1 Chapter 1: Nightmare

"No, no, ahhhhh!" In the early morning, a scream pierced the sky.

"Miss, Miss, what's wrong?" Nanny Sun, who was also the housekeeper, rushed over when she heard the scream. She ran to An Zhiyan in a few big strides.

She had cared for this girl from the time she was a small girl. An Zhiyan's mother was a young lady from a wealthy family. The girl had a very happy childhood initially, but something happened to her mother. Suddenly, it was as if she had changed into a different person. The mother, who had always been gentle, suddenly became cold and heartless.

In the end, in order to pursue her so-called freedom, she abandoned her teenage daughter and went to France alone. Up till now, there was still no news of her.

From then on, Nanny Sun became the closest person to An Zhiyan. Nanny Sun was by her side when she embarked on many of her first steps into the unknown. When she had her first period, when she wore an evening gown for the first time, and the first time she received a love letter from a boy... Ever since her own mother left her, Nanny Sun had stayed by her side, participating in everything that happened in her life.

Nanny Sun was usually taciturn, but when it came to caring for An Zhiyan, her silence was worth more than a thousand words from other people.

As it was early in the morning and it was hazy outside, it was still very quiet throughout. An Zhiyan's piercing scream inevitably reached Li Huirong's ears.

"Sis, what's going on?"Jiji glanced at Li Huirong.

Li Huirong waved her hand. "She's probably going crazy again. She's been like this for the past two days. It's so annoying!"

Jiji was Li Huirong's younger sister. She had just arrived at the An family home the day before and was about the same age as An Zhiyan. She had come here to stay with her sister as she was starting university.

Oh yes, let's give an introduction. This woman that An Zhiyan hated very much was Li Huirong, her 'Stepmother.' The reason her title of stepmother was in quotation marks was because she was not the legitimate stepmother.

Following this, Li Huirong ran angrily to An Zhiyan's room.

Bang! Bang! Bang! She pounded on the door with her hands. Coincidentally, her husband, An Zhanglou, was not home today because he had something to deal with at the company. Therefore, she did not have to pretend as usual.

"An Zhiyan, I know you're in there. Come out quickly!"

An Zhiyan had just had a nightmare, and her body was still very weak. She rubbed her forehead weakly, but it felt very hot. Her body felt like a sponge too, like it did not have any strength.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Seeing that An Zhiyan still refused to open the door, Li Huirong, who was outside the door, pounded more rapidly on the door. "You wretched girl, come out now! You're just like your mother, a little slut!" Now, Li Huirong began to use the most obscene and most despicable words to scold An Zhiyan.

With a loud bang, the door swung open!

An Zhiyan appeared in front of Li Huirong in her pajamas. Although she looked rather haggard on the surface, she still stood very straight.

"You little slut! It's so early in the morning, what ruckus are you causing this time?" As she spoke, Li Huirong pushed An Zhiyan aside and strode into her room. She began to inspect An Zhiyan's room.

"Madam, I'm really sorry, Young Miss just had a nightmare!" Nanny Sun tried to explain.

"Is there a need for you to speak? What right does a nanny like you have to interfere in the An family's matters? !" Li Huirong was already displeased, but after hearing Nanny Sun trying to defend An Zhiyan, she became even more upset. It was as if ever since she had married into this family, other than her husband, no one else in the household recognized her status. 

In the minds of the servants, all of them still thought of the ex-wife, Jiang Ran, as the rightful mistress of the house. This made Li Huirong very unhappy.

"Get lost!" An Zhiyan suddenly appeared in front of Li Huirong. She was already feeling unwell, and now her entire face was ahsen-white.

Li Huirong heard An Zhiyan's warning, but she still walked around in An Zhiyan's room as if nothing had happened. Suddenly, Li Huirong's gaze fell on a photo by An Zhiyan's bed.

It was a photo of the 10-year-old An Zhiyan and her mother, Jiang Ran. It was taken by her father when they went to Disneyland. This was An Zhiyan's most beloved memory, so she had kept it by her bed all these years.

Suddenly, Li Huirong grabbed the photo and smashed it onto the floor with a loud crash, like she had gone mad.

"What are you doing?" An Zhiyan dragged her tired body and rushed over. As she didn't pay attention, she accidentally cut her hand while picking up the photo. Dark red blood oozed out of An Zhiyan's hand.

When Nanny Sun saw this, she almost fainted.

"Miss, please bear with it for a while. I'll go downstairs to get some medicine and bandages for you!" Nanny Sun said as she rushed downstairs.

At this moment, only An Zhiyan and Li Huirong were left in the room.

An Zhiyan raised her head, her gaze sharp and determined. "Aren't you afraid that I'll tell Dad?"

Li Huirong sneered when she heard this. Then, she walked over with her ten-centimeter-high heels, squatted down, and slowly leaned into An Zhiyan's ear. "Do you think your dad will believe you or me?"

Then, Li Huirong laughed loudly and left An Zhiyan's room smugly.