The Heartbeat of Koi

(The blurb has been registered and taken down. We oppose all infringement. The full manuscript is complete. I'm on my knees, begging everyone not to take this novel. It will definitely make good on its promise.)

Murderer × illegitimate daughter

An earthquake strikes Yanghua City. Many people die, and only a few survive. Zheng Enying, trapped near the epicenter, miraculously survives, though no one believes it.

In the aftermath of the disaster, Zheng Enying lives for a long time in a world without sensation, blind and voiceless, isolated from society. She is sent to an orphanage, adopted, and eventually returned to her original family. Her senses gradually recover.

On the day she comes home, one order awaits her:

"Go to the scrap yard, rescue the Zhou family's eldest son, then destroy him."

As the eldest daughter of a wealthy, aristocratic family, Zheng Enying's purpose is to uphold the family's honor. Now, in the struggle to become the heir, she must constantly flatter and satisfy her family.

Destroying someone is easy for her.

A bizarre murder takes place at a lavish yacht party.

Zheng Enying roams freely with a dagger pointed at an employee, who is barely clinging to life beneath her. She stares expressionlessly at the employee's twisted face, and in an instant, realizes something is wrong.

Another dagger is pressed against her neck.

A man's voice rings out, pouring out threats.

"Caught you."

She thought they were just passing acquaintances, but after the party ended, she took the initiative and followed him.

Zhou Zhuzhao gets straight to the point and begs her to work with him.

Zheng Enying is barely interested. "I'm not a dog."

Zhou Zhuzhao nods. "Then I'll be one."

Zheng Enying's face goes blank.

Then she lets out a chilling laugh, completely without warning.

That day, Zheng Enying realizes that getting involved with this man will bring endless trouble in the future.

And yet that day, as if possessed, she wants to hear what exactly this man is up to.

"Who are we looking for?"

"It has a codename." Zhou Zhuzhao seems certain of victory as he shows her his phone. Densely packed vital-sign readings fluctuate on the screen, and a conspicuous red dot catches Zheng Enying's attention.

"Koi."

Zhou Zhuzhao is the eldest son of the Zhou family. People say his status was gained through less than honorable means, but that doesn't affect his bid to become the family's next heir. His personal prestige and accomplishments make his succession all but certain.

The confidants who work for Zhou Zhuzhao have had a few questions lately.

At first, he only arranged for people to find the assassin who tried to kill him back then.

Then it evolved into arranging for people to find someone with the codename Koi.

And finally, he stopped looking for anyone at all. He spends all day following a woman around, centering everything on her, and even looking up all sorts of inexplicable things, such as:

- What does it take to become a live-in son-in-law?

- Would a man score extra points for taking the bottom role?

- When does surveillance count as a crime?

- If you become a mistress, how do you quietly become the main partner?

Zhou Zhuzhao naively believes that he and Zheng Enying are perfect partners. They share the same ambitions and interests, and their methods work together perfectly. He plans to redefine their relationship after their partnership ends.

Once everything is ready, the unexpected happens.

Only then does he realize that this is one enormous lie.

Everyone has been utterly deceived by the lie.

Every theory is heading in the wrong direction.

Everyone but Zheng Enying.

Theme: Face your fate.