Chapter 4

Shen Luoluo: ?

[Wait, what's going on now? Why did they suddenly give me that room back?]

[No wonder someone glared at me the moment I stepped out!]

[Did these two suddenly come to their senses?]

The three people present: ...

Zhao Huizhen had no answer to that. She rubbed her nose awkwardly and continued apologizing. "I'm sorry, Luoluo. That room was yours to begin with. Your dad and I didn't think things through. Now we're just giving it back to its rightful—"

Ding-dong—

Ding-dong—

Ding-dong—

Shen Jiayan's phone had been going off ever since Zhao Huizhen sat down. Now it was interrupting her outright.

Shen Ting'an could take no more. He slammed a hand on the table with a loud bang. "Why are you playing with your phone at dinner? Put it away! Keep it up and I'll confiscate it!"

Shen Luoluo jumped too.

[Huh? No phones at dinner? I'm doomed. I love watching shows while I eat, especially when I'm alone with takeout.] Sometimes she finished her food before finding anything good to watch, but that was part of the ritual. She couldn't do without it!

Zhao Huizhen caught the crucial detail—eating alone—and her eyes reddened despite herself.

[Eating without a show is so boring. Rich families have too many rules. I really don't belong here.]

The room fell silent.

Shen Luoluo spooned some porridge into her mouth and looked up.

[Huh? Why did he stop scolding him?]

Zhao Huizhen promptly kicked Shen Ting'an under the table and gave him a pointed look.

Shen Ting'an caught on at once. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Ahem. O-of course, our family isn't that strict. You can use your phone. Just keep the volume down so you don't disturb anyone."

He looked at Shen Jiayan. "You didn't mean to cause trouble today. Turn it down and I won't confiscate your phone."

Shen Jiayan stared at his parents, dumbfounded.

Seriously? They could do that?! They changed their tune faster than he could turn a page! They were so fierce with him, but two thoughts from Shen Luoluo were enough to make them change their minds. She was their daughter, sure, but wasn't he their son?

Favoritism. Blatant favoritism!

His phone was still vibrating. Shen Jiayan snorted. Since he'd gotten to keep it, he would let them off for now.

He opened the chat. A group of his close friends was talking.

[Underground Intelligence Bureau]

[Duan Yixing: Holy shit! Breaking news! Shangguan Tingxuan really did stuff garlic up his butt!]

[Jiang Yi: How do you know?]

[Duan Yixing: He went to my family's hospital. How could I not know?]

[Lu Yanze: Holy shit! Hahaha, I know I shouldn't laugh, but sorry, I'm laughing first! Shangguan Tingxuan's a genius for coming up with that idea! Hahaha!!!]

[Jiang Yi: If the Shangguan Tingxuan thing is true, then what happened with Sister Shi Yue's family...]

[Duan Yixing: That's probably true too!]

Shen Jiayan frowned at the messages, completely baffled. He had no idea what they were talking about.

[Shen Jiayan: What's true? What are you guys talking about?]

Duan Yixing replied immediately. [Brother Yan, you left too early last night! You missed so much! You have no idea how amazing your sister is. She's a legend!]

Duan Yixing then sent several voice messages, giving Shen Jiayan a quick rundown of what had happened the night before.

Shen Jiayan had barely finished listening when his phone vibrated again. This time, it was a message from Qin Shiyue asking, [Is your sister going to school to register later?]

Shen Jiayan's eyelid twitched. Crap. Is she coming to settle the score?

Seriously? She only just got home, and she's already caused trouble!

Chapter 4

◎Shen Anya's Fiancé—I remember there was some dirt on him!◎

After getting a definite answer, Qin Shiyue put away her phone. The woman kneeling on the floor was still pleading desperately. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't want to deceive you. I had no choice!"

"Jianming, please forgive me this once. I'll never do it again! Please don't send me away!"

Qin Shiyue found her irritating and loud. She'd never liked this stepmother much, but she could have put up with her for her father's sake. She just hadn't expected the woman to have cheated on him for so many years!

If they hadn't happened to hear Shen Luoluo's thoughts, who knew how much longer this woman would have fooled their family? And now she had the nerve to play innocent!

Her father was too softhearted. If it were up to her, she would have sent the woman and her lover straight to prison!

She walked past the woman to Qin Jianming's side and told him the news she had just received.

Qin Jianming closed his eyes briefly and dropped the paternity test report in his hand. "Let's go." His decision was swift and decisive.

The car sped away from the hospital and pulled into the high school division of Jingbei International School a little over ten minutes later.

Their timing was perfect. The Shen Family's car arrived just after they entered the school.

"Director Shen." Qin Jianming extended his right hand in greeting.

Shen Ting'an was alarmed. Ever since his younger son had told him the Qin family wanted to see Shen Luoluo, he'd been on edge. The Shen Family was wealthy too, but it still fell short of an illustrious family like the Qins. Besides, they were in the wrong. If last night's events had angered Qin Jianming and he decided to do something to Shen Luoluo, there was nothing the Shen Family could do!

He hurried forward and shook Qin Jianming's hand. "Chairman Qin, about last night, the child didn't—"

"What a coincidence! Last night is exactly why I'm here." Qin Jianming beamed. "I owe your daughter a proper thank-you for what she did!"

Shen Ting'an: ???

Once he was sure Qin Jianming wasn't joking, Shen Ting'an asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Qin Jianming gestured ahead. "Let's talk as we walk."

The two family heads chatted happily up ahead, laughing now and then. The more Shen Jiayan watched them, the stranger it seemed. Why was this nothing like I'd expected? He couldn't help moving closer to Qin Shiyue, only to find her humming cheerfully too.