Chapter 2: The Special Assignment

Returning to the single apartment she had bought three years ago, Lu Yao barely had a chance to sleep before her assistant’s relentless calls dragged her back to the law firm.

“Attorney Lu, my dear ancestor, have you not checked the group messages? The boss mentioned you ten times and you didn’t reply once.” Her assistant, Zhang Xiaoxin, lowered her voice. “If you don’t show up soon, our firm might be in real trouble.”

“Trouble is an understatement! I’m afraid we’ll be blacklisted by every prominent family in the capital and forced out of the legal world!” No sooner had Zhang Xiaoxin finished speaking than Xu Wenjie, one of the firm’s partners, emerged from behind, his face clouded with worry.

“Yao, I’m not exaggerating!”

“This morning, Qiao Wan’er, the number one heiress in the capital, announced her engagement and specifically requested you to handle her prenuptial property certification and draft the agreement. She wants to meet with you before three this afternoon.”

Qiao Wan’er, only daughter of Qiao Wanliang, the head of the Qiao Group, the city’s second most powerful family. Pampered from birth, she was infamous for her arrogance and willfulness. Anyone who had ever crossed her had suffered terribly—none had escaped unscathed. People called her the “Qiao She-Devil.”

No wonder the entire firm was on edge.

Lu Yao glanced at her watch. It was now 2:15 p.m.—forty-five minutes until three. She asked, “Where is the meeting?”

“The Ye family’s old estate.”

“!”

Lu Yao was stunned. She hadn’t expected the Qiao family to be marrying into the Ye family, the most powerful clan in the capital.

This assignment was as daunting as climbing to the heavens.

Why would Qiao Wan’er personally request her for such a high-stakes task?

Xu Wenjie merely patted Lu Yao’s shoulder, giving her a look that said, “Take care.”

Lu Yao quickly gathered her things and made her way to the gates of the Ye family’s old estate.

Strictly speaking, she stood outside the city walls.

The Ye family’s old estate was more than just a mansion—it was more aptly described as a “Forbidden City.” Security at the entrance was formidable. Only after rigorous verification of her identity was Lu Yao allowed to enter, with a designated car escorting her to the main building.

The moment the doorbell rang, the butler appeared, greeting her warmly from within.

Lu Yao replied mechanically, “Hello, I’m here because Miss Qiao invited me.”

The butler, already aware, pointed to the second floor. “The second young mistress is having tea in the upstairs tearoom. Please go up directly.”

“Oh,” Lu Yao frowned slightly but didn’t think much of it and went upstairs on her own.

But as soon as she reached the second floor, she was at a loss.

The second floor was as spacious as a hotel. Which room was the tearoom where Qiao Wan’er was having tea?

After circling around for a bit, Lu Yao finally pushed open a door that looked like it might be a tearoom.

It wasn’t locked; a simple turn and it opened.

Steeling herself, she stepped inside—only for her gaze to fall upon a painting of water lilies on the wall, sending a jolt through her body.

In the pristine emerald water floated two water lilies—one in full bloom, one still in bud—looking remarkably similar to the birthday gift her mother had painted for her.

Lu Yao moved closer to examine it, growing more convinced that this painting was indeed her mother’s work.

Her mother had a unique habit that no one else could imitate: she always began her brushstrokes from the bottom of the canvas, in the opposite direction from most artists. Many had tried to mimic her technique, but all had failed.

If you looked closely, you could see the signature area had been covered by brushstrokes. Perhaps because the technique was different, the overpainting seemed especially jarring.

How could this painting, which originally belonged to her, be here in the Ye family’s old estate?

Lu Yao was just about to step forward for a closer look when someone seized her wrist in a firm grip.

A bright, clear voice sounded behind her.

“Miss Lu, barging into my mother’s private tearoom without permission—you’ve got quite the nerve!”