THIP Chapter 46 V2

“Yes, ma’am,” the butler replied respectfully. “That girl is the one we’re looking for.”

“Then she’ll do.” Mu Liuyin nodded slightly, then walked up to the mission target. Her usually indifferent voice softened slightly. “Would you like to come with me?”

The man standing in front of the girl looked at her with a gentle gaze. Her face flushed instantly. She hadn’t expected to be adopted, and now, as she looked at Mu Liuyin’s handsome and gentle features, she felt almost enchanted. Stammering, she said, “Y-yes, I’d like that.”

Mu Liuyin was amused by her reaction, and the corners of her lips curved into a gentle smile.

The warm sunlight fell softly on her, casting a gentle glow around her figure.

Gu Changran would never forget that day.

Because on that day, she was adopted by the person she would love most for the rest of her life.

Even after arriving at the Gu residence, Gu Changran still felt like she was dreaming.

“My name is Gu Changxi. From now on, I’ll be your older brother,” Mu Liuyin said, reaching out to gently ruffle the girl’s hair. “What’s your name?”

The girl was stunned for a moment before murmuring, “I… I don’t have a name.”

That orphanage had never even registered her in the system.

Mu Liuyin gently ruffled her hair again and said in a warm, steady voice, “Then take my surname. I’m Gu Changxi. You’ll be Gu Changran. How’s that?”

“I hope your life will always be peaceful.”

After settling the girl into the room that had been prepared for her, Mu Liuyin lowered her eyes, reviewing the storyline in her mind.

The mission target, Gu Changran, was originally the youngest daughter of the prestigious Luo family. When she was a child, she went missing during an accident and ended up in a remote orphanage.

She had been so young when she was lost that, as she grew up, she couldn’t remember which family she had come from or even her name.

Life at the orphanage had been hard. Gu Changran often didn’t get enough food, and because she was too pretty and looked nothing like a typical orphan, the other children would gang up and bully her.

There were several times she thought she would die from the abuse—lying on the cold floor, alone and hopeless, and no one would care.

She had been adopted a few times when she was younger because of her pretty and sweet appearance, but each time she was returned because of her near-autistic personality. After all, no one wanted to adopt a “broken” child.

Deep down, Gu Changran had always longed for family, but repeated disappointment made her increasingly withdrawn and silent.

She didn’t even have a name until she was thirteen, when a man named Gu Changxi came to the orphanage and adopted her.

Gu Changxi gave her a name and told her to call him “Brother.” Gu Changran, who had never felt familial love before, fell for it instantly.

But what she thought was love and warmth was just the beginning of an even more terrifying nightmare.

Gu Changxi had another “sister” named Bai Qi—a delicate and lovely girl. She was pale and had a pair of beautiful, watery eyes. Her features were gentle and refined, always carrying a fragile, pitiful charm.

Bai Qi never had to go to school because Gu Changxi hired the best private tutors for her.

She was allowed to act spoiled around him, and no matter how unreasonable her requests were, Gu Changxi always ended up giving in.

Gu Changran was envious of Bai Qi.

Even though Gu Changxi was nice to her as well, it wasn’t the same kind of warmth.

Gu Changxi had also hired tutors for Gu Changran, saying it was to help her catch up on school, but she was never allowed to leave the Gu estate. Nor was she ever allowed to interact with Bai Qi.

Years later, when Bai Qi had a health crisis, Gu Changran finally found out the truth—Bai Qi had been born with a congenital heart defect.

No wonder she never went to school.

No wonder… Gu Changran had been adopted.

After Bai Qi fell ill, Gu Changxi coldly told Gu Changran the real reason she was brought into the household: to be a heart donor for Bai Qi.

Bai Qi had a rare blood type, making it nearly impossible to find a matching heart—except Gu Changran’s heart was a perfect match.

Gu Changran was locked up, waiting for the day when Bai Qi’s condition would be stable enough for surgery.

But during those days, what Gu Changran kept thinking was: Gu Changxi didn’t even know that if he had just asked, she would’ve given up her life willingly, just because he gave her the feeling of family.

Even if it had all been an illusion.

Still, deep inside, she had hoped Gu Changxi might change his mind, that she might have some tiny place in his heart.

But false affection is still false. Even when she was pushed onto the operating table, Gu Changxi showed no hesitation.

After the surgery, Bai Qi made a full recovery without any signs of rejection.

In the end, using Gu Changran’s heart, Bai Qi married Luo Chen, the eldest son of the Luo family.

Luo Chen never knew that his wife was alive only because she had received the heart of the very sister his family had been searching for all along.

The most horrifying part? Gu Changxi had known Gu Changran’s true identity from the moment he adopted her.

Mu Liuyin let out a quiet, helpless laugh. This mission target was foolish in a tragically adorable way—so willing to give up her heart for Bai Qi over a few scraps of fake affection.

Her lashes lowered slightly.

She couldn’t let this simple, sweet girl end up with that kind of fate ever again.