The Creator's Grace - Chapter 1

This was Ran Jin’s bedroom. As soon as the door was pushed open, the same fragrance that clung to her wafted through the air.

The bedroom was tidy, even to the point of being meticulous.

Standing inside, Chi Yu glanced to the left—a simple walk-in closet. To the right, a corridor adorned with oil paintings and fossil rubbings led to a spacious study.

The warm yellow reading lamp in the study was still on, and several books with bookmarks lay on the desk.

It was easy to imagine that after Ran Jin had fled in disarray from her car the previous night, she likely hadn’t slept, perhaps reading through the entire night.

The closet wasn’t overly full, neatly lined with black work attire and long dresses for social occasions.

There were also accessories like watches, cufflinks, and rings, categorized and hung or arranged in order.

Chi Yu lifted a necklace with her fingertip, examined it briefly, then casually set it down.

The style, much like Ran Jin herself, was monotonous, unchanged over the years.

Apart from a one-and-a-half-meter-wide bed, the bedroom had no entertainment devices—not even a television. Instead, a spacious desk with two computers stood out prominently.

On the desk, several stacks of folders were neatly arranged. Chi Yu flipped through them—all project documents and blueprints handled by Ran Jin, with handwritten annotations in her script.

The light gray bedding and the placement of the desk in the bedroom matched her style, though it didn’t quite align with her sister’s preferences.

Moreover, the size of the bed was somewhat unexpected to Chi Yu.

It was hard to imagine how her sister and Ran Jin had slept on such a bed, which didn’t allow much room to stretch.

Chi Yu had always assumed her sister was someone who knew how to enjoy life.

As far as Chi Yu knew, this apartment had been purchased by her sister five years ago. Its proximity to the company made it convenient for resting after late work hours, and it allowed for an easy commute to the office the next morning.

Now, it seemed that any trace of her sister had vanished from this temporary residence.

Leaning back in the chair, Chi Yu slowly spun around, gazing out through the bright window. Against the vast blue sky, the U.P. Building loomed nearby.

The U.P. Building, majestic like an extraterrestrial structure, was the business empire her sister, Chi Li, had built from the ground up.

Resembling an alien creature crouching over the crisscrossing highways, it stood as one of the most striking landmarks of this supercity.

The Chi Empire was a voracious beast, greedily devouring the energy industry.

Now, her sister’s years of hard work had fallen into the hands of Ran Jin, the former lover she had nurtured. Far from slowing down, the empire had grown even more ferocious and intimidating.

Six years ago, this woman named Ran Jin had been brought back to the Chi family by her sister.

When she first arrived, no one knew who this woman—barely clinging to life—was, where she came from, or how she had met her sister.

All they saw was the eldest daughter carefully cultivating this mysterious woman, gradually entrusting her with most of the family’s businesses.

At just twenty-three years old back then, Ran Jin took root and flourished within the Chi Empire.

Not only did she control half of the Chi family’s assets, but her beautiful face also began appearing in major business magazines and on screens, becoming the most captivating presence in business, technology, and entertainment headlines.

Beautiful, intelligent, and seemingly flawless, Ran Jin gradually ascended to the pinnacle of public attention through repeated exposure.

Adored by all and hailed as perfect, she was called “the favored one of creation.”

In the eyes of her followers, Ran Jin was flawless, a Venus meticulously carved by the heavens.

At the time, Chi Yu was still a high school student, buried in her studies and paying little attention to the family business.

Her parents had passed away early, and her older sister, Chi Li, who was sixteen years her senior, took great care of her. Like a mother, the two sisters relied on each other, sharing a deep bond.

Her sister never forced her to do anything she disliked, allowing her to chart her own path in life.

The words her sister repeated most often were, “You don’t have to follow the paths others have walked a thousand times. Just do what you love and become who you want to be.”

The early loss of her parents didn’t bring Chi Yu the taste of hardship, for she knew it was her sister who had shielded her, creating a carefree space for her to grow up in.

Focused on her studies, Chi Yu had no objections to her sister gradually handing over the group’s affairs to Ran Jin. She knew her sister was a clear-headed person who always knew what she was doing.

Moreover, this “outsider” quickly shed her outsider status after entering the Chi family, transforming into the lady of the house.

The intimate relationship between her sister and Ran Jin was beyond doubt. Even as gossipy media outlets flooded their coverage with sensationalized stories about the business magnate and her girlfriend, it never stopped the two from appearing together in public.

Ran Jin had long since rightfully become a member of the Chi family. Chi Yu respectfully addressed her as “sister-in-law,” and subordinates referred to her as President Ran.

Though Ran Jin always responded to such titles with a faint, modest smile.

Chi Yu knew that while “sister-in-law” was somewhat reserved in private, she was her sister’s capable partner—decisive and firm in her actions. With her sister’s unwavering support, Ran Jin’s position within the Chi Group had long been unshakable.

Ran Jin’s rise was astonishingly swift, leaving both the Chi empire and the broader energy industry in disbelief.

Inevitably, rumors began to spread.

No matter what was said outside, Ran Jin seemed to pay no heed, focusing solely on supporting her sister.

Ran Jin possessed a sharp business acumen and keen market instincts. During the time Chi Yu was studying abroad, Ran Jin had already helped her sister eliminate their strongest competitor and secured the mining rights for lunar basalt and helium-3 on the moon.

When Chi Yu left the country, she bid a reluctant farewell to her sister.

Her sister had comforted her gently, promising that once Chi Yu completed her studies and returned home, the two sisters would never part again.

Who could have imagined that would be their final meeting?

When Chi Yu returned to the country, it was to attend her sister’s funeral…

They said her sister, always optimistic and full of ideals and ambitions, had taken her own life.

Chi Yu refused to believe it.

The heart-wrenching grief she felt at the funeral remained etched in her memory.

Her hardworking sister had been her last refuge in this world.

Now, the sister who cherished her most was gone, her death shrouded in mystery.

Losing her sister had already shattered her heart, and the police’s hasty conclusion of the case only fueled her anger.

The unsettling inconsistencies in the flawed investigation left Chi Yu with no choice but to dig deeper.

Her sister would never have taken her own life—she had no reason to.

Especially not without a word to her closest family, leaving so abruptly.

On her journey back to mourn, Chi Yu had already begun to unravel the truth.

All the evidence hidden in the gray corners, unearthed by Chi Yu after digging deep, pointed to that woman—

Ran Jin.

Four years ago, when Chi Yu went abroad, she had already heard some rumors about Ran Jin’s background.

The Ran Jin described in those rumors was not sincere toward the girlfriend who genuinely loved and cared for her. Her motives were impure—she was there to swallow up the Chi family’s assets and seek revenge against the Chi family.

Back then, Chi Yu dismissed these as baseless talk, nothing more than unfounded gossip.

Having lived under the same roof for many years, she had developed a fondness for this beautiful and intelligent sister-in-law.

Before going abroad, she sent the most vocal rumor-monger to prison, venting her anger on behalf of her sister and sister-in-law.

Little did she expect that things would unfold exactly as the rumors suggested, heading in the most terrifying direction.

Thinking of her sister, who had passed away so inexplicably and now lay buried deep underground, Chi Yu’s heart was torn apart by grief and fury. With a sharp whoosh, she yanked down the curtains in Ran Jin’s bedroom, using so much force that she nearly tore the curtain rod from its mount.

Perhaps it wasn’t just gossip.

The investigation results, word by word, proved that Ran Jin had been secretly expanding her influence within the Chi family without her sister’s knowledge. Her origins were unclear, yet she had indeed been plotting step by step.

Before her sister’s death, the two had broken up—suddenly and without warning.

Chi Yu had always believed that the breakup was the trigger that led to her sister’s murder.

Perhaps her sister had discovered the secret Ran Jin had long concealed, so Ran Jin killed her and sought to devour everything her sister had worked so hard to build.

What a beautiful dream.

But the Chi family wasn’t completely wiped out yet.

Chi Yu had never hated anyone so much.

Recalling the genuine affection she had once shown, treating Ran Jin as a close family member, Chi Yu felt nothing but overwhelming disgust.

Her phone rang—it was her assistant calling.

Chi Yu said, “I’ll be right there. Where is she?”

The assistant replied, “President Ran left with Miss Lu an hour ago.”

Lu Siqing, that police officer—again, her.

No wonder the police could ignore evidence that even Chi Yu had managed to uncover, allowing the suspect to remain at large.

Chi Yu hung up the phone and walked into Ran Jin’s walk-in closet, scrutinizing it once more. Indeed, there wasn’t a single piece of clothing that belonged to her sister.

Chi Yu sneered. Were you in such a hurry to kick my sister out of your world?

But it doesn’t matter.

Chi Yu thought to herself, I will make you remember her—the one who saved you and loved you dearly.

Guilt will follow you like a shadow.

Tonight, there was a banquet, which was actually a press conference for the Chi Group. Ran Jin was set to announce her recent acquisition of the energy mining rights in the Moon District.

How could Chi Yu miss such a highly anticipated evening?

Chi Yu wanted to make Ran Jin regret, make her suffer, and after ruining her reputation, bring her to justice along with that colluding police officer surnamed Lu.

Before attending the banquet, Chi Yu summoned her sister’s former assistant.

“Second Miss, I’ve brought what you asked for. Shall we change into it now?”

Chi Yu took the dress.

It was a pecan gray silk gown, stunning and accentuating the waistline.

The makeup artist hired by the Chi Group had been waiting for some time, ready to apply her makeup.

Thick, dark red curls cascaded over her delicate collarbones. Chi Yu opened her eyes and looked at herself in the mirror, wearing her sister’s dress. A smile curled on her crimson lips.

“Use my sister’s perfume too.”

“Of course.”

The scent of fir, black truffle, and jasmine—the top notes of her sister’s signature perfume—drifted into Chi Yu’s senses.

No doubt, Ran Jin would also “love” it.

The car was as silent as outer space. Ran Jin sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed over her chest, eyes closed, having just drifted into a light sleep.

Suddenly, Lu Siqing’s phone rang.

Ran Jin opened her eyes.

“Sorry, I woke you.”

Lu Siqing kept one hand on the steering wheel, frowned as she picked up her Bluetooth earpiece, and spoke softly:

“…I’m out with Xiao Jin. Yeah, yeah, we’ll talk later. Bye.”

She quickly hung up and glanced at Ran Jin.

Ran Jin struggled to open her swollen eyes a crack. Dark circles shadowed her weary face.

She glanced outside, confirming they were still some distance from their destination.

“Didn’t sleep well last night?”

“It was fine.”

“Didn’t sleep well, or didn’t sleep at all?”

“…”

Lu Siqing found her answer in the silence. She knew her old friend all too well.

Lu Siqing couldn’t help feeling irritated. “I thought her death would set you free. But look at you now.”

Ran Jin’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she closed her eyes tighter.

Lu Siqing glanced at Ran Jin’s neatly fastened cufflinks, her slender wrists hidden beneath her sleeves. Even on the hottest days, she never wore short sleeves.

Despite the perfectly fastened cuffs, faint red marks were still visible on her wrists.

Lu Siqing lowered her voice. “Was it Chi Yu?”

At the name, Ran Jin slowly opened her eyes. In the car window’s reflection, she saw herself—straight black hair resting on her shoulders, eyes clouded with unspoken silence. The bloodshot whites of her eyes were more pronounced than she’d expected, yet they formed a vivid, almost painterly image.

Ran Jin’s tone betrayed no emotion. “What about her?”

Lu Siqing grew agitated. “Don’t tell me she hasn’t been tormenting you lately!”

Driving restlessly, Lu Siqing felt guilty for venting at a victim and tried to rein in her temper. “Are you really going tonight?”

“It’s an important press conference. Of course I’ll attend.”

Lu Siqing hummed. “Then I’ll go with you.”

Ran Jin turned and offered a faint smile. “No need. I can handle it myself.”

“Handle Chi Yu? Handle that little brat? Do you even believe that yourself? Yes, you’re incredible—over the years, you’ve crushed competitors left and right, had people kneeling at your doorstep begging loud enough to wake the dead. Just look at the Moon District energy battle—Yidai Tech fought you to the brink and ended up filing for bankruptcy protection. Their founder, Wang Yan, even met his maker. I know you’ve got your methods, Ran Jie, but in this world, there’s always someone who can pin you down. That person is back now, targeting you at every turn. What are you going to do? Throw everything away?”

Lu Siqing’s words grew more heated as she spoke:

“Are you really willing to let it all go to waste? For Chi Yu?”

Her voice echoed through the car. Ran Jin remained seated calmly, took a mint candy from the compartment, unwrapped it, and handed it to her with a smile.

Lu Siqing: “…”

Before closing her eyes again, Ran Jin smiled nonchalantly at Lu Siqing and said:

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle my own affairs.”