“Tomorrow we’ll go to the Housing Administration and complete the paperwork.”
Success.
Shen Xiaoyuan was so excited she wanted to break into a dance on the spot.
Shen Jiawei angrily slammed his chopsticks onto the table and was about to protest, but Shen Hanning stopped him.
Meanwhile, Shen Tiantian silently clenched her fists.
That bitch… since when did she become so eloquent?
Pang Dongling said from the side,
“Xiaoyuan, you need to remember this. Your father and I don’t owe you anything. What happened twenty years ago was the hospital’s fault. We could have chosen not to compensate you at all.”
“But considering we’re family, we’re still leaving this house to you.”
“You should be grateful.”
The corners of Shen Xiaoyuan’s lips curled upward.
“Of course. Thank you, Mom and Dad.”
That was what she said aloud.
Inside, however, she was cursing them nonstop.
Grateful my ass. How thick-skinned do you have to be to say something so shameless?
For both lunch and dinner that day, Shen Xiaoyuan ate together with the Shen family, creating the illusion of a harmonious household.
She deliberately acted as though she treasured every remaining moment she had with her family.
It made Shen Hanning and Pang Dongling feel genuinely guilty.
They even started wondering whether they should somehow obtain another ticket and take her with them.
That night, after dinner, Shen Xiaoyuan returned to her bedroom.
Leaving the door slightly ajar, she turned off the lights and pretended to sleep while secretly listening to everything happening downstairs.
Only after Aunt Wu finished cleaning and the house finally fell silent did she quietly sneak into the hallway and hide behind one of the large pillars.
From there, she had a perfect view of her parents’ bedroom door.
She hid without moving, staring fixedly at the door.
She didn’t even dare go to the bathroom, afraid she’d miss something.
She waited from a little after nine until nearly eleven.
Finally, the bedroom door opened.
Shen Hanning emerged wearing a blue silk pajama set with his hands clasped behind his back.
He leisurely walked downstairs, entered the study, and closed the door behind him.
Shen Xiaoyuan quietly followed.
Pressing herself against the study door, she peered through the narrow crack.
Shen Hanning walked over to the bookshelf and stopped beside a book thicker than a Xinhua Dictionary.
He reached behind the massive book and twisted something with his wrist.
A heavy mechanical click echoed through the room.
A hidden door, painted the same color as the wall behind the bookshelf, slowly swung open.
After shifting the bookshelf aside, he stepped inside.
About fifteen minutes later, he came back out carrying a black wooden box.
The moment he turned to push the bookshelf back into place, Shen Xiaoyuan immediately ran for her room.
But because the hallway was so dark, she accidentally bumped into a decorative vase.
Crash!
The vase hit the floor with a dull thud.
The sound wasn’t particularly loud…
But Shen Hanning happened to hear it as he stepped out of the study.
“Who’s there?”
The hallway windows were open.
Just then, a gust of wind swept through.
Without hesitation, Shen Xiaoyuan pulled a basketball out of her space.
The ball dropped to the floor and rolled toward the staircase.
Shen Hanning’s eyes immediately followed it.
He walked over and picked it up.
Letting out a relieved breath, he muttered,
“So the wind knocked the basketball over and it hit the vase.”
Meanwhile, Shen Xiaoyuan quietly slipped back into her room and closed the door.
A short while later, she heard Shen Hanning climbing the stairs.
He glanced toward Shen Jiawei’s bedroom and muttered under his breath,
“That little spendthrift.”
Shen Xiaoyuan smiled to herself.
In this era, a quality rubber basketball cost over ten yuan—half a month’s wages for an ordinary worker.
She changed into a soft silk nightgown from her space and quickly drifted off to sleep.
Another peaceful night.
After breakfast the next morning, Shen Xiaoyuan followed Shen Hanning to the Housing Administration under the resentful stares of Shen Tiantian and Shen Jiawei.
They arrived early.
There weren’t many people waiting, so the paperwork was completed quickly.
Shen Hanning sighed heavily before solemnly handing Shen Xiaoyuan the property transfer certificate.
Under the laws of the time, land and housing were publicly owned.
Urban land belonged to the state, while rural land belonged to the collective.
Private citizens couldn’t own land outright.
What was transferred wasn’t true ownership, but rather the right to occupy and use the property.
On the way home, Shen Xiaoyuan couldn’t have been happier.
Although people along the street constantly pointed at them and whispered about the “capitalist family,” it didn’t affect her mood in the slightest.
The moment they arrived home, Pang Dongling greeted her with the marriage-swap agreement already in hand.
“Come on. Hurry and sign it.”
“And the money?” Shen Xiaoyuan asked.
Shen Hanning brought out the same black wooden box from the previous night and handed it over expressionlessly.
“Three thousand yuan.”
“Count it.”
The exchange was as cold and emotionless as a business transaction.
Shen Xiaoyuan smiled.
She carefully counted the money.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, she signed her name on the agreement.
Her movements were so decisive that she looked nothing like the girl who had tried to smash her head against a wall only days earlier.
Shen Jiawei scoffed.
“Dad, look at her.”
“I told you she was only after our family’s money.”
“You wouldn’t believe me.”
“Three thousand yuan and a whole house, just handed over to her.”
“And here I am, living frugally…”
“Living frugally?”
Shen Hanning suddenly picked up the basketball from behind the sofa and threw it at Shen Jiawei.
“Then what’s this?”
“Listen to what people outside are calling us.”
“We’ve already been branded capitalists, and you still dare buy something as expensive as a basketball?”
“You’ve got some nerve!”
Shen Jiawei looked utterly confused.
“Dad, I didn’t buy that.”
“I don’t even know how to play basketball.”
“You don’t even play basketball, yet you bought one?”
“What a spoiled capitalist young master.”
“At this rate you’ll squander the entire family fortune.”
Pang Dongling quickly stepped in before father and son could start arguing.
“Jiawei, just endure it for now.”
“When we get to Hong Kong, you can buy as many basketballs as you want.”
“You can spend money however you like.”
“Our family…”
“Mom!”
Shen Tiantian hurriedly interrupted her.
Realizing she’d almost let the secret slip, Pang Dongling quickly covered her mouth and fell silent.
“Dad, it really isn’t mine…”
Shen Xiaoyuan smiled quietly and went upstairs without saying a word.
After lunch, Shen Hanning took Shen Xiaoyuan and Shen Tiantian out.
First, they mailed a letter to the Xiang family, who had been exiled to Hetang Township in Xiangcheng.
The letter briefly explained the marriage swap.
A photograph of Shen Xiaoyuan was tucked inside as well.
Rather than discussing the matter…
It was simply a notification.
Afterward, they visited the Pan family.
The moment the Pan family saw the agreement, their eyes lit up.
Mr. and Mrs. Pan beamed with delight.
Completely ignoring Shen Xiaoyuan, they walked straight to Shen Tiantian and warmly took one of her hands each.
Shen Tiantian obediently greeted them.
“Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie.”
Mrs. Pan smiled until her eyes nearly disappeared.
“Silly child.”
“Why are you still calling us Uncle and Auntie?”
“We’re family now.”
“Call us Mom and Dad.”
Blushing shyly, Shen Tiantian lowered her head.
“Mom… Dad.”
“Good girl.”
Pan Jiaxing, however, wore a conflicted expression.
From time to time, his eyes drifted toward Shen Xiaoyuan.
Ever since the Pan family discovered that Shen Tiantian was the daughter truly favored by the Shen family, they had constantly urged Pan Jiaxing to pursue her instead.
Pan Jiaxing had ultimately decided to follow the money.
But…
He simply couldn’t let go of Shen Xiaoyuan’s face.
To be honest…
Shen Xiaoyuan was far prettier than Shen Tiantian.
There wasn’t even a comparison.
Fair skin.
Exquisite features.
Long legs.
As for Shen Tiantian…
Well…
Aside from having a sweet voice…
The less said, the better.
So Pan Jiaxing had chosen both.
He pursued Shen Tiantian for her family’s wealth…
While happily accepting all the gifts and affection Shen Xiaoyuan showered upon him.
He thoroughly enjoyed having two women revolve around him.
But today…
Was that perfect arrangement finally coming to an end?
The girl who used to cling to him like glue…
Had actually agreed to the marriage swap without putting up much of a fight.
He should have been happy.
So why…
Why did he suddenly feel a sense of loss?