"Shiba, pick whatever you want. Anything at all. Mom will buy it for you."
Wow, Mom's so generous and amazing! A true heiress from a wealthy family!
Song Jia was delighted that Tang Shiba praised her, then heard her continue.
What a shame~ My little sister said jewelry didn't look good on me. She said a nobody actress like me wearing anything that expensive would make people think I had a sugar daddy.
In the end, she bought a whole pile of things, and I didn't get anything.
Song Jia felt Tang Xueqing had gone a little too far.
Even with her biological daughter back, she would still treat her adopted daughter well. There was no need to fight over everything.
Her biological daughter had suffered away from home for eighteen years.
Her adopted daughter had spent those eighteen years growing up under their loving care.
The more she thought about it, the more ungrateful Tang Xueqing seemed.
Her expression cooled as she told Tang Xueqing, “Didn't your father give you a card? Buy whatever you want yourself.”
Tang Xueqing's expression stiffened. “Mom, there's no money left on that card.”
Song Jia's expression changed.
Ten million on a single card, gone just like that?
Seeing her mother's displeased expression, Tang Xueqing hurried to explain, “I bought Dad a Qing dynasty tea table, so I used it all up.”
Qing dynasty, my foot. It was a fake. She transferred that money elsewhere ages ago. She never keeps any money on her; she just keeps milking the family. She'd transfer every last cent out of the Tang Family if she could.
Once she's cleaned them out, the Tang Family will go bankrupt.
What?!
Song Jia swayed, and Tang Shiba caught her. Seeing a trace of concern in her daughter's eyes, Song Jia quickly steadied herself.
"I'm fine. Go ahead and choose. Mom will buy it for you."
Whether it was true or not, Song Jia had begun to grow wary.
Tang Shiba had no choice but to pick out a couple of things. They wouldn't buy them for her in the end anyway.
She had just picked something up to try it on when Tang Xueqing spoke.
"Shiba, that necklace doesn't suit you. You don't have the elegance to pull it off. Usually only big stars wear something like that."
Tang Shiba could only put it down and pick up a ring instead.
"Shiba, that looks like an engagement ring. Won't people get the wrong idea if you wear it? Your fans might think you have a sugar daddy."
Patiently, Tang Shiba turned to the jade bangles.
"Shiba, that jade bangle looks a little expensive. People might think you're some tacky nouveau riche. Mom and Dad work hard for their money. Pick something more suitable."
Song Jia glanced at the price. It was only five hundred thousand.
Tang Xueqing actually called that expensive? Everything she ate, wore, and used was always the best. This was outrageous.
With a sweeping gesture, Song Jia said, “Wrap up everything she just looked at or touched.”
Tang Xueqing's eyes reddened with jealousy.
Why? All of that should have been hers.
Tang Shiba snickered inwardly.
Mom finally came through for once. But, dear birth mother of mine, I hope you stay this way, or I'm in for a rough time. Tang Xueqing's jealous of this jewelry. If she can't have it, she'll find a way to destroy it.
Song Jia asked the sales assistant, "What if it breaks or shatters?"
"Madam, if it breaks or shatters within a month, you can bring it straight back for a replacement."
Song Jia nodded in satisfaction and handed Tang Shiba the bags. "Bring it back for a replacement if it breaks. If necessary, I'll buy you two for every one that breaks. If three break, I'll buy you a whole pile."
Little stars sparkled in Tang Shiba's eyes.
My birth mother finally stopped being blind. Sure enough, money has corrupted me too. Oh dear, how troubling.
Forgotten, Tang Xueqing followed behind resentfully, her eyes red with anger. She took out her phone and called Tang Dad.
Tang Dad didn't answer. Refusing to give up, she called her brothers instead.
Her eldest brother answered in a gentle voice. "What's wrong, my little princess?"
"Boohoo, should I move out? I knew I was being greedy. I shouldn't have stayed at home."
Her eldest brother panicked and hurriedly asked what had happened.
Tang Xueqing told him that ever since Tang Shiba had arrived, their mother had ignored her and only bought things for Tang Shiba. She also said their father no longer loved her the way he used to.
Her eldest brother, Tang Xuan, grew furious at what he heard, a rare occurrence for him.
"Be good. Don't cry. I'll send you some money. Buy whatever you want. Once I'm done with work and come home, I'll stand up for you."
Tang Xueqing smiled sweetly and immediately hung up.
Then a notification appeared on her phone: five million had arrived.
Her mood finally improved. She believed everyone in this family would gradually realize that she was the one who mattered most.
Tang Shiba was just a bottom-tier nobody actress who couldn't even land a role. All she could do was disgrace the Tang Family.
She was different. With a few more opportunities, she would definitely make it to the A-list.
Tang Xueqing looked up to find Tang Shiba, only to see Song Jia watching her. She quickly composed herself and walked over.
Song Jia looked away. How had she never noticed that Tang Xueqing cried so much?
She had probably just called her eldest brother.
Not wanting Tang Xueqing to overthink things, Song Jia told her to pick out a couple of outfits too.
Tang Xueqing didn't hold back and chose the two most expensive ones.
When Song Jia saw Tang Shiba pick two reasonably priced outfits, her feelings grew complicated again.
It was obvious who the spendthrift was.
It seemed she needed to find a way to send Tang Xueqing away. Raising her until eighteen had already been more than enough to fulfill their duty.
Building the Tang Family's business into what it was today hadn't been easy. If something really happened to it, her husband might do something desperate.
The company was his everything.
Tang Shiba had bought so many luxury goods that she couldn't carry them all.
Tang Xueqing had bought plenty too. It wasn't her money anyway, so she spent it without a shred of guilt.
Once they had shopped enough, the three prepared to head home.
Tang Xueqing sent something on her phone, then put it away and took Song Jia's arm, asking her to go to the restroom.
Song Jia happened to need to go too, so she told Tang Shiba to wait outside for them.
[System: Host, here comes some juicy gossip.]
In a moment, a paparazzo will photograph the luxury goods you're holding and post them online, spreading rumors that you have a sugar daddy. The entire internet will boycott you, and your company will decide to blacklist and shelve you.
Which company am I with?
Unfortunately, it's a company under the Tang Family, managed by your second brother.
Doesn't my brother know I'm back? Why would he blacklist me?
He knows, but he doesn't like you. Tang Xueqing poisoned their minds against you ages ago.
Tsk, tsk. My second brother's blind too. He lets people spread rumors about his own sister, then blacklists her instead of helping. No wonder he later takes the blame for Tang Xueqing's murder and goes to prison for her. That's true love. Those two deserve to be locked together forever.
What?!
Hearing this, Song Jia stared at Tang Xueqing in shock.
She would kill someone in the future and drag her second son down with her?
No. She would never allow Tang Xueqing to destroy this family.
Tang Xueqing hired this paparazzo, didn't she? He's deliberately shooting from awkward angles to get ugly photos of me, right? Oh, I'd better cooperate.
Song Jia scanned her surroundings and finally spotted someone suspicious.
Was that the paparazzo? Had Tang Xueqing hired him to spread rumors about Shiba?
Song Jia's heart ached.
The daughter she had raised for eighteen years was actually this vicious. Did not being related by blood mean she could exploit their affection however she pleased?
"Let's go home."
It seemed she would have to discuss the welcome banquet with her husband.
They arrived home just as Tang Shiba's father returned from work.
The moment he got out of the car, he heard Tang Shiba's gleeful voice.
Oh my, the housekeeper's secretly trying on clothes in the bedroom. Hurry, hurry, hurry! I want to catch the drama in person.
Tang Shiba ran off at top speed, and her parents hurried after her.
They left Tang Xueqing behind, her face twisted with venom.
Before you continue