The daughter of a big corporation's boss, appearing glamorous to others, but only Zhou Yun herself could feel the bitterness within. Although she ate well and dressed well, and everything was of the best quality, Zhou Yun felt she was not free.

She longed for freedom, but her background did not allow her too much liberty. From a young age, she had been a sacrificial pawn for her family's interests. As soon as she grew up, she would have to marry into another family for a union.

Zhou Yun detested such interest-based marriages, and she did not like her marriage partner either. Because of the family's coercion and inducement, the rebellious Zhou Yun no longer wanted to live this way for the rest of her life.

Thus, at the age of twenty-one, Zhou Yun ran away from home to pursue her freedom, firmly determined, even at the cost of breaking herself into pieces.

But her real-life experience was different from what she had imagined. Although she had learned various survival skills from a young age, mastering music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and several languages, she realized how difficult survival was once she truly entered society.

Due to a lack of social experience, all of Zhou Yun's money was swindled, and she found herself unable to survive. Being beautiful and innocent, and having no support, Zhou Yun encountered harassment from thugs.

Just as the hooligans were about to succeed, Ling Zhenfei's older brother happened to pass by and bravely rescued Zhou Yun. It was a classic hero-saving-beauty story, but Zhou Yun found it incredibly romantic, thinking this was what love should look like.

Ling Zhenfei's older brother was named Ling Zhenyue. Despite his family's financial difficulties, from a young age, he liked to practice martial arts. He was upright and humorous and, while working in the city, he accidentally saved Zhou Yun.

After hearing Zhou Yun's story, Ling Zhenyue gave her all the money on him, asking her to return to her financially secure home. But Zhou Yun did not want to go back, and she had already fallen for her rescuer.

Faced with such a beautiful woman, no man could refuse. So, not long after they fell in love, despite knowing the Ling Family's difficult life, Zhou Yun resolutely married Ling Zhenyue.

Of course, the Zhou Family did not give up searching for Zhou Yun. Shortly after her marriage to Ling Zhenyue, they found her.

That was the first time the Zhou Family came to Qinghe Village. The cars filled the dirt roads in the mountains, and the people in them occupied the Ling Family's courtyard until it was impenetrable.

The Zhou Family members wanted to forcibly take Zhou Yun away, but Ling Zhenyue tried to stop them. However, he was no match for the Zhou Family members. Not only did he fail to stop them, but he also ended up with a bruised and battered face.

Even though Zhou Yun was taken back to the Zhou Family, her marriage to Ling Zhenyue was already a fact. So the Zhou Family came to the Ling Family a second time.

The Zhou Family members explicitly told Ling Zhenyue that he was not good enough for Zhou Yun. They hoped to give Ling Zhenyue some money in exchange for him divorcing Zhou Yun and never contacting her again.

Ling Zhenyue naturally refused. He was not with Zhou Yun for her false wealth. But the Zhou Family left a large bundle of money and then left the Ling Family.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yun threatened with a hunger strike at the Zhou Family and was eventually sent back to the Ling Family.

The Zhou Family members stood at the Ling Family's door and arrogantly said to Ling Zhenyue and Ling Zhenfei, "You lower-class people are not worthy of our Zhou Family's daughter. The amount of money our family spends in a day is enough for you to earn in a lifetime."

"Zhou Yun, think carefully. If you insist on staying in this godforsaken place, the Zhou Family will never give you a penny again. Without money, you will suffer. If you regret it, it's not too late now."

Zhou Yun firmly said, "If you marry a chicken, follow the chicken; if you marry a dog, follow the dog. I have married Ling Zhenyue, so I am a member of the Ling Family. No matter how much I suffer in the future, this is the path I chose. I will never regret it."

"Zhou Yun, why must you marry such a lowly person? Do you know how much shame you have brought to our Zhou Family over this?"

Excited, Zhou Yun said, "We married willingly and in love. What's shameful about that? It's your mentality that's the problem. You always think you're superior. We're all human beings; there's no such thing as high or low."

"Zhou Yun, you've let me down too much. Do you know what your actions mean? It means you'll be a lower-class person from now on, never having enough to eat or wear, becoming a nobody in society."

"Who said leaving the Zhou Family would mean not having enough to eat or wear? I will live my life happily and beautifully. No one can look down on me."

"Hahaha, how ridiculous. In this society, you can't move an inch without money. Since you're willing to suffer, do as you please.

If there's a day you no longer want to live such a hard life, take the divorce certificate and come back. We're still family. As long as you apologize to the entire family, we might choose to forgive you."

Stubbornly, Zhou Yun said, "That day will never come. Even if I return, it will be in glory, not to suffer your humiliation."

"Fine, I will wait to see if you return in glory or if reality beats you down to the point where you have nowhere to go."

The Zhou Family members left and never returned.

Although Ling Zhenyue's family was poor, he was not a coward. He worked hard to give his family a good life. But who knew that misfortune would strike? One day, while returning from a job, Ling Zhenyue was involved in a car accident and passed away.

The Ling Family was left with only Zhou Yun and Ling Zhenfei, who was about to start college. Everyone in the village thought Zhou Yun would surely return to the Zhou Family, but she did not. Instead, she held up the household by herself and sent Ling Zhenfei to college.

Though she was only a few years older than Ling Zhenfei and had never worked on the farm, she managed to sustain the household and saw Ling Zhenfei through his graduation.

No one knew how she got through those years. Perhaps it was that deep-seated determination that carried her through.

But all these years, Zhou Yun never mentioned the Zhou Family as if she had forgotten the family she once lived with, but Ling Zhenfei did not forget.

He clearly remembered the words the Zhou Family members said at the door and the hardships Zhou Yun endured for him.

Now that they had money, he worked hard to expand Xishan Manor so that one day Zhou Yun could return to the Zhou Family with dignity, showing them a different Zhou Yun.

He wanted the Zhou Family to know that even without them, Zhou Yun could live a beautiful and happy life.

"Why make things so hard on yourself? We can just live our lives well, there's no need for such struggles." Zhou Yun said, though she was still somewhat moved in her heart.

With determination in his eyes, Ling Zhenfei said, "Sister-in-law, don't worry. I will make sure you live a good life, one that everyone envies. No one will ever look down on us again."

"Thank you so much, Zhenfei. What more could I say? I think only you in this world truly understand me." Zhou Yun said as she couldn't help but shed tears.

Ling Zhenfei rarely saw Zhou Yun cry, and for a moment, he was at a loss, hurriedly helping Zhou Yun wipe her tears.

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