, Lauren Shaw tried to wriggle out of his grasp. "I want to go check on Qiuchi."

He pulled her back into his arms, refusing to let go. "Second Brother is with her—why are you worrying so much?"

Then, he began to roam his hands across her body.

A soft gasp escaped Lauren Shaw’s lips…

And soon enough, as his movements deepened, Lauren Shaw melted utterly into his embrace…