On the day of graduation, I was dragged by my rich father to get the certificate

The VIP ward was filled with the scent of disinfectant, yet the opulence within couldn't belied. Si Yehan pushed open the door and saw Nangong Xuan, leisurely reclining on the hospital bed, her fingers scrolling across her iPad screen, a smile still lingering on her face. She was waiting for her "caring" disciple, Liang Heng, to bring her food.

Looking up, Nangong Xuan saw Si Yehan coming in. The smile on her face instantly froze, transforming into a deep chill and disgust. She slammed her iPad down on the bedside, her voice piercing, "What are you doing here? Are you trying to see if I'm dead? Are you not satisfied that you didn't blow me up?!"

Si Yehan's expression remained unchanged as he calmly approached and handed over the single page of the account book. His voice was steady, "Don't worry, take a look at this."

He ignored Nangong Xuan's hostility and used the simplest but clearest language to tell the truth about how her father Nangong Jue was framed more than 20 years ago, how the Si family was also deceived, and how the real mastermind benefited from it.

The ward fell silent, save for the subtle rustle of paper and Si Yehan's quiet narration. The anger on Nangong Xuan's face gradually gave way to shock and disbelief, finally transforming into unbelievable pain and a pallor. Trembling, she stared at the page, the overwhelming evidence on it overturning her twenty-plus years of understanding.

She hated the wrong person... She actually hated the wrong person! She let the real enemy go unpunished, and even... she even treated the enemy's daughter, Murui, as a partner and entrusted her with important tasks! Thinking of this, she felt a strong sense of absurdity and shame, and she felt almost ashamed.

"Don't worry," Si Yehan's voice broke the silence, his voice full of unquestionable determination. "I'm already tracking down the mastermind. I will definitely bring him to justice and clear Mr. Nangong's name."

Nangong Xuan raised her head, her eyes misty with tears, her voice choked with sobs and disbelief: "You...are you really willing to make all this public? Aren't you afraid that the Si family's reputation will be damaged? Aren't you afraid that you..."

"I'm afraid," Si Yehan answered bluntly. "But the truth is more important. I have to do this." He paused, his eyes earnest and sincere. "I wonder if you'd be willing to... give Wanwan and me a chance?"

Nangong Xuan stared at him blankly, as if truly getting to know this young man she had hated for years for the first time. After a long silence, she sighed deeply, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Her tone was tired but much softer. "Well, never mind... I know you two truly love each other. Since you're willing to harm the Si family's interests to vindicate our Nangong family, it shows how deeply you love Wanwan. I'm relieved to leave her to you. Besides... you still have Nian Nian."

"Are you agreeing for us to be together?!" Si Yehan's eyes instantly lit up with surprise.

“…Yeah.” Nangong Xuan nodded slightly and held the single page of the account book tightly in her hand, as if she was holding a treasure that had been lost and found again.

"That's great! Mom, don't worry, I'll definitely treat them well!" Si Yehan was so excited he couldn't contain himself, as happy as a child. "Please take the account book first. I'll go to the United States right now and tell Wanwan the good news in person!"

Nangong Xuan smiled weakly: "Why don't you just make a phone call? Why do you have to run over there?"

"No," Si Yehan shook his head, his eyes firm yet gentle. "I must tell her in person." He had to see the haze on her face dissipate, he had to hold her in his arms and tell her that all obstacles were gone.

He left the ward with an unprecedented sense of relief and anticipation. However, all of this conversation was heard clearly by Liang Heng, who happened to be outside with a meal in hand!

Liang Heng's expression changed drastically, his eyes flashing with panic, jealousy, and ruthlessness. He quickly dodged into a corner, watching Si Yehan's departing back, his fists clenched.

Si Yehan flew straight to the United States without stopping. Following the address he'd found, he hurried to the office building where Gu Wan was temporarily handling business. He was agitated and about to go in when he saw Gu Wan and several of his subordinates, walking out of the building with stern expressions.

"Wanwan!" Si Yehan rushed over impatiently, a relieved smile on his face. Just as he was about to speak—

"Snapped!"

A loud and crisp slap landed on his face unexpectedly. The force was so great that his face tilted to one side, and he was stunned for a moment.

Gu Wan's eyes were bloodshot and sparkling with tears, but they were filled with a kind of deep disappointment and anger that he had never seen before.

"Wanwan?" Si Yehan covered his face, looking at her in astonishment, and subconsciously reached out to grab her arm.

Gu Wan abruptly shook him off, her voice trembling with restraint. "Si Yehan, let's just break up. Don't show up in front of me again." With that, she resolutely turned around, quickly got into the car with the group, and left without a trace of regret.

Si Yehan froze in place, his face burning with pain. His heart was filled with turmoil and bewilderment, completely unable to understand the cause of this sudden change. Minutes ago, he had been filled with hope, but now he felt as if he had fallen into an icy cave.

He had no idea what horrific changes had occurred in the ward after he left.

Completely broken, Liang Heng's defenses were broken. Love turned to hate, and he feared losing everything—Nangong Xuan's trust, his position in the Nangong family, and the possibility of Gu Wan. He rushed into the ward and ranted furiously at Nangong Xuan's decision. Driven by extreme anger and fear, he became even more daring. Right in front of Nangong Xuan, he slipped a powerful dose of drugs into the food he had brought and force-fed it to her.

Nangong Xuan struggled in vain and quickly fell into a coma, her life was in danger. Although she was saved after rescue, she became an unconscious vegetable.

Liang Heng not only murdered her but also stole the crucial account book page. He quickly colluded with and bribed Nangong Xuan's attending physician, fabricating evidence and confessions, and falsely accused Si Yehan of a private visit. After a heated argument with Nangong Xuan, Si Yehan left her and Nangong Xuan suffered an unexpected and fatal accident.

At this moment, Si Yehan, who was far away in the United States and had just suffered a ruthless slap and a decisive breakup from his lover, was completely kept in the dark about the conspiracy and frame-up that took place thousands of miles away.

Gu Wan knew, of course, that her mother Nangong Xuan was hospitalized after the bombing, and that she had now become a vegetable. None of this could possibly have been done by Si Yehan.

She had been raised by him, and she knew his innermost nature better than anyone else. But precisely because of this, she had to slap him hard in front of everyone and utter those resolute, ruthless words—she was playing the game. Only by becoming part of the scheme could she let the real mastermind down, allowing her to follow the clues and uncover the cancer deeply embedded within the Nangong family. But for now, she had to put him in a difficult position.