After the noise outside died down, Shi Yiyan took a deep breath and reopened the forum.
The moment she clicked in, waves of insults flooded the screen.
Why were these people cursing her? What right did they have?
Bullying? She had only “accidentally” spilled water on a classmate. How was that bullying?
Dating early? This wasn’t ancient times who hadn’t dated while they were in school?
As for her former foster parents just thinking of them disgusted her. She had merely found her younger brother annoying and asked someone to teach him a lesson. Sure, it had gone a bit too far and landed him in the hospital, but nothing fatal had happened in the end, right?
And for that tiny matter, they had scolded her in public. If she didn’t curse them, who else was she supposed to curse?
Shi Yiyan had long forgotten that the “water” she poured on someone had been a cup of boiling hot water.
The so-called early romance had only happened because she lost a bet. The boy she chose was handsome but timid. After she got bored and walked away, he couldn’t move on. He attempted suicide dozens of times and, even now, still hadn’t recovered.
As for beating her younger brother into the hospital, she never mentioned that although he was mischievous, he was only about ten years old at the time. Two of his ribs had been broken, and ever since then, he had grown increasingly timid.
Shi Yiyan never considered any of this. All she saw were the insults aimed at her. She trembled with rage, barely able to hold her phone.
What was going on? Who did this? Shi Sheng?
Worse still, she discovered that her backdoor admission had also been exposed.
Her father had spent an unknown amount of money to make that happen.
And the most critical part she had forcibly taken someone else’s slot.
Even now, Shi Yiyan didn’t think she was wrong.
What could those poor losers do even if they got into Huada University? Weren’t they just destined to become corporate cattle anyway?
Better to give the slot to her. The Shi family had paid enough money for that person to live comfortably for a lifetime!
Besides, giving her the spot was an honor!
But that was only true as long as no one dug it up.
Even as foolish as she was, Shi Yiyan understood that once this was exposed, she would be torn apart by public opinion and worse, it might affect her standing in her father’s eyes.
What should she do? Should she tell her parents?
No. She couldn’t.
She had only just returned to the Shi family and hadn’t secured her position yet. Even though her parents seemed to dote on her now, if they found out she had caused such a huge mess, wouldn’t they start having opinions about her?
Would they compare her to Shi Sheng in their hearts?
One so outstanding. One causing such disaster.
Would they regret bringing her back?
Would they let Shi Sheng return to the Shi family?
The more she thought about it, the paler she became.
She had finally made it back to the Shi family, finally lived the life of a rich young lady. She couldn’t accept going back to her old life.
Right. As long as the girl whose admission she took kept her mouth shut, everything would be fine.
Shi Yiyan tightened her grip on her phone, a flash of ruthlessness flickering in her eyes.
The next day, once the post exploded, the one who became famous wasn’t just Shi Yiyan. Shi Sheng, the “fake heiress,” was inevitably dragged out for discussion as well.
Huada University students were relatively restrained. After all, they had wronged Shi Sheng first.
Shi Sheng herself had been a victim in this whole affair. Eighteen years ago, she was just a baby what could she possibly have stopped?
And most importantly, the academic halo above her head was dazzling enough to overshadow everything else.
Top scorers weren’t unheard of at Huada University. But entering the school and immediately passing the grade-skipping exam to become a third-year student? Since Huada University was founded, only Shi Sheng had ever done that.
Even the strictest teachers whose faces had rarely shown a smile over the years looked at Shi Sheng with unmistakable warmth, though the smile on their faces was just slightly stiff.
Of course, if they were teachers, they’d treat her like the apple of their eye too!
The halo above Shi Sheng’s head was no longer just that of a top student.
It was the power of knowledge.
The holy light of genius!
But outsiders didn’t see it that way.
Not far from Huada University was a vocational university. It had sprawling grounds and top-tier facilities. From the outside, it looked more like a private aristocratic academy.
And in fact, that’s exactly what it was just filled with wealthy but useless rich kids.
Any truly influential family in Jiangcheng wouldn’t send their children there.
Every child in such families was precious a resource.
Poor grades weren’t a big deal, but character had to pass muster. If they couldn’t manage the company, they could at least enter a strategic marriage.
But dumping a child in a place like that to run wild? If they committed some serious crime in the future and brought disgrace upon the family, it would be too late for regret.
So the students there were mostly children abandoned by smaller families.
In the past, the Shi family had been far beyond their reach. They weren’t even worthy of carrying shoes for them.
But now things were different, weren’t they?
They wanted to see whether the fake heiress pampered by the Shi family for eighteen years would rot in the mud without her powerful backer.
“Brother Chi, I found out the fake heiress’s schedule. She finishes class in half an hour. Want to go check her out?” A white-haired boy grinned excitedly at the buzz-cut boy playing a shooting game on the computer.
Red hair, yellow hair, and various other brightly dyed heads all looked at him expectantly.
The boy called Brother Chi was Jiang Qichi the only school tyrant in the vocational university.
While most students there weren’t exactly model pupils, Jiang Qichi was different.
He had a terrible reputation lawless, unrestrained, constantly fighting.
And not only did he go wild himself, he dragged a whole group of lackeys along with him.
Occasionally, when teachers couldn’t take it anymore and called his parents, either no one answered or an assistant picked up. In the end, the school just let him be.
The game ended. Jiang Qichi gave a lazy grin. “Fine. Let’s go meet this fake heiress.”
Shi Sheng had no idea someone was so curious about her.
After school, as she walked through the alley as usual, she paused slightly when she saw the rainbow-haired group blocking her path.
“You’re the fake heiress kicked out by the Shi family?” The white-haired one deliberately blew a smoke ring in her direction, smiling provocatively.
Red hair chimed in, “Little sister, want to join your big brothers ”
Before he could finish, Shi Sheng cut him off.
She usually didn’t waste words, but looking at this eye-searing collection of rainbow hair, she couldn’t help asking seriously:
“Why did you dye your hair those colors? Is it for some ritual?”
It was a genuine question. She really wanted to know.
She never liked criticizing appearances after all, you were born with what your parents gave you.
But these people were assaulting her visual tolerance limit.
Not only were their hair colors outrageous, even the visible skin was covered in colorful tattoos.
If she wasn’t mistaken… those tattoos looked like stick-ons.
In eighteen years of life, she had never seen this species of human before.
Oh except for one buzz-cut who looked somewhat normal.
Though anyone hanging out with this group couldn’t be that normal.
The boys froze. The fake heiress’s reaction didn’t match any scenario in their script.
After processing her words, several of them flushed with embarrassment. “What do you know? This is fashion!”
Everyone at school said their hair looked good.
They refused to believe those compliments were fake.
It must be this woman’s terrible taste!
Yes, that had to be it!
Though Jiang Qichi looked the most normal, being insulted like that in front of his lackeys made him lose face.
And what did this woman know?
Did she realize she’d lost her backing?
Why was she still acting so high and mighty?
On what grounds?!
He cracked his neck, eyes full of hostility. “I’ll give you one more chance. As long as you ”
After waiting and getting no answer, Shi Sheng looked slightly disappointed.
She placed her bag in the corner behind her and cut him off.
“All together, or one by one?”
The words stunned the rainbow-haired group.
Brother Chi was already prickly enough this woman was even more arrogant than him!
Looking closer, there was an untamable, bandit-like sharpness about her.
Had they picked the wrong target?
Was this really a delicately raised heiress from a wealthy family?
The top scorer of the college entrance exam?
Was there some mistake? She looked more like the queen bee of their own school!
Shi Sheng’s disregard only fueled Jiang Qichi’s anger.
He snorted coldly. “You asked for it.”
He rushed forward.
Shi Sheng didn’t dodge at all. She lifted her leg and kicked him hard in the stomach.
Fast and ruthless.
He staggered back several steps, bending over in pain, sweat beading on his forehead. If his lackeys hadn’t caught him, he would’ve curled up on the ground.
The rainbow-haired boys hadn’t even processed their shock at him attacking when their brows shot up higher.
Brother Chi was undefeated on campus!
And he got kicked back like that?
But their boss had been hit how could they hold back?
They swarmed forward.
No matter what, they had to grab this woman first!
Shi Sheng swayed slightly, avoiding a strike from the left. Her right hand clamped onto an elbow joint, thumb pressing precisely on a nerve.
White Hair’s entire arm went numb. Before he could cry out, a punch landed on his face.
She didn’t stop. Her knee drove into Red Hair’s stomach; bile shot from his mouth, splattering Purple Hair who failed to dodge in time.
Avoiding the “biohazard,” Shi Sheng twisted Yellow Hair’s arm, paralyzing it, then executed a clean shoulder throw.
One by one, she dealt with the rest as easily as chopping vegetables.
Thus, the rainbow-haired squad defeated.
Shi Sheng brushed nonexistent dust from her sleeve, her breathing steady.
Tucking loose hair behind her ear, she said lightly, “Next time you pick a fight, remember to buy insurance first.”
Some rolled on the ground. Some wailed. Some retched…
They couldn’t understand how things had escalated like this.
Shi Sheng didn’t linger. She picked up her bag and left the alley.
He Qiuqiu had repeatedly told her before class ended to come home early there was nourishing soup waiting.
Because she left in a hurry, she didn’t notice her departing figure had caught the eyes of two men.
Shen Luli glanced at her slender back, then at the fallen rainbow-haired group, an almost imperceptible arch rising in his brow.
Were young girls this fierce nowadays?
He and Gu Nian had been passing by on business. Hearing noise in the alley, Gu Nian insisted on taking a look.
By the time they arrived, it was over.
All they saw was that back view.
Gu Nian clicked his tongue. “If I’d known it was a girl, I’d have come earlier. Might’ve gotten a chance to play hero.”
Shen Luli curled his lip. “Or maybe you’d have gotten beaten too.”
They left without sparing another glance at the rainbow-haired boys.
After returning home, Shi Sheng said nothing about what happened.
She obediently took the bowl of fish soup and sipped it while watching He Qiuqiu tinker with Fugui.
No one knew what system He Qiuqiu had installed into Fugui, but the electronic dog was more human than most humans.
“Ah! Someone is harassing Fugui!”
“Isn’t anyone going to save Fugui?”
“Master Shengsheng, if you keep ignoring this, your beloved Fugui will leave you forever!”
Shi Sheng pressed her forehead helplessly. Though Fugui’s voice still carried a metallic edge, she sometimes almost believed it was alive.
He Qiuqiu pinched Fugui’s mouth shut, leaving only metallic clicking sounds.
She laughed triumphantly. “Even the King of Heaven can’t save you today!”
An hour and a half later, Fugui finally escaped.
The upgrades had taken effect its tail now wagged smoothly, almost like a propeller. Shi Sheng even wondered if it might take flight if it wagged faster.
Just then, a phone rang.
He Qiuqiu answered with a smile, but within seconds her face turned icy.
“Don’t panic. I’ll head over now.”
Shi Sheng frowned. “What happened?”
“It’s about the orphanage. No need for you to step in I’ll go take a look.” She grabbed her bag and rushed out.
Shi Sheng wasn’t too worried. Few people could make things difficult for He Qiuqiu.
After finishing half her soup, she opened her computer.
Inside were clues she had gathered over the years.
Clues about her background.
Ever since learning the truth about the swapped heiresses as a child, one question had lingered.
Had she been trafficked?
Or abandoned?
Was there anyone in this world who loved her wholeheartedly?
Over time, the question had become an obsession.
Whatever the answer, she just wanted to know.
At the Shi household, the couple had kept tight surveillance on her using her to shield Shi Yiyan from misfortune.
Her phone had tracking software. Cameras were installed in her room. Even her jewelry carried trackers.
Like the bracelet she threw away when leaving the Shi family.
The clues she had managed to gather were only possible after she built her own resources and investigated bit by bit.
But none of it contained the key information.
That was why she had waited until yesterday the banquet, when security was at its loosest.
Unfortunately, she still failed.
Shi Sheng pressed her lips together.
It didn’t matter. She would find another way.
Time passed.
When she looked up again, she realized He Qiuqiu had been gone for over two hours.
Her brows slowly furrowed.
If it was just an issue at the orphanage, He Qiuqiu wouldn’t be gone this long without even a call.
Just then, the phone on the table vibrated.
The moment she answered, before she could speak, sobbing came from the other end.
“Shengsheng-jie… please come quickly. Sister Qiu is in the hospital…”