The Wealthy Heiress Wants to Date Me - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Predator and the Prey

Xie Changran never imagined that one day she would be running for her life through the Mohe rainforest.

The tangled, chaotic jungle had become a massive roadblock in her flight for survival, and she didn’t dare look back.

Huff… huff… huff…

After sprinting to her absolute limit, her chest felt filled with wind that seemed to tear at her capillaries; she could almost smell the metallic scent of blood rising from within her own body.

She glanced at the darkened woods. The night draped over the trees like a wild beast watching her from the shadows, terrifying her into running even faster.

She had only come here to deliver relief supplies as per her usual routine—and perhaps to snap a few photos to promote the company’s charitable image. Why had this turned into a desperate escape?

In the middle of the night, she had heard an attack on the camp. In the chaos, she was ushered out by a guide and her bodyguards. Then, a bodyguard had hidden her away and disappeared.

Dressed in a green shirt, Xie Changran huddled in a thicket, listening to footsteps that were gradually receding. She pressed both hands over her mouth, forcing herself to breathe slowly. Her ears were filled with the thunderous drumming of her own heart. Can I ever go back?

The combination of her racing pulse and the scent of blood in her throat brought tears to her eyes, but now was not the time to cry. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and her hair was a tangled mess.

How could a riot break out so suddenly at the camp? Was someone trying to kill her? Her gaze darkened as she pressed her hands even harder against her lips, leaving only a tiny gap to breathe. She forced herself to calm down, waiting for her heart rate to steady.

The only people who knew she was coming here were her family. Does my family want me dead?

At that thought, tears finally leaked out, but she held them back. She just had to wait quietly for her bodyguard. Her bodyguard would surely save her.

Hiding in the brush, Xie Changran heard footsteps approaching. Step by step, they were closing in on her location.

A black snake slithered past, raising its head with a sharp hiss. Xie Changran’s body went rigid. She began to back away slowly, not daring to move quickly or run. The snake flicked its tongue twice, then moved off in the other direction with a swift, almost disdainful motion.

She kept her hands clamped over her mouth. Sweat soaked her hair, and her face was ghostly pale. Only when the snake was gone did she dare breathe a sigh of relief.

But before she could fully exhale, more footsteps arrived just two meters away. The person was searching cautiously. Her heart leaped into her throat once more. Shrinking into the shadows of a tree, she prayed they would leave—or perhaps step on the black snake that had just left.

“Hm? A snake.” A man stepped directly onto the snake’s neck. “A mamba.” He scanned the surroundings. If the target were around, she would have screamed at the sight of this snake. Why was there no sound?

The man deliberately kicked the snake away and walked forward. He seemed to be getting further away, but in reality, he remained nearby, waiting silently in the shadows.

Xie Changran felt a spine-chilling sensation. She remained pinned against the tree, not daring to move a muscle. It wasn’t until ten minutes later, after hearing a light grunt and the sound of footsteps finally fading, that she relaxed slightly—though she still didn’t move. The rustling of leaves grew distant. She stayed put.

She waited until dawn the next day, eventually leaning against the tree and falling asleep without realizing it. The forest was filled with the intermittent chirping of birds and long, thin cooing sounds that felt eerie to her ears.

“Why hasn’t anyone come for me?” She hid deeper in the jungle. She hugged her knees, maintaining her composure and waiting patiently for rescue.

She waited for three days. During those three days, people had searched the area but failed to find her.

“Fortunately, they aren’t using infrared thermal imaging”, she murmured weakly to herself. If she had known, she never would have come to this primordial jungle. She had just wanted to take some photos, show some kindness, and promote the company internationally.

She carefully nibbled a piece of chocolate and swallowed it, hiding the rest in her pocket. She was currently surviving on her last two bars.

During those three days, the Xie family fell into chaos. They hurriedly announced her disappearance, and some even began to claim she was already dead.

The eighty-year-old matriarch of the family, Old Madam Xie, looked sternly at her descendants. Some were shiftless, some were indifferent, and some could barely contain their ambition. The Old Madam let out a cold snort. Everyone’s expressions froze, and they quickly adjusted their “masks.”

Old Madam Xie was a master of human nature and history; she would only choose the most outstanding individual to lead. The others were meant to simply sit back and collect dividends. During the start-up phase of the business, she had no time for children; by the time the business stabilized, the children’s characters were already set.

Of her one son and two daughters, the first two were “trash” who were easily swayed. Her choice was obvious: only her third daughter was worth grooming with all her might. That daughter had given birth to Xie Changran, who inherited the excellent genes of both her grandmother and mother and joined the Xie Group.

Those who hadn’t made it into the group could only work and live on the periphery. They were stripped of inheritance rights from the start. Even if Xie Changran died, they wouldn’t get a turn, because Xie Changran’s mother could still have more children.

Xie Linfeng, Changran’s mother, was a woman of swift and decisive action. She smiled like a gentle breeze but acted with the force of a thunderbolt.

“You all know what happened to Changran,” the Old Madam said, her gaze lingering on a few specific people. “Keep your mouths shut. When Changran was here, you were all ‘loving family.’ I expect you to remain consistent.”

The few who were singled out trembled slightly but quickly steadied themselves. As long as they didn’t show cowardice, the Old Madam couldn’t touch them. She chuckled and waved a hand, dismissing everyone.

She picked up the phone and began searching for the best team to find her granddaughter. Specifically, she reached out to one person—a woman with the strongest individual combat capabilities in the world. Most importantly, she was a woman with principles.

When she received the call, Cui Fu’s expression was cold, her eyes sharp like a human weapon. However, hearing the Old Madam’s voice, her aura slowly dissipated, replaced by a calm, indifferent exterior.

Her long, waterfall-like black hair draped over the edges of a lounge chair as she swayed comfortably.

“I want to ask you to save my unlucky, soft-hearted granddaughter,” the Old Madam’s voice sounded soft and sorrowful over the line.

Cui Fu, wearing sunglasses and staring at the blue sky and white clouds, said without emotion, “I’m retired.”

“Five million Euros as a deposit. Another five million upon completion,” the Old Madam said, offering a fortune. Xie Changran was the granddaughter she had raised herself. Despite her soft heart, there was a genuine bond there. She was the one child the Old Madam had poured all her warmth and life’s effort into.

Cui Fu remained silent, staring at the pool, seemingly deep in thought. The Old Madam upped the ante: “I can give you the Long Island of Flowing Lake.”

That caught Cui Fu’s interest. It was a beautiful private island—half near the mainland and half touching the sea, creating a lake-like intersection. It was stunningly beautiful and incredibly valuable.

After a moment, Cui Fu’s red lips parted. “Fine. But how I save her is my business. I want the deposit now. If she dies before I get there, the deposit is non-refundable.”

Old Madam Xie sighed in relief. “Deal. We’ll do it your way.”

The contract was finalized online, with physical copies sent to the world’s most reputable bank for safekeeping. Once the mission was complete, the Old Madam would be legally bound to pay the remaining fee.

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