chapter 2
The private jet from Europe had just landed.
Standing on the red carpet were several bodyguards dressed in black. At the center stood Zhi Lia, carrying the sleeping Little Xiu carefully in her arms. Behind her were the Head Butler from the Zhi mansion in Europe, Shen Hiro, three other tall men in black suits—and the coffin where her twin sister, Zhi Lei, lay in eternal rest.
As she looked at the airport scenery of her homeland, a faint sense of nostalgia stirred within her—though she barely had any meaningful memories here.
At the age of seven, she had left this place with her grandfather to live in Europe. Now, fifteen years later, she had returned.
Zhi Lia walked out of the airport with her entourage and entered the black limousine waiting for them.
Inside, she gently placed Little Xiu into a sleeping cradle basket before turning her full attention to the company's situation.
As she read the reports handed to her by Uncle Wei, a surge of fury rose within her. She felt like smashing everything around her.
"Where is my elder brother? He should be helping the company. What is he doing now?" Zhi Lia asked coldly, the papers in her hand crumpling under her grip.
The Zhi family's direct line had only three heirs: her elder brother, Zhi Shun, and the twins—Zhi Lia and Zhi Lei. Now that Zhi Lei was gone, only she and her elder brother remained as direct descendants of the main family.
"The Young Master has not been in the company," Butler Wei replied. "The Master did not leave the vacant position to him because he has been absent from home for nearly three months."
"From our investigation, the internal struggle began the moment the Old Master left for Europe with you. That was when they started vying for the position of Head of the Family."
Zhi Lia listened in silence.
The Zhi family had stood strong for over a hundred years. Their ancestors had built a legacy with blood and sacrifice—and now it was being defiled by greedy rats.
She would make sure that the moment they laid their hands on what was hers, they would regret it for the rest of their lives.
"Those sly bastards… they've planned this well," she muttered coldly.
A proverb surfaced in her mind: It takes more than one cold day for the river to freeze three feet deep.
"They should prepare themselves for the surprises I have in store. If they dare to fall halfway, I will personally send them crying to King Yama."
A cold, sinister smile curved her lips.
Old Butler Chang Wei sighed quietly. He could already foresee the storm that would soon descend upon the Zhi Family.
⸻
Zhi Ancestral Home
Inside a luxurious bedroom, a middle-aged man lay unconscious. His pale face and the various tubes and IV lines attached to his body made it clear—he was already standing at death's door.
Beside him sat a woman. Though age had touched her features, it could not conceal the beauty she once possessed. There was a striking resemblance between her delicate face and Zhi Lia's.
She was Cheng Ruo, wife of the Head of the Family, Zhi He, and mother of the Zhi siblings.
She looked at her husband lovingly, sadness and grief evident in her hazel-brown eyes.
Suddenly, the door burst open.
The household butler, Tao Caihong, entered in haste, forgetting even to knock.
"M-Madam! The Eldest Miss is back!" he announced, hope shining brightly on his anxious face.
Cheng Ruo stood up immediately, shock and excitement flooding her expression. She longed to see her daughter—whom she had not seen in years—but fear also gripped her heart. She did not want her child to be dragged into the family's current chaos.
They had not received any notice of her return.
"Call the nurse to attend to my husband first. Prepare everything for their arrival. I will go greet them," Madam Cheng Ruo ordered.
The butler hurried out to carry out her instructions.
She leaned close to her husband and whispered softly, "Dear, our daughter is back. You must wake up soon."
She pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead before leaving the room.
⸻
After passing through the grand gates of the estate, Zhi Lia observed the towering trees lining the path. The gardens were filled with blooming flowers, and a magnificent fountain stood at the center of the courtyard as their vehicle curved around it before finally stopping at the entrance.
Stepping out of the car, Zhi Lia looked up at the ancestral house.
It was almost the same as when she had left—aside from a few renovations and repairs.
As she entered, rows of servants bowed respectfully.
"Welcome back, Eldest Young Miss!"
Zhi Lia gave a small nod in acknowledgment.
Then she saw her.
A woman dressed in a long green brocade cheongsam stood ahead, her eyes filled with tears and longing.
Zhi Lia immediately knew—it was her mother.
For a moment, she did not know how to react.
Even before she had left for Europe, she had always been aloof, silent, and distant. Among the twins, it was Zhi Lei—bright and warm—who had been closer to their parents.
When Cheng Ruo noticed that her daughter remained standing stiffly in place, she walked toward her without hesitation.
She was a mother. She could sense her child's awkwardness.
They had been separated for too long. Their communication had been limited to calls and messages. And she understood her daughter's cold temperament better than anyone.
With a trembling smile, Cheng Ruo embraced her tightly.
"You're finally back… You're finally home, Lia-er."
Her soft, cello-like voice echoed gently in Zhi Lia's ears.
For the first time since returning, something inside Zhi Lia wavered.