Between heaven and earth, Shen Zhihan reigns supreme above all.

The paternity test showed that he and Yi Jiayang had no biological relationship whatsoever. There was also Mai Zhen’s confession video: "Brother Yi, I really had no choice! Your performance in bed is just so hopeless, and I am still so young, I simply had to satisfy myself. Brother Yi, you make sure you serve your prison sentence well!"

Nothing is more lethal than psychological torment, and this was the epitome of it.

Qiu Hong then dropped an even more bombshell revelation: "You once asked me if I had any connection to the Qiu family in Capital City, saying that I seemed a bit like Qiu Yuan. That is because Qiu Yuan is my third older brother. Back then, simply to experience life, I traveled thousands of miles from Capital City to Haicheng to study, where I met you and chose to stay and work in this unfamiliar city. My parents disliked you, and my family vehemently opposed our union. Later on, they declared that if I insisted on marrying you and staying in Haicheng, they would sever all familial ties with me.

All these years, my family has secretly supported me financially. I never told you because I, too, have my pride, and I was afraid that if you found out, you would force me to go back. I wanted to prove to them that my judgment was not flawed, that the man I chose was truly exceptional."

Having said this, a single tear slipped down Qiu Hong’s cheek. She said nothing more.

She knew that Yi Tiancheng would live to regret this for the rest of his days.

Yi Tiancheng’s remorse would not stem from any desire to turn over a new leaf; rather, it would be the agonizing, daily torment of knowing that he could have reached the pinnacle of success in a single bound, that he could have been the prized son-in-law of the prestigious Capital City Qiu family, only to utterly ruin a winning hand through his own greed.

After being with her, Yi Tiancheng had gradually revealed his obsession with power and status—yet the Qiu family was of the most illustrious and noble lineage.

Back then, although Qiu Hong had been blinded by love, she had still kept her guard up.

She had never told Yi Tiancheng that she was the daughter of the Capital City Qiu family.

She had believed that love could conquer all, and that she and Yi Tiancheng possessed enough capability to live a wonderful life even without relying on their parents.

She had grown up in the Qiu family without ever having to lift a finger, yet she had willingly rolled up her sleeves and cooked for Yi Tiancheng.

Cultivated to be exceptionally accomplished since childhood by the Qiu family, she had started a business from scratch in Haicheng, propelling the Yi family's status and prestige to soaring heights.

Everyone assumed it was all thanks to Yi Tiancheng.

No one ever knew that women could be just as formidable as men, and that Qiu Hong was the true mastermind pulling all the strings!

Yet Yi Tiancheng had attempted to burn the bridge after crossing it, plotting to murder both her and their son.

Upon hearing Qiu Hong confessing her identity as the young heiress of the Capital City Qiu family, Yi Tiancheng let out a frantic, crumbling shriek, consumed by a helpless and furious rage: "You bitch! Did you intentionally play me for a fool?!"

He then began to plead desperately: "I was wrong, Ah Hong, I was wrong."

Qiu Hong left without a single backward glance.

One act of betrayal forfeits all trust forever!

***

An'an witnessed the ruthless way Shen Zhihan dealt with Yi Tiancheng. Knowing that Shen Zhihan was angry, she wrapped her arms around his neck and coquettishly coaxed, "Daddy, don't be mad anymore. Didn't everything turn out safe and sound in the end? It just so happens that the PAW Patrol saved the day! Oh, right, I'm going to go find them. Daddy, they're all stray fur-babies who got lost, or were abandoned by their owners, and I even heard some escaped from restaurants. Shall we find them a new home?"

How could Shen Zhihan possibly say no?

"They want meaty bones, beef steaks, chicken cutlets, lots and lots of meat." The little one stretched her arms out wide, gesturing a huge, expansive circle.

Shen Zhihan gave the order for a cargo truck to be brought over.

An'an led Shen Zhihan to an abandoned old factory.

Night had already fallen, and the dogs' eyes glinted in the darkness, though not quite as brightly as a wolf's.

An'an called out, "Come on out, my PAW Patrol friends."

One by one, stray dogs scampered out, wildly wagging their tails at An'an with such boundless enthusiasm that their entire bodies seemed to shake.

An'an hopped down from Shen Zhihan's arms, eager to pet the dogs.

To everyone's surprise, one of the dogs took a step back instead: "We're so itchy and have fleas. Can you let Princess An'an pet us after we've been all washed and cleaned up?"

An'an immediately looked up at Shen Zhihan: "Daddy, can I give them a nice, clean bath?"

Before Shen Zhihan could reply, he was hit by a fit of earth-shattering sneers, sneezing so hard that tears welled up in his eyes.

Shen Zhihan possessed a naturally fair complexion, and because the sneezes refused to stop, his eyes were now flushed red, making him look on the verge of tears—a remarkably pitiful sight.

If any of Shen Zhihan's usual suitors were to witness him looking like this, they would likely shriek in starry-eyed infatuation.

Normally projecting the fierce aura of a large hound, he currently resembled a delicate, pitiful lapdog instead.

Even though he had already turned twenty-eight, he wouldn't look out of place playing a college student.

An'an asked with eyes full of worry, "Daddy, what's wrong?"

Jiang Yue explained from the side, "President Shen is allergic to dog hair."

An'an immediately took a pretty little handkerchief from her own bag and handed it over: "Daddy, if you cover your nose with this, you probably won't sneeze anymore. I'm sorry, Daddy, I didn't know you were allergic to dog hair."

While Shen Zhihan went to the hospital for his allergy, An'an, accompanied by Jiang Yue, headed to the largest pet shop in Haicheng to have the staff bathe and de-flea the stray dogs.

Because these dogs were all going to be put up for adoption eventually, Jiang Yue filmed a video.

She first recorded the dogs in their original, unkempt stray state, and then documented how they looked after being washed and groomed.

Some of these stray dogs were blind in one eye, some had missing limbs, some lacked a single patch of unblemished skin, while others turned out to be remarkably handsome dogs once cleaned up.

Whenever An'an saw an injured dog, she would step forward to comfort it.

The dogs were whimpering and communicating amongst themselves.

"That's wonderful, it turns out there really are good humans after all. Princess An'an can understand what we say, and having her here makes me feel so at ease."

"Can't we just follow Princess An'an?" one of the smaller dogs voiced its innermost wish.

An'an walked over and patted its newly cleaned head: "I'm sorry, but Daddy is allergic to dog hair, and I don't want to make Daddy uncomfortable."

As vast as the world was, Shen Zhihan was the most important person in it.

The little dogs expressed their understanding.

"Don't worry, we'll find you suitable owners and never let you be stray dogs again."

At this, An'an’s little face suddenly took on a slightly puzzled expression: "Doggies, there's a question I've always wanted to ask."

"Princess An'an, please ask away."

The dogs called her Princess An'an, but An'an corrected them: "I don't want to be a little princess; I want to be my own queen. When I grow up, I'm going to become very powerful and take care of Daddy. So you shouldn't call me a little princess anymore."

Listening from the side, Jiang Yue looked at An'an in astonishment.

Every little girl probably holds a princess dream, fantasizing about being a monarch in a castle with everyone adoring her and revolving around her.

Just how old was An'an? She would only turn four at the end of June, yet she already understood a truth that Jiang Yue had only realized at fourteen.

A little yellow dog whose tail was as fluffy as a dandelion let out a bark: "Queen An'an, please speak."

Amused, An'an giggled brightly.

"Mhm, I am Queen An'an."