Lin Yin should have had a happy family.

But her life was shattered by a car accident in her childhood, robbing her of her parents forever.

Thankfully, her uncle’s presence kept her from ending up on the streets—but their life was far from easy.

Poverty, coupled with her uncle’s illness, meant their family teetered on the brink of collapse. If not for their sheer will to survive, no one could have predicted when they might finally break.

Yet, despite it all, Lin Yin—ever hopeful—worked tirelessly to support herself and her uncle. Even as a child, she took on part-time jobs to make ends meet.

After turning eighteen, she worked even harder, juggling multiple jobs just to pay for her uncle’s medical treatment. Few could have endured such pressure.

With her small but unyielding shoulders, Lin Yin single-handedly shouldered the burden of their entire household, all for the sake of moving forward.

Finally, her efforts paid off—she was just a paycheck away from gathering enough money for her uncle’s major surgery. As soon as the remaining wages were deposited, she could take him to the hospital.

With her last job behind her, Lin Yin pedaled her bicycle home, her heart lighter than it had been in years.

Never had she felt such joy.

The wind tousled her slender hair, and a faint smile graced her delicate face, her bright eyes shining with a newfound radiance.

She had already begun planning her future.

Once her uncle recovered, she would find a job she truly loved, make new friends, enrich her life, and perhaps even learn new skills to prepare for what lay ahead.

Soon, Lin Yin approached the modest residential building where she rented a room—a place in the old town, home mostly to elderly residents or those too poor to afford better housing.

But as she neared her building, she noticed an expensive car parked downstairs—one she could never afford, even if she worked her entire life.

Puzzled, Lin Yin parked her bicycle and glanced at the luxurious vehicle before heading upstairs.

For some reason, a sense of foreboding settled over her.

And that premonition came true the moment she reached her doorstep.

There, kneeling pitifully in front of the sofa, was her gaunt uncle, begging desperately, his voice trembling with despair.

He was terrified of the man before him.

"Mr. Qin, please… just give me a little more time. I swear I’ll pay you back."

Hearing this, Lin Yin froze in shock.

*Pay him back?*

Their family was indeed in debt—but it was money borrowed from relatives for medical expenses.

Even if pressured, relatives wouldn’t resort to such cruelty, especially not ones who weren’t unreasonable.

Lin Yin’s gaze shifted to the man seated on the sofa.

She was certain she had never seen him before—he was far too young.

Yet his features were strikingly handsome, even more so than any celebrity on TV. But there was something dangerous about his beauty, a lethal allure that was impossible to ignore.

This was a man she must never approach.

Lin Yin resolved firmly in her mind.

The man lounged casually on the sofa, his beautiful eyes cold and unfeeling.

Faced with her uncle’s pleas, his expression remained utterly unreadable—no sympathy, only ruthless indifference.

The towering bodyguard beside him only made the scene more terrifying, like something out of a crime drama.

"Mr. Qin, please…" her uncle begged, voice breaking.

Lin Yin, still stunned, couldn’t process what was happening.

The man smirked at her uncle’s desperation, the corners of his lips curling into a cruel smile—but his words were even more chilling.

"Cut off his hand."

At his command, the bodyguard stepped forward, a sleek, dagger-like knife appearing in his hand as if by magic.

Lin Yin snapped back to reality, rushing into the room with a scream.

"Stop this right now!" she shouted, trembling as she shoved the bodyguard aside. "This is a civilized society—you can’t just do this without consequences!"

She was terrified, her hands shaking as she tried to shield her uncle from the blade.

Truthfully, fear gripped her—but love for her family gave her courage.

"What did my uncle even owe you?" she demanded, her voice steady despite her panic.

The man raised an eyebrow in surprise—no one had ever barged into his presence like this.

Lifting his captivating gaze, he studied Lin Yin with interest.

"You uncle owes me money from my casino," he said coolly. "A sum you could never repay."

Lin Yin clenched her fists, then pulled out a savings book from her bag—the money she had painstakingly saved for her uncle’s treatment. She threw it at his feet.

"Here, is this enough?"

Though she didn’t know the full story, her uncle’s desperation made it clear he was in deep.

She could figure out the surgery costs later—if she didn’t pay now, her uncle might lose his hand.

The man flipped through the savings book, his lips curling into a smile as he glanced at Lin Yin again.

How strange—this woman was unexpectedly striking.

He had seen countless beautiful, alluring women, many in his own circle.

But Lin Yin’s delicate, unspoiled beauty was unlike anything he had ever encountered. His gaze lingered with newfound interest.

Her small, resolute face betrayed her fear, but her protective instincts shone brighter.

*Interesting.*

He closed the savings book and gestured for the bodyguard to step back.

The man obeyed, tucking away his knife and retreating to a corner, ready to act at a moment’s notice.

"Why don’t you ask your uncle if this is enough?" the man said, his voice smooth and unexpectedly magnetic.

Lin Yin blinked, staring at him in confusion.

Somehow, her fear had faded.

She bit her lip, turning to her uncle—who was still kneeling behind her—and felt a pang of sorrow.

She still couldn’t understand why he had turned to gambling at a time like this.

"Uncle…" she called softly.

Li Ye flinched at her voice, too ashamed to meet his niece’s eyes.

He was a useless man—far from the protector he should have been. In truth, it was always Lin Yin who had taken care of him.