SPTASPTO 03

Chapter 3

Making Up Her Mind

After her last class on Friday, Ning Xuechu boarded the bus back home.

Her uncle’s family lived in a small town two hours away, and every trip was a long, bumpy ride.

The passengers carried all sorts of luggage, filling the bus with strange, pungent smells.

Ning Xuechu frowned uncomfortably, closed her eyes, and tried to sleep — but the noisy chatter around her made it impossible.

With furrowed brows, she opened her eyes again and caught sight of a small car passing by the window.

Unbidden, she thought of An Jianqing’s luxurious private car — sleek and elegant, so comfortable that one would never feel dizzy riding in it.

It always felt spacious inside, and there was always that faint, clean fragrance lingering in the air…

Just like the scent that clung to An Jianqing herself — intoxicating and impossible to forget.

“Call me anytime you need something.”

That voice seemed to echo in her ears again.

Ning Xuechu’s eyes flickered. She took out the business card from her pocket — warm from being held tightly for so long.

The golden letters gleamed under the light, the word “President” pounding against her heart.

She had looked up the company name printed on it — and found both official information and gossip.

An Jianqing was an orphan, adopted by the Ning family when she was six years old. From then on, she had lived a life of luxury as the Ning family’s heiress.

At eighteen, she differentiated as an S-rank Alpha.

Rumor had it that the Ning family’s entire business empire would one day belong to her, their adopted daughter.

But to everyone’s surprise, An Jianqing had never married — not even had a public relationship.

Tabloids speculated that she was only pretending to be pure and composed, and might secretly have an illegitimate child hidden away.

From influential media to obscure gossip outlets, all hinted that An Jianqing was scheming — planning to seize the Ning family fortune for herself.

If she were truly the Ning couple’s biological daughter, she would never let the Ning family’s inheritance fall into An Jianqing’s hands.

Ning Xuechu clenched the card so tightly it crumpled into a wrinkled ball before she finally released it.

Lowering her head, she stared at it for a few seconds — then began to tear it apart, bit by bit, her expression blank.

Every word and number on it had already been engraved in her memory — including the phone number that could change her fate.

When she arrived in town, it was already past midnight.

Ning Xuechu hadn’t eaten anything since morning, and hunger gnawed at her stomach.

She looked up at the beautifully decorated house before her, cold resentment flashing in her eyes.

Her adoptive parents, the Nings, had died in a car accident when she was ten.

The large sum of compensation money and their savings had all been taken by her uncle’s family. At the time, she’d been too young and powerless to fight back.

Over the years, her uncle’s family had treated her like a servant — abusing her, ordering her around, often beating her without reason.

She hated everything about this place.

One day, she would make them pay — she would make them feel the same pain she had endured.

Ning Xuechu stepped through the door and placed the fruit she had bought on the table.

If she came home empty-handed, her aunt would definitely scold her again.

“Ning Xuechu, clean up the table,” her aunt said lazily from the sofa, cracking sunflower seeds while watching TV. “We have guests coming later.”

“Okay, Aunt,” Ning Xuechu lowered her eyes and answered obediently.

“You’re an Omega — you’ll have to get married sooner or later. What’s the point of studying so much? Isn’t that just a waste of money?” her aunt scolded, her tone full of disdain as if she were granting mercy. “I’ve arranged a marriage for you — Old Li’s son from the next street. He’s a Beta, but he’s filial, and their family is offering a generous dowry. Just marry him and give birth to a healthy baby boy.”

Ning Xuechu bit her lip, forcing down the hatred surging from deep within her heart. In a small, subdued voice, she said,
“Aunt, I want to study. When I start earning money in the future, I’ll take care of you.”

Her words were humble, pleading.

“Study what? The money’s meant to help your Alpha cousin get a wife,” her aunt snapped harshly, rolling her eyes.

Ning Xuechu said nothing more. She simply lowered her head and continued wiping the table.

In this place, she had no voice. Every attempt to resist only earned her another brutal beating.

There was a time she had dreamed of escaping when she grew up.

But now, she no longer wanted to run away quietly, carrying her pain with her.

One day, she would make every single person who had tormented her kneel beneath her feet.

“Look at those shabby clothes! Go change into something clean before you embarrass us in front of people,” her aunt barked impatiently.

“Yes, Aunt,” Ning Xuechu answered. Her fists clenched, and the hatred in her eyes hardened into resolve.

Rather than let herself be treated like a commodity — sold off in a forced marriage — she would rather chase that absurd dream of wealth and power.

No matter what An Jianqing’s intentions were — whether it was a trap or a game — she would gamble everything on this one chance.

Ning Xuechu took out her phone, her fingertips trembling as she pressed the familiar string of numbers engraved in her heart.

She stared at the completed number on the screen, emotions flashing through her eyes — confusion, fear, hope — until they all melted into a single, determined hatred.

Her fingertip brushed the screen, and the call went through.

At that moment, a surge of wild, vengeful excitement flooded her chest.

The call was answered almost instantly. A familiar, gentle female voice spoke from the other side — calm and soft.
“Xuechu, have you made up your mind?”

“I have. I’m going back with you,” Ning Xuechu said through gritted teeth, her gaze unwavering.

“Good. Where are you? I’ll come pick you up,” the woman replied with a warm laugh, her voice as comforting as that coat she had once draped over Ning Xuechu’s shoulders.

A tremor ran through Ning Xuechu’s heart, and the last trace of hesitation disappeared completely.

Even if this was all a game played by the rich, she would walk straight into it — and she would win.

After ending the call, Ning Xuechu held her phone calmly in her hand.

She thought she would feel excited or anxious, but instead, she felt nothing — no emotion at all.

As though she hadn’t just made the most important call of her life.

After changing into clean clothes, she went downstairs.

She sliced the fruit she’d bought, arranged it neatly on a plate, and carried it to the table, sitting quietly at the side.

“Ning Xuechu, I’ve raised you all these years, spent so much time and effort on you,” her aunt said sharply, her tone dripping with arrogance and self-satisfaction. “When you start making money, you’d better not forget who took care of you. You owe me your filial piety, understand?”

She looked completely confident — certain that Ning Xuechu would never dare to defy her.

“I understand, Aunt,” Ning Xuechu murmured, her head bowed, docile as ever.

Her aunt smirked, leisurely eating the fruit, satisfied with her own authority.

Two hours later, the sound of a car engine came from outside.

Ning Xuechu immediately stood up and went to the door.

When she saw the tall, elegant figure stepping out of the car, her heart gave a violent jolt. Every drop of blood in her body seemed to boil.

“Xuechu, I’m here to take you,” a gentle voice said, soft and reassuring, like a warm current flowing straight into her heart.

Ning Xuechu’s eyes stung with sudden emotion, and for a moment, she nearly burst into tears.

There had been countless nights when she sat alone at the doorstep, staring into the endless darkness, dreaming that someone — anyone — would come and take her away from this hell.

And now, that dream had come true.

“Who are you? Do you even know our Xuechu?” her aunt rushed out, her usual domineering attitude vanishing the instant she saw An Jianqing. Her expression twisted into a wide, fawning smile, full of false warmth.

She even sounded ingratiating.

“I’m Xuechu’s older sister. I’m here to take her home,” An Jianqing replied politely with a calm, refined smile.

Realizing what that implied, the aunt’s attitude changed immediately — from fake politeness to crude defiance.
“Xuechu is our family’s child! I’ve raised her all these years — how could I just hand her over for free?” she shouted, her voice sharp and greedy.

Each “Xuechu” she uttered dripped with false affection. Her words, however, made it clear — she wanted money in exchange.

Ning Xuechu lowered her head, sneaking a glance at An Jianqing, her thin face filled with confusion and helplessness.

“Don’t worry,” An Jianqing said softly, smiling with quiet assurance. “Go wait in the car. I’ll handle everything.”

Ning Xuechu bit her lip, tears shimmering in her eyes as she looked at her aunt.
“Aunt, I want to study. I don’t want to get married.”

“Ning Xuechu, if you dare leave with that woman today, I’ll break your legs!” her aunt roared, her eyes filled with ferocity.

“Aunt…” Ning Xuechu’s voice trembled in fear as she instinctively tried to shrink away.

“Xuechu, I’m here. Don’t be afraid,” came that soothing voice beside her, accompanied by the light touch of warm hands settling gently on her trembling shoulders.

Ning Xuechu looked up, and her frightened eyes met a beautiful, cool face.

Startled, she immediately lowered her head, not daring to make a sound.

Seeing her fear, An Jianqing’s eyes turned cold. She gave a slight signal to her bodyguards.

The bodyguards immediately moved to protect Ning Xuechu, guiding her toward the car.

Behind them, her aunt screamed and cursed, trying to chase after them with a broom like she used to — but the guards blocked her way.

Sitting inside the car, Ning Xuechu’s fear slowly faded, replaced by a chilling calm.

She turned her head, watching as the woman who had beaten and insulted her for years now screamed hysterically, powerless against the tall, impassive bodyguards. The sight filled her with a dark, intoxicating satisfaction.

A small smile curled on Ning Xuechu’s lips — quiet, but full of pleasure. The timid, helpless girl was gone.

In her black eyes, only cold hatred remained.

After enduring all these years in silence, someone had finally taken revenge for her.

Ning Xuechu wanted to laugh — loud and wild — but she knew she couldn’t.

In front of someone as outstanding and powerful as An Jianqing, she had to stay on guard, perfectly composed. She couldn’t let even the slightest crack show in her façade.

Otherwise, if An Jianqing ever turned against her, a single word would be enough to destroy her.

And she… had no power to resist.

It took An Jianqing less than ten minutes to deal with her aunt.

When the noise outside finally quieted, Ning Xuechu immediately straightened her posture, placing both hands properly on her knees and lowering her head to stare at her toes.

“Xuechu, it’s all taken care of,” An Jianqing said as she opened the car door. “From today on, I’ll protect you. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”

Her eyes were serious, bright as starlight.

Ning Xuechu’s expression trembled. She looked as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard — tears welled up in her eyes and streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks. Her lips moved, but she couldn’t form words.

“Xuechu, I know you’ve suffered a lot these years,” An Jianqing continued softly. “But from now on, you’ll be the Ning family’s true daughter. You won’t ever have to endure pain again.”

Her heart softened as she reached out and pulled the crying girl into her arms.

Suddenly enveloped in that warm embrace, Ning Xuechu was surrounded by the faint, pleasant scent of an Alpha.

A clean, elegant fragrance drifted to her nose. Her pupils constricted, and her body stiffened for an instant — then she relaxed, allowing herself to be held as she whispered, tearful and small, “Will you really… always protect me?”

The timid voice was laced with helplessness and vulnerability, so pitiful that it could make anyone ache.

An Jianqing’s heart melted again. She smiled tenderly, nodding with gentle solemnity.
“Xuechu, you’re my little sister. I’ll protect you — always.”

A faint smile spread across Ning Xuechu’s tear-stained face, filled with seeming trust.

She had deceived this woman.