The room’s soundproofing was mediocre. Shen Qi didn’t even need to eavesdrop intentionally—combined with the fact that the three of them weren’t lowering their voices at all—she could hear everything clearly.
Giving up the room?
Fine.
That was just perfect.
Originally, Shen Qi had planned to move to the guest room. Now that someone had volunteered to play the good person, she was naturally happy to oblige.
If Shen Baozhu was willing to live in this cramped, dark, damp, and chilly little room, Shen Qi would gladly hand it over.
Shen Qi packed up her belongings. There weren’t many—she could move them all in just two trips.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she waited for the Shen family to knock on her door.
After a while, there was a knock at the door.
Shen Qi didn’t get up immediately. She waited for two minutes, sensing the person outside growing impatient, before slowly walking over and opening the door.
Shen Jinan wore a sour expression. “Mom wants you to come over.”
“Oh.”
Shen Qi prepared to step out but noticed Shen Jinan standing motionless in the doorway, blocking her path.
Shen Qi: ?
“Is there something else?”
Shen Jinan lowered his voice. “You’ve got some nerve. Why don’t you jump off the rooftop? Don’t think I don’t know—you’re just jealous of Sister Baozhu. You deliberately revealed that Sister Baozhu isn’t Mom and Dad’s biological daughter because you want Yi Ge to dislike her.”
“It’s useless. Nothing you do will work. Yi Ge just doesn’t like you, and I don’t like you either. Mom, Dad, and Big Brother—none of them like you!”
“Shen Qi, we all dislike you!”
Shen Qi stared quietly at Shen Jinan for a moment. Under his expectant gaze, she only asked in confusion, “I don’t understand. Ever since I returned to the Shen family, I’ve always treated you quite well. Never mind anything else, I’ve taken the blame for you more than once. Why do you dislike me?”
“Does disliking you need a reason?” Shen Jinan curled his lip disdainfully. “What about you is worth liking? You’re ugly, uneducated, and have a terrible temper—you’re just an embarrassment.”
Actually, the main reason was that when Shen Qi first returned, Shen Jinan had been mocked by his classmates for a long time.
There were always people deliberately saying unpleasant things to him.
“Shen Jinan, I saw that sister of yours who came back from the countryside. Wow, she’s so rustic and ugly—just like you!”
“I saw your sister’s exam results. She ranked last in the entire high school division, and she scored three points in math! Three points! My dog could step on the test paper and get that score!”
“Hahaha, Shen Jinan, your biological sister is so stupid. Are you just as dumb as her?”
…
Boys around fourteen or fifteen care the most about face. After being ridiculed and humiliated by his classmates, Shen Jinan took it out on Shen Qi.
He believed it was all Shen Qi’s fault. If it weren’t for Shen Qi, his sister would be Shen Baozhu.
Shen Baozhu was beautiful, gentle, and her academic performance was decent—she was many people’s goddess.
How could Shen Qi compare? She was nothing but a disgrace to him!
Shen Qi nodded in understanding.
Alright, she got it. From now on, she would deal with Shen Jinan more harshly.
This brat deserved it.
Shen Qi pushed him aside and walked away as if nothing had happened.
Shen Jinan stumbled from the push and stared at Shen Qi in shock.
After everything he’d said, didn’t Shen Qi have any reaction at all?
Shouldn’t she be heartbroken, dejected, and shed a few tears?
That’s how she used to be—say a few hurtful words, and she’d cry pitifully.
What was her deal now?
Xu Ailian took a few small bites of a bun. She had little appetite, especially after seeing Shen Qi, which made her chest feel even more stifled.
“Is this how I taught you?” Xu Ailian scolded sharply. “As a girl, you should cherish your reputation. You’re nineteen now and will need to find a husband soon. With such a scandal attached to your name, who would dare marry you?”
Shen Qi feigned surprise. “Find a husband? Mom, I’m already engaged. Once I come of age, I’ll register my marriage with Fang Yi.”
Since Grandpa Fang hadn’t yet approved their broken engagement, Shen Qi had no qualms about using this to annoy Xu Ailian.
Xu Ailian choked back her words, having forgotten this detail in her anger.
“That makes it even worse! Your behavior not only makes our family a laughingstock in the Compound, but also tarnishes the Fang family’s reputation. Aunt Ding was never very satisfied with you to begin with, and now…”
“I’m marrying Fang Yi, not Aunt Ding,” Shen Qi interrupted. “Yi Ge told me we’ll live separately after marriage, only visiting the Fang family during holidays.”
Shen Baozhu couldn’t contain herself. “Shen Qi, how can you lie like that? Yi Ge would never say such things to you.”
If Fang Yi disliked Shen Qi and didn’t want to marry her, why would he discuss their future life together?
Shen Qi gave her a cold glance. “What, were you hiding under the bed when he spoke to me?”
Shen Baozhu flushed crimson. “You… you’re talking nonsense! What under the bed…”
Her words made it sound as if she and Fang Yi had been lying in bed together.
She knew perfectly well that Fang Yi had never touched Shen Qi.
Xu Ailian, having been contradicted repeatedly, was breathing heavily. Just as she was about to explode, Shen Qi changed tactics. “Mom, there’s no need to dwell on yesterday’s matter. Grandma He already lectured me about it. When she brought me back this morning, she also told Dad not to keep criticizing me for my mistakes.”
“Unless you think Grandma He is wrong?”
Shen Qi was using a minor authority figure to intimidate her mother, feeling quite pleased as she watched Xu Ailian’s face darken with rage.
Xu Ailian gritted her teeth, filled with hatred.
Shen Congjun’s biological mother had passed away early, and his stepmother had treated him indifferently. After joining the Troops, Shen Congjun had almost cut ties with his family, only sending money home each New Year.
Therefore, when Xu Ailian married into the family, she hadn’t had to deal with a mother-in-law ruling over her.
Now, suddenly, Grandma He had appeared, meddling in their family affairs and making her feel utterly stifled.
The problem was, this was no ordinary old lady. Not only had Grandma He previously served as National Women’s Director, but she was also married to a high-ranking Founding General.
With such impeccable credentials, Xu Ailian had no room for rebuttal.
So… it was all Shen Qi’s fault!
Hatred flashed in Xu Ailian’s eyes.
Shen Qi saw it clearly, feeling neither surprised nor heartbroken.
She had witnessed it in her previous life.
Though Xu Ailian claimed to love and care for her, Shen Qi knew her mother had only loved her briefly upon learning the truth.
The reason was probably similar to Shen Jinan’s—they were ashamed of her.
Shen Qi didn’t dwell on it. What was the point?
“Fine, I can’t argue with you. I won’t bother with you anymore,” Xu Ailian said in a tone dripping with disappointment and sorrow.
Shen Qi nearly laughed aloud.
As if Xu Ailian had ever cared for her before.
Or perhaps this was just another of Xu Ailian’s manipulative tactics with her children.
After all, Shen Qi used to fall for this kind of talk. Whenever Xu Ailian said something similar, she would panic, reflecting on whether she had done something wrong, constantly apologizing and begging for Xu Ailian’s forgiveness.
Shen Qi calmly nodded: “I’m not a child anymore. I can take care of myself. Mom should worry more about Shen Jinan. With his grades, I’m afraid he might have to repeat a year.”
Shen Jinan, who was caught in the crossfire: !
Shen Qi, shut the hell up!