I've seen this beautiful lady before.

This person's thought process is truly strange...

That was Guo Jingyuan’s first impression.

When Chen Ruowen saw Guo Jingyuan’s blank expression, she knew she had guessed right.

Indeed, there was some truth to what dramas depicted—families like this were always marked by a vicious stepmother, a muddle-headed biological father, and possibly a favored half-sister, close in age, scheming against the daughter of the former wife. Otherwise, how could such absurd events ever happen?

Seeing Chen Ruowen still silent, Guo Jingyuan lowered her head and spoke softly.

“That day… I didn’t run away on purpose. It’s just that… if my family gets called in, they’ll use it as an excuse to make me quit school. So… I’m sorry.”

Chen Ruowen grew increasingly irritated at Guo Jingyuan’s timid demeanor. Though her situation sounded somewhat pitiful, wasn’t she far too cowardly?

If it were Chen Ruowen in the same predicament, she would have easily turned the house upside down. Guo Jingyuan hadn’t even faced any sophisticated tactics from her family, yet was already bullied to such an extent?

“Your name is Guo Jingyuan, right?”

She nodded, and Chen Ruowen continued.

“Even if you don’t call the police, surely you can seek help from teachers? Nancheng No. 1 High is a key school—its teachers and principal are relatively just. Is it really so hard to ask them for help? Even if they’re not good people and it’s pointless to appeal to them, you can at least fight back, can’t you? If you’d stood your ground and slapped the first person who gave you trouble, would any of the rest have happened?”

Guo Jingyuan was stunned, as if she hadn’t expected Chen Ruowen to say all this. She instinctively wanted to explain, but Chen Ruowen pressed on.

“And as for your family—maybe you don’t know the law protecting minors, but surely you know the marriage law? You’re a high school student, even if your family agrees to marry you off, would the law allow it? They force you into marriage and stop you from attending school, and you don’t call the police?

Anyone with some reputation fears their dirty laundry aired in public. If you dared to risk everything, your parents would compromise before you. Yet you only protested verbally and left it at that?

If you can’t solve such trivial matters, even if you get into a good university, you’ll still be bullied by them later.”

Chen Ruowen’s words were things Guo Jingyuan had never considered before—they opened a door to a new world for her.

But… Guo Jingyuan felt bitter. Even knowing all this, she doubted she could do it. Such resistance was beyond her courage.

This person was right: even if she worked hard and got into a prestigious university, her family could easily ruin everything with one incident at school. Her life would be just as chaotic as it was now.

Did this mean all her current efforts were utterly useless?

With this thought, Guo Jingyuan leaned forlornly against the railing, then instinctively pulled a cigarette from her pocket and began to smoke.

She had barely taken a puff when a hand suddenly reached over, pinched out the cigarette, snatched it from her fingers, and decisively pressed it against the railing before tossing it off the building.

Guo Jingyuan turned, bewildered, to see the displeasure on Chen Ruowen’s face.

“I hate the smell of smoke.”

Because of work and social occasions, Chen Liwan had smoked often in his younger days, but even that old smoker never dared light up in front of Chen Ruowen. From the moment she could act on her own, she’d begun snuffing out his cigarettes, regardless of reason, time, or place.

After years of this battle, the old smoker finally gave in, quit smoking, allowing Chen Ruowen to accomplish what even her mother couldn’t.

Now, this woman she’d only met once dared smoke in her presence? Of course Chen Ruowen wouldn’t allow it.

While Guo Jingyuan was still dazed, an irritated voice rang out from below.

“Who the hell threw a cigarette butt at me?”

Guo Jingyuan jumped, hurriedly peering down. A strikingly handsome young man stood directly beneath them, looking up in annoyance, a still-smoking cigarette butt at his feet.

Seeing someone looking down, his eyes narrowed slightly as he strode up the stairs.

Guo Jingyuan slumped against the railing, eyes vacant, fingers trembling, despair written all over her face.

“It’s him… I’m finished… finished…”

Chen Ruowen frowned again, unable to fathom why Guo Jingyuan was so terrified.

Within moments, a tall and elegant figure appeared before them.

The young man’s looks were outstanding—far more attractive than the pop idols who relied on their faces—with expressive eyes and a bold, spirited demeanor, clear evidence of a pampered playboy.

He was flamboyantly dressed: pale pink shirt on top, white trousers below, making him look even more dashing… and innocent.

Yet there was a faint black mark on his shoulder—perhaps from being struck by the cigarette butt.

Chen Ruowen paused, her gaze lingering on his cuffs and collar.

Yes, from head to toe, all designer brands. She even recognized the cufflink—it was the work of a renowned international designer, a piece she’d seen auctioned at a charity event for a seven-figure sum.

It seemed this school housed more than a few hidden heirs.

“Whose cigarette was it?”

The young man asked, his eyes naturally settling on Guo Jingyuan. He knew her reputation was poor, and she carried a faint scent of smoke—the answer was obvious.

Guo Jingyuan lowered her head even further, trembling all over, but finally managed to speak, barely audible.

“I… I…”

“I threw the cigarette butt,” Chen Ruowen replied calmly. “If it hit you, I apologize. Name your price—I’ll pay.”

Only then did the young man turn his gaze to Chen Ruowen. After staring at her for a moment, the gloom on his face shifted into an intrigued smile.

“So it’s you.”

Chen Ruowen answered indifferently.

“Go on, how much?”

But she had clearly misunderstood his words, because the young man continued,

“Miss, I’ve seen you on TV.”

On TV? When had she ever been on TV? As Chen Ruowen wondered if he was just trying to strike up a conversation, the young man spoke again.

“Chen Ruowen, daughter of Chen Liwan, heiress of Shuangxing Group, yes? You’re even prettier in person than in photos.”

Chen Ruowen was taken aback—did he really know her? Seeing her confusion, the young man chuckled.

“After the news on August 8, I saw your missing person announcement on TV. Said you went missing in the tsunami. Judging by how you look now, your family must have found you?”

Chen Ruowen’s face darkened. Her father had actually aired a missing person announcement on TV? And during the post-news ad slot? Didn’t that mean everyone watching national television knew she’d disappeared that day?

That old bastard—he’d never told her about such a major thing!