The black car slid away from the Zi family mansion, leaving a trail of tension in its wake. Zi Ning sat quietly, her heart heavy with the weight of what had just happened. The promise of a DNA test hung in the air like a sword, sharp and unyielding.
Lu Yichen drove in silence, his hands steady on the wheel. The night outside was dark, the city lights blurring past them. But inside the car, the air was thick with unspoken thoughts.
Zi Ning's fingers curled into her palm, her mind racing. She had finally confronted Zi Hong—but the coldness in the woman's eyes still lingered in her memory. Would a mere test change anything? Or was she hoping for too much?
"You're quiet," Lu Yichen said softly, glancing at her.
Zi Ning forced a weak smile. "I'm just… thinking."
He didn't press her, but his gaze softened. "Whatever the result is, it won't change who you are."
His words should have comforted her, but they only stirred the storm inside. Who was she? For years, she had lived as the unwanted daughter of the Xu family, suffering under her stepmother's cruelty. Now, the possibility that she was the lost heiress of the Zi family dangled before her—just within reach, but still uncertain.
The car pulled to a stop in front of her apartment building. Lu Yichen cut the engine and turned to face her. His eyes were steady and warm, a stark contrast to the chill that lingered from her meeting with Zi Hong.
"Do you want me to stay?" he asked. His voice was quiet, but the promise in his tone was clear.
Zi Ning hesitated. Part of her wanted to say yes—to hold onto the warmth he offered. But another part of her, the part that had learned to stand on her own, shook her head.
"I'll be fine," she said, her voice firmer than she felt.
Lu Yichen's jaw tensed slightly, but he nodded. "If you need anything, call me. No matter the time."
Zi Ning smiled faintly. "I know."
He leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. His fingers lingered against her cheek, warm and gentle. For a moment, everything else faded—the questions, the doubts, the fear. There was only him.
"Goodnight, Ning," he said softly.
"Goodnight," she whispered back before slipping out of the car.
As she entered the building, the warmth of his touch lingered, but the weight on her heart remained.
Inside her apartment, the silence was deafening. Zi Ning dropped her purse on the table and walked to the window, staring out at the city lights. Somewhere out there, her real family might be waiting.
Or maybe… she was hoping for something that would never come.
Her phone buzzed on the table, breaking her thoughts. She picked it up, her heart skipping when she saw the name flashing on the screen—Xu Mei.
Her stepmother.
Zi Ning's jaw tightened, but she answered. "What do you want?"
A sharp, mocking laugh rang through the line. "What do I want? I should be asking you that, Zi Ning. Do you think I don't know what you're up to?"
Zi Ning's fingers curled around the phone. "I don't have time for your nonsense."
"You ungrateful brat," Xu Mei spat. "After everything I did for you, you still think you can escape me? What makes you think the Zi family will accept trash like you?"
Zi Ning's chest burned with anger, but her voice remained cold. "I never asked for anything from you. And I'm not scared of you anymore."
"You should be," Xu Mei hissed. "Don't forget—I know your secrets. If the Zi family finds out about your past, do you really think they'll want you?"
Zi Ning's grip on the phone tightened, but she refused to let her fear show. "Do whatever you want, Xu Mei. I'm not the same girl you used to control."
Before the woman could respond, Zi Ning hung up, her heart pounding.
Xu Mei was desperate—and that made her dangerous.
The next morning, Zi Ning arrived at the hospital for the DNA test. The air inside was cold and sterile, but the tension pressing against her chest was heavier.
Zi Hong was already there, seated in the VIP waiting room. She wore a crisp white suit, her posture elegant and distant. Her face was as cold as it had been the night before—no warmth, no sign of emotion.
"You're on time," she said flatly as Zi Ning entered.
"I'm not here to play games," Zi Ning replied, meeting her gaze without flinching.
Zi Hong's lips curled into a faint, unreadable smile. "Good."
The doctor arrived shortly after, professional and efficient. Without unnecessary words, the samples were taken—a quick blood draw from both women.
"It will take a few days for the results," the doctor informed them.
Zi Ning nodded, her face calm despite the storm swirling inside her. "Thank you."
Zi Hong stood, adjusting her cufflinks with the same air of icy detachment. "I'll have the results sent directly to me. You'll be informed."
And with that, she turned to leave.
"Wait," Zi Ning said, her voice firm.
Zi Hong paused but did not turn around.
"Why didn't you search harder for your daughter?" Zi Ning's words hung in the air, heavy with the pain she had carried for years.
For a moment, the older woman remained still. Then, without looking back, she said quietly, "You don't understand the world I live in."
And then she was gone.
Zi Ning stood frozen, her heart aching with questions left unanswered.
Days passed in a blur. Every moment was filled with restless anticipation. Zi Ning tried to focus on work—photoshoots, meetings—but her mind kept returning to the pending results.
Lu Yichen called often, his voice a steady anchor in the chaos. Each time they spoke, his calm strength eased the storm inside her—if only for a little while.
But nothing could silence the question burning in her heart.
Was she really the lost heiress?
Or had she been chasing a dream that didn't belong to her?
On the fourth day, her phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number.
"The DNA results are ready. Meet me."
Zi Ning's heart leapt into her throat.
It was time to face the truth.
Dressed in a simple black coat, Zi Ning arrived at an exclusive private club. The air was crisp, the sky overcast with the threat of rain. Her steps were steady, but her heart raced with every beat.
Inside, the atmosphere was quiet and refined. Zi Hong waited in a private suite, a sealed envelope resting on the table before her.
Zi Ning's breath caught as she stepped inside. This was the moment that would change everything.
Zi Hong lifted the envelope with delicate fingers. "Are you ready?"
Zi Ning swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes."
Without another word, Zi Hong opened the envelope, her eyes scanning the document inside.
Her face remained unreadable. Cold. Distant.
Then, she looked up—and for the first time, something flickered in her expression.
Shock.
Pain.
And something else… something almost like hope.
"You are my daughter," she said softly.
Zi Ning's breath left her in a rush.
The truth she had been chasing for so long… was finally hers.