My parents were driven to suicide.
I gave up on attending the highest institution of learning.
All for the sake of attending the same school as my enemy's son, hoping he would fall in love with me.
In the end, I achieved my goal and married into the first aristocratic family, rising to a position of prominence and immense power.
“Zhou Jinhua, I have never loved you; I have always been using you.”
“Dad, Mom, watch as your daughter takes everything from them.”
1
After my parents went bankrupt, they sent me to a friend's house before taking their own lives.
Fortunately, Adoptive Father and Foster Mother had no children and treated me as if I were their own.
At the age of ten, I met the Zhou Couple and their son Zhou Jinhua at a banquet.
The the Zhou was the most prominent aristocracy in Capital City, wielding great influence and power.
The moment I saw them, I made up my mind that I would marry into the the Zhou and become its mistress.
From then on, I held myself to strict standards, learning various etiquettes and skills.
I was graceful in demeanor, excelled academically, and was considerate in my interactions with others.
My name gradually spread throughout the capital, and everyone praised me as the perfect socialite.
Finally, Madam Zhou took an interest in me.
During one conversation, she brought up my marriage prospects.
Foster Mother, following my instructions, replied, “A Lan is still young; we won't consider these matters for now.”
Yet Foster Mother couldn't help but voice her confusion: “A Lan, why do you want me to tell Madam Zhou that you are still young?”
“Since Madam Zhou likes you so much, even if Zhou Jinhua doesn't like you, you will surely be able to marry into the family.”
I softly replied, “Mom, you don't understand.”
"When I first saw them at the banquet back then, Zhou Jinhua looked at me with disdain."
"If I don't make him like me, it won't matter how much Madam Zhou likes me."
After the college entrance examination, I gave up on the prestigious Jinghua University and chose the sixth-ranked Nanhai Jiaotong University instead.
Because Zhou Jinhua is a student there.
My Adoptive Father strongly opposed my decision to give up on Jinghua University; he confiscated my phone and locked me in my room.
"A Lan, just listen to your dad. Let's not go to Nanhai; let's go to Jinghua instead, okay?"
I shook my head. "No."
"Jinghua doesn't have Zhou Jinhua."
He restricted my freedom and forced me to change my mind.
To assert my decision, I resorted to self-harm, making myself faint from hunger.
When I woke up again, my Adoptive Father was looking at me and reluctantly sighed in defeat.
2
After school started, I met Zhou Jinhua.
With a perfect smile that I had practiced for over ten years, I walked up to him.
"Hello, my name is Chen Lan. I'm your new classmate; please take care of me."
He glanced up, disdainfully sizing me up, and mocked, "Ugly woman, get lost."
His words drew laughter from the boys around us.
I smiled lightly at him, not feeling insulted at all.
"Ugly? I actually think I'm quite beautiful."
He was momentarily taken aback, clearly not expecting such a reaction from me.
"You're really thick-skinned," he muttered quietly.
I continued to blink my innocent big eyes at him until he started to feel a bit embarrassed.
"What... what are you looking at?" His tone was somewhat unnatural.
I smiled lightly, "I'm looking at you. You're so good-looking, why shouldn't I look?"
"Who... who is good-looking?" he stammered.
"You."
He cleared his throat, a suspicious blush appearing on his face.
I took the opportunity to sit beside him, "My name is Chen Lan, what's yours?"
"Zhou Jinhua," he replied in a bland tone.
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