Chapter 1：Twenty-Two

Qian Meigui broke out into a sweat during the brisk early dawn.

The dawn chorus of birds sung outside her window, filling the space with peaceful, resonating sounds. She felt the cold mist of the early rain breeze through the slightly parted window.

On most nights, she often suppressed the memories of something she refused to remember—and yet, she would occasionally be reminded as the raw, aching feeling of anguish returns to well inside her.

The police, her adoptive parents, and the media had told her that she conjured some memories—some distinct reality to replace the truth before them. But she knew what the truth was; it was they who refused to believe it. It was an accident, they claimed. It wasn't, she thought.

No one believed her, no one except for Song Sheng, the eldest son of Song Rui, the very man who adopted her not long after the incident.

It had been two years since Song Sheng had gone abroad, and since then, he only contacted through the occasional, brief phone calls and short emails, leaving nothing but a few words.

Before he left the country, Qian Meigui and Song Sheng were close to finding the clues about her parent's deaths, only to find—not a dead-end—but loose ends. Ends that were deep and devoid, and some that did not add up to the time and place of the 'accident.'

Soon after, she had given up, and shortly, Song Sheng left abruptly for business. Qian Meigui supported his decision, the way he always helped her, but he barely contacted anyone, let alone her. But she always knew that Song Sheng might return—as he is the successor of the second-largest Pharmaceutical company in China.

It was her twenty-second birthday. Instead of preparing for the celebration of her birthday, she was feeling melancholic about her past and how much she devastatingly missed him.

Although they weren't bound by blood, she had always admired Song Sheng since they first met. Her adoptive father, Song Rui, claimed to have been a close childhood friend of both her parents when he came to take her in.

Qian Meigui, not knowing anything about the mysterious Song Rui, refused to go with him until he asked his eldest son to see her. Qian Meigui was stubborn, but Song Sheng persisted gently.

He did not express his condolences, and he did not pity her; instead, he gave her the words she wanted to hear.

Reluctantly she went home with them and was welcomed by a large, beautiful-looking family. Song Sheng had three younger siblings close to their age, and Song Rui and his wife welcomed her with gentleness.

She was surprised to learn that their family was warm and inviting for an elite and upper-class family; most weren't.

After a year of adjusting, Song Rui announced to his family of six that he would adopt her. Qian Meigui was both ecstatic and devastated to hear that she would be a new addition to the Song family.

Even though she lost her parents, she had gained new ones along with two brothers and two sisters who did not object to her stay. She felt happy and guilty about it.

Though she reminded herself that she would never forget the family that raised her, her real family was low-profiled. And she wondered how her parents would have known the CEO of a pharmaceutical company; to this day, it was still a mystery.

It hurt Song Rui to learn that his best friends had died tragically, but he said taking her in would provide them ease, and for him, peace of mind.

After that, many believed her to be the real daughter of Song Rui and his wife Yang Rei, as she pretended to be their real daughter.

Two years after the adoption, she realized she knew no one from their extended family. Song Rui was no longer part of the main house, but he managed to establish a company that prospered and thrived throughout the years on his own.

He established Song Corporation, a pharmaceutical company, whereas the rest of his family flourished in the Entertainment industry.

Song Rui was the eldest son of her adoptive grandfather Chairman Song, but his younger brother schemed to inherit the company. Song Rui did not want to completely separate from his family, so he would still attend important occasions, but Qian Meigui figured it was to gloat about how successful he had become on his own.

When she finally met some members of the main house of the Song family, they had believed she was their real daughter; thus, she felt proud and accepted as an actual member.

It had been eleven years since she joined the family now, and every year, there would be something new that she learned about them.

It was 6 A.M., and amid her thoughts, Qian Meigui decided that she should get ready. She removed the comforter from her body, approaching her white vanity, grabbing a concealer.

She massaged eye cream before applying the concealer under her worn tear-stained eyes, covering the stark restlessness from the night.

She was now twenty-two years old, but she did not feel cheerful or spirited; she had not felt that for years. Qian Meigui glanced at her reflection in the mirror from the faint light of her lamp.

A knock rang from the door before she turned to see someone entering. "Mistress Mei, the young master, and young mistresses wait for you in the kitchen table downstairs."

Qian Meigui nodded, "I will be down soon," she said with a subtle smile.

The maid smiled faintly before returning to her duties and closing the door.

Qian Meigui changed into a light yellow dress with thin straps over her shoulders. She combed her long wavy hair and applied some light makeup.

When she rose, she exhaled a deep breath before she opened the door and approached the kitchen, beginning a new day.