“And what about my mother dying from a difficult labor was there some unspeakable secret behind that?”
“You… what are you feeling guilty about? Afraid of? Ashamed of?”
Shen Qingqing suddenly stood up, looking down at Shen Jing with a fixed, piercing gaze.
This time, she was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Shen Jing’s face immediately showed a flicker of panic.
Though middle-aged, he quickly recovered his mask of composure.
He put down the fruit and said coldly, “How dare you!”
“Is this how you speak to your father?” Ye Zhi also spoke, slightly annoyed.
Shen Qingqing, however, said coldly, “Shen Jing, you still haven’t explained the questions I just asked!”
“What’s the matter?” she added, a faint smirk curling at the corners of her lips. “As head of the Shen family, do you dare to act but not admit it?”
Her words were delivered with absolute conviction.
Shen Jing’s panic deepened; even his composed, authoritative façade was starting to falter.
After all, this daughter had been sent away to the countryside by his own hand. Over the years, he had kept some tabs on Shen Qingqing she hadn’t even finished high school.
Not to mention that she had never interacted with anyone in Lincheng. So how on earth did she know about this?
Was she guessing?
No… Shen Jing had spent years transforming himself from a poor boy into the head of the Shen family. He had seen all kinds of people and learned to distinguish between pretense and truth.
So Shen Qingqing truly knew about those events?
Who had told her?!
Shen Jing’s face turned extremely unpleasant, but he quickly masked it with a gentle expression. His eyes softened, and his tone became unusually tender: “Qingqing, listen to your father…”
Shen Qingqing understood immediately.
Clearly, something was off here. The storyline of this world was full of traps!
Great. Just great. Not only had the “dog system” dragged her out of her peaceful post-retirement life into this mission, it had also assigned her to such a treacherous world.
Just wait I’ll settle this with you.
Meanwhile, system 06, currently attending a meeting and being scolded in a “quick transmigration” mission, suddenly shivered. What the heck?!
Shen Jing continued, “Father did nothing wrong. Everything that happened could not have been prevented. You weren’t around back then, so naturally you don’t know what happened.”
“Listen to your father. Don’t be misled. Whatever those people told you was meant to stir up trouble.”
He then turned to Ye Zhi and said softly, “Zhi Zhi, come on, tell Qingqing I’m right, won’t you?”
Ye Zhi smiled and said to Shen Qingqing, “Qingqing, your father is right. Don’t trust outsiders blindly.”
“Your mother’s difficult labor was because he accidentally fell and had to be hospitalized, which led to the complications!”
“Your father wanted to save the older baby, but your mother insisted on saving you, and that’s why the tragedy occurred.”
“Later, somehow, you and Baiyun were switched at birth.”
Ye Zhi paused, then continued, “I only married your father when Baiyun was five years old.”
“Qingqing, listen to your mother. Don’t be impulsive or angry. Being switched with Baiyun was fate you can’t blame her.”
“Although you’ve lived in the countryside and have a low level of education, your father and I have always worried about you. Look once you were brought back, we married you into the Shen family. Isn’t that a grand and prestigious household?”
“Baiyun didn’t even get this treatment!”
“Your father and I have never despised you. We’ve always loved you. Don’t listen to nonsense from outsiders. Remember, those are all meant to cause trouble!”
Shen Qingqing couldn’t help but laugh.
Listen to this this is exactly what only city people would say!
They brought their own daughter into the city, didn’t let her enjoy a single day of comfort, and immediately pushed her into marriage with a vegetable.
They claimed they were bringing their biological daughter to the city, but in reality, she was shielding the “fake heiress” from misfortune.
And they expected their biological daughter to be grateful.
Genius move.
And “never despised her, always loved her” where did all that implied superiority come from?
Never despised! Still loved!
Oh, yes, that’s how they “loved” her driving her straight to despair, to the point of wanting to jump off a cliff!
Shen Qingqing’s heart filled with anger. She felt as if a few rotten straws were stuck in her chest, neither up nor down, making her feel nauseous and uncomfortable!
These were the emotions of the original self.
Shen Qingqing stayed silent for a moment, finally calming the worst of her emotions.
But the “straws” were still lodged there.
Looking at this couple in front of her, she found them utterly disgusting.
But since they were faking it, putting on this act to fool her…
Then how could she not play along?
Otherwise, wouldn’t that be ungrateful for their “hard work”?
With that thought, Shen Qingqing’s eyes glistened as she faked a look of heartfelt gratitude.
She quickly wiped away her nonexistent tears, then ran straight to Shen Jing and Ye Zhi.
With the hands that had just eaten sunflower seeds, peeled a dragon fruit, and shelled lychee, she clutched at Ye Zhi’s snow-white high-end dress.
Then she raised her head, her expression full of gratitude, and said word by word to Shen Jing: “Listen to me… thank you both!”
The tone, to Shen Jing, sounded like… gnashing teeth.
Yet Shen Jing and Ye Zhi didn’t notice anything unusual.
After all, in their minds, Shen Qingqing was just a naive country bumpkin. How could she possibly have such intelligence?
Since she couldn’t possibly be that smart, her display of gratitude was easily believed.
Ye Zhi secretly thought: sure enough, she’s a country bumpkin so easy to fool.
A few words, and she’s completely thrown off balance.
Seeing the couple relax, Shen Qingqing inwardly sneered.
No wonder in the original story, even though the protagonists helped the Shen family, they never became strong.
With such “intelligence,” they’re fit to run a big family? Hmph.
Not even as sharp as the cannon fodder she’d met on previous missions.
Shen Qingqing narrowed her eyes, hiding the mockery, and slowly continued: “Since Father and Mother love me so much, I have an unusual request. I don’t know if I should say it.”
“Go ahead, say it,” Shen Jing feigned the expression of a kind father.
Ye Zhi cooperated, saying, “Good child, Mom knows you won’t ask for anything bad. Speak, and whatever we can do, we’ll fulfill.”
Though what they said was subtly warning her not to go too far.