Xu Ailian was an intellectual, working as a high school teacher. She considered herself more knowledgeable and insightful than most military spouses.
In the Compound, she deliberately cultivated an image of gentleness and intellect.
Her favoritism toward Shen Baozhu was partly because Shen Baozhu was the child she had personally raised—her words and actions were a testament to Xu Ailian’s educational achievements.
Shen Qi was her biological daughter, yes, but this biological daughter had never attended a day of school. Whenever she was taken out in public, she would hang her head timidly, appearing too awkward to present with pride.
“Two of a kind sleep in the same bed”—Shen Congjun cared deeply about face, and Xu Ailian was no different.
Today, Shen Qi had violently shattered her hypocritical mask in front of the entire Compound. Xu Ailian felt as if the sky had fallen; even the highly sought-after Compound now seemed detestable to her.
She wanted to move out.
Shen Jinan cautiously glanced at Shen Congjun’s darkened face and muttered under his breath, “It’s all Shen Qi’s fault for going crazy!”
Shen Congjun shot his son a stern look, his palm itching with irritation.
How dare he speak?
Almost an adult, and he couldn’t even handle the simple task of bringing Shen Qi back.
Both were his sons, yet Shen Jibei was sensible and accomplished—why was Shen Jinan so unreliable?
Suddenly, Shen Baozhu began to sob, crying pitifully: “It’s… it’s my fault… If… if I hadn’t been so shameless and insisted on staying, she wouldn’t… wouldn’t blame Mom and Dad…”
After saying this, Shen Baozhu covered her mouth tightly, but suppressed sobs escaped through her fingers, echoing throughout the hospital room.
Shen Jinan’s heart ached for her. “Sis, what nonsense are you talking? I don’t want a sister like her—I only acknowledge you!”
The patient in the neighboring bed kept glancing over, craning their neck to catch the gossip.
Shen Congjun took a deep breath and sternly ordered Shen Jinan and Shen Baozhu to help Xu Ailan up, pay the bill, and leave.
If they wanted to cry, they could do it at home—did they really want to give others more entertainment?!
If they weren’t embarrassed, he was!
On the other side, Shen Qi sheepishly accepted the malt extract handed to her by Grandma He. “Thank you, Grandma.”
Grandma He sat down beside Shen Qi. “No need to thank me. Drink up and warm yourself. The wind is strong up here on the rooftop—don’t catch a cold.”
Shen Qi hummed in agreement and slowly sipped from the cup.
She had never tasted malt extract in the Shen Family—not because there wasn’t any, but because Shen Jinan forbade her from drinking it.
He said a country bumpkin like her had no business drinking malt extract; it was like a cow chewing on peonies—a pure waste.
As she drank, Shen Qi thought to herself: in the future, not only would she drink malt extract in the Shen Family, but she would also eat Hongshao Rou, pig trotters, and Tangcu Paigu.
She was not inferior to anyone.
If there was anything the Shen Family ate that she hadn’t tasted, she would flip the table—then no one would eat.
The thought of such a scene made Shen Qi chuckle involuntarily.
Grandma He had been carefully observing the young girl. Normally, after experiencing something like jumping off a building, a person would feel a delayed sense of fear.
After all, when standing by the railing, the brain is in an excited state, adrenaline surges, and many things are overlooked.
Once the adrenaline subsides and rationality returns, one realizes how dangerous the situation was.
But Shen Qi didn’t react that way—she had eerily laughed instead.
This young girl must have suffered significant psychological trauma.
Grandma He sighed inwardly, her tone growing even gentler.
“Child, Grandma can see you have a mind of your own. Can you tell me what your plans are from here on out?”
“I just want fairness,” Shen Qi said slowly. “Grandma He, I’m also a child of the Shen family. Why is it that my older brother, younger brother, and even Shen Baozhu can have things that I can’t?”
“Is there anything else besides that?”
“Nothing else.” Shen Qi shook her head.
Grandma He tentatively asked, “Don’t you want your parents to send Shen Baozhu back?”
Shen Qi thought for a moment and shook her head: “There’s no need. The Zhou family isn’t a good place anyway.”
What would be the point of sending her back?
If they were willing to send her back, they would have done so three years ago.
Even if they sent her back now, as long as Shen Baozhu shed a few tears and cried a little, Xu Ailian would take the train overnight to bring her back.
Hearing this, Grandma He’s heart softened even more.
This child Shen Qi was still very kind-hearted. Despite suffering so much in the Zhou family and not being treated well after returning to the Shen family, she didn’t complain about fate or take her anger out on others.
She just wanted to receive the same love as the other Shen family children. What was wrong with that?
While Grandma He was observing Shen Qi, Shen Qi was also quietly observing Grandma He.
She could tell that Grandma He’s eyes were growing increasingly gentle.
She guessed that Grandma He must have misunderstood something.
But there was no need to explain this misunderstanding. Letting Grandma He feel more sympathy for her would bring her greater benefits.
Shen Qi put down her cup: “After making such a scene, Dad must be furious. If I go back now, he’ll definitely punish me severely… Grandma He, I know what I did was wrong, but I just… just feel like there’s a knot in my heart, and it’s really uncomfortable.”
She gently pressed her right hand against her chest, “I’m afraid. I don’t dare to go back.”
Grandma He lovingly touched her face, “Then don’t go back tonight. Sleep here at Grandma’s place.”
Grandma He had heard about Shen Congjun’s hot temper. Regardless of whether Shen Qi’s reason for jumping off the building was right or wrong, she would definitely get beaten if she went back.
It would be better for everyone to cool off overnight and talk together tomorrow.
Grandma He asked the child from across the hall to run an errand to deliver a message to the Shen family.
The little boy nodded and quickly went to handle the task.
He loved running errands for Grandma He the most because she would always give him a White Rabbit candy afterwards – they were so delicious!
Grandma He asked Shen Qi if she had eaten dinner. Upon hearing she hadn’t, she got up and went to the kitchen, planning to make some noodles for Shen Qi.
“Grandma, just tell me where things are. I can cook for myself.”
Shen Qi was already very grateful that Grandma He was willing to let her stay overnight. How could she have the nerve to let the elderly woman cook for her too?
Grandma He didn’t insist, standing at the kitchen door and chatting with Shen Qi.
Suddenly, the living room door made a sound.
“That must be Xiaocheng back. I’ll go get some milk candy for him.”
Grandma He grabbed two pieces of milk candy and opened the door. At the doorway were not only Xiaocheng but also Fang Yi.
“Grandma He.” Fang Yi greeted respectfully. “I’m here to see Shen Qi.”
Shen Qi faintly heard a familiar voice, frowned, and peeked out to look.
It was Fang Yi. Shen Qi’s eyebrows knitted so tightly they could form a knot.
Grandma He gave the milk candy to Xiaocheng. “Come in,” she said.
Grandma He let Fang Yi into the living room and went to the kitchen to call Shen Qi.
“Xiao Qi, Fang Yi is here to see you. You two talk. I’ll cook noodles for you.”
Shen Qi had no choice but to nod and come out of the kitchen.
As soon as he saw her, Fang Yi’s face immediately fell: “Shen Qi, what nonsense have you been telling my grandfather again?!”
He deliberately lowered his voice, afraid that Grandma He might hear.
But the tone was truly too fierce, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between clenched teeth.
Shen Qi crossed her arms, glancing sideways at him with a contemptuous look: “I find you really quite interesting. Aren’t you always putting on an attitude of ‘I’m the greatest under heaven’? Why are you so cowardly now?”
“If you want to know what Grandpa Fang and I talked about, why don’t you ask Grandpa Fang instead of going the long way around to ask me?”
“Or perhaps, you miss me and are using this as an excuse to see me?”
After saying this, Shen Qi let out a rather disdainful snort.