The normal tranquility surrounding Dragon Crest Manor was violently upended one unusually warm afternoon. Just outside the impressive gates of the estate, Grandfather Liang Zhong was involved in a terrible and unanticipated accident after returning from a relaxed outing with friends. Beside his driver, who was unconscious, in a pool of blood spread on the asphalt, and his fancy car was mangled. No one dared to approach the gruesome scene, and onlookers stood motionless in horror.
It just so happened that after a long day at Shanghai University, Mei Lin was riding her electric bike past with Milo trotting contentedly at her side. The chaos, the fear on the faces of the onlookers, and the sheer urgency of the situation were all instantly apparent to her. Her natural poise and Taekwondo training took over, even though she was only 22. She assessed the situation rapidly, guided onlookers, and skillfully administered basic first aid, stabilizing the critically injured Liang Zhong until the sirens' cries became more audible. In the face of such a horrifying scene, her steady hands and unwavering focus were truly remarkable.
Mei Lin remained after the ambulance arrived. She insisted on going to the hospital with Grandfather Liang Zhong herself, staying by his side until the doctors wheeled him into emergency, out of a strong sense of duty. Later, when she eventually emerged from the critical care unit, a tall, commanding figure rushed past her under the glaring fluorescent lights of the hospital hallway. It was Liang Chen, with a tense expression on his face that made him hardly notice the young woman he passed. His mind was consumed by the sudden crisis, and his eyes were focused only on the ICU doors, straight ahead. Completely unaware of the silent hero who had just saved his grandfather's life, he disappeared into the hospital's depths.
Grandfather Liang Zhong spent a week in the intensive care unit unconscious. His devoted and wise personal assistant, who anticipated all of his needs during this stressful time, started a covert, in-depth investigation into the young woman who had saved his life. Knowing that the patriarch would surely demand to know more about his enigmatic savior as soon as he regained consciousness, the assistant painstakingly collected every piece of information that could be found about Mei Lin.
At Dragon Crest Manor, a week passed in a blur of quiet hospital hallways and nervous waiting areas. The future of the corporate empire was in jeopardy, and the whole Liang family held their breath. Liang Chen was always present at the hospital, his face tense with anxiety, and he hardly slept while he waited for his grandfather's news. Then, in a silent miracle, Grandfather Liang Zhong came to. His eyes retained their familiar sharpness despite their weakness, and his first coherent words were a firm but gentle question.
His voice was hardly more than a whisper as he rasped, "The girl." "The person who provided assistance."
Anticipating this exact query, his personal assistant promptly produced the comprehensive file that had been assembled over the previous week. As the assistant described every detail of Mei Lin, including her name, age, academic achievement as a final-year Master's student in Computer Science at Shanghai University, her parents' academic but modest financial background, her side business of ethical hacking, and even her Taekwondo skills, Liang Zhong listened carefully and kept his eyes fixed on the screen. He heard about her upbeat personality, her self-reliance, and her sincere concern for other people.
As the patriarch took in all the information, a slight smile appeared on his lips. In contrast to the ambition and greed that afflicted his own family, he imagined her poised competence in the midst of the accident's chaos. Here was true character, untarnished by the manor's political intrigue. Ever the strategist, grandfather Liang Zhong saw in Mei Lin not only a kindhearted rescuer but also a collaborator who could fortify Liang Chen's authority and preserve the family's heritage. His still-recovering but razor-sharp mind started working on a plan that would surprise everyone.