The Rise of a Special Forces Soldier Abandoned by a Wealthy Family

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the "Liuli Time" café in light.

This café, located on the top floor of a building in Beijing's core business district, has become a favorite spot for certain circles due to its high level of privacy and exorbitant prices.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee and soft classical music.

In the most secluded viewing booth, a few girls sat together, forming a striking yet detached scene in the store.

The girl in the center position is Yan Ruge.

At only sixteen years old, she wore a perfectly tailored light white Chanel suit. Her face was as delicate as a porcelain doll, and her eyes, though clear, carried a coldness and indifference that were incongruous with her age.

Her slender fingers gently pinched the handle of the bone china cup as she sipped her Geisha coffee. Her movements were as elegant as a still oil painting, and she exuded an aloof and otherworldly aura.

Since the upheaval in the Zeng family, she has become even more taciturn.

Surrounding her were several close friends, all from prominent families and possessing outstanding personalities.

The atmosphere became subtly tense. Finally, Su Xiaotang, the most lively and straightforward young lady of the Su family, couldn't help but put down her macaron, lean forward, and lower her voice:

"Ru Ge, how long has it been? You need to have some kind of plan in mind, right?"

Her words broke the silence:

"That Zeng Linglong... oh no, I don't even know what to call him now. Anyway, he's that imposter from the Zeng family. He's lying in the hospital now, practically a living dead man."

"Really... whether he's alive or dead, where he is, nobody knows! Are you just going to keep waiting like this?"

"This marriage agreement between the Zeng and Yan families has long been a dead letter, practically a complete joke!"

Her words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

Li Qingran, the daughter of Minister Li, pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses, her tone more rational yet still tinged with concern:

"Xiaotang's words may be rough, but they make sense. Ruge, in this matter, you are one of the biggest victims."

"Now that the truth is out, there is no reason for this marriage agreement to continue, both morally and logically."

"You should stand up and clearly state your intention to dissolve the engagement. Both the Yan family and the outside world will support you."

Lin Wei, the younger and more gentle-natured sister of the Lin family, also chimed in softly:

"Yes, Sister Ruge."

"That fake Zeng Linglong used to bully you all the time and try to take advantage of you... It still disgusts to think about it now!"

"Are you really willing to let your future be tied down by a marriage contract that's already expired? It's not worth it!"

Her girlfriends chimed in with their own comments, but their core message was surprisingly consistent: they felt indignant on her behalf and urged her to break free from her shackles.

Yan Ruge remained silent, her long eyelashes drooping, casting a small shadow on her eyelids, making it impossible to see the emotions in her eyes.

She simply and slowly placed the coffee cup back into the saucer, making a very light, crisp sound.

She raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over several friends who genuinely cared about her. A slight twitch appeared at the corner of her mouth, a smile that was neither a smile nor a smile, carrying a hint of bitterness and a weariness beyond her years.

"Unwilling to accept it?"

She finally spoke, her voice clear and cold like jade beads falling onto a plate, yet carrying a hint of etherealness:

"What's there to be willing or unwilling about? From the very beginning, was my consent ever asked in this marriage agreement?"

She paused, gazing at the bustling cityscape of Beijing outside the window, her tone calm yet heartbreaking:

"In the past, he was the beloved 'crown prince' of the Zeng family. Even though he was unruly, this marriage was a matter between the two families, and I had no choice in the matter."

"Now... he's a vegetable lying in the hospital, or maybe even a fraudster of unknown origin, while the person who should really be there... is nowhere to be found. This engagement seems more like an irony."