Chapter 1 The Truth About Being Adopted

Shi Niannian, unconscious, felt a heavy weight pressing down on her body, making it difficult to breathe, but she just couldn't wake up.

A sudden sharp pain from beneath jolted her awake, and as her eyes adjusted to the dim room light, she made out the man on top of her.

"Brother Yichen?"

Ling Yichen's eyes were bloodshot, his hands tightly gripping Shi Niannian's slender waist, "Not pretending anymore?"

Pretending what? Shi Niannian didn't understand what Ling Yichen meant. She was about to ask when he quickened his pace, turning her questioning moan into a light whimper.

This sultry sound only drove Ling Yichen, already drugged, into a frenzy.

After the storm passed, Ling Yichen's drug effect wore off. He gazed down at the woman beneath him, noticing the soybean-sized red birthmark on her left breast, striking against her snow-white skin.

He parted the hair sticking to Shi Niannian's cheek, revealing a sweet face.

Shi Niannian, catching her breath, scanned the room; it was a guest room of the Shi family. How did she end up here? And what was Ling Yichen doing on her?

She rubbed her still somewhat dizzy head, trying to recall the night's events.

Tonight, the Shi family held a small banquet. As an adopted daughter, Shi Niannian just showed her face and went back to her room to rest after drinking the milk served by a servant.

Ling Yichen was one of the guests at the banquet. He was a good friend of Shi Xinghe, the young master of the Shi family, and the beloved of the Shi family's daughter, Shi Shuyao.

"What do you want?" Shi Niannian had not yet figured out the situation when she heard Ling Yichen asking her this question.

What do I want? Shi Niannian frowned, "I want you to get off me immediately."

Ling Yichen paused slightly, not expecting this answer. Wasn't this adopted daughter of the Shi family plotting against him to get money or status?

Ling Yichen rose from Shi Niannian's body, got out of bed, picked up his clothes off the floor, and put them on. He looked coldly at Shi Niannian, "A title is out of the question, but I can give you some money."

Shi Niannian propped herself up, feeling sore all over. She found her nightgown and underwear under the bed and hurriedly put them on.

Catching sight of the bright red on the bedsheet, Shi Niannian clenched her fists; her 22 years of chastity had been destroyed here.

She walked to the door and turned to Ling Yichen, "Let's pretend nothing happened tonight."

"Knock, knock, knock!" Just then, a knock sounded from outside the door, "Brother Yichen, it's me. Are you feeling any better?"

It was Shi Shuyao's voice. Shi Niannian looked anxiously at Ling Yichen as he was putting on his pants.

Ling Yichen fastened his belt and came over to open the door.

"Brother Yichen..." Shi Shuyao called out tenderly to Ling Yichen, but upon seeing Shi Niannian behind him, her expression changed immediately, "Niannian, what are you doing here?"

"Sister, I..." Shi Niannian didn't know how to respond to Shi Shuyao, for she herself had no clue how she had ended up there.

Shi Shuyao had a congenital heart disease, and the Shi family always handled her with care, afraid that she might become upset or agitated.

Although Ling Yichen had no need to explain himself to Shi Shuyao, not wanting to cause any trouble, he casually mentioned, "I was thirsty, and I happened to see Niannian, so I asked her to bring me a glass of water."

Shi Shuyao looked at them both suspiciously, clear disbelief written on her face.

"Sister, Brother Yichen, I'll leave first. You two talk." Shi Niannian slipped past them and walked out.

"Brother Yichen, are you feeling better?" Shi Shuyao's eyes were filled with concern.

Ling Yichen nodded slightly, "Much better. I'll go home now. I'm not used to sleeping here."

"Okay, I'll have the driver take you home. You can't drive after you've been drinking tonight," Shi Shuyao said considerately.

Ling Yichen returned to the bedside, picked up his jacket and cell phone, and inadvertently noticed the bloodstain on the sheets. He paused while putting on his jacket.

Act as if nothing had happened? Did Shi Niannian not take her chastity seriously?

Shi Shuyao walked over, glanced at the bedsheet covered in stains, and dug her fingernails into her palm. The pain kept her alert and calm.

"Brother Yichen, are you ready? Let's go downstairs!"

Shi Shuyao followed Ling Yichen downstairs and sent him out the door, where the car was already waiting.

After her shower, Shi Niannian could hear the sound of the car engine starting. As she approached the window to look outside,

Shi Shuyao was playfully saying something to Ling Yichen. After he patted her head, he got into the car.

The car drove away, and as Shi Shuyao turned around, she glanced up at the window of Shi Niannian's room.

Shi Niannian felt a shock in her heart. Did her sister know she was peeking?

She quickly hid herself, clutching her chest. Her heart felt like it was about to leap out. Shi Niannian was extremely nervous, as if she had been caught doing something wrong.

Even now, she couldn't understand who in the Shi family wanted to harm her. Why did they send her to Ling Yichen's bed?

Shi Niannian lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. What if her sister found out? Surely the Shi family would drive her out!

She had been in an orphanage until the age of 7. Her years there made her mature and steady at a young age.

In the Shi family, she had always been obedient, taking care to be careful in everything she did, for fear of being sent back to the orphanage.

Although the servants of the Shi family also called her Miss Second, she never dared see herself as a lady. She would always find things to do, like cleaning or cooking, which she could handle.

Unable to sleep, Shi Niannian sat up. Feeling thirsty, she opened the door to head downstairs and poured herself a glass of water. After gulping down half a glass, she decided to take the rest back to her room.

She moved quietly, not wanting to disturb anyone.

As she passed by Shi Shuyao's door, she heard crying from inside.

She paused, her heart pounding. Was her sister crying because she had discovered something?

She wanted to go in and explain, but then she heard Mother Shi's voice, "Why are you crying? Isn't this a good thing?"

"But I feel so miserable. The man I like slept with another woman, and I was the one who sent her to his bed."

Shi Niannian's head buzzed. It was Shi Shuyao who had sent her to Ling Yichen's bed. But why?

"So what if he has? As long as you can marry Ling Yichen, none of that matters."

Mother Shi sighed and said, "It's because of your own health problems. Once that little wretch gives birth, we can eliminate her and use her heart for a transplant. We've raised her for so many years, and now we can finally make use of her."

Mother Shi's words struck Shi Niannian like a bolt of lightning.

To eliminate the mother and keep the child! That was her purpose. No wonder the Shi family had medical examinations done on all the orphans before adopting them. They chose to adopt her because she matched Shi Shuyao for a transplant, didn't they?

The veins on the hand holding the glass protruded sharply. The Shi family was so cruel! What should she do?

"Niannian! What are you doing here?" A cold voice sounded behind her.