Ning Yunhuan hesitated internally. Ning Yuncheng donating a kidney to Gu Xian was no small matter. She couldn't fathom her father's and Mrs. Ning's reaction to this news. Although she knew the truth would eventually surface, when her father asked now, Ning Yunhuan didn't know whether to speak up.

Seeing her daughter's expression, not only did Mr. Ning have a bad feeling brewing, but Mrs. Ning’s face also soured. Gritting her teeth, she stammered out, “What, what happened? Just say it. I can take it.” Mrs. Ning already harbored a terrible premonition. She had initially thought that even if Ning Yuncheng returned asking for more money, it would only be for a larger sum.

Mr. Ning felt the same way, nodding along with his wife: “Tell us. Let your mother and I have some peace of mind.” These two were no longer children; they had both fallen ill from sheer frustration because they never imagined their son could become this way. Now that he was already saddled with nearly one hundred million in debt, Mr. Ning felt prepared—even if Ning Yuncheng owed a bit more, he could handle it.

Hearing her parents, Ning Yunhuan paused, deciding there was no point in hiding it any longer. She took Mrs. Ning’s hand and said, “Mom, since you and Dad both said so, I won't keep anything from you. Gu Yingxi’s mother, Gu Xian, needs a kidney transplant. You both know about that, right?”

The moment this was mentioned, Mr. Ning and Mrs. Ning exchanged a look, and their bad feeling intensified. They guessed: “Did Ning Yuncheng borrow money from loan sharks to pay for her treatment?”

If it was just borrowing from loan sharks, that would be manageable; money issues were usually resolvable. Ning Yunhuan shook her head, her expression strangely grim: “He donated one of his kidneys to save Gu Xian.”

The moment these words left her mouth, Mrs. Ning, who had just claimed she could bear anything, was silent for a long moment, unable to process it. When she finally understood, her chest seized with violent pain, her face flushed crimson, her eyes rolled back, and she nearly collapsed again.

Luckily, Ning Yunhuan had her medicine on hand, and a doctor was accompanying them in the car. Though the family scandal was now exposed, the doctor’s presence saved the day. He examined Mrs. Ning, administered simple emergency procedures, and determined she had only suffered an acute emotional shock. After the commotion, she regained consciousness quite quickly.

Initially, Mr. Ning remained silent for a long time. When he finally snapped out of his stupor, he couldn't hold back and exploded in fury: “That fool Ning Yuncheng, has he gone mad? Gu Yingxi, that shameless woman, it’s her own mother—why didn’t she donate a kidney to save her?” If Ning Yuncheng had been present, Mr. Ning might have felt the urge to tear him limb from limb.

The ancients warned that one’s body and hair are gifts from one’s parents. For Ning Yuncheng to undertake something as major as donating a kidney without consulting them first cut Mr. Ning to the quick. He resented his son for being deceived, yet worried sick about Ning Yuncheng’s health. Seeing Mrs. Ning’s state, he knew she needed to return to the hospital. Worrying about her condition, he gritted his teeth and declared: “No need to go back there. If he’s so capable, capable of cutting out a kidney for someone else, I imagine he’s fine. We’re going straight to the hospital; your mother’s health comes first!”

Ning Yunhuan naturally agreed; in her heart, Mrs. Ning was far more important than Ning Yuncheng. Seeing her father utterly enraged, she signaled the driver, who immediately turned the car around, heading back to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Ning Yuncheng, who had been enduring the watch outside the Ning residence gate for most of the day, could bear it no longer. His wound hadn't healed, and after days of torment, even an iron body would give way—especially now that he was missing a kidney and the incision wasn't fully closed. Standing there so long, he couldn't cope and decided to head back.

He was penniless. As he prepared to leave, Security Guard Xiao Zhang took pity on him and pulled out fifty yuan. “Young Master Ning, are you feeling unwell? Take this for a taxi ride home.” These past few days, Ning Yuncheng had shuffled to the gate every morning and slowly walked back every evening. This was an exclusive villa complex where residents drove everywhere. Xiao Zhang hadn't seen him arrive by car, and walking to the nearest bus stop would take at least half an hour.

Instead of feeling grateful for the guard’s kindness, Ning Yuncheng felt profoundly insulted. He was once proud, arriving in luxury cars, the esteemed young master of the Ning estate. When had he fallen so low as to need charity from a mere gate guard?

He recalled how Xiao Zhang used to greet him respectfully every time he passed. Now, not only was he barred from entry, but the guard was offering him fifty yuan, as if Ning Yuncheng had never seen money before. Enraged, Ning Yuncheng spat on the ground with a sharp ‘Pah!’ His eyebrows shot up: “Spare me your fake kindness! If you were a decent person, you’d let me go home. What’s with the money? Who are you trying to look down on? You’re nothing but a gatekeeper, daring to mock me!”

Xiao Zhang had genuinely felt sorry for him. He’d tried calling Mr. Ning and the others to no avail, and Ning Yuncheng looked sickly, shuffling along pathetically without even taking a taxi when one passed by. Seeing the young master wearing the same down jacket for several days stirred his sympathy enough to offer the fifty yuan—it was his own few days’ worth of cigarette money, which he’d reluctantly spared. He never expected such contempt in return, let alone such insult! “Then just get out of here! I’m nothing? I think you’re the one who’s nothing, Young Master Ning. Mr. Ning specifically told me not to let you into the complex!”

Xiao Zhang earned a little over five thousand a month, occasionally getting small tips of one or two hundred yuan from generous residents, along with a few packs of cigarettes. His income wasn’t large, and he had to send money back to support his parents in his hometown. To scrape together fifty yuan was a major sacrifice. To have Ning Yuncheng not only reject it but trash him like this enraged Xiao Zhang.

Xiao Zhang now found Ning Yuncheng utterly detestable. Recalling how Ning Yuncheng had tricked his father into leaving the house, a look of disdain crossed his face. No wonder Mr. Ning had disowned his own son.

Ning Yuncheng was furious that even a community guard dared to insult him, his face turning ashen. He wanted to trade more insults with Xiao Zhang, but the guard impatiently retreated into the nearby guard booth, where the heater was running against the swirling snow outside. Ning Yuncheng, who had stood frozen all day, felt his face turn blue. After a long moment, he turned, shivering, and began to walk back.

Every step sent a sharp, aching pain through his legs, compounded by the throbbing where his wound hadn't healed. The wind, laced with snowflakes, cut his face like blades. The bus stop was still far away. Thinking of his past life of driving everywhere, tears involuntarily streamed down his face, instantly freezing on his cheeks.

He seethed over his father’s heartlessness, growing more convinced that the Ning family were despicable people. He ground his teeth in hatred, and at that moment, a coldness began to settle in Ning Yuncheng’s heart, mirroring the grimness settling over his features.

Meanwhile, Gu Yingxi, whom Mr. Ning had called shameless, waited anxiously at home for Ning Yuncheng to bring the money. Gu Xian’s surgery was complete, and the hundred thousand had been spent entirely. But Gu Xian’s illness wasn’t cured just by the transplant; she needed immunosuppressant drugs and several more days of observation in the hospital—and every day in those private rooms cost money.

Though she hated the thought of Ning Yuncheng seeking money from Mr. Ning while severely injured, she had no choice. She could only pray that Uncle Ning would show some compassion, given Ning Yuncheng’s condition, and provide a few tens of thousands for nutritional expenses. That way, her mother could afford imported medicine instead of the cheaper, less effective alternatives.

Reflecting on everything that had happened recently, Gu Yingxi felt unbearably fragile. She was just an ordinary girl; why was fate torturing her this way?

The Mu family had humiliated her, the man she loved she could see but never have, and Yuncheng, who loved her, had donated a kidney for her mother. Now her mother lay hospitalized, her two younger sisters needed schooling—all of it required money.

Storybooks always featured a Prince Charming appearing when the Cinderella figure was in dire straits. Gu Yingxi harbored that same Cinderella dream. Why hadn't any prince arrived to save her?

The more Gu Yingxi thought about it, the sadder she became, yet she had to maintain a cheerful facade for Gu Xian. As evening finally approached, Ning Yuncheng returned, but he brought no good news. Seeing Ning Yuncheng’s face, white with cold, Gu Yingxi’s eyes lit up momentarily, but Ning Yuncheng only shook his head, filled with shame: “Xi'er, I didn’t see my father.”

Hearing that he hadn't seen Mr. Ning, Gu Yingxi felt her hopes—built up all day—collapse. The doctor had come by several times that day urging her to pay the fees, which she had postponed. She had pinned all her hopes on Ning Yuncheng, but seeing that he had no money either, Gu Yingxi nearly wept, trembling: “What are we going to do, Yuncheng? Mom just had the transplant, and she had a fever this morning. The doctor said there’s a rejection reaction and she needs medication. Yuncheng, Yuncheng, how could Uncle Ning be so cruel?”

These words struck a nerve with Ning Yuncheng. His eyes turned menacing as he comforted his beloved, pulling her close and murmuring soothingly, “Don’t worry, don’t worry, we’ll find a way!”

Previously, hearing such words would always reassure Gu Yingxi that Ning Yuncheng could solve anything. But after he failed again to secure money from Mr. Ning, hearing him say it now stirred a wave of impatience within her. She shoved Ning Yuncheng away. Seeing him stumble and hit the edge of the bed, Gu Yingxi felt a flicker of regret, but the overwhelming pressure immediately crushed it: “You always say you have a way, but you don’t! I don’t want my mother to die, and I don’t want anything to happen to you, do you understand, Yuncheng!” As she spoke, an idea sparked in Gu Yingxi’s mind. She bit her lip, tears streaming down her face like rain, then spun around and fled quickly.

Ning Yuncheng’s wound tore slightly, sending a sharp pain through him; the gauze even felt damp. But seeing Gu Yingxi run off like that, he scrambled to follow. After a few steps, his waist seized with pain, and he couldn't catch up. He could only watch the direction Gu Yingxi fled with anguish, his outstretched hand slowly dropping back to his side.

After rushing out the door, Gu Yingxi flagged down a taxi. Once inside, she wiped her tears and declared with forced resolution, “Take me to Da Guan Gui Ren!”

She had worked there for a while as a waitress. She had always maintained her propriety, though she was aware that some waitresses at Da Guan Gui Ren were propositioned by guests for ‘outcalls.’ Still, she had never sold herself. But now, with Gu Xian gravely ill and needing funds, Ning Yuncheng having failed, and the Mu family demanding repayment of two hundred thousand, she saw no other option!

Feeling the weight of her burdens, Gu Yingxi became more resolute. She clenched her fist, changed her clothes before her shift, paused, took a deep breath, and deliberately tore a section of her uniform.

Even though she had decided to sell herself to repay the debt, when a client finally booked her for the night, Gu Yingxi panicked. After agreeing on two thousand yuan for the night with a medium-built man around fifty years old, Gu Yingxi changed into her clothes and, trembling, prepared to leave with him. Just as they stepped outside the Da Guan Gui Ren club, the man impatiently reached out and grabbed her breast.

The stranger’s scent overwhelmed Gu Yingxi with nausea. As her delicate chest was roughly squeezed, she finally couldn’t hold back, shrieking, “I don’t want to! I don’t want to anymore!”

The man froze, astonished that she would renege after everything was agreed upon. After a moment of stunned silence, he was caught off guard when Gu Yingxi’s desperate struggle resulted in her slapping him across the face. The man instantly exploded in rage. “You ungrateful bitch! You took the money, and now you’re putting on a show of purity for who?!” Shouting this, the middle-aged man fiercely grabbed Gu Yingxi’s hair, intending to pull her.

He considered himself a person of some standing. Being slapped by Gu Yingxi in public was not only humiliating but mortifying. Just as he decided to rough her up, accept the bad luck, and find another woman to vent on, a man appeared beside them. He wore long hair, had a cigarette dangling from his lips, and despite the bitter winter, sported only a denim jacket over a black tank top, paired with matching denim trousers. He pulled out a lighter.

“Women aren’t for hitting; they’re for cherishing,” the man said, his voice low. As he spoke, he clicked the lighter several times—ka-ka—the flame flickering on and off, briefly illuminating his face, which was obscured by a thick, bushy beard.

“What’s it to you?” The older man, still clutching Gu Yingxi’s hair, turned back coldly when someone interrupted him. The tall, long-haired man grinned, revealing a mouth full of white teeth. He tilted his head, lit his cigarette, inhaled deeply, and flicked the cigarette butt away. With a whoosh, a flash of red light vanished as the ember landed in the nearby weeds. The tall man shrugged off his jacket, revealing a muscular physique beneath the black tank top—his biceps bunched with defined strength. He tossed the jacket to Gu Yingxi, flexing as he did so. “Take it!” As soon as he finished speaking, he swung a fist, connecting squarely with the older man’s face.

With a deafening CRACK, the older man cried out in agony, grabbing Gu Yingxi as he pitched backward toward the ground.

Just as Gu Yingxi braced for impact onto the older man, her face turning ashen with terror, a strong, large hand seized her arm, pulling her so hard it hurt. Her body was yanked by immense force, and her nose suddenly slammed against a hard, solid chest!