《The True Heiress Is The Real Bigshot》 Chapter 1 Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°Zijin, although you are our daughter, we have raised Xiao Xuan for fifteen years and have deep feelings for her. She¡¯s been brought up in wealth, unlike you, who have always endured hardships in the countryside. Thus, Xiao Xuan will remain the young mistress of the Ying Family.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit unfair to you, but you¡¯re so kind-hearted, mom knows you definitely won¡¯t mind. Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t miss out on anything you deserve.¡± ¡°What? You want to go too? Are you joking? They¡¯re looking for socialites, and you can¡¯t even play a single piano piece. What¡¯s there for you to do but embarrass yourself?¡± In the dream were chaotic figures and a cacophony of voices. It took a few seconds for Ying Zijin to fully awaken. Her long lashes fluttered, her eyes opened, and what came into view was a white hospital room filled with the smell of disinfectant lingering in her nostrils. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awake?¡± A sarcastic voice came from above her head. ¡°Thought you had died. Don¡¯t move, what are you moving for? If the needle comes out, will you take responsibility?¡± A hand held her down, pinching her wound forcefully. However, the girl showed no expression of pain. She flipped her wrist over, pressing that hand against the bedside table. The person immediately shrieked in pain, ¡°Are you crazy?!¡± ¡°Xiao Jin!¡± There was another young woman in the ward, startled, she hurried over, ¡°This is Doctor Lu, he¡¯s not here to harm you.¡± The girl turned her head, revealing a face so pale it was devoid of any color, looking wan and lacking in Vitality Qi Spirit. But upon closer inspection, her features were quite delicate, with beautiful phoenix-shaped eyes. With a slight turn, a faint light passed over them, the colors fleeting and ephemeral, having a strong bewitchment power. The woman¡¯s eyes flickered with concern, ¡°Xiao Jin, do you feel unwell anywhere else?¡± The girl didn¡¯t speak, but her hand loosened. Doctor Lu massaged his wrist as he stepped back, scolding, ¡°Indeed, an uneducated ingrate.¡± Ying Zijin lifted her gaze, her narrow phoenix eyes still moist with dew. Her voice, hoarse from just having woken up, had an added touch of hazy coldness, ¡°Sorry, just woke up, I thought I was being bitten by a dog.¡± Doctor Lu¡¯s face changed, ¡°You!¡± ¡°Alright, Xiao Jin has already apologized, let¡¯s not fight,¡± the woman said, trying to calm the situation, her expression filled with self-reproach, ¡°Xiao Jin, I¡¯m sorry, if it wasn¡¯t for my illness, there was no need for you to give a blood transfusion. I didn¡¯t expect that it would cause you to faint.¡± ¡°She got what she deserved!¡± Doctor Lu said with disgust, ¡°Isn¡¯t she just the foster daughter your Ying Family took in out of pity? Do you really need to go to the trouble of finding me to help her recuperate?¡± The woman sighed, ¡°Xiao Jin has suffered too much; how can she compare to Xiao Xuan?¡± ¡°She cannot compare,¡± Doctor Lu now laughed scornfully, ¡°I¡¯ve heard from my brother that she is second in her grade, not like a certain ingrate who got into the Elite Class by paying money, trailing behind by over three hundred points to the penultimate one, truly embarrassing.¡± The woman frowned, ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Xiao Jin was the top student in her previous middle school.¡± Doctor Lu sneered, ¡°A top student from a county town who can¡¯t even get into a second-tier university.¡± However, the conversation between the two didn¡¯t affect Ying Zijin at all. She glanced casually at the woman, and a name surfaced in her mind¡ª Ying Luwei. Her younger aunt, 25 years old this year, Shanghai City¡¯s number one socialite and a famous pianist in Hua Country. Due to a genetic mutation, Ying Luwei had a rare condition of hemophilia. This disorder meant a patient¡¯s wounds would bleed continuously and struggled to heal; furthermore, her blood type was the extremely rare Rhnull, very difficult to match, and until now, there was no complete cure. Ying Zijin glanced at her delicate wrist, so thin that even the veins were visible, and gave a listless ¡°tsk.¡± She had died in the Spirit Cultivation World, yet here she was again on Earth, the same place she had once visited. After a slumber of nearly seventeen years, her consciousness and memory were now fully awakened. Her name remained Ying Zijin, a name that had been with her for a long time. Only now, she was no longer the Divine Calculator of the World from the Spirit Cultivation World, ¡°who could determine life and death with a single divination and perceive fortunes and calamities with a glance.¡± The current her was a foster daughter of the Ying Family, who was unfit to be presented in public, and Ying Luwei¡¯s personal Living Blood Bank, available at a moment¡¯s call. Her recent fainting spell was due to Ying Luwei¡¯s injury. She had her blood forcibly drawn numerous times over the past few days, without any chance of resistance. ¡°What exactly happened at that time?¡± Doctor Lu looked at Ying Luwei, ¡°Who pushed you down? You were there, did you see anything?¡± The last question was directed at the girl. Seeing her motionless, Doctor Lu¡¯s anger surged, ¡°I¡¯m asking you, have you gone mute?¡± Chapter 2 Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°Noisy,¡± Ying Zijin said with a languid look in her eyes. ¡°Quiet.¡± ¡°What kind of attitude is that?¡± Doctor Lu slammed the folder in his hand onto the table and sneered, ¡°Luwei, I am sorry, but with her attitude, I am not treating her illness now.¡± Ying Zijin leisurely straightened her clothing, ¡°The door is there.¡± Doctor Lu had hoped the girl would speak softly and beg him. He did not expect his punch to hit air, his expression momentarily flustered. His face burned with humiliation as he spat out, ¡°You seduced your own uncle, acting all high and mighty,¡± and hurriedly left. ¡°Xiao Jin!¡± Ying Luwei chided, ¡°Doctor Lu is an expert rehabilitation physician. You have made her angry. What will you do about your health?¡± ¡°Hmm, an expert at administering glucose,¡± said Ying Zijin indifferently, ¡°if one didn¡¯t know better, they¡¯d think I was about to undergo some major surgery.¡± Ying Luwei felt a pang in her heart, ¡°Xiao Jin?¡± Propping herself up with her elbow, Ying Zijin sat up in bed, ¡°But the expert makes sense. I too would like to know who pushed my aunt downstairs. Wrongdoers will eventually reveal their own mistakes.¡± She picked up the mobile phone by her bed and looked at the woman, ¡°Don¡¯t you agree?¡± The girl¡¯s momentum suddenly became overwhelming, and Ying Luwei found herself unable to cope. Frowning and displeased, she said, ¡°Xiao Jin, you really should stop being so willful. I don¡¯t care if you hurt me, but if you keep this up and offend someone important one day, how will your aunt protect you?¡± ¡°I should thank my aunt in advance, then. I heard you picked this hospital room especially for me,¡± Ying Zijinh remarked as she looked up at the door number with a seemingly amused expression, ¡°Nice number.¡± Having said that, she didn¡¯t even wait to see the woman¡¯s reaction and walked straight out of the 914 ward. Ying Luwei bit her lip, her eyes shadowy and troubled. After some thought, she still took out her phone and dialed a number. Once connected, she spoke in a low voice, ¡°Moyuan, Xiao Jin usually listens to you the most. Could you help me persuade her?¡± There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone as if taken aback by her request, then came the cold reply, ¡°Take good care of yourself and don¡¯t bother with her. If she continues to overstep, I will have someone send her away.¡± ** Snow fluttered down, dressing the landscape in glistening white. Shanghai City stood by the sea, where even in the depths of winter, it normally wouldn¡¯t snow. But this year, in late January, snow began to drift down from the sky, cool and refreshing. At nine o¡¯clock in the evening, the streets were bustling with people coming and going. The girl was dressed in only a simple black blouse, with long, straight legs. She carried a shoulder bag and walked slowly, completely out of sync with everything around her. Her complexion was pale yet strikingly beautiful. Occasionally, the light from neon signs skimmed across her eyes and brows, as if casting a slow-moving halo of shattered stars. Across the street¡ª ¡°Hey, The Seventh Young Master,¡± Nie Chao¡¯s gaze fixed instantly and he nudged the person next to him, ¡°Guess who I just saw?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± The man appeared nonchalant, ¡°Saw an old flame again?¡± He leaned casually against the wall, his frame tall and his posture relaxed, exuding a playboy vibe. His fingers, as delicate as plum blossoms, toyed with a ring, looking even whiter than jade. The snow hazed his features, which did not hide his pure and dazzling beauty but seemed to set him apart from the mortals. The man had naturally smiling, peach blossom eyes, gently curved, as if bearing affection for everyone, those eyes electrifying and irresistibly charming. Born a soul-stirring seducer. Nie Chao thought to himself, no wonder those socialites couldn¡¯t see anyone else when confronted with such a face; he, a man, felt like kneeling. ¡°No old flame, I never rekindle old relationships. I saw that girl the Ying Family adopted a few months back.¡± The man hummed absentmindedly, his right leg slightly bent, revealing a profile where every curve and line was perfectly exquisite, making passersby turn their heads frequently. Nie Chao knew he wasn¡¯t interested, so he added, ¡°You¡¯ve only just come back, so you don¡¯t know. That foster daughter of the Ying Family seduced her aunt¡¯s fianc¨¦.¡± The man¡¯s brows lifted slightly, showing some interest finally, ¡°Jiang Moyuan?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the one,¡± Nie Chao clicked his tongue, ¡°She¡¯s got guts.¡± Jiang Moyuan was a generation older than these young masters, only five or six years older by age, not even thirty yet, and already the head of the company; everyone in Shanghai City respectfully called him ¡°Third Master Jiang.¡± Jiang Moyuan and Ying Luwei were well-matched, both coming from the Four Major Noble Families¡ªone was the leading socialite of Shanghai City; the other was the most eligible bachelor for whom the socialites yearned. Nie Chao sighed, ¡°The Seventh Young Master, if you were serious in your pursuits, with your face, you¡¯d definitely be the one they all want to marry.¡± Chapter 3 Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` In Shanghai City, the most notorious name besides Jiang Moyuan was the man before his eyes, Fu Yunshen, The Seventh Young Master of the Fu Family. However, the latter¡¯s reputation was not a good one; it seemed that aside from a handsome face and wealth, no other merits could be found. But Nie Chao always felt that he couldn¡¯t see through this dandy playboy. Fu Yunshen¡¯s eyes were restrained as he smiled carelessly, ¡°I certainly don¡¯t want to be like him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Nie Chao said, ¡°It¡¯s better to enjoy life¡¯s pleasures freely. Luckily, I¡¯m not the only child in my family, so I won¡¯t be forced by the old man to take over the company.¡± Fu Yunshen didn¡¯t speak. ¡°You might not know, but the Ying Family taking in a foster daughter is just to provide blood for Ying Luwei; it¡¯s quite pitiful,¡± Nie Chao continued, ¡°But the pitiable also have their detestable points. I think this foster daughter of the Ying Family is lacking in character.¡± He scrutinized the girl, inevitably astounded, ¡°But she really is good-looking, tsk tsk, none of those from the capital can compare to her.¡± Fu Yunshen still gave no response, his peach blossom eyes slightly lowered, his thoughts unknown. With no one to gossip with, Nie Chao also lost interest. Just as he was about to ask the man if he wanted to check out the newly opened bar, he was suddenly surprised, ¡°Hey, The Seventh Young Master, it seems like the Ying Family¡¯s foster daughter is in trouble.¡± Five street thugs who had appeared out of nowhere blocked the girl¡¯s way, their faces bearing ill-intentioned, lewd smiles, with two of them holding knives in their hands. Many people around noticed the scene but merely glanced at it coldly, before hurrying on their way. ¡°Now I believe in karma,¡± Nie Chao didn¡¯t move, as if watching a good drama, ¡°Look at her slender arms and legs, pitiful indeed.¡± Fu Yunshen, without looking, finally spoke, ¡°Go help her out.¡± ¡°Help?¡± Nie Chao doubted he heard correctly, ¡°No way, The Seventh Young Master, are you actually asking me to help her? Do you know how bad her reputation is in Shanghai City? Getting involved would be like getting smeared with filth.¡± ¡°She¡¯s just a young girl,¡± Fu Yunshen lifted his eyelids, ¡°You¡¯re also just going by hearsay. In the depths of a wealthy family, black and white reversal is the norm; how could you know what kind of person she really is?¡± Nie Chao thought about it as well, ¡°But why should I be the one to help?¡± Fu Yunshen lazily stated, ¡°You know karate.¡± ¡°Fine, fine, fine,¡± Nie Chao helplessly agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll help, but if I get blamed by the Ying Family¡¯s foster daughter later, I¡¯m going to say it was you.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Fu Yunshen indifferently affirmed, ¡°it¡¯s on me.¡± Nie Chao somewhat reluctantly stepped forward, but before he could reach her, an unexpected event occurred. The girl emotionlessly grabbed the wrist of the leading thug and, with a quick raise and an over-the-shoulder throw, her moves were chillingly ruthless. In less than ten seconds, she threw punches and kicks, raised her foot for an elbow strike, and swiftly knocked down the remaining thugs without even gasping for breath. It was so fast that everyone present was caught off guard, even the passersby were stunned. Nie Chao was dumbfounded: ¡°¡­¡± What the hell? Fu Yunshen slowly straightened up, raising his peach blossom eyes, and suddenly smiled. ** Reader Advisory: 1. This tale features pristine souls coming together, mutual redemption, and sweet romance without any anguish¡ªsuper sweet! Note: The entire narrative is fictional; please don¡¯t relate it to reality. 2. The female lead is cool and powerful, the Divine Calculator of the World. She is an important character from the 2018 book ¡°Spirited Consort Overturns Heaven: The Enchanting Emperor Is Captured.¡± Interested babies can check it out. 3. The male lead is alluring and gorgeous, an utter charmer (?). 4. Please refrain from mentioning other authors and their works in the comments section; let¡¯s respect each other. Chapter 4 Editor: Henyee Translations Ying Zijin withdrew her hand, completely unconcerned about the strange looks from the people around her, and continued on her way after rolling up her sleeves. Shanghai City is the second international metropolis in Hua Country, where the economy and technology have developed rapidly, ¡°The Seventh Young Master, did you see that?¡± Nie Chao took a while to come back to his senses, pinching his thigh and hissing, ¡°I remember clearly, this little girl just entered the hospital the day before yesterday, and now she¡¯s capable of taking on five at once?¡± ¡°Yes, I saw,¡± Fu Yunshen said with one hand in his pocket, watching the girl¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°But her skills are hard to place, a bit like Muay Thai, and a little like judo.¡± Nie Chao was stunned, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Every move she made was quite clever,¡± Fu Yunshen chuckled lowly. ¡°If she had used just a bit more force, those five would have ended up more than just knocked down and unable to get up.¡± Nie Chao listened with a cold sweat pouring down, ¡°Impossible, right? Could it be that this little girl knows Ancient martial arts?¡± Martial Artists who combine the practice methods of the ancients with today¡¯s science are ancient martial artists, and they are many times stronger than someone like him who knows karate. There are ancient martial artists in Hua Country, though they aren¡¯t many. Some ancient martial families also began to fade from the spotlight with the arrival of the 21st century. Even those wealthy families in the imperial capital are looking for true ancient martial artists, let alone in Shanghai City. If any wealthy family can invite a true ancient martial artist to preside over their family, they would have the ability to compete with those ancient financial consortiums from the Ancient O Continent. If the Ying Family¡¯s foster daughter knows Ancient martial arts, would the Ying Family treat her like a living blood bank? The entire family would be too busy providing for her to do anything else. ¡°Ancient martial arts, huh¡­¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s gaze shifted slightly, then settled. Ahead, the girl suddenly turned back and walked toward them. Fu Yunshen narrowed his eyes and slightly turned his body. The streetlights were festive and shone in his narrow, peach blossom eyes, casting a touch of crimson, tinting it with a few shades of tenderness. Very few people could withstand his gaze. As she got closer, Fu Yunshen could clearly see the greenish veins under the girl¡¯s pale skin, delicate to the point of being startling, and his eyebrows twitched slightly. Nie Chao¡¯s cold sweat broke out even more. It couldn¡¯t be that he had talked behind her back and she had heard it, could it? Even though he was a ninth dan of karate and a big man, based on the little sister¡¯s attitude just now, she could take a hundred of him without even using both hands. It was also at this time that the girl stopped in front of him. She lifted her head, her eyes still misty with fog, and said, ¡°You¡ª¡± Nie Chao¡¯s legs went weak, and with a ¡°thump,¡± he knelt down, ¡°I¡¯m just a gossipy Diviner with a big mouth and truly no ill will ¨C please, big boss, show mercy!¡± Fu Yunshen was amused, ¡°Kneeling on one knee, such a devoted posture, are you proposing?¡± Nie Chao: ¡°¡­¡± These darn legs of his! Ying Zijin looked at Nie Chao as he stood back up and slightly raised an eyebrow, speaking evenly, ¡°In three days, at seven in the evening at Huangpu Road No. 1 Tavern, you will encounter a misfortune but will not be in grave danger. From noon, twelve days later, I suggest you avoid the Punan area, or you will be risking your life.¡± Nie Chao was baffled. Upon hearing this, Fu Yunshen, who had been toying with the jade stone with his slender fingers, gripped it suddenly, his peach blossom eyes lifting, his voice low and husky, laced with laughter, ¡°Kid, can you predict the future?¡± Ying Zijin did not answer, but replied, ¡°Thank you.¡± The thanks were just a pretext; whether anyone helped her or not, it didn¡¯t matter to her. She just wanted to test how much of her Divine Calculation ability remained. It seemed she would need a long time to fully recover, but for now, it was sufficient. Nie Chao was even more confused, ¡°Huh?¡± Fu Yunshen glanced at Nie Chao, then turned his gaze back to the girl. His pupils the color of light amber, had a bewitching kind of tenderness, ¡°Kid, thanking him alone, isn¡¯t that a bit unfair to me? Hmm?¡± Ying Zijin¡¯s expression paused. Nie Chao was flabbergasted, ¡°Seventh Young Master, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re serious. It was clearly you who bullied the little sister, and now you¡¯re acting out of character today?¡± A grown man, acting like this, should he be proud of himself? How come he never saw this young master talk to any other person of the opposite sex this way? Fu Yunshen ignored him, his peach blossom eyes intent and directly staring at the girl as if he were emitting sparks, ¡°Little friend, you divined for him, how about also calculating for me?¡± Ying Zijin¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Little sister, don¡¯t pay attention to him,¡± Nie Chao felt that today¡¯s Fu Yunshen was off, trying to smooth things over. ¡°Where do you need to go? Let us give you a ride.¡± It really is deep waters in wealthy families, he thought, as this sister didn¡¯t seem to be like the people described in the rumors. ¡°No need,¡± Ying Zijin shook her head, ready to leave. But as she turned around, her body swayed slightly, obviously a side effect of having lost too much blood. She raised her hand to press on her temple, her eyes and eyebrows coated with a layer of cold frost. Just then, a languid voice came from behind. ¡°Little friend.¡± Ying Zijin stopped and turned around. The man leaned against the glass door, still in his dandy and suave appearance, ¡°Your benefactor says he wants to thank you for your warning by having dinner with you tonight.¡± ** Han Pavilion. It was not until the waiter had set the tableware that Nie Chao still couldn¡¯t comprehend, and he looked at the girl with her indifferent expression, ¡°You really agreed? Aren¡¯t you afraid of being sold? What if we¡¯re bad people and poison you?¡± And what was up with the Seventh Young Master? Since when does he take the initiative to invite a lady? Ying Zijin¡¯s eyes were half-closed as she rested, ¡°Because I¡¯m truly hungry.¡± Nie Chao: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Mhm, that¡¯s enough, and bring one more dish of stir-fried pork liver,¡± Fu Yunshen closed the menu, looked up with a smile, ¡°Little friend is too thin, needs to replenish some blood.¡± The waiter bowed and went down to prepare. Han Pavilion is the only restaurant in Hua Country that refuses Michelin Three-Star rating, accepting only ten tables of guests a day, and one must book three months in advance. Nie Chao looked around, ¡°Seventh Young Master, you don¡¯t know the owner of Han Pavilion, do you? Even my old man would need to make a reservation for this place.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know him,¡± Fu Yunshen rested his arm on the back of the chair, his tone very casual, ¡°They probably just like my face.¡± Miss Ying, you heard him, didn¡¯t you? The Seventh Young Master likes to talk nonsense. Don¡¯t believe a word he says,¡± Nie Chao didn¡¯t take it seriously, waving his hand grandly, ¡°But today is a rare occasion that the Seventh Young Master is treating, so eat your fill. He lacks everything but money.¡± ¡°Quite the coincidence,¡± Ying Zijin remarked casually, ¡°I only lack money.¡± Fu Yunshen looked up. ¡°You lack money?¡± Nie Chao was startled, ¡°The Ying Family doesn¡¯t give you money?¡± The servants of the Ying Family all had salaries; why would they not pay a foster daughter? ¡°I¡¯m poor at learning, never studied etiquette, and certainly can¡¯t arrange flowers or perform the tea art,¡± the girl said indifferently. ¡°Being such an embarrassment, why would they give me money?¡± Nie Chao was left speechless. Fu Yunshen¡¯s eyelashes flinched, the corners of his mouth curling up, ¡°Little friend, that¡¯s their loss for not seeing your value. Your table manners even follow those of the royal family from Ancient O Continent.¡± Chapter 5 Editor: Henyee Translations Nie Chao was once again struck dumb: ¡°???¡± What? What had he just heard? Just by adding the word ¡°ancient¡± in front of the O Continent, the meaning had completely changed. It referred to the O Continent from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries, which experienced a cultural and intellectual movement. Literature, art, music, and various other domains saw the emergence of countless famous figures, and from then on, the O Continent went from decline to prosperity. There were many royal families in the O Continent, but most no longer exist today, with only ten remaining to this day, led by the Y country. Each royal family has its own distinct set of etiquettes. It was just an ordinary way of sitting, yet, he couldn¡¯t see anything special about it. How could it possibly be following the etiquette of the O Continent¡¯s royal family? However, Nie Chao would not doubt Fu Yunshen¡¯s words. Because that young master had told him, to be a successful profligate son, one must have a comprehensive knowledge of astronomy and geography. Nie Chao always felt something was off about that statement but couldn¡¯t figure out what, so he could only humbly learn from it. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising for Shanghai City¡¯s number one profligate to know about the etiquettes of the O Continent¡¯s royal families, but what about the little sister from the countryside of the Ying Family? Ying Zijin opened her eyes, her expression unchanged. She shifted positions, resting her chin in her hand in a lazy and casual manner: ¡°I¡¯ve read the relevant books.¡± Fu Yunshen leaned back and laughed, ¡°That¡¯s a hobby quite different from most kids.¡± Ying Zijin didn¡¯t respond. In just a few minutes, the dishes were all prepared. There were no private rooms in the Han Pavilion; each table was separated by azure curtains, with an incense burner placed at the side of each, into which different aromatic herbs could be placed according to patrons¡¯ preferences. There was also a small stone bridge with flowing water alongside, fully displaying an ancient style. Ying Zijin turned her head, her eyes slightly moved. Osmanthus, rosemary, agarwood, lavender, sandalwood¡­ all of these were calming herbs, clearly prepared specifically for her. In just a short time, she felt her spirit had improved significantly. Ying Zijin lowered her eyes. Her first visit to Earth had been in the mid-fifteenth century. She hadn¡¯t expected to come back to Earth after all, especially since she was a person meant to die, and her survival had not been easy. Because her injuries were so severe that her soul had completely shattered, her consciousness had been asleep for nearly seventeen years, fully awakening only today. Upon waking, her situation was somewhat dire. The prolonged anemia had made this body extremely weak, one might even say it was riddled with countless problems, fragile to the touch. She needed a large amount of jade stone medicine to improve her body and restore her qi and blood. But she was short on money. In the past, she had stored quite a bit of gold on the O Continent; so many years had gone by, the banks back then might have closed down by now, and she wondered if her gold was still there. Ying Zijin pondered for a moment, then asked, ¡°Any fun places in Shanghai City?¡± ¡°There¡¯s plenty,¡± Nie Chao, rising tipsy, belched, ¡°You¡¯ve been here for so long, haven¡¯t you gone out to have fun?¡± ¡°A Living Blood Bank probably doesn¡¯t have such a thing as freedom,¡± she said. Nie Chao was once again left speechless. ¡°Kid, drink this,¡± Fu Yunshen handed the girl a bowl of longan and red date soup. After seeing her take it, he settled back into the bamboo chair, ¡°In the past year, how many times has Ying Luwei been injured?¡± Nie Chao was taken aback for a moment, then counted, ¡°Just the visits to the hospital alone, no less than ten times.¡± As soon as he said it, even he was startled. It was well-known throughout Shanghai City that Ying Luwei suffered from hemophilia. Hence, the socialites and rich young men were all extremely careful with her. Being the fianc¨¦e of Jiang Moyuan, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she was adored by the elders of the Four major noble families. They wouldn¡¯t dare to touch her, so how could she have suffered so many injuries? Nie Chao tentatively asked, ¡°Boss, you couldn¡¯t have also given her that many transfusions¡­¡± The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he didn¡¯t continue. Who could withstand more than ten blood transfusions? Ying Zijin slowly finished her longan and date soup, squinted her phoenix eyes, and appeared indifferent, ¡°Not just that many.¡± The vitality of this body was exhausted when she had awakened, and it had only recovered a little by now, which showed just how weak it had become. ¡°Hmm, pretty good,¡± Fu Yunshen raised his hand, passing a tissue to the girl, and chuckled softly, his voice tender, ¡°She could be nominated for the Guinness World Records.¡± Nie Chao broke out in a cold sweat again. He and Fu Yunshen had known each other since childhood and were deeply aware of his temperament. When the young master spoke with such a gentle tone, it meant that he was truly angry. But what could be done about it? The Ying Family had taken in a foster daughter, spoiled her with good food and drink, all for that bit of blood, right? They had long been accustomed to the darkness within wealthy families; there were even dirtier deeds than this. Nie Chao sighed, called over a server, and eagerly offered, ¡°Boss, eat more, The Seventh Young Master is right, you need to replenish your blood well.¡± Ying Zijin stared at her plate, which she had only just cleared and was again piled high with pig liver, ¡°¡­¡± ** At this moment, the carved wooden door of Han Pavilion opened once more. Footsteps sounded as a group of people walked in. At the forefront was a man, tall and straight, his long and powerful legs encased in black suit pants. His face was cold, his brows and eyes sharp, his entire being exuded an aloof nobility, yet possessed a lethal charm of a mature man. Even the servers at Han Pavilion couldn¡¯t help but become somewhat solemn upon seeing the newcomer. This face, no one in Shanghai City would fail to recognize. Third Master of the Jiang Family, Jiang Moyuan. The primary heir to one of the four major noble families, a man who combined looks, status, and power. The man that socialites in Shanghai City wished to marry. The manager came forward, respectful but not subservient, ¡°CEO Jiang, your reserved seat is this way, please follow me.¡± Jiang Moyuan nodded and began to walk inside. But just then, his secretary who was following behind suddenly stepped forward, whispered, ¡°Third Master.¡± After speaking, he pointed in a certain direction. Jiang Moyuan furrowed his brows, but still turned his head and looked in the direction the secretary was pointing, his gaze suddenly darkening. The slender girl sat in the bamboo chair, tilting her head, seemingly in the midst of something, her expression very resistant. And the person sitting next to her, he recognized as well. Fu Yunshen. That prodigal son of the Fu Family, notorious for his less than stellar reputation. Having been sent abroad for three years, he seemed to have made no progress at all. Thinking of something, Jiang Moyuan¡¯s frown deepened further, and he strode off, leaving the people following behind him exchanging glances. These people were clients of the Jiang Corporation, and they somewhat understood Jiang Moyuan¡¯s disposition. Third Master Jiang of Shanghai City, whose feelings were always kept hidden, what could have made him show a change in expression? ¡°The Third Master has gone to discipline a disobedient younger relative and will return afterwards,¡± the secretary apologized, ¡°Please take your seats first.¡± Chapter 7 Editor: Henyee Translations As he got closer, his mesmerizingly devilish features were just inches away. Framed by a pair of peach-blossom eyes brimming with amorous smiles, it was almost an overwhelming attack. ¡°Cough, cough, cough!¡± Nie Chao choked, shocked by his shamelessness, ¡°Holy shit, Seventh Young Master, have some decency.¡± Who flirts with someone¡¯s younger sister like this? Ying Zijin rested her chin on her hand, and upon hearing that, she looked up with an indifferent expression: ¡°He is quite handsome.¡± Nie Chao: ¡°¡­¡± What could he say when one is willing to hit and the other is willing to be hit? ¡°Honest kids are cute.¡± Fu Yunshen stood up lazily, ¡°Then I¡¯ll be the good guy to the end, I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Just as Nie Chao was about to ask what he should do, a glance from the other shut him down: ¡°¡­¡± Fine, I¡¯ll just walk myself. Oh, brothers have no rights in front of a woman. Nie Chao followed behind, filled with sorrow. Ying Zijin paused for a moment: ¡°No need to trouble yourself, after all the calculations, I¡¯m the one who owes you.¡± Other than his age and name and other superficial information, important details about Fu Yunshen remained a mystery. Maybe it¡¯s because her abilities haven¡¯t recovered yet, or possibly¡­ It¡¯s best to keep a distance. ¡°Hm?¡± Fu Yunshen took out his car keys and laughed when he heard this, ¡°How do you owe me? Didn¡¯t you remind Nie Chao? Wasn¡¯t it a fair trade?¡± He paused, his lips curving into a smile: ¡°How about this, kid, if you really feel like you owe me, why don¡¯t you tell me some gossip about Shanghai City?¡± Ying Zijin looked at him, her eyebrows raised: ¡°Gossip?¡± She knew the meaning of gossip, which referred to amusing anecdotes and rumors, and it had nothing to do with hexagrams. It seems she still had a lot to learn about the new things in the 21st century. ¡°I just got back, didn¡¯t I?¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s hand rested on the car door, ¡°So, how about it, satisfy my curiosity?¡± He raised his hand, gesturing for her to please enter. Ying Zijin¡¯s eyes paused. During her first visit to Earth, she spent three hundred years in Continent O, assuming different identities and traveling through the entire continent. Thus, she was familiar with all the royal etiquette there. This gesture originated from Country Y¡¯s royal family but was abandoned in the first half of the 16th century. ¡°If you don¡¯t get in the car now, your uncle will come out soon.¡± Fu Yunshen glanced sideways, ¡°Look at me, powerless and without influence, what if he catches us together?¡± That sentence made the girl decisively choose to sit in the passenger seat. Fu Yunshen raised his eyebrows: ¡°Does Jiang Moyuan really have that much deterrence? Kid, you¡¯ve hurt my feelings again.¡± Ying Zijin indifferently responded: ¡°It¡¯s just a hassle.¡± Fu Yunshen was slightly startled, obviously not expecting such an answer, then he lifted the corners of his eyes and let out a low chuckle. The light brushed over the man¡¯s fine black hair, dancing and falling, tinting his brows and eyes a pale golden color. The crimson of his lips and his naturally pale skin created a sharp contrast, the devilishly attractive look undiminished. He rolled up the car window: ¡°I heard that Jiang Moyuan was the one who brought you from Qingshui County to Shanghai City?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ying Zijin recalled for a moment, ¡°He said he was sending me to Verdant to study.¡± Verdant Middle School is the top-ranked high school in Shanghai City. Students from its elite classes can all get into Imperial Capital University, with a key placement rate of over 98%. Parents would do anything to get their children in. Ying Zijin looked out the window, narrowing her eyes: ¡°I had a car accident on the way and ended up in the hospital.¡± The car accident didn¡¯t cause any fatal injuries, but it alerted the Ying Family to her existence because she has the extremely rare Rhnull blood type, just like Ying Luwei. This type of blood is also known as Golden Blood, the true Universal Blood, suitable for transfusion to any other blood type. However, if she herself needed blood, only Rhnull blood would do. There are less than a hundred people with the Rhnull blood type worldwide, and even the Ying Family couldn¡¯t provide an adequate blood supply for Ying Luwei when she was injured. She was just the right candidate. Fu Yunshen¡¯s fingers paused slightly, ¡°Is this why the Ying Family adopted you?¡± Ying Zijin propped her head with her hand and answered nonchalantly as if it was none of her concern, ¡°A living blood bank delivered to their doorstep, why wouldn¡¯t they take it.¡± ¡®Rnull¡¯ blood also has a very special characteristic, each person can only draw from it once, and after drawing, antibodies will be produced. If one forcibly draws a second time, they will die. But she wouldn¡¯t. That¡¯s why the Ying Family had been keeping her all along. Fu Yunshen turned his head, his gaze settling for two seconds, and then suddenly raised his hand, patting her head. Just like a little kitten. Ying Zijin slowly turned her head, her face expressionless, a murderous intent surfacing in her eyes, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Telling you not to think too much,¡± Fu Yunshen seemed to be in a particularly good mood, his lips curving upward, ¡°Fasten your seat belt, we are about to set off.¡± ** Thirty minutes later, the car stopped in a hillside villa district. ¡°Remember to rest early,¡± Fu Yunshen said to the girl getting out of the car, ¡°Drink more longan and red date soup.¡± Ying Zijin¡¯s eyelashes fluttered slightly, ¡°I know, thank you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard so many thanks from you today that my ears have grown calluses,¡± the man said, his long forearm resting on the window, chuckling, ¡°If you really want to thank me, read my fortune sometime.¡± Ying Zijin uncharacteristically rubbed her head, slightly helpless, ¡°Alright.¡± Hearing this, Fu Yunshen appeared contemplative as if thinking about something. He didn¡¯t leave immediately but added lazily, ¡°Alright, go rest, the night is too dark, I will watch you until you¡¯re inside.¡± Ying Zijin nodded, ¡°You too.¡± After saying goodbye, she turned and walked toward the group of villas. Before she reached the villa, the door was opened, with the old house¡¯s butler coming out. His gaze was stern, filled with scrutiny, ¡°So the Second Miss has finally deigned to return?¡± The girl stood at the bottom of the stairs, her long lashes adorned with a layer of frost, snow accumulating on her hair. Her wrists were delicate and white, her veins visible, and her frame so thin it seemed the wind could blow her over. The butler frowned at the sight, yet did not forget the instructions from those inside the house. He spoke up, ¡°The lady said that since the Second Miss has such a rebellious mentality and capriciously left the hospital, you should not come home tonight either.¡± ¡°Whenever the Second Miss acknowledges her mistake, only then will she be allowed to enter.¡± ¡°Second Miss, please.¡± The sarcasm was thick. Displeasure and annoyance were written all over the butler¡¯s face. This Second Miss was always courting trouble, it was time she learned the hard way. He was curious to see how long she could last in such heavy snow. To his surprise, upon hearing these words, the girl didn¡¯t even glance at him, turned around, and left without any signs of reluctance. The butler was taken aback. Why did she just leave? Shouldn¡¯t she be crying and apologizing, begging for forgiveness? He knew the lady¡¯s intention wasn¡¯t truly to punish the Second Miss, but to teach her to understand hierarchies and to make fewer mistakes. If the Second Miss really left, he would be the one to be punished in the end. Hurriedly, the butler stepped forward to block the girl¡¯s path, with an unexpected look of concern, ¡°Second Miss, where do you intend to go now? Don¡¯t be stubborn anymore. Just act spoiled to the lady, say some nice words, admit your fault, and it will all be fine, won¡¯t it?¡± Chapter 8 Editor: Henyee Translations Still unclear about your own identity? The butler was even more annoyed, and he spoke again, ¡°Second Miss, with the way you are, it¡¯s really impossible to win Madam¡¯s favor. I think you should just¡­¡± But he didn¡¯t get to finish his sentence. Ying Zijin stopped, glanced at him, and suddenly lifted her leg, delivering a direct kick. Caught off guard, the butler ¡°bang¡± fell to the ground. One of his hands was firmly pinned down, and the pain made him unable to help but let out a howl. ¡°Tsk.¡± At that moment, in the night, a laugh suddenly fell, carrying a touch of cynical indifference, yet wrapped in a cool edge. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t come back, I wouldn¡¯t have known that the Ying Family¡¯s servants now dare to order their masters around. Is this how Madam Ying disciplines?¡± The man had a tall and upright figure, also dressed in a black shirt with buttons undone, his skin in the snow looking even colder and whiter, like carved jade and soft porcelain. Standing under the tree, he became a scene of his own, unmatched by the beauty of snow and moonlight, impervious to their elegant charm. Ying Zijin retracted her foot and looked up, her gaze pausing slightly, ¡°You haven¡¯t left?¡± ¡°Good thing I didn¡¯t.¡± Fu Yunshen tucked one hand casually into his pocket, the corner of his lips curving slightly, ¡°If I had left, our little friend here would have been bullied.¡± A breeze picked up, blowing open his shirt, revealing a small piece of collarbone, diffusing a faint scent of Jade and Agarwood. Calm yet gentle, a fatally alluring temptation. Ying Zijin was silent for a moment, ¡°Can¡¯t be bothered to deal with it.¡± She didn¡¯t like talking; saying one more word was less preferred than taking action directly. ¡°Mhm, I know.¡± Fu Yunshen patted her head, ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ll deal with it, you just watch.¡± He turned his head, lifting his chin slightly, still smiling, ¡°Who do you want to apologize?¡± The butler was already dumbfounded by the fall, and now he was even more terrified to breathe, his face turning a choked red, then pale, his legs trembling, he was nearly kneeling down. Of course, he recognized the man who appeared here¡ª The Seventh Young Master of the Fu Family, Fu Yunshen. The most extravagant and worthless scion of Shanghai City, lacking in ambition. It was said that Fu Yunshen, due to his excessive indulgence, had offended the heir of a family in the capital and was rushed by the Fu Family to O continent overnight. How did he suddenly come back? And he was so protective of the Second Miss? Had he gone mad? ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Second Miss.¡± The butler couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure and suddenly lifted his hand, slapping himself, trembling as he said, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have disrespected you, it¡¯s all my fault.¡± Fu Yunshen didn¡¯t bother with him, ¡°Let¡¯s go, little friend, I¡¯ll personally send you in this time.¡± The butler dared not obstruct them any longer, ¡°Seventh Young Master, Second Miss, this way, please.¡± Feeling aggrieved and yet relieved at the same time, at least Madam wouldn¡¯t blame him now. ** The door opened, and the cold air rolled in, leaving a layer of frost on the luxurious carpet. In the old house¡¯s first floor, the living room was full of warmth. Sitting on the sofa was a Noble Lady, flipping through a book with an elegant posture, every move displaying the refinement of a wealthy family¡¯s breeding. This was Madam Ying Zhong Manhua, born into the Zhong Family, one of the Four major noble families. Zhong Manhua heard the footsteps but didn¡¯t look up, speaking in a tone neither salty nor bland, ¡°Has the Second Miss conceded?¡± The old mansion was well soundproofed, so the noise outside couldn¡¯t be heard by those inside. The butler hardly dared to breathe, only daring to whisper softly, ¡°Madam.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhong Manhua frowned, raising her head, ¡°You haven¡¯t¡­ ¡± The rest of her words stopped abruptly when she saw the man. Zhong Manhua was startled, and it took her several seconds to come to her senses. She put down the book in her hands and got up to greet him, as if she hadn¡¯t seen the girl, smiling, ¡°It turns out to be the Seventh Young Master. I heard from your father just yesterday that you returned from O region. Visiting the Ying Family so late, is there something important?¡± The Fu Family was the leader of the Four Major Noble Families; even though Fu Yunshen had been away from Shanghai City for three years, as long as Old Master Fu was still there, the Ying Family couldn¡¯t afford to offend them. ¡°Dropping a little friend off at home.¡± Fu Yunshen spoke indifferently, ¡°I was worried about her getting bullied.¡± Zhong Manhua¡¯s smile stalled, clearly not expecting such a response. Only then did her gaze fall on the girl, and she asked, ¡°What happened?¡± The butler quickly recounted the events that had happened before. After listening, Zhong Manhua frowned again, took a deep breath, and then smiled, ¡°Seventh Young Master, this is just a misunderstanding, and it was troubling for you to make the trip. Zijin is also my daughter, how could I bear to see her suffer.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Fu Yunshen laughed softly, standing in a slouched posture, ¡°Then that¡¯s good, I feel relieved. For Madam Ying to treat her foster daughter this way, it¡¯s a reputation for kindness that could be well received once spread.¡± Zhong Manhua¡¯s face turned somewhat unsightly. These words were clearly mocking. ¡°It¡¯s this servant¡ª¡± Fu Yunshen glanced over lightly, chuckling, ¡°A bit audacious.¡± The butler¡¯s legs became even weaker. Zhong Manhua kept a tight expression and didn¡¯t speak. ¡°But as an outsider, it¡¯s not my place to discipline Madam Ying¡¯s servants.¡± Fu Yunshen didn¡¯t pay any further attention and instead tilted his head towards the girl, raising his cellphone with a smile in his voice, ¡°Little friend, I¡¯ve saved my number on your phone, contact me anytime.¡± The door was closed again, and the room was dead silent. The butler let out a sigh of relief, continuously wiping away sweat. ¡°Where did you go?¡± Zhong Manhua held back her anger, after all not changing her face immediately after Fu Yunshen had left, ¡°Luwei said you left the hospital three hours ago, what were you doing?¡± Running out alone in a snowstorm, when would she ever give it a rest? And specifically finding someone to come back and anger her, utterly lacking in manners. Ying Zijin didn¡¯t respond, yawning. Apart from being hungry, she was now becoming sleepy. Suddenly back to being a normal person, she wanted to savor the experience fully. Zhong Manhua said coldly, ¡°I¡¯m speaking to you, is this how you show manners?¡± Ying Zijin looked up indifferently, ¡°Why should you care about a ¡®Living Blood Bank¡¯?¡± Zhong Manhua could hardly believe her ears, her mind went blank for a moment, her body fiercely trembling, ¡°What did you say?¡± The butler also looked over in shock, disbelief written all over his face. The fact that the Ying Family had taken in a foster daughter to serve as Ying Luwei¡¯s living blood bank wasn¡¯t a secret among the Four Major Noble Families; the entire elite circle knew about it. But no one cared about it, because it wasn¡¯t important, it was occasionally used as post-dinner gossip for a bit of fun. The Ying Family didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with it. Yet when this ugly truth was so bluntly exposed, Zhong Manhua felt as if all the coverings she had dressed herself in had been ripped away, like thorns in her back, her entire blood chilled to the core, her hands and feet ice cold. Zhong Manhua, after all, came from a wealthy family, and she quickly calmed her emotions, her expression softened a bit, but she still spoke with an authoritative tone, ¡°What is this behavior? The hot water is ready for you, go take a bath first. I have some words for you afterward.¡± The girl yawned again, without paying any heed, and went upstairs. Zhong Manhua¡¯s face turned ashen, and with a ¡°smack,¡± she put the teacup down on the table heavily. The butler bowed his head, not daring to speak. ¡°Look at her attitude, and listen to what she¡¯s saying!¡± Zhong Manhua was so angry it pained her heart and lungs, her grievance even more so, ¡°Does she think that I want her to be bled? Isn¡¯t she flesh that has fallen from my body, how could I not be pained?¡± Chapter 9 Editor: Henyee Translations Ying Luwei was her sister-in-law, could she just stand by and do nothing? Hadn¡¯t she hired a convalescent therapist and cooked personally? Why couldn¡¯t her own daughter understand her a bit more, instead of hurting her feelings in return? ¡°Madam, please calm down,¡± the butler said cautiously, trying to soothe her. ¡°Maybe the Second Miss is just going through a rebellious phase.¡± ¡°Rebellious phase?¡± Zhong Manhua laughed in exasperation. ¡°When has she ever cared about what I want? She¡¯s so thoughtless. Now, she doesn¡¯t even bother to pay attention to me. Does she not want to acknowledge me anymore?¡± Mentioning this just infuriated her further. She had been taught for so long, yet she couldn¡¯t learn piano, couldn¡¯t write properly, and even spoke English haltingly. She didn¡¯t resemble a daughter of wealth and nobility at all. Zhong Manhua became angrier the more she thought about it. ¡°When Moyuan brought her back a year ago, I thought she was quite well-behaved. Who knew she could do such a thing?¡± The Ying Family¡¯s reputation was completely ruined! And now she had run off to entangle herself with Fu Yunshen. Who was Fu Yunshen? A well-known philandering son of Shanghai City, good for nothing but for his looks. In the end, she¡¯d get sold out and even pay the person for it. The butler didn¡¯t know what to say and could only remind her, ¡°Madam, it¡¯s half past ten, and the Eldest Miss is still waiting for your call.¡± Looking at Zhong Manhua, both heartbroken and fuming, he shook his head and sighed. The Eldest Miss of the Ying Family was not actually Madam Ying¡¯s biological daughter; she was adopted. But the adopted child was even more considerate than her own flesh and blood. Fortunately, the Old Master¡¯s Wife was sensible and proclaimed the Second Miss was just a foster daughter to the outside world. Otherwise, if the other Three Great Wealthy Families knew the truth, who knows how they¡¯d mock them. Having served the Ying Family for over twenty years and attended to both Old Master Ying and Old Madam Ying, the butler was also somewhat aware of the past events. Fifteen years ago, the Ying Family was involved in a major business negotiation that reached the capital. The entire company was busy to the point of sleepless nights. Fortunately, they secured the deal in the end. The day they signed the deal, Ying Zhenting and Zhong Manhua went out to entertain guests. But when they returned in the evening, they discovered their baby was missing from the crib. Without any clue, it was as if the child had vanished into thin air. The butler was utterly baffled. He had only gone to the kitchen for a moment, just a few minutes. How could such a thing have happened? The infant wasn¡¯t even a year old and couldn¡¯t have possibly wandered off on her own. The Ying Family mobilized many people to search, but they found nothing. Zhong Manhua collapsed; she was nearly driven mad. During that time, her mind was in a haze, and whenever she saw another baby on the street, she would rush over and hold them, weeping. Ying Zhenting couldn¡¯t bear to see his wife so distressed and decided to adopt another child. This child had to resemble their lost daughter closely. An infant under one year wouldn¡¯t remember anything and couldn¡¯t tell any difference if they weren¡¯t raised day by day. Months later, Zhong Manhua¡¯s mental state finally stabilized. When she learned of Ying Zhenting¡¯s actions, she didn¡¯t blame or resent him. Her maternal love shifted to the adopted child during this time. She looked after her every day, growing fonder and fonder. Of course, Ying Zhenting continued to send people to look for their lost infant in secret, but after two years without success, they eventually gave up. Wealthy families like theirs didn¡¯t lack for descendants; they had plenty of illegitimate children already. Ying Zhenting suppressed the incident, warning those who were privy to it not to reveal a single word. After all, as one of the Four Major Noble Families of Shanghai City, every move of the Ying Family was of extreme significance. Such a scandal, if widely publicized, would inevitably lead to a period of turmoil. Therefore, aside from the butler and a few select individuals, even the Eldest Young Master of the Ying Family was unaware that his own sister had gone missing. Over a decade passed, and everyone gradually forgot about the incident. The butler also knew what was troubling Zhong Manhua; she had a harmonious family, a pair of excellent children, and she was an elegant Noble Lady, envied by all both in public and private. But then the real daughter was suddenly found and returned. It should have been a cause for celebration, yet this true daughter, coming from the countryside, lacking manners and incapable of doing anything right, constantly embarrassed herself, utterly unfit for the status of the Ying Family¡¯s Second Miss. However, the Ying Family bloodline absolutely could not be left to wander outside¡ªnot even if it were a blemish. So, in the end, she was acknowledged as a foster daughter through adoption. Neither Ying Zhenting nor Zhong Manhua felt there was anything amiss, after all, the Second Miss was inferior to the eldest daughter in every way. The status of the Ying Family in Shanghai City was incomparable to a small county. Entering high society was a stroke of luck for this true daughter, and she should not be greedy for more. ¡°Look at my memory, I¡¯ve gone and forgotten such an important matter.¡± Zhong Manhua rubbed her temples, picked up her phone, and made a call. Upon hearing the voice on the other end, she immediately smiled, ¡°Hello, Xiao Xuan, it¡¯s Mommy. How was your day?¡± ¡°Good, good, that¡¯s good. You just focus on your studies over there in O-land, and if you need anything, just tell Mom. I don¡¯t mind the trouble¡­¡± ** In the room. Ying Zijin glanced at the old desktop computer on the table, tapping her fingers idly on the keyboard. The screen froze: ¡°Tsk¡­¡± Even though she had never used a computer, she knew this was a substandard product. She didn¡¯t look at it again and lowered her head to take out a bank card she had brought from Qingshui County from the drawer¡¯s wallet, doing a quick calculation. Five hundred sixty-two yuan and eight mao. A bit meager, but just enough for what she needed. Ying Zijin narrowed her eyes slightly, braced her hand, and flipped down from the nine-meter-high third floor, landing softly on the ground as she left the Ying Family¡¯s old house from the right side. The butler, who was closing the windows, caught a glimpse of the girl¡¯s figure, but when he looked again, he saw nothing. The butler rubbed his eyes, muttering doubtfully to himself, ¡°I must have been mistaken.¡± Indeed, he thought he had seen the Second Miss sneak out. The butler shook his head, closed the doors and windows, and went to the kitchen to prepare warm milk before bedtime for Zhong Manhua. ** Because of Fu Yunshen¡¯s interruption, Nie Chao did not give the exact address of the underground market. But for Ying Zijin, simply knowing the name of a place was enough to figure it out. She looked at the crooked collection of letters hanging over the doorway¡ªHERMIT, her gaze fixated for a moment. Then she put on her mask and walked in. The underground market was even more chaotic than Shanghai City at night, with its dazzling lights and unrestrained revelry. This was a place beyond the control of the Four Major Noble Families, where people entering often concealed their identities. The girl¡¯s entrance did not attract any attention, but a pair of eyes from behind focused on her with increased curiosity. Inside the Starry Sky Bar, the bartender noticed the unusual interest of the man and looked up, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°Nothing much,¡± replied Fu Yunshen with a hook of his lips, the bar spoon turning into a trail of light between his slender, fair fingers. He turned his head, smiling, ¡°I saw a disobedient little one who still ran out of the house at this late hour.¡± Chapter 10 Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°Kid?¡± The bartender followed the man¡¯s gaze and took just one glance before looking away, uninterested, ¡°They do look quite young.¡± ¡°Not that young anymore,¡± Fu Yunshen laughed lightly, his tone leisurely, ¡°In three years, they¡¯ll be of legal marriage age.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The bartender had no response to that; he shook his head and lowered his voice, ¡°Be careful, there¡¯s a bounty on your head.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Fu Yunshen raised an eyebrow, unsurprised, ¡°How much are they offering?¡± ¡°An SS-rank bounty, one billion US dollars, currently ranked seventh on the Bounty List,¡± the bartender stared at him, ¡°At least ten people on the hunters¡¯ list have taken up this bounty. Now do you realize how much you¡¯re hated?¡± Whoever made the top ten of the Bounty List was everyone¡¯s target; not killing them would be like turning your back on money. Fu Yunshen¡¯s peach blossom eyes curved, hinting at some allure, ¡°Well, they¡¯ll have to find me first.¡± The bartender agreed on this point and said, ¡°Even the IBI can¡¯t find you; your ability to stay hidden is probably only second to that number one on the list.¡± The IBI, short for International Bureau of Investigation. ¡°You can¡¯t compare that.¡± Fu Yunshen spoke nonchalantly, ¡°That number one hasn¡¯t changed for many years, and I¡¯ve only just made the list.¡± The bounty amount for number one on the list surpasses the combined total of the other nine, high enough to compete with the GDP of a small country on the Ancient O Continent. But no one has dared to take it on, showing just how difficult it is to kill the person at number one. No, it would be more accurate to say that they can¡¯t even be found. ¡°I¡¯m really curious now, who exactly is this Diviner?¡± the bartender clicked his tongue, ¡°How could ¡®they¡¯ be more hated than you?¡± The other targets on the Bounty List had at least some trace to follow, but this number one had vanished, leaving behind no information whatsoever. Moreover, the title of Diviner was incredibly arrogant. Even the true Magicians and Witches of the Ancient O Continent wouldn¡¯t dare to call themselves Diviners. There are Fortune Tellers today too, but like ancient martial artists, there aren¡¯t many real ones left; most have retreated from the world, and the rest are charlatans and tricksters. If someone could truly foresee everything, it would be utterly absurd. Fu Yunshen raised his peach blossom eyes, half-smiling, ¡°What are you implying?¡± ¡°The truth. You¡¯re naturally disliked, but still, you need to be careful. One billion dollars is enough to buy an island. And you know those hunters on the list are like madmen. But¡ª¡± the bartender paused and frowned, ¡°Are you really planning to stay here? I thought you¡¯d at least head to the capital.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Fu Yunshen half-lifted his eyelids, absent-minded, ¡°I do intend to stay in Shanghai City for a while.¡± Upon hearing that, an outrageous thought suddenly popped into the bartender¡¯s mind, ¡°For a woman?¡± Fu Yunshen raised his eyebrows, unhurried, ¡°What are you talking about? She¡¯s just a kid.¡± The bartender¡¯s expression changed, ¡°You¡¯re crazy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been crazy for a long time,¡± Fu Yunshen stood up, draped his coat over his arm casually, his smile heedless of the world. He patted the bartender¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Drink less, it¡¯s bad for your health.¡± ** The Underground City did not require any form of identification for entry, and was populated by all kinds of people, many of whom deliberately concealed their identities. Along the sides of the road were various shops, with architecture differing according to what was sold. There were Ancient Roman, Gothic, and Baroque buildings from the Ancient O Continent, as well as classical garden-style architecture from Hua Country. Ying Zijin looked up and noticed those shops with ¡°Fortune Teller¡± signs; at a glance, there were at least a dozen of these shops. However, there was only one that had a faint aura of spiritual energy fluttering about it. Tarot Cards originated from the Ancient O Continent and became very popular during the Middle Ages; she had also followed the trend and played with them, but their origins remain a mystery to this day. However, there aren¡¯t many authentic Tarot Cards, and the ones sold on the market today can barely be used for minor divination; in other scenarios, they are just bundles of waste paper. Perhaps, she should find a real set of Tarot Cards before her powers fully recover. Ying Zijin seemed thoughtful, pressed down her mask, her eyelashes casting a shadow as she walked into the market. Apart from shops, there were also many street stalls nearby, mostly with broken antiques, but this did not prevent eager buyers from getting swindled. The girl casually surveyed the items, observing hundreds of antiques in a mere ten seconds, and as expected, all of them were fakes without exception. It wasn¡¯t until half an hour later that Ying Zijin finally spotted what she needed. It was an Ancient Coin, inconspicuously mixed in with a pile of celadon ware. The characters branded on the Ancient Coin were heavily worn, and it was smeared with soil; at first glance, it looked like it was made from clay. She lowered her head, her eyes narrowing; in an instant, she calculated the era and name of the coin. A Qin Half-Tael Silver Coin, cast in 339 BC during the Warring States Period. Two thousand years later, its price would be more than five million. Ying Zijin crouched down, ¡°How much for this?¡± She was referring not to the Ancient Coin, but to a Stone Bowl next to it. The vendor was a young man; he glanced at the girl, looked her up and down, and said dismissively, ¡°Take it for five hundred.¡± There was a hint of scorn in his tone. Ying Zijin glanced sideways, her hand finally landing on the silver Ancient Coin, ¡°And this?¡± ¡°Take it, take it,¡± the young man grew more impatient, ¡°Just take them all and don¡¯t hinder my business.¡± He was waiting to swindle a few rich kids for a larger sum and had no time to waste with a pauper. Ying Zijin¡¯s expression remained unchanged; she put down five hundred-dollar bills, picked up the Stone Bowl and Ancient Coin, rubbed them, and squinted her phoenix eyes. Now she was certain that Earth was a world where cultivation was not possible, but that was fine; she could peacefully retire. However, to the young man, her action seemed like the antics of a desperate woman. He sneered, not bothering to hide the derision in his voice and purposely raising it, ¡°A complete pauper with no taste, thinking she¡¯s found a treasure?¡± A nearby vendor overheard and said, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be so blunt, the girl has to save face.¡± ¡°Save face? It really is true that nowadays anyone can enter the Underground City.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it? Lately, there¡¯s always a bunch of paupers looking for a bargain, it¡¯s so embarrassing.¡± Having been in the underground market for so long, how could they not know which customers actually had money? These paupers, they couldn¡¯t even be bothered to cheat. The young man scoffed again, ¡°It¡¯s not just about being poor; this is stupidity, lacking even the basic ability to identify.¡± The Stone Bowl was something he had bought on a treasure-hunting website for five bucks, and the coin was something he had picked up in a park in Punan, worthless. These two items were just there to make up the numbers, but unbelievably there was actually a fool who would buy them, allowing him to easily make a profit of five hundred. Chapter 11 Editor: Henyee Translations The laughter rose, and those around turned to look. Those eyes scanned the girl without restraint, harboring ill intentions. The girl didn¡¯t give them a single glance, her expression indifferent. She collected the ancient coin and prepared to leave. Behind her, though, the mocking laughter persisted relentlessly. ¡°Look, I said to give the kid a break, and now you¡¯ve driven her away. What if she runs back and cries to the adults?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing this for her own good. This will toughen her up. It seems she also¡­¡± The words were cut off by a voice that sounded somewhat urgent. ¡°Miss, my master would like to offer six million to buy that Qin Half-Tael Silver Coin you have. May I ask if you¡¯re willing to part with it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The young man¡¯s smile froze on his face, utterly disbelieving what he¡¯d heard. What? Six million for a coin that can be found everywhere? What sort of joke is this? The other onlookers, there for the spectacle, were also confused and took a while to recover. Ying Zijin raised her eyebrows slightly and turned to look in the direction of the voice. It was an elderly man in a Tang suit, his hair and beard silvery, his stride steady and powerful, his aura undiminished. The one who had spoken first was a young man following the elderly man. He approached and said, negotiating, ¡°If the price isn¡¯t enough, we can add more.¡± With one sentence, the crowd was abuzz. ¡°What kind of coin is it that six million isn¡¯t enough?¡± ¡°I thought I heard it was a Qin Half-Tael Silver Coin?¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be right¡­¡± ¡°If it is indeed a Qin Half-Tael Silver Coin, then it really is worth that price.¡± A few years ago, in an international auction, a Qin Half-Tael Silver Coin had sold for the high price of 7.6 million. ¡°What Qin Half-Tael Silver Coin?¡± The young man was fuming with rage, ¡°I picked this up by the river. Do you think Qin Half-Tael Silver Coins are as common as cabbages?¡± If it was truly a Qin Half-Tael Silver Coin, wouldn¡¯t he become a laughingstock? The elderly man stood with his hands behind his back, commanding respect without showing anger: ¡°Mu Cheng.¡± Mu Cheng understood and pulled out a document¡ªa certificate that read clearly in red ink on white paper¡ª National cultural relic appraisal and evaluation master. Level eight. The highest level. ¡°¡­¡± This certificate silenced all doubts like a resounding slap across the face of the young stall owner. Ying Zijin, however, looked at the certificate thoughtfully. Indeed, the new careers of the 21st century were quite diverse. She nodded: ¡°No need, this price is just right.¡± ¡°Good, thank you for parting with it, Miss,¡± Mu Cheng nodded, pulling out a Black Card, ¡°Here¡¯s six million, internationally recognized.¡± In the top right corner of this Black Card was a golden fleur-de-lis. Ying Zijin paused, her eyes slightly lifting at the corners. Hmm, good, the bank where she used to deposit her gold hadn¡¯t gone under. ¡°No, I won¡¯t sell it!¡± Seeing the Black Card, how could the young man restrain himself? He rushed forward to grab the ancient coin from the girl¡¯s hand, his movements fierce, ¡°Give it here!¡± It had been his find; the money should rightfully be his. The girl was expressionless as she simply lifted her right leg. It was a casual motion, seemingly carefree. But it was this kick that sent the young man flying several meters away. ¡°Bang.¡± The people around were dumbfounded: ¡°¡­¡± Only then did Ying Zijin pass over the ancient coin and accept the Black Card: ¡°Thank you.¡± Mu Cheng was stunned, almost in a state of fantasy: ¡°¡­You¡¯re welcome.¡± Never mind Mu Cheng, even the elderly man in the Tang suit was somewhat shocked, looking at her with added scrutiny. What surprised the others even more was that the normally reclusive management personnel actually made an appearance, speaking up sternly. ¡°The underground market has its own rules. Sold items cannot be taken back. Take this man¡¯s permit; he is not to enter the underground market ever again.¡± After that, he turned back to the girl and bowed: ¡°I apologize for the fright.¡± Ying Zijin slipped the black card into her pocket, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Six million should last for a while. The manager finally breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, and directed the security to take the young stall owner away. Not far away, the bartender who had witnessed the whole scene fell silent for a moment, then sincerely said, ¡°The friend you know seems a bit fierce.¡± Such a frail-looking young girl was able to kick such a big man out. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s peachy eyes curved, ¡°She¡¯s clearly both well-behaved and adorable.¡± Bartender: ¡°¡­¡± This filter is a bit too strong. Yet he was still puzzled, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go yourself? Isn¡¯t playing the hero to save the beauty nice?¡± Insisting on taking the trouble to let the manager do it? Fu Yunshen¡¯s eyelashes fluttered slightly, he chuckled lightly, ¡°I couldn¡¯t go.¡± Bartender was taken aback, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Well¡ª¡± Fu Yunshen pondered briefly, smiled, ¡°I need to take care of the little friend¡¯s feelings, after all, we had just bid each other good night two hours ago.¡± Wouldn¡¯t it be awkward to meet again at the underground marketplace so soon? Although he had long guessed that she would come to the underground marketplace after hearing Nie Chao¡¯s words, he had indeed timed it just right. ¡°¡­¡± The bartender was rendered speechless, ¡°I see that since your return, you¡¯ve spent all your time on winning the favor of women.¡± Even caring for such a trivial mood, you truly couldn¡¯t be more meticulous. He was still wondering why this gentleman went to the trouble of crafting the image of a debauched young master. ¡°What are you talking about now?¡± Fu Yunshen lowered his head, ¡°Do I need to?¡± The bartender looked at the man¡¯s face that could reverse the charms of all, ¡°¡­¡± ** Meanwhile, in an alleyway. ¡°Master, if we had come earlier, it would have been better,¡± Mu Cheng said, ¡°it¡¯s a waste of six million.¡± Although six million was nothing to them, it was always best to save where possible. ¡°Not a waste,¡± the elderly man waved his hand, with a hint of a smile on his face, ¡°at least it allowed me to see such an interesting young girl.¡± Mu Cheng soon realized what he meant, ¡°Are you referring to that kick of hers just now?¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± the elderly man said lightly, ¡°and she didn¡¯t just luck out on that ancient coin.¡± Mu Cheng hesitated, ¡°That¡¯s unlikely¡­¡± He knew that after Mu Heqing had stepped down, he had no other hobby but to collect antiques to donate to the national museums. Mu Heqing did not elaborate further and coughed a few times, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Mu Cheng followed up, and just as he was about to ask again, he saw the elderly man clutching his chest, his body suddenly convulsing, and he fell down. Mu Cheng was shocked and hurriedly stepped forward, ¡°Master!¡± This was bad, nobody expected Mu Heqing to have an attack at this time, and they hadn¡¯t even brought a doctor with them. Mu Heqing¡¯s body had always been strong, but before he retired, he took a bullet close to his heart. Although he regained consciousness, the incident left a lasting ailment that would cause attacks from time to time. But he had just had surgery recently; it should not have recurred so soon. What to do now? Miss Meng was far away in the capital, it was impossible for her to make it in time. Mu Cheng, sweating profusely with anxiety, trembled as he reached for the medicine, but he couldn¡¯t feed it to the old man. As he panicked, a voice came from behind him. ¡°Don¡¯t lean him back, it¡¯ll make his breathing more difficult. Let him lie flat.¡± Mu Cheng looked up in surprise. The girl stood just outside the alley, her legs long and straight. After a few strides, she squatted down, her hand on Mu Heqing¡¯s pulse, her eyebrows stirring slightly. Mu Cheng finally snapped out of it. Seeing the girl¡¯s action, he was both shocked and angry. He fiercely tried to swat her hand away, scolding, ¡°Don¡¯t touch him!¡± What status did Mu Heqing have? If something went wrong, nobody could bear the responsibility. But his hand didn¡¯t come close to hitting her, instead striking the ground. Mu Cheng inhaled sharply, even more furious, ¡°What exactly are you trying to do?¡± Ying Zijin was still checking the pulse, ¡°To save him.¡± Mu Cheng seemed to hear a laughable remark, ¡°You¡¯re just a young girl.¡± In Hua Country, apart from a few in the Ancient Medical field, who would dare claim they could treat Mu Heqing? Chapter 12 Editor: Henyee Translations Such a grand manner. Mu Cheng, barely containing his anger, began to make a phone call, ¡°Yes, right at the underground market, hurry over.¡± After hanging up, he spoke coldly, ¡°Miss, don¡¯t think that just because our master has just bought an ancient coin from you, you can act this way¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, the girl interrupted, ¡°Arrhythmia, increasing chest pain in the precardial area, already spread to the left shoulder and abdomen.¡± ¡°Smoking has caused a shadow on the lungs, and the respiratory pathways are not completely cleared of blockages.¡± In the end, Ying Zijin raised her eyes, ¡°From midnight to eight in the morning is the peak period of the condition, and you should not be out so late after having surgery just a month ago.¡± Mu Cheng was stunned, finding it unbelievable, ¡°You¡­¡± She was spot on! Even the timing of the surgery! Before he could recover from his shock, he heard the girl say indifferently, ¡°Silver needles.¡± Mu Cheng didn¡¯t have time to ponder how she knew he carried silver needles; he hastily handed over the box containing the silver needles. Ying Zijin opened the box and took seven silver needles directly into her hand, ready to begin. Upon seeing this, Mu Cheng couldn¡¯t help but speak up to remind her, ¡°Use no more than four silver needles at a time.¡± At his words, Ying Zijin finally gave him a glance. In her clear, black and white pupils, there was no emotion, shrouded in mist, making it impossible to discern happiness or anger. ¡°You could be quieter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Mu Cheng said somewhat embarrassingly, yet he didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong. He had seen Miss Meng from the ancient medical field treat Mu Heqing before, using only four silver needles at the same time. He even inquired about it and learned that there were basically no people in the ancient medical field who could use seven silver needles at once. It made sense; with only two hands, how could one possibly control seven silver needles? But in the next second, Mu Cheng couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes. He saw the seven silver needles in the girl¡¯s hands turned into a blur, entering and withdrawing from one acupoint after another with astonishing speed. Mu Cheng tried hard to track the position of the silver needles but realized he couldn¡¯t see them clearly, his heart pounding. What sort of hand speed was this? After Ying Zijin finished the last acupoint, Mu Heqing lying on the ground finally caught a breath, the cyanosis on his face slowly fading, returning to a healthy ruddiness. The entire treatment had taken less than a minute. Ying Zijin put away the silver needles neatly, placing them back into the box. She stood up, one hand in her pocket, standing there with a carefree poise, her breathing not the slightest bit disturbed, ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± Mu Cheng was still in a daze, feeling even more like he was in a dream. Even after Miss Meng had treated Mu Heqing, she would be exhausted; this was¡­ ¡°Cough, cough, cough!¡± Mu Heqing suddenly started coughing violently, laboriously opening his eyes. Previously, he had been in a semi-conscious state, but he was still aware of his surroundings. After calming his breathing, with the help of Mu Cheng, Mu Heqing slowly stood up. He coughed a few more times, his expression serious, his gaze gentle and his tone mild, ¡°Young lady, you have saved my life, so if there¡¯s anything you need, just ask.¡± He clearly felt that his heart was much better than before. Such medical expertise was probably unrivaled even in the entire ancient medical field. ¡°No need,¡± Ying Zijin replied, seemingly unconcerned, ¡°It was just at hand.¡± It had been a long time since she had healed someone, but it seemed her skills had not deteriorated; in the future, if she was short on money, she could still make a living from this line of work. Mu Heqing did not insist. After thinking for a moment, he took out a jade pendant and said earnestly, ¡°Then keep this. If there¡¯s anything you need, as long as it¡¯s not illegal, I will make sure it¡¯s done.¡± Mu Cheng was shocked. This was no ordinary promise; it was a vow from the head of the Mu family. Ying Zijin hadn¡¯t intended to accept, but upon seeing the ¡°Mu¡± character on the Jade Pendant, her gaze intensified for a moment, as if she had recalled something, and in the end, she accepted: ¡°Okay.¡± Only then did Mu Heqing smile contentedly, ¡°May I have the honor of knowing your name?¡± It was rare for him to meet a young lady that caught his fancy so much; he simply had to make her acquaintance. Ying Zijin pondered for a moment before replying: ¡°My surname is Ying.¡± Ying? Upon hearing that surname, Mu Cheng immediately thought of the Ying Family, one of the Four major noble families in Shanghai City, as the Ying surname was not common. This Miss Ying indeed did not seem to come from an ordinary family; the inherent nobility in her bones was innate. But the Ying Family¡­ Mu Cheng frowned. They had, of course, had dealings with the Ying Family, but with the Ying Family¡¯s limited strength, could they really cultivate a daughter skilled in Ancient Medicine? Mu Heqing had thought of this too, but did not probe further, only smiling, ¡°Miss Ying, would you be interested in accompanying an old man to the Imperial Capital?¡± Ying Zijin raised her eyebrows slightly, surprised: ¡°I have no such plans at the moment.¡± Right now, all she wanted was to retire and live a simple life, planting flowers and raising pigs, to be a carefree parasite. ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Mu Heqing nodded understandingly, ¡°If you ever change your mind, remember to contact me, Mu Cheng.¡± Mu Cheng stepped forward and handed her a business card, somewhat sheepishly, ¡°I apologize, Miss Ying, for having doubted you earlier and affronting you. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No need; you didn¡¯t know, and there¡¯s no trust between strangers,¡± Ying Zijin nodded, ¡°I shall take my leave now.¡± Mu Cheng felt even more embarrassed. He had not seen through a young lady as she had. After watching the girl depart, Mu Heqing stood motionless, silent for a long while, then suddenly asked, ¡°Mu Cheng, what do you think about arranging a match for her?¡± Before Mu Cheng could respond, he spoke for himself, ¡°Forget it, these foolish youngsters of mine are all disappointing, not worthy of her; best not to inflict them upon her.¡± Mu Cheng: ¡°¡­¡± Was there ever an elder who disparaged his own descendants so? ¡°What a pity, why isn¡¯t she a daughter of my Mu family¡­ If she were¡­¡± Mu Heqing sighed, then instructed, ¡°We¡¯ll stay in Shanghai City for a few more days.¡± ** After the snow had cleared, and it was a perfect sunny noon. Yun Wu mist swirled in the distance, under the azure sky, where white birds soared and circled, a rare tranquility and peace prevailed. The Ying Family¡¯s old mansion. Zhong Manhua glanced up at the third floor, frowning: ¡°The Second Miss hasn¡¯t woken up yet?¡± The butler shook his head: ¡°No signs of movement.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already noon and she hasn¡¯t woken up.¡± Zhong Manhua was displeased, ¡°Wake her up and tell her to come down for lunch.¡± The butler was about to leave when the telephone in the living room suddenly rang. He checked: ¡°Madam, it¡¯s a call from the Imperial Capital.¡± Zhong Manhua¡¯s expression turned serious: ¡°Give it to me.¡± The butler handed her the phone respectfully and waited aside. Whatever was said on the other end, Zhong Manhua nodded repeatedly, and after hanging up, she smiled, ¡°The Mu family is going to send Chen Zhou here, probably around May.¡± The butler was surprised: ¡°But has something happened with the Mu family?¡± Why would the Mu family, thriving in the Imperial Capital, suddenly decide to send one of their heirs to Shanghai City? ¡°I don¡¯t know, but we must receive him well.¡± Zhong Manhua poured herself a cup of tea with graceful movements, ¡°We need to start preparing now. In a moment, send someone to order furniture and vacate the second room on the right side of the third floor.¡± The Mu family of the Imperial Capital was not to be trifled with by any of Shanghai City¡¯s four major noble families; relations must be maintained at all costs. ¡°Madam, I think it¡¯s better not to let Young Master Chen Zhou stay in the old mansion,¡± said the butler hesitantly, reminding her, ¡°The Second Miss still doesn¡¯t understand the rules of a wealthy family, and if she offends him¡­¡± Chapter 13 Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` The incident with Jiang Moyuan was a warning from the past. The only thing to be thankful for was that not everyone knew about it, and neither Jiang Moyuan nor Ying Luwei made a fuss. Otherwise, it¡¯s hard to say how the other three wealthy families and the smaller clans of Shanghai City might have sneered behind their backs. Ever since the true daughter was brought back home, the Ying Family has never had peace. Zhong Manhua¡¯s expression turned cold, ¡°That¡¯s true, had you not mentioned it, I would have forgotten; let¡¯s have Chen Zhou stay at the Zhong Family¡¯s house instead.¡± She absolutely would not allow such an incident to happen again, tarnishing the Ying Family¡¯s reputation. There would be no place for her to save face. It seemed she needed to hire a few more tutors to teach Ying Zijin the proper manners and the tea ceremony and flower arranging that the daughters of wealth and nobility should know. Zhong Manhua began to make calls to the Zhong Family, ¡°Mm, yes, Chen Zhou will be staying with you, third brother. Zhiwan is the same age as him, so they can take care of each other¡­¡± Seeing that Zhong Manhua had changed her mind, the butler finally relieved, went upstairs to call someone. ** In the bedroom on the third floor. The girl was sound asleep in bed, her sleeping position anything but steady, curled up and wrapped in a blanket like a pufferfish. A pair of slender legs were half-exposed to the air, her skin as white as cold porcelain under the sunlight shining through the window. Suddenly¡ª ¡°Ding dong.¡± ¡°Ding dong ding dong!¡± The phone under the pillow started ringing frantically, vibrating non-stop. Ying Zijin pressed her head, feeling somewhat irritated. She opened her eyes, turned over, took out her phone, and opened an app called ¡°Weibo.¡± It took dozens of seconds to load, and the inbox was filled with red dots. The girl looked down, her cold eyes showing signs of impatience. At the very top of the Weibo homepage was a post that Ying Luwei had just made at half past eleven, tagging her in it. Within just a few minutes, it had been shared thousands of times. [ @YingLuweiV: Thank you everyone for your concern [heart], I have recovered now. I came here specially to give everyone an update. I owe a lot to @YingZijin this time, so I want to say sorry to Xiao Jin here. Your aunty was too careless and hurt herself, and then you had to give so much blood for your aunty. If you blame your aunty, I can understand, but I just hope that you won¡¯t run off in a huff next time. Everyone is really worried about you. ] Ying Luwei is a famous pianist from Hua Country, beautiful in appearance. With a noble status and from a prestigious family, she also has a fiance who dotes on and loves her, well-matched in social status. Such a life-winning scenario is something people can¡¯t even envy. Moreover, she is personable, so she is quite popular online with over forty million followers, even more popular than some second-tier celebrities. After this Weibo post was released, the topic #YingLuweiRecovered quickly climbed to the hot search list and was still rapidly rising. Every comment under the Weibo post was from fans offering encouragement and comfort. [ Sister, rest well, we are all still waiting for your concert. ] [ Our Luwei is truly kind-hearted and beautiful. She even comforts the child when she¡¯s hurt. ] [ Luwei is just like a little fairy. Every time I listen to Luwei play piano music, no matter how upset I feel, I can calm down. ] Ying Zijin was uninterested in all this; she glanced over it, ready to uninstall Weibo and go back to sleep. But before she could exit, her phone ¡°ding-donged¡± with another series of sounds. It was from the private message inbox, from messages by people she hadn¡¯t followed. [ Why did you run? Luwei was so worried about you, just let her rest easy. ] [ Why blame Luwei? She¡¯s your aunt; isn¡¯t donating blood the right thing to do? ] ¡°` All were accusations, each more unpleasant than the last. Ying Zijin held her head, expressionless as she blocked one account after another and submitted them for reporting. It wasn¡¯t that these comments had truly enraged her, but rather that she was very grumpy upon waking up. It had been hard enough to get some sleep, yet it hadn¡¯t been peaceful. Without a second¡¯s delay, her phone rang again, this time with gentle and soothing music. She glanced at the name and answered. On the other end was a man¡¯s low voice, tinged with a hint of laughter. It was as if the allure of the jade and agarwood from last night still lingered in her ears. ¡°Little one, are you awake?¡± The girl¡¯s eyes gradually lost their fierceness as she threw off the blanket and got out of bed, ¡°Just woke up.¡± She didn¡¯t throw a tantrum. On the contrary, she was quite docile. ¡°Hmm?¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s voice rose at the end, ¡°What were you up to yesterday? Your voice sounds like a newborn kitten¡¯s. Didn¡¯t sleep a wink all night?¡± Ying Zijin thought for a moment, ¡°Not exactly, I went to sleep at four.¡± She had simply been researching new technologies of the twenty-first century and happened to come across something called a web series, which she watched for three hours. The plot was rather melodramatic, but quite entertaining nonetheless. She¡¯d found a pastime for her retirement. ¡°From eleven at night to one in the morning is when the liver detoxifies,¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s voice drew out, ¡°Staying up late will make you ugly and even cause hair loss.¡± Ying Zijin yawned, not really caring, ¡°I have thick hair, naturally beautiful.¡± The person on the other end paused briefly, then laughed even harder. ¡°Alright, alright, little one, you¡¯re naturally beautiful,¡± Fu Yunshen finally stopped laughing and sighed, ¡°Unlike this old man here, even losing a bit of sleep makes my back and waist ache.¡± The girl spoke languidly, ¡°That sounds like kidney deficiency.¡± Hearing this, Fu Yunshen suddenly laughed, his tone rising, ¡°My kidneys are deficient?¡± Ying Zijin, biting a hair tie, raised her empty left hand and grasped her hair, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I can concoct a pill to treat it for you.¡± Her original medicine furnace was also in O-zone; now she had to make a new one by herself. He had helped her a lot; she could give him some medicine as a gift. ¡°Oh?¡± Fu Yunshen was intrigued, ¡°Little one, you¡¯re so capable; in addition to fortune-telling, you also know ancient medicine? Are you from the Emei Sect? Not going to use the Nine Yin White Bone Claw on me someday, are you?¡± Ying Zijin was slightly silent, ¡°What¡¯s the Nine Yin White Bone Claw?¡± ¡°Have you seen ¡®The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber¡¯?¡± he asked lazily, ¡°It¡¯s a peerless martial art from the story.¡± The girl tied her hair and put on another piece of outerwear, ¡°Haven¡¯t seen it, is it very powerful?¡± ¡°Hmm¡ª¡± Fu Yunshen pondered for a moment and laughed, ¡°Powerful enough to shatter a person¡¯s skull with one palm, more ruthless than you, little one.¡± Ying Zijin¡¯s expression remained calm, with no ripples, ¡°That does sound quite powerful.¡± ¡°Watch less of those dramas, they¡¯re all fake,¡± Fu Yunshen said, treating her as a child, not minding much and continuing, ¡°As for that trending topic, don¡¯t bother with it; I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Ying Zijin arched an eyebrow slightly, ¡°Trending topic?¡± She took the phone away from her ear, opened Weibo again, and looked at the trending topics list. She was always quick to learn new things. Besides the first trending topic #Ying Luwei Recovers#, there was another topic climbing from the bottom end up the trending list, quickly hitting the hot search charts. #Ying Family¡¯s Foster Daughter, Ungrateful# Chapter 14 Editor: Henyee Translations It was also because of this trending topic that more people sent her private messages, some even sending her ghostly images. The comments below Ying Luwei¡¯s Weibo also changed their tune¡ª [Luwei, don¡¯t be deceived by your niece.] [There are some people, the nicer you are to them, the more they¡¯ll take advantage of you, so you can¡¯t indulge them. Sisters, am I right?] [She was obviously the one who pushed Luwei down the stairs.] Ying Zijin not only felt indifferent but was also seriously reading the comments and picked up some new trendy slang, ¡°As if it¡¯s anything serious.¡± She didn¡¯t care about the Ying Family, let alone these people. As long as they didn¡¯t provoke her directly, unrelated things had always been unable to affect her in any way. ¡°That won¡¯t do,¡± Fu Yunshen laughed, his voice low and husky, ¡°Such a good and talented kid, I can¡¯t bear to see you get slandered like this.¡± Ying Zijin rubbed her ears and moved the phone away a bit, ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal, can you stop calling me kid?¡± Tsk, his voice sounded somewhat pleasant. It seemed to cure her morning grumpiness. ¡°Hmm?¡± Fu Yunshen slowed his speech, ¡°There¡¯s a generation gap every three years, and I¡¯m five years older than you, what are you if not a kid?¡± Ying Zijin paused, her eyebrows lifting, ¡°Brother?¡± He wants to treat her like a kid and also be her brother? The girl¡¯s voice was naturally cool and restrained, but because she had just woken up, it was a bit muffled and soft, a great contrast that made it more alluring, making one want to go buy a cat. Even Fu Yunshen was momentarily stunned. His peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Say ¡®brother¡¯ again for me to hear?¡± ¡°You¡¯re having a pretty good dream.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Alright, negotiation failed. Fu Yunshen gave up. The kid wasn¡¯t easy to fool, huh. Ying Zijin took a sip of water, and as she turned her head, her gaze swept past the window. By chance, she saw a woman alighting from a Maserati, assisting an elderly person. ¡°Whoosh!¡± In an instant, a future event that was going to happen appeared before her eyes. ¡°I have some matters to deal with,¡± Ying Zijin¡¯s phoenix eyes narrowed, ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to dinner later and bring you something on the way.¡± ¡°Mm, okay,¡± Fu Yunshen pressed his voice lower, sounding languid, ¡°Big Brother will wait for you to bring something for¡­ my kidney deficiency¡­ ¡± The call was abruptly hung up. Ying Zijin expressionlessly put the phone into her pocket. Calling him brother, what a hobby. Just then, the door was knocked on heavily, ¡°Bang bang bang,¡± the noise was extremely loud. ¡°Second Miss, hurry and get up, do you want to anger the Matriarch again?¡± There was no response. The butler¡¯s face darkened, he took out the key, ready to open the door and enter, but before he could act¡ª ¡°Boom!¡± The heavy door was knocked down. It smashed directly towards his head, missing by just an inch. Bright sunlight poured in from outside, illuminating the dim corridor. The butler was stunned, staring blankly at the girl standing against the light, his legs unconsciously shaking, nearly losing control of his bladder. Ying Zijin casually said with her hands in her pockets, ¡°It¡¯s time to change the door.¡± It fell over with just a push. What is this called in the 21st century? Oh, a tofu-dreg project. The housekeeper¡¯s legs were still shaking, and he found it difficult to swallow. He tried to speak but couldn¡¯t utter a sound. Naturally, Zhong Manhua couldn¡¯t miss the commotion upstairs. With a frown, she was about to go up to check when the door of the old house opened. A gentle female voice rang out, tinged with surprise. ¡°Sister-in-law, haven¡¯t you had dinner yet?¡± ¡°Luwei?¡± Zhong Manhua turned around and was genuinely taken aback, ¡°Mom, why have you come too?¡± Old Madam Ying leaned on her cane, ¡°What, I, an old woman, can¡¯t come?¡± ¡°Mom, that¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Zhong Manhua¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly approached, ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect you to come, and nothing has been prepared.¡± Since she had given birth to her second child, Old Madam Ying had moved out and had been living in an apartment in the city center with Ying Luwei, only returning for holidays. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to prepare; I¡¯ll leave after dealing with the matter at hand,¡± Old Madam Ying said, unappreciative, ¡°Call your daughter out.¡± Clearly, she disliked her so much that she didn¡¯t even want to mention her name. Zhong Manhua had a hunch, and she pursed her lips, softly speaking, ¡°Mom, please take a seat, I¡¯ll go right now.¡± ¡°Sister-in-law, Mom hasn¡¯t seen you for a long time, you should keep her company,¡± Ying Luwei said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll go find Xiao Jin instead, and I¡¯ll apologize to her too.¡± ¡°Apologize?¡± But that very word seemed to enrage Old Madam Ying, who knocked her cane heavily on the floor and scoffed, ¡°Manhua, your daughter really has become something, messing up and yet expecting others to apologize.¡± ¡°When did our Ying Family start to confuse right and wrong like this?¡± Zhong Manhua was so frustrated she didn¡¯t dare utter a word of objection. ¡°Weiwei, don¡¯t go,¡± Old Madam Ying held Ying Luwei¡¯s hand, her voice cold, ¡°Since when does an elder have to ask a younger for an apology?¡± Zhong Manhua took a deep breath and raised her voice, ¡°Ying Zijin!¡± At the stairway, the girl leisurely turned around. She looked up, glanced at the hall, and seemed unsurprised by the tribunal-like scene, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Her nonchalant attitude provoked Zhong Manhua¡¯s temper even further, ¡°You don¡¯t greet people when you see them?¡± ¡°Stop,¡± Old Madam Ying raised her hand, her tone indifferent, ¡°I only have one granddaughter.¡± Her biological granddaughter was studying abroad in Oceania; a foster daughter certainly wasn¡¯t her granddaughter. Ying Zijin nodded slightly, casual yet dignified, ¡°That¡¯s fine, I don¡¯t have the habit of acknowledging relatives indiscriminately either.¡± Old Madam Ying¡¯s cane quivered in her hand, as she nearly lost her breath with indignation. Her intention had been to embarrass the foster daughter, but instead, she was the one who ended up being mocked. Zhong Manhua¡¯s face flushed with wrath, she shouted, ¡°What are you saying? How can you speak so unpleasantly?¡± ¡°Sister-in-law!¡± Ying Luwei exclaimed with a start, trying to comfort her, ¡°Sister-in-law, don¡¯t be so angry, Xiao Jin is still just a child, let¡¯s talk patiently about this.¡± ¡°Talk patiently?¡± Zhong Manhua¡¯s eyes reddened with anger, ¡°Rude! Apologize!¡± Her own daughter was indeed her bane, leaving her unable to hold her head up in front of her mother-in-law. Ying Zijin lifted her eyes, her nonchalance devoid of respect, ¡°Do I know you?¡± This dismissive attitude infuriated Zhong Manhua even more, ¡°Ying Zijin!¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Old Madam Ying finally spoke, her tone neither warm nor cold, ¡°I¡¯m not here to see you discipline your daughter today. Let her tell us why she pushed Weiwei down at the banquet that day.¡± She closed her eyes, ¡°Could it be that you thought without Weiwei, you would become the Matriarch of the Jiang Family?¡± These words struck at the heart. Zhong Manhua¡¯s expression changed drastically at once, and she grew panicked, ¡°Mom, that¡¯s absolutely not the case, please don¡¯t believe the rumors.¡± ¡°Yes, Mom,¡± Ying Luwei also urged, ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding; why are you taking it to heart? Don¡¯t you believe me?¡± Chapter 15 Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°Mom trusted you too much, only to realize you only know how to wrong yourself,¡± Old Madam Ying¡¯s eyes were cloudy, but her gaze sharp as ever, ¡°I don¡¯t know who knew very well it was her own uncle by marriage¡¯s room, yet still took a bath in there¡­¡± ¡°Shameless!¡± Zhong Manhua¡¯s face changed again. No matter how you put it, the fact that Ying Zijin seduced Jiang Moyuan was undeniable. It happened a little over a month ago, on January 17th, shortly after Verdant Middle School had let out for holiday. As the New Year approached, Ying Zhenting was busy managing the company, while Zhong Manhua was getting ready to send the eldest Miss of the Ying Family to O State for a half-year exchange program. It was a hard-won opportunity that simply couldn¡¯t afford any mistakes. Deciding who was more important between the Eldest Miss and the Second Miss was not even a question. However, at the end of the day, it¡¯s still her own biological daughter, Zhong Manhua couldn¡¯t completely let go of her worries. She had intended to send Ying Zijin to the Zhong Family, but they were reluctant to take her in. Fortunately, Ying Luwei offered to help look after her. Zhong Manhua, thus reassured, stayed in O State a few more days. But before she could return, news had already spread of the Ying Family¡¯s foster daughter shamelessly seducing her own uncle by marriage. She immediately changed her ticket and flew back to Shanghai City, only then did she find out what had really happened. Jiang Moyuan was accustomed to working from his office at the Queen Central Hotel, a well-known fact among the people of Shanghai City. The Presidential Suite on the 18th floor of the Queen Central Hotel was his personal room. And her own flesh and blood daughter dared to take a bath in it! If it wasn¡¯t to seduce Jiang Moyuan, what else could it be for? Fortunately, Jiang Moyuan, considering Ying Luwei¡¯s face, didn¡¯t spread the word, but didn¡¯t mince his words when he came directly to the door of the Ying Family, demanding they discipline their own. Even though the matter was suppressed, rumors still leaked out. In those days, whenever Zhong Manhua encountered other wealthy families on the road, she was ridiculed, both implicitly and explicitly. She really had had enough! Zhong Manhua, barely holding back her anger, said, ¡°Get over here and apologize right now!¡± ¡°Sister-in-law¡­¡± Seeing she could not persuade her, Ying Luwei had no choice but to look at the girl, ¡°Xiao Jin, your aunt knows this isn¡¯t your fault, come over here and coax your sister-in-law, getting angry is bad for your health.¡± Ying Zijin, long legs slightly bent as she leaned against the door, lifted her eyelids at these words, ¡°Was I blind?¡± ¡°Xiao Jin, how could you be blind? You are perfectly fine¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Ying Luwei suddenly realized what was happening, she exclaimed, aghast, ¡°Xiao Jin, how can you say such a thing, if it wasn¡¯t for Moyuan, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to find you.¡± She frowned, clearly displeased. Jiang Moyuan was the man that all the socialites and rich ladies of Shanghai City wanted to marry, so how had she been blind? Did that not insult her as well? Ying Luwei pursed her lips, her head bowed, looking very upset. Old Madam Ying couldn¡¯t stand to see her daughter upset, her anger turning into mocking laughter, ¡°You really came from a small county town, you can say such ridiculous things!¡± With such commotion, naturally, the servants all heard it. They looked over curiously, their gazes at the girl filled with contempt. Zhong Manhua¡¯s hands were trembling, she had never felt so humiliated before. And, to make matters worse, the humiliation was brought upon her by her own biological daughter. Did she give birth to her just to torment her? At the thought, Zhong Manhua¡¯s blood seemed to reverse its flow, her head throbbing as if about to explode with a ¡°bang¡±. Finally unable to contain herself any longer, she strode forward, about to drag the girl over to her¡ª In the silent living room, suddenly a woman¡¯s soft voice was heard. ¡°Xiao Jin, go to room 1801 at Queen Hotel and wait for me. I have prepared bath items and new clothes for you there. After you take a bath, go to The Bund with your aunt, alright?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhong Manhua was startled, somewhat astonished, ¡°Luwei?¡± Old Madam Ying was also somewhat surprised. Ying Luwei suddenly raised her head, looking incredulously at the girl. A simple phone call, and yet it was recorded? Ying Zijin listlessly tossed her phone aside, turned off the recording, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± This new technology of the twenty-first century is great, hardly requiring any effort from her. The phone is quite impressive, automatically recording during calls. Old Madam Ying suddenly felt embarrassed. Her old face stiffened there, turning from pale to red, visibly agitated. When she thought of what she had said before and then listened to this recording, she wished she could find a crack in the ground to bury herself in. Ying Luwei quickly recovered, her eyes lowered as she spoke softly, ¡°Mom, sister-in-law, it¡¯s my fault. I forgot about this matter. I was the one who asked Zijin to go there, but I stepped out for a bit and told Zijin to wait for me. I didn¡¯t expect Moyuan to return early. Actually, nothing happened, I don¡¯t know how it got blown out of proportion.¡± She then apologised with a smile, ¡°I later explained it to Moyuan as well. Mom, sister-in-law, it really wasn¡¯t Zijin¡¯s fault. Haven¡¯t I said so?¡± Her emotions seemed genuinely sincere. Zhong Manhua looked at the girl with a complex expression, then sat down on the sofa again, this time silently refraining from speaking. Old Madam Ying was so embarrassed she just wanted to quickly move past this incident. She tapped her walking cane on the floor again, her gaze stern, yet lacking the aggressive arrogance from before, ¡°Alright, since it¡¯s not about becoming the Matriarch of the Jiang family, why did you push Weiwei?¡± This question rekindled Zhong Manhua¡¯s anger that had just quelled, ¡°You know full well your aunt has hemophilia, yet you still did this?¡± ¡°Mom, sister-in-law, it¡¯s not like that¡­¡± Ying Luwei¡¯s eyes widened in urgency as she quickly interjected, ¡°What are you all talking about? I¡¯ve already said, it has nothing to do with Zijin. She was even trying to help me at the time.¡± ¡°Luwei, you don¡¯t need to explain for her. She¡¯s always been good at lying, hasn¡¯t she always been like this, and you still indulge her?¡± Zhong Manhua was furious, slamming her hand on the table, her heart aching fiercely, ¡°Do you know what people on Weibo are saying about you?¡± Ungrateful! What a huge accusation! Just then, as the butler who was browsing Weibo suddenly spoke up, ¡°Madam, Old Madam, something terrible has happened. Someone has released a video from the party.¡± ¡°A video?¡± Zhong Manhua was also shocked, ¡°Show it to me.¡± It was a private New Year¡¯s party; how could there possibly be a video? If there was a video, wouldn¡¯t that leave no room to cover things up? ¡°Having a video is good,¡± Old Madam Ying scoffed, ¡°The truth will be right before our eyes, and the lies will collapse on their own.¡± The butler quickly passed the phone over, placing it before Zhong Manhua and Old Madam Ying. Ying Luwei, as if realizing something, her expression shifted slightly, and she moved to intervene. But the video was playing automatically, and it was too late for her to stop it. In the footage, a woman elegantly descended the stairs. Halfway down, her right foot retreated, stepping on her dress, causing her to fall forward. One hand fiercely grabbed onto the girl behind her. The girl looked visibly stunned, managing to hold onto the stair rail in time, preventing herself from tumbling down as well. This less than twenty-second clip was posted as the top trending topic in the seventeenth position on Weibo. Chapter 16 Editor: Henyee Translations A small account without any followers posted it, with a simple five-word nickname¡ªCall Me Invincible Hero. The Weibo post didn¡¯t have any description, it just tagged the topic #YingFamilyFosterDaughter, Ingrate#. But because it appeared in the top hot search, every Weibo user who clicked in from the trending list would see this video at first glance. After seeing the video, those previously active fans stopped their hopping and began frantically deleting their prior comments. If they didn¡¯t delete, weren¡¯t they just leaving evidence for a slap in the face? As soon as they finished deleting, the user Call Me Invincible Hero leisurely posted a second Weibo. [Call Me Invincible Hero: The internet has a memory] Below were fourteen images, all screenshots of the abuse Ying Luwei¡¯s fans had hurled at Ying Zijin. This alarmed the top fans of the Ying Luwei camp, who kept sending private messages, trying to persuade Call Me Invincible Hero to delete the post, but their efforts disappeared without a trace, with no response, infuriating them so much they stomped their feet in outrage in the fanclub. Moreover, since the hot search was purchased, it stayed steadily in the seventeenth position, leading to more and more people clicking in, and finally different voices began to emerge. [What kind of brain-dead fans are these, saying transfusion is a matter of course? Moral kidnapping?] [These brain-dead fans are really something, the victim hasn¡¯t even spoken, and they start imagining someone is out to harm her, what¡¯s wrong with them? Paranoia?] Among these comments, there were other voices as well. [Doesn¡¯t anyone think that Ying Luwei¡¯s fall looked deliberate? What is she aiming for?] [The more I think about it, the more terrifying it is. Could it be that she just wanted the other to give a blood transfusion? Has the foster daughter threatened her position?] [Where did these haters come from, Luwei is so kind-hearted, she wouldn¡¯t even step on an ant, reported. ] [Luwei didn¡¯t know anything, Luwei didn¡¯t say it was the foster daughter¡¯s fault, it¡¯s all the fans¡¯ fault, we apologize to everyone here, please don¡¯t take it out on Luwei. ] [I never liked Ying Luwei, she didn¡¯t point it out directly, but everyone knows what she meant behind the scenes, such a grandiose white lotus, why not speak frankly?] [Yeah, where is Ying Luwei, the main character? Won¡¯t she come out and apologize?] [Why should Luwei apologize? How many times have we said it¡¯s not Luwei¡¯s fault!] [Ying Luwei¡¯s mindless fans are plentiful, everyone run fast to avoid catching such brain damage. ] On Weibo, a chaotic battle between fans and haters was raging, completely out of control, attracting a bunch of onlookers, yet the old Ying residence remained eerily silent. This segment of video had laid bare all the facts, as if a loud slap had been thrown in the faces of Zhong Manhua and Old Madam Ying. Ruthlessly, without any mercy. Blood rushed to Zhong Manhua¡¯s face from shame. Her lips quivered slightly, her voice strained, ¡°Zijin, if you had told Mom, Mom wouldn¡¯t have¡­¡± As she caught sight of the girl¡¯s clear, emotionless eyes, the rest of her words got stuck, her body felt cold, and she couldn¡¯t utter another word. Even Old Madam Ying didn¡¯t know what to say at this moment. She intended to save herself some embarrassment and regain a bit of dignity, but who knew that she would end up losing even more face now. She simply wanted an apology, but now things had turned out this way, Old Madam Ying was furious, yet she had no face left to say anything else. ¡°It seems the Ying Family¡¯s tradition of smearing others is passed down.¡± Ying Zijin removed an earphone, indifferent, ¡°Good, keep it up.¡± With a single sentence, another slap was delivered. Old Madam Ying¡¯s face turned ashen, her breathing quickened, clearly very angry. But the girl had already pushed the door and left, paying no attention to anyone. The cool breeze from outside slipped in, causing Zhong Manhua to shiver. She couldn¡¯t help but wrap her arms around herself, watching the girl¡¯s retreating figure, a vague panic suddenly rising in her heart. As if something was irretrievably leaving her grasp. How absurd. Zhong Manhua shook her head, laughing at herself for overthinking. If she left today, she left; she would eventually return; the Ying Family was her real home, where else could she go? Impossible to leave. Off to one side, Ying Luwei bit her lip, her heart in turmoil as she scrolled through the comments on Weibo. Her expression was calm enough, but her trembling fingers betrayed the restlessness within. Ying Luwei had never imagined that her careful preparations would be ruined by these two Weibo posts. Far from achieving her goal, she had instead drawn a storm of criticism upon herself, and to her dismay, she saw that some fans were posting about un-following her. Although there were only a few, she had indeed taken a real fall. Who on earth was this alternate account? Ying Zijin? Ying Luwei dismissed the thought. A bumpkin from a county town, without influence or power, how could she have gotten hold of this video? Had she angered someone recently? Ying Luwei furrowed her brows and pondered for a long time, but couldn¡¯t come up with a name. She took a deep breath and had no choice but to post another Weibo message. [ @YingLuweiV: Everyone, please don¡¯t argue. It was really an accident that I fell down. I¡¯m sorry for making the people who love me misunderstand. Here, on behalf of my fans, I apologize to @YingZijin. I¡¯m sorry. ] After this post went live, her fans felt extremely sorry for her. [Luwei, it¡¯s all our fault, don¡¯t blame yourself.] [Those who insulted Luwei¡¯s niece before aren¡¯t our Lu Shui, we don¡¯t acknowledge them!] [Some fans might have used extreme words, but the majority of fans truly love Luwei. Please don¡¯t stereotype all fans based on the actions of a few; Luwei¡¯s niece is very nice.] Seeing that the public sentiment had finally stabilized, Ying Luwei closed Weibo and let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, she was prepared, and the matter wasn¡¯t too damaging, but being forced to apologize left her feeling suffocated and she just couldn¡¯t let it go. Ever since that night at the hospital, it seemed like everything had changed. Ying Luwei¡¯s gaze fell, and her expression darkened. She took Old Madam Ying¡¯s hand and said obediently, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going to find Moyuan.¡± ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Old Madam Ying responded enthusiastically, nodding repeatedly at the mention of Moyuan, ¡°Spend more time cultivating your relationship with Moyuan. You¡¯ll be getting married sooner or later.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Ying Luwei¡¯s spirits lifted slightly at the mention of it, and she smiled, ¡°Mom, Moyuan even asked me yesterday if we should move up the wedding date.¡± Old Madam Ying patted her hand, ¡°That would be good, getting it done early. So you don¡¯t have to worry about being coveted by certain people. And don¡¯t be too nice to everyone, I think that foster daughter is up to no good.¡± Ying Luwei pursed her lips into a smile, but said no more. ** In the city center, a single-occupancy apartment. Fu Yunshen held a glass cup, filled with goji berry and jujube tea, with steam rising from it. Just then, a ¡°ding¡± sounded in his ears. He turned his head to see his computer screen suddenly go dark, his eyebrows rising as he casually tapped a few keys. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± A line of text soon appeared on the completely dark screen, red and striking. ¡°Who is this person, asking me to take action?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my kiddo.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°?¡± The other party sent three question marks in a row. Fu Yunshen set his cup down, curled his lip slightly, and typed back, ¡°Of course, I have to spoil them.¡± ¡°¡­¡± With nothing else to add, Fu Yunshen asked, ¡°Anything else?¡± The screen was still for ten seconds before another line of text emerged. ¡°Someone asked me to investigate you.¡± Chapter 17 Editor: Henyee Translations Fu Yunshen didn¡¯t seem to care much, ¡°Hmm?¡± This time, the response from the other side came quickly. ¡°Three people, all on the assassination list, I¡¯ve sent you the information.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t die on me before we¡¯ve even met.¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s eyelashes fluttered with a light laugh, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I can at least manage a meeting.¡± The red letters faded, and the screen finally returned to normal. On the previously empty desktop, there appeared three folders, named¡ª Sharpshooter No.4; Killer No.5; Hypnotist No.7. Fu Yunshen scanned them but didn¡¯t open the folders to look. He closed his laptop, stood up, glanced at his watch, and then left. ** Today happened to be the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and there were many lantern sellers on the streets. The midday sun at half-past twelve was brilliant yet not blinding, with just the right amount of warmth. Ying Zijin turned her head and watched a group of kids skipping rope nearby, her gaze softening. Used to days filled with violence, this sudden calm gave her an unreal feeling. She tucked her hands in her pockets and leaned against the railing, idly enjoying the scenery while she sifted through her memories once more. The Jiang Family had a charitable organization dedicated to providing scholarships to students in remote areas. She just happened to be one of them, normally inconspicuous. A year ago, Jiang Moyuan wanted to bring her to Shanghai City under the guise of sponsoring her education at Verdant Middle School. A sudden decision. She wasn¡¯t very willing at the time, as her foster father Wen Fengmian suffered from severe asthma and needed care. But Wen Fengmian said that his life had already been set in its ways and couldn¡¯t change, so he hoped that she could go out and have a better future. However, no one expected such an outcome from going out. The Ying Family took her back but did so by adopting her. Because Ying Zhenting suppressed the scandal of the Ying Family losing their young lady by having the foster daughter replace her identity, including her name and date of birth. Initially, Zhong Manhua and Ying Zhenting were rather good to her. Until Luwei got hurt for the first time, until she repeatedly made a fool of herself in the elite circle. Also, compared to Luwei ¡ª the premier socialite and young lady of the Ying Family ¡ª a foster daughter from a small county simply couldn¡¯t compete. Ying Zijin narrowed her eyes. The memories in her mind were one-sided and weren¡¯t enough to glimpse the full extent of the events. It was a pity that even with her current ability for Divine Calculation, she couldn¡¯t directly see her complete past and future here. But then again, diviners typically do not divine for themselves. Her memory told her that since her return to the Ying Family, they forbade any contact with her previous family. Fearing that she would return to her old ways, they forcefully severed her connection with the Wen Family. Zhong Manhua was so worried she¡¯d run away that she locked her ID card away in a cupboard, repeatedly reminding her that she was the young lady of the Ying Family and shouldn¡¯t go to Qingshui County to be burdened by those impoverished people. As for Wen Fengmian, they had already given the Wen Family a hundred thousand yuan; they should be content with that. People from a small county probably have never seen so much money. Though Qingshui County wasn¡¯t far from Shanghai City, only a bit over two hundred kilometers away, but as Luwei¡¯s living blood bank, she was constantly watched. So for a year now, she hadn¡¯t been able to visit Qingshui County even once. That¡¯s what being ungrateful truly meant. Ying Zijin pulled out her ID card from her pocket and looked at it, feeling somewhat troubled. New technology had its downsides, making everything constrained and restrictive. But she had to return to Qingshui County once more. Wen Fengmian¡¯s health was poor, and she owed him too much to neglect him. Ying Zijin pondered for a moment before picking up her phone and starting to search for the nearest traditional Chinese medicine shop on the map. ** Thirty minutes later. Zhongshan South Road. As soon as Ying Zijin stepped out of the taxi, she smelled a faint scent of medicinal herbs that somewhat soothed her restless heart due to lack of sleep. She pressed her temple, wondering if it was because she had died once that she found it harder to control her temper after waking up. It seemed she also needed to brew some calming herbs. Ying Zijin first entered a bank. The bank was quiet in the afternoon, with service counters mostly unoccupied. The girl still wore a simple black shirt, meticulously buttoned up, with a khaki coat over it. Deep black trousers, Dr. Martens boots, a half-ponytail. Ascetic and cold. Her exceptional appearance drew glances from passersby. While taking a number, Ying Zijin turned her head and caught a glimpse of the golden iris flower on the wall, pausing in thought for a moment. After a while, she belatedly remembered that this logo was one she had casually designed years ago. She didn¡¯t expect that over the years, the Lorentz Family had expanded their bank from O continent to all over the world. Ying Zijin yawned, ambling up to the counter. The mist in her phoenix eyes was hazy, like moonlight falling from a branch, highlighting her porcelain skin below the collar, her beauty enough to make one¡¯s heart quiver. The teller blushed and quickly averted her gaze, ¡°Hello, miss.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to withdraw two thousand yuan first,¡± Ying Zijin handed over the Black Card and her ID, ¡°then open another bank account and transfer one million into it, thank you.¡± A million was a significant sum at other banks, but at Lorentz Bank, it was nothing out of the ordinary, so no excessive procedures were required. ¡°Okay, please wait a moment,¡± the teller took them and swiftly began processing the transaction. Ying Zijin thought for a moment, then asked, ¡°How long can you keep money here?¡± The teller was taken aback before responding, ¡°As long as there is proof, it can be kept indefinitely.¡± Ying Zijin nodded and lazily leaned back in the chair, yawning. Perhaps her gold could still be returned to her hands. ** Across the street, the traditional Chinese medicine shop. Lu Fang was sprawled on the cashier¡¯s counter doing his homework. After half a day, he still couldn¡¯t solve the final and most challenging derivative problem, so he threw his book aside in frustration. He got up, intending to find some snacks, but the figure behind the glass window captured his gaze as he lifted his head. ¡°Sis, isn¡¯t that what¡¯s-her-name?¡± Lu Fang asked, half curious, half contemptuous, ¡°What¡¯s she doing at the Lorentz Bank being from a county town? Does she have money?¡± The Lorentz Bank was the only international mega bank in the world, frequented by only the wealthy or noble. Ying Zijin might be part of the Ying Family, but she was just a foster daughter with no status, and her grades were at the bottom of their Elite Class. ¡°Who?¡± Lu Zhi was busy writing orders and only glanced over casually at his words. With that look, her expression darkened. Lu Fang went on, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she threw attitude at you yesterday?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t she?¡± Lu Zhi scoffed, ¡°She¡¯s not that capable, but she surely has a big temper. She really thinks I want to serve her.¡± If Ying Luwei hadn¡¯t asked her to, she wouldn¡¯t bother attending to a foster daughter. Just as Lu Fang was about to console Lu Zhi, he saw the girl leaving the Lorentz Bank and heading in their direction, which caught him by surprise, ¡°Sis, why is she coming here? She couldn¡¯t possibly be here to buy medicine, could she?¡± Traditional Chinese medicine wasn¡¯t as popular as Western medicine. Their shop dealt purely in Chinese medicine ingredients, usually only taken on order by hospitals, with very few walk-in customers. ¡°Here to buy medicine?¡± Lu Zhi sneered, ¡°We¡¯re not selling to her.¡± Chapter 18 Editor: Henyee Translations She really hated this foster daughter of the Ying Family, especially after what happened yesterday. Not only did she fail to learn properly, but she also had a poor character, and was habitually dishonest. Even Ying Luwei, who was known for her good temper, was infuriated by her; she genuinely felt that her close friend was being wronged. Lu Zhi had also checked Weibo today, but what did that prove? She was certain that Ying Zijin had inappropriate fantasies about Jiang Moyuan. Lu Zhi thought for a moment, then a plan formed in her mind, and she pulled Lu Fang over, ¡°Xiao Fang, you come inside with me first. When someone comes in later, you keep watch.¡± The latter sentence was addressed to the cashier in the shop. ¡°Sis, what are you doing?¡± Lu Fang was confused, ¡°Are we still hiding from her?¡± In class, it was always Ying Zijin who kept her head down, unable to face people. When did it become his turn to avoid her? ¡°Hide? What hide?¡± Lu Zhi dragged Lu Fang to the storeroom at the back without further explanation, ¡°I want to embarrass her so she¡¯ll come begging to me later.¡± You want to buy medicine, right? Then let¡¯s see if you can even afford it. Lu Fang was momentarily stunned, but then he got it, and couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Sis, you¡¯re really cunning. Do you think she might just end up crying from anger later?¡± ¡°Definitely,¡± Lu Zhi watched the surveillance footage on the computer, ¡°Later, I¡¯ll send the video to Luwei to cheer her up.¡± ¡°Sis, send me a copy too,¡± Lu Fang thought it was a great idea, ¡°I want to play it in class when school starts.¡± With the third year of high school drawing ever nearer and studies becoming more demanding, there was a need for some fun to lighten things up. A few seconds later, the girl pushed the door open and walked in. She was about to head to the shelves, but then suddenly stopped and lifted her head, staring straight in a particular direction. Lu Fang felt a sudden jolt as their eyes unexpectedly met, catching his breath. Bare-faced with pale lips, unadorned yet impossible to look away from. A pair of phoenix eyes deep and dark, like an unfathomable abyss, seemingly capable of drawing people in. Lu Fang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, ¡°Sis, she couldn¡¯t possibly know we¡¯re watching her, could she?¡± ¡°How could she?¡± Lu Zhi dismissed the notion, ¡°You think she can predict the future?¡± ** Ying Zijin withdrew her gaze, expressionless. Ever since she woke up, she had been faced with endless troubles; she was tired of it. She wasn¡¯t accustomed to acting recklessly, nor did she know beforehand that this shop belonged to the Lu Family. After a year of blood transfusions to Ying Luwei left her weak, Zhong Manhua had found her a convalescent therapist. But in truth, it was Lu Zhi who came recommended by Ying Luwei. Lu Zhi, a graduate of Imperial Capital University of Chinese Medicine, specialized in traditional medicine, and Zhong Manhua was very pleased with her, hiring her at a high salary. The Lu Family was a minor clan in Shanghai City, but they were naturally eager to associate with the Ying Family. Nevertheless, all of this was irrelevant to her. Ying Zijin looked at the traditional medicines on the shelf, deep in thought. Many of the medicinal herbs had disappeared completely, and finding substitutes was difficult. ¡°Sis, looks like she really intends to buy medicine,¡± Lu Fang clicked his tongue when he saw this, ¡°Does she even recognize them?¡± She can¡¯t even memorize English words, and now she¡¯s recognizing traditional Chinese medicines? Lu Zhi was irritated, ¡°Why do you care what she¡¯s doing? Just enjoy the show.¡± In front of the shelves¡ª Ying Zijin finished surveying the area, realizing she had overestimated the quality of the medicinal materials here. Even through the wood, she could smell that the herbs were no older than twenty years. But Wen Fengmian¡¯s illness was urgent; she would make do with these for now, and if necessary, she would go into the mountains to dig some herself after a few days. ¡°Miss, what do you need to buy?¡± the cashier, having received Lu Zhi¡¯s instructions, asked, ¡°Or perhaps you could describe the symptoms, and we could help you choose.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Ying Zijin spoke casually, ¡°Atractylodes, Five Spirits Resin, Moonwatching Sand, ambergris¡­¡± She listed a total of thirty types of traditional Chinese medicines, then added, ¡°Ten catties of each.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Lu Fang was initially shocked that a poor student could remember so many medicinal names, but laughed mockingly at the last part, ¡°Ten catties? Does she think she¡¯s buying vegetables?¡± ¡°` Indeed, just a country bumpkin who knows nothing; can you buy medicinal herbs by the kilo? ¡°Anyway, she won¡¯t be able to buy them.¡± Lu Zhi then gave the cashier a signal with her eyes. Understanding the hint, the cashier then said, ¡°Miss, the quantity you need is too great, we need to prepare stock, please sign the order form first.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Ying Zijin replied indifferently, ¡°How much in total?¡± Lu Zhi gestured a ¡°five.¡± The cashier smiled, ¡°Five hundred thousand.¡± Lu Zhi and Lu Fang waited for the girl to be so embarrassed by not having money that she¡¯d cry, however¡ª ¡°Five hundred thousand?¡± Ying Zijin¡¯s expression unchanged, ¡°Are these exclusively for the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord?¡± The cashier¡¯s smile stiffened. ¡°Pah.¡± Lu Zhi¡¯s face also turned sour, ¡°Even if it¡¯s Immortal Pills, what about it? Can¡¯t afford it, then scram quickly.¡± Receiving the cue, the cashier regained her smile, tactfully saying, ¡°Miss, our medicinal materials are all picked directly from the mountains, they tend to be more expensive, if you can¡¯t afford them¡­¡± Ying Zijin looked up, ¡°Sign it.¡± With those two words, several people were taken aback. ¡°What is she trying to pull off?¡± Lu Zhi doubted, ¡°She dares to spend that much?¡± The Ying Family wouldn¡¯t give her that much money, that¡¯s for sure. Lu Fang analyzed, ¡°She¡¯s just a bumpkin, doesn¡¯t know the market prices, if she buys, it¡¯s our gain.¡± Although some of those medicinal materials were expensive, the total sum didn¡¯t exceed fifty thousand, five hundred thousand was ten times that amount; only a fool would buy. Hearing this, Lu Zhi also felt reassured, nodding towards the cashier. With the go-ahead, the cashier quickly printed out an order form. Ying Zijin glanced at it, took it, but instead of signing, she took out her phone, dialing a number in a leisurely manner. After three rings, the call connected, on speakerphone. Her voice was clear and cold, unhurried, ¡°I want to make a complaint, Zhongshan South Road, number 148, this shop¡¯s medicinal materials are priced ten times higher than the market price, yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Lu Zhi was shocked. She simply couldn¡¯t believe the girl dared to make a complaint call. ¡°Sister, she¡¯s so scheming!¡± Lu Fang blurted out, ¡°No wonder she wanted to sign the order form, she¡¯s setting us up!¡± The Lu Family, unlike the Four major noble families, didn¡¯t have a deep foundation; if they were really reported¡­ In a panic, Lu Zhi rushed out, unleashing a barrage of curses, ¡°Do you want to die?¡± The girl looked up indifferently, with hardly any emotion. Lu Zhi, fierce on the outside but timid inside, ¡°You still dare to file a complaint? I¡¯m going to ask Madam Ying right now, since when does the Ying Family dare let a foster daughter step over our Lu Family heads.¡± Saying so, she was about to dial the phone, ready to tattle. Ying Zijin, somewhat tired, ¡°Don¡¯t bother, I¡¯ll help you do it.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Lu Zhi was beside herself with anger, and in her fury and humiliation, raised her hand to slap the girl¡¯s face. But as soon as she raised her hand, it was intercepted. ¡°Crack!¡± A very faint sound of bone cracking was heard. Immediately, Lu Zhi felt pain, lost her balance, and ¡°plop¡± fell onto the chair. Ying Zijin, hands in her pockets, showed no expression. Oh, a reflex action, she had forgotten to hold back her strength. She would have to be more careful in the future, can¡¯t go crippling people. In pain, Lu Zhi gasped for air, violently raised her head, was about to curse, but her face turned pale as ¡°whoosh.¡± In the doorway, a man leaned casually, a leg bent. In his lax posture, his eyes and brows exuded an air of nonchalance. The words he spoke, however, sent chills down everyone¡¯s spine. He chuckled lowly, ¡°The Ying Family might not dare, but I sure do.¡± ¡°` Chapter 19 Editor: Henyee Translations The sunlight suddenly fluttered down, casting its glow on his ethereal and extraordinarily handsome face. Just like the Radiant Morning Star. Ying Zijin rarelly faltered. After a moment, her gaze drew inward, and she slightly furrowed her brows, wondering why such a comparison came to her mind. It shouldn¡¯t have. ¡°Seventh¡­ Seventh Young Master¡­¡± Lu Zhi¡¯s body was stiff as she forced a smile, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say you were coming in advance?¡± Fu Yunshen, however, paid no attention, he lazily straightened his body, curling his lips with a smile, ¡°What a coincidence, kid.¡± Ying Zijin snapped back to reality and looked up. At that moment, the man was slightly leaning forward, with a faint scent of Jade and Agarwood spreading from his collar, intertwining with his breath in an enthralling manner. His peach blossom eyes were deep and passionate, always gentle. When he seriously looked at someone, he could almost drown them in his gaze. ¡°Thank¡­¡± She just began to speak when he interrupted her, ¡°Big brother doesn¡¯t want to hear those two words again.¡± Fu Yunshen patted her head, dragging out his tone, ¡°We have known each other for so long, no need for such politeness.¡± Ying Zijin¡¯s expression paused, ¡°¡­¡± If you counted by a 24-hour day, it hadn¡¯t even been a whole day. She looked at him, but still didn¡¯t make a fuss about his self-proclaimed title or her own actions. Forget it, if he was good to her, then she would just let him be. Meanwhile, Lu Zhi¡¯s complexion turned even paler. What was going on? Since when did the Ying Family¡¯s foster daughter get involved with the Fu Family¡¯s Seventh Young Master? Not to mention the Lu Family, even the Ying Family had to show respect to the Fu Family. Lu Zhi bit her lip, recalling the man¡¯s earlier words, and panic surged in her heart. Just then, Fu Yunshen finally glanced at her, his tone nonchalant, ¡°Five hundred thousand, is the Lu Family that short on money?¡± Lu Zhi was startled, unsure of how to respond. As she hesitated, Fu Yunshen picked up his phone and made a call. At the same time, in a villa area several streets away from Zhongshan South Road. Mr. Lu was leisurely drinking tea and reading the newspaper at home when his phone suddenly rang. He didn¡¯t intend to answer it, but upon seeing the number he was surprised and hastily took the call, ¡°Seventh Young Master, what can I do for you?¡± The Lu Family had recently secured a large contract, for which the Fu Family was the person in charge and on whom they still relied. The moment he answered the call, the first thing he heard from the other end was, ¡°I hear the Lu Family is quite short on money.¡± Mr. Lu was stunned, not yet comprehending. Then the second sentence arrived. ¡°Afraid you might incur losses, it might be better to let go of that contract in the Northern Region.¡± The man spoke casually, his voice still carrying a smile, showing no clear emotions, but there was an immense pressure to his words. In the store, Lu Zhi also heard it, her eyes suddenly widening, she cried out, ¡°Seventh Young Master, you can¡¯t¡­¡± Fu Yunshen hung up the phone and turned his head, ¡°Hmm?¡± Lu Zhi¡¯s limbs turned icy, and her lips quivered fiercely. She could never have imagined that her attempt to teach the Ying Family¡¯s foster daughter a lesson would cause the Lu Family to lose a contract worth millions. The Lu Family wasn¡¯t a major wealthy family, and losing millions was a significant blow to them. Lu Zhi was at a loss for words, only able to look at the girl with clenched teeth. It was all her fault! If it weren¡¯t for her insistence on coming here to buy medicine, the Lu Family wouldn¡¯t have suffered this unwarranted disaster. ¡°Ying Zijin, that¡¯s enough,¡± Lu Fang, who was in the back storeroom, couldn¡¯t stand by any longer. Walking out, his face darkened, ¡°This is hardly a big deal, why turn it into such a mess?¡± He spoke with annoyance, ¡°It was just a joke, and you didn¡¯t lose out on anything. How about this, I promise to tutor you in math, and we can let bygones be bygones, okay?¡± Lu Fang knew that Fu Yunshen was a frivolous young master, and his actions were merely to woo women, so the breakthrough must lie with this country bumpkin. He still couldn¡¯t figure out what had caught Fu Yunshen¡¯s eye, deserving such treatment. Ying Zijin looked up, feeling that this person was somewhat familiar, ¡°Who are you?¡± Facing an unexpected answer, Lu Fang¡¯s face turned pale, ¡°¡­¡± They had been classmates for a whole semester, yet she didn¡¯t know who he was? What was she playing at? ¡°Ying Zijin, stop pretending,¡± Lu Fang sneered icily, ¡°Your grades are at the bottom of the Elite Class. If you don¡¯t improve, you¡¯ll be kicked out. Surely, you don¡¯t want to lose face, do you?¡± Ying Zijin glanced at Lu Fang again, but still couldn¡¯t recall who he was. However, she did remember something else. Verdant Middle School had an Elite Class for each grade, consisting of the top fifty students, so after every test, there would be changes in the class makeup. ¡°Are you going to agree or not?¡± Lu Fang was growing impatient, ¡°Think carefully now, it¡¯s not everyone who can get me to tutor¡­ What¡¯s with that look in your eyes?¡± Did he look like a fool to her? Lu Fang was furious to the point of death. Ying Zijin lightly tapped the cashier counter, indifferently stating, ¡°Wrap up the herbs and deliver them to the hotel across the street.¡± ¡°Please, please wait,¡± the cashier hurriedly began checking the list, of course, not expecting payment. She was just a small employee, unable to afford offending anyone. Lu Zhi stared at the golden iris on the black card between the girl¡¯s fingers, stunned. Wasn¡¯t that¡­ Lu Fang, feeling very irritated, wanted to step forward, but Fu Yunshen was standing nearby. The man was slightly hunched over, lost in thought. He carried that nonchalant air typical of a debauchee, but oddly captivating. Lu Fang couldn¡¯t help but shiver. In less than ten minutes, three hundred catties of herbs were ready, and Lu Zhi could only watch with an ashen face as the Lu Family¡¯s workers warmly escorted this loathsome person out. It was excruciatingly irritating. ¡°Sister, they¡¯re going too far,¡± Lu Fang slammed the table fiercely, seething, ¡°Just wait a few days until school starts, I¡¯ll make her pay.¡± Lu Zhi was also feeling suffocated, her tone bitter and sarcastic, ¡°Who asked her to cling to higher branches now, she must be incredibly smug.¡± She refused to believe that Ying Zijin could ensnare Fu Yunshen for life. Lu Zhi tossed her hair, ready to tattle to Ying Luwei, when Mr. Lu¡¯s call came through first. ¡°Dad¡­¡± She was just beginning to speak when a roar came from the other end, ¡°What dad, I have no daughter like you, get back here now!¡± ** In the hotel room. Glancing at the piles of herbs on the floor, Fu Yunshen was about to speak when he saw the girl methodically take an electric pressure cooker out of her backpack. ¡°¡­¡± Ying Zijin propped her chin with one hand and sorted through the herbs with the other, weighing them before tossing them into the pot. With no time to craft her own medicine furnace, she had to use this as a substitute. After modifying it slightly, she could proceed with refining medicine. Before leaving the underground market yesterday, she had bought a few pieces of jade stone. While drawing the essence from the jade stones into the electric pressure cooker, Ying Zijin looked up, ¡°Those two Weibo posts¡­¡± She was quite interested in all the new technologies and trends nowadays and was ready to start learning. Hearing this, Fu Yunshen lifted his lashes, a teasing smile at the corners of his eyes, ¡°How do you plan to thank Big Brother?¡± Ying Zijin covered the pot with its lid and pressed the start button, nonchalantly replying, ¡°I¡¯ll ensure you won¡¯t fall all night.¡± Fu Yunshen paused, his peach blossom eyes narrowed, still smiling, his voice gentle but somehow sounding increasingly dangerous, ¡°Little friend, I have a question for you.¡± Ying Zijin crushed the used-up jade stone, scattering the powder on the floor, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Such words¡ª¡± he slowly bent down, his gaze level with the girl sitting on the floor, ¡°who did you learn them from?¡± Chapter 20 The girl¡¯s back was straight, her neck slender. With her sleeves rolled up to mid-forearm, her wrist bones exposed, her fingers that touched the emerald green herbs appeared even more delicate and fair. ¡°I can read,¡± Ying Zijin leaned back and lazily looked up, ¡°Everything is in the books.¡± Fu Yunshen found that when she gazed at him with those misty eyes, full of distant fog and imminent rain, he somehow found himself at a loss for words. Who could resist that? After a few seconds of eye contact, the man bent a finger and lightly tapped the girl¡¯s forehead, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to read those kinds of books in the future.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t want to,¡± Ying Zijin was fiddling with the electric pressure cooker, her head lowered, ¡°That would be no fun.¡± She even planned to buy some novels of the current era to relieve the boredom. ¡°Is big brother treating you to a meal?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t want that either.¡± Super heartless. ¡°¡­¡± The girl spoke again, ¡°At most¡ª¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s gaze softened as he looked at her. She was quite serious, ¡°I¡¯ll take you with me to read it.¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s expression paused for a moment, his lips curving up in a smile, ¡°Take me with you to read it?¡± Is that even a thing? Ying Zijin yawned, feeling sleepy again, her eyes half-closed, ¡°Mhm, after I learn how to shop online first.¡± Fu Yunshen observed her languid manner but realized she was genuine in her thoughts, with no ulterior meaning. Indeed, still a child. Just then, his phone suddenly rang. Fu Yunshen glanced at Ying Zijin to make sure she wouldn¡¯t blow herself up, then stood up to take the call outside. ¡°The Seventh Young Master, come quickly,¡± it was Nie Chao who called, ¡°We¡¯re just waiting for you.¡± Fu Yunshen casually said, ¡°Nothing important, hanging up now.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to throw you a welcome party? How is that not something?¡± Nie Chao said, ¡°Hurry up, at King Club, we¡¯ve put everyone together for you, oh, and those few buddies of yours are here too, they¡¯re all waiting for young master you.¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s brows lifted, ¡°How come I didn¡¯t know I had such a thing?¡± ¡°Hey, it¡¯s just a title, right? Aren¡¯t we all from the Shanghai City wealthy families circle?¡± Nie Chao urged, ¡°It¡¯s the afternoon, what are you doing? Come have a drink with your brothers. Why do you never come when I call you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m accompanying a child, so I won¡¯t be going,¡± Fu Yunshen leaned against the door, ¡°You guys have fun.¡± On the other end, Nie Chao¡¯s face showed shock as though he had been struck by lightning, and two words sprung to his mind¡ª Beast! He even laid hands on such a little sister! In the VIP room, the other young masters from wealthy families hadn¡¯t heard the content of the call, but they were somewhat astonished to see Nie Chao¡¯s expression: ¡°What did The Seventh Young Master say?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ he said he¡¯s not coming,¡± Nie Chao came back to his senses after a while, ¡°You guys go ahead, I¡¯m going to make another call.¡± As Shanghai City¡¯s most diligent dude, he was determined to get the latest gossip firsthand. ** Three hours later, the electric pressure cooker beeped. Ying Zijin opened her eyes and lifted her hand to open the lid. A light fragrance wafted out, refreshing the spirits. Inside the pot, the perfectly formed pills were a deep green color, not too many or too few, exactly fifty. She packed the pills in a medicine bottle she had purchased in advance, tidied up the mess on the floor, and pushed open the door. The man was leaning casually against the wall, his slender fingers tapping on his phone. Hearing the noise, he looked up, ¡°All done?¡± Ying Zijin hadn¡¯t expected him to be waiting outside, and was momentarily taken aback, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you come in?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid of disturbing you,¡± Fu Yunshen said lazily, without saying much else. He lowered his head, looked at the medicine bottle the girl handed him, and raised an eyebrow: ¡°Kidney tonic?¡± ¡°No,¡± Ying Zijin slung her backpack over one shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s for prolonging life.¡± It had the effect of tonifying the kidney, but it could also nourish the liver and stomach. ¡°Hmm? I need to prolong my life at this age?¡± Fu Yunshen asked with interest. Despite this, he still carefully stored the medicine bottle and then asked, ¡°Shall we eat?¡± ¡°I need to leave the city for a bit,¡± Ying Zijin glanced at her phone, ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to a meal in a few days.¡± ¡°Leave the city?¡± ¡°Yes, returning to Qingshui County.¡± The medical facilities in Qingshui County couldn¡¯t compare to those in Shanghai City. Wen Fengmian had lived a frugal life. He definitely wouldn¡¯t be willing to spend the hundred thousand the Ying Family gave him. It had been a year, and who knew how he was doing now. ¡°Today is January Fifteenth¡­¡± As if remembering something, Fu Yunshen¡¯s eyes turned colder, and the smile at the corner of his lips faded. But as he turned his head, the peach blossom eyes were alight with laughter once more, calling out, ¡°Kid.¡± Ying Zijin turned her head: ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Brother has nowhere to go today,¡± he said, drawing out his words, with a hint of laughter in his platinum-colored pupils, ¡°What do you think, should you take me in for a bit?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ** By seven thirty in the evening, the sky was completely dark, with fireworks occasionally bursting in the night sky. Wen Fengmian took out flour from the old-fashioned refrigerator and had just reached the cooking counter when he started coughing violently. It took a while before he could stop. Just as he was preparing to boil water, someone knocked on the door. After cleaning his hands, Wen Fengmian coughed a few more times before going to answer: ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± At this late hour, it would be unusual for someone to drop by. When he opened the door and looked out, he was stunned. The girl stood under the eaves, her black hair touched by the moonlight, hazy, and not quite clear. Even after a year apart, she hadn¡¯t changed. Wen Fengmian swallowed hard, not daring to believe. His voice trembled severely, and it took him a long time to utter two words: ¡°¡­Yaoyao?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Ying Zijin supported his arm, steadying him, ¡°Be careful not to fall.¡± Without a hint of emotion, she tested his pulse and had her assessment. Wen Fengmian¡¯s health was even worse than she had initially thought. Years of heavy labor had already crushed him. After getting a definite reply, Wen Fengmian didn¡¯t snap out of it for a long time. He stood dazed for a while before grasping her hand, his tone both urgent and harsh: ¡°Yaoyao, why did you come back from the Ying Family? Aren¡¯t they with you?¡± After looking the girl up and down, his expression grew more serious: ¡°Tell dad, did those people mistreat you over there?¡± A very ordinary sentence could easily strike at the heart, making one crumble. ¡°Nothing of the sort happened. I just had the time today to come and see you,¡± Ying Zijin pressed down on Wen Fengmian¡¯s shoulder and smiled lightly, ¡°I was wrong not to visit you this past year.¡± If she could have come to her senses earlier, the events of a year ago wouldn¡¯t have happened. Only then did Wen Fengmian¡¯s worries subside, and he turned to wipe his eyes, trying to calm his breathing, which was still violently fluctuating, and his voice still trembled: ¡°That you could come back¡­ dad is already very happy.¡± After all, considering the words the Ying Family had said, he thought he would never see her again in his lifetime. Ying Zijin helped him into the house: ¡°Is it just you at home?¡± ¡°Yuyu has classes today,¡± Wen Fengmian coughed again but then gave a laugh, ¡°However, she should be back soon.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than outside the courtyard¡ª ¡°Dad, I¡¯m back. I bought some meat today so tonight we can¡­¡± The words stopped abruptly upon seeing the girl. Chapter 21 The broad-shouldered and long-legged boy stood at the entrance of the courtyard, he paused for a few seconds before suddenly turning and running away. Wen Fengmian was taken aback and called out, ¡°Yuyu, why are you running?¡± But the boy was already out of sight. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± Annoyed, Wen Fengmian couldn¡¯t help but cough again, ¡°You see, why did he run off as soon as you came back?¡± ¡°Your health isn¡¯t good, better go inside.¡± Ying Zijin patted his back, ¡°I¡¯ll go and have a look.¡± Yuyu was Wen Fengmian¡¯s biological son, his formal name Wen Tinglan, and got this nickname because he was sickly as a child. They were not biological siblings, but their affection for one another was deeper than that of many real brothers and sisters. ¡°Yaoyao¡­¡± Wen Fengmian hesitated to speak and after a long while, he sighed, ¡°Alright then.¡± He smiled again, his eyes and brow serene, ¡°I¡¯ll make dinner for you. It¡¯ll be ready when you come back.¡± Ying Zijin nodded, ¡°You can only make sweet rice balls.¡± He shouldn¡¯t even think about cooking with oil. The herbs here were not aged enough; she needed to regulate Wen Fengmian¡¯s health from all aspects. Wen Fengmian coughed softly, somewhat uncomfortably, ¡°Daddy understands, you go find Yuyu.¡± There was almost an air of urgency to his words. ¡°If, when I come back, I find¡ª¡± Ying Zijin glanced casually at the kitchen, her tone still fairly gentle, ¡°You know what to do.¡± Wen Fengmian suddenly felt that his daughter seemed somewhat fiercer on this return visit: ¡°¡­¡± Half helpless, half amused, he said, ¡°Alright, Daddy will listen to you.¡± Ying Zijin nodded and then left. Watching his daughter¡¯s retreating figure, Wen Fengmian sighed softly, his emotions complex and a hint of red rimming his eyes. How could he not notice that she had lost much weight since her last visit? Even when the household had been poor, he never let the two children suffer with their meals. After Yaoyao returned to the Ying Family, what on earth happened? Hadn¡¯t the Ying Family said that they were bringing her back to live a better life? Wen Fengmian furrowed his brow and pressed a hand to his chest, coughing again, full of worry. ** When Ying Zijin found Wen Tinglan, he was standing by the river alone, silently watching the distant fireworks, with eyes dark as the night, still as if there were no waves at all. The night was heavy, and the cool breeze blew in gusts. The surface of the river was covered with a thin layer of ice, reflecting the round moon above. The boy was like the wind, his figure tall and upright. Wearing white and black, he had an aura of noble elegance. He was exactly the type that would make schoolgirls¡¯ hearts flutter. Ying Zijin walked up to him and pulled a lollipop out of her pocket, offering it to him, ¡°Peach flavored.¡± But Wen Tinglan didn¡¯t take it, nor did he make a move. He was laughing, a cold laughter: ¡°I thought you would never come back for the rest of your life. What brought you back?¡± No answer came. After waiting a full ten minutes, the boy turned his head, his eyes and brow chillingly cold. But upon seeing her at such close range, his expression suddenly changed. The girl¡¯s body was noticeably thinner than when they had parted a year ago, and with the moonlight, he could see the needle marks on her arms. They were dense, numerous, countless. They would not have been so obvious, but her skin was sickly pale, making them all the more prominent. A shocking sight. Wen Tinglan¡¯s body stiffened, and as he stared at those needle marks, he spoke with a hoarse voice, ¡°Sis, are you¡­ sick?¡± She hadn¡¯t come back for a year, was it because she was sick? Ying Zijin didn¡¯t answer, instead, she took out a lollipop again, raised her eyebrows, ¡°Not mad anymore?¡± Her younger brother, because of a certain incident, had a severe personality disorder and refused all communication with the outside world. It wasn¡¯t until after he turned ten that he began to improve, but it also caused his cold and restrained personality. In the beginning, Wen Fengmian couldn¡¯t get close to him at all. The year she disappeared without a word caused significant harm to him. Wen Tinglan soared with the wind, rising straight up for ninety thousand miles. Wen Tinglan, a name infused with Wen Fengmian¡¯s great hopes. ¡°What happened?¡± Wen Tinglan still didn¡¯t take it, his eyes deepening, ¡°Sis, did the Ying Family treat you poorly? What did they do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m fine,¡± Ying Zijin kicked a pebble on the ground, smiling faintly, ¡°Just focus on your studies, don¡¯t worry about anything else.¡± Wen Tinglan had been a genius since he was young but, due to his frailty, only started school at thirteen. Even so, he skipped several grades. A year younger than her, yet he was already in his third year of high school and would be taking the college entrance exams in June. Hearing this, Wen Tinglan¡¯s lips tightened, his arm trembling as he finally took the lollipop. He tore open the wrapper, put it in his mouth, and crunched it up. It was sweet, just like before, but inexplicably, his heart felt clogged. Even after so long, he would never forget those people¡¯s hideous faces from a year ago. ¡°What Wen Zijin? Zijin is our Ying Family¡¯s daughter, naturally, she bears the Ying surname; don¡¯t falsely claim relationships.¡± ¡°What would Verdant¡¯s students think of her if they knew she had a farmer for a father and brother?¡± ¡°Here is one hundred thousand, forget you have a daughter. She won¡¯t see you anymore, you would only drag her down, understand?¡± And then, his sister indeed hadn¡¯t come back for a whole year, not even a phone call. He waited and waited until he gave up. He thought that after she went to Shanghai City, she had forgotten about them. Now it seemed clear that the Ying Family had done something, and she wasn¡¯t doing well either. Wen Tinglan pursed his lips again, murmuring softly, ¡°Sis, I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have resented you.¡± He knew he had a psychological disorder, his hostility was not small, but he couldn¡¯t control it. The young man hung his head low, his fingers tightly clenched. He was trying to change. He very much wanted to become a normal person. ¡°I don¡¯t blame you,¡± Ying Zijin said with her hands in her pockets, ¡°Let¡¯s go back, Dad must be worried.¡± With his heart untangled, Wen Tinglan relaxed his tense body and began talking about household matters like the past years, ¡°I actually didn¡¯t go to class this afternoon, I took a leave.¡± Ying Zijin nodded slightly, ¡°Did you run off to the city¡¯s market to buy meat?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Wen Tinglan replied quietly, ¡°Dad¡¯s health is getting worse, so I thought I¡¯d get him something nourishing.¡± Normally, even with meat available, Wen Fengmian wouldn¡¯t touch a bite. Ying Zijin reflected for a moment, ¡°Have you decided which university you want to attend?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± On this topic, a faint light surfaced in the young man¡¯s deep black eyes, brighter than the stars and moon, ¡°Sis, I want to go to Imperial Capital University.¡± Imperial Capital University, the top-ranked university in Hua Country, where thousands of students aspire to get in. Ying Zijin wasn¡¯t surprised by this response; with Wen Tinglan¡¯s abilities, he could easily get in even without sufficient learning resources. Wen Tinglan continued, ¡°But actually, the place I want to go to the most is Norton University, but without a personal recommendation letter from the principal, there¡¯s no chance at all.¡± Ying Zijin paused in her expression, ¡°What university?¡± ¡°Norton University.¡± Wen Tinglan thought she was unaware, so he took out his phone, brought up the Wikipedia page, and showed it to her, ¡°This one, ranked first by QS World University Rankings, never changed.¡± Ying Zijin looked at the screen, falling into silence. She always felt that since her return, there were quite a few things that were not right. It was one thing for the Lorentz Family to have spread their bank across the globe; penny pinchers do amass wealth quickly. But how could a madman solely devoted to Theology turn a university into the world¡¯s number one? Chapter 22 Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°Do you want the whole world to go crazy with you?¡± She truly hoped it was just a coincidence of names. However¡ª Ying Zijin¡¯s gaze moved downward, landing on the name after the first president¡¯s title, and her expression went blank. It was indeed that lunatic. The first time they met, he had wanted to dissect her for being mentally ill. Wen Tinglan noticed the subtle changes in the girl¡¯s expression, ¡°Sis?¡± Ying Zijin snapped back to reality, her expression slightly complex, ¡°Which discipline at Norton University are you interested in?¡± If she remembered correctly, when she was at Norton University, the only disciplines were Theology, Spiritology, Supernatural Phenomena Research, Alchemy, and such¡ªcompletely out of sync with other universities. The thought processes of lunatics, indeed, can¡¯t be understood by normal people. Wen Tinglan shook his head, indifferently, ¡°Just thinking about it, I can¡¯t get in anyway.¡± Unlike other universities, Norton University had no exams, nor did it consider college entrance examination scores. Only those who received recommendation letters personally sent by the school¡¯s administration could qualify to enter the university. In other words, even if one were the top scorer in Hua Country¡¯s college entrance exam or had perfect SAT scores, without a recommendation letter, they couldn¡¯t get in. No one knew what the admissions criteria for Norton University were, let alone the kind of students it admitted each year. Yet despite this, Norton University always comfortably ranked first among all universities. ¡°If you want to go, then you can go,¡± Ying Zijin pondered for a moment, ¡°nothing is impossible.¡± But if it¡¯s studying Theology, then forget about it. Thinking this, she looked down again at the Norton University encyclopedia entry. After confirming that the school had normal disciplines like Physics, Mathematics, and Mechanical Engineering, she felt relieved. Wen Tinglan¡¯s jaw tightened, his lips drawn into a thin line. He gripped his fingers, ¡°Sis, after you come back from Shanghai City, I can support you and Dad.¡± He felt it; his sister had changed somehow. She used to be quiet, but not as indifferent as she was now¡ªlike nothing could shake her anymore. What exactly had the Ying Family done? ¡°That¡¯s something for the far future. Let¡¯s talk about it after you graduate from college,¡± Ying Zijin said lazily, ¡°This time, I came back to take you guys to Shanghai City.¡± Wen Tinglan¡¯s gaze turned colder, the corners of his lips pressing down, ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± He hated Shanghai City, and he hated those people there. ¡°Hmm, we¡¯ll discuss it when we get back.¡± The siblings proceeded home, one after the other. When they were a few steps away from the yard, a fragrant aroma wafted towards them. After Ying Zijin opened the door and lifted her head, her movements halted right there. In the kitchen, a tall and familiar silhouette was reflected in her eyes. The man was doing something, his head bowed. A pair of peach blossom eyes slightly raised, twinkling with a gentle and affectionate light. ¡°Yaoyao, you brought a guest back and didn¡¯t say a word?¡± Wen Fong Mian was washing his hands and turned around upon hearing the voices, ¡°I wasn¡¯t prepared.¡± Ying Zijin fell silent for a moment, then rubbed her head, ¡°I forgot.¡± It wasn¡¯t that she had forgotten; she thought he was a pampered young master who might not be able to stand this environment. She had specifically booked the best hotel in the county for him. But she didn¡¯t expect him to come on his own and even start cooking. ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t blame her,¡± Fu Yunshen emerged from the kitchen, revealing half of his body, ¡°It was my own insistence on coming. I apologize for the intrusion.¡± Ying Zijin¡¯s gaze lifted slightly, and she saw the Peppa Pig apron the man was wearing: ¡°¡­¡± Fu Yunshen noticed her gaze, looked up, and his lips curved, ¡°Why are you staring at your brother again? Do I look good?¡± ¡°Ugly.¡± Even more heartless. ¡°Yaoyao, how can you speak like that?¡± Wen Fong Mian coughed a few times behind his fist, ¡°Isn¡¯t that your favorite cartoon character?¡± ¡°Favorite?¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s eyebrows rose as he glanced down at the cartoon character on the apron. Peppa Pig? Quite a cute taste. ¡°¡­¡± Ying Zijin had no particular expression, ¡°I don¡¯t like it anymore.¡± It was somewhat hard to accept that she could have liked such a thing before she was fully awake; it wasn¡¯t in her nature. Wen Tinglan also glanced at that Peppa Pig apron, a twitch forming between his brows: ¡°Dad, how many years ago was that?¡± Although, his sister had once saved money to buy a pig doll, and she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep without hugging it. Wen Fengmian just smiled: ¡°No matter how many years, Daddy can still remember.¡± As if recalling something, he looked at the teenager, frowning: ¡°Yuyu, why did you run off when your sister came back?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Wen Tinglan was about to answer but stopped himself. He couldn¡¯t very well say that he walked off in a huff. Ying Zijin walked into the kitchen, slowly adding: ¡°He¡¯s bashful.¡± ¡°Bashful?¡± Wen Fengmian was surprised, ¡°You never got bashful when receiving all those love letters, but you get bashful seeing your own sister?¡± Wen Tinglan: ¡°¡­¡± He had to admit: ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen my sister.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s no reason to run off.¡± Wen Fengmian put away his smile, serious, ¡°It¡¯s so late, what if something happened?¡± ¡°Won¡¯t happen again.¡± Wen Tinglan, not fond of speaking, sat next to Wen Fengmian, looking towards the kitchen, his expression guarded, ¡°Who is that?¡± The man¡¯s figure was perfect, tall and upright, and even wearing a ridiculous apron, it couldn¡¯t hide his innate nobility. Broad shoulders and a narrow waist, a natural clothes hanger. ¡°Mr. Fu is Yaoyao¡¯s friend,¡± Wen Fengmian explained, ¡°Since there was no one at home today, he¡¯s spending the 15th with us.¡± Wen Tinglan didn¡¯t respond, his eyes and brows drooped, still cold and guarded. ¡°Yuyu, Daddy knows you might hold some resentment towards Yaoyao,¡± Wen Fengmian weighed his words before speaking, ¡°but after all, you are siblings, and Daddy can¡¯t be with you forever.¡± ¡°Dad.¡± One word, very cold. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll stop talking.¡± Wen Fengmian coughed, managing a slight smile, ¡°Let¡¯s watch the evening show.¡± ** In the kitchen. Ying Zijin looked at him: ¡°How did you get here?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Fu Yunshen raised his eyebrow upon hearing this, the corners of his eyes curving up, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who agreed to take me in? Are you tricking your brother?¡± ¡°No.¡± Ying Zijin crouched down, taking vegetables out of the bag on the floor, ¡°I was just afraid of neglecting you.¡± She could naturally tell who was truly kind to her. There wasn¡¯t much she could do, except to be even better to them. ¡°How have you neglected me?¡± Fu Yunshen chuckled lowly, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t taken me in, I¡¯d be homeless tonight.¡± Ying Zijin lowered her gaze, not delving deeper: ¡°Let me do it.¡± After all, it wouldn¡¯t do to have a guest lifting a finger. She raised her hand to take the flour from Fu Yunshen¡¯s hand, but as he turned around at that moment, her cool fingers accidentally touched the man¡¯s lips. The temperature seemed to scald them both at once. Instantly, Ying Zijin withdrew her hand, her expression unchanged, but her fingertips remained burning. In the cramped kitchen, there was only the scent of jade and agarwood from the man¡¯s body. Using his height to his advantage, Fu Yunshen looked down at her, his eyes and brows drooping, his tone as insouciant as ever: ¡°Kid, why are you getting handsy?¡± Chapter 23 Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` The fireworks outside the window burst into bloom, scattering light that illuminated his picturesque features. The slightly curved peach blossom eyes seemed to contain the entire galaxy, deep and captivating. Ying Zijin watched him for a while before she slowly took out a tissue from her pocket with a delay and handed it over, ¡°¡­Sorry.¡± Fu Yunshen didn¡¯t take it. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± He bent down and, just like last time, gently patted the girl¡¯s head, his movements light, as if he were teasing a kitten, his lips curved in a smile, ¡°Big brother doesn¡¯t mind.¡± The little one was still very well-behaved. But Ying Zijin was lost in thought, pondering. It was not until a slender hand waved in front of her and then lightly tapped her forehead that she snapped out of it. From above her, a chuckle fell. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Ying Zijin returned to her senses, rolled up her sleeves, poured flour into the bowl, and added some water. She was just considering what to give Fu Yunshen. A cat or a dog, perhaps, to satisfy his fondness for head patting. Otherwise, if this went on, she might actually end up bald. After that, the two of them didn¡¯t engage in much conversation, one boiling water and the other chopping vegetables¡ªall harmonious. In the living room, Wen Fong Mian was happily talking to Wen Tinglan, the atmosphere warm and jovial. Ying Zijin¡¯s gaze steadied. She didn¡¯t have many memories from her childhood; by the time she could remember anything, she was already with the Wen Family. Wen Fong Mian had to care for two children and was overwhelmingly busy. In the year Wen Tinglan turned five, he suffered a great trauma, adding to the Wen Family¡¯s burdens. While studying, she would also go out and find odd jobs, but even then, the three of them barely scrapped by, just managing to stave off hunger. No wonder the Ying Family, when they came to find her, convinced Wen Fong Mian to let her go, as the Ying Family could provide her with better resources. But through it all, Wen Fong Mian never considered himself. Ying Zijin lowered her eyes. She would protect them. ** Two days later. The weather had warmed up, the sun shone high, and the temperature had climbed to 20 degrees Celsius; it seemed like the snow from a few days ago was just an illusion. The girl wore a black hoodie, casual and laid-back. She had one hand in her pocket and the other holding an ice cream cone. The young man following her was carrying two cups of milk tea, clearly a bit helpless, ¡°Sis, since when did you start liking sweets?¡± Ying Zijin finished the cone in just a few bites, ¡°Life is too bitter, need to sweeten it up a bit.¡± The cuisine of the twenty-first century was not bad; she actually found some enjoyment in it. Wen Tinglan, however, misunderstood her words. He fell silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice, ¡°Sis, are you not living with us?¡± ¡°Not for now.¡± Ying Zijin hummed, ¡°I still have some issues to resolve, you guys settle in without worries.¡± After dinner that day, she had discussed with Wen Fong Mian about moving them to Shanghai City. Initially, he disagreed, worrying it would cause her trouble, but later he agreed. She spent four million to purchase an eighty-square-meter apartment between the inner and outer ring roads and furnished it, settling Wen Fong Mian in. With Wen Fong Mian coming to Shanghai City, Wen Tinglan naturally decided to transfer to Verdant. He had received an invitation from Verdant long ago, but had always declined it. As for the Ying Family¡­ Ying Zijin narrowed her eyes. Her ability for Divine Calculation had not yet recovered, but when it came to Divination, everything still depended on cause and effect. The cause and effect between her and the Ying Family had not been completely severed; she couldn¡¯t leave for the time being. Moreover, while observing the future, she discovered something crucial. It was related to the Ying Family, but the details were blurry. Staying with the Ying Family, she could investigate more effectively. Wen Tinglan frowned, ¡°But those people¡­¡± He could hardly imagine just how much his sister had to endure in the Ying Family that she now had to eat sweets to cope. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Ying Zijin said nonchalantly, ¡°Beating them up is a small matter.¡± If she could settle an issue with her hands, she¡¯d always been too lazy to use her mouth. Talking was far more exhausting than fighting, after all. ¡°` Wen Tinglan: ¡°¡­¡± He had not believed it before. But just yesterday, he witnessed his sister kick someone who tried to harass her, and that person couldn¡¯t even get up afterward. The young man looked down, gripping his fingers tightly. He swore that the Ying Family would get their comeuppance. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± the girl said, biting on her straw as she drank her milk tea, ¡°I¡¯ll take you back.¡± ** Ying Family. The butler frowned as he watched several servants carry boxes in from the front gate and asked, ¡°What are these?¡± One of the servants wiped sweat off his brow: ¡°They are Second Miss¡¯s parcels.¡± ¡°Second Miss¡¯s parcels?¡± The butler¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°What hasn¡¯t Madam already prepared for her that she needs to buy anything else?¡± She only ever causes trouble. ¡°Just put them in the yard,¡± the butler directed, ¡°Madam is entertaining guests and can¡¯t be disturbed.¡± The servants set the boxes down, and as the butler approached to unpack them, he inadvertently noticed a word embossed on the boxes in a flowery font¡ª STAR It was gold, and faint. The butler paused, moving closer to get a better look, when footsteps stopped next to him. A chill that flashed by for an instant froze him with a shudder. Looking up, he froze. The girl simply watched him, with a detached gaze. ¡°Second Miss¡­¡± the butler quickly stepped back, not daring to be disrespectful, ¡°Your, your purchases have arrived.¡± His knees went weak under the pressure, and he immediately ¡°thumped¡± to his knees, not daring to lift his head: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, without your permission I just¡­¡± Ying Zijin didn¡¯t care; she squatted down and, without a scissors, started unpacking with her hands. Fu Yunshen had left the day before, saying before he went that he bought her some books and would send them to the Ying Family. It seemed these were them. Before opening the parcels, Ying Zijin was quite interested. After opening them, she saw a box full of children¡¯s books: ¡°¡­¡± And as if calculated to the minute when she would receive the parcels, her WeChat ¡°dinged.¡± [Little friend, have you received them?] Before she could reply, another message came through. [These were carefully selected by your big brother, they include books from various countries, you¡¯ll have plenty to read for a long time.] Ying Zijin held her head. Who wants to read children¡¯s books? She emotionlessly typed and sent four words back. [Thank you very much.] The reply came back quickly. [You¡¯re welcome, remember to treat your brother to several meals.] Ying Zijin had no desire to respond; she really wanted to throw the entire box of children¡¯s books at him. The servants stood by, smirking at the contents of the box. This adopted Second Miss couldn¡¯t compare with the First Miss; even the books she read showed that. The First Miss was reading English originals in her junior year of high school, unlike the Second Miss who was still reading fairy tales at her age. She really was from some small place, probably didn¡¯t even know as many English words as they did. Ying Zijin closed the box; she accepted it nonetheless, figuring it might serve as a sedative bedtime reading. She didn¡¯t ask for help, instead, she picked up the books and headed inside. ¡°Second Miss, you can¡¯t go in now,¡± the butler said hurriedly, trying to stop her, ¡°Madam is currently¡­¡± He hadn¡¯t finished his sentence when the door opened. On the living room couch, Zhong Manhua was smiling and talking about something with a guest, looking very pleased. The sound of the door opening interrupted what she was about to say next. Zhong Manhua frowned, and when she looked over, her smile vanished instantly: ¡°Why have you come back at this time?¡± Chapter 24 Editor: Henyee Translations Since the day of the Weibo incident, Zhong Manhua had been crushed by guilt. She had accused Ying Zijin of seducing Jiang Moyuan without fully investigating the facts, which was her fault. But as an elder, she had absolutely no reason to apologize to her junior. Therefore, Zhong Manhua thought of making it up in other ways; she even planned to cancel a company appointment to go shopping for new clothes with Ying Zijin. However, Ying Zijin disappeared for four days without so much as a word, leaving her hanging. Which Young Lady of any family would show such attitude to her parents? Zhong Manhua was seething with anger. Another Noble Lady on the sofa glanced over, her fleeting look one of disinterest before she shifted her attention away. Zhong Manhua certainly noticed and clenched her fingers, saying coldly, ¡°You go out and wait first.¡± ¡°I always had one question,¡± Ying Zijin nodded slightly, her tone indifferent, ¡°Why you could ever be a mother.¡± ¡°¡­¡± There was a brief silence in the living room before the Noble Lady couldn¡¯t help but take another look at the girl. That look turned to a moment of surprise because of the girl¡¯s face. But that was it, the rest was all scrutiny. Zhong Manhua never expected to hear such a statement and her eyes reddened with fury, ¡°What did you say?!¡± The girl, however, didn¡¯t pay any more attention. With a ¡°I¡¯m already being polite by not hitting you¡± look of indifference, she carried her book upstairs. ¡°You¡­¡± Zhong Manhua was so furious she was stuck, unable to let it out or swallow her anger. She held her chest, feeling suffocated. It was the same again, losing face in front of others. She was certain this girl was sent to torment her. She really was beyond her control! But the honored guest was still present, and Zhong Manhua could not afford to lose her composure. She quickly regained her calm and forced a smile, ¡°I apologize for this embarrassing display, Madam Mu.¡± ¡°Is that the girl your Ying Family adopted a year ago?¡± Madam Mu frowned, ¡°Manhua, what were you thinking, causing such hassle for your biological daughter?¡± Moreover, adopting one that looks like her. Even though that face, none of the socialites and rich ladies of the capital could compare. But no matter how good, she¡¯s still a fake. Zhong Manhua did not offer any explanation, ¡°When people reach middle age, they often think about doing good deeds.¡± At that moment, she felt relieved that outsiders were unaware Ying Zijin was her biological daughter. ¡°Good deeds should be discerning, some people are not worth your charity,¡± Madam Mu took a sip of her tea, ¡°And you¡¯ve been too indulgent with her. How dare she speak to you this way?¡± In the world of wealthy families, even illegitimate children often couldn¡¯t show their faces, but at least there was a blood relation, a Foster Daughter? Tsk. Madam Mu shook her head and continued, ¡°If you ask me, you can¡¯t spoil one that¡¯s not your own. Spoil her, and one day she might create a big mess. How will you handle that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind her.¡± Zhong Manhua smiled, ¡°Rest assured, I have already contacted the Zhong Family. Once Chen Zhou arrives, we can move there, there won¡¯t be any problem.¡± The Zhong Family was also one of the Four major noble families in Shanghai City, with a solid foundation. ¡°I trust your actions.¡± Madam Mu indeed did not mention it again, ¡°Manhua, actually I wasn¡¯t planning to come personally this time. But Elder Mu, for some reason, wanted to stay a few more days in Shanghai City.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been chaotic back home. I followed here to pick up the elder and took the opportunity to visit you as well,¡± she added. Zhong Manhua was surprised, ¡°Elder Mu has come to Shanghai City?¡± The name Mu Heqing was known throughout not just the capital Shanghai City but across the whole Hua Country. The Mu family came from a General¡¯s Background, and in his youth, Mu Heqing had been on real battlefields. Even after decades of retirement, his prestige had not diminished in the slightest. ¡°The old master spent his life in the military, accustomed to fighting and killing, and even in his old age, he couldn¡¯t settle down,¡± Madam Mu sighed. ¡°So when he heard that a rare antique had appeared in Shanghai City, he hurried over.¡± Zhong Manhua nodded, ¡°No wonder, I heard a while ago that Elder Mu had gone to O Continent personally for a piece of Yuan dynasty blue and white Ghost Valley.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Madam Mu said. ¡°It¡¯s just that the old master has a bad heart, and this time he came out without bringing a doctor. It would be terrible if he fell ill.¡± ¡°I can understand, our family¡¯s Old Madam also has poor health, and we have to be careful when she goes out.¡± ¡°Yes, fortunately, the old master encountered a divine physician in Shanghai City, otherwise, he might really have been in serious trouble.¡± Madam Mu was immensely relieved. If Mu Heqing had gone, the loss to the Mu family would have been too great. Moreover, the heir of the Mu family had not yet been determined, and it was Mu Heqing who had the final say. ¡°A divine physician?¡± Zhong Manhua was taken aback. ¡°May I ask who it is?¡± Could it be that some new figure had emerged in Shanghai City? How had she not heard of it? ¡°The old master didn¡¯t say,¡± Madam Mu took a sip of tea. ¡°But I guess even if he did, we wouldn¡¯t know them. It¡¯s only from what Mu Cheng said that this divine physician¡¯s medical skills are even better than the youngest of the Meng Family¡­¡± She gestured with her hand and paused, ¡°Higher.¡± Zhong Manhua was surprised, ¡°That miraculous?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t met them, so no one knows for sure,¡± Madam Mu put down her teacup and stood up. ¡°Manhua, I¡¯ll be leaving first. Connect with me by phone if you need anything.¡± Zhong Manhua also stood up and saw her out. After Madam Mu had left, the butler came in from the yard: ¡°Madam, I apologize, I couldn¡¯t stop the Second Miss.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± Zhong Manhua¡¯s expression cooled down again. ¡°In the future, don¡¯t bother with her. Let her do as she pleases. Sooner or later, she¡¯s going to regret it.¡± ¡°When she causes trouble, it will still be the Ying Family who has to clean up the mess for her.¡± If she weren¡¯t her biological daughter, she wouldn¡¯t have bothered to make an effort to prepare a room for her. Despite the long time spent training her, she hadn¡¯t turned out to be one of the socialites and rich ladies. The butler hesitated for a while, not mentioning the word he had seen earlier on the box. Maybe he had seen it wrong, or it could simply be a coincidence. After all, the Second Miss had only been in Shanghai City for a year, having lived in Qingshui County all her life before that. In such a small place, it was impossible to have contact with higher circles. Zhong Manhua massaged her temples, calming down her anger, then instructed indifferently, ¡°Send someone to inquire about the divine physician mentioned by Madam Mu, and, if possible, invite them to see Old Madam about her chronic headaches.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°Money is no object, be sure to show respect.¡± The butler understood and withdrew. * Third floor. Ying Zijin had arranged the box of children¡¯s books on the shelf and sat down in front of the computer. She expertly powered on the mainframe, leaned back in her chair, and started watching the web series she hadn¡¯t finished the other day. This new type of retirement life suited her just right. No need for fighting and killing, nor so many troubles, she wasn¡¯t planning on letting those people know she was back¡ªfor the time being. After all, she indeed had quite a few enemies. She had plenty of free time to study the new technologies of the 21st century, which were all quite interesting. After finishing a cup of milk tea, Ying Zijin went to grab another. ¡°Beep!¡± Suddenly, the computer emitted a sound, then the screen froze on the image of the female lead in the drama kicking the male lead into a pond and laughing uproariously with her hands on her hips. Ying Zijin looked up, eyes narrowing slightly as she stared at the now darkened computer screen. Chapter 25 Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` On the hacked screen, a line of blood-red, creepy characters appeared, and the computer emitted ghostly wails and howls. [Little friend, who are you to him?] Ying Zijin¡¯s expression showed no fluctuation, just a slight raise of her eyebrows. Even watching a drama, she seemed to have really picked up someone¡¯s knack for attracting trouble. She lowered her gaze, raised her hand, and began typing in the dialogue box. [And who might you be?] On the other side of the ocean, in some basement, a person eating instant noodles glanced at the message. Is this girl stupid? How could he possibly tell her that? [I am a hacker.] ¡°Hacker?¡± Ying Zijin appeared to remember something, ¡°Then wait a moment, one hour.¡± [?] A large question mark dominated the screen. Ying Zijin fished out a book she had bought earlier from her backpack and started reading it, unconcerned about the still-darkened computer screen. She read quickly, flipping through more than a dozen pages a minute as if merely browsing. [What are you reading?] There was no reply, and the curiosity on the other end was killing him. After infiltrating this computer, he naturally had control over the camera and all other devices. So he zoomed the camera in and saw the title, ¡®Basics of Computer Science for College Students¡¯. ¡°¡­¡± [You¡¯re a college student? You don¡¯t think that by finishing this book, you could break my intrusion, do you?] What a joke, did he not know what ¡®Basics of Computer Science for College Students¡¯ contained? Nothing but basic operations for software like Word and PPT, plus a detailed explanation of computer chips. The girl continued to read her book silently, as if deaf to the world. The camera caught the image of her long lashes, which resembled the delicate wings of a butterfly, fluttering lightly. Her skin was extremely white, as fine and soft as coagulated cream, with a translucent quality. Her black hair spread out shimmering in the sunlight. She was stunningly beautiful, almost breathtakingly so, making it nearly impossible to look away. Suddenly, an impractical thought emerged on the other end¡ª Could it be that he had taken a liking to this young girl? But as soon as this thought arose, it was dismissed. Impossible. Tsk, he wanted to see what would happen after an hour. The basement was piled high with instant noodle boxes when Ying Zijin finally made her move, as he started to eat his third bowl of instant noodles. She put down the book and looked up. Her slender fingers rested on the old-fashioned keyboard, tapping quickly, and in less than half a minute¡ª All of a sudden, everything went dark in that basement halfway around the world. ¡°Beep Beep Beep!¡± An urgent and frantic beeping began. ¡°Shit!¡± He spat out his noodles in shock, staring at the ten-plus computers that were out of control. But he quickly snapped to action and began counterattacking, trying to restore the computers to normal. What was haunting, though, was that no matter what code he entered, there was no response. ¡°That¡¯s impossible¡­¡± Cold sweat broke out, and the instant noodles no longer appealed. He couldn¡¯t force these computers to shut down; several tasks were in progress and couldn¡¯t be interrupted¡ªhe could only¡ª [Boss, I was wrong, please spare me.] [Sister, sister, I still need to make a living.] [I¡¯m on my knees, really, I am. Sister, you¡¯re the real hacker, I¡¯m nothing but a fart in front of you.] Seeing this line, Ying Zijin yawned and replied. ¡°` ¡°[You¡¯re overthinking it, I¡¯m not a hacker.]¡± She hadn¡¯t been exposed to computers, this new technology, but thanks to her ¡®Divine Calculation¡¯ ability, after understanding computers from books, she could parse their internal structures, which was why she always learned things quickly. She directly attacked the source, which wasn¡¯t something that could be resolved with code, completely different from what hackers do. At this moment, two more sentences appeared on the screen, accompanied by an emoticon. [Big shot, please, I was just curious about you, I really didn¡¯t mean anything by it.]¡± [Sister, sister, look at me acting all cute, can you let me off the hook?]¡± Ying Zijin slightly raised her eyebrows. She knew the hacker who had invaded her computer had ties with Fu Yunshen, and in a way, had helped her. But he disturbed her drama watching, and she was not pleased, nor did she want him to be happy. However, it had been enough fun for a while. Ying Zijin¡¯s eyes narrowed as she typed at a leisurely pace. [¡®Little friend¡¯ is not a term you can use.]¡± [There won¡¯t be a next time.]¡± After replying, she released control over the other computer. She then leaned back in her chair, sipping milk tea, and continued watching her drama, lazy and content. Little did she know that on the other end, she had caused an explosion, with the person¡¯s mentality crumbling into a landslide, infuriated enough to hack into another computer. [What the hell kind of freak did you get me involved with?]¡± [Is she poisonous or what?]¡± [Do you know what she did?]¡± When Fu Yunshen received these three messages, he was brewing tea. The mist from the tea blurred the deep-set features of the man, like a vast cloud veiling the sky¡¯s rosy light. It couldn¡¯t hide his handsome looks, which seemed even more distinguished. Fu Yunshen glanced at the computer; in just that second¡¯s time, three more lines appeared. [She finished ¡®Introduction to Computers for College Students¡¯ in an hour and then counter-hacked my computer!!!]¡± [Damn, what kind of humiliation is this???]¡± [I¡¯m someone who has hacked into Lorentz Bank and Norton University!!!]¡± The triple punctuation marks showed just how angry he was. Fu Yunshen raised his brows, quite surprised. After drying his hands, he finally replied. [My little one is really talented.]¡± A single sentence made the other side explode even more. [Get lost!!!]¡± [I¡¯ve only been played by you two freaks; why do you troublemakers come out to harm others?]¡± [I¡¯ve decided, I¡¯m going to sell all your information to people on the hit list and let them take you out.]¡± Fu Yunshen curled his lips into a lazy smile. [Go ahead, sweetheart.]¡± ** Jiang Corporation. On the 27th floor, inside the office. Jiang Moyuan loosened his tie and sat down, staring at the green scenery below, he said tiredly, ¡°Report on the recent matters.¡± ¡°Yes, Third Master,¡± the secretary flipped open the folder, ¡°The Jiang family¡¯s investment in ¡®Youth 101¡¯ has concluded, making dozens of times profit, although there¡¯s a lot of criticism online.¡± ¡®Youth 101¡¯ was Hua Country¡¯s first hundred-person talent show. Several wealthy families involved in the entertainment industry from the Imperial Capital had invested, and with movie stars and divas boosting it, it was very popular, bringing the Jiang family along for the ride. Jiang Moyuan hummed indifferently, clearly uninterested. The secretary, understanding, flipped to another file: ¡°Old Master Fu¡¯s health is deteriorating, everything is normal with the Zhong Family, and there¡¯s interaction between the Ying Family and the Imperial Capital¡¯s Mu Family¡­¡± As he heard about the shifts in Shanghai City¡¯s landscape, Jiang Moyuan clasped his hands together, his expression waxing and waning unclearly. ¡°Third Master, there¡¯s one more thing,¡± the secretary hesitated, recalling the Weibo post from the other day, ¡°About Second Miss Ying¡­¡± Before the secretary could finish, he was interrupted. Jiang Moyuan raised his hand, his voice cold, ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear about her matters.¡± He recalled Ying Zijin¡¯s attitude towards him that day, and his heart grew colder. Chapter 26 Editor: Henyee Translations The secretary was taken aback, then understood. They were going to completely abandon the Ying Family¡¯s foster daughter. Jiang Moyuan closed his eyes, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, you may leave.¡± ¡°Third Master, please rest well.¡± The secretary carefully closed the door. After stepping out, he shook his head. He had previously accompanied the Third Master on inspections to Qingshui County, back when that foster daughter of the Ying Family was still simple and unspoiled. Now? Indeed, she was tempted by the glitz and glamour of the big city, restless and eager to climb up. Luckily, the Third Master had seen through her. After a moment of thought, the secretary went to the pantry, took out his phone, and made a call, ¡°Miss Luwei¡­¡± ** After several days of recuperation, Wen Fengmian¡¯s health had improved significantly. But due to chronic illness, his recovery would not happen overnight. The initial batch of medicine had run out, and Ying Zijin had specially ordered a fresh batch of medicinal materials. Shanghai City wasn¡¯t near the mountains, and all the medicinal materials had to be transported from other places. Because she required only the highest quality materials, several tens of pounds cost her hundreds of thousands. While waiting, Ying Zijin entered a dessert shop next door and ordered a serving of mango glutinous rice balls. She took out her newly purchased phone and lit up the screen, which displayed various apps she planned to try out. The greatest advantage of new technology was that she wouldn¡¯t be too bored. Ying Zijin opened one of the apps, looked at herself with a pair of rabbit ears, and pondered. It was said to be called taking a selfie. It seemed quite interesting. She casually adjusted the settings, picked a filter and accessories, and pressed the shutter. ¡°Click¡ª¡± The crisp sound made the person sitting at the opposite table lift their head. It was a young girl wearing a sunhat and sunglasses, very well concealed. She frowned, displeased, ¡°How did they even track me here? Tell her to delete the photo, I don¡¯t want to end up on the hot search because of an unflattering picture.¡± Her assistant understood and immediately approached, ¡°Delete the photo you took. Sister Luo doesn¡¯t like fans taking pictures of her, understand?¡± ¡°If you insist on taking photos, we can sue you.¡± The voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it caught the attention of everyone in the dessert shop. They all looked over, curious. ¡°Is there a celebrity here? Look, could it be that one? Damn, what kind of immortal beauty is that?!¡± ¡°Are you talking about the miss in the black blouse? Impossible, with that face, no one would forget after seeing it once. There¡¯s nobody like her in the entertainment industry.¡± ¡°No, not her, I mean the one over there. Have you heard of Luo Ziyue? Finished tenth in ¡®Youth 101,¡¯ a popular talent show.¡± ¡°Sounds vaguely familiar, but I don¡¯t really remember¡­¡± The surrounding area buzzed with conversation. Seeing that the girl had no intention of deleting the photo, the assistant didn¡¯t say another word and tried to snatch the phone from her hands. Not only did she fail to grab it, but her hand landed directly in the mango glutinous rice balls. It wasn¡¯t until then that Ying Zijin looked up, her tone indifferent, ¡°You¡¯ve dirtied my dessert.¡± ¡°Who told you not to delete the photo?¡± The assistant was also furious, ¡°Why follow Sister Luo here, don¡¯t you know how to show some respect?¡± Upon hearing this, the other customers had an epiphany. So pretty, and she turns out to be a sasaeng? Ying Zijin closed the app, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°¡­¡± An awkward silence ensued. The assistant was frozen in place. Luo Ziyue, who had been silent, stood up. She removed her sunglasses, revealing a beautiful and impatient face, ¡°You don¡¯t have to pretend you don¡¯t know me. I¡¯ve seen your kind before. You guys chased me until I lost one of my shoes yesterday, and you still won¡¯t leave me alone today?¡± She really disliked sasaengs because they left her with no personal space at all. Ying Zijin looked up and glanced at her, rather gracefully, ¡°I don¡¯t chase after the ugly, thank you.¡± Some people in the vicinity couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Infuriated, Luo Ziyue was about to retort when a female student from a nearby table stood up. ¡°I¡¯m sitting right next to you and saw everything clearly. The lady was only taking a selfie; she didn¡¯t take a picture of you at all.¡± She muttered softly, ¡°With looks like hers, why would she bother taking a photo of you instead of herself?¡± If she had a face like that, she¡¯d admire herself in the mirror every day rather than chase after stars. As the girl put it that way, several of her friends agreed. ¡°Yeah, she really didn¡¯t take a picture of you, Miss. She clearly doesn¡¯t know you.¡± ¡°Honestly, with those sunglasses on, we didn¡¯t even recognize you.¡± Luo Ziyue¡¯s face turned green with embarrassment. ¡°Youth 101¡± is so popular, yet there actually are people who don¡¯t recognize her? ¡°Just pay for it,¡± Ying Zijin said, head bowed to her phone, sparing no more glances. The girl¡¯s voice was languid and indifferent, yet it added a huge pressure invisibly. The assistant¡¯s face couldn¡¯t stop turning pale. With everyone watching, Luo Ziyue couldn¡¯t just walk away with a snub; it would affect her popularity. She reluctantly extracted three hundred-dollar bills from her purse and slapped them onto the table, the words squeezed through clenched teeth, ¡°Is that enough?¡± ¡°The cash register is over there.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Luo Ziyue, flustered and fuming, face red with embarrassment, had to go to the counter herself to reorder. After such an incident, she lost interest in staying any longer and left in a hurry with her assistant, in quite a disheveled state. Ying Zijin twirled the long spoon in her hand, planning to take this order back for Wen Tinglan. While waiting for her meal, a female student cautiously approached her, ¡°Big sister, are you a trainee from some company?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Ying Zijin was fairly patient with the young girl, ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± The student scratched her head, ¡°If you enter the entertainment industry, I¡¯ll definitely be your fan!¡± Ying Zijin yawned, ¡°I won¡¯t enter, not now, not ever.¡± She wasn¡¯t interested in acting, and nobody could stop her from enjoying her retirement. The female student didn¡¯t get discouraged and ventured, ¡°Then, big sister, can I take a photo with you? I promise I won¡¯t spread it around and cause any damage to your reputation.¡± Ying Zijin¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I don¡¯t mind.¡± Well, might as well pick up some selfie skills. After taking the picture with her phone, the student happily went back. And then she posted a Weibo update. [@RollingPeachLover: Location Shanghai City, met a super A and dashing big sister. Some backed contestant from ¡°Youth 101¡± thought big sister was filming her, but it turns out she didn¡¯t even know her at all. To protect big sister¡¯s privacy, I¡¯ve pixelated the photo.] The student was a blogger with a hundred thousand followers in the fan community and, an hour later, the post had garnered several hundred reposts. [It¡¯s obviously Luo Ziyue, relying on her relationship with some wealthy family scion to snag the last debut spot, thinking she¡¯s so famous.] [It¡¯s hilarious, hahaha, a stranger doesn¡¯t even know her, and she thought they were filming her, talk about having a huge sense of self-importance.] [Although I can¡¯t see her face, just looking at this big sister¡¯s figure makes me drool. Will she enter the entertainment industry in the future?] [Did you see the brand of her phone? Vertu, a real luxury piece, even pricier than the iPhone. Probably one of those wealthy family¡¯s young ladies; they wouldn¡¯t enter the entertainment industry.] The Weibo post didn¡¯t trend too high, but its views broke a hundred thousand. Coincidentally, Ying Luwei¡¯s agent saw the Weibo post. He felt the silhouette was very familiar and pushed the phone to Ying Luwei, ¡°Luwei, look at this, isn¡¯t this your fake niece?¡± Ying Luwei, who was touching up her makeup, glanced at it casually, ¡°It¡¯s her.¡± ¡°She isn¡¯t planning to enter the entertainment industry, is she?¡± The agent asked seriously, ¡°If she is, it¡¯s better to sign her under our control, that way it¡¯s easier to manage.¡± He had seen the Ying Family¡¯s foster daughter before, and had to admit her looks couldn¡¯t be slandered. He had to admit, if it weren¡¯t for her perennial anemia that left her lackluster, even Ying Luwei couldn¡¯t compare. She couldn¡¯t let her affect Ying Luwei. Hearing this, Ying Luwei paused her makeup application, ¡°I¡¯ll make a call and ask.¡± However, her call didn¡¯t go through. Ying Luwei could never have imagined that she had been blocked. An inexplicable sense of irritation welled up inside her, as if something had completely spiraled out of her control. Noticing her change, the agent inquired, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Ying Luwei forced a smile, ¡°She might just be busy, I¡¯ll go back to the old house in a bit.¡± The agent, aware of her situation, nodded, ¡°Just be careful yourself. It¡¯s good that we pulled down the trending search in time that day.¡± Ying Luwei didn¡¯t reply, pressing her lips together. ** After delivering the herbs to Wen Fengmian¡¯s place, Ying Zijin received a call from Fu Yunshen. She went downstairs, where the car was already waiting for her. She had an appointment with him, as she promised to treat him to a meal today. After buckling her seatbelt, the man turned his head to look at her, a questioning arch in his brow and a teasing lilt to his voice, ¡°What are you planning to treat your brother to?¡± Ying Zijin pondered for a moment, ¡°How about hot pot skewers? I¡¯ve never had them before.¡± She had heard junk food was delicious, and she really wanted to try it. ¡°Hmm, your brother hasn¡¯t had it either,¡± Fu Yunshen replied, taking out his phone to search, ¡°Your health isn¡¯t great, we¡¯ll find a sanitary and reputable place.¡± As soon as he started looking, his phone vibrated with a new message. ¡°Beep, beep, beep.¡± Fu Yunshen looked down, his eyes subtly shifting. Chapter 27 Editor: Henyee Translations His eyes narrowed briefly, ¡°Kid, I¡¯ve got something to do, so I might not be able to have dinner with you now. How about we reschedule it to tonight?¡± Hearing this, Ying Zijin recalled something. It had been precisely seven days since the first time she met them. Nie Chao was going to be in trouble. Clearly, he hadn¡¯t taken her words seriously. However, that was normal. She remembered that just before she left, in the year 1780, all the witch sorcerers in O-continent had been hunted down and executed as heretics. After so many years, there were very few people with true divination abilities left, and Hua Country was no exception. Nobody would believe in these things. ¡°It won¡¯t take long.¡± Fu Yunshen didn¡¯t hear a response and turned around, his peachy eyes curving, ¡°I¡¯ll order some takeout for you and your uncle, and you can go back to sleep, how¡¯s that?¡± The danger was not clear yet, and he obviously couldn¡¯t bring a little girl with him. Ying Zijin also understood what he meant; he hadn¡¯t planned to let her accompany him. She frowned slightly, ¡°Be careful of high places.¡± At her words, the curve of Fu Yunshen¡¯s lips grew wider. He lifted his hand to ruffle the girl¡¯s hair, his smile gentle, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen to our little friend here.¡± He opened the car door and left her at the entrance of the apartment. Once the car started up again and moved away, Fu Yunshen¡¯s smile slowly faded. He drove with one hand while lighting up his phone screen with the other. The message was still flashing crazily on the screen, very short. Sharpshooter No.94. Aside from the number being different, it was named the same as the first file he had seen that day. Fu Yunshen¡¯s eyes narrowed briefly. He hadn¡¯t expected that Nie Chao could also become a target for someone on the assassination rankings. Fu Yunshen deleted the message and made a phone call: ¡°Check recent movements of the Nie family.¡± ** On Huangpu Road, the Number One Pub. Today, they were hosting a grand opening celebration, and by noon, quite a few people had gathered. Nie Chao had taken up the best spot next to the bar, ready to have a good drink. It wasn¡¯t long before the area was filled with people and the stage was set up. Nie Chao was listening to music with headphones when, after only the intro, the music suddenly stopped playing. ¡°Huh?¡± he wondered, ¡°Can¡¯t be broken already, right?¡± He had only bought it not too long ago. However, before he had time to take them off to check, a voice, unrecognizable as male or female, came through the earphones. ¡°You¡¯re at Huangpu Road Number One Pub.¡± Nie Chao was startled, ¡°How do you know?¡± Fuck, who was this person? Not only hacking into his phone but also knowing his whereabouts? It couldn¡¯t be his old man sending someone to catch him, could it? The person on the other end didn¡¯t reply, simply stating, ¡°Someone is trying to kill you.¡± ¡°Stop joking,¡± Nie Chao said in disbelief, ¡°Who dares to kill in Hua Country? Who are you, really?¡± ¡°In ten seconds.¡± Ying Zijin watched a flashing red dot on her computer screen and narrowed her phoenix eyes, ¡°You can try it out.¡± Nie Chao laughed it off, not wanting to bother and was about to turn his phone off directly. But just then, all the lights in the pub suddenly went out. In the pitch darkness, someone screamed. Nie Chao was also stunned, before he could react, two words came through the earphones. ¡°Get down.¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Nie Chao threw himself to the ground; he could feel the rush of hot air above him as the bullet grazed past the top of his head by a mere whisker. Fuck? Someone was actually trying to kill him! The pub instantly plunged into chaos, with screams erupting everywhere. Nie Chao¡¯s legs felt weak; he believed it now. He swallowed hard, ¡°What should I do now?¡± Ying Zijin didn¡¯t use a voice changer, relying solely on her vocal cords to produce a different tone, she spoke calmly, ¡°Turn right three steps.¡± Nie Chao hurriedly complied. ¡°Bang!¡± Just as he turned, another explosion sounded right behind him, still missing by that bit. Nie Chao¡¯s sweat poured down as he cursed in his heart. Damn, what the hell is going on! And the voice in the headset continued to give instructions, very calmly, even leisurely. ¡°Bend over.¡± ¡°Jump.¡± ¡°Run now.¡± Nie Chao didn¡¯t have any doubts left, and started running as fast as he could. It wasn¡¯t until he had frantically run for thirty seconds that the last two words came through his earpiece. ¡°Done.¡± Nie Chao collapsed on the ground with a ¡°thump,¡± his whole body feeling as if he¡¯d died once, gasping for air: ¡°Holy shit¡­¡± In the apartment, Ying Zijin leaned back in her chair and yawned. That took a lot out of her. She needed to eat some chocolate mousse cake. ** By the time Fu Yunshen arrived, the Number One Pub was already cordoned off. Although there were no casualties, the bar¡¯s facilities had been pretty much destroyed. Especially when bullet holes were found in the floor and walls, which couldn¡¯t be ignored. Fu Yunshen looked to the side and saw Nie Chao squatting by the side of the road like an idiotic dog, with a bandage wrapped around his forehead no less. The man was not seriously injured, though. His eyes softened, and he walked over: ¡°You¡¯re not getting up?¡± Nie Chao wanted to cry: ¡°Seventh Young Master, do you have any idea, I almost didn¡¯t make it.¡± ¡°I can tell,¡± Fu Yunshen glanced around, calculating the situation. Nie Chao angrily slapped his thigh: ¡°I don¡¯t know who has such a big grudge against me to actually try and kill me.¡± Those bullets were way too accurate; if it wasn¡¯t for the mysterious person who hacked his phone to help him, he would have really met an early demise. With that skill, why don¡¯t they kill the old man of his family; killing him is useless. Fu Yunshen didn¡¯t say much, just pulled him up: ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital first.¡± Nie Chao pretended to wipe away tears, and sat in the passenger seat. Fu Yunshen started the car, nonchalantly: ¡°How did you think of coming here?¡± Nie Chao scratched his head: ¡°I was passing by and got a flyer, it looked pretty good, so I came.¡± Fu Yunshen hummed softly in reply. It was indeed not a coincidence. ¡°Seventh Young Master, I¡¯m going to sleep for a bit.¡± Nie Chao, still shaken from the narrow escape, felt a wave of drowsiness come over him, ¡°Call me when we get there.¡± After confirming that Nie Chao had fallen asleep, Fu Yunshen finally picked up the phone that had rung several times. ¡°Yunshen?¡± The deep and pleasant male voice was magnetic. ¡°Your brother has a bounty on his head,¡± Foo Yunshen chuckled lazily, ¡°The hunter is the ninety-fourth on the Gun God Ranking. But he has good luck, wasn¡¯t hit, just got a bump on his head while running.¡± Anyone on the Gun God Ranking, even if they are just at the end of the list at a hundredth, are deadly accurate against an ordinary person. But today was strange, he saw five bullet holes, and not one hit its mark. A stain on the name of a ¡®Gun God.¡¯ Hearing this, there was silence on the other end for a moment. ¡°I got it, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± ** After parting with her agent, Ying Luwei made a call to the old house first. It was only in the evening that she drove back. ¡°Miss Luwei,¡± the butler that had been waiting for some time came forward, respectfully, ¡°Madam is inside, you can just go straight in.¡± Ying Luwei smiled and pushed open the door. In the living room, Zhong Manhua trimmed the flowers in the vase, looked up upon hearing the door, and smiled: ¡°Luwei, what¡¯s the hurry, is there something you need?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a matter, I just wanted to ask sister-in-law if Xiao Jin is considering entering the entertainment industry?¡± Ying Luwei nodded, ¡°If she wants to join the entertainment industry, I can help.¡± She hesitated for a moment: ¡°But if that¡¯s the case, about the Verdant Talented Class¡­ would she not be able to attend anymore?¡± Chapter 28 Editor: Henyee Translations Zhong Manhua¡¯s face, almost instantly sank. ¡°She wants to enter the entertainment industry?¡± Those six words were squeezed out from between clenched teeth. ¡°Huh?¡± Ying Luwei was taken aback, ¡°Big sister, hasn¡¯t Xiao Jin spoken to you about this?¡± Zhong Manhua took a deep breath and said coldly, ¡°She shouldn¡¯t even think about it!¡± Why would a socialite from a wealthy family go to the entertainment circle to perform? It was bad enough that her studies weren¡¯t good, and it was acceptable that she couldn¡¯t play piano, but now she wanted to act? What on earth was she trying to do with her days? ¡°Perhaps I misunderstood,¡± Ying Luwei pursed her lips lightly, ¡°Big sister, please don¡¯t be angry, I was just curious. Actually, with Xiao Jin¡¯s qualities, she would be very popular in the entertainment industry.¡± Hearing this, Zhong Manhua grew even angrier, ¡°Luwei, not everyone can be like you. You¡¯ve taught her for so long, yet isn¡¯t she still unable to play even the most basic ¡®Fur Elise¡¯?!¡± Ying Luwei was a renowned pianist in Hua Country, could Ying Zijin compare to her? Ying Luwei felt very guilty, ¡°I¡¯m not really good at teaching, it¡¯s all my fault for holding Xiao Jin back.¡± ¡°It¡¯s her own fault for not studying properly!¡± Zhong Manhua was fuming, ¡°If you teach a three-year-old child, hand in hand, they would have learned by now!¡± ¡°Big sister, this¡­¡± Ying Luwei paused, helplessly, ¡°Is Xiao Jin around? I brought her some things.¡± Zhong Manhua was still very angry, ¡°She¡¯s not here. You can just go up and leave the things in her room.¡± Ying Luwei nodded and had walked a few steps when she stopped, ¡°Big sister, did big brother mention when he will return?¡± ¡°Your big brother and your nephew are still in the capital,¡± Zhong Manhua said. ¡°I heard that a major clan from O continent has come over, and they are looking to build a relationship. They should return in a few days.¡± ¡°Big brother is really impressive,¡± Ying Luwei smiled again, ¡°That¡¯s also thanks to big sister¡¯s good teachings, Tianlv has inherited his father¡¯s business acumen.¡± The Ying Family was a century-old noble family, but it was actually under Old Master Ying that it had greatly flourished. It was a pity that Old Master Ying passed away a few years ago. Otherwise, the Ying Family might have surpassed the Fu Family. Speaking of Ying Tianlv, Zhong Manhua¡¯s face finally showed a smile, ¡°Tianlv was smart since he was a child, he¡¯s given me peace of mind.¡± Ying Luwei sighed, ¡°If Xiao Jin hadn¡¯t gotten lost, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be inferior to Tianlv.¡± Zhong Manhua¡¯s smile disappeared in an instant. Besides herself and Ying Zhenting, only Ying Luwei knew the truth of the matter in the Ying Family. They all tacitly kept it a secret from Old Madam Ying and Ying Tianlv, not to mention the other major noble families. They raised the child together irrespective of the mistake, and there was nothing to it. But as it turned out, the child raised by one¡¯s own side was indeed closer. Zhong Manhua felt unbearably irritable, sometimes wondering if Ying Zijin was really her biological child, as she seemed to have inherited none of her good qualities? Only then did Ying Luwei go upstairs. She made her way to Ying Zijin¡¯s room, familiar with the layout, and used the prepared key to open the door. The room¡¯s furnishings were very simple, with a bed, wardrobe, computer desk, and bookshelf, all in the color of natural wood, quite spartan. Ying Luwei glanced around the room carelessly, and when she saw the half-bookshelf of children¡¯s books, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh, her eyes filled with a touch of disdain. She was overthinking it. Ying Luwei tucked her hair behind her ear and, without another glance, pushed the door open and left. After leaving the room, she felt her skin itch somewhat and absentmindedly scratched it, only to feel a sting of pain. Ying Luwei was startled and quickly covered her face. Her other hand trembled as she took out her cell phone, not even having the time to think, ¡°Hello? Hurry, schedule an appointment with First Hospital¡­ ¡± ** Meanwhile. In the downtown area, the lights were bright, the crowds surged like tides, and the sound of honking was incessant. In the car. Fu Yunshen glanced at the seconds counting down on the traffic light and turned his head, noticing that the girl who had been dozing off had now sat up straight. ¡°Had a nightmare?¡± ¡°No.¡± Ying Zijin propped her elbow, her expression weary, ¡°I just remembered something amusing.¡± That day, besides buying medicinal herbs to treat Wen Fengmian¡¯s illness, she also specially purchased some other things. After returning, she conveniently tested out some new poisons and kept them in her room. Naturally, highly toxic herbs weren¡¯t available on the market. So no matter how they were processed, their toxicity wouldn¡¯t be too severe. At most, one would break out in red rashes all over for a month, and if they sought medical treatment, it might get worse, perhaps ending up with a disfigured face. No one had yet found an antidote to the poison she concocted. ¡°Hmm?¡± The red light turned green, and Fu Yunshen started the car, ¡°What amusing thing? Share it with your brother to make me happy too?¡± The girl had just woken up; her phoenix eyes were brimming with moisture, her voice low and cold, ¡°I taught someone a lesson, felt a bit better.¡± The man¡¯s long fingers lightly tapped the steering wheel, his gaze deep. He had investigated the Ying Family. Even if the Ying Family intended to conceal the events from sixteen years ago, diligent investigation could still reveal the truth. The Four major noble families valued interests above all; they could easily discard even their own offspring. Just like before. Fu Yunshen brought out a piece of chocolate and handed it over. Ying Zijin accepted it and split it in two. Fu Yunshen lowered his eyes and chuckled lightly. The kid was quite considerate. He looked thoughtfully at the girl, his lips curved, and his voice rose at the end, ¡°Yaoyao?¡± Ying Zijin didn¡¯t hear clearly and took off her headphones, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Yaoyao.¡± Fu Yunshen repeated, his peach blossom eyes intensely captivating, as if to lure someone in, ¡°Isn¡¯t that your nickname?¡± Ying Zijin fell silent for a moment, then softly acknowledged, ¡°Mhm.¡± The nickname Yaoyao wasn¡¯t bestowed by the Ying Family, but by Wen Fengmian instead. Wen Fengmian explained there were two meanings to Yaoyao. One was ¡°supple and graceful in appearance,¡± for he hoped she could live a life of ease and comfort. The other was linked to ¡°dying young.¡± In Qingshui County, there was a custom where giving a ¡®cheap¡¯ name would supposedly make it easier to raise a child. ¡°Alright then.¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s demeanor was casual, ¡°From now on I¡¯ll call you Yaoyao, is that okay?¡± Ying Zijin yawned, her tone lazy, ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± Just in the years she spent in O region alone, she had many names. To her, a name was merely a label. Unless it had a special meaning. The two eventually arrived at a hotpot skewer restaurant next to the pedestrian street; it was the busiest time of the evening and they had to queue up. Ying Zijin smelled the rich enticing spicy aroma and felt quite regretful that she hadn¡¯t spent more time in Hua Country earlier; she had missed out on so much delicious food. ¡°I¡¯ll go park the car.¡± Fu Yunshen raised a hand, intending to stroke her head but then let it fall back down, and said, ¡°You go take a number, and don¡¯t wander off.¡± The hotpot skewer place was tucked away in an alley, quite a distance from the parking area. Ying Zijin nodded her head. After she got the number, she leaned against the wall with one hand in her pocket. With her other hand, she took out her phone and opened Weibo. After Ying Luwei linked her Weibo account that day, she had canceled it and registered a new one. Ying Zijin glanced over the trending topics list, didn¡¯t find anything interesting, and was about to exit and play some games instead. But just then, a Weibo post popped up in the trending column, coming from a marketing account. Chapter 29 Editor: Henyee Translations [Explosive! Ying Luwei enters hospital in the dead of night, suspected pregnancy!] The hot topic was right under the trending search, visible as soon as you opened Weibo. Soon, Ying Luwei¡¯s fans, the Dewdrops, rushed over upon hearing the news. [Wow, is sister about to tie the knot with our brother-in-law soon!] [Ahhh, if Luwei is pregnant, we won¡¯t be able to see her at the concert!] [So excited, so excited, Luwei has such a pretty face, and so does brother-in-law, their child is going to be gorgeous.] Ying Luwei and Jiang Moyuan¡¯s engagement was no secret, and the Dewdrops affectionately referred to Jiang Moyuan as brother-in-law. Amidst the flood of celebratory comments, there were always some others. [Heh, Jiang Moyuan must be blind to actually marry a big white lotus flower. What now, planning to grow a small white lotus flower? Is he starting a pond for flower cultivation?] One sentence, two people insulted, infuriating the fans who were about to explode with curses. But due to the incident that day, fearful of being slapped in the face again, the lead fans spoke up in time. [The haters are back, sisters, don¡¯t give the haters any attention, the more you give, the more they jump, quickly report them.] While the fans reported the negative comments, they joyfully celebrated in the dedicated fan forums. Little did they know that at that moment, Ying Luwei was nearly going mad. Looking at her reflection covered in red rash, she didn¡¯t even dare to cry. ¡°What happened?¡± her agent jumped in fright, ¡°What did you touch?¡± Ying Luwei¡¯s voice was choked, ¡°Nothing at all.¡± She had simply returned to the old house. ¡°This is so strange, even the doctor couldn¡¯t find the allergen, can¡¯t treat it properly,¡± the agent frowned, ¡°I¡¯ll call Grandpa, have him¡­¡± ¡°No way!¡± Ying Luwei suddenly got excited, ¡°Moyuan cannot see me like this.¡± ¡°Then you¡­¡± the agent was troubled, ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll contact the doctors in the imperial capital to prepare to go there to lay low.¡± Ying Luwei put on her mask, feeling like dying. The agent also admonished, ¡°Don¡¯t touch your face, no matter how itchy, bear with it, wear a mask the next few days, and absolutely do not show your face.¡± ** Meanwhile, Inside a private booth of a hotpot skewer restaurant. The spicy fragrance grew stronger, tempting the taste buds. Ying Zijin propped her chin and pointed at the picture of the spicy and hot broth, ¡°Let¡¯s have this one.¡± Fu Yunshen glanced at it and then ordered a mushroom broth pot, ¡°Your body isn¡¯t in good shape, eat less spicy food.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He leaned back in his chair, smiling, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t brother make the decisions when you¡¯re treating me to a meal?¡± Ying Zijin rubbed her head and reluctantly agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± Then she¡¯d come and eat by herself next time. Choosing ingredients, cooking, the service was smooth and efficient. Soon, the steam spread, offering a sense of warmth. The girl held an iced cola, lost in thought, her lowered eyelashes catching a few droplets. It was hazy, reminiscent of mist floating on distant mountains, ready to dissipate at any moment. Beauty that shouldn¡¯t exist in the mortal world suddenly descending, creating an almost surreal feeling. Fu Yunshen turned his head, ¡°Yaoyao.¡± Ying Zijin snapped back to reality, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I remember Verdant Middle School starts in three days,¡± the man said casually, ¡°Do you need me to take you there?¡± Hearing this, Ying Zijin, who was contemplating whether to start with raising flowers or pigs, ¡°¡­¡± Her retirement life seemed to have ended before it had even started. She hadn¡¯t exactly shunned education before, actually, she quite liked learning new things. Back in O continent, she used to spar in Alchemy with that madman at Norton University. The Alchemy in O continent was equivalent to refining medicine in the Ancient Medical field of Hua Country. On the other hand, in order to facilitate walking on Earth, she had studied mathematics, physics, biology, astronomy, and so on here within three hundred years. She had also participated in some discussions held by top scholars of that time and learned a lot from them. But to ask her to attend school now? Ying Zijin retrieved the subjects studied at Verdant Middle School from her memory, pondering thoughtfully. Apart from literature and composition, which she had not been exposed to, the rest didn¡¯t seem difficult. Fortunately, she could continue to live a leisurely life while casually experiencing the campus life of the 21st century. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I can go there on my own,¡± Ying Zijin said with a slight shake of her head, ¡°and it¡¯s not far.¡± Verdant Middle School was within the Second Ring, where transportation was convenient. ¡°If there¡¯s anything you need help with, just let me know,¡± Fu Yunshen nodded his head, ¡°By the way, Yaoyao, about that medicine¡­¡± He hadn¡¯t finished speaking when another vial of medicine appeared in front of him, this one white. ¡°Upgraded version.¡± Ying Zijin yawned, ¡°I have more if it¡¯s not enough.¡± Fu Yunshen clearly hadn¡¯t expected this gesture. He paused for a moment, his lips curving slightly, ¡°Yaoyao is so generous?¡± Ying Zijin replied indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s not like everyone has it.¡± There were only a few people who were truly good to her. Fu Yunshen¡¯s eyelashes fluttered, and he smiled tenderly, ¡°Thank you, Yaoyao.¡± He knew that these medicines were anything but simple. At least within the Ancient Medical field in Hua Country, there were fewer than a dozen people who could refine them. One pill was priceless. But she had given it without a word, and even a whole bottle. Fu Yunshen didn¡¯t ask, nor did he investigate. Everyone has their secrets, and he was no exception. ** Three days later. Verdant Middle School. Apart from the third year of high school students who had returned to school early on the sixth day, the first and second year students started today. Early self-study sessions began at a quarter past seven, but by six forty, the Elite Class of the second year of high school was already full. Once this year¡¯s third-year students graduated, they would be the new third-year students, and they couldn¡¯t slack off even a bit. But one seat was still empty. That seat was in the most inconspicuous corner of the classroom, next to the trash can, its desk and chairs covered in dust, and there was an array of disordered footprints. The student on duty had intentionally or unintentionally overlooked this area while cleaning. A few boys looked over there, whispering to one another. ¡°Do you think she¡¯s too scared to come?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s possible, besides, even if she comes, it¡¯s pointless. With a perfect score of 750, she scored 387, pulling down our class average.¡± ¡°Exactly, if I were her, I¡¯d be too embarrassed to stay in the Elite Class.¡± What kind of student is most despised in the Elite Class? Someone who hasn¡¯t put in anything, yet still gets what others can¡¯t. Occupying the best resources without aspiring to improve. There are only fifty people in the Elite Class, and Ying Zijin occupying one spot means that the student who ranked fifty-first couldn¡¯t enter. Ying Feifei was sitting in front of these boys. She heard their words, poked the person in front of her, and whispered, ¡°Zhiwan, what do you think your aunt was thinking? Why would she insist on sending a foster daughter to the Elite Class?¡± Zhong Zhiwan was reading a physics book and replied with a faint smile, ¡°I¡¯m not sure what my aunt was thinking, but she got into the Elite Class thanks to Teacher Ying¡¯s blessing.¡± Ying Luwei was a distinguished music teacher at Verdant Middle School who occasionally also taught the students. ¡°Teacher Ying is too nice to her, isn¡¯t she?¡± Ying Feifei felt annoyed, ¡°This way, even if she doesn¡¯t perform well, she won¡¯t be kicked out of the Elite Class.¡± No one wanted Ying Zijin to stay; she really dragged them down. Zhong Zhiwan closed the book and said indifferently, ¡°Kicking her out of the Elite Class? That¡¯s not difficult, is it?¡± Chapter 30 Editor: Henyee Translations Simple? If it were simple, would Ying Zijin have stayed in the Elite Class for a whole semester? She should have been kicked out after the first monthly test. But since Zhong Zhiwan said so, she must have a way. Ying Feifei¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Zhiwan, how do you suggest we do it?¡± The fiftieth in our grade is her little sister, and she has wanted to drive Ying Zijin out for a long time. ¡°Don¡¯t you know what kind of person she is?¡± Zhong Zhiwan said indifferently, ¡°Bully her a few more times, and she will collapse on her own. Will she still be able to stay in the Elite Class?¡± ¡°Bully?¡± Ying Feifei was startled, hesitating, ¡°What if she goes and complains?¡± Even if she¡¯s just a foster daughter, Ying Zijin is from the Ying Family. The Four major noble families in Shanghai City are not something an ordinary family can compare with. Zhong Zhiwan smiled with a hidden meaning, ¡°Auntie certainly won¡¯t care. As for Teacher Ying¡­¡± She had heard during the winter holiday that Ying Zijin seduced Jiang Moyuan. Where would she have the face to ask Ying Luwei for help? Ying Feifei felt relieved and was in a great mood, ¡°There are plenty of people in class who want her gone. Zhiwan, I¡¯ll find a few classmates later to plan out.¡± Zhong Zhiwan did not speak; she took out her English notes from her backpack and continued studying. Lu Fang, who had been eavesdropping for a while, finally couldn¡¯t help himself and leaned in, ¡°Are you trying to drive that country bumpkin out?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± Ying Feifei gave him a glance, ¡°Don¡¯t you think she¡¯s in the way?¡± Isn¡¯t the average college entrance exam score for the Elite Class above 698 every year? How many points did Ying Zijin drag their class down with her presence alone? ¡°Impossible!¡± Lu Fang thought back to the incident at the pharmacy that day and felt aggrieved, ¡°She caused my sister to be grounded by my dad.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhong Zhiwan looked up, ¡°Your sister?¡± Lu Zhi, in her early twenties, certainly couldn¡¯t compare her medical skills to those of old doctors with decades of practice. But after all, she graduated from the Imperial Capital University of Chinese Medicine and has a wide network. It was said that Lu Zhi¡¯s mentor had some connection to the Meng Family in the capital. Ying Feifei looked at him doubtfully, ¡°Your sister being grounded has something to do with her?¡± Zhong Zhiwan also listened intently. Lu Fang summarized briefly with a sneer, ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of dumb luck that country bumpkin had to catch the eye of Fu Yunshen.¡± Zhong Zhiwan furrowed her brows, ¡°The Seventh Young Master has returned from O State?¡± ¡°To think he went to O State for advanced studies,¡± Lu Fang scoffed, ¡°He¡¯s still a useless playboy. When Old Master Fu dies, he¡¯ll be crying for his daddy.¡± Zhong Zhiwan said coldly, ¡°Lu Fang, you dare to say such things?¡± ¡°Zhiwan, I was just saying, just talking,¡± Lu Fang raised both hands, ¡°Didn¡¯t mean it.¡± There were also sons and daughters of the Fu Family in the Elite Class. Luckily, they didn¡¯t hear it. Otherwise, his troubles would be big. Zhong Zhiwan was very cold, ¡°Classmate Lu Fang, we¡¯re not that close. Please don¡¯t call me that.¡± Lu Fang was embarrassed but not angry. Zhong Zhiwan was known as one of the goddesses of Verdant, and he had admired her for a long time but never found the chance to get close. Now the opportunity had come. He must drive that country bumpkin out of the Elite Class. ** When Ying Zijin arrived at school, it was 7:10 a.m. Although she had rejected Fu Yunshen, he had called her on time at 6:30 a.m. to wake her up. At the school entrance, there were members of the student council on duty, and the head of moral education, specifically there to catch students who were late or improperly dressed. Verdant regulations require students not only to wear uniforms but also to wear a school badge. Ying Zijin looked down at the blue and white striped uniform she was wearing and decided it was ugliness with character. She tucked her hands in her pockets, her backpack hanging on her right shoulder, and walked leisurely toward the campus interior. Each grade had a separate building, and the second year of high school was right in the middle. There were quite a few students on the road, all hurrying along. At that time, someone else entered through the school gates. It was a young man. A white shirt, a blue tie, black suit pants. His features were mixed-race, with a high and straight nose bridged by a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, his aura of abstinence very distinct. The girl on duty quickly lowered her head and whispered a shy ¡°Teacher He¡±. The young man heard her and slightly tilted his head, nodding in greeting: ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± The face of the girl on duty instantly turned red as she stuttered, ¡°Th-Thank you, Teacher He.¡± Students in the front turned their heads to look, while those at the back quickened their pace, whispering to each other. ¡°Teacher He is so handsome, wonder if he has a girlfriend.¡± ¡°Forget about it, Teacher He is a returnee with a PhD, so knowledgeable, we can only look up to him.¡± ¡°Verdant managed to employ Teacher He, really impressive. Ah, too bad I¡¯m not in the International Class, otherwise I could attend Teacher He¡¯s lectures¡­¡± Ying Zijin wasn¡¯t interested in listening or looking; she had just reached the third floor when she paused in her steps, her phoenix eyes suddenly narrowing. A moment later, she reined in her gaze and continued walking forward with an expressionless face. The classroom door was ajar, revealing only a sliver of a gap. Ying Zijin¡¯s expression was detached; she lifted her foot and kicked the door open. A sharp ¡°bang,¡± aggressive and with a streak of ruthlessness. ¡°Clatter¡ª¡ª¡± It was the sound of water pouring down. ¡°Fuck!¡± Lu Fang, who was hiding behind the door, couldn¡¯t dodge in time and got completely soaked. The bucket that held the water fell and hit his head, seeing stars he collapsed to the ground, utterly stunned by the pain. This commotion immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the class, their gazes filled with surprise and a hint of disdain. ¡°Zhiwan, Lu Fang is really too careless, right?¡± Ying Feifei sneered, ¡°With his brain, he wants to chase after you? A toad lusting after a swan¡¯s flesh.¡± Zhong Zhiwan didn¡¯t respond, but looked towards the doorway instead. It was at this moment that the girl walked in, her legs long and straight. Even in the ordinary school uniform, it was hard to conceal her stunning beauty. Like blossoms on a tree, or snow on a mountain peak. An aloof and aggressive beauty, yet paradoxically possessing an overwhelming aura of bewitchment that easily captured everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°¡­¡± In an instant, the entire classroom fell silent. They watched dumbfounded as the girl walked to the most inconspicuous corner, casually taking out a tissue and wiping slowly. It wasn¡¯t until she sat down that people began to gradually snap out of their daze and withdraw their gaze. Whispers rippled through the classroom. ¡°Holy shit, is that the same country bumpkin?¡± ¡°Fake, right? Did she get plastic surgery over the winter break?¡± ¡°Can surgery change someone¡¯s aura? To be honest, compared to Goddess Zhong and Goddess Ying, none can match her presence.¡± Goddess Ying naturally referred to the eldest daughter of the Ying Family. With two of the three Verdant goddesses in the Elite Class of second year of high school. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Ying Feifei could not help but laugh in irritation, ¡°A foster daughter being compared to Zhiwan?¡± Zhong Zhiwan was the legitimate eldest daughter of one of the Four Major Noble Families, the Zhong Family; what was Ying Zijin? Could these two even be compared? Zhong Zhiwan had yet to say anything when a voice piped up. ¡°No way, am I the only one who feels that upon looking at her today, compared to Goddess Ying, she¡¯s the real deal?¡± Chapter 31 ¡°¡­¡± A sentence had silenced the classroom once again. The students couldn¡¯t help but glance over at the corner, and with that look, all thoughts of rebuttal were swallowed back down. The girl sat there quietly, the sunlight tinting her brows and eyes a pale gold. Without any deliberate embellishment, she was breathtakingly beautiful in an effortless way. Could such beauty really belong to a human being? To call it divine would be an understatement. Ying Feifei was furious, ¡°Do you dare to say that in front of Xiao Xuan?¡± Classmates exchanged looks but stopped talking and began their morning reading. There was only a five-minute break between the morning reading and the first class. Some students went to get water, others to the restroom. Ying Zijin, leaning on her elbow, watched distractedly at her English Elective 8 textbook, her thoughts drifting to the time she spent in Country Y. Back then, people spoke Middle English. Modern English had become quite simplified and was rather quick to learn. As the five minutes elapsed, the bell for class rang; the first lesson was English. The English teacher was a woman in her early forties, surnamed Deng. She walked in on time with the bell, holding a stack of papers, ¡°You all know your final exam scores by now, right? I¡¯m going to distribute the papers.¡± ¡°The questions were difficult this time, but everyone did fairly well.¡± The students all heaved a sigh of relief. After all, the exams for Verdant Talented Class were so challenging that people across the net mourned for them. English exams sometimes were even harder than the IELTS. ¡°Zhong Zhiwan, 123 points, first in the class,¡± Teacher Deng called out while distributing the papers, ¡°¡­Lu Fang, 94 points, Ying Feifei¡­¡± When she was left with the last paper in hand, she didn¡¯t announce the score. Teacher Deng pushed her glasses up, her voice kind, ¡°Ying Zijin, come and get your paper.¡± Ying Zijin nodded and stepped forward. Lu Fang felt discontent, ¡°Teacher Deng, our scores were all read out. Why not hers?¡± He didn¡¯t know that with Ying Zijin¡¯s level of English, scoring thirty points was already her performing exceptionally well. Teacher Deng smiled good-naturedly, ¡°If Classmate Ying agrees, I can read it out.¡± Instantly, Lu Fang looked at the girl arrogantly, ¡°Ying Zijin, you wouldn¡¯t mind letting everyone know your score, would you?¡± Ying Zijin received her paper from Teacher Deng¡¯s hand and walked back to her seat. She completely ignored Lu Fang, not even sparing him a glance. Lu Fang was fuming with rage. Ying Feifei reveled in the misfortune, ¡°Zhiwan, I saw it. She only got 25 points. It¡¯s so embarrassing; no wonder she doesn¡¯t want it known.¡± Zhong Zhiwan didn¡¯t respond, lost in thought, wondering about something. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start reviewing,¡± Teacher Deng picked up the chalk, ¡°I will be calling on students to answer questions at any time. If you can¡¯t answer¡­¡± The classroom erupted in groans. Even Zhong Zhiwan had scored only 123 points, indicating just how difficult the exam had been. Ying Zijin glanced at her paper, pensive. Hmm, it seemed that she indeed had been quite the poor student before she became fully awake. Teacher Deng¡¯s pace in class wasn¡¯t fast, and she was considerate of students weak in English, but she wouldn¡¯t tolerate anyone daydreaming during her lesson. A piece of chalk flew across the room, ¡°Lu Fang, explain question 64 from the reading comprehension section.¡± Lu Fang glanced at the question and realized he had gotten it wrong. And he couldn¡¯t understand a single word of the options, feeling somewhat dumbfounded and breaking out in a cold sweat. Seeing this, Ying Feifei spoke up loudly, ¡°Teacher Deng, even Zhiwan didn¡¯t get this question right. It must be hard, but I just saw Ying Zijin got it correct. She should be the one to explain.¡± Zhong Zhiwan also raised his hand, smiling, ¡°Teacher Deng, I, too, am curious about how Classmate Ying solved it. Could we ask Ying Zijin to explain?¡± Once Zhong Zhiwan spoke, many in the class agreed. ¡°Yes, Teacher Deng.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all very curious.¡± That question was exceptionally difficult, and no one in the class knew the answer. Teacher Deng frowned, just about to say something, when the girl in the corner slowly stood up. She held the paper in one hand, glanced over it, and nonchalantly began to speak. Lu Fang and Ying Feifei, who were ready to spout taunts, heard a stream of pure, fluent British accent: ¡°¡­¡± Zhong Zhiwan whirled her head around sharply. Ying Zijin finished explaining the problem in thirty seconds: ¡°To sum up, question 64 should be ¡®D¡¯.¡± Teacher Deng was pleasantly surprised, ¡°Good answer, that¡¯s right. Please take a seat.¡± Ying Zijin sat down, twirling her pen in her fingers. She exuded an aura that screamed ¡°a bunch of trash¡±. The whole class: ¡°¡­¡± Ying Feifei couldn¡¯t believe it: ¡°Zhiwan, can she actually understand it?¡± Was she not just guessing? The smile on Zhong Zhiwan¡¯s lips paused for a moment: ¡°Who knows?¡± Just then, Teacher Deng asked her again, ¡°Zhong Zhiwan, did you understand?¡± Zhong Zhiwan¡¯s face flushed with heat, she looked down: ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Sigh, you all really disappoint me,¡± sighed Teacher Deng. ¡°Having learned with me for so long, and yet not as good as Classmate Ying Zijin who joined halfway. After you go back, you all need to study hard.¡± The whole class stayed silent, no one daring to speak anymore. The class ended quickly, and after it, Teacher Deng called Ying Zijin over. ¡°Did you practice speaking during the winter vacation?¡± Ying Zijin raised an eyebrow: ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Not bad, it¡¯s a good start. You have a weak foundation, and can¡¯t handle the more difficult questions,¡± said Teacher Deng. ¡°I will give you some basic problem sets, can you come pick them up at my office during lunchtime?¡± Ying Zijin didn¡¯t refuse this kindness, even though she didn¡¯t need it: ¡°I have the time.¡± ¡°Work hard,¡± Teacher Deng patted her on the shoulder before leaving, ¡°don¡¯t take others¡¯ words to heart.¡± ** At noon, everyone in the classroom went out for lunch. Ying Zijin bit into a tomato and looked down at her WeChat messages. Her WeChat contacts were pitifully few, the only people who messaged her were Fu Yunshen and Wen Tinglan. And the former, had been treating her like a child lately, like the message from today. [Yaoyao, did you eat properly at noon?] [No, I ate a tomato.] She was quite picky. Ten seconds later, Fu Yunshen sent a voice message. His voice was always pleasant to hear, deep and mellow, as if dancing on one¡¯s heartstrings. [Little friend, we¡¯ve only been apart for so long and you¡¯re already not listening. You must eat properly.] [Oh.] [Alright, it seems I will have to keep an eye on you. See you tonight to check if our Yaoyao has lost any weight.] Ying Zijin stared at the message, rubbed her head, and put her phone back in her pocket. After finishing the last bite of the tomato, she stood up and went to the English department office. She knocked on the door and entered. Besides Teacher Deng, there was only a young man in the office. After the door was closed, Teacher Deng turned to him and said, ¡°Teacher He, this child truly gave me a big surprise today. Her spoken English is just too good.¡± It wasn¡¯t just a common British accent; it was the Queen¡¯s English¡ªpure royal British accent. Simply unbelievable. Upon hearing this, He Xun asked indifferently, ¡°What¡¯s the use?¡± He had substituted a few classes for the Elite Class and naturally knew what kind of student Ying Zijin was. Unmotivated, not hardworking. These kinds of students, he liked the least. Chapter 32 Editor: Henyee Translations After learning that Ying Zijin got into the Elite Class through the backing of the Ying Family, He Xun looked down on her even more. He really didn¡¯t have any favorable impression of her. As for English oral skills? This was the most basic ability of Verdant students. Teacher Deng was taken aback by these words, but then remembered something. She had gone to O continent for a week of academic exchange and had asked He Xun to cover for her classes. When she got back, she heard from students in the Elite Class and International Class that when He Xun asked the simplest questions, Ying Zijin couldn¡¯t even answer them, it was the kind that she couldn¡¯t understand at all. Sometimes, she would even doze off in class. He Xun didn¡¯t say anything during class, but everyone could see he was angry. Teacher Deng sighed and hesitated, ¡°This child actually has it tough¡­¡± When teaching students, she usually prescribed remedies specific to the problem. Moreover, studying indeed related to talent, not everyone is good at English and math. On this, He Xun did not offer an opinion, remaining indifferent, ¡°But she took resources she wasn¡¯t entitled to.¡± Without Ying Zijin, that spot in the Elite Class would have belonged to the student ranked fiftieth in the grade. After all, the Elite Class was allocated top teaching resources, which even key classes couldn¡¯t compare with. He Xun stopped talking; he was looking at a document covered with dense English text. But upon closer inspection, this English was different from normal English. It was Middle English, used between 1150 to 1500. Compared to modern English, the grammar of Middle English was more complex And because it absorbed many French and Latin vocabulary, it was even more difficult. The red text on the document was He Xun¡¯s annotations; he had looked up a lot of material but had only translated a portion. Now, very few people understand Middle English, even natives of Y country don¡¯t use it anymore. Finding someone who knows Middle English is like looking for a needle in a haystack. He Xun rubbed his temples and set the document aside, then took out the International Class textbook, and began preparing for class. ** Perhaps because of the morning¡¯s English class, Lu Fang and Ying Feifei were much quieter and didn¡¯t bother Ying Zijin anymore. On the first day of school, all the discussion was about the test papers. Ying Zijin looked at her scores for six subjects and didn¡¯t feel much. She knew why it was like this. Although she hadn¡¯t fully regained consciousness before and her memory and abilities weren¡¯t there, her IQ was still there; it wasn¡¯t bad enough to get such poor results. However, because she was under the pressures of the wealthy family circle, and was occasionally called to give blood transfusions to Ying Luwei, she had no freedom like a puppet on strings. She couldn¡¯t even keep up physically, let alone study properly. With poor exam results, Zhong Manhua would get even more angry, and over time, it turned into a vicious cycle. Ying Zijin¡¯s expression was indifferent as she packed the papers into her backpack. No wonder her temper had become so bad; it was the oppression she had suffered since coming to the Ying Family for a year. She wasn¡¯t mentally twisted, considering what she had been through, that was already good. ¡°Zhiwan, let¡¯s go,¡± Ying Feifei deliberately raised her voice before stepping out of the classroom, ¡°Let¡¯s go see your grandfather.¡± Zhong Zhiwan¡¯s grandfather, that is, Zhong Manhua¡¯s father. A foster daughter like Ying Zijin certainly had no right to see him. But Zhong Zhiwan¡¯s expression changed. Ying Feifei didn¡¯t know, but she was very clear. Although she hadn¡¯t seen him many times, only twice in fact, Old Master Zhong had been very kind to Ying Zijin, almost completely bypassing her. Remembering the words from the morning that no one took seriously, Zhong Zhiwan paused for a moment, then glanced indifferently at the girl, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The Elite Class didn¡¯t have evening self-study; after school, the students all studied on their own. Ying Zijin glanced at the time and prepared to leave as well. Before she could step out, she was stopped by the life committee member. ¡°Ying Zijin, it¡¯s your turn for cleaning duty today. There¡¯s not much trash since it¡¯s the first day, so just wipe the blackboard.¡± He hesitated for a moment, then whispered, ¡°This morning, I saw Lu Fang put a basin of water on top of the door. You¡­ you should still be careful lately.¡± Upon hearing this, Ying Zijin nodded slightly: ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No, no need to thank me.¡± The life committee member quickly averted his gaze from the girl, his face flushed with redness, and he picked up his backpack and ran off swiftly. Ying Zijin thought for a moment and decided to send a message to Fu Yunshen first. After sending the WeChat message, she rolled up her sleeves, took a cloth from under the lectern, and went to the restroom. In March, the sky darkened very early. By the time she went back and forth, it was completely dark outside. Looking out from the corridor, she could see the low-hanging curtain of the sky. Clusters of buildings were hidden in the ink-colored clouds that shifted with the wind, with streams of cars and crowds like tides overflowing the entire city. Ying Zijin stood quietly for a while before returning to the classroom. As soon as she entered, she stopped in her tracks. The tall figure of a man leaned against the window, his light amber pupils reflecting the myriad lights, more dazzling than the Milky Way. Fu Yunshen heard the footsteps, straightened up, turned around, his peach-blossom eyes curling: ¡°Yaoyao.¡± Ying Zijin frowned slightly: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say there was no need to wait for me?¡± He surely had many affairs to attend to and didn¡¯t need to keep taking care of her. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Fu Yunshen put one hand in his pocket, smiling, ¡°Brother is quite free lately, I can keep you company for cleaning duty.¡± With that, he took the cloth from her hands and confidently began wiping the blackboard. Ying Zijin fell silent for a moment. She sighed, walked to the back to pick up a broom, and began sweeping the floor. After ten minutes, the two finished cleaning. Fu Yunshen flicked the dust off his shirt and squinted his eyes: ¡°Well, it¡¯s quite clean, let¡¯s go.¡± By the time they left, it was already half-past seven. ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner.¡± Ying Zijin took out her phone and opened the app, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go home for a bit.¡± Home, of course, referred to Wen Fengmian¡¯s place. Fu Yunshen chuckled lightly: ¡°As you wish.¡± As she searched for nearby restaurants, a surprised shout rang in her ear: ¡°Miss Ying!¡± Ying Zijin turned around. ¡°Slash¡ª¡± A black Maybach abruptly stopped in front of her, with the passenger side window rolling down. ** Meanwhile, across the street. Zhong Manhua had just come out of the Century Center Shopping Mall. She had just called her driver to pick her up when she looked up and saw a girl in a Verdant school uniform standing in front of a car, slightly bending over. Next to her stood Fu Yunshen, a well-known playboy of Shanghai City. Zhong Manhua frowned unhappily and was about to step forward to take Ying Zijin away. ¡°Manhua.¡± Madam Mu noticed and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Zhong Manhua immediately withdrew her gaze, eager to leave quickly. She didn¡¯t want Madam Mu to witness this scene and for it to be spread that her daughter, Zhong Manhua, was inappropriately pursuing the young master of the Fu Family. However, Madam Mu had already looked over. Zhong Manhua¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she reached to pull her: ¡°Madam Mu, let¡¯s leave.¡± Madam Mu didn¡¯t move; she looked at the black Maybach and froze, somewhat taken aback. That seemed to be¡­ Mu Heqing¡¯s exclusive car. Chapter 33 The Meng Family is one of the significant wealthy families of the Imperial Capital, with many members across both the Main House and the branch families. Madam Mu had married into the Mu family for over twenty years and actually had seen Mu Heqing only a few times. But she also knew that Mu Heqing¡¯s exclusive car was a black Maybach. This Maybach had been custom-made, the only one in Hua Country, but¡­ Madam Mu frowned. She had not failed to recognize the foster daughter of the Ying Family, which was precisely why she hesitated. With Mu Heqing¡¯s status, even the heads of other wealthy families in the Imperial Capital treated him with great respect. How could he possibly be acquainted with a foster daughter without any formal recognition? Madam Mu¡¯s expression became distant, as she lowered her head and took out her phone from the bag, ¡°Manhua, wait a moment, I need to make a call.¡± If it really were Mu Heqing¡¯s car, she couldn¡¯t just go up there directly; that would be disrespectful. If it wasn¡¯t, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to go up at all. Zhong Manhua forced a smile and had no choice but to stand there, her hands trembling slightly because of the embarrassment bubbling up inside her. She made a concerted effort to restrain her anger, averted her gaze, and didn¡¯t even want to take another look. ** Above the Maybach. Mu Cheng glanced at his phone for a second and did not bother with the incoming call, ¡°Miss Ying, I¡¯ve finally found you.¡± With the Mu family¡¯s capabilities, investigating a person¡¯s identity was easy. Moreover, Ying Zijin hadn¡¯t made any effort to hide it. Ying Zijin lowered her head, ¡°Hmm, did you need me for something?¡± Mu Cheng glanced at Mu Heqing before saying, ¡°Elder Mu is leaving Shanghai City tomorrow and would like to see you once more before he goes.¡± After returning to his residence in Shanghai City that day, he had specially contacted the Meng Family of the Imperial Capital. Mu Cheng hadn¡¯t mentioned who the medical expert was, just vaguely asked a question, and that¡¯s how he found out just how frightening Miss Ying¡¯s medical skills truly were. Even among those renowned in the Ancient medical field, they probably couldn¡¯t hold a candle to her. Ying Zijin nodded, ¡°Elder Mu just needs to avoid smoking and drinking, and his health will be much better.¡± Mu Heqing coughed awkwardly, his expression serious, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of that old man myself.¡± Mu Cheng¡¯s foot shook, and he almost slammed on the accelerator and sped away. For years, nobody had been able to persuade Mu Heqing. Just one sentence from Miss Ying seemed to have had an effect. That was too¡­ ¡°Miss Ying, I don¡¯t have much to offer you.¡± Mu Cheng secretly wiped a bit of sweat and took out an exquisite box, ¡°This is a token of Elder Mu¡¯s gratitude, please be sure to accept it.¡± These were silver and golden needles bought specially from the Ancient Medical community, costing over ten million. Ying Zijin¡¯s gaze became focused for a moment, but she didn¡¯t refuse, accepting it, ¡°Thank you.¡± The specially made silver and golden needles could increase the treatment¡¯s effectiveness by several dozen times. She indeed needed them. ¡°There¡¯s also this.¡± Mu Cheng handed over a piece of paper, ¡°This is one of Elder Mu¡¯s properties in Shanghai City, with an annual turnover of around Fifty Million. It¡¯s a bit less, but¡­¡± On the paper, a hospital name was prominently written. Ying Zijin raised her eyebrows slightly. She hadn¡¯t expected that this sizable Traditional Chinese Medicine hospital in Shanghai City would belong to the Mu Family of the Imperial Capital. ¡°Don¡¯t refuse it,¡± Mu Heqing coughed again, ¡°You know medicine; it couldn¡¯t be more suitable for you.¡± He paused, somewhat arrogantly, ¡°As long as you accept it, I will absolutely not touch cigarettes or alcohol.¡± Mu Cheng, ¡°???¡± Wait, was that a threat? ¡°Thank you for Elder Mu¡¯s kindness, but I won¡¯t accept this.¡± Ying Zijin bowed her head with a light chuckle, ¡°I¡¯m quite lazy and, at most, could occasionally help out at the hospital with some difficult and miscellaneous diseases.¡± She did indeed need money and to dabble in her old profession. ¡°That¡¯s fine too,¡± Mu Heqing frowned, ¡°I didn¡¯t think it through. In that case, I¡¯ll have Mu Cheng set up a special consultation room just for you; it won¡¯t let too many people bother you.¡± ¡°But the revenue from the hospital will be transferred directly to your account.¡± Having said that, and fearing that the girl would refuse, Mu Heqing quickly had Mu Cheng drive away, at quite a speed. ¡°¡­¡± Ying Zijin turned her head and placed the box into her backpack, ¡°I¡¯m going to eat Japanese food today.¡± Fu Yunshen directly took her backpack, his movements languid, ¡°Brother will carry it for you.¡± At that moment, the phone beeped once, and a new message appeared on WeChat. Fu Yunshen looked down and raised an eyebrow when he saw that it was an avatar of a crane. [You little brat, not even a greeting when you see me? Getting bold, are we?] He curled his lips and replied at a leisurely pace. [Isn¡¯t it because I¡¯m afraid that just by opening my mouth, I¡¯ll make you so angry that it¡¯ll shorten your life span?] [¡­] [You little brat, better keep your distance from that young lady, don¡¯t cause her trouble.] Fu Yunshen glanced at the girl beside him and chuckled softly. [Can¡¯t do that, no signal, signing off.] Mu Heqing looked at this message and really wanted to block Fu Yunshen right then and there. His finger twitched, but he held back. No anger, he can¡¯t afford to get angry. ¡°Master, just now there was a call from the Fifth Master¡¯s house, perhaps asking when you¡¯ll return,¡± Mu Cheng spoke up, ¡°Shall we return a call?¡± With his eyes closed, Mu Heqing replied indifferently, ¡°No need.¡± ** The next day. Ying Zijin arrived at school a bit early, at seven. But this time, unlike usual, the Elite Class hadn¡¯t started their morning reading early. The students were all standing in front of the classroom, pinching their noses with disgusted expressions. The back of the classroom was piled with trash, reeking to high heaven. ¡°It¡¯s so dirty, who did this?¡± ¡°Our class has never been this filthy¡­¡± Zhong Zhiwan frowned, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t the student on duty yesterday clean up? Who was on duty?¡± The life committee member was stunned, ¡°It was Ying Zijin, but¡­¡± But when he left, the trash can was empty. ¡°What ¡®but¡¯? She just didn¡¯t do her duty.¡± Ying Feifei laughed scornfully, ¡°And she turned the class into this. She simply wants to tarnish our class¡¯s reputation.¡± The Elite Class naturally strives to be the best in everything, including cleanliness. How could they win the red flag like this? Lu Fang suddenly said out loud, ¡°Here she comes, she¡¯s here.¡± The students immediately made way. Ying Zijin walked in, still with a bare face and the simple school uniform. She swept a glance at the students standing around and went straight to the trash can, giving it a fleeting look. In the trash can, there were her textbooks, reference books, and the exercise set that Teacher Deng had given her yesterday. All had been torn into big and small pieces, stained with grease, absolutely unrecognizable. The girl just stood there silently looking at the ground, her face void of any expression. But strangely, the pressure in the classroom became heavier and heavier. ¡°Ying Zijin, weren¡¯t you on duty yesterday?¡± Ying Feifei seized the opportunity to taunt, ¡°Did you do a duty of loneliness?¡± ¡°Enough, stop it,¡± Zhong Zhiwan raised her hand, ¡°Let¡¯s all clean it up together before the student council arrives.¡± ¡°Why should we?¡± Ying Feifei retorted coldly, ¡°She caused it, she should clean it up alone¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t finish her sentence. Ying Zijin moved. She looked up, emotionlessly took a step forward, and dragged Ying Feifei out of the crowd by one hand. In front of the whole class, she pressed Ying Feifei¡¯s head directly into the trash can. Chapter 34 ¡°` The movement was both brutal and quick, with not even a half-second buffer. ¡°Ahhhh¡ª!!!¡± Ying Feifei only had time to let out a sharp scream because her entire head and half her body had been shoved into the trash can. The trash can was large enough to fit a person without any problem. Ying Zijin lifted her leg and kicked again. With a ¡°plop,¡± Ying Feifei was completely covered by the trash lid. Everyone was stunned, unable to react at all. They watched dumbfounded as Ying Zijin rolled up the sleeves of her white school uniform, casually pulled on a couple of garbage bags over her hands, and lifted Ying Feifei out of the trash can. Her other hand, empty, picked up an apple from the ground and started to push it into Ying Feifei¡¯s mouth. Just as Ying Feifei caught her breath, her mouth was blocked by a rotting taste. She widened her eyes in horror and struggled desperately, trying to scream, but she couldn¡¯t break free and was forced to swallow the apple bit by bit. Zhong Zhiwan finally snapped back to reality and shouted furiously, ¡°Ying Zijin, what are you doing? Get over there and pull her apart!¡± Zhong Zhiwan was the class monitor and the Verdant Goddess; no one in the Elite Class would ignore her words. And indeed, Ying Zijin¡¯s actions were utterly atrocious. Not only skipping the duty roster but also laying hands on a classmate? Several boys stepped forward at once, but the girl suddenly turned her head. Her brows and eyes still displayed the usual indifference, like the distant mountain topped with snow. But at that moment, she was enveloped in an aura of violence, and her gaze was so intense that even the sports commissioner, standing at one meter ninety, couldn¡¯t help but step back. For a moment, no one dared to move. Ying Zijin withdrew her gaze, looking down at Ying Feifei, who was covered in garbage: ¡°Does it taste good?¡± Ying Feifei finally could speak. She cried desperately, hysterically screaming, ¡°Ying Zijin, you¡¯re sick! You are sick!!!¡± Hadn¡¯t she just torn up this bumpkin¡¯s book and thrown it into the trash can? What was that about? To treat her like this? ¡°I am sick,¡± Ying Zijin looked down and chuckled lightly, ¡°so bother me less.¡± Just as Ying Feifei was about to curse out loud, the hand holding her up let go, and with a ¡°bang,¡± she rolled back into the trash can. Ying Zijin tore off the two garbage bags from her hands, took out some disposable hand sanitizer from her backpack with nonchalance, ¡°Pretty dirty.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The classroom fell dead silent. Zhong Zhiwan¡¯s lips quivered as she tried to steady her tone, ¡°Help Feifei up.¡± After several boys pulled Ying Feifei out, they quickly stepped back. It was too stinky. Ying Feifei¡¯s school uniform and underclothes were all tainted with garbage, and oil dripped from her hair. A dreadful sight. Ying Feifei had never suffered such humiliation in her life. ¡°Ying Zijin, you¡¯re finished, I¡¯m telling you you¡¯re done!¡± she cried as she ran off, ¡°I¡¯m going to tell the teacher and get you kicked out of the Elite Class!¡± Zhong Zhiwan frowned slightly, not following her: ¡°Everyone, clean up the classroom, we have morning reading soon.¡± The classmates looked at each other for a while, complied with the arrangement, but wisely did not seek further trouble. Zhong Zhiwan even less so; she didn¡¯t want to deal with it and didn¡¯t give Ying Zijin a single glance. Less than three minutes had passed when the Elite Class¡¯s homeroom teacher arrived, with a very cold demeanor. ¡°Ying Zijin, come to the office.¡± ¡°` ** Zhong Manhua received a call from Verdant while she was lying in the yard, sipping her morning tea. She had assumed it was about Ying Zijin¡¯s grades, but to her surprise, the homeroom teacher told her over the phone that her daughter had beaten up a female student in class, and even forced the girl to eat garbage. Zhong Manhua was incredulous. She was furiously startled and rose abruptly, startling the massage therapist serving her. ¡°Manhua?¡± Madam Mu opened her eyes upon hearing the commotion, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhong Manhua¡¯s body stiffened, she reined in her emotions, and took a deep breath, ¡°Nothing, I just fell asleep and had a nightmare.¡± She couldn¡¯t let Madam Mu know that she had a daughter who could bully others. This was no longer just a matter of losing face; it was a matter of character! With this in mind, Zhong Manhua made up her mind and responded indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m busy right now; you handle it.¡± After hanging up the phone, she let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness her identity hadn¡¯t been switched back, she was just a foster daughter, otherwise, she truly would have been too embarrassed. Madam Mu did not inquire further, preoccupied with her own thoughts. She had called Mu Cheng the night before, but still hadn¡¯t received a response by this morning. Mu Cheng was a trusted aide of Mu Heqing; outside, he represented Mu Heqing himself. When the Mu family couldn¡¯t see Mu Heqing, or there were matters to discuss, they always contacted Mu Cheng first. This couldn¡¯t mean¡­ that their faction had fallen out of favor, could it? Among the younger generation of the Mu family, Chen Zhou was considered one of the more outstanding ones. Madam Mu grew more anxious, and after giving it more thought, she decided that the person inside the black Maybach wasn¡¯t Mu Heqing. Indeed, not to mention a foster daughter from the Ying Family, even for several rulers of the capital, Mu Heqing wouldn¡¯t condescend to meet them personally. Perhaps it was simply because he was busy and hadn¡¯t seen her call. Madam Mu closed her eyes again and continued to enjoy her massage. ** Twenty minutes later, in the office. Ying Feifei had changed into a new set of clothes, but the putrid smell still lingered on her. She stood to the side, sobbing intermittently and her crying grew louder and louder. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Feifei.¡± Lady Ying, who hurried over from the company, embraced her, terribly distressed, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Don¡¯t cry, Mommy will stand up for you.¡± While consoling Ying Feifei, Lady Ying looked up with an ugly expression, ¡°Teacher Xu, Feifei has always been obedient and never conflicts with classmates. You must give us an explanation for this incident.¡± As she spoke, her gaze swept toward the girl standing by the door with palpable disgust. ¡°I really don¡¯t know how the Elite Class could have a student like you, who does nothing right. Apologize at once!¡± Lady Ying was so angry she could barely contain herself; if it weren¡¯t for maintaining her dignity, she would have gone up and slapped her already. ¡°Lady Ying, please calm down,¡± Teacher Xu was very troubled, ¡°We haven¡¯t reached a conclusion about this incident yet, let¡¯s get to the bottom of it first.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to ask?¡± Lady Ying burst out, ¡°Feifei is already in this state, what else is there to question?!¡± Lady Ying¡¯s voice was loud, causing even the teachers in the other offices to be taken aback. The English office was next door, and Teacher Deng also arrived. As the office filled with more people, Lady Ying gained more confidence, ¡°If the Elite Class doesn¡¯t expel her, I¡¯ll expose you all on Weibo!¡± At these words, the teachers¡¯ faces changed colors. Teacher Xu was in a tough position, ¡°Ah, Ying Zijin, you¡­¡± Bullying a classmate was a punishable offense. In severe cases, it could lead to expulsion. Ying Zijin lifted her gaze, walked forward with one hand in her pocket, and smiled faintly, ¡°Teacher Deng, may I borrow a computer please?¡± Chapter 35 ¡°` Borrow the computer? Teacher Deng was taken aback for a moment but didn¡¯t ask why, ¡°Okay, wait for me a second.¡± After nodding to Teacher Xu, she left the office. Teacher Xu frowned, but he didn¡¯t interrupt. Having led the Elite Class for so long, he knew each student very well. Ying Zijin¡¯s grades weren¡¯t good. She was introverted, taciturn, often walking with her head lowered, moving carefully alone. It was quite good if she wasn¡¯t bullied. However, when he had previously called Madam Ying, the Ying Family took an indifferent stance, as if they were certain Zijin was the one responsible for the incident. Teacher Xu truly couldn¡¯t understand. Lady Ying, seeing the girl still acting nonchalant, without any hint of shame or guilt, immediately exploded with more fury. ¡°What do you need a computer for? Huh? Won¡¯t you apologize?¡± As she spoke, she took out her phone, ¡°Since you have no shame, I¡¯ll post your ¡®good deeds¡¯ on Weibo right now.¡± The power of public opinion could ruin a person. Upon hearing this, Ying Zijin turned her head and slightly lifted her eyes. Her fair skin framed a pair of narrow phoenix eyes, chillingly cold. Meeting this gaze, Ying Feifei suddenly recalled how she had been shoved into the trash can and forced to eat the garbage bite by bite, causing her body to shiver. Her hands trembling, she reached out, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°Feifei, don¡¯t be scared,¡± Lady Ying comforted her, bitterly stating, ¡°Mom will vent this anger for you right now.¡± ¡°Lady Ying,¡± Teacher Xu had to speak up, ¡°Without personal permission, this constitutes an invasion of the right to reputation.¡± Lady Ying¡¯s hand stiffened, her face inexplicably flushed with agitation under the watchful eyes of everyone present. At this moment, footsteps approached; Teacher Deng had returned with the computer. ¡°Thank you, Teacher Deng,¡± Ying Zijin said as she took the computer and held it in her hands, ¡°Sorry for the trouble.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble,¡± Teacher Deng couldn¡¯t help herself and asked curiously, ¡°What do you need it for?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Zijin booted up the computer, took out a USB drive from her pocket, and said dismissively, ¡°just copying a few surveillance clips from the monitoring room to share.¡± Surveillance? At this word, Teacher Xu had to take things more seriously. He asked with a stern expression, ¡°What exactly is going on?¡± Ying Feifei, however, suddenly widened her eyes, her palms sweating. To teach Zijin a lesson, she had arrived at school at 6:15 a.m. There weren¡¯t many people at the school at that time, but the surveillance was always on. If¡­ No, of course not. Not even teachers could enter the surveillance room at will, so how could Zijin, a student, have entered it? Ying Feifei regained her composure and sneered internally. She was just bluffing, thinking she really had evidence? ¡°Checking the surveillance?¡± Lady Ying laughed too, disdainfully saying, ¡°Fine, then let¡¯s watch it¡ªlet¡¯s see how this student bullied our Feifei!¡± Her voice was sharp, causing Zhong Zhiwan, who was about to knock and enter, to also hear it and pause. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you going in?¡± Behind her, a rich male voice sounded. ¡°Nothing, Teacher He,¡± Zhiwan was slightly startled when she saw who it was, then smiled, ¡°It¡¯s just a conflict that arose in our class. Teacher Xu is resolving it; he asked us to self-study for the time being.¡± He Xun frowned, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really nothing.¡± Zhiwan hesitated, then summarized the events that had unfolded, ¡°I came over to see how it¡¯s going.¡± After listening, He Xun¡¯s expression turned a few degrees colder, but his tone remained calm, ¡°You go back first. I¡¯ll have a look. Don¡¯t let it affect your studies.¡± Zhiwan nodded without refusing, ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you then, Teacher He.¡± As He Xun entered, he saw the girl sitting with her legs tucked in front of the office desk, propping a laptop on her forearm. Her head was slightly lowered, her other hand rapidly typing something on the keyboard. He Xun¡¯s expression turned profoundly cold, filled with disgust. The victim was right there, yet she seemed unconcerned, displaying no sense of guilt. In his two years of teaching, he had never encountered such a student. ¡°Teacher Xu,¡± He Xun no longer glanced at Ying Zijin, ¡°I came to ask if the matter with the Elite Class¡¯s student has been resolved.¡± ¡°It will take a little while longer,¡± Teacher Xu was somewhat surprised by He Xun¡¯s arrival but said nothing more, ¡°Zhiwan is watching over the class.¡± He Xun simply stated, ¡°Teacher Xu, there¡¯s no need to waste time.¡± If a mistake was made, then issue a disciplinary action. What¡¯s the point of making the whole class wait together? The time of over forty people, is it worth compensating for? ¡°Right?¡± Lady Ying was domineering as she said, ¡°And now you want to watch the surveillance, are you looking to be shamed further?¡± As soon as she finished speaking, the projector in the office was suddenly turned on, casting an image onto the white screen in front of them. It was a surveillance clip, the quality wasn¡¯t clear, but it was possible to recognize who was in it. The time in the top right corner of the surveillance was accurate to the minute and second. Seeing her own image appear on the screen, Ying Feifei finally started to panic and tried to tug at Lady Ying¡¯s clothes. But everyone in the office, including He Xun, was already looking at the screen. The footage began rolling, revealing on the surveillance¡ª At 6:15:27 a.m., Ying Feifei entered the school gate. At 6:20:46 a.m., Ying Feifei arrived at the Elite Class classroom, took Zijin¡¯s books from her desk drawer, tore them to shreds, and threw them into the trash can before leaving. At 6:35:14 a.m., Ying Feifei returned with a bag of soy milk and a bowl of rice noodles, pouring them all into the trash can. At 6:40:34 a.m., Ying Feifei brought a bucket of trash and dumped it behind the classroom. At 6:45:12 a.m., Ying Feifei entered the classroom for the fourth time, placing two spiders inside Zijin¡¯s desk drawer. Chapter 36 The surveillance footage came to an abrupt end, the last image being Ying Feifei¡¯s face, smug and wild. ¡°¡­¡± The office fell silent, everyone was shocked. Ying Feifei¡¯s face turned deathly pale, ¡°No, that wasn¡¯t me, I didn¡¯t do anything¡­ ¡± Ying Zijin actually had surveillance footage? How was that possible? Lady Ying also froze, her face instantly flushing red. The image on the screen was like a slap in her face. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Lady Ying was extremely embarrassed, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. Ying Zijin packed up her computer, returned it to Teacher Deng, and said another word of thanks. This segment naturally wasn¡¯t something she had copied from the surveillance room; she had hacked into the surveillance system and taken a few clips directly. New technology was handy and saved her the trouble. Teacher Deng obviously recognized what Ying Feifei had torn. It was the practice booklets she had meticulously prepared, and even with her good temperament, she was angered. He Xun was taken aback, clearly not expecting the truth to be like this. He pursed his lips slightly, his expression complicated as he glanced at the girl, not saying a word. He knew about Teacher Deng¡¯s preparation of the practice booklets. Only then did Teacher Xu recover from his shock, his voice deepening, ¡°Ying Feifei, look at what you¡¯ve done. Why did you tear up Ying Zijin¡¯s book?¡± ¡°I, I¡­¡± Ying Feifei couldn¡¯t argue anymore. She cried out, ¡°Who told her to always hold our class back?¡± It wasn¡¯t intentional; Ying Zijin herself deserved a lesson. Could she be blamed? ¡°That¡¯s no excuse for what you did!¡± Teacher Xu was so angry he had a headache, ¡°You even have the nerve to say that Ying Zijin bullied you? Aren¡¯t you ashamed?¡± He couldn¡¯t believe that there could be a student like this in the Elite Class. What kind of quality was this? Ying Feifei cried even harder, as she had never been spoken to so harshly by a homeroom teacher before. ¡°Teacher Xu, even if our Feifei did these things, it doesn¡¯t justify her hitting someone.¡± Lady Ying quickly hugged Ying Feifei in her arms and sneered coldly, ¡°She must apologize!¡± Her tone was forceful, ¡°In any case, it¡¯s your fault.¡± Lady Ying was not afraid at all. She remembered Teacher Xu saying earlier that Ying Zijin¡¯s parents were too busy to come. Being too busy meant they wouldn¡¯t deal with it, right? The Ying Family wouldn¡¯t come forward, so what difference would evidence make? Could it turn the world upside down? Ying Feifei gradually regained her composure. Yes, indeed. Zhong Zhiwan had already said that Zhong Manhua wouldn¡¯t care. How could a foster daughter compare to the real daughter of a wealthy family? Thinking of this, Ying Feifei finally breathed a sigh of relief, only annoyed she hadn¡¯t been more thorough. In her smugness, she provocatively tilted her chin upward. However, Ying Zijin didn¡¯t even spare them a glance. She turned her head slightly, her voice calm, without much emotion, and even let out a faint smile, ¡°Teacher Xu, may I ask what the punishment is for premeditating the murder of a classmate?¡± ¡°A demerit? Or expulsion?¡± Teacher Xu¡¯s expression changed drastically, ¡°What is this now?¡± ¡°Teacher Xu, you are uninformed.¡± This time, it was Teacher Deng who spoke, her voice very cold, ¡°Zijin is terrified of spiders, to the point of fainting and suffocation.¡± She had discovered it by chance and had specially warned the other students in the class. Unexpectedly, it had been exploited by Ying Feifei. Ying Zijin paused, surprised that Teacher Deng would speak up for her. She had been bitten by a spider before she fully regained consciousness and had nearly lost her life, if not for Wen Tinglan being there. Although there was no serious harm in the end, she had developed arachnophobia, a psychological disorder. After she woke up, naturally, she wouldn¡¯t have such an obstacle. But Ying Feifei wouldn¡¯t know the twists and turns involved. Ying Feifei¡¯s face, which had barely regained some color, turned pale again, ¡°How should I have known? It was just a coincidence, I¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Teacher Xu slammed the table, even angrier, ¡°Ying Feifei, if Ying Zijin had gotten hurt today, do you know you would be arrested?!¡± Ying Feifei couldn¡¯t even cry anymore. Bearing so many gazes, Lady Ying felt even more uncomfortable. She hadn¡¯t expected Ying Feifei would do such a thing, but what of it? Wasn¡¯t the person fine? ¡°Fine, let¡¯s just leave it at this, you weren¡¯t harmed, so what¡¯s there to fuss about?¡± Lady Ying pulled out ten banknotes from her wallet, ¡°Just a few books and workbooks, I¡¯ll compensate you with a thousand, is that enough?¡± Without any power to confront her, what else did she want to do? She tossed the money and pulled Ying Feifei, ¡°Feifei, let¡¯s go.¡± After saying that, she even looked back triumphantly, only to see that the girl just lifted her head, the clear black and white of her eyes showing no disturbance. But it sent chills down the spine. Lady Ying had reached the door, but strangely she didn¡¯t dare to take another step forward. Ying Zijin held a phone in one hand, casually swiping her fingers across it. He Xun saw that it was the Weibo interface and remembered what Lady Ying had said earlier. This was about fighting fire with fire. If this incident got exposed by a big V on Weibo, Ying Feifei¡¯s reputation would be ruined. But in the end, there was no harm done, so it wouldn¡¯t be right to destroy a minor¡¯s future. He Xun frowned, wanting to step forward and stop the girl. But just then, the door was kicked open. With a ¡°clang,¡± Lady Ying was knocked aside, her newly done nose skewed. Then a careless voice drifted in, ¡°Hey, The Seventh Young Master, look at this. A thousand bucks and she¡¯s acting so high and mighty. Is there no one left in Shanghai City?¡± Chapter 37 Nie Chao was livid. Bullying a little sister? Could they be any more shameless? Lady Ying, clutching her nose, was in excruciating pain. On seeing an unfamiliar young man, she regained some confidence, ¡°What¡¯s it to you? Huh?¡± Only then did Nie Chao remember that not many in Shanghai City knew him. He stepped aside and called out loudly, ¡°The Seventh Young Master, please come quickly.¡± Then, turning his head, he reassured the girl, ¡°Big¡­ little sister, don¡¯t be afraid, the Seventh Young Master is here.¡± Ying Zijin paused slightly, then looked up. Fu Yunshen entered, a step behind. This time he wore a white shirt, the top two buttons undone, revealing half of his collarbones, irresistibly deep. He had a carefree, dissolute air about him, obviously no good at first sight. Everyone in the office was stunned. Lady Ying was even more shocked, her mind buzzing, ¡°The Seventh¡­ Young Master?¡± Once someone had seen Fu Yunshen¡¯s face, they could never forget it. Even if some in Shanghai didn¡¯t approve of his achievements, they would still treat him with respect. ¡°Excuse me, Teacher Xu,¡± said Fu Yunshen, ignoring the others as he walked up to the girl. ¡°I¡¯m her family, sorry I¡¯m late.¡± Teacher Xu was baffled. Nie Chao clicked his tongue, thinking to himself that the Seventh Young Master really took being shameless to the end, even assuming the role of a parent. ¡°You should go to your class,¡± Fu Yunshen glanced sideways, ¡°No need to waste time.¡± Seven words, and He Xun¡¯s expression changed. Ying Zijin was silently contemplative for a moment, then she slowly said, ¡°Actually, I can handle it myself¡­¡± Before she could finish, Fu Yunshen fished a piece of black chocolate from his pocket, his peach blossom eyes hooking slightly, ¡°Yaoyao?¡± Ying Zijin, silenced by the snack, ¡°¡­¡± Nie Chao, ¡°???¡± What the hell, he even brings snacks to feed her at any time? Damn, is he raising his wife like a daughter? Teacher Deng adjusted his glasses and also spoke up, ¡°Mr. Fu is right. Zijin, you go to class and don¡¯t delay; the adults here will take care of this.¡± Ying Zijin raised her hand and still took the piece of chocolate. She didn¡¯t want to trouble him. Though she knew he indeed cared for her sincerely. ¡°Go on then,¡± Fu Yunshen leaned in slightly, patting her head. ¡°If you stay here, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll scare you when I start to get rough later.¡± Nie Chao was choked up. A blatant lie! Had they forgotten how the big shot single-handedly beat up five thugs? Teacher Deng quite agreed, ¡°You¡¯ve been spooked, let me take you to the infirmary to check on you.¡± The door to the office opened and closed, the atmosphere becoming icy cold to the extreme. Ying Feifei clutched Lady Ying¡¯s clothes tightly, shivering nonstop. Lu Fang had said Ying Zijin had ingratiated herself with Fu Yunshen; she didn¡¯t believe it at first, but now she had to. What kind of luck was this? Fu Yunshen looked up, ¡°Teacher Xu, I want to understand what happened.¡± Teacher Xu hurriedly recounted the incident, ¡°Mr. Fu, we are discussing how to resolve this. The man¡¯s peach blossom eyes, which were suffused with laughter, grew cold inch by inch until they were ice-cold. Lady Ying shivered, no longer possessed of her former arrogance: ¡°Seventh Young Master, it¡¯s a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°A misunderstanding? Your daughter cannot be bullied, but my little friend can?¡± said Fu Yunshen, his voice gentle, with a laugh, ¡°Why¡¯s that, hmm?¡± Lady Ying wanted to say ¡°How could a foster daughter compare to her own daughter,¡± but the words reached her lips and she dared not utter them. Fu Yunshen said indifferently, ¡°Pick it up.¡± Lady Ying was startled and, disregarding her demeanor, quickly squatted down to pick up the money she had thrown on the ground. Before she could stand up, a stack of money weighed down on the top of her head. ¡°It¡¯s just been thrown into the trash can, and no one is hurt, what¡¯s there to fuss about?¡± Nie Chao dutifully scattered money, ¡°Here¡¯s ten thousand for you, is that enough?¡± Lady Ying¡¯s face went deathly pale with humiliation. Ying Feifei¡¯s lips trembled, ¡°You, you¡¯re bullying others with your power¡­¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you bite back now,¡± Nie Chao snorted coldly. ¡°I remember quite well how you were oppressing our Seventh Young Master¡¯s sister just now.¡± Teacher Xu tentatively spoke up, ¡°Mr. Fu, what do you think we should do about this matter¡­?¡± ¡°Whatever the disposition should be, let it be,¡± Fu Yunshen stood straight, smiling lightly. ¡°I believe Verdant is always fair.¡± ** In the end, Lady Ying left with Ying Feifei in a dejected manner. Although she wasn¡¯t expelled, getting a major demerit meant Ying Feifei had no chance with Imperial Capital University for the rest of her life. Let alone Imperial Capital University, none of the 985 universities in Hua Country would accept her; essentially, her future was ruined. It¡¯s even worse than ruining her reputation. ¡°See why you¡¯ve hurried over early in the morning? It turns out you came for a daring rescue.¡± Nie Chao muttered, ¡°Seventh Young Master, not to say anything, but are you really smitten with the big shot?¡± ¡°She¡¯s still a sister, aren¡¯t you being a bit premature?¡± Fu Yunshen glanced at him, his look somewhat amused and mocking. Nie Chao immediately raised his hands as if surrendering, ¡°Consider that I never said it!¡± ¡°No,¡± Fu Yunshen turned his head, looked down from the roof terrace of the teaching building, and said indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s probably sympathy for the like-minded.¡± Nie Chao was stunned. He was slow to remember the issues with the Fu Family, and suddenly he couldn¡¯t say anything. Nie Chao didn¡¯t know how to comfort him and hesitated before speaking, ¡°Brother, take it easy, it¡¯s been so long.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been so long,¡± Fu Yunshen chuckled softly, ¡°Twenty years.¡± In front of him was a sea of blood. Screams and gunfire intertwined, assaulting his eardrums. His eyelashes fluttered, and he laughed again, ¡°In the past, I really hoped someone would protect me, but there was no one. So, I want to protect her.¡± Hearing this, Nie Chao was inexpressibly sad, ¡°Seventh Young Master¡­¡± The man leaned against the wall, his long legs bent, as he looked up at the sky and said softly, ¡°My life has been too fraught with hardship to settle down, but Yaoyao, she must have the best.¡± He smiled, the curvature of his lips gentle. ** In the evening, Zhong Family house. When Zhong Manhua arrived, Old Master Zhong was reading the newspaper next to the dining table and responded indifferently, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Zhong Manhua¡¯s steps faltered, ¡°Dad.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Zijin?¡± Old Master Zhong finally put down his newspaper and craned his neck, looking toward the door in disappointment. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t she come back yet?¡± He couldn¡¯t help rebuking, ¡°What kind of a mother are you, coming here by yourself? What does that look like?¡± Zhong Manhua was incredibly agitated. If it weren¡¯t for that call from Verdant in the morning making her feel embarrassed, why wouldn¡¯t she go pick up Ying Zijin from school? The Zhong Family was her maternal home. She married into the Ying Family, a union of strong alliances meant to be a wonderful story. But because of Ying Zijin, the Zhong Family¡¯s daughters-in-law had not missed any opportunity to mock her behind her back. ¡°Wanwan, aren¡¯t you in the same class as Zijin?¡± Old Master Zhong remembered something and looked back. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see her?¡± It was already seven o¡¯clock, and high school second-years should have been let out by now. Zhong Zhiwan tightened her fingers and said softly, ¡°Grandfather, I didn¡¯t see her, and my cousin might¡­¡± ¡°Might what?¡± Old Master Zhong became anxious. ¡°She hasn¡¯t gotten into trouble, has she?¡± Zhong Zhiwan quickly glanced at Zhong Manhua, ¡°My cousin might be expelled by Verdant.¡± Chapter 38 Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°¡­¡± The moment those words were spoken, the entire living room fell into a moment of silence. Lady Zhong, who had been in the kitchen, leaned out and scolded before Old Master Zhong could speak, ¡°Wanwan, don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± She then said to Zhong Manhua, ¡°Wanwan is just babbling, don¡¯t take her seriously about any expulsion.¡± Zhong Manhua forced a smile, ¡°What are you saying, Third Sister-in-law? Wanwan is so well-behaved.¡± But her heart was pounding non-stop. At the time, because Madam Mu was present, she hadn¡¯t asked in detail, only knowing that Ying Zijin had hit someone. After that, she hadn¡¯t received another phone call and forgot about it. If Ying Zijin was really expelled, where would she put her face? Old Master Zhong, however, didn¡¯t say anything. He put on his reading glasses, took out his phone, and slowly said, ¡°I¡¯ll make a call to Verdant.¡± ¡°Dad, you don¡¯t need to worry about it needlessly,¡± Zhong Manhua didn¡¯t want to lose face and said in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°As if I don¡¯t know about your competitive nature?¡± Old Master Zhong waved his hand, ¡°If you go, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll scold the child first.¡± Zhong Manhua was both embarrassed and angry, ¡°Dad, what are you saying?¡± Old Master Zhong ignored her and dialed the Elite Class head teacher¡¯s number from his contacts. The call was quickly connected. ¡°Hello, teacher, I am Zijin¡¯s grandfather, I¡¯d like to ask about Zijin today, she¡­¡± Listening to Old Master Zhong¡¯s conversation with Teacher Xu, Zhong Zhiwan gripped her cup tightly. What Ying Zijin did this morning, if no one intervened, expulsion was certain. Even if Old Master Zhong intervened now, it would be too late. She truly couldn¡¯t understand why her grandfather favored a foster daughter so much, when even the Zhong family¡¯s several illegitimate children, no matter how successful, hadn¡¯t softened Old Master Zhong¡¯s heart. A foster daughter with no merits whatsoever? ¡°What?!¡± Old Master Zhong was still talking when his face suddenly changed, ¡°Alright, I understand, thank you, teacher.¡± Zhong Manhua was restless and extremely agitated. Finally, after Old Master Zhong hung up the phone, she then said, ¡°Dad, it¡¯s my fault for not teaching her well, rest assured, when I get back I will¡­¡± Old Master Zhong cut her off, ¡°What were you doing this morning?¡± Zhong Manhua was taken aback, ¡°I was having morning tea with Madam Mu at the old house, discussing matters, Dad, why do you ask¡­?¡± ¡°You had time for tea, but no time to go to school?¡± Old Master Zhong immediately became furious, ¡°Do you know how much injustice Zijin suffered at school? You assumed she was to blame without asking what happened and thought it was embarrassing to go?¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for that young man from the Fu Family stepping in, Zijin would have been expelled. What use are you as a mother, just decoration? Huh?!¡± ¡°I¡¯d be better off having a vase for a daughter than you!¡± Zhong Manhua was scolded dumbfounded, her face turning bright red. Zhong Zhiwan was slightly shocked. Ying Zijin wasn¡¯t expelled? And Fu Yunshen had helped her? Zhong Zhiwan pursed her lips, feeling somewhat upset. ¡°Your own daughter, you don¡¯t believe her, is that how a mother behaves?¡± Old Master Zhong was furiously upset, ¡°When Zijin arrives later, apologize to her.¡± Zhong Manhua suddenly looked up, ¡°Dad!¡± Old Master Zhong turned his back on her and dialed another number. ** When Ying Zijin received the phone call, she had just finished a new round of physical therapy for Wen Fengmian. She glanced at the caller ID, answered the phone, and spoke in a gentle tone, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m free tonight, alright, I¡¯ll come back later to see you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Wen Fengmian asked anxiously, ¡°Is it the Ying Family?¡± ¡°No.¡± Ying Zijin steadied his shoulders, ¡°I¡¯ll come back tomorrow, Dad, remember to take your medicine on time.¡± ¡°Yaoyao, don¡¯t overwork yourself.¡± Wen Fengmian hesitated, then added, ¡°Dad is still young, you should look after yourself more. And don¡¯t buy any more medicine, treat yourself to something good instead.¡± Being a parent always means thinking about the children. ¡°You can rest assured on that.¡± Ying Zijin unwrapped a piece of chocolate, ¡°I won¡¯t skimp on food.¡± It was true that she was short of money. If the money is gone, it can be earned again, but good food should not be missed. ¡°Still, be careful.¡± Wen Fengmian saw her out, reminding her, ¡°Take good care of yourself, don¡¯t get into conflicts with classmates at school, and you can ask Yuyu for help with academic stuff. Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself.¡± Ying Zijin hummed a response, waved lazily, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and left. Forty minutes later, she arrived at Zhong Family¡¯s old mansion. The old mansions of the four major noble families happened to be situated in the four directions of Shanghai City, which made even visiting neighbors quite a distance. ¡°Zijin, come here, come here.¡± Finally seeing someone, Old Master Zhong was very happy, waving at the girl, ¡°Let Grandpa see, have you lost weight recently?¡± Ying Zijin paused, then walked over: ¡°Grandpa.¡± ¡°A bit thinner.¡± Old Master Zhong touched his chin, barely satisfied, ¡°But you¡¯ve become prettier, very good, very good. I¡¯ll buy you some clothes later, wearing black all the time isn¡¯t good.¡± Ying Zijin responded to each comment. ¡°Sit, sit.¡± Old Master Zhong patted the seat beside him, ¡°We stewed black chicken soup today, have a good nourishment.¡± With Old Master Zhong¡¯s permission, the servants began serving dinner, and everyone else took their seats. Zhong Zhiwan pinched her chopsticks, without any appetite, feeling very blocked up inside. Old Master Zhong gave Zhong Manhua a faint glance, commanding authority without anger. Zhong Manhua held back, and managed to tough it out and give an apology. However, the girl didn¡¯t even give her a look, as if she hadn¡¯t heard, focused on eating her Golden Sand Corn. Zhong Manhua¡¯s face turned an iron blue. In front of so many people, she couldn¡¯t even get a way to step down? ¡°Do you like this?¡± Old Master Zhong noticed, ¡°Have them make another plate.¡± Ying Zijin shook her head slightly: ¡°No need, Grandpa, I can¡¯t eat that much.¡± Old Master Zhong, fearing she was being polite, simply said, ¡°Just say what you like, the kitchen is waiting.¡± Zhong Zhiwan couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. She got up, her expression very cold: ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m full, I¡¯ll go back to my room first.¡± Old Master Zhong nodded and said nothing. Zhong Zhiwan left the room, holding back her anger. Lady Zhong knew her daughter well and with a smile said, ¡°Elder Zhong, the Elite Class has a heavy study load recently. Wanwan is going back to study hard, you shouldn¡¯t mind that she doesn¡¯t talk much with you.¡± This reminded Old Master Zhong: ¡°Zijin, is the pressure from schoolwork too much? Do you want Wanwan to tutor you?¡± Lady Zhong also barely maintained her smile. Zhong Zhiwan was the top of her class; where would she find free time to tutor a foster daughter? ¡°Thanks for your kindness, Grandpa.¡± Ying Zijin leaned back in her chair, her expression casual, ¡°But I¡¯m planning on changing classes.¡± ¡°A different one?¡± Old Master Zhong was taken aback, ¡°Why?¡± Ying Zijin sipped her soup: ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay there anymore, it¡¯s pretty annoying.¡± Zhong Manhua had been holding back, but finally couldn¡¯t contain herself anymore. She slammed her chopsticks down on the table, her anger bubbling up: ¡°The Elite Class is Verdant¡¯s best class, do you know how much effort the Ying Family put in for you to get in there with your grades?¡± ¡°To say you won¡¯t stay is to say it; do you think you only represent yourself?¡± Chapter 39 Editor: Henyee Translations How can you be so thoughtless? With her heart and lungs aching from anger, Zhong Manhua¡¯s voice squeezed through her gritted teeth, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go to school anymore, then drop out. If you leave the Elite Class, where else can you go?¡± Ying Zijin didn¡¯t even look up, too lazy to bother with a response. She leisurely peeled a shrimp, her nonchalant brows and eyes practically glittering with the words ¡°none of your business.¡± Stimulated beyond tolerance, Zhong Manhua was about to lash out when Old Master Zhong erupted once more, ¡°Zhong Manhua, can¡¯t you speak properly? Have all these years of breeding gone to the dogs? If you can¡¯t speak nicely, just get lost. Get out of here this instant!¡± Acting like this in front of him, what would she do behind his back? Zhong Manhua was furious, but she couldn¡¯t say anything in front of Old Master Zhong. All she could do was to take her shawl with bottled up frustration and leave with a cold face. ¡°Good that she¡¯s gone. She¡¯s always sulking as if she¡¯s putting on a show for someone!¡± Old Master Zhong¡¯s blood pressure rose in anger, triggering another bout of coughing. Ying Zijin raised her hand to pat his back, handing him a cup of water, ¡°Grandpa, drink some water.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Old Master Zhong¡¯s anger dissipated instantly, and he took the cup with a smile. After drinking, Old Master Zhong felt his blood and qi flow more smoothly, and his spirits lifted considerably. He didn¡¯t think too deeply about it; he just felt that his granddaughter was truly wonderful. ¡°Let¡¯s calm down, Master,¡± Lady Zhong hurried to smooth things over. ¡°Manhua has to manage the company and take care of the children. You¡¯re not aware, she has been competitive since she was young, it¡¯s just that she¡¯s a bit blunt when speaking.¡± Old Master Zhong was not in the mood for sympathy: ¡°Even so, it depends on who she¡¯s talking to. I can¡¯t bring myself to say a harsh word to Zijin, yet she unleashes a barrage. She¡¯s not so talkative when it comes to other matters.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Lady Zhong finally understood Zhong Manhua¡¯s feelings. Old Master Zhong was so good to a foster daughter, was he actually placing her above blood relations? The meal ruined her appetite completely, so she also finished quickly and invented an excuse to go upstairs. ** After dinner, Old Master Zhong called Ying Zijin into the study. ¡°Wanwan, I heard about what happened at school today. If you ever feel wronged in the future, just call me. Although I may have stepped down, I¡¯m still in my prime,¡± he affirmed. ¡°I know, thank you, Grandpa,¡± Ying Zijin massaged his shoulders, ¡°But it would be better if you don¡¯t call me by that name anymore, just use my full name instead.¡± Old Master Zhong was taken aback. Before he could ask why, the girl calmly added, ¡°I don¡¯t really like names that others have used.¡± Wanwan was the childhood nickname given to her by the Ying Family before she was born, but now it had been taken by someone else. A mix of emotions swelled in Old Master Zhong¡¯s heart. After a long pause, he sighed, ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not taking better care of you.¡± If he had known this would happen, he should have taken her to the Zhong Family from the beginning to personally look after her. He had been busy traveling abroad for the past decade and had only returned to Shanghai City recently, learning about his true granddaughter¡¯s disappearance. The thought of his real granddaughter suffering so much outside made Old Master Zhong¡¯s heart ache. ¡°Your mother is just like that, don¡¯t mind her. Let her be angry on her own,¡± he thought for a moment, then took a card from the drawer, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you young people like nowadays. I¡¯m scared of buying something you won¡¯t like, so take this card and buy whatever you want.¡± Ying Zijin had no intention of using it, but to not disappoint the elderly, she accepted it anyway, ¡°Have you been having trouble sleeping recently?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just an old person¡¯s problem,¡± Old Master Zhong pressed his temples with a sigh, ¡°In the end, one cannot deny aging.¡± Ying Zijin nodded, her mind taking note. She would be free for a while, so she would go back and concoct a few more medicines. ¡°` But Old Master Zhong¡¯s health was quite robust compared to his peers, with proper care, living to a hundred was easily within reach. ¡°Are you staying over tonight? It¡¯s been a long time since you last came,¡± Old Master Zhong coughed a few times, pretending not to care much, ¡°Tomorrow I can have the driver take you to school.¡± Ying Zijin looked at Old Master Zhong, who seemed so excited he wanted to rub his hands together: ¡°¡­¡± She was slightly helpless: ¡°Okay.¡± Even if Old Master Zhong didn¡¯t say so, she would have stayed anyway. ¡°Very good, very good, just tell me if you need anything,¡± Old Master Zhong nodded repeatedly, ¡°Later, I¡¯ll take you to the Fu Family to thank that boy.¡± Although he wasn¡¯t very fond of the boy. He was too spoiled for his liking, and what if he was after his family¡¯s ¡°cabbage¡±? Old Master Zhong was deeply worried as he sent the girl out, then sat in his study for a while before slowly dialing a number: ¡°Hello, Old Man Fu, why would you care why I call you this late, I just wanted to let you know¡­¡± ** Less than a day had passed, and what Ying Feifei did had spread throughout the entire second year of high school, but most people weren¡¯t interested in paying attention. Because of Old Master Zhong¡¯s partiality, Zhong Zhiwan didn¡¯t sleep well all night. During the morning reading session, she was distracted, constantly glancing at the empty seat in the corner. A few classmates whispered among themselves. ¡°I heard she went straight to the principal¡¯s office this morning, but I don¡¯t know why.¡± ¡°Probably she¡¯s going to be kicked out of the Elite Class, our class is finally losing a drag.¡± Listening to this, Zhong Zhiwan¡¯s mood finally lifted a bit. She put down her book and left the classroom, ready to go to the teaching building to take a look. Zhong Zhiwan didn¡¯t know that, at this moment, apart from the principal, there were several teachers in the principal¡¯s office. ¡°You all know about yesterday¡¯s incident.¡± The principal pondered for a moment, then spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve discussed it with Classmate Ying¡¯s parents and am planning to switch her to another class.¡± Teacher Xu was taken aback: ¡°Principal?¡± The principal just vaguely mentioned: ¡°The Elite Class isn¡¯t quite suitable.¡± He also felt the headache. In Shanghai City, so many people were desperate to get into the Elite Class, yet she didn¡¯t want to stay. Teacher Xu understood: ¡°Changing classes might be good, she could keep up with the study pace, and the pressure wouldn¡¯t be too great.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly my point,¡± the principal nodded, ¡°so I was thinking of having Classmate Ying join the International Class.¡± He certainly didn¡¯t dare to put Elder Zhong¡¯s granddaughter in a regular class¡ªthe Old Master would rampage uncontrollably. Even though the International Class was entirely English-taught, the academic rigor was less than that of the Elite Class, focusing more on practical skills. The students in the International Class were also from Shanghai City¡¯s wealthy families, geniuses planning to study abroad. He had heard from Teacher Deng that the child was very good at English, especially spoken English. Upon hearing this, He Xun, who was sitting to the side, finally understood why the principal had summoned him. With no particular expression, he lifted his head, and his eyes beneath the gold-rimmed glasses were steeped in an indifferent coolness, ¡°If she transfers here, fine, I¡¯ll resign.¡± The principal was taken aback: ¡°Teacher He, you mean¡­¡± He Xun had graduated from the world¡¯s number-one Norton University. At just twenty-five years old, he had obtained his professorship qualification. He taught all the courses to the second-year International Class. Verdant Middle School had gone to great lengths to recruit He Xun to lead the International Class, aiming to have students from Verdant qualify for Norton University. A professor who graduated from Norton University, versus a student who was subpar in every aspect ¨C the choice was obvious, wasn¡¯t it? Chapter 40 Editor: Henyee Translations Miss Deng frowned. Even if he had objections, how could he say that in front of the child? Encouragement helped people grow. Miss Deng shook her head. Then, she lowered her voice and explained to the girl beside her, ¡°Mr. He graduated from Norton University. He¡¯s still young, so he¡¯s quite blunt. Don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± However, Ying Zijin wasn¡¯t listening to him to begin with. However, when she heard the words Norton University, she finally gave He Xun a look and frowned slightly. She lowered her head and took out her phone to search for Norton University. Then, she clicked on the English official website. The official website was very simple and was no different from that of other universities. It was nothing more than campus news, faculty settings, recruitment and employment, and some photos. Nothing had changed from before. Even the century-old buildings from the Middle Ages had been preserved. Ying Zijin fell into deep thought. With that lunatic¡¯s personality, would he really turn Norton University into a normal school? But no matter what, Norton University was now the number one university in the world. Over the years, only a few dozen people from the country had successfully entered Norton University. After graduation, they all became top figures in various fields. Since He Xun was unwilling, there was nothing they could do about it. His academic qualifications were outstanding, and he had the qualifications to make Qingzhi give in. If he really resigned, it would be Qingzhi¡¯s loss. The principal hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Miss Ying, look¡­¡± ¡°Principal, you don¡¯t have to be troubled.¡± Ying Zijin stood up and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to the international class.¡± Hearing this, He Xun frowned and his heart skipped a beat. He had an uncomfortable feeling. It seemed like he was being too self-important. The principal heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Alright, Miss Ying, which class are you going to?¡± Ying Zijin yawned and said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m going to Class 19.¡± ¡°Class 19?¡± The principal was stunned. After a while, he finally remembered that there was such a class in Year Two. But Class 19 was really¡­ He felt exasperated again. He Xun¡¯s expression turned cold again. If she chose to go to Class 19, she would basically be choosing self-destruction. The principal had no choice but to agree. ¡°Then you can go to Class 19.¡± He took out the school records that he had prepared long ago and called the form teacher of Class 19 to discuss this matter. It wasn¡¯t a secret to begin with, and it was related to Class 19, so soon, relevant posts appeared on Qingzhi¡¯s school forum. [Title: Report¡ªThe adopted daughter of the Ying family is coming to Class 19!] [Content: The OP has just received news that the adopted daughter who relied on family connections to enter the elite class has beaten someone. Now that both the elite class and the international class don¡¯t want her, she can only transfer to Class 19. Students of Class 19, I¡¯d like to offer my condolences.] In less than a minute, there were more than a hundred replies to the short post. [1st comment: What, what, what?] [2nd comment: What the f*ck? She¡¯s coming to Class 19? Should I say that she¡¯s too bold or too oblivious?] [3rd comment: In that case, she¡¯s screwed. Brother Ran definitely won¡¯t let her in.] [4th floor: Melon seeds and cola drinks are being sold in the front row. 50 yuan a pack of spicy sticks.] [5th comment: Not to mention Brother Ran, even Sister Yu won¡¯t let her in.] ¡­ [108th comment: Wow, Class 19 is so pitiful. I don¡¯t have a good impression of the adopted daughter of the Ying family. If not for her, how could Goddess Ying become so angry that she went overseas?] [109th comment: I¡¯m waiting for Brother Ran and Sister Yu to chase the adopted daughter of the Ying family out.] ¡­ [470th comment: Thank you for the invitation. I¡¯m in the elite class. This burden has finally been kicked out.] The elite class was celebrating, as if it was the holidays. They didn¡¯t even study during class and started to reply to posts instead. Zhong Zhiwan turned off her phone and started memorizing her textbook. She waited for Ying Zijin to leave Class 19 dejectedly. ** Year Two, Class 19. A few punks gathered in front of the podium as they browsed the forum on their computers. The more they read, the darker their expressions became. ¡°F*ck, what is the principal thinking? Can just anyone enter Class 19?¡± Class 19 of the sophomore year had a nickname called the ¡°Unspeakable Class¡±. Because there were students with all kinds of problems in this class, the teachers couldn¡¯t care less, and their parents didn¡¯t have time to care either. Not only that, but Qingzhi¡¯s school bullies were also there. Who could afford to offend them? When the students from the other classes saw the people from Class 19, they would take a detour, since they didn¡¯t want to get into trouble. There was actually someone who took the initiative to come to Class 19? A girl walked up and kicked them as she said, ¡°Keep your voices down. Don¡¯t wake Brother Ran up.¡± The few of them quickly stopped talking and subconsciously looked to their left. The sun was shining brightly outside the window, but that person was sleeping on the table. His entire head was buried in his school uniform, so his face couldn¡¯t be seen clearly. The short sleeves of the school uniform outlined the smooth and perfect muscles that only young people had. The class instantly fell silent, but it was too late. The man stirred and lifted his head from the table. The loose strands of hair on his forehead hid his beautiful eyes. He looked very impatient. The other students all moved a little further away in fear. A lackey stepped forward with a bitter expression as he stammered, ¡°Brother, Brother Ran, someone wants to transfer to our class. It¡¯s that¡­¡± Jiang Ran didn¡¯t even finish listening before he said in a hoarse and irritable voice, ¡°Who cares who he is? Tell him to scram back to where he came from.¡± His lackeys cheered when they heard his words. ¡°Brother Ran is so decisive!¡± ¡°Brother Ran, give her a show of strength later and scare her into tears!¡± The lackeys scrambled to get stools and water and helped Jiang Ran sit down at the classroom door. At this moment, footsteps sounded in the corridor. After Jiang Ran took a sip of water, he narrowed his eyes and looked over with his classmates. The girl was wearing a blue and white school uniform with a school bag hanging on her right shoulder. As if sensing something, she turned her head and looked over. Even from a distance, her beauty still shocked them. Jiang Ran tightened his grip on the mineral water bottle in his hand as his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. The lackeys around him fell silent for a moment. A few seconds later¡ª ¡°F*ck, what kind of gorgeous appearance is this? Is she real?¡± ¡°Shut your mouth. So what if she¡¯s good-looking? She can¡¯t come even if she¡¯s good-looking.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯re not people who judge people based on looks, Brother Ran. But you¡­ you should try to be gentler later.¡± Jiang Ran sneered. ¡°Scram.¡± The lackeys shut up. To think about it, it made sense. Other than Sister Yu, Brother Ran had never pretended to be nice to anyone of the opposite gender, let alone show mercy to a woman. Jiang Ran stood up and threw away the mineral water bottle in his hand before walking forward calmly. At the same time, Ying Zijin came closer and stopped. Wanting to see how this adopted daughter of the Ying family would be forced to scram later, the lackeys watched intently. Then, they heard Qingzhi¡¯s top dog speak. ¡°You want to enter Class 19? Sure.¡± Jiang Ran put his hands in his pockets as he said to the girl, ¡°If you beat me, I¡¯ll let you in.¡± ¡°Otherwise, go back to your elite class.¡± The lackeys immediately revealed looks of admiration. As expected of Brother Ran. He could even get violent with such a beautiful girl. No wonder he had been a bachelor for so many years. Girls had always been timid, so she would definitely be scared away. Unexpectedly, when the girl heard this, she put down her bag. She slowly rolled up her sleeves to the middle of her forearm and took a step back, leaving enough space. The lackeys were stunned. Jiang Ran slowly raised his head. Ying Zijin narrowed her almond-shaped eyes and said aloofly, ¡°Sure, you can go first.¡± Chapter 41 ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Ran began to doubt his hearing for the first time. His followers even uttered a ¡°holy shit.¡± Did this girl really want to fight with Brother Ran? Didn¡¯t they know that Brother Ran even took first place in the citywide Taekwondo competition last year? ¡°No way, transfer student¡ª¡± Jiang Ran licked his lips, ¡°Are you serious?¡± Ying Zijin yawned, ¡°Mhm, after the fight, I want to sleep.¡± His followers were silenced for the second time. ¡°This seems like a provocation to Brother Ran, right?¡± ¡°Be confident, remove the seems.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Jiang Ran laughed and tossed his school jacket to a follower, ¡°I¡¯ll fight you, but don¡¯t cry later.¡± ** Three minutes later. Jiang Ran lay on the ground, staring expressionlessly at the ceiling, suffering the first huge blow of his smooth-sailing life. Next to him, Ying Zijin picked up her backpack from the ground, stepped over him, and walked inside. No one dared to block her. His followers watched as the girl walked to an empty seat unhurriedly, took out a pillow from her backpack, plopped it down on the desk, and crashed, covering herself with a blanket. ¡°¡­¡± She came prepared with all the gear. ¡°Does this count as Brother Ran failing to kick someone out?¡± ¡°Did you see her moves just now? I bet she wasn¡¯t even trying hard.¡± ¡°To be honest, it was kind of cool.¡± If they hadn¡¯t seen it with their own eyes, who would believe that Jiang Ran had been beaten by a girl? ¡°It¡¯s okay, Brother Ran.¡± His followers consoled, ¡°If you can¡¯t handle it, there¡¯s still Sister Yu. I¡¯m calling her now, she¡¯ll come back and surely kick her out.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Ran, what you can¡¯t do, Sister Yu can.¡± Jiang Ran gritted his teeth: ¡°Scram!¡± His followers scampered off swiftly. One of them was on his phone in a rush, ¡°Sister Yu, you have to come back, something terrible has happened¡­¡± ** Ying Zijin slept straight through to the middle of the day. The classroom was deserted, everyone had left, and the principal had specially canceled a class for Class 19 today, fearing even the teachers might become collateral damage. She rubbed her head, turned on her phone, and saw a message that had come in five minutes earlier on the lock screen. [Kid, come out for lunch, Big Brother is waiting for you at the school gate.] She was silent for a second, grabbed her coat, and walked out. The school gate was bustling with people. There are many street food stalls around Verdant, and at this time, students were buying lunch. Only the offspring of wealthy families from Shanghai City would have someone deliver meals to them. The man was standing in front of the school monument, leaning against a tree. He was tilting his head, engrossed in his phone. Although he looked lazy and indifferent, he attracted many passersby to pause and linger. A woman approached him seductively, ¡°Hello.¡± Fu Yunshen glanced up, the faint smile in his eyes instantly vanishing. The woman tucked her hair behind her ear, demurely saying, ¡°Could I have your WeChat details?¡± ¡°Hmm, I have a kid at home that needs taking care of, if you don¡¯t mind being a stepmom¡ª¡± Fu Yunshen was amused, ¡°Then, sure.¡± The woman¡¯s face turned green, and she turned on her heel and left, cursing ¡°Psycho!¡± Fu Yunshen put away his phone, turned his head, and saw the girl buying a candied haw, eating as she walked towards him. Docile and soft. He suddenly smiled and waved his hand, ¡°Yaoyao, over here.¡± Ying Zijin had already seen him. She approached and handed him another stick of candied haw she was holding. Fu Yunshen hesitated, ¡°You eat it, I don¡¯t like sweets.¡± The hand promptly retracted, as if just being polite for a moment. ¡°¡­¡± Fu Yunshen raised his eyebrow, ¡°Eating so much, aren¡¯t you afraid of gaining weight?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ying Zijin chewed on the hawthorn slowly, ¡°I run ten kilometers every day.¡± Though responsible for taking care of the elderly, she couldn¡¯t let her physical fitness fall behind. Fu Yunshen casually looked up, ¡°How¡¯s the new class?¡± ¡°Pretty fun.¡± A bunch of silly kids full of joy, far more relaxed than the Elite Class. The two were not extravagant, so they ate nearby the school. On the way back to school, just as Ying Zijin was pondering how to make money lying down, a voice rang out overhead, tickling her eardrums. ¡°Kid, open your mouth.¡± Ying Zijin looked up. In front of her were a man¡¯s slender and porcelain-white fingers, and a piece of candy. ¡°What should you say?¡± Ying Zijin glanced at him, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you didn¡¯t want to hear it anymore?¡± ¡°Hmm? I don¡¯t want to hear you say thanks, but I¡¯d like to hear our Yaoyao say¡ª¡± His peach-blossom eyes curved up, ¡°Thank you, brother.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t eat it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Fu Yunshen began to tear open the candy wrapper, ¡°I was just joking with you, it¡¯s specially for you, go on, eat it.¡± The candy looked quite ordinary, even the wrapping paper had no brand on it. After the candy was in her mouth, Ying Zijin felt the hidden injuries in her body begin to relax. It was probably more than just candy. Her eyelashes fluttered faintly. No wonder she couldn¡¯t calculate his deeper intentions. ¡°I¡¯ll drop you off here,¡± Fu Yunshen stopped, ¡°Go back now.¡± As he turned around, four words drifted to his ears. Fu Yunshen paused, looked back, but the girl had already entered the school gates. After a moment, he chuckled softly, his eyes carelessly amused. The kid¡¯s lips say one thing while her heart thinks another. ** At three-thirty in the afternoon, Class 19 finally came back to life because the Boss Lady of Verdant had finally returned. The Boss Lady was dressed in a black leather jacket, helmet in hand. Fierce red lips, imposing and striking. She looked like a gangster sister through and through. ¡°Sister Yu, that¡¯s her,¡± a lackey pointed at a table, ¡°Total troublemaker.¡± The gangster sister looked over, her eyes lighting up, ¡°Fuck, she¡¯s so beautiful?¡± The lackey¡¯s mouth twitched, reminding her, ¡°Sister Yu.¡± ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± The gangster sister straightened up, reverting to her cool demeanor, ¡°Just wait.¡± Ying Zijin, resting with her eyes closed, suddenly felt a kick at the table. She opened her eyes, gazing hazily over. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know, no one in Class 19 welcomes you.¡± Sister Yu slammed her palm onto the table, ¡°Smarten up and leave. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you when it gets rough.¡± ¡°Yeah, scram,¡± the lackeys behind her added fiercely, ¡°Ever heard of Sister Yu? Xiu Yu, she¡¯s not someone you can mess with!¡± Now she should be scared, right? Shouldn¡¯t she be running off? But the girl leaning on her hand looked at her, and after a few seconds, as if struck by a thought, she asked, ¡°Your eyeshadow is really nicely done, could you teach me?¡± Xiu Yu, who was about to continue her tough talk, ¡°?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Then, ten minutes later, seeing Xiu Yu enthusiastically discussing makeup with Ying Zijin, the class was somewhat despondent. ¡°Not only did Brother Ran fail, Sister Yu too got played.¡± ¡°She¡¯s toxic for sure, she¡¯s got both Jiang Ran and Sister Yu wrapped around her finger.¡± ¡°No helping it, Sister Yu is a sucker for beauty, after all.¡± Everyone gave up struggling and could only accept the fact. But they found¡­ perhaps accepting it wasn¡¯t too bad? ¡°Since both Brother Ran and Sister Yu lost to her, she¡¯s the Boss of our class now. What should we call her?¡± ¡°What¡¯s higher than a sister or brother?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s Daddy. Let¡¯s call her Daddy Ying.¡± Everyone agreed instantly, their faces beaming with excitement. ¡°We can¡¯t welcome Daddy Ying to our class without making a statement. We need to throw a welcome party and even livestream it on the forum!¡± ¡°Quick, quick, quick, start a thread.¡± The lackeys quickly made a post, shooting it instantly to the front page of the forum. When Zhong Zhiwan saw the post, she wanted to smash her phone. She had waited all day, only to see such an outcome. She thought Class 19 had gone mad, Jiang Ran and Xiu Yu were utterly useless. Zhong Zhiwan¡¯s eyelashes dropped as she stood up to make a phone call. ¡°Auntie, there are some things I don¡¯t want to mention, but this is having a bad influence.¡± ¡°Cousin¡­ she beat up Jiang Ran.¡± Zhong Zhiwan paused, leaving the statement there, ¡°And that Jiang Ran is¡­ going to be troublesome.¡± Chapter 42 Class 19 is universally recognized as the dumping ground for rejects, looked down upon not only by the Elite and International Classes but also by the regular classes. Zhong Zhiwan knew that Xiu Yu was nothing more than a bad girl who hung around nightclubs and racetracks, but she was clear on the fact that Jiang Ran was no simple character. This was something she had heard by chance from Old Master Zhong¡ª Jiang Ran had ties with a major clan in the capital. Even if it wasn¡¯t on the level of the Mu family, it wasn¡¯t a force that the four major noble families of Shanghai City could afford to offend. And now, with Ying Zijin having hit Jiang Ran, what would the consequences be, did she even need to think about it? Zhong Zhiwan twirled the headphone cord around her finger, ¡°Auntie, at noon, I saw Jiang Ran leaving the school on a motorcycle. He didn¡¯t go back to¡­¡± ¡°Auntie knows,¡± Zhong Manhua replied, restraining her shock and anger. ¡°You¡¯ve really troubled yourself, Wanwan.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Auntie,¡± Zhong Zhiwan said. ¡°Grandpa asked me to look after my cousin at school, so I can¡¯t go against his wishes.¡± She casually added, ¡°But Auntie, I think it¡¯s better not to let Grandpa know about this. Family affairs are already troubling enough for him.¡± Zhong Manhua felt the same, ¡°You¡¯re so thoughtful, Wanwan. You focus on your studies, and Auntie will handle this.¡± She hung up the phone, chest heaving violently, hardly able to contain her fury. School had only just started, and Ying Zijin had already caused her a string of troubles. Moving classes on her own initiative was one thing, but now she¡¯s even hitting people? And the person she hit was Jiang Ran? The butler had heard too, surprised, ¡°Madam, is Jiang Ran from the capital¡­¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Zhong Manhua replied, utterly annoyed. ¡°His identity was deliberately hidden by that side, even I only knew he took his mother¡¯s surname.¡± Jiang Ran¡¯s mother was from the Jiang family of Shanghai City. Thinking it over, Jiang Ran should also call Jiang Moyuan uncle. After a moment¡¯s consideration, the butler said, ¡°Madam, with Second Miss having hit Master Jiang Ran, leaving aside the capital, the Jiang family won¡¯t let it go either.¡± If this wasn¡¯t handled properly, the Ying family¡¯s shares were bound to be shaken, costing them hundreds of millions in losses. ¡°I knew it would be me cleaning up her mess,¡± Zhong Manhua sneered. ¡°Go issue a check first. I¡¯ll take her to the Jiang family to apologize myself.¡± The butler understood, ¡°How much does Madam think is appropriate?¡± ¡°Five million will do, and also bring along that jade stone Old Master bought at the auction the other day.¡± As Zhong Manhua thought about spending so much to apologize to the Jiang family on behalf of Ying Zijin, the guilt that had reluctantly risen in her heart dissipated once again. The butler nodded and went off to make the arrangements. ** Elsewhere. Xiu Yu was still happily imparting makeup tips to Ying Zijin, sitting cross-legged on a table: ¡°Let me recommend some makeup products for the average person.¡± Ying Zijin listened earnestly, specifically taking out a notebook to take notes. Midway through, Xiu Yu suddenly stopped, ¡°You haven¡¯t come into contact with any of this before, have you?¡± Ying Zijin hummed in acknowledgment. Used to a life of luxury, Xiu Yu felt a bit sorry for the beautiful girl she thought was living such a miserable life. ¡°No worries, I¡¯ve got your back from now on.¡± She put her arm around the girl¡¯s shoulder, generous and forthright. ¡°Just drop my name, Xiu Yu, at school, and nobody will dare to bully you.¡± Ying Zijin was taken aback. After a moment, she lowered her eyes and chuckled lightly, ¡°That reminds me of someone.¡± Xiu Yu was curious, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°My best friend,¡± Ying Zijin said indifferently. ¡°She used to say that too.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xiu Yu didn¡¯t press on, ¡°Have you had martial arts training?¡± Ying Zijin tore open a yogurt pouch, ¡°Sort of.¡± She had also spent some time in Hua Country, when ancient martial arts were just becoming popular. She seemed to recall having taken on a few disciples. Because ancient martial artists had their bodily functions developed to the limits of human capability, they tended to live much longer than average people. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Xiu Yu was delighted. ¡°Then one day we should spar a bit too.¡± Ying Zijin hesitated for a moment. She was actually quite afraid her hands wouldn¡¯t hold back, and she¡¯d end up crippling someone. ¡°Daddy Ying!¡± Just then, a runner hurried in. ¡°Daddy Ying, the head of the Moral Education Office is asking for you.¡± After finishing her yogurt, Ying Zijin stood up, ¡°Thank you, I know.¡± The runner was flattered, scratching his head and chuckling, ¡°Daddy Ying, no need for thanks. Once you¡¯re in Class 19, you¡¯re family.¡± ¡°The head of the Moral Education Office?¡± Xiu Yu frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t go. The principal doesn¡¯t have a handle on Class 19 anyway.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go and see,¡± Ying Zijin said, unconcerned. ¡°Better than letting the troubles pile up.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Xiu Yu stood up as well. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you to take a look, but what¡¯s with this ¡®Daddy Ying¡¯ thing?¡± The last question was directed at the runner. ¡°You don¡¯t understand, Sister Yu,¡± the runner said. ¡°You and Brother Ran have stepped back into the second generation. Daddy Ying is the first generation; naturally, he¡¯s ¡®Daddy¡¯.¡± Xiu Yu, having no comeback, kicked him playfully and laughed scoldingly, ¡°Get going, check on whether your Brother Ran is still able to get up.¡± ** Moral Education Office. ¡°Madam Ying, I¡¯ve already sent a student to fetch her,¡± the head of the Moral Education Office said. ¡°She should be here shortly, please take a seat and have some tea.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Zhong Manhua said, with no leisure for calm. ¡°Wanwan, has Jiang Ran not returned to school yet?¡± ¡°Auntie doesn¡¯t need to worry so much,¡± Zhong Zhiwan said with a light smile. ¡°Jiang Ran has always had a disregard for rules, he often runs out anyway.¡± Zhong Manhua pursed her lips, growing more irritated. How could she not be worried? What if the Jiang family did not accept the apology? They waited a full fifteen minutes before the door was finally pushed open. The girl entered, dressed in a neat school uniform, her hair in a high ponytail. This well-behaved student look pleased the head of the Moral Education Office: ¡°Miss Ying Zijin, your family is here to speak with you.¡± As soon as the words were out, Zhong Manhua stood up with a cold and stern expression. Chapter 43 She raised her hand and delivered a strong slap. The slap carried wind, obviously with great force. The head of moral education was completely unprepared, startled, he said, ¡°Madam Ying, let¡¯s talk this over; don¡¯t hit the child.¡± Zhong Manhua was used to acting on her own and certainly didn¡¯t listen. ¡°Smack.¡± The slap fell, and it hurt just to listen. But the person who got slapped wasn¡¯t Ying Zijin. Zhong Manhua, looking at Zhong Zhiwan who received her slap, was confused, ¡°Wanwan?¡± Ying Zijin casually let go of Zhong Zhiwan¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Sorry, my hand slipped.¡± Zhong Manhua¡¯s slap had not held back, and Zhong Zhiwan was utterly stunned by it. Her tears came out readily, and her ears buzzed with the sound. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Xiu Yu couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°Is she really your mom?¡± ¡°No,¡± Ying Zijin laughed in a low voice, not caring in the least, ¡°Adoptive.¡± ¡°Wanwan¡­¡± Zhong Manhua became slightly flustered, ¡°Auntie didn¡¯t mean it. I apologize to you.¡± ¡°No, no problem,¡± Zhong Zhiwan said, struggling to speak; as soon as she opened her mouth, she cried even more. She couldn¡¯t hold back and, covering her face, ran off. ¡°You dare to hide?¡± Zhong Manhua instantly became furious, ¡°You run away, fine, but you dare to use Zhiwan to block? Is this how I taught you?¡± ¡°Listen Auntie, you really are quite the comedian,¡± Xiu Yu stepped forward, blocking the girl, and scoffed, ¡°You didn¡¯t birth nor raise her, what right do you have to talk about discipline?¡± ¡°Even a dog knows to jump in the water to save its puppies, yet you come up here hitting people. You really are worse than a dog.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Zhong Manhua started to retort but then stopped herself. Correct. To outsiders, Ying Zijin was just a foster daughter. If word got out that her biological daughter was so poor in performance, she would lose all face. ¡°It¡¯s only natural for a parent to discipline their child,¡± Zhong Manhua sneered, ¡°And what are you, to think you¡¯re qualified to meddle in Ying Family¡¯s affairs?¡± ¡°Bang!¡± As soon as she finished speaking, a water bottle flew past Zhong Manhua¡¯s face, startling her to the point of collapsing onto the sofa. Xiu Yu was taken aback. Was she being protected by her father? Ying Zijin looked up, her expression unreadable, ¡°Watch your mouth.¡± Zhong Manhua simply couldn¡¯t believe that Ying Zijin dared to raise a hand against her. Anger, sadness, and injustice surged through her at once, and with teary eyes, she said, ¡°Who am I doing all this for? Isn¡¯t it for you? Do you have any idea how much Ying Family has to pay because you hit someone?¡± Only then did Xiu Yu realize why Zhong Manhua was there, and he couldn¡¯t help but laugh with irritation. ¡°So,¡± she tossed her phone to the head of moral education, ¡°now let¡¯s just call Jiang Ran¡¯s parents and see if he really wants Daddy Ying to apologize to him.¡± Regaining his composure, the head of moral education quickly picked up the phone, which already had a number dialed through. He looked momentarily shaken, too quick to wonder how Xiu Yu got Jiang Ran¡¯s parents¡¯ number, and hurriedly answered, ¡°Hello, good evening¡­¡± ** Jiang Ran returned to his own studio apartment. With a Band-Aid on his face and looking upset, he kicked open the door. As soon as he entered, he was met with a ghastly pale face, eyes shining brightly, like a ghost. Jiang Ran almost died of fright, but upon closer inspection, he was stunned, ¡°Mom?¡± The ¡®ghost¡¯ was Lady Jiang, Jiang Huaping, with a facial mask on, who now gave him an imploring glance, ¡°How many times have I said it? I¡¯m still young, call me ¡®sister.¡¯¡± Jiang Ran, ¡°¡­Mom, can you not be so frightening?¡± He had suffered serious physical and mental damage today, and now his mother was the icing on the cake. Lady Jiang was rather aloof, ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Ran gave up, prepared to go to sleep and forget the day¡¯s humiliations. Before he could move, Jiang Huaping spoke, ¡°Got hit?¡± Jiang Ran tensed up instantly, ¡°Mom, how did you know?¡± ¡°The call came for me,¡± Jiang Huaping waved her mobile phone, ¡°Sigh, you really love to interrupt your mom¡¯s good times.¡± After a pause, she seemed thoughtful, ¡°They said on the phone it was a girl who hit you?¡± ¡°¡­Yes,¡± Jiang Ran really didn¡¯t want to admit it, loathing the person who had told his mother. Jiang Huaping clapped her hands in joy, ¡°Good for her.¡± Jiang Ran, ¡°???¡± His own mother? ¡°I had been hoping someone would straighten out this brat,¡± Jiang Huaping removed her face mask, ¡°It seems my wish has finally come true.¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Jiang Ran was infuriated, ¡°Can you please keep it down?¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, what else can I say, you are just too weak,¡± Jiang Huaping stood up, ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± Jiang Ran was puzzled, ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°School,¡± Lady Jiang elegantly picked up her handbag, ¡°I¡¯m going to thank the young lady for helping me discipline my son.¡± ** ¡°Madam Ying, Lady Jiang will be arriving very soon,¡± the head of moral education had no fondness for Zhong Manhua, ¡°Please discuss the issue amicably with each other.¡± He really hadn¡¯t seen such parents before; although he was called the Exterminator Mentor because he dealt with early romances, who had ever seen parents jump to hitting? ¡°What¡¯s there to talk about?¡± snapped Zhong Manhua, not wanting to make a scene, as she reached out to grab the girl¡¯s hand, ¡°Ying Zijin, come with me to the Jiang¡¯s to apologize.¡± Xiu immediately pulled out a realistic-looking mace from behind, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhong Manhua was shocked. The head of moral education, ¡°???¡± To bring such a thing to school? Had they no regard for him? Just as Zhong Manhua was about to explode in anger, the housekeeper, who had been waiting outside the office, suddenly pushed the door open with urgency, ¡°Madam, Lady Jiang has arrived.¡± ¡°Ying Zijin, the mess you¡¯ve created, forcing someone to personally come and seek accountability, isn¡¯t it shameful enough?¡± Zhong Manhua, her face darkening with anger and humiliation, demanded, ¡°Get up and apologize immediately!¡± As the door opened, a woman in a cheongsam entered. Zhong Manhua hurried to her feet, filled with shame, ¡°Hello, I didn¡¯t discipline my child properly, please¡­¡± Jiang Huaping walked right past her without even glancing at Zhong Manhua. She went straight to the girl, took her hand, and said, ¡°Ying Zijin, right? Thank you so much. I hope you beat him more in the future, to teach him that the world is a cruel place.¡± Chapter 44 Following behind, Jiang Ran: ¡°¡­¡± Shit, is he seriously his own flesh and blood? Only now did Jiang Huaping realize that the young girl was astonishingly beautiful, and she couldn¡¯t help but pinch her fair and delicate face: ¡°Oh dear, auntie got too excited, I didn¡¯t scare you, did I?¡± Ying Zijin shook her head slightly and politely greeted her. Xiu Yu put away the faux wolf-tooth club, equally surprised: ¡°Sister Huaping, why did you come in person?¡± ¡°I just happened to come back.¡± Jiang Huaping was overjoyed, ¡°Xiao Yu is really good.¡± Jiang Ran: ¡°¡­¡± At last, he understood why his mom always made him call her sister; it turned out she was spoiled rotten. Jiang Ran¡¯s expression grew even sulkier, his whole body radiating a ¡°Daddy¡¯s not happy¡± vibe. The moral education director looked completely baffled. But Zhong Manhua stood frozen on the spot, her face flushing with embarrassment, her lips trembling. She felt an unprecedented awkwardness, as if all the blood in her body was flowing in reverse, with thorns pressing against her back. The Jiang Family¡­ wasn¡¯t here to hold them accountable? They were here to express gratitude? It was then that Jiang Huaping turned her head: ¡°Madam Ying, right, what did you want to talk to me about?¡± Zhong Manhua naturally knew Jiang Huaping. Jiang Huaping was her contemporary, Jiang Moyuan¡¯s second sister, but she left for the capital when she was five. After getting married, she left all the Shanghai City socialites far behind. Zhong Manhua had always been intolerant of others causing her embarrassment, of being slapped in the face. But this woman was Jiang Huaping; she didn¡¯t even have the right to be angry. ¡°It¡¯s not really anything.¡± Zhong Manhua took a deep breath, managing a smile, ¡°I just heard that the kids fought at school, causing you an extra trip, how embarrassing.¡± ¡°Wow, lady, your face changes really quick.¡± Xiu Yu was astonished, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just insist on forcing Daddy Ying to apologize to the Jiang Family, even resorting to hitting someone, and now it¡¯s suddenly not a big deal?¡± Zhong Manhua¡¯s face turned bright red, her eyes fierce: ¡°Adults are talking, why is a child butting in?!¡± Jiang Huaping¡¯s smile faded, her expression cooling: ¡°Madam Ying, didn¡¯t you know it was because my son blocked this young girl from entering her class today that he got hit?¡± ¡°This matter, after all, was my son¡¯s fault. The fight was also his idea, so why should your daughter apologize?¡± It sounded like a question, but it was more like sarcasm. Zhong Manhua¡¯s expression stiffened, her momentum instantly weakening, her shame: ¡°Zijin, why didn¡¯t you tell mommy earlier?¡± Ying Zijin lifted her eyes, her expression indifferent: ¡°Nonsense.¡± After thanking Jiang Huaping, she pushed the door open and left. ¡°Daddy Ying means that talking to you any further would simply be a waste of words,¡± Xiu Yu huffed, ¡°Sister Huaping, let¡¯s go.¡± Jiang Huaping waved cheerfully, then spoke mildly: ¡°Madam Ying, even though an adoptive child might not be as dear, there¡¯s no need to treat her like an enemy, right?¡± Zhong Manhua¡¯s face burned with pain: ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡± Jiang Ran finally realized what was happening and sneered, ¡°Who needs to apologize now? Are you sick? Mind your own business.¡± He, a grown man, was certainly not a sore loser. Humiliated by such a younger person, Zhong Manhua¡¯s face reddened even further as she hurriedly left. Jiang Ran was annoyed: ¡°Mom, you still haven¡¯t said how you got back.¡± ¡°The Meng Family has developed a new medicine; mom brought you a share,¡± Jiang Huaping patted his shoulder, ¡°The capital is too chaotic right now, you¡¯d better stay in Shanghai City.¡± Jiang Ran replied absentmindedly, his mind was elsewhere. It seems this transfer student¡¯s life was quite miserable. Tsk, in that case, he¡¯d be nicer to her considering her fluke victory over him. ** At six o¡¯clock, outside the school gate. Nie Chao was dozing off in the back seat. He only woke up when the car door opened and saw the girl sitting in the passenger seat: ¡°Little sister came, huh.¡± Ying Zijin turned around, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Are you healed?¡± ¡°Boss, you¡¯re just too awesome,¡± Nie Chao said excitedly. ¡°Are you really a fortune-teller? Can you tell me when I¡¯ll find true love?¡± ¡°Nie Chao.¡± A lazy voice came from ahead, casual but with an undertone of warning. ¡°The Seventh Young Master, I¡¯m just asking,¡± Nie Chao scratched his head. ¡°It¡¯s just out of curiosity.¡± ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t,¡± Ying Zijin leaned against the window, resting her head on her hand, her expression distant. ¡°Just kidding, just to scare you.¡± Nie Chao: ¡°¡­¡± It must have been just a coincidence. But why wasn¡¯t she that gentle with him? Fu Yunshen gave Ying Zijin a bag of chocolate beans before starting the car. Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of Shao Ren Hospital. ¡°You don¡¯t have to wait for me,¡± Ying Zijin got out of the car, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. ¡°You go on with your work; I can make my own way back.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Fu Yunshen didn¡¯t say much else. He raised his hand and ruffled her hair. ¡°Be careful, and call me if you need anything.¡± Ying Zijin didn¡¯t mind; she straightened her hair and nodded before turning to walk towards the hospital entrance. Mu Heqing had recommended this Shao Ren Hospital to her, a pure Chinese medicine hospital with a history of twenty years, almost as well-known as the First Hospital. But with the rise of Western medicine in recent years, fewer and fewer people were coming to see Chinese medicine practitioners. Ying Zijin glanced at the various large consultation rooms in the hospital and did some quick calculations. With a plan in mind, she headed straight for the office of the head of internal medicine and knocked on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± The voice carried the authority of someone accustomed to high office. The door opened, and the head of internal medicine looked up, immediately frowning. He had received a notification that an expert parachuted in would arrive around this time. He already despised the act of using connections to get ahead, and to his surprise, it was just a little girl? He doubted she could even differentiate between Angelica and Notopterygium, yet she had the cheek to bear the title of an expert and collect easy money. The head of internal medicine snorted with derision, not even bothering to put on a polite expression. He took out a file bag and tossed it on the table: ¡°This is yours, take it.¡± Ying Zijin opened it and casually flipped through it quickly, memorizing everything, then tossed it back. Seeing this, the head of internal medicine was even more disgusted. He was about to say ¡°Leave if there¡¯s nothing else,¡± when the closed door was suddenly barged open. A nurse ran in, out of breath and anxious. ¡°Head of Department, patient number 17 has gone into deep shock!¡± The head of internal medicine¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡± He couldn¡¯t care less about Mu Cheng¡¯s instructions and left the girl behind in a hurry. Ying Zijin¡¯s eyes flickered slightly as she followed calmly. In the ward ahead. The patient was covered in needles at each acupoint, yet his breathing was nearly gone. The doctors were at a loss. ¡°What do we do now, Head of Department?¡± ¡°Notify the family first,¡± the head of internal medicine gradually regained his composure. ¡°The patient managing to hold on till now is already a miracle. It¡¯s not surprising if we can¡¯t save him.¡± However, as if to contradict him, three words rang out in the ward. ¡°He can be saved.¡± The doctors turned around, all stunned. The head of internal medicine was already tense, and seeing someone adding to the chaos, his anger surged. ¡°Save him? Fine, how do you propose we do that?¡± Ying Zijin glanced only once and replied indifferently, ¡°Golden Needle Crossing Points.¡± ¡°Golden Needle Crossing Points?¡± Upon hearing this, the head of internal medicine almost laughed out of anger. ¡°What do you know about Golden Needle Crossing Points?¡± This acupuncture technique was recorded in ancient books, dating back over two hundred years and had become the stuff of legends. Who could possibly know it? Chapter 46 ¡°` ¡°¡­¡± The class fell silent again. Xiu Yu almost cut his own eyebrow, steadied himself, and said, ¡°Daddy Ying, you¡¯re not joking, right?¡± Their Daddy Ying, wasn¡¯t he a complete dunce at school? Ying Zijin stood up, her tone casual but serious, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Your book looks even newer than mine.¡± ¡°Just finished reading it.¡± Xiu Yu: ¡°¡­¡± True to form, Daddy Ying. While the whole class was still confused, the girl picked up her book and slowly made her way to the podium. She rolled up her uniform sleeves and reached for a piece of chalk. ¡°Let¡¯s start with genetic engineering,¡± Ying Zijin turned around and drew a circle on the blackboard, ¡°This is a circular DNA, this DNA has one to several cutting sites, which can be opened with restriction endonucleases.¡± ¡°There are generally three classes of restriction enzymes.¡± As she spoke, she wrote down the key points with chalk, ¡°The book only gives us two types, let¡¯s distinguish them now¡­¡± As they listened, the students were shocked. ¡°Damn!¡± The little brother was already stunned, ¡°Brother Ran, Daddy Ying really knows how to teach.¡± And, even though he never studied, he understood everything she said, amazing! Jiang Ran¡¯s eyebrows twitched and he sat back down. He still looked impatient, but his gaze never left the blackboard. ¡°Genetic engineering is actually about creating new types of organisms that we need. The insect-resistant cotton you are familiar with is an application of genetic engineering, and there are these as well.¡± Ying Zijin turned to the side, casually sketching. Jiang Ran got so engrossed without realizing it. When he snapped back to reality, his face darkened, and in exasperation, he threw his uniform jacket over himself and lay on the table, shutting out the world. What the hell, she¡¯s skilled at fighting, and now she can teach too? The class was silent, with only the sound of pens scratching on paper. A forty-five-minute class had never passed so quickly. After class, everyone in the class went mad, swarming around. ¡°Daddy Ying, I give up, from today on, you¡¯re my dad.¡± ¡°A dad is a dad, way better than what the Old Witch Bai teaches. She spends half the class just scolding people.¡± ¡°Please let Daddy Ying teach every biology class, as long as Daddy Ying dares to teach, I could make it into the top ten in the school for biology alone.¡± ¡°Come on, not even Daddy Ying can save your IQ, you think you can compete with those freaks in the Elite Class?¡± ¡°Um, if there¡¯s anything else you don¡¯t understand¡ª¡± Ying Zijin paused, seemed to remember something, and corrected herself, ¡°Figure it out on your own.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Xiu Yu choked with laughter, ¡°Did you hear that? Don¡¯t disturb your dad¡¯s sleep.¡± The students dispersed, their spirits high. Xiu Yu passed over some washed strawberries, ¡°Tell me the truth, is there anything you don¡¯t know?¡± Ying Zijin, leaning back in her chair, did not show any modesty, ¡°In academic terms, I know pretty much everything.¡± Xiu Yu pointed to a physics elective book, ¡°What about this?¡± Ying Zijin glanced sideways at the book¡¯s section on electric fields and laws, paused for a bit, then nodded, ¡°Want to listen?¡± ¡°No, no, no, I don¡¯t want to study,¡± Xiu Yu hastily waved his hands, then curiously added, ¡°But that¡¯s weird, Daddy Ying, with you being so capable, were the people in the Elite Class blind?¡± Ying Zijin didn¡¯t respond to that. She pressed her temples, and after a long moment, let out two words: ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± The next period was physical education, and as Xiu Yu changed his shoes, he casually asked, ¡°It¡¯s fine, what?¡± Ying Zijin shook her head and tore open a bag of chips. It¡¯s just as well that when she was learning with those scholars in O Continent, she didn¡¯t leave her name, otherwise, seeing herself in the textbooks could be embarrassingly awkward. ** Bai Shaoshi had been sitting in the office, waiting for the students from Class 19 to ask her to come back. Apart from her, who else would be willing to teach biology to Class 19? ¡°` But Bai Shaoshi waited and waited to the right, and even after class was over, she still hadn¡¯t waited for them to come, finally unable to sit still any longer. However, before she could go to the teaching building, the door was pushed open. Only then did Bai Shaoshi feel relieved, casually playing with her nails, ¡°So, you¡¯ve made a decision?¡± She knew they would give in. The person who came was the very same errand boy from before. The errand boy¡¯s face lacked the flattery Bai Shaoshi had expected, instead, he was beaming with joy, ¡°Teacher Bai, Brother Ran told me to tell you, you don¡¯t have to come anymore.¡± Bai Shaoshi¡¯s smile froze, ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to teach our class anymore,¡± the errand boy repeated, ¡°Brother Ran also told me to tell you, your lectures are shit.¡± He didn¡¯t look at Bai Shaoshi again, muttering as he walked out, ¡°Worse than Daddy Ying by a long shot, still have the nerve to pose here, pah¡­¡± Bai Shaoshi shook with rage, eyebrows slanting. She knew He Xun disliked Ying Zijin, so he had let that comment slip, but she didn¡¯t expect 19th class would rather forgo biology lessons than kick out Ying Zijin. Things really had turned upside-down, she was determined to go tattle to the principal. Bai Shaoshi took out her cellphone, ready to dial, but the call came through first. She hurriedly answered, ¡°Hello, Principal.¡± The voice on the other end was unhurried, ¡°Teacher Bai, students from class 19 came to me, saying you¡¯re unwilling to teach their biology class.¡± Bai Shaoshi¡¯s heart tightened, she quickly laughed, ¡°Principal, that¡¯s not the case, I¡¯m just feeling unwell.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve thought it over and considering the students¡¯ feelings, I¡¯ve agreed that you no longer need to teach biology to class 19, Teacher Bai, could you please go to the biology department head to hand over your duties.¡± The call ended. Bai Shaoshi stared blankly at the tabletop, her whole body jittery. Losing one class, she would lose a lot of money. Verdant, in order to retain good teachers, paid very high salaries. Especially the teachers of the 19th class, because it was difficult to manage. She had her eyes on this very reason when she volunteered to take the 19th class. Ying Zijin, that student, was incompetent in everything, only causing trouble. Without a lesson, she was really going to turn the sky upside down. Bai Shaoshi, face cold, dialed another number. ** At eleven o¡¯clock at night. First Hospital was brightly lit. Inside the operating room, a few expert physicians were flustered and busy. Nurses scurried back and forth, even the dean had personally arrived. The atmosphere was extremely grave. No one expected that Old Master Fu would suddenly fall ill tonight and pass out directly. He had longstanding illness in his body from earlier years, and with old age, problems with blood pressure and sugar had emerged. Three years ago, the doctors already advised the Fu Family to prepare mentally, yet Old Master Fu had managed to hold on for so long. It could be said to be a miracle. The members of the Fu Family all sat together, anxiously waiting. Only Fu Yunshen stood against the wall by himself. As if he didn¡¯t quite fit in. The Fu Family also didn¡¯t spare him a glance. Fu Yunshen¡¯s expression was indifferent, holding a cellphone, a voice coming through the Bluetooth earpiece in his left ear. ¡°You were already too late when you found me three years ago, with your grandfather¡¯s condition, even the Ancient medical field in Hua Country can¡¯t save him.¡± He paused, ¡°Unless, you can find that one person.¡± Hearing this, Fu Yunshen lifted his head slightly, his eyes cold and tranquil. He naturally knew who that one person was. Chapter 47 Indeed, no one could find him. Fu Yunshen¡¯s peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly, and he stepped back a bit. ¡°Look at him, what¡¯s the use of his coming back? Grandfather is lying there, life and death uncertain, and he¡¯s still making phone calls flirting with women!¡± Seeing this, the Second Young Master Fu sneered, ¡°Do they think once he¡¯s had his drink with the ladies, Grandfather will wake up?¡± No one could understand why Old Master Fu was so indulgent with such a profligate son. Wasn¡¯t every other peer of the Fu family a prodigy? Without even mentioning the eldest grandchild of the Fu family who had already entered the Circle of Nobility in the capital city, even those who were five or six years younger than Fu Yunshen and dabbled in the stock market were making tens of thousands in profits. It was only Fu Yunshen who idled away, engrossed in romance and pleasure. Old Master Fu really was blind. The Second Young Master¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t low; even at a distance, the person on the phone with Fu Yunshen could hear it. ¡°Why are you still entangled with them? It¡¯s not me saying this, but with the Fu family, do they have the nerve to criticize you?¡± If it weren¡¯t for Fu Yunshen finding him in time years ago, could Old Master Fu have held on until now? Fu Yunshen chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s not for them.¡± ¡°I know; you only have your grandfather in mind. The medicine has been sent to you, it will arrive in six hours, a three-month supply.¡± ¡°So generous this time?¡± ¡°I took on a bounty task, need to go to a no man¡¯s land; I won¡¯t be around for a while.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Fu Yunshen didn¡¯t ask further, ¡°Hanging up.¡± ¡°Your state seems a bit off lately.¡± The person hesitated, ¡°Adjust yourself well; relying on hypnotherapy isn¡¯t the solution.¡± Fu Yunshen didn¡¯t say anything, just looked out the window. The lights of the operation room were still red, blood-red like fire in the darkness. It wasn¡¯t until one in the morning that the light turned green. Several doctors moved Old Master Fu out of the operating room, bed and all, into the ICU. The Fu family crowded around, wanting to see the situation. But too many people were there; in the end, only Fu Mingcheng entered alone. It didn¡¯t take three minutes before he came out again. ¡°Your grandfather is asking for you.¡± Fu Mingcheng looked at his most disappointing son, quite annoyed, ¡°Stop standing there admiring the scenery.¡± The Second Young Master couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°Dad, at this hour, Grandfather still cares about him?¡± Why him? The others also changed their expressions. But when Old Master Fu gave the word, they couldn¡¯t say anything and could only watch as Fu Yunshen went in. Inside the ICU, Old Master Fu¡¯s spirits were surprisingly good. Seeing someone come in, he waved from the bed, ¡°Xiao Qi, come here, come here.¡± Fu Yunshen approached and bent down to tuck in the blanket corner for him, ¡°What happened today?¡± He should not have had an episode with his medication in place. ¡°The same old problem.¡± Old Master Fu was indifferent, ¡°I¡¯m used to it.¡± ¡°You better not have this kind of habit.¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s eyes lifted lightly, ¡°My heart can¡¯t take it; it doesn¡¯t handle scares well.¡± Old Master Fu feigned ignorance, ¡°A few days ago, Elder Zhong called me.¡± ¡°Your attempt at changing the subject is quite a failure.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Just woke up and you¡¯re picking on me?¡± Old Master Fu glared, ¡°Do you know what Elder Zhong said to me?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°He asked me if you¡¯re trying to woo his granddaughter away.¡± Fu Yunshen, who was checking the IV drip, was unexpectedly choked up for a moment, ¡°What?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s a good idea.¡± Old Master Fu was smug, ¡°Xiao Qi, listen to your grandfather; just go ahead and woo his granddaughter. Then to death with him, he never let me win at chess.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Fu Yunshen finally understood, he pressed his forehead, smiling helplessly, ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s not like that. Yaoyao is still just a young girl.¡± If he harbored such thoughts about a young girl, wouldn¡¯t he be a beast? ¡°Who told you to do it now? Can¡¯t you wait until she¡¯s of age?¡± Old Master Fu was disappointed, ¡°I was not even twenty when I won over your grandma, and you, you waste a handsome face.¡± ¡°Rumors will spread, nobody would believe you are my grandson.¡± Fu Yunshen lazy: ¡°My grandfather is really impressive, managed to deceive my grandmother just with his looks.¡± Old Master Fu slapped him on the head, ¡°Nonsense, your grandfather here has real talent and learning.¡± Fu Yunshen just smiled with a gentle light in his eyes. ¡°Sigh, your grandpa¡¯s getting on in years and doesn¡¯t have many desires left. I just hope to hold a great-grandchild in my arms while I¡¯m still alive,¡± Old Master Fu rambled on. ¡°Once you¡¯re settled down, your grandfather can rest easy¡­¡± He feared that one day, when he¡¯s no longer around, his grandson might go crazy. So while he was still here, he could only take more care of him. ** The news of Old Master Fu¡¯s hospitalization couldn¡¯t be kept secret for long, and within a few days, everyone in Shanghai City¡¯s wealthy circles knew about it. Old Master Zhong even made a special trip to the hospital, but upon returning, he only shook his head and said little. But everyone knew that Old Master Fu¡¯s days were probably numbered. Ying Zijin did the math and realized that the illness was indeed quite serious. Without the appropriate medicinal ingredients, the drugs she concocted weren¡¯t potent enough. They were fine for strengthening the body of an average person, but the effects on chronic illnesses were minimal. Without the ingredients, there was nothing she could do. She needed more money. Ying Zijin cast her eyes down, tapping on the table, ¡°What ways are there to make money?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xiu Yu was playing a game, ¡°You need money, Daddy Ying?¡± ¡°Quite badly.¡± ¡°How much do you need? I have some.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Ying Zijin shook her head slightly, ¡°I can earn it myself.¡± ¡°Alright, let me think¡­¡± Xiu Yu scratched his head, ¡°How about live streaming?¡± Ying Zijin raised an eyebrow, ¡°Live streaming?¡± ¡°This,¡± Xiu Yu opened an APP on his phone to show her, ¡°Now live streamers can make a lot of money. There are those who do makeup, play games, even mukbang eaters. You don¡¯t even have to show your face, singing would do.¡± Ying Zijin contemplated, ¡°I¡¯ll take a look.¡± Five minutes later, a brand-new account logged onto the Shark Live Broadcasting Platform. Xiu Yu was curious, ¡°What did you choose? If you chose makeup, I can assist you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not makeup.¡± Ying Zijin replied while taking out a stack of white paper and a pen. These two tools confused Xiu Yu. Could it be drawing? Immediately afterward, Xiu Yu saw the girl calmly select a study area, then put on her headphones and began to explain physics. Xiu Yu, ¡°???¡± Really, who watches a live stream for a physics lesson nowadays? Isn¡¯t this simply masochistic? Daddy Ying, isn¡¯t selling your face more appealing? Unable to comprehend, Xiu Yu just leaned in closer to watch. This time¡¯s teaching differed from the previous biology lesson she gave to the whole class. Ying Zijin was just writing, occasionally speaking a few sentences to her. Within minutes, Xiu Yu found she couldn¡¯t understand it at all and it was making her head swim but she tried to muster her energy, ¡°Daddy Ying, wait a moment. I¡¯ll send you a gift; that should attract some viewers.¡± Their movements didn¡¯t disturb anyone else. It was just in time for the second year of high school¡¯s self-study period, and many students from Class 19 had gone out to play basketball, leaving the classroom mostly empty. He Xun, responsible for today¡¯s duty, checked the other classes before coming to Class 19. He had never expected Class 19 to be quiet and studious and merely took a glance from the back door. The girl was sitting in the last row, casually and lazily holding her phone. Even just her back was enough to effortlessly capture someone¡¯s attention. Yet He Xun¡¯s expression remained cold. Last term, when he helped Teacher Deng substitute, he would ask her to study hard. Now, he didn¡¯t even want to waste his breath on such words. Indeed, Class 19 was a place of decline. He Xun was about to leave when his gaze swept across the scratch paper on the table, and he paused. Chapter 48 B=2W Baud This is the formula for the maximum symbol transmission rate of an ideal low-pass channel. If your major doesn¡¯t involve physics, you wouldn¡¯t understand this formula, let alone the Chinese terminology associated with it. It definitely isn¡¯t a formula that a high school student could come across. He Xun was so startled that he froze for three seconds. It wasn¡¯t until the girl, who had been looking at her phone, slowly lifted her head. Her pupils flickered; her eyebrows and eyes were faint. The slanting sunlight added a chill to the girl¡¯s facial contours, like clouds turning into snow, cold and captivating. When He Xun met her gaze, he hesitated again. Ying Zijin handed her phone to Xiu Yu and stood up, ¡°Wait for me a moment.¡± Xiu Yu was in the midst of a top-up and looked up, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± She looked over, puzzled, and saw He Xun standing at the back door. As Xiu Yu was wondering why He Xun wasn¡¯t moving, she saw the girl close the back door and even put up a white paper on the window. Not even giving He Xun a chance to show his face. Xiu Yu: ¡°¡­¡± Alright, in terms of arrogance, she only respected Daddy Ying. Not even the talented students from Norton University were spared. Ying Zijin sat back down and took her phone. Since there was no one in the live stream, she was just writing. Her handwriting was also quite beautiful, dynamic and forceful, like iron strokes with silver hooks. Xiu Yu came back to her senses, ¡°I sent you a hundred Rockets, which will trigger a meteor shower on the screen, and everyone can see it. Don¡¯t be discouraged, Daddy Ying, someone will definitely watch a physics live stream.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back later.¡± ¡°No need to be polite; I have too much money and can¡¯t spend it all.¡± Ying Zijin, feeling extremely poor for the second time: ¡°¡­¡± She sighed, rubbed her head, and turned her attention back to the phone. Because Xiu Yu generously dropped a hundred thousand yuan, the popularity of the live stream skyrocketed. But the newcomers were all baffled. They neither saw a face nor heard a voice, just a paper filled with writing. [What is the host writing? I don¡¯t understand it.] [Can¡¯t you see? This is a physics formula derived by Nyquist.] [Ny¡­ what?] [Holy smokes, the host is awesome, never seen this formula used like this before.] [Amazing, the host¡¯s academic level must be better than my university tutor. I wonder which academic giant is behind this alt account?] [Wait, the brother who just passed by, you all understand this?] [I don¡¯t understand it, but what does that have to do with the host having beautiful hands?] Right after this message floated by, the commenter sent a hundred Rockets. Xiu Yu: ¡°???¡± Is this how it works? [Host, say something. How can there be a live stream without interaction? I don¡¯t want to hear physics; I want to hear chemistry.] Ying Zijin changed her position, took another piece of paper, and spoke, ¡°Okay.¡± [When I saw the host write down Boltzmann¡¯s formula, I finally realized that the host might be an all-around science whiz.] [Why can¡¯t I tell if the host¡¯s voice is male or female? But it sounds nice, though.] Only then did Xiu Yu recall that the voice she had just heard was different from how Ying Zijin normally spoke, but she didn¡¯t mind it. She gave a thumbs up, ¡°Daddy Ying, you¡¯re truly impressive.¡± If the Elite Class found out, they would probably regret it to death. Just thinking about it felt great. ** In the corridor. Being shut out directly, He Xun hadn¡¯t even recovered. After a few seconds, his expression gradually cooled. Teacher Deng had said that Ying Zijin had a boundless future ahead of her, but he didn¡¯t see it; on the contrary, he felt she was beyond help. ¡°Teacher He.¡± A voice sounded from behind. He Xun turned around, his expression softening, ¡°Classmate Zhong.¡± He always treated students who were good at their studies generously. ¡°Teacher He, you don¡¯t look very well.¡± Zhong Zhiwan glanced at the class number, hesitant, ¡°Is it because of your cousin¡¯s matter?¡± He Xun frowned. If Zhong Zhiwan hadn¡¯t mentioned it, he would have almost forgotten the formula he had just seen. Now that he thought about it, it was likely that Ying Zijin had just copied something from the internet to cover up the fact that she was playing with her phone. She probably didn¡¯t expect to copy a theorem that one would only encounter in university. To draw a tiger only to end up with something resembling a dog. ¡°Teacher He, don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Zhong Zhiwan smiled faintly, ¡°That¡¯s just the way my cousin is, probably because she has been oppressed for too long, and recently she¡¯s been a bit temperamental. We all just bear with it.¡± Hearing this, He Xun¡¯s frown deepened, his tone cold, ¡°When you rely on others, you should be aware of your place.¡± Zhong Zhiwan smiled again, not saying anything, as if agreeing by default. ** The third day was Sunday, Class 19 had reserved a private room at King Clubhouse for a celebration, to sing and play cards. Ying Zijin noticed they didn¡¯t have the snacks she wanted and decided to go out and buy some. Jiang Ran, who was nearby, gave a cough, feigning nonchalance, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± This was perfect¡ªhe could challenge her to another fight, and this time he absolutely wouldn¡¯t hold back. He refused to believe he really couldn¡¯t beat a girl. Ying Zijin glanced at him and said nothing. Xiu Yu looked at Jiang Ran following the girl out and wondered, ¡°Has this guy really succumbed to the pressure from Daddy Ying?¡± The others were just as confused but could only hand Xiu Yu a microphone, ¡°Sister Yu, sing.¡± Jiang Ran certainly hadn¡¯t succumbed. He¡¯d just gone out and after not holding back for long, directly said, ¡°Hey, transfer student, what have you practiced? Muay Thai? Judo?¡± Ying Zijin ignored him, looking at the list of snacks on her phone. ¡°How about this, you fight with me again,¡± Jiang Ran clicked his tongue, ¡°and then I¡¯ll give you an entire supermarket, how about that?¡± Finally, Ying Zijin looked at him, ¡°You¡¯re really annoying.¡± ¡°¡­So what will it take for you to fight me?¡± Jiang Ran asked, losing his temper for the first time because of his competitive nature, ¡°As long as I can manage it.¡± Ying Zijin continued to seriously check her phone, casually replying to a WeChat message from Fu Yunshen. And so Jiang Ran just watched her. The two stood there, facing off against each other. Across the road, Jiang Moyuan, who had just come out of a hotel, saw this scene. Even his secretary was surprised, ¡°Third Master, isn¡¯t that Young Master Jiang Ran? Why is he with Second Miss Ying, and they seem very¡­¡± He didn¡¯t dare to say the word ¡°intimate,¡± opting instead to leave things unsaid. Jiang Moyuan¡¯s expression changed somewhat, ¡°Wait for me here.¡± Having said that, he strode over. Jiang Ran didn¡¯t know Jiang Moyuan was nearby. He spontaneously asked, ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll buy you ten cups of milk tea, okay?¡± Without waiting for the girl to answer, he turned and walked into a nearby milk tea shop, his stride wild and unrestrained. At that moment, Jiang Ran had just stepped away when Jiang Moyuan arrived shortly after. His voice was as cold as ever, this time with a hint of disgust. ¡°Ying Zijin, what are you making a fuss about now? Just because I don¡¯t like you? So you choose to get involved with Jiang Ran?¡± Ying Zijin slowly lifted her head. Meeting her unmade-up face, Jiang Moyuan was momentarily startled, then his tone turned even colder, ¡°I¡¯m telling you for the last time, playing hard to get won¡¯t work with me. Stay away from Jiang Ran, he¡¯s not someone you can covet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m funding your education, not for you to do these things, and you still haven¡¯t apologized to Luwei.¡± Ying Zijin still didn¡¯t speak, her gaze not even fluctuating for this. This kind of disregard took Jiang Moyuan by surprise, his heart inexplicably stalling. But he couldn¡¯t speak again. Because after looking at him for three seconds, the girl raised her hand and slowly poured her unfinished cola over him. The action was slow but carried a chill of ruthlessness. In less than a second, a custom suit worth 300,000 was ruined. Jiang Ran had just come out when he saw the situation, dumbfounded. But it didn¡¯t end there. He saw their class¡¯s newly beloved class pet take out a bank card from her pocket and fling it directly in Jiang Moyuan¡¯s face. Chapter 49 The sound of car horns was incessant on the road, but Jiang Ran felt as if everything had come to a standstill. The milk tea he was holding in his hand went ¡°splat¡± and spilled all over the ground. And the secretary waiting across the street was stupefied. Since when had Third Master Jiang of Shanghai City been treated like this? With just a word from Jiang Moyuan, he could seal the fate of an entire minor family. Who would dare to provoke him? Jiang Moyuan looked at the cola stains on his clothes and the bank card that had fallen to the ground, his face terrifyingly cold, and his voice squeezed through clenched teeth, ¡°Ying, Zijin!¡± After sending the last message to Fu Yunshen, Ying Zijin put away her phone and slipped her hands into her pockets. Her expression was indifferent, her brows and eyes wrapped in a chill, completely unaffected by the oppressive atmosphere radiating from Jiang Moyuan. Jiang Ran narrowed his eyes. He had grown up in the imperial capital and only occasionally returned to Shanghai City, having little interaction with this blood-relative uncle of his. But he knew that because Jiang Moyuan had battled in the business world for years, his presence was imposing to the extreme¡ªnot only young ladies, but even grown men couldn¡¯t hold his gaze. Yet Jiang Ran clearly felt that this girl¡¯s aura was like deep, still water¡ªterrifying. Jiang Moyuan was completely outmatched. ¡°Four hundred thousand for the Gerruti suit you¡¯re wearing, to repay principal and interest for the scholarship funds you¡¯ve provided over the years,¡± Ying Zijin looked up, ¡°Please don¡¯t show up in front of me again.¡± Jiang Moyuan almost laughed in anger at these words, ¡°What did you say?¡± As if she were the one chasing after him. ¡°I forgot to tell Uncle Jiang something last time,¡± Ying Zijin smiled faintly, ¡°I wish you and your young aunt a hundred years of happiness, and may you have children soon.¡± This form of address made Jiang Moyuan¡¯s spine tense up instantly. ¡°I don¡¯t know what gave Uncle Jiang the impression that I have feelings for you,¡± Ying Zijin nodded courteously, ¡°Now to make it clear, please don¡¯t flatter yourself in the future.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like you, I don¡¯t want to see you, and please tell your fianc¨¦e not to bother me. I want some peace.¡± Whether before she woke up or during her slumber, Jiang Moyuan was nothing more than a stranger to her. Perhaps at first, the scholarship was just part of a program, but bringing her to Shanghai City had an obvious purpose¡ª To ally with the Ying Family, specifically to provide a living blood bank for Ying Luwei. Jiang Moyuan¡¯s gaze suddenly changed, as this was the first time he saw such an emotion in the girl¡¯s eyes. Cold and aloof, chilly and indifferent, devoid of any admiring sentiments. Either way, it made him feel out of control. A bit breathless, his expression briefly flustered, and inexplicably a chill rose in his heart. ¡°If I see Uncle Jiang again¡ª¡± Ying Zijin yawned, tilting her head, ¡°every time I see you, I¡¯ll hit you.¡± Having to say so much in one go was really annoying. The secretary arrived just in time to hear this sentence. He looked at the girl in disbelief, completely unable to understand. Wasn¡¯t the Second Miss of the Ying Family always trying to charm the Third Master to climb the social ladder? Was this her playing hard to get? The secretary glanced at Jiang Moyuan¡¯s expression and smiled politely, ¡°I would advise Miss Ying to think carefully about what you say. If you go on like this, there really won¡¯t be any chance for redemption.¡± Ying Zijin couldn¡¯t be bothered to give them any more attention, she pulled the hood of her sweatshirt over her head, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± Jiang Ran was still enjoying the spectacle and only realized after two seconds that these words were addressed to him. He didn¡¯t follow immediately and instead scoffed, ¡°I¡¯d also advise you guys to save it. She doesn¡¯t even look up to me, let alone an old man.¡± Although he hadn¡¯t admitted this was his ¡®class dad¡¯, he couldn¡¯t let others walk all over him, right? Where would he put his face as the school tyrant? The secretary could never have imagined that Jiang Ran would actually take Ying Zijin¡¯s side against Jiang Moyuan, astonished, ¡°Young Master Jiang Ran, the Third Master is doing this for your own good.¡± Asset-wise, Jiang Ran naturally couldn¡¯t compare to Jiang Moyuan, who had been striving for ten years. But in terms of status, Jiang Moyuan really wasn¡¯t on the same level as Jiang Ran. After all, who allowed Jiang Huaping to marry so well in the imperial capital? ¡°Fuck, are you crazy? I just don¡¯t understand,¡± Jiang Ran got angry as well, ¡°You fuckers, one after another, acting sentimental under the guise of looking out for my best interest¡ª who asked you to interfere? Are you even qualified to manage me?¡± The old lady in the Ying Family is so annoying too. Jiang Ran didn¡¯t bother with her anymore and followed the girl. Jiang Moyuan took a deep breath and used all his restraint to stop himself from chasing after her. Suppressing the odd feeling in his heart, he spoke coldly, ¡°Ying Zijin, you better not regret this.¡± Ying Zijin stopped in her tracks and suddenly turned around. She had a pair of beautiful phoenix eyes, which, when slightly upturned, glimmered with a soft light. Though they were stunningly captivating, the coldness in her brows and eyes brought out a chilling sensation instead. ¡°I¡¯ll give you these three words too,¡± she said in a lowered voice, laughing, although her laugh was cold, ¡°You¡¯ll regret it.¡± ** Convenience store. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really something,¡± Jiang Ran said, genuinely impressed, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of Jiang Moyuan seeking revenge?¡± Ying Zijin, while picking out snacks, said, ¡°Let him try.¡± ¡°No worries, I can help you out if he does,¡± although actually Jiang Ran was quite annoyed, ¡°But why do you call him Uncle Jiang?¡± ¡°Oh, just a reminder that he¡¯s old.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Ran suddenly felt better, ¡°Quick, quick, quick, I just did you a favor, now you have to fight with me.¡± He thought Ying Zijin would still refuse, but to his surprise, she nodded in agreement. ¡°Then let¡¯s go now,¡± Jiang Ran said, as he went to pull her along, ¡°We can still go back and eat fried chicken after.¡± But he couldn¡¯t get a grip on her, someone cut in on the way. A husky voice laced with laughter, deep and seductive, said, ¡°No good, our little friend shouldn¡¯t get into fights.¡± ¡°Who are you, mind your own ¡­¡± Jiang Ran started to say as he looked up, but his words got stuck, his face darkened, ¡°Why is it you?¡± Fu Yunshen took a bag of snacks from a high shelf for her without answering. Ying Zijin wasn¡¯t expecting him to be here already, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I¡¯d come find you later?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, your brother has plenty of time,¡± Fu Yunshen said nonchalantly, ¡°You guys keep having fun.¡± He was originally nearby in the city center, and came over after receiving a message from Jiang Moyuan, worried something might happen to her. He hadn¡¯t expected that the little one would be so tough. Jiang Ran started to drive him away, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you get lost? Don¡¯t interrupt the life of young people.¡± However, just as he finished speaking, he saw the girl give him all the snacks she had bought, then she nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll leave with you now.¡± Fu Yunshen was taken aback, his peach blossom eyes lit up, ¡°No need, it¡¯s still early.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Ying Zijin spoke casually, ¡°They are too many.¡± You¡¯re only one person. Fu Yunshen¡¯s eyelashes quivered, then he abruptly smiled. The little friend was worth cherishing. He felt as moved as an old father. Jiang Ran, watching the two leave him behind: ¡°¡­¡± Damn. He felt like going into seclusion. ** Ever since she received a major demerit, Ying Feifei was also forced to transfer to a regular class. But since the whole second year of high school knew about what she did, the entire new class shunned her, pushing her emotions to the brink of collapse. Ying Feifei was extremely resentful but powerless, so she could only hold her breath. Life at home wasn¡¯t good either, Father Ying was very dissatisfied with her. Ying Feifei clenched her fingers, tensely writing a reflection. But just then, a text message from an unknown sender suddenly popped up on her phone. It contained no words, just one photo attached. Chapter 50 In the photo, Ying Zijin and Jiang Moyuan were embracing, looking very intimate. Not only that, but Jiang Moyuan¡¯s suit jacket also had a deep-colored stain that looked like alcohol. He was facing sideways, his expression quite ugly. Ying Feifei stared at this photo, blood boiling within her. She¡¯d been worrying about how to punish Ying Zijin, and now the opportunity had come. As long as this photo was exposed, Ying Zijin would not only ruin her reputation, but she¡¯d also be kicked out of the Ying family. Ying Feifei was excited and about to send a WeChat message to ask Zhong Zhiwan for Ying Luwei¡¯s contact information, but she dismissed the idea the next moment. No, it can¡¯t be given to Ying Luwei. Ying Luwei was so good to Ying Zijin that she might just treat it as nothing happened. After thinking it over, Ying Feifei decided to hand the photo over to Ying Luwei¡¯s fan club. Last time, the microblog scandal was eventually clarified, but since it had brought a wave of hate towards Ying Luwei, her fans were very dissatisfied with Ying Zijin. Of course, their discontent was not expressed openly but there was no lack of cold ridicule and scathing remarks in private. If the fans found out that Ying Zijin was actually seducing their future brother-in-law Jiang Moyuan, they would certainly explode with anger. Ying Feifei sneered and opened Weibo, directly sending the photo to several moderators of Ying Luwei¡¯s super-topic chat. She wanted to see how Ying Zijin would turn things around this time. ** Jiang Ran returned to the KTV private room alone, face dark with anger. Xiu Yu kicked him and asked, ¡°Where did you send our dad off to?¡± Angry, Jiang Ran snorted, ¡°He ran off with that scumbag.¡± He was supposed to fight with him, but he had been stood up. The underlings were frightened upon hearing this, ¡°Brother Ran, what does this scumbag look like? Are we about to have a mom?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Jiang Ran laughed angrily. ¡°You all have such sick minds.¡± He was very angry, so he took out his phone and sent a WeChat message. [I¡¯m telling you, Fu Yunshen is not a good person at all; you¡¯d better stay away from him. Do you know that he almost beat someone to death in the past?] No response. Jiang Ran persisted and sent another message. [He lived in the capital for ten years and only returned to Shanghai City when he was fourteen. Can you imagine how old he was when he beat someone? Such violence at a young age, what if he hits you one day?] Still no response. Jiang Ran had no choice but to send an emoticon package. This time there was a reaction. [Your message has been sent but was rejected by the recipient.] Jiang Ran stared at the red exclamation point for three seconds, so angered that he threw his phone and started chugging beer, downing seven or eight bottles within a minute. The underlings were dumbfounded. ¡°This guy¡¯s really not normal today; might be having an episode again.¡± Xiu Yu sighed, ¡°I¡¯ll ask where Daddy Ying is.¡± The reply came instantly. [Something came up, let¡¯s get together another day.] After replying to Xiu Yu¡¯s message, Ying Zijin didn¡¯t bother to remove Jiang Ran from the blacklist, feeling completely at ease. ¡°Yaoyao.¡± A voice called him from the right. Ying Zijin looked up, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m quite happy that you¡¯ve made new friends,¡± Fu Yunshen tilted his head, his voice gentle, ¡°At your age, you should mingle more with your peers.¡± The pressure put on her by the Ying family that year made him really fear for her mental health. He couldn¡¯t end up like him. ¡°No rush.¡± Ying Zijin brushed dust off her sleeve, her voice indifferent, ¡°You¡¯ve helped me, so naturally, I want to help you too.¡± She hadn¡¯t deliberately concealed her knowledge of medicine, even though it was very likely to expose her identity. Even after so many years, many people across the Seven Continents and Four Oceans were still searching for her. Fu Yunshen uncharacteristically fell silent for a second, ¡°Since when does a brother need help from his sister, It¡¯s not like I needed some grand favor, You¡¯ve helped me much more.¡± ¡°Oh, you mean those pills,¡± Ying Zijin didn¡¯t particularly care, ¡°They¡¯re not even as tasty as candy.¡± Fu Yunshen raised an eyebrow, a low chuckle spilling from his throat. He had specifically had someone analyze the components of the pill. They weren¡¯t rare medicinal herbs, In terms of efficacy, in Hua Country¡¯s ancient medical field and O Continent¡¯s alchemy world, they could only be considered quite ordinary. But it was precisely because the pills that the young girl gave him were made from common medicinal herbs that it further proved her high level of medical skill. Yet it still wasn¡¯t enough. Inside Old Master Fu¡¯s body, there wasn¡¯t just a disease, but also a type of toxin. He had searched for a long time but could not find the source of this toxin. Being proficient in medicine didn¡¯t mean one could detoxify. He also didn¡¯t want to trouble the young girl with bothersome matters. The girl¡¯s eyes and brows were furrowed with tiredness, she wrapped herself in her hoodie, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I have plenty of time anyway, let¡¯s go see your grandfather.¡± ** Today, the Fu family¡¯s ancestral home was unusually quiet, with only the old master and the nursing staff present. That saved quite a lot of hassle. Fu Yunshen, firstly, did not want Ying Zijin to encounter the Fu family members, and secondly, it would be more convenient to visit the old master. As the leading family among the Four Major Noble Families, the Fu Family had many factions, Not as chaotic as the major clans in the imperial capital, but fratricide was not uncommon. Even in the ancestral home, listening devices and miniature cameras were often found. Casually, Fu Yunshen shifted the position of a few vases before taking the girl upstairs. Old Master Fu was on the balcony, basking in the sun, the rocking chair swaying as he hummed a tune. Upon hearing footsteps, he stood up, ¡°Xiao Qi, you came.¡± Fu Yunshen spoke unhurriedly, ¡°Yes, here, to fulfill your wish, I brought the young lady back for you to meet.¡± Ying Zijin paused, ¡°Grandpa Fu.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Old Master Fu¡¯s face beamed as he pulled out a thick red envelope, ¡°Your grandfather and I have been lifelong enemies, Don¡¯t be shy with me.¡± It was after Elder Zhong had seen him that day and hinted at it that he learned that the eldest Miss Ying was the real foster daughter. Just as pitiable as his Xiao Qi. Ying Zijin wouldn¡¯t offend the old man¡¯s intentions, and when she accepted it, she tested Old Master Fu¡¯s pulse, at once comprehending the hidden conditions within his body. The toxin had eroded Old Master Fu¡¯s heart meridians, and for these three years, he had been sustained solely by medication. The situation was worse than she had thought. And this toxin¡­ Ying Zijin lifted her head, her gaze cool as water. It reminded her of an old acquaintance, an extremely unpleasant memory. The more Old Master Fu looked at the girl, the more pleased he became, prodding indirectly, ¡°Zijin, what do you think of our Yunshen?¡± With a glance, Fu Yunshen¡¯s expression was half mockery, half smile, ¡°Grandpa.¡± But Old Master Fu acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard. ¡°Hmm?¡± Ying Zijin nodded her head, ¡°He¡¯s quite good.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good then,¡± Master Fu was content and overjoyed, ¡°Let¡¯s all have dinner together tonight.¡± He was determined to have this granddaughter-in-law, and if it infuriated Elder Zhong to death, all the better. ** The dinner for the three people was quickly prepared by the servants. Ying Zijin finished eating and departed at eight o¡¯clock. And it was at this very moment, the chief host of Ying Luwei¡¯s super-topic community made a Weibo post, accompanied by a picture, and tagged Ying Corporation¡¯s official corporate Weibo account. [@YingLuweiOfficialSupportGroupV: I didn¡¯t mean to occupy public resources, nor do I want to cause everyone trouble, but this matter is just too despicable, I had no choice but to make it public, and I would like to apologize to everyone here first. May I ask @YingCorporation, where is your conscience?! If I¡¯m not mistaken, hasn¡¯t our Luwei already been engaged to her brother-in-law? So, what is this Ying family¡¯s foster daughter doing? [Question][Question][Question]] Chapter 51 ¡°` The moment the fan club posted that Weibo, it sent shockwaves through all of Ying Luwei¡¯s fans. The photo was crystal clear, and after verification, it wasn¡¯t Photoshopped. The fans went crazy. [@Ying CorporationV, are you there? Look at the person your good deeds took in. How could she be so wicked?] [@Ying CorporationV, don¡¯t play dead. Hurry up and give Luwei an explanation. So our real princess has to suffer this injustice, huh?] [I can¡¯t hold back anymore. I just want to know how much Luwei has suffered this past year. I¡¯m the first to burst into tears!!!] Because Ying Luwei had cultivated a tranquil and peaceful public persona, she built up a fanbase with impressive combat ability. It only took a few minutes for the fans to push the post to the top of the trending searches. Once it hit the trending list and traffic increased, some passersby clicked in, utterly confused. [This¡­ I gotta be honest, I can¡¯t really see anything. Are the fans being too emotional?] [Crying your eyes out? That¡¯s some active tear ducts. Crying over a pianist who hasn¡¯t even won an international award ¨C did you cry when your parents were wronged? Can¡¯t tell kin from strangers, brain-dead kid.] [That¡¯s what Ying Luwei¡¯s fans are like, they have a stronger imagination than dogs.] [My focus might be a bit off, but is the beauty of this foster daughter even real? She¡¯s too stunning.] While Weibo was in an uproar, Ying Luwei was still recuperating in the capital. She casually checked Weibo and finally felt a bit of relief in her heart. She didn¡¯t know why she was having an allergic reaction all over her body and why it still hadn¡¯t been cured even after coming to the capital. So, if she was unhappy, someone else had to be unlucky. ¡°Miss Luwei, don¡¯t worry. All the surrounding surveillance has been wiped clean. There¡¯s no chance of recovery,¡± said a foreign man, brimming with confidence. ¡°Now that the job¡¯s done, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± ¡°I really appreciate it, Mr. Allen,¡± Ying Luwei rose gracefully. ¡°Let me walk you out.¡± The foreign man left quickly. Her agent frowned, ¡°Luwei, there¡¯s really no need to take such a risk. There¡¯s plenty of time to make sure your fake niece can¡¯t turn things around.¡± A photoshopped image, what if it¡¯s exposed? Ying Luwei wasn¡¯t concerned, with a contemptuous tone, ¡°She doesn¡¯t have the capabilities. Public opinion alone can destroy her.¡± If it wasn¡¯t for Ying Feifei having a grudge against Ying Zijin, could her plan have succeeded? It was also the trouble Ying Zijin brought upon herself every day, nothing to do with her. The agent fretted, ¡°What if another recording leaks out?¡± ¡°Impossible,¡± laughed Ying Luwei. ¡°The last time was probably because Fu Yunshen helped her get it. There were indeed security cameras at the party place; it was my oversight.¡± She ran her fingers through her hair, full of charm, ¡°But this time is different. The surveillance on four streets has been completely erased. Can Fu Yunshen find someone more capable than Mr. Allen? He¡¯s one of the chief hackers of the Anonymous Hackers Alliance.¡± The Anonymous Hackers Alliance, the world¡¯s top-ranked hacker organization. She too had pulled some strings and spent a fortune. The agent pondered, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll help you. But if this backfires, the backlash will be severe.¡± Although Ying Luwei wasn¡¯t exactly entertainment circle material, she enjoyed the pursuit of her fans very much and had nourished hundreds of marketing accounts. With the agent¡¯s encouragement, these marketing accounts moved in unison. #A wealthy family¡¯s shocking melodrama, niece seduces uncle?# #It¡¯s topsy-turvy! The Ying family¡¯s foster daughter dares to bite the hand that feeds her!# #My heart aches for Ying Luwei# Weibo was filled with condemnation. Not just Weibo, even Verdant Middle School¡¯s school forum exploded. [Damn, have you seen Weibo? It completely shattered my worldview.] [She seems so low-key at school, but to think she could do something like this.] [No wonder she was kicked out of the Elite Class.] [It¡¯s because our Daddy Ying disdains being in the Elite Class, get it? If anyone dares to say another word, Brother Ran will be knocking on your door tonight to smash your head in.] [Sister Yu will bash your head with a spiked club.] Wen Tinglan usually stayed offline and would¡¯ve been unaware of this matter. But the class group was also abuzz with gossip, and even Weibo screenshots were shared. His expression changed as he walked to the kitchen, ¡°Sis, have you seen Weibo? About that matter¡­¡± Ying Zijin was juicing fruit and squinted her eyes upon hearing the words, ¡°Hmm, okay, don¡¯t worry, and don¡¯t let Dad find out.¡± ¡°` Wen Tinglan frowned, about to say something, when he heard the girl ask him again. ¡°Have you finished the homework I gave you?¡± Wen Tinglan was startled, ¡°Not yet.¡± His sister had somehow managed to procure a stack of problems for him, the difficulty of which far surpassed the Elite Class of the third year of high school, though they weren¡¯t hard for him. Ying Zijin wiped her hands and spoke unhurriedly, ¡°Then you¡¯d better go back and do it right away. For every problem you get wrong, add ten more.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The teenager looked like a rabbit with drooping ears as he trudged back to his room, sullen. Ying Zijin slightly furrowed her brows. The outside interference would indeed make Wen Tinglan¡¯s emotions fluctuate even more violently, aggravating his condition. Mental illness is not something that Ancient Medicine can resolve. Perhaps, she really should look up some of her old acquaintances. Ying Zijin also returned to her room. She closed her eyes, and her Divine Calculation abilities engaged, allowing her to review all that had happened on that street, and she figured out how events had transpired. Ying Luwei had someone follow Jiang Moyuan, took photos, then sent them to Ying Feifei, while conveniently erasing the surveillance footage. Ying Zijin leaned back in her chair. Tch, it was truly annoying. Every day someone was disturbing her retired life; she wondered if she could ever really retire to garden and raise pigs. However, Ying Luwei¡¯s hostility towards her seemed to be quite substantial, which was somewhat strange. Ying Zijin pondered. Unfortunately, her abilities hadn¡¯t fully recovered, and she couldn¡¯t calculate events that were too far in the past. Her fingers tapping lightly on the desk, she turned on the computer after a few seconds. ** Meanwhile, on the other side of the ocean. Continent O, in the eastern part. A hacker choked on his instant noodles when his computer screen suddenly went black. The only person in the world who dared to do this to him was one, and he unwisely pestered a second one a few days ago. He typed out a message begrudgingly. [Big sister, I¡¯ve been keeping my nose clean lately, I swear I haven¡¯t messed around.] [It¡¯s not about that, I need your help.] [You just name it, big sister.] [Restore the surveillance for the intersections at Zhongshan Street, Auspicious Street, Xiaozhai Road, and Textile Street in Shanghai City.] [Why don¡¯t you do it yourself, big sister?] [I¡¯m lazy.] [¡­] Seriously, hacking into his computer was way harder than restoring a bit of surveillance, wasn¡¯t it? [Fine fine fine, big sister, I¡¯ll send the surveillance to your computer shortly, and I¡¯ll take care of it right away.] The screen finally went back to normal. The hacker, on the verge of tears, started coding resentfully. To think that the boss of the Anonymous Hackers Alliance was utterly at the mercy of a young girl. How embarrassing. ** The commotion on Weibo grew larger, attracting numerous big-name accounts. Fans continued to voice their outrage. [Why haven¡¯t Ying Corporation come forward? Are they playing dead?] [If Ying Corporation doesn¡¯t handle this properly, starting today, I will boycott all products from your company.] [Are the people at Ying Corporation blind?] [They didn¡¯t say anything last time, but now there are photos, undeniable proof; how can they possibly argue? Come out and explain!] Chapter 52 Comments lambasting Ying Corporation¡¯s official corporate social media account have reached tens of thousands. But that wasn¡¯t enough; fans also wanted to continue their tirades in Ying Zijin¡¯s comment section, just like last time. However, they couldn¡¯t find it. This made things even worse. [Sisters, she actually deactivated her account, she must have known that this day would come, with the photos being leaked. It¡¯s so infuriating!] [Um, maybe we should calm down a bit, there might be a twist here.] [Are you even a fan? If you¡¯re a fan, you should protect Luwei. Why are you hesitating? @YingLuweiAnti-BlackStationV, let¡¯s blacklist her.] [I bet Ying Corporation has seen it, they just won¡¯t come out and say so.] The fans guessed correctly; with all the noise online and every major corporation having employees dedicated to managing social media, it was impossible not to notice. The problem was that it was already nine o¡¯clock at night, Old Madam Ying had gone to rest, and they couldn¡¯t possibly disturb her. The Patriarch of the Ying Family, Ying Zhenting, was in the capital dealing with a major deal and certainly didn¡¯t have the time. As for Zhong Manhua, she had gone to Continent O on Friday and wouldn¡¯t be back until noon tomorrow, leaving her no time either. The employees didn¡¯t take it seriously and logged off social media. ** Ten minutes later, Ying Zijin received surveillance footage sent by a certain hacker. Not only was it restored, but the clarity had also been adjusted to the highest level. After watching it, she regretted not having been assertive enough at that moment; she should have thrown her cola over Jiang Moyuan¡¯s head. [Sister, are you going to release it now? I can do it for you.] Ying Zijin narrowed her eyes and tapped out two characters. [No rush.] The other side was puzzled. [But I¡¯ve seen that the fans are starting to doxx you. What if they come after you with sulfuric acid or something?] Ying Zijin examined the comments online with an unchanged expression, idly typing on the keyboard. [The best moment hasn¡¯t arrived yet.] Ying Luwei wanted to move public opinion and crush her, but Ying Zijin could actually use this to her advantage. The situation was just beginning, and public fervor hadn¡¯t reached its peak yet. Releasing it now wouldn¡¯t achieve the effect she desired and wouldn¡¯t maximize her benefits. [Alright, as long as you¡¯re happy, sister. But I have to say, the person who wiped the surveillance footage is pretty skilled. If you had asked someone else, it might not have been possible.] It was just like him. So competent. The certain hacker continued to eat his instant noodles, and his phone suddenly rang. He glanced at it and answered. The man¡¯s voice was deep, devoid of its usual laughter, and carried a hint of coldness. ¡°Restore the surveillance videos of Zhongshan Street, Auspicious Street, Xiaozhai Road, and Textile Street in Shanghai City and upload them to the internet.¡± Choking on his noodles again, the certain hacker muttered: ¡°¡­¡± Are you poisoned or something to be able to recall the sequence of streets exactly like that? A perfect match. A pair of weirdos. Reluctantly setting down his noodles, he complained, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you the other day? Her cyber skills are stronger than mine. She can handle it herself. Do you really need to do this?¡± Fu Yunshen played with his teacup, offhandedly stating, ¡°Me handling it and her being skilled are two different things.¡± ¡°Huh? What¡¯s the difference?¡± ¡°No matter how skilled she is, she¡¯s still just a kid,¡± Fu Yunshen said with downcast eyes and a soft laugh. ¡°She hasn¡¯t grown up yet; how can I not protect her?¡± ¡°Oh¡ªI get it now. It¡¯s like how, to a father, no matter how old his daughter is, she¡¯s still a child in his eyes.¡± Fu Yunshen glanced at his screen: ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be hunted down, then stop talking nonsense.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll shut up,¡± the other side fell silent mid-sentence, then quickly added, ¡°Sorry, I spoke out of turn.¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s eyelashes fluttered, and his voice was as gentle as ever, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Brother, if it hadn¡¯t been for you back then¡­¡± ¡°I said it¡¯s fine,¡± Fu Yunshen interrupted him, patiently continuing, ¡°It¡¯s all in the past.¡± There was a moment of silence on the other end, then the topic changed, ¡°Actually, you¡¯re a step too late. I¡¯ve been keeping an eye on your little one. I just sent her the surveillance footage. She said she¡¯ll choose the right moment to post it.¡± He absolutely couldn¡¯t admit that he had made a fool of himself again. ¡°Hmm?¡± Fu Yunshen was slightly surprised, ¡°You have that much emotional intelligence?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± The call was angrily disconnected. Fu Yunshen rose silently and walked to the balcony. The night was cool and the moonlight shone softly like water. Tree shadows fell on the ground, casting a lonely frosty splendor. After standing for a full ten minutes, Fu Yunshen pulled out another phone. It was very ordinary, still with buttons. ¡°Hello,¡± Fu Yunshen leaned against half a wall, bending his long legs, returning to his lazy, dissipated demeanor, ¡°You have two days to make Jiang¡¯s stock hit the limit down.¡± Something was said on the other end of the phone. ¡°Hmm? I¡¯m not going back.¡± Fu Yunshen turned his head, his smile casual, ¡°Just helping my little friend get some revenge, that¡¯s all.¡± ** At ten o¡¯clock in the evening, Jiang Moyuan had just finished his work. He rubbed his brow, unable to hide the exhaustion on his face. ¡°Third Master,¡± the secretary entered noiselessly, bowing and speaking softly, ¡°Miss Luwei is trending on Weibo.¡± Jiang Moyuan¡¯s gaze sharpened instantly, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the thing, someone took a photo of you and Second Miss Ying,¡± the secretary explained while handing over the phone, ¡°Miss Luwei¡¯s fans think Second Miss Ying is trying to climb up to you and blasted Ying Corporation on Weibo.¡± ¡°Probably because she is recuperating in the capital, Miss Luwei hasn¡¯t seen it yet.¡± Otherwise, she would have called by now. Jiang Moyuan glanced at the photo and his expression cooled, ¡°They don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for them!¡± The secretary was startled, ¡°Third Master, you think the photo was taken by Second Miss Ying?¡± Jiang Moyuan didn¡¯t say anything, but it was clear that was what he thought. The air pressure around him seemed to drop even further. The secretary thought about it and agreed. It seemed Second Miss Ying wanted to use that photo to blackmail the Third Master, but it backfired when Miss Luwei¡¯s fans caught wind of it, leading to today¡¯s trending topic. The secretary respectfully suggested, ¡°Third Master, shall we make a clarification?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Jiang Moyuan sorted out his documents indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s none of my concern.¡± The secretary understood. Public opinion wouldn¡¯t affect Jiang Corporation, and it would help Miss Luwei consolidate her fanbase, so indeed, there was no need to clarify. If Second Miss Ying hadn¡¯t been so impulsive during the day, perhaps the Third Master might have been willing to lend a hand. The secretary shook his head as he looked at the online discourse. What a pity, she brought it on herself, losing such a pillar of support as the Third Master. Jiang Moyuan massaged his temples, instructing, ¡°Don¡¯t disturb Luwei, let her rest well. If she sees it, tell her not to worry, she can¡¯t go soft-hearted.¡± The secretary nodded, about to close Weibo, but then he caught a glimpse of another trending topic in the hot search bar. He was taken aback, surprised, ¡°Third Master, why is the Zhong Family speaking up?¡± A foster daughter, not even a true daughter of the Ying Family, why would the Zhong Family, an external relative when the Ying Family themselves remained indifferent observers, get involved? Jiang Moyuan frowned and took a look. Zhong Corporation¡¯s official account circled several of the most shared marketing accounts, as well as the official fan club account of Ying Luwei on Weibo. [@ZhongCorporationV: A bunch of trash rumormongers, get lost, and wait for the lawyer¡¯s letter!] Chapter 53 Old Master Zhong never expected that a routine pre-sleep surf of the web would reveal a trending search that nearly gave him a heart attack. They said his granddaughter was seducing Jiang Moyuan? He spat out in disdain! Almost in his thirties, that old man, only an older woman would fancy him. Old Master Zhong immediately demanded the social media management team give him the password, and he went straight online to curse them out. The old man had a fiery temper when he was young, and it only got more explosive with age, especially when it came to protecting his own. How could he hold back? It was common knowledge that the Zhong Family and the Ying Family were relatives. When the Zhong Family spoke out like this, fans of Ying Luwei were somewhat dumbfounded. [Has Zhong Corporation gone mad? Why are they speaking up for a fake rich girl?] [Could there be some¡­ shady deal?] [Is this because she couldn¡¯t seduce our brother-in-law, so she went after some high-level exec at Zhong Corporation instead?] [And they say we¡¯re spreading rumors, the photos are right there, how is this making up rumours? If it¡¯s a rumor, let her sue us then.] The more Old Master Zhong read, the angrier he became, his heart nearly exploding from the rage. He was preparing to post another Weibo when a call came in. Old Master Zhong, too anxious to be angry, immediately picked up: ¡°Zijin, you haven¡¯t looked at Weibo, have you? Don¡¯t look at it, those people are just trying to stir up trouble, don¡¯t worry, Grandpa will take care of it for you.¡± ¡°Thanks, Grandpa, but I have my own ways to sort it out,¡± Ying Zijin had guessed that Old Master Zhong was the one who posted that Weibo, ¡°You should go to bed early, don¡¯t let it affect your health, I¡¯m fine.¡± Old Master Zhong went silent; after a long while, he finally said with sadness: ¡°Zijin¡­ Grandpa is sorry, he can¡¯t help you prove your identity, it¡¯s caused you, caused you¡­¡± All he could say was that too much time had passed, and he found out too late. Not to mention, the Ying Family had erased all traces of the past scandal to prevent it from being exposed. Even if Old Master Zhong declared that Ying Zijin was his true granddaughter, without the Ying Family¡¯s acknowledgment, he still had no way to prove it. Not to mention, Old Master Zhong was getting on in years; although he still held many shares, his say was no longer absolute. Many in the Zhong Family were coveting his position, just waiting to catch him on a misstep. It was precisely because Ying Zijin knew this that she stopped Old Master Zhong. Compared to Old Master Zhong¡¯s safety, the title of a true rich heiress was insignificant. ¡°How can you say that,¡± Ying Zijin lowered her eyes and smiled, ¡°I still have a grandpa, which is really nice. You go to sleep, I¡¯ll come to see you tomorrow evening.¡± Old Master Zhong¡¯s heart ached as he stared at the phone, rubbing his reddened eyes, managing to hold back his tears. Sitting quietly for a good while, he slowly opened the drawer and took out a document. It bore five words¡ª Share Transfer Agreement. ** Public opinion had been fermenting all through the night and half of the next day, nearly reaching its peak. Ying Zijin lazily looked at the new private messages in her Weibo inbox, yawning. Perhaps because she wasn¡¯t very familiar with the age of big data of the twenty-first century, she hadn¡¯t anticipated that Ying Luwei¡¯s fans would locate her new Weibo account just by identifying the dishes she used during meals. Now, her inbox was full of insults from Ying Luwei¡¯s fans, with no shortage of those sending ghost or corpse images. If she had truly been a seventeen-year-old girl, she might have collapsed mentally under such insane cyberbullying. ¡°Damn, Daddy Ying, you¡¯re too patient, how can you stand watching this?¡± Xiu Yu exploded with anger, ¡°Have they seen the facts? I wish I could crawl through the internet cable and slap their faces crooked!¡± Jiang Ran frowned, with a sour expression on his face, ¡°I¡¯ll have my mom go find Jiang Moyuan now and get him to clarify.¡± They could suppress the rumors on the school forum, but Weibo was too crowded to control. ¡°He won¡¯t,¡± Ying Zijin continued munching on her chips, ¡°You don¡¯t need to go.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re just going to let yourself be insulted like this?¡± Jiang Ran slammed the table, his voice cold, ¡°I don¡¯t know who took that photo, but if I find out, I¡¯m going to wreck them!¡± Ying Feifei, who had come to gloat over Ying Zijin¡¯s embarrassment, had just reached the door when she overheard this sentence. She shuddered violently, halted the step she was taking, and fled from Class 19 as if running for her life. Ying Zijin barely glanced up. Xiu Yu suddenly nudged her in the side, ¡°Daddy Ying, your Little Aunt Bai Lian has posted on Weibo.¡± She pointed to the phone screen, which displayed a fresh Weibo post from Ying Luwei. [ @Ying Luwei V: I¡¯m sorry, I never thought things would turn out this way, please leave me alone for a while. I can¡¯t cope right now, thank you all. [Crying]] Her fans were heartbroken. [Sister, don¡¯t cry. It¡¯s not too late to realize the truth. ] [Wuwuwu, my heart aches, the one who is the most upset must be Luwei, how could she imagine her own niece betraying her.] A minute later, the silent Ying Corporation retweeted the post. [ @Ying Corporation V: We will definitely give Miss Luwei an explanation. ] Looking at these two Weibo posts, Ying Zijin¡¯s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as she tapped the table, ¡°Alright, now you can post it.¡± Xiu Yu acted swiftly, immediately sending out the pre-edited Weibo post. [ @PleaseDoNotDisturbSeniors: For the last time, stop bothering me, thank you. [Video]] The fans, gearing up for a new round of abuse, saw the new Weibo post as soon as they came in. The video was high-definition, at 1080p, with noise reduction applied to the audio. To ensure that the viewers could see clearly and hear clearly. So, the fans that clicked in saw how the girl had poured cola over Jiang Moyuan¡¯s body, how she had tossed a bank card to him, and heard her use a cool and unhurried voice to speak. ¡°I wish you and your Little Aunt a hundred years of happiness and early offspring.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how I gave Uncle Jiang the wrong impression for you to think I have feelings for you. Let me set this straight now, and in the future, don¡¯t flatter yourself.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like you, I don¡¯t want to see you, and please tell your fiancee to stop bothering me. Leave me in peace.¡± The fans¡¯ minds buzzed, stupefied: ¡°¡­¡± But before they could collect themselves, another Weibo post arrived. [ @PleaseDoNotDisturbSeniors: Cyberbullies, abusers, those sending ghost images and corpse photos, all fan accounts have been submitted to the police. ] At the same time, the leading law firm in the Imperial City also posted on Weibo. [ @West Wind Law Firm V: Appointed by Miss Ying Zijin, West Wind Law Firm will take full responsibility for this incident and provide Miss Ying with legal services. The internet is not a lawless place; everyone must be responsible for their words and actions, and offenders must be severely punished by the law. Miss Ying says, even if they are young, she will sue them. There¡¯s no other purpose but to ensure that they¡¯re barred from public service, honors, school scholarships for life, and to carry a criminal record forever, paying the price for their misdeeds. ] Below was a long list of fan IDs. At the top of the list was the official fan club of Ying Luwei. Chapter 54 More importantly, the official fan club ID for Ying Luwei was followed by several other fan IDs. This proves that all these Weibo accounts are operated by one person. A long image listed, without exception, fans of Ying Luwei, totaling three to four thousand. These accounts were at the forefront of the verbal battle, with exceptionally intense and abusive language. But that¡¯s not all. Fearing that some fans might not understand due to their lack of experience, West Wind Law Firm posted another Weibo update. [@West Wind Law Firm V: To put it simply, if you have a criminal record, in Hua Country, you won¡¯t be employed by public institutions, banks, or state-owned enterprises; forget about becoming civil servants, lawyers, or judges. Young people, this is your so-called ¡°youthful ignorance¡± [smile]] Due to ¡°youthful ignorance,¡± thinking it¡¯s no big deal, so you recklessly hurl insults and dox a girl under the age of eighteen. Two consecutive Weibo posts struck like a heavy blow to the head, leaving the fans¡¯ minds buzzing, a complete blank, even incapable of writing comments. Like a bolt from the blue. Unlike the fans, onlookers had always adopted a popcorn-eating attitude. After seeing the turn of events, they also clicked in to watch the videos. [Hahaha, I can¡¯t, I¡¯m dying of laughter. So Jiang Moyuan thought the sister liked him and that¡¯s why he approached her? Isn¡¯t this just the epitome of a greasy old man?] [The sister is too good-tempered. If it were me, I¡¯d have slapped him several times to wake him up.] [No hate, just speaking the truth, but with her looks, Jiang Moyuan really isn¡¯t at her level.] [The sister is only seventeen, at the prime of her youth, with her beauty those courting her probably line up all the way to the Equator, right? Why bother with an old man? Can Ying Luwei¡¯s fans wise up? Do you really think your brother-in-law is a treasure to the whole world?] The clarifying Weibo from Ying Zijin instantly turned the two posts from Ying Luwei and Ying Corporation into a complete joke. There were also keen-eyed people who noticed the deliberate timing. Someone immediately went to mock both parties below their posts. [So what are you trying to imply? That you¡¯ve decided the sister seduced your fianc¨¦? Have you watched the video? Feeling slapped in the face?] [To be honest, I feel embarrassed for you. Although she¡¯s not your biological niece, she did donate blood to you, right? Your fans say you treat the sister well, is this it? Is this it?] [Intentionally trying to pin the seduction label on the sister, so disgusting, what kind of rare lotus demon were you in your past life?] Under the official Weibo of Ying Corporation, the cheering voices of Ying Luwei¡¯s fans have now been drowned out by comments from onlookers. [Please stay away from the sister. She was about to donate blood for you, and now you¡¯re morally blackmailing her. So much for being a major clan, have some shame.] [I¡¯ve made up my mind, I¡¯ll follow Ying Luwei¡¯s fans¡¯ example; I¡¯ll boycott all products from Ying enterprises, who knows if the money will end up in Ying Luwei¡¯s pocket.] [Take me with you, upstairs. We are good, honest citizens, we don¡¯t curse, we just state facts.] After finishing their mockery, the bystanders grew interested and clicked on @PleaseDoNotDisturb for the Elderly, starting to browse through Ying Zijin¡¯s posts from the past days. Excerpts taken from @PleaseDoNotDisturb for the Elderly¡¯s Weibo: February 25th: [Spicy crayfish is so delicious. Three pounds just isn¡¯t enough.] Picture: a large bowl of crayfish. February 28th: [Retirement life is over. School uniforms are so ugly.] Picture: Verdant High School uniform and a hand. March 1st: [Chocolate, cucumber-flavored chips, spicy strips, heard this is called the happy water of the housebound.] Picture: lots of snacks. March 3rd: [Silly kids, having so much fun.] Picture: Verdant High School playground and a group of students playing ball. March 4th: [Went to the pet store again, thought about buying a pig.] Photo attached, a little pink pig. Completely unexpected style that caught everyone off guard: ¡°¡­¡± [Wait wait wait, watching the video shows a cool and reserved girl, the tough and taciturn type, so why is her daily Weibo unexpectedly kind of cute?] [Assessment complete, little sister is a foodie.] [Contrast cute, it hits me right in the feels, today I¡¯m going to become one of Sister¡¯s fans.] This is some kind of divine girl, they¡¯re all fans now! ** Public opinion online had completely flipped, even more intensely than before. [Other fan bases at most ask for a hammer and get hammered, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen asking for a lawsuit and getting one. How¡¯s it feel, Ying Luwei fans?] [Support Sister in suing them to death, it¡¯s not the first time, as a bystander I¡¯ve watched at least five times this year, is cyberbullying fun?] [That said, you¡¯re not aware of what West Wind Law Firm is, are you? Let me, a native of the Imperial Capital, educate you. Since its establishment, West Wind Law Firm has never lost a case and always makes the other party bleed heavily and get punished. Congratulations to Ying Luwei¡¯s fans, your wish has come true.] Ying Luwei¡¯s fans were now in complete panic. Given such a detailed briefing, how could they not understand the severity of the situation? Their previous aggression was gone, as one by one they lowered their stance and started sending private messages to Ying Zijin. [Sister, I didn¡¯t mean it, I can¡¯t have a criminal record, I really want to take the public service exam in the future [crying]] [Sister, we were also unaware of the truth, didn¡¯t mean any harm, begging for forgiveness, begging for the lawsuit to be dropped [kneeling][kneeling]] [Sister, I¡¯m only sixteen [sobbing], you can¡¯t do this to me.] Reading these comments, Xiu Yu sneered, ¡°What took you so long? If you had set it off after the event, after you insulted people so disgustingly, and all those who posted pictures, what if Daddy Ying had a weak heart and ended up in the hospital?¡± She retweeted a fan¡¯s comment. [@It¡¯sYourSisterYuV: She hasn¡¯t even turned seventeen yet, who are you calling ¡®Sister¡¯? Why should she forgive you?] Jiang Ran was rather puzzled, ¡°Why such a big reaction?¡± He thought it would at most clear her name, but hadn¡¯t expected such a turn-around. ¡°The golden rule for public relations is 24 hours.¡± Ying Zijin peeled chestnuts for herself, seemingly indifferent, ¡°If it¡¯s over that time it¡¯s too late, if it¡¯s too brief the public opinion doesn¡¯t ferment enough. The harder they pressed initially, the stronger my counter will be now.¡± That was exactly the effect she wanted. Xiu Yu tossed aside her phone, swept her arm grandly, ¡°Come on, Daddy Ying, I¡¯m treating you to barbecue.¡± ** Jiang Corporation. The secretary looked at Weibo, his hands shaking, barely able to hold his phone steady. He kept glancing toward the closed conference room door, not daring to go in and report the situation. Jiang Moyuan did have a Weibo account, but the secretary was managing it and didn¡¯t post daily updates, just retweets of the company¡¯s business. Now, the comments and private messages under Jiang Moyuan¡¯s Weibo were all mockery from the public, the surprisingly polite kind. The secretary had never imagined things would turn out this way. Because there was no clarification, Jiang Moyuan had become the laughing stock of the netizens. Swallowing hard, the secretary dialed a number, his voice trembling, ¡°Miss Luwei, have you, have you seen Weibo yet?¡± When Ying Luwei got this call, she had just finished a massage. She smiled, pleased, ¡°No, I haven¡¯t. I¡¯ll check it now.¡± Without seeming to care that the secretary might have something more to say, she hung up the phone. Ying Luwei took out a lipstick and opened Weibo. Chapter 55 She had specifically waited until after she had posted a pity-seeking, sorrowful tweet before going upstairs in the hotel to get a Perfume Essence massage. The purpose was to soothe her body and then enjoy watching Ying Zijin¡¯s miserable condition. Ying Luwei¡¯s lips curled up in a smile as her fingers moved to the messages section. As she had expected, there were lots of comments and private messages. But when Ying Luwei clicked to take a closer look, her expression changed dramatically. None were words of comfort; all were sarcasm. [¡°The White Lotus Award goes to you. What brand of plastic bag are you, to be able to hold so much?¡±] [¡°I¡¯m so envious of your skin¡ªit¡¯s maintained such a thick facade.¡±] [¡°Just with one picture you label your own niece as a seducer and shift the blame so proficiently. You¡¯re wasting your talents not being a chef.¡±] [¡°Afraid that you¡¯ll pretend to be offline and not see the video, I¡¯m sending it to you specially. Make sure not to say you didn¡¯t see it, okay? [Video]¡±] Ying Luwei furrowed her brows and opened the video. Just a few seconds in, her eyes widened and her face turned pale as a ghost. Impossible! She had clearly arranged for Mr. Allen to erase the surveillance footage, so where did this video come from? Ying Luwei scrambled to review the events on social media over the last couple of hours. After seeing everything, she was completely in disbelief. Ying Zijin actually had the surveillance footage in her possession! Had she really held onto it for so long only to release it now, on purpose? Ying Luwei immediately called Allen, gritting her teeth and enunciating each word, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that it was absolutely impossible for anyone to recover the surveillance footage? Why does the other party have it?!¡± If she hadn¡¯t been certain that Ying Zijin couldn¡¯t clear her name, why would she have posted that pitiful tweet? By this time, Allen had already boarded a cruise ship, heading for O continent. Naturally, he could not be aware of what was happening on Hua Country¡¯s Internet. Upon hearing her words, he was first stunned, then his voice turned cold, ¡°Of course it¡¯s impossible. No hacker in Hua Country has better skills than me.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying I¡¯m blind?¡± Ying Luwei was fuming with rage, ¡°Are you just scamming me for my money?¡± Allen simply hung up the call, scoffing coldly. Sure enough, people from small places have no vision. To recover the surveillance footage he had erased? Unless it was one of the top-ranking individuals from the Anonymous Hackers Alliance. How could that be possible? Someone from Hua Country hiring them? Even after spending five years in the Anonymous Hackers Alliance, he didn¡¯t have the privilege of meeting these few individuals. Absolutely ridiculous. With a sneer, Allen grabbed his briefcase and disembarked from the ship. ** In the hotel. Ying Luwei was staring at her phone, dazed, with cold sweat all over her body. Her agent walked in, his face grim, ¡°Luwei, I¡¯ve said it before, don¡¯t trust outsiders so much. Now it¡¯s a real mess.¡± He tossed the phone at her, ¡°Take a look for yourself!¡± On the screen was a long tweet. Ying Luwei recognized this Twitter handle¡ªit belonged to one of her loyal fans. This fan attended every one of her concerts and would send her gifts during holidays, often spending tens of thousands on her piano album. Although, that sum didn¡¯t even come close to what she spent on cosmetics in a month. [¡°@Luwei¡¯s Little Piano: When the picture came out yesterday, I told everyone to please stay calm. But no one listened to me. Some fans even asked anti-fan sites to blacklist me. You all saw today¡¯s reversal, right? Wasn¡¯t the last lesson enough?¡±] And there¡¯s Luwei¡¯s Weibo post. I feel like she¡¯s intentionally using us. Sorry, maybe I¡¯m just too sensitive, but I really can¡¯t continue supporting her. It feels like all the genuine emotions of these past years were wasted on a dog. We were like sisters, but it¡¯s time to say goodbye here.] Within just a few minutes after the post, a significant number of fans on the related topic had unfollowed her. Many went back to step on her (leave negative comments), cursing her as a ¡°white lotus¡± and accusing her of deceiving her fans. Ying Luwei¡¯s hand trembled, and her phone dropped to the ground, her face even paler. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you before? The entertainment industry is too chaotic. Today you stand high, tomorrow you¡¯ll fall,¡± her agent said tiredly, pressing his temples, ¡°If you want traffic and fans, you need to be careful.¡± He hesitated for a moment before asking the question that had long puzzled him, ¡°Luwei, why are you so eager to push your fake niece to her death? How has she threatened you?¡± Could it be¡­ Ying Luwei couldn¡¯t hear anything anymore, an unprecedented sense of fear surged in her heart, reminding her of things from a long time ago. No, this won¡¯t do. She picked up her phone with trembling hands, ¡°Hey, Moyuan, help me, please help me¡­¡± ** On this end. Zhong Manhua had just gotten off the plane, clutching her phone, her chest heaving with anger, her head almost exploding. That day, after Jiang Huaping had spoken with her, she had reflected and felt she was wrong. She blamed Ying Zijin without getting the facts straight, which was not right. But what about this time? Could the pictures also be fake? Every time she went to Oceania to see Xiao Xuan, Ying Zijin never failed to give her trouble. Zhong Manhua grabbed her purse and rushed to Verdant, arriving at the principal¡¯s office as quickly as possible. The principal was in the middle of a discussion with He Xun about the International Class students, and he was startled by the sudden entrance of Zhong Manhua. Before he could open his mouth, Zhong Manhua had already taken a step forward, ¡°Principal, I¡¯m really sorry, I am here to arrange for my child¡¯s withdrawal from school.¡± The principal was stunned. ¡°We didn¡¯t expect such a thing to happen either,¡± Zhong Manhua said through clenched teeth, her extreme discomfort making it almost impossible for her to raise her head, ¡°Withdrawing from school is the best decision, for the good of Verdant and for the child. Principal, what do you think¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, ¡°bang!¡±, the office door was kicked open. At the doorway, Ying Zijin stood with her hands in her pockets, her expression indifferent. The temperature plummeted sharply, icy and chilling. Upon seeing the girl, Zhong Manhua tried to soften her tone, speaking gently, ¡°Zijin, don¡¯t worry. Mommy is withdrawing you from school and is going to send you abroad. In a few years, once this blows over, you can come back, okay?¡± ¡°Madam Ying, you¡¯re mistaken,¡± Ying Zijin lifted her lashes, her voice devoid of emotion, ¡°I have nothing to do with you, and you have no right to control me.¡± She turned her head, ¡°Principal, she can¡¯t manage my school registration, right?¡± The principal, still dazed, nodded, ¡°Yes, she has no say. Master Zhong has already said¡­¡± It was as if those words were a slap in the face. Zhong Manhua clenched the bag in her hand tightly. In the presence of outsiders, the humiliation burned her face, ¡°Zijin, what are you talking about? Mommy is doing this for your own good, I can¡¯t just watch you get cursed at by others, right? It¡¯s better to withdraw from school¡­¡± ¡°Wait, wait,¡± the principal had to interrupt Zhong Manhua, ¡°Madam Ying, haven¡¯t you seen the latest Weibo post?¡± Zhong Manhua was taken aback. What? Seeing her expression, the principal knew she was unaware, and he shook his head, ¡°I happen to have it here, Madam Ying, please have a look.¡± After saying that, he placed the computer in front of her. In less than a minute, the video had finished playing. Zhong Manhua stiffened, as though she¡¯d been punched in the face, even the color on her lips completely draining away. She couldn¡¯t help but step back, barely daring to look up at the girl. Ying Zijin didn¡¯t bother with her, she nodded at the principal and then placed a printed chat record on the desk. Chapter 56 The principal put on his glasses and took the chat records. The more he read, the uglier his expression became, until it turned livid. The principal tried to keep his anger in check and probed, ¡°What does Classmate Ying mean by this?¡± ¡°Proceed legally,¡± Ying Zijin nodded slightly, ¡°just giving you a heads-up.¡± Principal: ¡°¡­¡± So he was just a tool to be notified. ¡°I understand,¡± the principal said, pushing up his glasses with a stern expression, ¡°Classmate Ying, rest assured, Verdant will absolutely not condone this kind of behavior.¡± Ying Zijin said nothing more and turned to push the door open and leave. Zhong Manhua couldn¡¯t care less about how embarrassed she had just been, as she hastily followed: ¡°Zijin!¡± He Xun glanced at the two who were leaving, his expression indifferent. Although Zhong Manhua had done wrong, as a daughter, there should be respect for elders. How could she treat her own mother this way? He didn¡¯t want to get involved and frowned, ¡°Principal, what did she show you?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the principal seemed to just remember that He Xun was there, ¡°if you¡¯re curious, take a look for yourself.¡± With that, he handed over the chat records. He Xun took them and was taken aback at the first glance. It was a conversation between Ying Feifei and the official fan club of Ying Luwei. [Ying Feifei]: I saw it with my own eyes, Ying Zijin seducing Jiang Moyuan, and it¡¯s not the first time, you know. She often uses the excuse of visiting Ying Luwei to actually get close to Jiang Moyuan. [Ying Feifei]: But would Jiang Moyuan like her? He didn¡¯t even spare her a glance, yet she has no self-awareness and shamelessly follows him around. What can Jiang Moyuan, being such a gentleman, do to her? [Ying Luwei Official Fan Club]: Don¡¯t worry, if she dares to seduce our brother-in-law, we will make her life hell, hehe. This was spreading rumors, and Ying Feifei indirectly led to a cyberbullying campaign. He Xun looked up, ¡°So, what¡¯s the punishment for Ying Feifei?¡± ¡°What else could it be?¡± The principal dug out the student records, ¡°For such malicious behavior, of course, she¡¯ll be expelled.¡± A student expelled by Verdant, no high school in Hua Country would dare to accept her. He Xun¡¯s throat moved, but he swallowed back the words ¡°I think it¡¯s too severe.¡± ** Downstairs. ¡°Zijin!¡± Zhong Manhua, enduring the strange looks from students around the campus, was nearly losing her temper, ¡°Can you stop for a moment and listen to me?!¡± Why was it always so headstrong, not giving her any face? Zhong Manhua quickened her pace, about to reach out for Ying Zijin. But before she could even touch the girl¡¯s hem, two punk-style boys wielding realistic-looking spiked clubs blocked her path. Zhong Manhua¡¯s face turned pale: ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± The two boys were from Class 19. They looked menacing, spitting venom: ¡°Old lady, a warning for you, don¡¯t bully our Daddy Ying, we¡¯re not vegetarians.¡± ¡°You, you¡­¡± Zhong Manhua was trembling with rage, but as a member of a wealthy family, it was beneath her to lower herself to argue with these types, so she left with a livid face. Under a tree ahead, Ying Zijin didn¡¯t even glance at Zhong Manhua. She was on a call: ¡°Elder Mu, thank you. Without you, I might not have been able to contact West Wind Law Firm so easily.¡± ¡°Why the courtesy, it was the least I could do.¡± When the matter was brought up, Mu Heqing was still displeased, ¡°I say, why bother making it so complicated? I could¡¯ve helped you directly.¡± Ying Zijin raised an eyebrow: ¡°So you were planning to post a marriage solicitation advertisement on behalf of the Mu family for me?¡± Mu Heqing coughed awkwardly a few times, then said solemnly, ¡°How could it be a marriage solicitation? Really, Zijin, if you¡¯re willing, you can choose any man from the Mu family.¡± ¡°Oh, not interested.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Mu Heqing felt a sharp pain in his heart. ¡°Elder Mu, there¡¯s something else I¡¯d like to ask you,¡± Ying Zijin sounded thoughtful and spoke in a low voice, ¡°Do you know where I can buy rare medicinal herbs?¡± Mu Heqing was slightly startled, ¡°Rare medicinal herbs?¡± After pausing, he frowned, ¡°If you¡¯re talking about rare medicinal herbs like the Century Snow Lotus, then it¡¯s absolutely impossible to find them on the market.¡± The Mu family started from a military background, tracing its earliest history back to the Tang Dynasty, but wasn¡¯t part of the Ancient Medical Field. Mu Heqing only came into contact with the Ancient Medical Field because he needed treatment for his illness. The Ancient Medical Field was very exclusive and wouldn¡¯t sell rare medicinal herbs to outsiders. Ying Zijin didn¡¯t seem surprised, ¡°It should be even more precious than the Century Snow Lotus.¡± She wasn¡¯t seeing the poison in Old Master Fu¡¯s body for the first time. She could detoxify it, but the medicinal herbs were a problem. Especially now, with nature being greatly destroyed, the effectiveness of medicinal herbs was far from what it used to be. ¡°Then only the Ancient Medical Field would have it,¡± mused Mu Heqing, ¡°Xiao Ying, even in the Ancient Medical Field, no one your age can compare with your medical skills. I can introduce you to them.¡± Ying Zijin pressed her temples, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t want to join the Ancient Medical Field right now.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Mu Heqing did not ask why, ¡°In that case, I have a spare STAR account that you can use to look around, maybe you¡¯ll be able to buy what you need.¡± After hanging up the phone, he sent the account username and password through WeChat. ** The controversy online was still unceasing. [Ying Luwei must be too embarrassed to show her face now, right?] [Her fans have stopped yelling too. They were so lively before, tsk, I¡¯m cringing on your behalf.] [Am I the only one who cares whether Ying Zijin will actually sue? Or is it just empty talk?] That was what many influencers and fans thought innerly. There were so many of them; could they really be sued one by one? Did they have the manpower, material resources, and energy for that? Not likely. The influencers didn¡¯t delete their defamatory Weibo posts; they left them there, because after all, they could still generate more traffic. One influencer even smugly posted a Weibo. [@Call Me Invincible Hero: She won¡¯t sue. How many celebrities have actually sued after issuing a statement? It¡¯s all for show. She¡¯s just an ordinary person, what kind of power could she have? Just laugh it off.] Inside the restaurant, Fu Yunshen looked at this Weibo post with an indifferent gaze. As if he could feel the warmth, he slightly opened his collar, revealing a small expanse of his collarbone. Fu Yunshen casually tapped on the table, ¡°Yaoyao.¡± Ying Zijin looked up, noticed the askew collar of the man, and wrinkled her brow. Three seconds later, she still reached out and straightened his collar. The coolness of her fingertips brushed against the man¡¯s slender neck. It was as if a slight current of air rippled through, causing ripples to spread. Fu Yunshen was momentarily stunned, then he couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°No way, kid, you have OCD?¡± Ying Zijin didn¡¯t respond, but as if compelled by OCD, she adjusted his left sleeve to match the right, ¡°There.¡± Only then did she look at him, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing much, just¡ª¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s peach blossom eyes curved, his tone casual, ¡°come see how your brother teaches a lesson to those who bully you.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Ying Zijin turned her head and saw a Weibo post. [@Call Me Invincible Hero: Discovered something interesting, three hundred and eighty-four influencers working in unison, the same press releases, the same rumors, and it seems¡­ they all belong to Ying Luwei¡¯s company?] The Weibo post was accompanied by several images. Chapter 57 The first image is the login times of each marketing account. The second image is the IP addresses. The third image is a snippet of chat log from a WeChat group. There are a few hundred people in the WeChat group, one of whose avatars sent this message: [¡°Received notification, tonight at 9:30 PM, everyone should carry #Wealthy Family Dog Blood, Niece Seduces Uncle?#, #Rebellion! Ying Family¡¯s Foster Daughter Dares to Bite the Hand That Feeds!#, #Heartache for Ying Luwei# and these several topics, here are the drafts and images, post them immediately.¡±] Below was a sea of ¡°Received.¡± It is worthy of note that the name of this WeChat group is embedded with the words ¡°Qiqian Media.¡± And Qiqian Media is exactly the music company that signed Ying Luwei. Of course, as Shanghai City¡¯s number one socialite and rich lady, Ying Luwei¡¯s relationship with Qiqian Media is naturally not like other singers in the entertainment circle. Qiqian Media is only responsible for handling the sale of concert tickets for Ying Luwei and some offline activities, which could be said to be a tool company that serves Ying Luwei. The memory of netizens lasts no more than three days; most have forgotten that it was the ¡°@Call Me Invincible Hero¡± account that clarified Ying Luwei was not the one pushed down by Ying Zijin. But a few remembered. [¡°Here it comes, Invincible Bro is at it again.¡±] [¡°Damn, how did Invincible Bro get the internal group records of Qiqian Media?¡±] [¡°My guess is Invincible Bro is a super awesome hacker.¡±] [¡°So, in fact, was this incident self-directed and self-performed by Ying Luwei? First, let her own fans post pictures, to be misunderstood as Sister Ying seducing Jiang Moyuan, then have the marketing accounts post coordinated articles together and hit the hot search to sell a sob story and solidify her fan base? This¡­ This isn¡¯t just a white lotus anymore, this is manipulative scheming, right?¡±] [¡°Tsk tsk, suddenly I feel sorry for Ying Luwei¡¯s fans, look at what you¡¯ve been supporting.¡±] [¡°I¡¯m in love with Invincible Bro, the very definition of someone who tears apart white lotus and green-tea b****es, I was almost deceived by Ying Luwei. Thank goodness, thank goodness. I always thought her piano playing was so-so, what¡¯s with setting up a beautiful woman persona.¡±] The ¡°@Call Me Invincible Hero¡± Weibo post quickly also topped the hot search list, and naturally, Ying Luwei¡¯s fans couldn¡¯t pretend to be blind and not see it. The ones who didn¡¯t unfollow were the die-hard fans, still firmly believing in Ying Luwei. [¡°How many times have I said it, Luwei doesn¡¯t know anything, it¡¯s normal for Luwei to love her brother-in-law so much and be upset seeing the photos, right? Besides, netizens don¡¯t know that Qiqian Media is simply a company seeking to ride the hype wave; without Luwei, who would even know about this small company?¡±] [¡°Exactly, with this, you can prove it¡¯s related to Luwei? What a joke.¡±] [¡°Moreover, our Luwei is a pianist, a pianist! She¡¯s not a flowery star; she doesn¡¯t partake in entertainment circle shenanigans, thank you.¡±] Even with fans arguing with reason, they still couldn¡¯t prevent the initial collapse of Ying Luwei¡¯s passerby fanbase. The agent saw this too, and his eyebrows furrowed deeply: ¡°Now we¡¯re truly in trouble, but it¡¯s still solvable. Anyway, it¡¯s not just you under Qiqian Media, we can push someone else out to take the fall.¡± Upon hearing these words, Ying Luwei¡¯s complexion, white as paper, regained some color: ¡°Will they believe it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the internet has a memory, but netizens don¡¯t,¡± said the agent. ¡°They will forget after a while, you just need to focus on your concerts for the next few months, and your popularity with the general public will eventually return.¡± He sighed: ¡°But this time, the losses are indeed too great.¡± Ying Luwei nodded stiffly, her heart still quivering with fear. Who exactly had she offended? Why was she being targeted like this? Ying Luwei bit her lip, her eyes dimming. ** [¡°Damn it, as the boss of the Anonymous Hackers Alliance, I have to be at your beck and call every day, pay up next time!¡±] Fu Yunshen looked at the message from a certain hacker, his eyebrows raised. He set his phone aside, his slender fingers resting on his teacup: ¡°Yaoyao, what made you think of me today?¡± Ying Zijin did not respond. She was staring at the large bowl of pig liver soup in front of her, lost in thought. ¡°` I didn¡¯t really want to pay attention to people. ¡°I won¡¯t force you to eat pig liver anymore,¡± Fu Yunshen turned his head, ¡°Just drink some soup, be good. Your body is your own.¡± Ying Zijin sighed, yet she didn¡¯t refuse and scooped up a bowl of soup. To her surprise, the soup was very fresh and didn¡¯t have the taste of innards. After taking a few sips, she said, ¡°I can save Grandpa Fu.¡± Fu Yunshen¡¯s eyes suddenly changed, discarding his lazy smile, his expression serious for the first time, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t have the medicinal ingredients,¡± Ying Zijin looked up, ¡°I asked Elder Mu, and he said that the ingredients I need are only available in the Ancient medical field.¡± Fu Yunshen fell briefly silent, ¡°What ingredients?¡± Ying Zijin opened the memo on her phone and passed it to him. Fu Yunshen looked at the six types of medicinal ingredients listed in the memo, laughed softly, but his eyes were cold, ¡°The Ancient medical field might not have them either.¡± Although he hadn¡¯t traced the source of the toxin, he had some leads. It wasn¡¯t from Hua Country, and it was very likely related to the Alchemy world in O Continent. ¡°I plan to check on STAR,¡± Ying Zijin nodded, ¡°Maybe there¡¯s someone selling them.¡± STAR, known as The Star in Chinese, is an online auction and shopping website where people can sell goods with its services available worldwide. Once, someone had sold a small principality in O Continent on STAR, and it actually found a buyer. It was said that the seller was the king of that principality, who found managing the small country too exhausting and selling it would turn a tidy profit. It was a case of one daring to sell and another daring to buy. However, to register an account on STAR required being outside of the country, and not many people in Hua Country were aware of it. Ying Zijin also remembered that the last time Fu Yunshen gave her a box of children¡¯s books, the word STAR was written on the box. Fu Yunshen gently lifted his eyelashes, ¡°The account Elder Mu gave you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± There was a silence for two seconds. ¡°Kid.¡± A lazy voice came from the right. The next moment, there was a light tap on her forehead. A scorching warmth swept across. Ying Zijin slowly looked up, her phoenix eyes narrowing. ¡°Next time, if there¡¯s anything or something you need, find me first,¡± Fu Yunshen leaned down slightly, his lips curving in a light smile, ¡°You do so much for me, I don¡¯t mind the trouble.¡± ** Jiang Moyuan had been in meetings all day and had just finished, so he was completely unaware of the commotion online. During the meeting, he received a call from Ying Luwei, but work took priority, and he didn¡¯t listen to all of it. He only comforted her briefly before hanging up, planning to sort it out after the meeting. After separating from Jiang Corporation¡¯s shareholders, Jiang Moyuan was about to call Ying Luwei back. But he saw his secretary run over in a bit of a panic, ¡°Third Master!¡± Jiang Moyuan frowned. As a meticulous and strict person, he disliked his employees being flustered and careless. ¡°What happened?¡± Jiang Moyuan glanced at his watch, somewhat impatient, ¡°You¡¯d better have something important to say.¡± The secretary stopped, finally catching his breath, and anxiously said, ¡°Third Master, it¡¯s a big deal, you need to look at the corporation¡¯s stock!¡± ¡°`