Initially, Fang Yi visited her twice and brought some gifts, but after that, he never came again.
Instead, it was Shen Baozhu who showed up three days before her release from prison.
The two faced each other across the iron bars. Prison life had aged Shen Qi considerably, while Shen Baozhu appeared plump and radiant, showing no signs of life’s hardships.
She was living well.
“Shen Qi, I came to give you this,” Shen Baozhu said, handing over a document. “Your existence has held him back for far too long. Because of you, he was passed over for promotions several times.”
It was a divorce application.
Shen Qi erupted in fury. “Where is Fang Yi? Tell him to come and say it to my face! Shen Baozhu, who do you think you are? You’re nothing but a lowly usurper—what gives you the right to represent Fang Yi?!”
Shen Qi tore the divorce application to shreds. Without another word, Shen Baozhu cast her a contemptuous glance and left.
After her release, Shen Qi rushed back to the Fang family home, only to witness a scene that made her blood boil.
Fang Yi was half-embracing Shen Baozhu, the two leaning together in an intimate posture. Not far away, Fang’s Father and Mother Fang watched with smiles, clearly pleased with the situation.
Something snapped in Shen Qi’s mind. She charged forward with a scream, determined to kill the treacherous pair!
But she was no match for Fang Yi. In a few moves, he subdued her and threw her out.
Shen Qi refused to agree to the divorce, but the Fang family had ways to make her comply.
Years of enduring humiliation had ultimately earned her nothing but a divorce certificate.
After her release, Shen Qi never experienced a single day of happiness, sinking into deep self-doubt.
Was it really her fault?
Was she not likable enough, not cultured enough, not gentle enough, not beautiful enough, that everyone despised her?
If, after returning to the Shen Family, she hadn’t been jealous of Shen Baozhu or fought with her for their parents’ affection, would her family have liked her more?
If she hadn’t clung to Fang Yi like a lifeline to escape the cold Shen Family, would she have avoided taking the fall and going to prison?
At the final moment of her life, all these questions found their answers.
What did any of it have to do with her?!
She had done nothing wrong—the fault lay with those biased against her!
If she had to pinpoint her own mistake, it was her lack of inner strength, which made her crave others’ care and validation too desperately.
“Creak.”
The sound of a door opening.
Shen Qi turned toward the noise and saw Grandpa Fang had woken up.
The old man was now immobile and required a wheelchair. The nanny assigned to care for him was pushing it.
Shen Qi approached him. “Grandpa Fang, did you sleep well?”
Grandpa Fang smiled and patted the back of her hand. “I was just dozing. Why didn’t you have someone wake me when you arrived?”
As people age, they sleep less. His afternoon naps were often just light rests, never deep sleep.
Having experienced death herself, Shen Qi could tell that Grandpa Fang was in poor condition.
Moreover, she knew he would pass away in a few years.
She couldn’t help but revise the words she had prepared, not wanting to trouble the elderly man.
After chatting with Grandpa Fang about everyday matters, Shen Qi finally revealed the purpose of her visit.
“When I saved you back then, I had no ulterior motives.”
Grandpa Fang nodded. “I know. You’re a good child.”
“I’m also very grateful to you, Grandpa. If you hadn’t invited me to the Family Compound as a guest, I might never have discovered my true identity.”
Grandpa Fang had already sensed something amiss. “Xiao Qi, has something happened?”
“Grandpa, I want to say that the debt of gratitude for saving me was actually repaid when I returned to the Shen Family. I think the engagement between Fang Yi and me can be annulled.”
Grandpa Fang frowned. “Has that boy made you unhappy again?”
There was a hint of anger in his tone.
Shen Qi quickly held the old man’s arm. “Please don’t get agitated or jump to conclusions. Fang Yi hasn’t made me unhappy. I just feel we’re not suitable for each other and there’s no need to force it. Forced melons are not sweet.”
“It must be his fault! You…”
You like him so much, how could you bear to give up your engagement!
Grandpa Fang didn’t voice this last thought, wanting to save face for Shen Qi.
He had seen how Shen Qi looked at Fang Yi – if she weren’t deeply in love, her eyes wouldn’t shine so brightly.
“No, really not.” Shen Qi felt overwhelmed. She didn’t want to repeat her past life’s mistake of speaking ill of Fang Yi and triggering Grandpa Fang’s illness.
She only wanted to dissolve the engagement in the most peaceful way possible.
“Has that wretched boy gone looking for Shen Baozhu again? Is he helping Shen Baozhu bully you?”
Grandpa Fang barely listened to what Shen Qi said. He was somewhat stubborn, and since Shen Qi’s previous complaints had mostly involved Shen Baozhu, he naturally made the connection.
“When he returns, I’ll scold him and make him apologize to you!”
He couldn’t control the Shen Family’s children, but he could still discipline his own!
“Grandpa, please don’t get worked up. Have some water.” Shen Qi hurriedly handed water to Grandpa Fang. “Nothing unpleasant has really happened. I’ve just suddenly come to understand things clearly.”
Grandpa Fang was breathing heavily and only calmed down after drinking some water.
“Xiao Qi, think about it again. Don’t rush your decision. Give Xiao Yi another chance.”
Shen Qi was truly feeling helpless.
But she couldn’t continue arguing with Grandpa Fang either. Elderly people tend to be stubborn – besides coming to realizations themselves, no amount of persuasion from others would work.
“Grandpa, Fang Yi and I really aren’t suitable.”
She could only reiterate her position.
Never mind, when Fang Yi returns later and Grandpa Fang sees the injury on his head, he’ll naturally understand how determined she is.
Noticing it was almost mealtime, Shen Qi didn’t linger at the Fang residence to avoid Ding Mengshu’s sarcastic remarks. She was afraid she might not be able to resist retorting.
If the situation turned ugly, it would only spoil Grandpa Fang’s appetite.
She wanted to spoil the Shen Family’s appetite instead.
The Fang and Shen residences weren’t far apart.
A few years ago, when Shen Jianguo got promoted, he was allocated a small western-style house, though not as large as the Fang family’s.
It had seven rooms in total.
The best room, facing south on the second floor, belonged to Shen Baozhu.
The second-best rooms were for Father and Mother Shen.
The remaining two rooms on the second floor were occupied by eldest brother Shen Jibei and younger brother Shen Jinan respectively.
Of the three rooms on the first floor, the largest served as a study, the slightly smaller one was a guest room, and the smallest – less than ten square meters – had been empty before, occasionally used for storage.
It was only cleared out for living when Shen Qi was recognized and returned three years ago.
The room had poor lighting and ventilation, and the outer wall would leak during heavy rain.
Shen Qi pushed open the main door and immediately saw her younger brother Shen Jinan watching TV on the sofa.
Hearing the door open, Shen Jinan glanced back and, seeing it was Shen Qi, curled his lips in disdain before turning back to the television.
Shen Qi strode over and, before Shen Jinan could react, delivered a hard slap across his face.
She had put all her strength into it. Caught off guard, Shen Jinan was sent tumbling to the floor, completely stunned.