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Zhong Shuning, the adopted daughter of the Zhong family, was ousted from her home on the very night her fiancé arm-in-arm with a new lover topped entertainment headlines.
 
Scandals swirled around her as she later became entangled with the most powerful man in the city. Society mocked her as nothing more than a passing plaything for Mr. He's whims.
 
But what none realized was this:
 
The moment he laid eyes on her,
 
he conceived a scheme as audacious as moonlight poaching —
 
to steal the moon that rightly belonged to the heavens.

Orchestrated Romance

Encounter 006: The Threat of Compromise

Rain streaked the hospital windows like prison bars. Zhong Shuning stirred beneath the thin hospital blanket, her right leg throbbing in time with the IV drip's rhythmic hiss.

The nurse's clipboard clattered as she recorded vitals. "Your fever broke during emergency treatment. Remarkable recovery for someone with your condition."

"Remarkable?" Zhong Shuning repeated the word, fingers absently tracing the scar above her ankle - a permanent reminder of the ballet that had defined her life.

The mention of Dr. Lü Peian made her pulse quicken. The retired orthopedic surgeon's name surfaced like a ghost from her past - the man who'd refused to amputate her leg when younger doctors insisted it was hopeless.

As dawn crept through blinds, her phone buzzed with 28 missed calls. All from Zhong Zhaoqing.

Chapter 06: The Cage of filial Piety

The Zhong residence reeked of desperation. Zhong Zhaoqing paced before an ornate mahogany desk, its surface littered with contracts stamped "HE Group."

"When I said return home immediately," he barked into the phone, "this is what I meant!"

Liu Hui'an entered carrying a porcelain tea set, her smile as practiced as her piano recitals. "The He family's legal team is demanding proof of paternity. Shall we proceed with DNA testing?"

"Don't be absurd!" Zhong Zhaoqing slammed his fist, rattling the antique vases. "That girl's worth millions in goodwill. You want our empire to crumble over a... a..."

"A mistake?" Liu Hui'an suggested sweetly, pouring jasmine tea that smelled like betrayal.

At that moment, Zhong Shuning appeared in the doorway. Rainwater dripped from her trench coat onto expensive Persian rugs.

"Ah, our prodigal daughter returns." Zhong Zhaoqing's sneer didn't reach his eyes. "We were just discussing your... situation."

She ignored him, addressing her mother. "The He Group's legal team arrives tomorrow. Prepare documents proving my adoption was lawful."

Liu Hui'an's teacup clinked against the saucer. "Are you suggesting..."

"I'm suggesting," Zhong Shuning unbuttoned her coat to reveal the emerald signet ring on her finger, "we honor existing contracts. He Wenli's legal counsel already approved my medical lien on the Zhong family estate."

A heavy silence fell. For the first time, Zhong Zhaoqing seemed at a loss.

Chapter 07: The Predator's Chessboard

Later that evening, He Wenli materialized in her hospital room like a living shadow. His tailored suit absorbed the dim light, rendering him more specter than man.

"Visiting hours ended hours ago," Zhong Shuning remarked, hiding her flinch when he drew closer.

"Poor child." His breath carried bergamot and menace. "Still playing nursemaid to broken dreams?"

His gloved hand grazed her injured leg beneath the blanket. Electricity arced through her body.

"Your biological father wasn't lying about your condition," he murmured. "Total paralysis within two years. How tragic for our little ballerina."

Zhonɡ Shuǐníng's nails bit into her palms. "What do you want?"

"To save you from this..." He motioned to the room's sterile confines. "...and from them." His gaze hardened on the door. "Your parents plan to declare you mentally incompetent. A convenient way to void your inheritance."

A tear escaped her eye. "Why help me?"

"Because..." His voice dropped to a predator's growl. "...I enjoy watching your enemies suffer."

He produced a document stamped with dragon seals. "Sign here. The He Group will ensure your medical care - and your revenge."

As she reached for the pen, he added softly, "Consider it a wedding gift. Our wedding."

Outside, thunder rumbled. Somewhere in the storm, Zhou Boyu's car sped toward the hospital, headlights piercing the darkness like desperate eyes.

chapter 6