Zi Ning stood frozen, the words echoing in her ears.
"You are my daughter."
For years, she had dreamed of hearing those words—of discovering where she truly belonged. But now that the truth was laid bare, it didn't feel real. Her heart pounded against her ribs, her breath caught somewhere between relief and disbelief.
"You…" Her voice trembled despite her efforts to stay calm. "You're sure?"
Zi Hong placed the DNA report on the table and pushed it toward her. "See for yourself."
With shaking fingers, Zi Ning picked up the document. Her eyes scanned the black-and-white text, focusing on the result printed at the bottom: 99.99% match.
There was no mistake. The truth was right there—irrefutable.
A wave of emotions crashed over her. Relief, anger, confusion—all tangled together in a knot too tight to unravel. She had spent years feeling like an outsider, suffering under Xu Mei's cruel hands. And all this time, she had a real family—a mother who should have protected her.
Zi Ning's hands curled into fists. "Why?" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the heavy silence. "Why did it take you so long to find me? Did you ever really look?"
Zi Hong's expression remained cold, but something in her eyes wavered. "You think it was easy?" Her tone was calm but edged with steel. "You don't understand the world I live in, Zi Ning. Our family is not ordinary. Power, wealth—they come at a price. I searched for you. But there were forces working against me."
Zi Ning's heart clenched. "That's not an excuse," she said quietly. "I grew up in a house where I was treated like a burden. You were out there with all your power and resources. And I was suffering—alone."
For a brief moment, guilt flickered across Zi Hong's face, but it vanished as quickly as it came. "I made mistakes," she admitted, her voice softer. "But I never stopped looking. And now that I've found you, I won't let you go again."
Zi Ning wanted to believe her. She wanted to trust the woman who claimed to be her mother. But the wounds left by years of neglect and pain didn't heal so easily.
"What happens now?" she asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her chest.
Zi Hong stood up, adjusting the cuff of her tailored blazer. "You will return to the Zi family. That is your rightful place."
Return? The word echoed in her mind. As if she had ever truly been there in the first place.
"I'm not a lost object you can just claim," Zi Ning said coldly. "I have a life. You can't expect me to drop everything and become the perfect daughter you lost."
Zi Hong's lips curved into a faint smile—cold and calculating. "I don't expect perfection. But the blood in your veins makes you a Zi. Whether you accept it or not, you belong to us."
Zi Ning's chest tightened. The weight of expectation was already pressing down on her, heavy and suffocating.
"I'll need time," she said finally. "I can't just… accept this overnight."
Zi Hong's sharp eyes softened—just a little. "Take the time you need. But know this, Zi Ning—you are no longer alone. And anyone who dares to hurt you… will pay the price."
Zi Ning's breath caught. There was no mistaking the threat in her mother's tone.
Without another word, Zi Hong turned and walked toward the door. Just before leaving, she paused. "I'll be in touch."
And then she was gone.
Zi Ning sat in the quiet room long after Zi Hong left, her mind spinning. She had the answers she sought—but they brought no comfort. The truth only led to more questions.
What did it mean to be part of the Zi family? And could she trust them after everything she had endured?
Her phone buzzed, breaking her thoughts.
Lu Yichen.
A breath of relief escaped her lips as she answered. "Hey."
"I'm outside," his deep voice said. "Come down?"
Without hesitation, she grabbed her coat and left the private suite. When she stepped out of the club, the cold evening air bit at her skin, but the sight of Lu Yichen leaning against his sleek black car warmed her heart.
He straightened when he saw her, his sharp eyes scanning her face. "How did it go?"
Zi Ning let out a shaky laugh. "I'm her daughter. It's confirmed."
Lu Yichen's face softened as he opened the car door for her. "Come on. Let's get you somewhere warm."
Once they were driving through the city, Zi Ning leaned back against the leather seat, exhaustion creeping over her. For the first time since meeting Zi Hong, she felt safe.
"She wants me to return to the family," Zi Ning murmured.
Lu Yichen glanced at her. "And what do you want?"
That was the question she couldn't answer. A part of her craved the family she had never known—to finally belong. But another part of her feared the unknown. Could she really trust the Zi family after all these years?
"I don't know," she admitted. "I spent so long believing I didn't matter to anyone. Now… everything is different. It's overwhelming."
He reached over, his fingers brushing against hers. "You don't have to decide right away. Take your time."
His warmth grounded her, easing the chaos in her mind. "Thank you," she whispered.
They drove in comfortable silence until they reached her apartment building. But as Zi Ning stepped out of the car, a shadow moved nearby.
Lu Yichen was out in an instant, his posture tense and protective. "Who's there?"
A figure stepped out of the shadows—slim and elegantly dressed.
It was Wang Yin.
Zi Ning's heart froze.
"What do you want?" she demanded, her voice cold.
Wang Yin's smile was sickly sweet. "I heard some interesting news. The lost daughter of the Zi family… what a fairytale." Her eyes gleamed with malice. "But fairytales don't always end happily."
Lu Yichen's expression darkened. "Get lost."
Wang Yin ignored him, stepping closer to Zi Ning. "You think joining the Zi family will protect you? You're still nothing but a cheap replacement."
Anger flared in Zi Ning's chest. "If I'm nothing, why are you so scared?"
Wang Yin's smile faltered, her nails digging into her palm. "Enjoy your fantasy while it lasts," she spat before turning on her heel and disappearing into the night.
Lu Yichen reached for Zi Ning's hand. "Don't let her get to you."
Zi Ning exhaled slowly. "She doesn't scare me. Not anymore."
And for the first time in a long time, she meant it.
No matter what came next, she would no longer be the helpless girl others trampled on.
She was Zi Ning. And no one would take her place again.