From the moment Sha Hao understood the whispers of Xia Yue's mind, his world fractured. Her inner voice, a relentless current of irreverent thoughts, crashed against his quiet resolve. It was a curse, a constant distraction that stole his focus, leaving his work undone. Yet, it was also a shield; if she plotted, he would know. The truth of her inner world, however, was far more chaotic than he could have ever imagined, a disorienting symphony of schemes and fleeting desires.

Stepping from the car, Sha Hao offered his arm, a simple gesture that ignited a flurry of dramatic scenarios in Xia Yue’s mind. Was he infirm? Did he seek a damsel’s aid? With an exaggerated flourish, she clasped his arm with both hands, her voice dripping with mock concern, “Shall I support you, dear?” Sha Hao’s gaze held a complex mix of exasperation and unwilling amusement. He was not yet so frail! With a barely perceptible sigh, he allowed her performance, looping her arm through his. Together, they made a striking, almost theatrical entrance, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, a spectacle designed to capture every eye.

The Sha family estate loomed, more opulent and imposing than Xia Yue had anticipated. The moment they crossed the threshold into the grand hall, dozens of eyes converged upon them, sharp and dissecting. Xia Yue's heart hammered, a frantic drum against her ribs. “Damn, scared me to death!” she thought, her internal tremor hidden by a practiced, serene smile. Her past life, a crucible of unforeseen challenges, had forged a resilience that now served as her impenetrable armor.

Conscious of the intricate game she was about to play, Xia Yue tilted her head, a demure, almost shy smile playing on her lips. It was a mask, carefully crafted. Then, a malicious gaze pierced through her composure. Across the opulent hall, a young girl, her eyes startlingly bloodshot, bit her lower lip. Her expression was a precarious balance of suppressed fury and impending tears, a silent accusation.

“Why is she looking at me like that?” Xia Yue's thoughts raced, unbidden. “Is she the ex of my cheap husband? A secret admirer? Tsk! Could she be an unrequited fiancée?” Sha Hao, sensing her internal interrogation, responded with a quiet, almost imperceptible correction. “Don’t randomly guess, she’s a cousin.” “Ah? Oh!” Xia Yue’s mind reeled. “Strange, how does he know what I’m thinking?” Sha Hao, already aware of this alarming breach of privacy, resolved to guard his own thoughts with even greater vigilance.

This was Xia Yue’s first encounter with the formidable Sha family. Their striking looks were undeniable, a testament to generations of refined lineage. Yet, beneath their polished exteriors and polite smiles, she sensed a coldness, a web of hidden agendas that made them seem utterly unapproachable, like elegant, predatory birds. Despite the family’s considerable size, she noted a peculiar scarcity of children, a detail that prickled her curiosity.

As they settled, the imposing patriarch, seated at the head of the table, slammed his cane against the floor. The sound echoed through the hushed hall, a pronouncement of his displeasure. “You actually deigned to return!” he boomed. Sha Hao calmly greeted, “Dad, Mom.” Xia Yue prepared to echo, “Dad,” but the old man’s cutting words stopped her. “Don’t call me Dad, I’m not your dad.” Without missing a beat, Xia Yue switched, her voice surprisingly sweet, “Uncle, hello.” A ripple of unspoken reactions passed through the room.

Beside the patriarch, an elegantly poised woman, his wife, gently patted his hand, a silent gesture of appeasement. Then, with deliberate grace, she removed a delicate wrist bracelet, its gems catching the light, and placed it onto Xia Yue’s wrist. “Good child,” she murmured, her voice soft but with an undercurrent of authority. “I haven’t prepared a proper gift for our first meeting, so please accept this. Don’t look down on it.” Instantly, the atmosphere shifted. Faces tightened, expressions betrayed surprise, and the red-eyed girl looked as if she were about to erupt, only to be firmly silenced by an older woman beside her.

Xia Yue, oblivious or perhaps simply uncaring of the underlying tensions, beamed. “Thank you, Mom,” she said, her gratitude seemingly genuine. A flicker of discomfort crossed Sha Hao’s face. The patriarch’s expression hardened further. To be called “Uncle” by one and “Mom” by the other was an unsettling disunity. Yet, to force another change would be futile. His disapproval of Xia Yue, a woman without lineage or visible assets, remained unshaken; she brought no tangible benefit to his illustrious son.

“Ai, she’s a good child,” the matron continued, her gaze unwavering. “Hao’s temperament is cold. You’ll have to be patient with him. After all these years, you are the first he has ever brought home. I haven’t seen him this… content… in a long time.” “Shouldn’t these lines be said by the butler in the novel?” Xia Yue thought, a cynical smile playing in her mind. “Tsk tsk, being expressionless is an illness that needs treatment.” She cast a sidelong glance at Sha Hao, whose face remained a mask of cool indifference. “And how could this coffin face possibly tell that he was happy?” Sha Hao, hearing her thoughts, felt a peculiar mix of irritation and a growing awareness of her theatrical flair.

A married woman, draped in diamonds, interjected, her voice sharp with implied expectation. “If you ask me, Hao is also old enough. You two should hurry and have a child.” The casual cruelty of the question hung in the air. Even in this gilded cage, the pressure for heirs was relentless. Xia Yue offered a polite, uncommitted smile, saying nothing. Sha Hao, his voice laced with an icy indifference that instantly chilled the room, cut in. “There’s no need for Second Aunt to concern herself with this. I heard Second Uncle has been getting very close with the new secretary recently?”

Second Aunt’s carefully constructed composure shattered, replaced by a flush of furious indignation. Second Uncle, Sha Rong, stumbled over his words. “That child’s background is quite pitiful. I’m just looking out for her more.” Second Aunt snorted, a sound of pure disdain. “Yes, looking out for her all the way into bed!” Sha Rong’s brows knitted in a dark frown. “Speaking nonsense?” Second Aunt merely shrugged, her silence more potent than any accusation. She had no desire to air such sordid laundry publicly, not yet.

Xia Yue’s internal monologue erupted in applause. “This guy really is ruthless,” she thought, “spilling everything.” A low, knowing chuckle rippled from across the table. Xia Yue’s eyes darted to the source. A handsome man, his features almost too perfect, smiled directly at her, his Qiu blossom eyes glinting mischievously as he winked. “Tsk, flower peacock,” Xia Yue mentally scoffed. A faint, almost imperceptible curve touched the corner of Sha Hao’s lips. “Big brother,” the man purred. “Second brother,” Sha Hao acknowledged with a curt nod. The original novel had offered scant details about Sha Hao's family, leaving Xia Yue unable to place this man. Yet, her instincts screamed 'danger', sensing a predatory charm beneath his elegant facade.

Soon, the family banquet commenced. A chilling silence descended, broken only by the clinking of silverware, adhering to the unspoken rule: no talking while eating. This stifling quiet unnerved Xia Yue. Deciding to maintain their façade of a loving couple, she carefully peeled a shrimp, its pink flesh glistening, and placed it into Sha Hao’s bowl. Then, pitching her voice to a theatrical whisper, she cooed, “Dear, eat the shrimp.” The words had barely left her lips when Xia Yue regretted them. That saccharine tone almost made her recoil, a performance so over-the-top it felt self-mocking.

“Big brother doesn’t like to eat shrimp!” The red-eyed girl, her voice shrill with indignation, loudly declared. Xia Yue’s practiced smile faltered. “Crap, I didn’t remember the gold master dad’s preferences. I hope he doesn’t dock my pay!” she internally panicked. Sha Hao, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips, met her gaze. He picked up the offending shrimp with his chopsticks, brought it to his mouth, and consumed it slowly, deliberately. “Delicious,” he said, his voice a soft, dangerous murmur. Xia Yue’s face instantly flushed crimson. “Demon!” she thought, a spark of unwilling attraction igniting despite herself. If she didn’t know of his utter disinterest, she might have actually been seduced. The girl, thwarted, chewed her food with aggressive intensity, her glare at Xia Yue so fierce that it suggested a desire to bite her.

The rest of the meal passed in a haze of unspoken tensions. Most, except for Xia Yue, ate distractedly, the food a secondary concern to the unfolding family drama. Afterwards, her stomach pleasantly full – a testament to the delicious, albeit tense, meal – Xia Yue sought the solitude of the sprawling garden, ostensibly for digestion. She had indulged, and now had to constantly suck in her stomach to maintain her image.

The garden was a symphony of manicured beauty, but also a haven for mosquitoes. Slap! Xia Yue claimed the 38th victim of the night. “Pfft, have you never eaten delicious food before?” The pink-eyed girl’s voice sliced through the twilight, dripping with disdain. Xia Yue, without hesitation, nodded earnestly. “Yes, never.” Her simple, honest reply caught the girl completely off guard, rendering her speechless. After a moment, the girl recovered, her voice sharp with a veiled threat. “I’m telling you, I’ll never recognize you. Big brother and Xueying Jiejie are a match made in heaven!” “Oh,” Xia Yue replied, her tone deliberately placid. “Don’t get ideas. Xueying Jiejie hasn’t come back yet. When she does, big brother will definitely kick you out!” “Oh,” Xia Yue repeated, her indifference further infuriating the girl. “You, you villain!” The girl shrieked, then spun on her heel and stormed off, a whirlwind of frustrated anger. Xia Yue sighed. Heaven and earth were her witnesses; she had done nothing to provoke such ire. The rich family life, indeed, was a precarious dance, fraught with unseen dangers.

“Sister-in-law isn’t sad?” A voice, smooth as silk, drifted from above. Xia Yue looked up to see Sha Ling, the cheap second brother, leaning against the balcony railing, a predatory smile playing on his lips, clearly enjoying the spectacle. The term “sister-in-law” sounded strangely possessive coming from him. She suspected his motives, a subtle attempt at seduction, but lacked any tangible proof. Remembering the 200 million Luo at stake, Xia Yue subtly retreated a step. “What’s there to be upset about?” she asked, her voice calm. “Doesn’t sister-in-law worry that big brother will… rekindle old flames?” His question, a veiled insinuation, hung in the air. Xia Yue’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she delivered her practiced, coy smile. “Aiya, how can your loose lips say such cold words? Hao said I’m the only one he’ll love in this life. I believe him.” Upstairs, Sha Ling’s suave expression momentarily fractured, a flicker of genuine surprise crossing his face. His aloof, workaholic big brother, capable of such tender declarations? He clearly doubted it.

Back in the room assigned to them, Xia Yue found herself, as expected, sharing quarters with her cheap husband. Fortunately, it was a spacious room, complete with a generously sized sofa. The soothing sound of water from the bathroom signaled Sha Hao’s shower. This was Xia Yue’s first time sharing a room, even platonically, with a man, and a ripple of unexpected unease stirred within her. She retreated to her phone, seeking solace in a game. The water abruptly ceased. Her head snapped up, her phone quickly forgotten. Sha Hao emerged, meticulously wrapped in a thick, modest robe, every inch of him covered. A flash of disappointment, swift and unbidden, crossed Xia Yue’s eyes. “As expected of a noble and abstinent president. Wrapped up tight.” her thoughts echoed. “Tsk, I wonder if he has abs.” Sha Hao, hearing her irreverent appraisal, discreetly, almost imperceptibly, tightened the waistband of his robe. A wave of introspective doubt washed over him. Had the previous Xia Yue, the one he thought he knew, harbored such audacious thoughts? The mystery of her, and his uncanny connection to her mind, only deepened.