Three shadowy figures were whispering outside the study before sneaking inside.
Moving silently through the darkness, Shen Xiaoyuan crept downstairs again. She stopped outside the study and peered through the crack in the door.
The moment she recognized the three people inside, she frowned.
It was her adoptive parents from the countryside—and Shen Tiantian.
As Shen Tiantian opened the entrance to the secret chamber, she said, “The boatman sent word that they’ve switched to a smaller boat for Hong Kong. It can’t carry that many things.
“So today they hurriedly moved some of the valuables back to the hometown. They haven’t had time to check the inventory yet.
“You two go in, take a few things, and come right back out. Don’t take too much, or they’ll notice. Just one or two gold bars from each crate will do.
“I’ll stand watch here. Hurry.”
Her adoptive father, Zhao Yuanjiang, smiled ingratiatingly and turned to his wife, Zhu Runmei.
“See? A biological daughter is different. Unlike Xiaoyuan. Ever since she got back to the Shen family, she’s been acting all high and mighty. She doesn’t care whether we live or die anymore.”
Zhu Runmei stepped forward and held Shen Tiantian’s hand.
“Tiantian, if you’re caught, you won’t get dragged into this, will you?”
Shen Tiantian replied coldly, “Now you’re worried about me? Relax. Even if someone finds out, they won’t suspect me.”
“Stop wasting time. Get in there. And after this, don’t ever come asking me for money again.”
Zhao Yuanjiang immediately raised three fingers.
“I swear, this is absolutely the last time. If it weren’t for your younger brother getting married, we never would’ve come.”
Shen Tiantian sneered.
“You’ve already sworn that three times. If you don’t get in now, I’m closing the door.”
“We’re going, we’re going.”
The couple hurried into the hidden chamber.
Five minutes later, they came running back out, both wearing unhappy expressions.
Shen Tiantian frowned.
“That fast? You already got everything?”
Zhao Yuanjiang glared at her.
“The whole place is empty! What are we supposed to take? Are you messing with us?”
Shen Tiantian’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“What? Empty? That’s impossible! I only saw them move four or five crates.”
Zhu Runmei said irritably, “Tiantian, are you sure they didn’t secretly move things several times without telling you? Looks like your position in the Shen family isn’t all that important.”
“Impossible.”
Pushing the couple aside, Shen Tiantian rushed into the secret chamber herself.
Inside, the underground room was spotless.
It looked as though someone had meticulously cleaned every inch.
The immaculate cleanliness felt almost eerie.
She walked back out with a conflicted expression, her mind filled with questions.
Shen Hanning and Pang Dongling trusted her completely when it came to money.
Long ago, they had already told her about the secret chamber.
Before leaving for Xiangcheng, they’d even asked whether she wanted to come with them.
She had declined, saying she needed to pack.
For her twentieth birthday, they had given her five thousand yuan and a camera.
There was no reason they would hide something as important as emptying the vault from her.
But if it wasn’t them…
Who could have cleared out the entire chamber and cleaned it in such a short time?
Unable to figure it out, she became increasingly irritated.
Looking at the time, she realized it was almost midnight.
“If that’s the case, then hurry back. Don’t let anyone discover you.”
“Go back?” Zhao Yuanjiang snapped.
“We spent an entire day traveling to get here. We left before dawn. You expect us to return empty-handed? How are we supposed to explain that to your brother?”
Zhu Runmei anxiously added,
“That’s right, Tiantian. Your brother is getting married next week. We have to deliver the bride price within the next couple of days, or the wedding will fall through.”
Shen Tiantian’s face turned icy.
“I’ve already done more than enough for you.
“I’m not your money tree.
“You gave birth to me, but you never raised me.
“I don’t owe you anything.”
Zhao Yuanjiang had been squatting on the floor.
At those words, he suddenly stood up.
“Have you forgotten what you did?”
“Need I remind you how Old Master Shen died?”
Shen Tiantian’s face instantly turned pale.
“Y… you’re talking nonsense!”
Zhao Yuanjiang sneered.
“Nonsense?
“If we hadn’t repeatedly gone to the black market to buy those white pills for you, Old Master Shen probably wouldn’t have died so soon.
“Everyone says he worked himself to death.
“But you and I both know how he really died.
“When you wanted us to buy those pills, you kept saying, ‘We’re family.’
“Now that the old man is dead, you’re trying to kick us aside.”
Shen Tiantian glared at him.
“If you keep spreading lies, I’ll report you to the police.”
Zhao Yuanjiang laughed viciously.
“Go ahead.
“Do you dare?
“I asked the factory doctor about those pills.
“They’re great for pain relief, but long-term use damages the kidneys.
“You knew the old man already had kidney disease, yet you still gave him those pills.
“Can you honestly say it wasn’t intentional?
“You’re my daughter.
“We’re the same kind of people.
“I can tell exactly what you’re thinking.
“You were jealous because Old Master Shen treated Xiaoyuan better than you.
“You poisoned him because you couldn’t stand it.”
Outside the study, Shen Xiaoyuan stood frozen in shock.
Although she hadn’t spent much time with her grandfather herself…
The original owner’s warm memories of him still remained in her mind.
If Shen Tiantian had really hastened his death simply because he loved her too much…
Then she would never let Shen Tiantian get away with it.
For now, though…
She decided to sit back and watch the two mad dogs tear each other apart.
Shen Tiantian panicked for only a moment before quickly regaining her composure.
“You expect anyone to believe you based on a few empty words?
“The Shen family treats me so well. They’ll never believe you.”
Zhao Yuanjiang snorted.
“Want me to test that?”
Seeing things escalating, Zhu Runmei hurriedly smoothed things over.
“We’re family. Don’t say such hurtful things.
“Calm down, both of you.
“Tiantian… do you still have any money? Just give us a little to get through this.”
Shen Tiantian glared at her.
“I’ve already given you nearly five thousand yuan altogether.
“I have to keep some money for myself.”
Zhu Runmei lowered her head awkwardly.
“We bought your brother a house in the city… and paid to get him a job.
“It’s all gone.”
After a moment of silence, a sinister gleam flashed across Shen Tiantian’s eyes.
She smiled coldly.
“Shen Xiaoyuan, on the other hand, has gotten plenty out of the Shen family recently.
“Shen Hanning just gave her three thousand yuan.
“If you don’t want to leave empty-handed, you can try your luck with her.
“She’s sleeping soundly right now.
“And there’s the pendant around her neck.
“Grandpa originally intended to give it to me.
“If you can steal it and bring it to me, I’ll give you another five hundred yuan.”
Zhao Yuanjiang’s eyes widened.
“You’re not lying? That girl has that much money?”
With a twisted expression, Shen Tiantian replied,
“More than that.
“This entire Shen residence belongs to her now.
“Otherwise, why do you think Shen Hanning was in such a hurry to move everything to Xiangcheng?”
Zhu Runmei was stunned.
“What?
“She owns this mansion now?
“That girl always pretended to be poor in front of us.
“Every time we asked her for money, she’d say she didn’t have any.
“What an ungrateful little ingrate. We raised her for nothing.”
Zhao Yuanjiang spat onto the floor, droplets even splashing onto Shen Tiantian’s face.
“Bah!
“That little bitch has so much money and won’t give me a cent.
“Looks like we’ll just have to steal it ourselves.”
Hearing that, Shen Xiaoyuan couldn’t take it anymore.
Fight each other all you want…
But now you’re setting your sights on me?
She immediately took a padlock out of her space and locked the study door from the outside.
Then she hurried upstairs and shook the sleeping Shen Jiawei awake.
“Brother, wake up! There are thieves in the house!”
Shen Jiawei shot upright in bed.
“What? Thieves?”
Shen Xiaoyuan nodded.
“They’re in the study. Hurry and call the police.”
Throwing on his clothes, Shen Jiawei immediately followed her downstairs.
Shen Xiaoyuan flung open the front door and shouted into the quiet night,
“Help! There are thieves in the house!”
“Help! Someone, come quickly!”
Meanwhile, Shen Jiawei rushed to the study door.
He peered through the crack…
And the moment he saw the people inside, he froze in shock.