3:00 A.M. — The Penthouse of Shenzhen
It was three in the morning.
Silence ruled the most luxurious penthouse in Shenzhen—but inside Zain Yan's mind, chaos roared.
He was fast asleep, yet cold sweat glistened on his forehead. His brows were tightly furrowed, his jaw clenched as if he were fighting an invisible enemy.
Dream — Flashback
The same dark night.
Gunshots tearing through the air.
Blood splattering onto a birthday cake.
"Run, Zain! Don't look back!"
His mother's final scream echoed endlessly in his ears.
Through the smoke and shadows, a blurred face appeared—Lu Kang—a burning gun in his hand, eyes cold and merciless.
"No—!"
Zain jolted awake, sitting upright with a violent gasp. His chest rose and fell rapidly as if he had just escaped death itself. He grabbed the glass of water from the bedside table and drained it in one go, his hand trembling slightly.
His fingers slowly curled into tight fists.
"Lu Kang…" he muttered into the darkness, his voice low and venomous.
"I won't sleep in peace until you and everyone who stood with you are erased. I'll take payment for every drop of blood—my mother's… my sister's."
📱 A Mother's Voice & an Unexpected Condition
Just then, his phone screen lit up, breaking the darkness.
Mom.
Zain inhaled deeply, masking the storm inside him, and answered.
"Zain? You're still awake?"
Her voice was gentle, worried.
"Yes, Mom. Just handling some work," he lied smoothly.
She sighed softly. "I know you were having that nightmare again. Don't torture yourself like this, my son."
Then, after a pause, she continued,
"You're turning 26 soon. Your father and I think it's time—on the 10th, we should finalize your marriage. We've already looked at some girls—"
"Not now, Mom," Zain interrupted firmly. "My purpose isn't complete yet."
😜 Fengning's Teasing & Zain's Rare Smile
"Oh come on, grumpy brother!"
A lively, high-pitched voice suddenly burst through the phone.
It was Fengning, his adopted younger sister—only 20 years old, and the soul of the house.
She snatched the phone from their mother.
"Brother! Mom's right. With all that constant anger, you've probably already got wrinkles! No decent girl would even look at you. And if you don't get married at 26—" she paused dramatically,
"I'll come to your office and dye all your black suits pink!"
The hardness on Zain's face softened, just a little.
"Focus on your studies," he replied coldly, "or I'll block your credit card."
"Ugh! Same old threat!" Fengning laughed.
"Okay, listen to this joke—
A boss asks his secretary, 'Where did you put yesterday's file?'
She says, 'Sir, I dipped it in your coffee to clean it!'"
Suddenly, Anya's face flashed in Zain's mind—coffee-soaked files, her pale expression, her trembling hands.
A faint smile—barely real, yet undeniable—touched his lips.
"Idiot girl…" he murmured.
"Mom! He smiled!" Fengning shouted triumphantly.
"Brother, come home soon! I've got a huge shopping list ready!"
🌙 Truth Hidden in the Darkness
After ending the call, Zain's smile faded instantly.
He stood by the window, gazing at the city lights below.
He loved Fengning deeply—but no matter how much time passed, he could never forget his real mother and sister.
He didn't know that the same '26th' his mother spoke of would bring someone into his life—someone who would either extinguish his fire of revenge… or fuel it beyond control.
Elsewhere — Anya, Unaware
In a small, modest home, Anya slept peacefully—completely unaware that her beloved Uncle Lu Kang was the greatest enemy of her own boss, Zain Yan.
Next Morning — Z.Y Empire, 50th Floor
The atmosphere was tense, as always.
Zain stood near the massive glass window of his cabin, overlooking Shenzhen's skyline—but his eyes saw no beauty.
Only 15-year-old bloodstains floated before him.
A knock echoed.
Qian, the COO, entered, his expression grave.
"Sit," Zain said without turning. "Any news?"
Qian placed a file on the desk.
"We searched everywhere, sir. Lu Kang has vanished since that incident. It's as if the earth swallowed him."
Zain's fists clenched.
"He won't escape. He destroyed my family."
Qian hesitated. "Lu Kang himself hasn't surfaced… but one of the three attackers from that night—Saud—is still in Shenzhen. You sent one to prison. This second one is hiding… working for someone."
Zain turned slowly, deathly calm in his eyes.
"Saud… the second sinner of that night. Find him. I want him to spit out the truth he buried with Lu Kang."
🕯️ Zain's Hidden Past
The truth was—Zain Yan was not a biological son of the Yan family.
He was Zain Zhenyu, adopted after that cursed night.
It was his birthday. The house had been filled with balloons and lights—until three men barged in.
Lu Kang was one of them.
Right before Zain's eyes, his mother and little sister were shot dead.
The Yan family gave him a new name.
A new empire.
But his purpose remained unchanged—revenge.
"Capture Saud," Zain said coldly.
"I'll celebrate my birthday with his death."
🖥️ Anya — Afraid, Yet Standing Strong
At the same time, Anya sat at her desk.
Her eyes were slightly swollen from crying the night before. She adjusted her glasses, tucked her short hair behind her ear.
She was scared—but she refused to break.
The intercom buzzed.
"Miss Lu, the boss wants to see you."
Her heart skipped a beat. Remembering Kaya and Huan Jing's words, she gathered her courage and walked toward the cabin.
She had no idea that the Lu Kang Zain was hunting… was her own uncle.
As she entered, Zain's icy gaze fixed on her.
"Is yesterday's file corrected?"
"Yes, sir," Anya replied softly, her fingers still trembling.
Zain studied her silently.
Qian's words echoed in his mind—Lu Kang's family.
He still didn't realize that the girl he scolded for carelessness was bound by blood to the man who murdered his family.
Zain flipped a photograph face-down on his desk before she could see it.
"Get back to work," he said coldly.
"And remember—there are no second chances with me."