“Does Xiao Wu not like it? Would you like to try something else?”
Qing Wu said indifferently, “I don’t like the garnishes. I don’t like scallions, ginger, or garlic.”
It was only a small matter, and she didn’t take it to heart.
After all, in the Lin family, Qian Yuechang had never cared about what Qing Wu liked to eat. Instead, she would force Qing Wu to eat foods she disliked to prove her own control.
The soup bowl in her hand was immediately taken away by Zuo Wanjun, who turned to the nanny and instructed, “From now on, none of our family’s dishes may contain scallions, ginger, or garlic!”
The nanny: “…”
Miss Yu Rou’s favorite foods were scallion oil noodles and ginger milk pudding!
She didn’t dare say a word, but secretly glared at the eldest daughter who had just come home and immediately put on airs against Miss Yu Rou, grinding her teeth in frustration.
Qing Wu blinked, not expecting Zuo Wanjun to do such a thing.
“There’s no need for that. I’m fine.”
Zuo Wanjun waved it off dismissively, taking Qing Wu’s hand and urging, “Xiao Wu, when you have time, write down what you like and don’t like to eat. From now on, whatever you like, your father and I will like too, and whatever you don’t like will never appear in our house!”
Shen Dongli also nodded. “That’s right. Look how thin Xiao Wu is. The Lin family definitely didn’t feed her well.”
In the eyes of the Shen parents, the Lin family had directly become villains who mistreated Qing Wu.
Her clothes were plain and ordinary, not any good brand. Her suitcase was small too—aside from an old computer, she had no other luggage at all!
This was too poor!
Zuo Wanjun hesitated for a moment before speaking up. “Sweetheart, you have four older brothers and one older sister at home. We discovered a few years ago that you and Shaojia had been switched at birth, and we’ve been searching for you for years.”
“Your father and I, we didn’t do it on purpose back then. We…”
Qing Wu nodded.
No one would deliberately switch babies.
“As for Shaojia, she’s innocent. We’ve raised her for so many years, and she won’t fight with you over anything. So until she finds her own family, we hope she can stay here. Don’t worry, she usually does research in Qingshan County.”
“The one who called me earlier—that was her?”
She remembered that Lin Jingsheng had said there was a rooster crowing on the other end of the line.
“Yes, it was Shaojia who found you and called you. We’ve been investigating what happened back then over the past two years, and we discovered that Shaojia is actually a few days older than you. Your father and I are also working hard to find Shaojia’s biological family.”
In truth, when it came to searching for family, whether you found them or not was a matter of fate.
The Shen parents simply hoped that Shen Shaojia could stay at home.
Qing Wu had no objection. Whether the Shen parents chose to support someone was their own freedom.
“I understand.”
Both Shen parents breathed a sigh of relief.
They knew their daughter wasn’t the type to insist that Shaojia leave the Shen family.
Shen Shaojia had lived with them for so many years—even if she had discovered by chance years ago that she wasn’t their biological daughter, the Shen parents still couldn’t bear to kick her out!
Zuo Wanjun said excitedly, “When you see Shaojia, you’re sure to like her!”
Qing Wu’s expression remained indifferent, and she said nothing.
The nanny muttered quietly from the side, “And Miss Yu Rou…”
At the mention of Shen Yu Rou, the excitement and anticipation in the Shen parents’ eyes noticeably dimmed.
Zuo Wanjun took a sip of soup and said flatly, “Oh, right, there’s also Yu Rou. She’s an orphan your grandmother adopted. She doesn’t count as a daughter of the Shen family. You don’t need to pay her any mind.”
The nanny’s expression turned somewhat indignant—but it was directed at Qing Wu.
After finally getting Miss Shaojia to go out for research and not come home, the house finally had only Miss Yurou as the daughter. Master Shen and Madam would surely come to like Miss Yurou!
But then another biological eldest daughter showed up—now everything that belonged to Miss Yurou was going to be taken away!
Qing Wu noticed the hostile glare from the nanny but paid it no mind.
“Why did you adopt her?”
When it came to Shen Yurou, the Shen couple’s attitude was lukewarm at best.
“Your grandmother wasn’t in good health back then. For a while, she dreamed of a child attendant from beside the Bodhisattva descending to keep her company. After she was discharged from the hospital, she adopted Yurou. Yurou usually stays with your grandmother. Your older brothers are all busy—I’ll introduce you to them later.”
Qing Wu acknowledged with a soft hum, her eyes slightly lowered.
Shen Dongli clapped his hands. “Xiaowu, why don’t you go take a look at your room?”
Meeting the expectant gazes of the Shen parents, Qing Wu nodded.
She followed them upstairs.
“Xiaowu, Mom heard you’re taking the college entrance exam next month. Is there any school you want to go to? It doesn’t matter if your grades aren’t great—we can send you abroad to study! Which university do you like?”
Qing Wu actually hadn’t thought about this question.
She had already received admission letters from Ivy University and Beihua University last month and was still deciding which one to attend.
The Lin couple knew nothing about any of this.
Ever since Qian Yuechang stopped letting Qing Wu study hard to avoid provoking Lin Xuecheng, she had stopped sharing her grades with the Lin family.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“No worries, take your time. Your brothers all studied abroad. Shaojia also graduated from Beihua’s gifted youth program and is currently pursuing her PhD at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. We’ll have Shaojia give you some advice later.”
From what she could tell, Shen Shaojia must be a genius in the research field.
No wonder the Shen couple was so reluctant to let her go.
Shen Dongli patted his chest. “You can ask Dad too! Dad also graduated from Ivy College!”
Zuo Wanjun called him out. “You only got in because you had a Beijing household registration and Grandpa donated two buildings to Ivy College.”
Shen Dongli: “…”
He let out an awkward chuckle and pushed open the door to the second-floor corridor.
The entire floor was decorated in a minimalist style, yet every corner exuded understated luxury.
A thirty-million-yuan display cabinet held priceless antiques. The walk-in closet was bigger than the Lin couple’s bedroom. The bathroom floor was translucent. There was also a study, a dance studio, a game room…
Shen Dongli gestured grandly. “This entire floor is yours, Xiaowu. Do you like it?”
The whole second floor—at least three hundred square meters—was all hers alone?
Zuo Wanjun chimed in. “That’s right. Take a look and see if you like this style. If not, we’ll tear it down right away. The third floor is yours too—if you don’t like it, we’ll redo everything!”
Qing Wu: “…”
“No need. The second floor is fine.”
Both Shen Dongli and Zuo Wanjun had been afraid Qing Wu wouldn’t like it. Seeing her nod, they both breathed a sigh of relief.
Zuo Wanjun pulled open the door to the walk-in closet. “Mom prepared some loungewear for you. See if you like it.”
Most of the closet was filled with loungewear bearing big-name logos, but the most eye-catching pieces were a few items with a willow-leaf logo.
“These are Master Ye Yi’s new designs. Do you like them?”
Qing Wu’s feelings were complicated. “…Yes, I like them.”
Zuo Wanjun and Shen Dongli were both on the verge of tears of joy!
Their daughter said she liked them!
“Sweetheart, you rest for a bit. Mom will go contact your brothers to come home, and we’ll have dinner together tonight!”
“Okay.”
Zuo Wanjun and Shen Dongli happily went downstairs.
Qing Wu thought for a moment, then sent a message.
“Investigate why the Singer appeared in the capital city, and when he took Shen Lisu’s order.”
“Got it!”
Five minutes later.
“Boss, the Singer took a job from a wealthy man in the capital, but he never took Shen Lisu’s order.”
Qing Wu: “…”
Damn that Singer!
“Investigate the incident from back then, when the Shen family’s daughter was switched at birth.”
“Yes!”
Qing Wu had always suspected that there was more to that matter than met the eye!