The discussion was over, and the time was exactly five minutes.
Seeing Shi Sheng turn and leave without a word, Shi Mingqian didn’t stop her.
After all, he had achieved the result he wanted. A few small tantrums from his adopted daughter? He was willing to tolerate them.
As long as it brought him benefit…
Meanwhile, Shi Sheng had just stepped out of the study and hadn’t even reached the stairs when trouble came knocking.
A sharp voice rang from nearby:
“What are you doing here?!”
Shi Sheng looked up and saw the fool charging at her, brimming with anger and even trying to shove her. Her face was full of deep annoyance.
Indeed, aside from Shi Yiyan, who else deserved to be called a fool?
Shi Yiyan’s eyes were full of disgust, but more than that, wariness.
Shi Sheng had left the Shi family, hadn’t she? So why was she back?
Could it be that her father was disappointed in her and wanted to bring Shi Sheng back?
Thinking this, her hatred toward Shi Sheng deepened even more.
This impostor gone once, and now back?
Why doesn’t she just die somewhere outside?
She had already stolen eighteen years of her wealthy life was she going to take more now?
Shi Yiyan hadn’t even secured her footing in the Shi family yet, and she had made such a big mistake recently. No she couldn’t let Shi Sheng come back. She absolutely would not allow it…
Before her muttering could even finish, a single word exploded in her ear.
“Leave.”
Shi Sheng was already in the worst possible mood she had no patience to deal with this fool.
Shi Yiyan was instantly enraged, her anger so intense it seemed almost transcendental.
Though she hadn’t grown up in the Shi household, her adoptive parents had spoiled her greatly under Shi family instructions, resulting in a terrible temper.
Now, back in a wealthy family, she considered herself far above ordinary people how could she tolerate a poor orphan insulting her like this?
Without thinking, she reached out and slapped at Shi Sheng’s face.
At this point, she had long stopped pretending to be a pure “white lotus.” After the banquet, she knew that act didn’t work on Shi Sheng or in fact, anywhere in their circle.
Unfortunately, her slap was stopped before it landed not by Shi Sheng, but by the family servant, Aunt Wang.
Shi Yiyan’s face twisted with rage. “Who do you think you are, stopping me?”
Aunt Wang lowered her head. “Miss, this is what Master wants.”
“Father?”
Shi Yiyan’s voice was surprised, her expression shifting. But it reminded her of something she had requested from her father not long ago.
Instantly, all her emotions turned to glee.
She withdrew her hand, looked Shi Sheng over from head to toe, and with a smile, returned to her room.
Shi Yiyan thought, Let’s see how long you can stay arrogant, Shi Sheng!
Meanwhile, back at the parking area, Shi Sheng immediately noticed three timid men, quailing like quails.
The two bodyguards who had just been beaten were in disarray, covered in fresh wounds. Even the driver, whom she hadn’t had the chance to discipline earlier, now stood there with two dark, bruised eyes.
In stark contrast, over twenty men of varying attire were squatting or standing around hardly looking like proper security.
Seeing her appear, their expressions immediately turned serious.
He Qiuqiu rushed over and thoroughly checked Shi Sheng before exhaling in relief. “If you hadn’t come out in ten minutes, I was going to storm in. I’ve already taken over the Shi family’s security system.”
The others gathered around, wearing casual smiles.
“I knew the boss would be fine…”
“Do I not know? I’m just curious when did the boss start holding back? She wasn’t like this during training.”
“Hahaha, maybe it’s because you’re not as handsome as those two bodyguards…”
“You’re so pretty! You were the one who got beaten the most…”
Though teasing, the undertone of concern was clear.
A faint smile appeared in Shi Sheng’s eyes, but her words were merciless. “Do what you need to do and leave. All of you, scram.”
The men muttered, “Use and toss,” but obeyed instinctively.
Within seconds, they were all gone.
Shi Sheng looked at the three timid men. “You know what to say and what not to say, right?”
They nodded quickly, pecking like birds. “Yes, yes…”
Back in the small courtyard, Shi Sheng looked at He Qiuqiu and pressed her lips together. “This time, I dragged you into it.”
In the Shi family, if Ye Xiangwen had oppressed her verbally and physically, Shi Mingqian’s torment was purely psychological.
If she disobeyed, the people around her would soon suffer.
For so many years, before her wings had grown, she had carefully hidden her relationship with He Qiuqiu.
Yet in the end, He Qiuqiu had still been caught up in it.
Hearing this, He Qiuqiu ignored her injuries and sprang from her seat. “I was arrogant and insisted on leaving the hospital early that’s on me, what does it have to do with you?”
“Besides, my life is yours. That year, if not for you, I’d be dead already…”
Mentioning the past, both fell silent.
That day had been not only the darkest moment of He Qiuqiu’s life but also the beginning of the collapse above Shi Sheng’s head.
Minutes later, Shi Sheng spoke first. “About that Cimei auction we contacted last time you’ll get in touch with them. Tell them I’m willing to offer one more piece, but I have a condition.”
He Qiuqiu paused with her cup in hand, didn’t ask further, and agreed immediately.
Sure enough, the person in charge at Cimei nearly jumped with joy upon hearing that Master “Kong” was willing to offer another piece.
Indeed, over the past decade, the Cimei auction had been the largest in Jiangcheng.
But times change fast. If they couldn’t come up with ways to attract attention, they’d be crushed by competition.
Hence, the recent attempt to contact Master “Kong.”
Everyone in the circle knew that Master “Kong” only released two works a year. That rarity was why they wanted it.
Though the odds were slim.
Yet who knew that a stroke of luck would appear!
For the first time in years, Master “Kong” was releasing a third piece!
Its value was self-evident.
At this point, the condition was nothing ten, twenty conditions, they’d agree to all of them.
The important thing was to secure this opportunity quickly no one else was going to snatch it!