Stepping out of Beijing's train station, Lei Zhengyang spotted two figures waiting not far off. Leading was a woman, anxiously scanning the exit. The moment she saw him, she cried out, "Zhengyang!" and rushed toward him, her steps swift with emotion.
Though no longer young, the woman was impeccably preserved, her age impossible to guess. A radiant charm, the allure of a mature beauty, glowed from her. Draped in a soft blue gown, she exuded a gentle nobility that kept passersby at a respectful distance.
This was Xu Nongli, Lei Zhengyang's mother.
Behind her, leaning against a car, stood Lei Qiuping, arms crossed, a cigarette dangling arrogantly from his lips. His aloof air masked a soldier's vigilance, his senses attuned to every movement around them, guarding Xu Nongli—a habit ingrained by years in the military.
Lei Chunping, Zhengyang's father, had long given up on his "hopeless" youngest son. Though aware of his return, he'd gone to work, likely deeming the cultivation of national talent more worthwhile than greeting a wayward child.
The Lei family was used to this. So, Lei Qiuping took on the task. In the past, he wouldn't have cared, but after sparring with Zhengyang in Tianhai—taking a few kicks but craving more—he'd grown intrigued. For a soldier like Qiuping, nothing was more alluring than raw strength.
As his mother charged toward him, her face a mix of joy, relief, and aching love, Lei Zhengyang's heart surged. He knew her devotion ran deep, but in his reckless youth, he'd taken it for granted, only turning to her shelter when he'd messed up.
Now, after a year apart—feeling like decades—her tender expression broke through his walls. He opened his arms, enveloping her in a tight embrace. In his past life, even after his unforgivable mistakes, she'd never abandoned him. Her love was selfless, unwavering.
He'd never forget: burdened by Tianhua Group's demands and his own failures, she'd withered away, dying at just fifty-five, mere years after his release from prison. That was his greatest regret. Now, he vowed it wouldn't happen again. His mother was the one person who loved him without reason or condition, and he'd protect her at all costs.
"Mom, I'm sorry for worrying you," he said, his voice raw with sincerity, a first for him with his closest kin.
Feeling his trembling frame, Xu Nongli's eyes brimmed with tears. This past year, worry had robbed her of sleep. She knew her son's flaws—without the Lei name, how could he survive out there? Now, seeing him return, vibrant and mature, she felt both joy and pain: joy that he'd grown, pain for the hardships he must've endured.
"Silly boy, a mother's worry is her job," she said, her hand gently tracing his face. "I'm just happy you're back. Zhengyang, you've suffered." Though slimmer, he'd shed his old, brash playboy aura. She couldn't be prouder.
"Sister-in-law, Zhengyang's back safe and sound—no more fretting, right?" Lei Qiuping interjected, noticing curious onlookers drawn to the emotional scene. "Let's head home. The kid's gotta be beat from the trip."
Xu Nongli snapped back to reality, beaming. "Yes, home. Zhengyang, let's go home."
Home. The word hit like a warm embrace. Only after losing it did you crave its return. Lei Zhengyang's mind flickered to darker memories, but he clung to the present, vowing to cherish it.
The Lei estate hadn't changed much in a year, yet to Zhengyang, it felt like a lifetime had passed. In his past life, after prison, the Leis' power had crumbled. Patriarch Lei's retirement triggered a freefall—enemies pounced, allies scattered. His uncles, desperate to survive, split off, abandoning the family. The Lei dynasty collapsed.
Once-glorious, they'd faced scorn. Only then had Zhengyang fought to rise, a new beginning marred by his broken body. Despite his efforts, he couldn't restore the Leis' glory—others, with stronger foundations, never stopped advancing.
What I had, I'll treasure. What I lost, I'll reclaim. Friends would find the Leis welcoming; enemies would face Lei Zhengyang's ruthless wrath. The tragedies of his past life would not repeat.
"Zhengyang, it's really you! Your auntie's missed you like crazy!" A figure barreled toward him as he stepped from the car. In her early thirties, strikingly beautiful with a mature allure, she radiated charm. Bare-faced, without a trace of makeup, she was still a vision of elegance.
This was Lei Xinping, his youngest aunt, who'd practically raised him. When Xu Nongli was consumed by Tianhua Group, Xinping had taken on his care.
Now married, she'd chosen a man Patriarch Lei vehemently opposed—a college sweetheart from an ordinary family. When he learned her identity, he didn't waver, enduring immense pressure to honor his vow to her. Their wedding, held in a nine-square-meter room with only a close friend as witness, was humble but heartfelt.
Without Lei support, they'd built a small company in the South, pouring their lives into it. Two years ago, their son was born, softening Patriarch Lei enough to allow Xinping to visit with the child. Her husband, Wang Jiansheng, remained unwelcome in the Lei fold.
Though Zhengyang hadn't met his uncle, he knew his name—and their loyalty. When the Leis fell in his past life, Xinping and Jiansheng had been their staunchest allies. He'd never forget that.
"Auntie, you're more gorgeous than ever!" he teased. "Where's my little cousin? I came back in a rush—didn't bring him a gift." In the past, swayed by the family's coldness toward Xinping, he'd been distant, ignoring the love she'd showered on him as a child. No more.
Xinping blinked, caught off guard, then broke into a genuine smile. "Little Bean misses you too, but I didn't bring him this time. I was so worried about you, I couldn't think of anything else. Zhengyang, where were you this past year?"
He sensed a subtle distance in her tone, a growing estrangement from the Leis.
Taking her hand, he grinned. "I played tourist, roaming the South's rivers and mountains. I learned the real beauty lies in hidden places, quiet and untouched. Next time you want to travel, call me—I'll be your guide."
Xinping's heart stirred. Since he'd grown up, Zhengyang had never been this warm to her. As his aunt, she'd given her love freely, expecting nothing, content with her one-sided devotion. His sudden affection caught her off guard, almost too much to process.
She knew the Leis disapproved of her marriage—a choice that offered no benefit to the family. Their coldness was expected, yet she couldn't sever her ties. No matter where she went, Lei blood ran through her veins. She was proud to be a Lei, even if, in a clan like theirs, women carried less weight—a gap she couldn't bridge.
"Deal," she said, her smile softening. "Next time, you're my guide."
"Bring Uncle too," Zhengyang added. "I'll tour your whole family."
"Zhengyang, quit dawdling outside!" Lei Chunping's stern voice boomed from the house. "Your grandfather's waiting—get in here!" Though his father, Chunping's love for Zhengyang was often overshadowed by frustration. His strictness, however, was no match for Xu Nongli's fierce protectiveness, rendering it toothless.
As Zhengyang walked away, Xinping turned to Xu Nongli. "Sister-in-law, did you notice… Zhengyang seems—"
Xu Nongli gazed at her son's retreating figure, then met Xinping's eyes. "He's changed, a lot. I don't think this year was just sightseeing. Xinping, he called Jiansheng 'Uncle' just now—something he's never done. This could be your chance. Seize it."
Women understood women. Xu Nongli knew Xinping longed for the Leis' acceptance. Though happy with her husband and son, the family's rejection was her deepest wound. Xu Nongli had quietly supported the couple, her softer heart at odds with the Lei core she couldn't sway. But Zhengyang was different. Groomed as a potential heir, he and his cousins had been trained from childhood, entrusted with real responsibilities.