Shuyu was completely stunned.
Her mother?
Oh right—the original body’s mother.
Shuyu never expected that just when she’d managed to persuade Si Yiheng not to meet in person, the original woman’s own mother would show up with such a “wonderful surprise.”
There was no way she was going to meet her.
Shuyu lowered her head, worked up the right mood, and spoke in a low, dejected tone, putting on a full performance: “I don’t want to see her.”
Si Yiheng remained perfectly calm. “Why don’t you want to see her?”
Shuyu’s voice grew even softer. “She doesn’t like me.
“Yiheng, I don’t think I’ve ever told you this, but my family favors sons over daughters. My parents never cared for me. I almost didn’t get to go to college—they wanted to sell me off in exchange for a bride price.”
All of this had actually happened to the original body.
She had been stubborn, though; the more she felt unloved, the harder she tried to make something of herself, hoping to finally earn her parents’ attention. She just wanted even a fraction of the affection they gave her younger brother.
After confirming her relationship with Si Yiheng, the original woman had even transferred all one million five hundred thousand yuan she’d received from him straight to her parents.
She thought that by contributing so much to the family, she’d finally stand tall, and that her parents might finally feel a little love for her.
But instead of love, it only fueled their greed and demands.
Shuyu bowed her head and began to sob, her vision blurring with tears. “Ever since I started school, I worked every spare minute to earn money, and I sent every bit of it home. I thought that if I did that, they might care for me just a little more.”
“But they kept pressing me for more money. When my father got into a car accident, I gave them every single penny you’d given me.”
“Once I had nothing left, my mother kept calling and threatening me. She said if I didn’t send more, she’d come to my university and make a scene—humiliate me, and make you break up with me.”
“That’s when I finally realized… they never really loved me at all.”
Shuyu spoke in a trembling voice, her grievance building up until tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
She understood exactly what the original body had gone through. In her own previous life, she had never received her parents’ love either. Her more talkative older sister and livelier younger brother had always found it easier to win their affection.
As the second child, she was overlooked because of her quiet, reserved nature. She never felt she contributed enough to satisfy them.
At first, Shuyu had also tried hard to prove herself useful.
But eventually, she realized that no matter what she did, it would never be enough.
In the end, she gave up trying to earn their affection. When she refused to marry a man over forty years old just to bring benefits to the family, her parents completely disowned her, and she became nothing more than a ghost in their lives.
“I’m sorry, Yiheng,” Shuyu whispered. “For my mother coming to look for you at school. I’ve caused you trouble.”
Si Yiheng fell silent.
Shuyu was naturally prone to tears—she’d cry when arguing with her roommate, or even when she accidentally burned her finger. Now, speaking of her family, she was sobbing uncontrollably.
Si Yiheng usually disliked such intense displays of emotion.
But right now, he could not bring himself to blame her.
He softened his voice. “Don’t cry, Xiaoyu.
“Not every child is fortunate enough to be loved by their parents. Now that you see the truth clearly and no longer hold onto false hopes, you’ll only feel less hurt in the future.
“Walk away from that swamp, and you’ll have a much brighter future ahead.”
Shuyu continued to sniffle quietly. She already knew everything he said was true. Even before she crossed into this world, she had walked away from the same kind of draining environment and built a successful life of her own.
Yet all those years of accumulated hurt and sadness still resurfaced whenever she spoke of it. Her feelings were beyond her control; no matter how much she told herself it didn’t matter, the pain still felt real.
“I know,” she murmured.
“Good,” Si Yiheng replied gently.
“Get some rest. I’ll handle your parents for you. They won’t bother you again.”
Shuyu gave a quiet, muffled response.
Si Yiheng found himself thinking once more how obedient and well-behaved she was. Whenever she was upset, he hardly needed to do anything—just transfer some money, and her bad mood would vanish instantly.
She was like a happy little puppy…
Even when she was heartbroken, she would listen to reason.
He supposed it was the trauma from her family that left her feeling so insecure. It took only a little money—something that meant nothing to him—to make her happy.
So easy to please.
Iron Egg had been watching her whole performance without daring to interrupt.
Only after Shuyu hung up the phone did he speak up: “Yuyu, come here for a hug. Don’t cry anymore.”
Shuyu wiped her eyes, her lids still glistening red. “It’s nothing. My body just reacts this way—I’m a bit of a crybaby.”
She whispered to him, “Actually, I’m not really sad. I know I’ll be fine. I’ll be happy.”
Iron Egg nodded vigorously. “Of course you will! Once you finish the mission, you can even find yourself a new boyfriend to keep you company.”
Shuyu shook her head earnestly. “I don’t need a boyfriend. I can live perfectly well on my own.”
Iron Egg nodded again. “You sure can! You can live a wonderful life all by yourself.”
Shuyu blinked and looked at him with a faint, suspicious gaze. “That sounded a little rude.”
Iron Egg scratched his virtual head. “Not at all! What I meant was—this is a novel world, after all. Why not find one of those devoted second male leads who dotes on the heroine? They’d take great care of you.”
“Like a personal caretaker…” He clapped his hand over his mouth. “I mean, having someone to look after you sounds nice, right?”
Shuyu walked over to the sink and washed her face. Water dripped down her cheeks, and with her reddened eyes, her already pale face looked even more delicate and fragile.
After drying herself, she asked, “Is the second male lead in this novel really as gentle as they say?”
She had read the original story and knew the character was Shen Qinghan.
To the female lead, he was indeed the devoted second male lead. Even though she never returned his feelings, he had helped pave the way for her marriage to Si Yiheng, positioning himself as the perfect foil.
In fact, it was Shen Qinghan who had orchestrated her relationship with Si Yiheng in the first place.
But toward everyone else, he was cold and unfeeling.
Iron Egg hesitated before answering. “Well… not really.”
Shuyu nodded calmly. “Exactly. We supporting characters need to know our place.”
She had no intention of daydreaming about stealing either the male lead or the second male lead away from the heroine.
Iron Egg quickly checked the plotline and nearly exploded in anger. “This whole mess actually has Shen Qinghan’s fingerprints on it! He’s the one who brought your original mother to find Si Yiheng!”
“What is he thinking? It’s not even time for you and Si Yiheng to break up yet—why is he causing trouble now?”
Shuyu had already moved to the living room, sat down on the carpet, and picked up her stylus.
She replied simply, “No idea.”
“If he ruins things and makes you break up with Si Yiheng, I’ll never forgive him!” Iron Egg fumed.
Shuyu smiled faintly, her tone obedient. “Don’t worry, Egg. Until I’ve earned enough money and completed the mission, I’ll try my best not to let our relationship end.”
And the best way to do that was to keep avoiding meeting Si Yiheng in person.
Outside the laboratory,
Shen Qinghan and the woman—Shuyu’s mother—had been waiting for quite some time. When Si Yiheng finally stepped out, his aura felt even colder and more imposing, radiating the overwhelming authority of someone born to lead.
“Go back,” he said flatly. “Xiaoyu refuses to see you.”
A flicker of disgust crossed his cold gaze. “And you are not worthy of being her mother.”
Shuyu’s mother had never expected things to turn out this way.
“Has Shuyu been filling your head with lies? That girl has always been a liar from childhood—don’t believe a word she says, the little ingrate!” she blurted out in panic.
Si Yiheng’s expression darkened instantly. He had always thought his own parents’ coldness and indifference were cruel enough.
But hearing this woman speak so venomously of her own daughter was something else entirely.
Shen Qinghan was also taken aback. “Auntie, what are you saying?”
Only then did the woman realize how harsh her words sounded. She shifted uncomfortably, unable to meet either man’s eyes.
But Si Yiheng pressed her relentlessly. “Is it true that Shuyu’s father was in a car accident and broke his leg?”
Caught under his icy, unwavering stare, she lost all ability to think clearly and answered honestly. “Y-yes… but Shuyu is heartless! She’s hooked herself up with a rich man, yet still refuses to pay for her own father’s medical bills!”
Si Yiheng let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “Is that so? Has she really not paid?”
“Would you like me to show you the transfer records? She gave you every single cent she had. Do you want her to sell her blood or her kidneys just to keep feeding your leech-like family? Is that what would finally satisfy you?”
He demanded, word by word: “Or are you planning to harass her until she drops out of school? What kind of parents behave like this?”
“Leave now. And never show your face in front of Shuyu again. Every penny you’ve taken from her—including the money she earned through all those years of hard work—you will return. Do that, and I will let what you’ve done slide.”
“Otherwise, I will have my lawyers gather evidence and sue you.”
Shuyu’s mother was thoroughly terrified.
Si Yiheng was far too powerful for her to dare cross him. She wouldn’t dare provoke even the wealthy people in her own hometown, let alone the sole heir to one of the most prominent families in the entire city.
Crossing him could mean ruin, or worse.
She gritted her teeth, burning with resentment. So that wretched girl had finally gotten lucky and climbed up the ladder.
Coming here today had brought her nothing but trouble and a huge loss.
But she consoled herself: Sooner or later, Si Yiheng would tire of Shuyu and cast her aside. Once that happened, and Shuyu walked away with a massive breakup settlement, she would come back to demand her share—then it would be her turn to profit.
Standing nearby, Shen Qinghan listened to every word and watched the woman’s guilty, fearful expression, growing more and more shocked.
He realized he had completely misunderstood Shuyu.
Her father really had been in an accident. She truly had given every last penny to her family.
Her parents really were that heartless.
And Shuyu… was far more vulnerable and mistreated than he had ever imagined.
A twinge of guilt stirred in his chest.
Once the matter was settled, Si Yiheng turned his gaze toward Shen Qinghan. “Did you have something else you needed?”
Shen Qinghan quickly regained his usual relaxed composure. “Can’t I just stop by to see you? Let’s go grab a meal together.”
Si Yiheng nodded briefly.
While waiting in the hallway, Shen Qinghan received a call from Xiao Yun, a close friend they both had known since childhood.
“Hey,” Xiao Yun said, his voice low and curious. “Do you know where Si Yiheng’s girlfriend is living right now?”
Shen Qinghan frowned and replied casually, “No idea. Why? Do you know?”
Who even knew where she lived? For all he knew, Si Yiheng himself might not even have the address.
Xiao Yun chuckled, lowering his voice even further. “Actually, I do. And I know exactly where Si Yiheng’s online girlfriend is staying.”