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‎Chapter 1: The Birthday Trap

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‎The dazzling lights of the Platinum Star Hotel sparkled like stars, illuminating the luxurious banquet hall.

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‎Guests in elegant evening gowns and tailored suits filled the room with laughter and conversation. Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting a warm glow over the grand birthday celebration.

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‎Standing beside a towering three-tier birthday cake was Li Nana.

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‎She wore a simple white dress with no expensive jewelry, yet her natural beauty attracted countless admiring glances.

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‎Today was her twenty-second birthday.

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‎Anyone looking from the outside would think she was the beloved daughter of the Li family.

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‎Only Nana knew the truth.

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‎She had returned to her biological family three years ago after a DNA test confirmed her identity. Instead of finding the warmth she had longed for, she discovered that her parents doted on the fake heiress, Li Naxa.

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‎To them, Nana was nothing more than an inconvenience.

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‎Every birthday they had forgotten.

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‎Every achievement they had ignored.

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‎Tonight's celebration wasn't for her.

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‎It was organized because important business partners were attending.

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‎Even so, Nana hoped...

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‎Perhaps this was the beginning of a new relationship with her family.

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‎"Nana!"

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‎A sweet voice interrupted her thoughts.

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‎Li Naxa walked toward her gracefully, wearing a luxurious red gown worth more than most people earned in a year.

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‎She smiled warmly and held out a glass of wine.

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‎"Happy birthday, Sister."

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‎Nana accepted the glass with a gentle smile.

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‎"Thank you."

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‎Not far away, Ji Yin, Nana's fiancé, stood chatting happily with several wealthy young masters.

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‎He didn't even look in her direction.

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‎A trace of disappointment flashed across Nana's eyes before quickly disappearing.

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‎She had loved Ji Yin for years.

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‎Now...

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‎She wasn't so sure he felt the same.

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‎"Everyone is waiting for your birthday toast," Naxa reminded her.

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‎Nana nodded politely.

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‎She raised her glass.

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‎"Thank you all for coming tonight. I hope everyone enjoys the evening."

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‎The guests applauded.

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‎Music began playing.

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‎Champagne glasses clinked.

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‎Soon, Naxa returned with another drink.

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‎"Just one more."

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‎"I don't drink much," Nana replied.

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‎"Oh, come on. It's your birthday."

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‎Unable to refuse in front of so many guests, Nana accepted.

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‎Unknown to her, Naxa exchanged a glance with Ji Yin.

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‎Both of them smiled.

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‎One glass became two.

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‎Two became three.

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‎Within minutes, Nana's vision blurred.

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‎Her head became heavy.

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‎"I... don't feel well..."

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‎Naxa immediately supported her arm.

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‎"You've had too much to drink. I'll help you upstairs to rest."

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‎No one questioned it.

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‎After all, they were sisters.

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‎As the elevator doors closed, the sweetness on Naxa's face disappeared.

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‎A cold smile replaced it.

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‎"Li Nana," she whispered, "don't blame me. As long as you exist, I'll never truly be the Li family's daughter."

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‎Nana was too dizzy to hear.

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‎The elevator stopped on the top floor.

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‎Naxa led her into a luxurious hotel suite and gently laid her on the bed.

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‎"Rest well," she said softly.

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‎The door closed behind her.

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‎The instant she stepped into the hallway, she took out her phone.

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‎"The room is ready."

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‎A man's voice answered.

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‎"I'll be there."

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‎Naxa smiled.

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‎"Remember, I want tomorrow's headlines to ruin her forever."

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‎She ended the call and walked away without looking back.

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‎Inside the room, Nana slowly opened her eyes.

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‎Years of martial arts training under her adoptive grandfather had taught her never to let her guard down.

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‎Something was wrong.

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‎Very wrong.

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‎Although the alcohol clouded her mind, she realized she had not become drunk naturally.

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‎Someone had tampered with her drinks.

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‎She forced herself to sit upright and began using a breathing technique her grandfather had taught her years ago to stay conscious in dangerous situations.

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‎Just then—

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‎Click.

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‎The hotel room door opened.

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‎A strange man stepped inside with a wicked grin.

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‎"So you're Li Nana."

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‎He locked the door behind him.

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‎Nana's eyes turned ice-cold.

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‎"Who sent you?"

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‎The man laughed.

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‎"That doesn't matter. By tomorrow morning, everyone will believe you willingly spent the night with me."

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‎He stepped closer.

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‎Nana slowly stood despite her dizziness.

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‎"Take one more step," she warned calmly, "and you'll regret it."

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‎The man burst into laughter.

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‎"A weak little woman threatening me?"

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‎He lunged forward.

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‎Before he could touch her, Nana twisted sideways with surprising speed.

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‎Her palm struck his chest.

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‎Bang!

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‎The powerful blow sent him stumbling backward into a table.

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‎His face filled with disbelief.

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‎"You..."

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‎Nana's legs trembled.

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‎The drug was affecting her more than she expected.

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‎She couldn't afford a prolonged fight.

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‎As the man rushed toward her again, she grabbed a flower vase from the bedside table and smashed it against the wall beside him.

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‎The loud crash startled him just long enough.

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‎Nana kicked the door open and ran into the hallway.

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‎Her breathing became heavier with every step.

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‎She had escaped...

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‎But she knew whoever planned this wasn't finished yet.

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‎Far below, inside the hotel's exclusive VIP lounge, the most feared businessman in the country had just arrived.

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‎Gu Lusi.

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‎The billionaire CEO whose name alone could shake the business world.

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‎Neither he nor Li Nana knew that fate had already begun weaving their lives together.

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‎Their first meeting...

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‎Was only moments away.

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‎Li Nana ran down the long hotel corridor, her footsteps unsteady.

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‎Her vision blurred as the effects of the drug grew stronger.

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‎"No... I can't collapse here..."

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‎She bit her lower lip until she tasted blood, forcing herself to stay awake.

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‎The breathing technique her adoptive grandfather had taught her slowed the drug's effect, but it couldn't remove it completely.

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‎Behind her, the hotel room door burst open.

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‎"Catch her!" the man shouted angrily, pressing a hand against his bruised chest. "Don't let her escape!"

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‎Several bodyguards rushed into the hallway.

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‎Nana glanced back.

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‎"There are more of them..."

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‎She immediately turned into another corridor, hoping to lose them.

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‎Meanwhile, on the top floor's private VIP lounge, Gu Lusi had just finished signing a billion-dollar cooperation agreement with several international businessmen.

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‎He stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.

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‎His sharp features and cold expression made everyone around him nervous.

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‎Even the foreign investors avoided meeting his eyes.

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‎His assistant, Chen Mo, approached respectfully.

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‎"President Gu, your car is ready."

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‎Gu Lusi nodded.

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‎Just as he was about to leave, a loud noise echoed outside.

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‎"Catch her!"

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‎His dark eyes narrowed.

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‎"What happened?"

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‎Before Chen Mo could answer, a young woman stumbled around the corner and crashed directly into Gu Lusi.

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‎The impact made both of them lose their balance.

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‎Gu Lusi instinctively wrapped an arm around her waist to stop her from falling.

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‎Nana looked up.

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‎For a brief moment, their eyes met.

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‎His eyes were cold like winter.

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‎Hers were filled with determination despite her weakened state.

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‎"I'm... sorry..."

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‎Before she could step away, her legs gave out.

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‎Gu Lusi caught her effortlessly.

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‎He frowned.

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‎Her face was unusually pale, and her breathing was uneven.

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‎"She's been drugged," he said calmly.

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‎At that moment, the group of bodyguards chasing Nana reached the corridor.

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‎Seeing Gu Lusi, they froze.

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‎Everyone in the city knew who he was.

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‎No one dared offend the ruthless president of the Gu Group.

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‎The man Nana had fought finally caught up, forcing a smile.

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‎"President Gu, that woman is my girlfriend. She's drunk. We'll take her home."

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‎Gu Lusi looked down at the unconscious Nana in his arms.

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‎Even in her unconscious state, one of her hands tightly gripped the sleeve of his suit, as if pleading for help.

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‎His expression turned colder.

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‎"If she's your girlfriend," he asked quietly, "why is your face covered in bruises?"

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‎The man hesitated.

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‎"I... I fell."

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‎Gu Lusi's lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile.

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‎"Really?"

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‎Before anyone realized what had happened—

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‎Bang!

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‎Gu Lusi kicked the man hard in the stomach.

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‎The man flew backward and crashed into the wall.

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‎Everyone gasped.

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‎Chen Mo lowered his head.

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‎He knew that smile.

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‎Whenever President Gu smiled like that...

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‎Someone was about to have a very bad day.

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‎Gu Lusi glanced at the trembling bodyguards.

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‎"Who hired you?"

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‎None of them answered.

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‎"I'll ask one last time."

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‎Silence.

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‎Chen Mo sighed inwardly.

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‎They had chosen the worst possible answer.

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‎Gu Lusi raised his hand slightly.

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‎More than twenty black-clad bodyguards immediately surrounded the corridor.

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‎The men chasing Nana turned pale.

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‎They had unknowingly offended the most powerful man in the country.

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‎"Take them," Gu Lusi ordered.

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‎"Yes, President Gu."

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‎Within seconds, the men were pinned to the floor.

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‎As Chen Mo directed security to call the police, Gu Lusi looked once more at the unconscious woman in his arms.

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‎"Find out who she is."

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‎"Yes, President Gu."

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‎Gu Lusi carried Nana toward the private elevator himself.

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‎Chen Mo watched in disbelief.

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‎He had worked for Gu Lusi for eight years.

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‎Never—not once—had his boss carried a woman.

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‎As the elevator doors closed, Chen Mo smiled to himself.

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‎It seemed that the cold-hearted billionaire's peaceful life...

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‎Was about to change forever.

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‎The first rays of sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the presidential suite.

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‎Li Nana slowly opened her eyes.

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‎Years of martial arts training had made her alert even in her sleep.

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‎Before opening her eyes completely, she quietly listened to her surroundings.

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‎No footsteps.

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‎No signs of danger.

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‎Only the faint sound of water flowing from a nearby fountain outside the balcony.

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‎She slowly sat up.

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‎"This..."

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‎Her eyes widened.

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‎She wasn't in the hotel room where she had escaped the trap.

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‎Instead, she was lying on a luxurious king-sized bed in an elegant suite.

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‎Immediately, she checked herself.

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‎Her dress was slightly wrinkled, but it was still on. Apart from a small bruise on her wrist from the previous night's struggle, she was unharmed.

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‎She let out a sigh of relief.

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‎Just then, the bathroom door opened.

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‎A tall man stepped out, dressed in a crisp black suit.

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‎His sharp features, cold eyes, and commanding aura made him look untouchable.

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‎Gu Lusi.

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‎The legendary president of the Gu Group.

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‎The most powerful billionaire in the country.

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‎Nana instinctively became cautious.

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‎"Who are you?"

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‎Gu Lusi looked at her calmly.

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‎"The person who stopped those men from taking you."

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‎His voice was deep and emotionless.

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‎Memories of the previous night flashed through Nana's mind.

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‎The corridor...

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‎The bodyguards...

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‎Strong arms catching her before she collapsed...

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‎"It was you..."

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‎She climbed out of bed and bowed politely.

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‎"Thank you for saving me."

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‎Gu Lusi nodded slightly.

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‎"You don't need to thank me. Anyone with a conscience would have done the same."

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‎Nana smiled faintly.

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‎She knew that wasn't true.

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‎Many people would have ignored a stranger's problems.

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‎He hadn't.

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‎Just then, the suite door opened.

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‎Chen Mo walked in carrying breakfast.

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‎When he saw Nana standing, his face brightened.

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‎"Miss Li, you're awake."

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‎He placed the food on the dining table.

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‎"Our doctor said you should eat something before taking the medicine."

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‎Nana looked at the neatly prepared breakfast.

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‎She hesitated.

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‎Gu Lusi noticed.

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‎"Don't worry."

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‎"We haven't poisoned your food."

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‎His serious expression made Chen Mo almost laugh.

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‎Nana couldn't help smiling.

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‎For a man with such a cold face...

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‎His words were unexpectedly amusing.

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‎She sat down and quietly ate.

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‎After several minutes, she put down her chopsticks.

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‎"President Gu, may I borrow your phone?"

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‎Chen Mo quickly handed her one.

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‎Nana dialed her mother's number.

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‎Beep...

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‎Beep...

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‎The call connected.

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‎Before Nana could speak, an angry voice came from the other end.

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‎"Li Nana! Where have you been all night?"

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‎"I..."

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‎"Do you know how embarrassed our family is because of you?"

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‎Nana's expression froze.

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‎"I almost got hurt last night..."

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‎Mrs. Li interrupted her.

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‎"Stop making excuses!"

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‎"Naxa told me you ran away with another man after getting drunk."

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‎"If you still have any shame, come home immediately!"

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‎The call ended.

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‎The room became silent.

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‎Nana slowly lowered the phone.

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‎Her fingers tightened around it.

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‎She had hoped...

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‎Even a little...

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‎That her parents had been worried about her.

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‎Instead, they believed Li Naxa without asking what had really happened.

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‎Gu Lusi had heard every word.

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‎His eyes grew colder.

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‎"They didn't ask whether you were safe."

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‎Nana forced a smile.

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‎"I'm used to it."

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‎Those four words were simple.

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‎Yet they carried years of disappointment.

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‎For the first time, Gu Lusi felt an unfamiliar emotion rise within him.

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‎Pity.

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‎No...

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‎It was something else.

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‎Admiration.

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‎Despite being treated unfairly, she had remained kind.

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‎Despite being betrayed, she had not blamed anyone without proof.

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‎He looked at the determined young woman standing before him.

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‎Perhaps...

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‎She wasn't as weak as everyone believed.

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‎And perhaps...

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‎The Li family had no idea what kind of treasure they were pushing away.

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