“Mr. Zhao, Mr. Li, I appreciate you making the trip, but I’ve already decided which high school I’m attending.”
The young girl’s voice was clear and calm, like a summer night’s breeze, blowing away all restlessness.
Zhao Wenchang was stunned. “You’ve decided?”
He felt a twinge of disappointment. This child was assertive and had a plan; he had already anticipated this outcome.
After seeing off the two admissions officers, Shen Youan returned to the house. Zhang Jian spoke somewhat cautiously, “An An, don’t worry. Although many admissions officers have come by these past few days with tempting offers, I haven’t agreed to any of them. You’ve always had your own mind since you were a child, so this matter is for you to decide.”
Zhou Qin muttered under her breath, “Wende offered three hundred thousand and even arranged a middle school for your brother. That’s three hundred thousand yuan…”
Shen Youan cast a flat glance over, and Zhou Qin instantly swallowed the rest of her words.
Zhang Jian was long since accustomed to this; Zhou Qin brought it all on herself.
“Lan Ya Group called me. They offered one million for me to enter Lan Ya High School’s senior division directly.”
The girl’s calm, indifferent voice was like a sudden bolt of lightning.
“Heavens, one million…” Zhou Qin shrieked exaggeratedly. The powder on her uneven face nearly shook loose, her eyes shimmering with naked greed.
Shen Youan looked away in disgust. “I’ve already accepted.”
Zhou Qin jumped up in excitement. “I heard the new real estate development at Xuefu Spring is quite good, and it’s close to Lan Ya High. It’ll be convenient for you to get to school. Why don’t we go take a look right now?”
Zhang Jian couldn’t bear to watch. Why didn’t this woman ever learn? How many times had it been? Had she ever managed to get the better of An An?
Shen Youan immediately added, “Just now, I donated it.”
The smile on Zhou Qin’s face cracked instantly. Her expression turned hideous as she cursed, “You wretched girl! That was a million yuan, and you donated it without even blinking? You brainless thing! Your uncle and I have raised you all these years, only to end up with an ungrateful wolf!”
“Shut your mouth!” Zhang Jian wished he could slap her.
“An An is supported by the state; she doesn’t need us. Besides, An An gives me eight hundred yuan a month for food. How much can a young girl eat? Every time she comes back, she brings fruit and snacks. What about you? Do you act like an elder at all? Begging a child for money—how do you even have the face to open your mouth?”
If it weren’t for Tianci, he would have divorced Zhou Qin long ago. He really couldn’t stand another day with her.
Zhou Qin’s eyes were red. This time, she didn’t care anymore and rushed forward to shake Shen Youan. “Get that money back for me, do you hear me?”
Shen Youan looked at her calmly, her indifferent eyes filled with both pity and mockery, as if saying: Look at this fool.
Zhou Qin hated that look from Shen Youan most of all. She had been repressing herself for years, but today she finally lost control. She reached out to slap Shen Youan’s face. “Brat, I’ll teach you to make decisions on your own!”
However, the expected slap didn’t land. A slender hand caught Zhou Qin’s raised wrist.
That wrist was slender and delicate, two sizes smaller than Zhou Qin’s, bringing to mind the ancient poem—snowy white wrists like congealed frost.
Though Shen Youan was thin, her grip was not light. Zhou Qin’s face contorted as she screamed, “Let go of me!”
Shen Youan was half a head taller than her. Her eyelids lowered slightly, and the eyes behind the lenses were indifferent and cold. That feeling of being watched by a ghost returned. Zhou Qin stammered, “W-What are you doing?”
Shen Youan leaned down slightly, stopping half a centimeter from Zhou Qin’s ear, and said a single sentence in a voice only the two of them could hear.
Zhang Jian only saw Shen Youan’s lips move but didn’t hear what she said. He then saw Zhou Qin’s face turn deathly pale, her unfocused eyes filled with terror.
Shen Youan let go and patted Zhou Qin’s shoulder. “Auntie, Tianci’s grades are too poor. Even if he gets into a key middle school, he’ll be at the bottom of the class. It’s better to just get a diploma from a regular school. It’s better to be grounded than to aim too high, don’t you think?”
Without waiting for Zhou Qin’s answer, Shen Youan smiled and left.
Zhang Jian frowned and walked over. “What’s wrong? What did An An say to you?”
Zhou Qin was like a startled bird, shaking her head frantically. “N-Nothing. She didn’t say anything.”
With those words, she fled into the bedroom.
How could Shen Youan know? She only comes back once a month, and every time she does, she locks herself in her room to study. How could she possibly know my secret?
Zhou Qin was both terrified and distraught.
In the cramped bathroom.
Shen Youan took off her black-rimmed glasses, revealing a delicate face in the mirror.
Without the lenses to block them, those eyes were revealed without reservation.
The dim, narrow bathroom seemed to brighten instantly because those eyes held the most dazzling light in the world.
Shen Youan had always known she was beautiful.
She curled her lips slightly. Her pale eyes were as clear as glass, the corners turning up slightly. Between the shifting of her gaze, a hint of charm flickered—like a soul-hooking blade, capable of killing without a trace.
Shen Youan tilted her head and smiled—a harmless, innocent smile. Her eyes grew misty and moist, looking innocent and pitiful, making one want to bring all the treasures of the world to her feet.
【An An, please stop smiling. I can’t take it! Ahhh, how can there be such a cute girl in the world!】
Shen Youan found it quite dull. She washed her face and put her glasses back on; all that radiant brilliance was instantly sealed away.
She was once again that cold, ordinary girl.
Seeing the girl change her face faster than flipping a page in a book, the System was quite speechless.
【Beauty is a shared resource for all of society. I’m curious, why do you hide your looks? Do you know how many members of the opposite sex would go crazy for you if you combined your grades with your beauty?】
The System was unaware of Shen Youan’s past life. Shen Youan’s willpower was extremely clear and powerful; it couldn’t read her thoughts at all.
Shen Youan pulled a paper towel to dry her hands. “An innocent man gets into trouble because he possesses a rare treasure.”
With those words, she tossed the towel into the wastebasket and walked out of the bathroom.
The System searched its knowledge base and muttered: 【From “The Commentary of Zuo: The Tenth Year of Duke Huan.” Originally meant that wealth attracts disaster, later used as a metaphor for being harmed because of one’s talent or ideals. Oh, I see! Your beauty would make people commit crimes, so that’s why you keep a low profile. Boohoo, An An is really so kind. How can there be such a wonderful girl in the world…】
Shen Youan: …
She didn’t want to deal with this idiot System.
【An An, I have another question. How did you know Zhou Qin was having an affair?】