Beijing City, Shi Residence.
The Shi family had a rule: no matter how busy everyone was, once a month they had to return to the old residence for a family dinner.
Even Shi Wenyan, who as a celebrity was constantly flying around for work, couldn’t be an exception.
In the past, these dinners were filled with laughter, but ever since the incident eighteen years ago, this day had become the quietest of the month.
At the dining table, three seats remained empty, and the dishes once favored by those missing family members were still placed nearest to them.
After dinner, Shi Wenyan tried to lighten the mood by changing the topic. “Old man, didn’t you call before asking for a signed photo for someone’s granddaughter? I’m going to Jiangcheng for a concert next month. I’ll just give you a ticket instead.”
As expected, Grandpa Shi’s attention was diverted.
The signed photo request was just an excuse what he really wanted was peace of mind, something this little rascal didn’t bring him.
Going off on his own to become a celebrity was one thing, and Grandpa Shi wasn’t exactly a strict patriarch. He could be proud of a grandson who had survived the chaotic entertainment world. After all, every profession has its top performers.
The problem was that this little rascal wasn’t content with one scandal: today with this actress, tomorrow caught kissing another singer at a hotel.
Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, gossip about him circulated online almost every day.
Grandpa Shi had even felt grateful that his grandson had hidden his identity while becoming a celebrity, or else his family’s reputation would have suffered greatly.
Whenever he tried to ask what was going on, this kid would slip away faster than a rabbit.
He couldn’t understand young people nowadays if you want a relationship, stick to one seriously.
If he had any personal bias, his daughter-in-law wouldn’t have married into the Shi family in the first place.
But hopping from one person to another? What is that about?
After thinking it over, he decided that the entertainment industry must have corrupted this child; he had been so well-behaved as a kid. That’s why he wanted to introduce his friend’s granddaughter to him.
He quickly spoke up, worried his grandson might slip away again. “I don’t understand you young people either. Here’s the number for Old Man He’s granddaughter contact her directly.”
He even emphasized, “Remember to personally deliver it. She’s a good kid. I heard she just got accepted into Huada University this year.”
Hearing the first part, Shi Wenyan squinted his eyes, a faint gleam rising in them.
The old man’s mental arithmetic almost exploded in front of him.
But given the special circumstances today, he didn’t comment further.
Hearing the next part, he chuckled lightly. “Huada University again? I just read the news about Huada University today tsk, tsk, you really can’t judge a book by its cover.”
Huada University was one of the top universities in China, known for its positive public image. So when Shi Yiyan’s post went viral, even he was curious enough to check it out.
Of course, another reason was that her surname was also Shi.
“What’s going on?” asked Fu Wenyuan, the older single man who had been quietly keeping to himself, trying not to draw attention.
Though his younger brother was a big celebrity, he usually didn’t care about messy online drama this was unusual.
Shi Wenyan didn’t bother explaining and handed his phone over, showing the Weibo post.
Not only was Fu Wenyuan surprised, but Grandpa Shi and Shi Huaichuan also leaned in curiously.
After reading it, Fu Wenyuan frowned. “The Shi family in Jiangcheng shouldn’t have anything to do with us, right?”
The surname Shi wasn’t common, at least in Beijing, and anyone with that surname was likely to be distantly related.
Shi Huaichuan didn’t take the small news seriously. “There are plenty of people surnamed Shi. As long as they act recklessly in our name, we don’t need to care.”
Grandpa Shi, however, went silent again.
If he wasn’t mistaken, the orphan girl in the news was the same age as his missing eldest granddaughter.
The thought that his own granddaughter could have ended up in a welfare home, being bullied like that, made his heart ache like it was being pierced by needles.
Shi Wenyan, seeing his grandfather get emo again, was about to say something when the old man waved impatiently.
“Enough. Go handle your business. I want some peace.”
“And if the Shi family in Jiangcheng tries to do any business with us, reject it. Parents who raise a daughter like that can’t be good people.”
Everyone obediently agreed.
Just as Shi Wenyan got up to leave, he heard his grandfather shout again.
“Little rascal, don’t forget to contact Old Man He’s granddaughter!”
Shi Mingqian still didn’t realize he had unintentionally offended Beijing’s largest wealthy family.
The call from the school had left him frustrated; his temples throbbed. Upon hearing his assistant’s report, he angrily swept all the documents off his desk.
“Do I need to tell you what to do? Delete the post! Have the PR department come up with a plan immediately!”
The secretary nodded on the surface, but internally grumbled what plan could fix this after it was already exposed?
Still, to save their jobs, the PR team worked efficiently. Soon, most of the posts online were deleted, and even the trending topics were suppressed with money.
But for netizens, deletion only made them more defiant.
Delete one post, they’ll post two. Delete one more, they’ll post another. Keep deleting, they’ll keep reposting.
If they can’t mention “Shi,” then just use the word “shit” instead after all, the Shi family’s actions were as disgusting as excrement.
At this moment, Shi Yiyan didn’t know what had happened online. She had been waiting all day for the thugs to reply.
But as the hours passed, no calls came.
She began to feel uneasy.
It shouldn’t be this way it was just teaching an orphan girl a lesson. Why hadn’t they replied yet?
Had the thugs run off with the money?
Ye Xiangwen saw her daughter distracted and asked with concern, “Yan Yan, what’s wrong? Why do you look so absent-minded?”
The sudden voice startled Shi Yiyan, clutching her phone. She quickly replied, “Nothing, I’m fine.”
But her smile looked stiff and unnatural.
At that moment, Shi Mingqian returned.
Shi Yiyan hurriedly composed her expression, only to look up and see her father’s face dark as if it could drip water.
Her unease grew; she instinctively stepped back and averted her gaze.
Ye Xiangwen noticed her husband’s expression and asked curiously, “Why do you two look so upset? Did something happen at the company?”
Shi Mingqian snorted. “Something happen? You’d better ask your good daughter what she’s done!”
Ye Xiangwen was stunned. In all these years, it was the first time her husband spoke to her like that.
She paused, then quickly tried to explain for her daughter. “Yan Yan stayed at home all day. What could she have done?”
“Hmph. She could do plenty,” Shi Mingqian loosened his tie. “I told her to stay low-key at school. Did she listen? Her enrollment spot got discovered by others, and she didn’t tell me immediately.”
Shi Mingqian grew angrier, almost pointing at Shi Yiyan and yelling. “If you had the guts, fine. But you went with a few thugs to the welfare home and attacked someone, using disgraceful methods. Now, tell me what were you thinking?!”
At this point, even the foolish Shi Yiyan realized her actions had been exposed.
Since returning to the Shi household, it was the first time she had seen her doting father like this, completely different from his usual refined demeanor.
Ye Xiangwen frowned. Although she wasn’t skilled at managing the company, she could see the seriousness of the situation.
This incident could damage both the family’s reputation and the company.
No wonder her husband was so angry. And Yan Yan she hadn’t been careful. The fake Shi Sheng at home for over a decade never caused such a big problem.
Yet seeing her daughter’s tear-streaked face softened her heart.
All the blame ultimately lay with them as parents. If they had been able to unlock their daughter’s fortune, Yan Yan wouldn’t have grown up in a regular household.
She pulled her daughter behind her and looked at her furious husband. “Yan Yan is still young. It’s understandable if she isn’t careful. Why scold her so harshly? If she makes a mistake, you can teach her. Eventually, our company will still be in her hands.”
She knew these words alone couldn’t calm her husband, so she invoked her family: “I’ll call my older brother to help. No need to get so angry over this.”
Hearing this, Shi Mingqian’s eyes darkened slightly, and his tone softened. “Alright. I was just too angry. This has affected the company many netizens are boycotting our products.”
Ye Xiangwen waved it off. “So what? The online people are idiots. Have PR apologize, run some giveaways, and in time they’ll forget. Don’t worry, my brother will handle it.”
Shi Mingqian, satisfied, relaxed his expression. “Then it’s up to your brother.”
He then looked at Shi Yiyan. “Yan Yan, did I scare you just now? Daddy apologizes. But next time, tell me first, okay?”
Shi Yiyan obediently nodded, though her father’s earlier anger had left a deep impression.
If he was so furious over an enrollment spot, what would happen if he discovered the other matter? Even as his biological daughter, she might be kicked out.
She needed to find a way to protect herself.
While Shi Yiyan’s life was in turmoil, He Qiuqiu wasn’t having it easy either.
She had been thrilled when Shi Sheng brought a pot of tonic soup into the hospital room.
But her excitement vanished the moment the lid was opened, leaving only despair.
In the center of the soup floated a whole, intact pig brain, garnished with a few sprinkles of green scallions.
He Qiuqiu shuddered.
What kind of inhumane soup is this?
Is this even meant for humans? Even a dog wouldn’t eat this!
She took a deep breath and said in refusal, “Shengsheng, I’m fine now. If you don’t believe me, I can walk a few steps to prove it. This pig brain soup is totally unnecessary.”
She had eaten roasted brains before, but clear soup with a whole brain? Absolutely impossible to accept.
He Bing, staying with her, feared getting involved and immediately hid in the bathroom at the sight of it.
Shi Sheng calmly scooped the whole pig brain into a bowl and placed it in front of He Qiuqiu. “You are what you eat. Your brain isn’t very smart to begin with. If you leave some aftereffects, I’m afraid you won’t even be able to use the toilet on your own later.”