The small town of Liangcheng, nestled by mountains and rivers, was peaceful as night fell.

At exactly eight o'clock, the cozy atmosphere inside Apartment 520 of the Happy Community was unmatched.

The Johnson family was gathered around the dinner table, their laughter and cheerful conversation echoing softly.

Abigail Ellis picked up the only drumstick left in the dish with her long wooden chopsticks and dropped it into Ethan Johnson's bowl. “Eat this, sweetie. With this drumstick, you’ll ace your exam tomorrow!”

Her gaze lingered on Ethan’s slightly skinny frame, and her eyes revealed a hint of worry.

Beside her, William Johnson finished peeling a shrimp and promptly added it to Ethan’s bowl. “Eat the shrimp too, Ethan. You need to keep up your energy! You’ve been burning the midnight oil for weeks—I don’t want you nodding off or missing answers on your test tomorrow,” he joked.

Then, without a shred of embarrassment, William sucked his fingers with a satisfied grin, as though he hadn’t tasted shrimp in centuries.

Watching his parents, Ethan felt a sharp pang in his chest, his throat tight with unexpected emotion.

Tomorrow was the big day—his college entrance exam. For months, he’d stayed up late and worked tirelessly, driven by the hope of getting into a good university. He knew it wasn’t just about himself; it was about changing his family’s situation, repaying his parents for their sacrifices, and striving for a brighter future. “Hey! Ethan, what's going on? Why are you crying all of a sudden?” Abigail Ellis immediately panicked when she saw her son's teary eyes. She quickly reached for a tissue to wipe them away.

Ethan Johnson grabbed his mom's hand instead, his voice filled with emotion, "Mom, Dad, thank you both so much. Thank you for tirelessly supporting me all these years. Look at your hands—constantly washing dishes for others, they're all cracked. And Dad, I know you’ve been secretly working construction jobs, carrying bricks behind my back. Tonight, you even went out of your way to make shrimp—it must’ve cost a lot. I promise I’ll make sure I never disappoint you!"

William Johnson shifted his gaze to the side, his expression betraying a moment of hesitation and guilt.

“Come on, we’re family, no need for all this talk! Just eat while it’s still warm. Rest up properly after dinner and focus on tomorrow's exam,” Abigail said, her tone gentle but insistent.

Ethan nodded with gratitude and continued eating, his emotions showing every time he glanced at his parents.

“So, son, have you decided on which college to aim for?” William suddenly asked, breaking the brief silence.

Ethan paused while tearing apart a succulent chicken leg. He looked up and replied, “I’m thinking about applying to South University for now.”

“Oh? South University? That’s one of the good ones among top-tier schools,” William said, clearly surprised.

Ethan tilted his head at his dad, puzzled. “Dad, you know about South University?”

William froze for a second before awkwardly chuckling, “Just something I picked up from Old Wang next door.”Ethan nodded, saying, "Although the admission score for Southern University is pretty high, I’m confident I can make it. As long as the test isn’t overly challenging, I’ve got this."

"Now that’s my boy!" Abigail’s eyes gleamed with pride as she looked at Ethan.

Ethan smiled sheepishly.

Just then, Abigail shot William a quick glance. He caught on right away and sighed. "Son, your mom and I may have been a bit strict with you these last couple of years, but it’s all been for your own good. Compared to the parents of your classmates, I guess your mom and I haven’t really done much or achieved anything. You’ve had to put up with a lot because of us. But, we’re counting on you to make something of yourself. I mean, not that you owe us anything, but someday, it’d be awesome to see you living in a nicer house, enjoying a better life. If you can do that, your mom and I would feel like we’ve done alright in this life."

"Dad, stop it."

Ethan’s chest tightened as his nose stung.

He moved closer, grabbing both their hands and holding them firmly. "Don’t worry, I’ll make you proud!"

"Mom knows you will!" Abigail’s eyes brimmed with tears as she nodded passionately.

William’s face was full of reassurance and pride.

"You guys go ahead and eat. I’m heading back to my room." Ethan finished the last bite of rice in his bowl, gave his parents a quick goodbye, and made his way to his room.Hearing the door click shut, William and Abigail Johnson exchanged a quick glance before letting out a synchronized sigh of relief.

"Ring! Ring!"

William’s old phone buzzed to life. As he checked the caller ID, the friendly, easygoing demeanor on his face faded instantly, replaced by a commanding aura that could only belong to a man accustomed to power.

"What’s the matter?" he asked, his tone sharp and efficient.

"Mr. Johnson, there’s an important meeting tomorrow about the Chu Group acquisition. Do you approve?"

William replied coolly, "Proceed as planned. Let Richard Collins handle it. My son has his college entrance exams tomorrow, and I need to be there for him."

"Ah, the young master is taking exams? Understood, Mr. Johnson. I’ll notify the vice president immediately," the secretary stammered respectfully.

"Good," William said, hanging up the call with a composed air.

"Ha! At least you’ve got some priorities straight. If you dared abandon your son during his exams, you’d be sleeping on the couch tonight!" Abigail shot him a sharp look, her soft motherly tone giving way to something far more assertive.

William grinned sheepishly and immediately moved to her side, eagerly massaging her shoulders. "Honey, when are we heading back to Tianzi Xuan No. 1?" Abigail Ellis's eyes widened, "What's wrong? Already thinking about leaving? Didn't we agree to stay until our son goes to college?"

William Johnson let out a sigh, "Man, it's already been twelve years... Time really flies. I've stayed here for so long, I almost forgot I'm the richest man in the country."

Abigail snorted, "Oh, please! We've talked about this before—he couldn't know that his dad's not only the richest man in Dragon Nation but also the boss of the biggest group in Liangcheng. Isn't this better? Look at how hardworking he's been all these years. His grades are even better than ours were back in the day, and he keeps saying he's going to take care of us in the future. Isn't that proof our approach worked?"

"You're right, you're right. We've got a great kid, no doubt. Once he finishes college and inherits all my assets, we can finally take that honeymoon we've been delaying for years."

"Ugh, cut it out! You're not a spring chicken anymore; can't you be serious?"

"But I'm being completely serious! Who doesn't know I'm the guy who spoils his wife the most?"

"Gross!"

Suddenly turning serious, Abigail added, "But, let's call it here. After the exams, we need to come clean with him. Honestly, just looking at his skinny little face makes my heart ache!"William nodded in agreement, “Alright then! Once the college entrance exam is over, I'll have the butler get him a sports car, a Rolex, and his favorite pair of AJs—no, how about we get him a whole room of AJs!”

“These years have been hard on him. We've had to go to such lengths to keep the truth from him. Honestly, it hasn't been easy for me either. Every time I told him I was going to wash dishes for someone else, I was actually sneaking off to play mahjong with my friends. And then when I came back, I had to make my hands look rough on purpose. It’s been ten years without any proper care,” Abigail said, her voice filled with tenderness as she gazed at her hands with a trace of heartache.

“Same here! I’ve been spending money to buy people's cooperation. Originally, I was just inspecting projects on site, but I had to make people believe I was there to haul bricks. And I had to show up regularly too—look at the tan!” William shook his head helplessly.

The couple exchanged a knowing look, and their expressions softened into smiles.

…

At the station in Liangcheng.

A slender silhouette instantly captured everyone’s attention.

She wore a simple yet elegant black dress, its hem lightly brushing the ground. Around her tall frame, nearly identical to someone standing at five-foot-seven, there wasn’t a trace of extravagant jewelry. Her jet-black hair cascaded freely, like clouds scattered by the wind. Her graceful brows arched slightly, framing eyes that seemed as deep as autumn lakes, enchanting as the stars—yet held a detached, frosty aura. A beautifully angular nose and lips as delicate as soft petals completed the portrait of sheer beauty, one that could only be described as breathtaking.

She stood quietly amidst the bustle and noise of the station, radiating an ethereal charm that set her apart from the mundane world. Like a goddess in the midst of chaos, she embodied a vision out of a dream, half-real, half-illusory.Such rare beauty is almost unheard of these days!

"Sophia!"

A fiery red figure dashed over, hugging the gorgeous black-dress goddess tightly.

It was another stunning woman in a red dress, easily scoring a solid 9 in looks.

"You're finally here! How long are you staying this time?"

Smiling warmly, the girl in the red dress looked at Sophia.

Sophia thought for a moment before replying, "About two weeks, maybe."

"Perfect! In these two weeks, I'll make sure you experience every bit of charm this little town has to offer!"

"Come on, I'll take you to the place I'm staying!"

...