Chapter 1: The Arrival of the Prodigy

The Tang family, one of the most powerful and wealthy clans in Magic City, with assets worth tens of billions! Their business empire was vast beyond counting, and even their family estate was set atop Shanhu, one of the seven most auspicious sites in the city according to geomancy.

Usually, the estate was quiet and peaceful, but today, a subtle disturbance lingered in the air—brought by the arrival of a young man.

"Miss! Miss! Something's happened! Something terrible!"

The speaker was a girl of sixteen or seventeen, her hair in braided pigtails, rushing along as if possessed, only stopping when she collided with another girl in a white dress, her long hair flowing.

They were of similar age, yet worlds apart in temperament. The one with pigtails radiated a naive charm tinged with silliness, while the other exuded a gentle grace laced with nobility.

"Xiao Mian, why are you so flustered today? Your face is all red from running."

Catching her breath for a moment, Xiao Mian’s color began to return to normal.

"Miss, you don’t know—the young master from the Ling family is here!"

The girl’s brows furrowed slightly.

"Which young master from the Ling family?"

"The one you’re engaged to! Ling Xiao—the Ling family’s primary heir!"

Her eyes widened in shock, an exclamation escaping her lips.

"Ling Xiao? Didn’t he go to Ghost Valley for training? He’s been gone three years—why is he back all of a sudden?"

"I don’t know! I heard he didn’t even go home to the Ling family; he came straight here to the Tang estate! Miss, you and Young Master Ling are engaged, and today happens to be his eighteenth birthday! Do you think he’s...?"

A tremor ran through the young lady.

Xiao Mian hesitated, then muttered quietly, "Honestly, Young Master Ling isn’t that bad. His background is remarkable! The Ling family’s assets run into the billions, his mother is a daughter of the prestigious Xu family of Yanjing, his grandfather is a Wall Street titan who can sway the markets with a finger, and his maternal grandfather is a retired general with a vast network of connections! It’s just...well, his reputation leaves much to be desired."

"I heard he wasn’t weaned until he was six! At seven, he was caught peeking under the maids’ skirts! At eight, he managed to download those difficult, adult martial arts films! At nine, he teased his female teachers and hasn’t graduated from third grade to this day! As for sneaking kisses from his cousin and forcing himself on his older cousin—don’t even get me started!"

The girl staggered back as if struck by lightning, clutching her chest, her face pale. "Xiao Mian, that’s enough!"

"Sorry, Miss. I shouldn’t speak ill of your future husband!"

The girl gritted her teeth, her voice cold. "Becoming my husband isn’t so easy! If he’s still as shameless and unambitious as three years ago, I’d rather die than marry him! Let’s go see for ourselves."

With that, Tang Yurou strode quickly toward the largest villa on the estate, her loyal attendant following close behind.

As they approached the living room, before even stepping through the door, they saw a young man dressed in cheap, bargain-bin clothes—his entire outfit likely cost less than three hundred yuan. Yet, his striking looks could not be hidden: sharply defined brows, a high nose, eyes bright as stars.

A look of contempt and disgust flashed in Tang Yurou’s eyes.

"Still the same useless nobody. Without the Ling family, he’s nothing at all! Three years away, and this is what he’s become—how dare he show his face here at the Tang family? What a disgrace!"

Xiao Mian, however, swallowed nervously. "But Miss, he’s so handsome! If he just changed into better clothes, his looks would easily rank among the very best in Magic City!"

"Heh! Ridiculous. Do you think I, Tang Yurou, am some lovesick fool?"

She lifted her long legs and strode inside.

Inside, only Tang’s mother and the young man were present. Seeing her daughter enter, the elder Mrs. Tang beamed, "Yurou, come greet Ling Xiao. Such thoughtfulness—he came straight here after returning to Magic City, without even visiting his own family!"

Tang Yurou cast a glance at Ling Xiao, only to find him completely indifferent, not even sparing her a look, calmly sipping his tea.

She let out a cold snort. In her eyes, this was a childish tactic—playing hard to get. That might work on other girls, but on her, Tang Yurou? Laughable.

"I never asked him to come find me. I have no desire to see him."

Mrs. Tang’s face hardened.

"Watch your mouth! Ling Xiao is your fiancé, your future family—how can you be so rude?"

"Mother, can’t you consider my feelings for once?"

She turned her gaze back to Ling Xiao, coldly declaring, "Ling Xiao, I don’t care what engagement exists between us, nor what you came here for today. But let me make one thing clear—listen well!"

"I have always been a model student, excelling in both conduct and academics."

"I’ve never let anyone down. Even among the city’s elite, I can confidently count myself among the very best!"

"In terms of figure, looks, bearing, learning—there’s not one thing about me that isn’t far beyond your reach. In fact, you can’t even hope to see my dust as I fly ahead!"

Mrs. Tang slammed the table.

"Yurou, what nonsense are you spouting? Mind your words!"

Tang Yurou remained defiant. "It’s not nonsense, I’m simply stating the facts!"

"Ling Xiao, I’m already starting to take over the Tang business. Within five years, I have every confidence I’ll master the Tang Group, and keep it prosperous—perhaps even take it to new heights!"

"I work hard, I strive, I persevere. Everything I do sets the standard for what true nobility should be!"

"As for you, I needn’t say much more. I understand that the Tang and Ling families have been allied for generations, that our business ties are unbreakable, and thus our engagement cannot be dissolved."

"But let me be clear! Unless you can catch up to me, I will never marry you! If you remain a good-for-nothing, even if we both die, I still won’t marry you! That engagement is nothing but a joke!"

"Enough!"

Mrs. Tang leapt up, pointing at her daughter in fury. "Have you lost your mind?"

Tang Yurou said nothing more, turning her face away to stare at Ling Xiao, waiting to see what he would say.

Yet Ling Xiao, contrary to her expectations, showed no anger or shame. His handsome face remained unruffled; he continued to sip his tea in silence.

"Are you finished?"

Ling Xiao finally spoke, his tone as indifferent as his expression, as if he’d not heard a word of her impassioned speech.

"If you’re done, it’s time for me to speak."

He set down his cup, glanced at Tang Yurou—but only briefly, a single look that radiated more contempt than she had ever shown him.

"I’ve come today to break off the engagement."

The three women in the room were stunned into silence, their jaws practically hitting the floor.