When Zhou Yi uttered those words, even Xie Tingwan—skilled as she was at masking her emotions—could no longer maintain her composure.
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, her heart stirred by his insight.
After all these years, Zhou Yi was the first to recognize her ambition.
"I don’t understand… why?"
There was no such thing as unconditional kindness in this world. She couldn’t fathom why Zhou Yi would help her or where his trust in her came from.
Xie Tingwan picked up a glass of water and took a sip, trying to steady herself once more.
Zhou Yi had already noticed her unease.
"Among all the children in the Xie Family, you’re the only one with the capability to take the heir’s position."
[Xie Tingwan’s affection points +10]
Xie Tingwan lifted her gaze and stared straight at Zhou Yi.
This was the one sentence she had longed to hear after years of relentless effort.
Even if it hadn’t come from her father’s lips yet.
This was validation.
So Zhou Yi was helping her because he believed she could seize Tianhua. And if he truly aided her, the rewards for him would undoubtedly be substantial.
Setting down her glass, Xie Tingwan flashed him a smile—not the gentle, demure one she wore in public, but one brimming with sharp edges and undisguised ambition.
This version of Xie Tingwan was real. Stripped of her delicate facade, she was breathtaking.
Honestly, Zhou Yi preferred her like this. A woman with ambition was far more intriguing than some fragile flower. Conquering someone like her was a challenge—thrilling, even.
"Are you really sure about helping me? What if I fail to secure that position? Wouldn’t your efforts be for nothing?"
Xie Tingwan arched a brow, her lips curling into a smirk, exuding an alluring confidence.
"Investment is always a gamble—higher risk, greater reward. Isn’t that how it works?"
Zhou Yi’s unwavering confidence was, in itself, a testament to his faith in her. The girl’s eyes curved with amusement as she signaled the restaurant owner for a bottle of wine.
"How’s your alcohol tolerance? If you get too drunk, your classmates might see and ruin that pristine image of yours."
"It’s not great, but today… I really want to drink with you."
Sometimes, Xie Tingwan thought fate was a strange thing.
If she hadn’t called out to Zhou Yi for this meal, if she hadn’t revealed the Xie Family’s affairs, would things have turned out this way?
Or would they have crossed paths differently?
As the dishes arrived, the two ate and chatted, Xie Tingwan visibly elated.
She didn’t bother maintaining her usual refined heiress demeanor around Zhou Yi, instead relaxing into a more carefree version of herself.
When drinking, she was bold and unrestrained, almost like a fierce businesswoman who’d down glass after glass to secure a deal.
Zhou Yi could already picture it—if Xie Tingwan ever stepped into the corporate world, she’d be the type to drink herself sick just to land a project.
Relentless. Ruthless.
"Here’s to you—to your sharp judgment and your trust in me."
Xie Tingwan raised her glass first, and Zhou Yi clinked his against hers. The conversation flowed effortlessly between them.
As the alcohol took effect, Xie Tingwan grew more uninhibited—not drunk, but just loose enough to pour out the words she’d kept locked inside.
She desperately needed an outlet.
"You know, I’m exhausted. Ever since my mother passed, it’s like my fate was rewritten overnight. I went from being my father’s favorite daughter to… an outsider."
"There’s no place for me in the Xie Family anymore. After he married that mistress, his affection went solely to her children. I’m nothing to him."
"No matter how well I perform, no matter how many accolades I earn, in his eyes, I’ll never measure up to my brothers. Just because I’m a woman—unfit to inherit the Xie Family. That’s how it’s always been. But I refuse to accept that."
"I won’t lose. I’ll prove to him that I’m his most exceptional child."
"The Xie Family will be mine."
Her grip tightened around the glass as she spoke, her determination unshaken even for a second.
Zhou Yi frowned, a pang of sympathy in his voice.
"You’ve had it rough all these years, haven’t you?"
Xie Tingwan paused, her gaze softening as she looked at him.
"Rough? Absolutely. From the moment I entered high school, my life hit fast-forward. But that’s what I wanted—the sooner I graduate, the sooner I enter Tianhua."
"I was always top of my class in high school, though I slipped to second a couple of times. People called me brilliant, but the truth is, I just worked harder than them."
"Studying was exhausting. Staying at the top was exhausting. Once, when I came in second, my father was immediately disappointed. Just one slip-up, and he wrote me off. But my brothers? They’ve never even taken first place."
For Xie Tingwan, there was no other choice.
If she didn’t fight for first place, she’d never capture her father’s attention—nor secure her place in Tianhua.
No matter how grueling the path was, she gritted her teeth and pushed through.
Countless sleepless nights were endured by sheer willpower alone.
"Zhou Yi, I’ll admit—when you took first place from me, I wasn’t happy. Every time I earned an honor, I’d make sure my father knew. It was the only time he’d spare me a few extra minutes of patience. For me, it was a rare opportunity."
Her initial dip in affection for Zhou Yi hadn’t been out of vanity—it was because his victory had cost her a chance to speak to her father.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t realize first place meant that much to you."
"Don’t apologize. You earned it. I was outmatched. And honestly… meeting you has made me happier than any academic rank ever could."
She meant every word. Knowing Zhou Yi had brought her genuine joy.
"You’re graduating soon. Has your father mentioned letting you into Tianhua?"
"All my effort wasn’t for nothing. He wants me to join Tianhua Real Estate—to assist my eldest brother in managing it."
"So he does trust your capabilities."
"But he doesn’t love me."
The moment those words left her lips, even Zhou Yi felt a pang of sorrow.
At its core, Xie Tingwan’s obsession with becoming the Xie Family heir stemmed from two things: ambition and her father.
Everything she’d done was to earn Xie Chengren’s approval.
Zhou Yi offered comfort. "You’ll find someone who loves you deeply one day."
Xie Tingwan chuckled. "Maybe. I’ve never really thought about it. Even if I did, my father would only arrange a marriage with some ‘suitable’ family. Love wouldn’t be part of the equation, so I’ve never held much hope for it."
Zhou Yi took a sip of wine, his eyes fixed on the faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"What if that person were me?"
Xie Tingwan froze.