Chapter 1: Trash

Dusk was approaching, and the evening glow spread across the western horizon. The warm yellow sunlight spilled over the Qin family's backyard, illuminating Qin Su's uneasy little face.

"Third Sister, I... I'm not feeling very well, I want to go back first."

Qin Su peeked out from behind Ming Yu, whispering to Qin Qin, who was blocking their path, her eyes darting around restlessly.

"What's the rush to go back? I still have something to ask of you." Qin Qin's smile was as bright as the midday sun. Reaching out, she pushed Ming Yu aside and pulled Qin Su—who was half a head shorter—to her side, saying imperiously, "I just learned a new magic today. Help me see how effective it is."

Upon hearing the word "magic," Qin Su's face instantly turned pale, yet she didn't dare utter a single word of refusal.

The maid, Ming Yu, grew even more anxious. This wasn't "witnessing" something; this was life-threatening. Thus, she summoned her courage to argue, "Third Young Lady, the injuries the Sixth Young Lady sustained last time haven't healed yet. Could you please pick someone else to test it on? Or perhaps..." Ming Yu plucked up her courage and straightened her back, "This servant can do it."

Qin Qin glared at Ming Yu and rebuked her sharply, "I am speaking to your mistress, how dare a lowly maid like you butt in? You are becoming more and more unruly. Slap her!"

"Wait!" Seeing two maids grabbing Ming Yu to strike her, Qin Su hurriedly pulled at Qin Qin's sleeve. Catching a glimpse of her disgusted gaze, she quickly let go and said submissively, "I beg Third Sister to let Ming Yu go. My body is already better; I will accompany Third Sister to witness the new magic right now..."

When she spoke the words "magic," the moisture in Qin Su's bright, large eyes dimmed slightly. She also wanted to learn mysterious and beautiful magic, but... she could never learn it.

Stopping her hand, Qin Qin gave a disdainful snort and pointed at the kneeling Ming Yu, scolding, "I'll let you off this time for Sixth Sister's sake. Next time, use your brain before you speak or act. Is magic something a servant like you is allowed to witness? Even your mistress isn't qualified to learn it, let alone you! Those who don't know would think our Qin family has no sense of hierarchy, letting a servant learn magic that even a master couldn't. Hmph." Having finished, she impatiently nudged Qin Su, "Move it, don't dawdle. Every time I ask you to do something, you make excuses. You're never easy to deal with!"

Qin Su followed her command, her gaze even dimmer than before. Ming Yu, who understood her mistress's heart best, followed behind Qin Su with reddened eyes. Qin Su turned back to give her a comforting smile and then focused on keeping up with Qin Qin's pace. The young mistress was so sensible it was heartbreaking, but how many of Qin Qin's cruel "trials" could that frail body endure...

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21st Century, Yongkang Hospital. A silver-white Hyundai ix35 slowly drove out of the underground parking lot. As the window rolled down, a slender, fair hand took a magnetic card and swiped it at the barrier. With a "ding," the barrier slowly rose.

"Dr. Qin, heading home after work?"

A head poked out from the security booth window to greet the person in the car. Qin Su gave a slight nod as a response, then turned the steering wheel and left the parking lot.

It was currently 3:35 PM Beijing time. Qin Su held her throbbing head with one hand, truly unable to figure out what was wrong with her today—why she kept spacing out and why she felt a constant sense of unease.

Having postponed a surgery to go home and rest, Qin Su waited intently for the green light. Her residence was far from the city center, and since it wasn't peak hour yet, there wasn't much traffic. When the light turned green, Qin Su started moving again. Suddenly, a black Porsche sped through a red light at high speed, seemingly timing it perfectly to slam into the Hyundai ix35 that had just crossed the line.

The ear-piercing screech of metal grinding tore through the air. The silver-white car flipped over, thick smoke billowing out. Even after the black Porsche fled the scene in a disheveled manner, no one crawled out from inside the small car.