Severing Ties

Ji Chuxing hadn't forgotten that she needed to return to the Wen Family home to get her five hundred yuan back.

Bo Yanchen wasn't comfortable letting the young girl go back alone, so he insisted on taking her to the gates of the Wen Family villa.

"Are you sure you don't need me to go in with you?"

Ji Chuxing pursed her lips. "No!"

Bo Yanchen smiled. "All right. I'll wait out here."

Ji Chuxing really had only come back for her money. It was five hundred yuan, after all. She couldn't just let the Wen Family have it.

She hadn't returned all night after going out yesterday.

Mrs. Wen slept on the first floor and, following Zhou Ru's instructions, had kept watch to see when Ji Chuxing would return. She planned to teach Ji Chuxing a lesson as soon as she got back and show her some of the Wen Family's rules. Who told her not to understand any rules at all?

In the end, she had waited all night, but Ji Chuxing never came back.

She was quite angry.

Now, seeing Ji Chuxing, Mrs. Wen put down what she was doing and gave a sarcastic "Oh!" "Miss Ji, so you do remember to come back. I thought you'd forgotten you live here."

Ji Chuxing paused and glanced at her.

Meeting her clear, cool gaze, Mrs. Wen felt an inexplicable tremor of fear, but she quickly recovered.

Wasn't she just a country bumpkin who didn't know the rules? If she wasn't taught a lesson, she would think she was the Wen Family's eldest young lady and forget her place!

Who knew if, one day, she might snatch the eldest young lady's place and become a cuckoo in the magpie's nest!

She sneered. "Miss Ji, don't blame me for speaking harshly. Although you're Madam's daughter, the Wen Family home isn't your home. It's merely giving you a place to stay, and that's for Madam, the eldest young lady, and the young master's sake. You'd better not let anything like what happened yesterday happen again. Otherwise, the Wen Family isn't running a charity that takes everyone in."

Mrs. Wen was warning Ji Chuxing not to forget her place. Although she was Zhou Ru's son, her status was nothing compared to Wen Xinyue's and Wen Liyang's.

"Since when is it your place to decide whom the Wen Family takes in? Xiaoxing is Madam's child. You're a servant, yet you're lecturing your master?"

Wen Li'an had just returned from outside and heard those words the moment he entered.

He had taken over the company's affairs after reaching adulthood and usually lived in an apartment elsewhere, rarely coming home.

Even so, he knew someone had moved into the Wen Family home: Zhou Ru's biological daughter.

Wen Li'an had no objection to that. He simply hadn't expected her position in the Wen Family to be so awkward that even a servant—or rather, an outsider-dared to speak to him like that.

Who knew how many people gave her the cold shoulder behind closed doors?

Although Wen Huaming was currently the head of the Wen Family, Wen Li'an, the eldest young master, was the one person in the entire family no one dared overlook.

He had always been cold by nature, and even Mrs. Wen, who had worked for the family for twenty years, dared not be anything but careful in his presence.

Hearing Wen Li'an's voice so suddenly, Mrs. Wen's expression changed slightly. She turned around, looking utterly respectful. "Eldest young master."

Ji Chuxing looked over too.

A man about the same age as Bo Yanchen.

He had a tall, handsome figure and a frosty expression. Dressed in black trousers and a black shirt, he looked cold and inscrutable.

He was Wen Huaming's eldest son, the most resourceful and capable person in the Wen Family, perhaps even surpassing Wen Huaming.

Even in her previous life, she had had little contact with Wen Li'an.

Ji Chuxing gave him one look. Oh, he could fight. But she said nothing.

Wen Li'an waved a hand and said to Ji Chuxing, his voice still devoid of warmth, "Go back to your room first."

Ji Chuxing turned and left.

The Wen Family could sort out its own mess. She didn't want to waste her energy.

Seeing Ji Chuxing go upstairs without looking back, Mrs. Wen tried to explain. "Eldest young master, Miss Ji, she..."

Wen Li'an raised a hand to stop her. His voice was icy as he reminded her, "Don't forget your place."

They were all a bunch of snobs, gold and jade on the outside and rotten cotton within.

Mrs. Wen lowered her head, not daring to say more, though she was indignant.

The eldest young master had no idea what this girl had done. If no one warned her now, she would surely seize the Wen Family's property!

He didn't even consider whose sake she was doing it for!

Wen Li'an said, "She's Madam's daughter. Even if she's done something wrong, it's for Madam to address, not you. Don't let it happen again."

Though still indignant, Mrs. Wen agreed. Wen Li'an said no more and went to the study upstairs.

The room Ji Chuxing lived in had supposedly been prepared for Wen Xinyue's pet. The pet had later died of illness, and since Ji Chuxing had happened to return just then, they had let her move in.

There wasn't much inside. She found the five hundred yuan and packed up some of the Ji Family's belongings that she had brought from Qingxi Town.

Just then, Zhou Ru returned, her face full of exhaustion.

Wen Xinyue had come back with her.

She looked guilty. "Mom, I'm sorry. I didn't know things were like that either. Don't blame Sister. Maybe she was pushed too far."

Zhou Ru's expression softened considerably when she faced Wen Xinyue. "Xinyue, this wasn't your fault. Your sister has no manners. If she'd explained things earlier, none of this would have happened today."

"Then... what about the Sun Family?" Wen Xinyue looked worried. "Grandma's health isn't good, and she just returned to the country recently. We were going to ask the Sun Family to treat her, but now... I'm sorry, I've messed it up."

Zhou Ru sighed. "Forget it. We'll deal with that later. If the Sun Family refuses, we can still find a better doctor."

"Oh, right. Teacher Liu told me today that you helped Teacher Wu complete the experiment."

Wen Xinyue smiled faintly. "Mom, I was just trying my luck. I didn't expect anything like that to happen either."

But Zhou Ru looked proud. "My good daughter has always been outstanding. How could that be luck? Luck favors those who are prepared. I believe in your abilities. Work hard on the experiment with Teacher Wu, and the gates of North City University will already be open to you."

Mother and daughter were chatting happily downstairs when Ji Chuxing finished packing and came down.

Sharp-eyed Wen Xinyue spotted her. "Sister! Sister, you're back!"

Ji Chuxing couldn't be bothered to acknowledge her and headed for the door with her backpack on.

"Stop!" Zhou Ru's expression was sour.

"So you do remember to come back. Don't you know how to greet people when you see them? Can't you see Xinyue is talking to you?"

Ji Chuxing glanced at her. "Do you want me to beat gongs and drums to welcome you home? How about I play a suona too?"

Wasn't that for a funeral procession? Zhou Ru was furious, but remembering that Wen Xinyue was still there, she patted her hand. "Xinyue, go back and do your homework first."

Wen Xinyue looked worriedly at Zhou Ru, then at Ji Chuxing. "Mom, please don't get angry with Sister. Sister, don't quarrel with Mom either. Talk things over nicely."

Still looking worried, she went upstairs.

Ever since she had watched Bo Yanchen take Ji Chuxing away at the school gates, and even received a scolding from him herself, the anger in Zhou Ru's heart had never subsided.

Now that she saw Ji Chuxing, that anger surged up again.

Bo Yanchen might be powerful, but in her eyes, he was still a junior.

A junior had made her lose face in public, and wasn't it all because Ji Chuxing didn't know how to behave? If she hadn't talked back, would any of this have happened?

"What exactly is going on between you and Second Master Bo?"

Didn't she know all about this girl?

Before yesterday, she hadn't known anyone in South City apart from the Wen Family, yet now she had actually hooked up with Second Master Bo.

Did she even know which people she shouldn't touch?

If word got out that Zhou Ru's daughter had taken the initiative to hook up with Second Master Bo, how could she show her face? What would the other madams say about her?

Zhou Ru wanted nothing more than to slap Ji Chuxing.

"What the hell is it to you?" Ji Chuxing couldn't even be bothered to look at her.

"Ji Chuxing!" Zhou Ru said angrily. "I advise you not to be so ungrateful. That's Bo Yanchen, the second master of the North City Bo Family. You think he's some ordinary person you can just throw yourself at? If something happens, even the Wen Family won't be able to protect you!"

"How could you do something so shameless? Have you no sense of shame?"

"You're ridiculous." Ji Chuxing looked Zhou Ru up and down. "You think everyone else is just like you, doing the same things you do?"

Zhou Ru's expression changed dramatically. "What did you say?!"

She was highly sensitive about that subject. After all, she had used underhanded means when she met Wen Huaming back then.

Ji Chuxing ignored her. "Stay out of my business. I have nothing to do with you."

"What do you mean by that?!"

"Exactly what I said." Ji Chuxing lifted her chin. "Madam Wen, remember this: you're not my mother. I consider my mother long dead. You're the Wen Family's second replacement wife now, Madam Wen."

What Madam Wen minded most was her status as a replacement wife. Hearing that, she flew into a rage. "Ji Chuxing, fine! I feed you, give you drink, and send you to the best school, yet you're such an ungrateful wretch!"

Smack! A bank card landed on the table in front of Zhou Ru.

"There's fifty thousand yuan in here. Since I came to the Wen Family, I haven't spent a single cent of yours or the Wen Family's on food, clothes, or anything else, and I haven't eaten a single bite of your or the Wen Family's food. This fifty thousand is one year's tuition at South City No. 1 High School. I'm paying you back. Now we're even."

She might have looked imposing when she threw down the card, but it actually pained her terribly!

She had just thrown away fifty thousand yuan, and she had no idea when she'd be able to earn it back.

But buying an end to this relationship meant no more aggravation.

Zhou Ru hadn't expected Ji Chuxing to do such a thing. "Fine! So you really have latched onto the great tree that is Bo Yanchen. Hmph! Let me tell you, Bo Yanchen won't live past thirty. Let's see how long you can rely on him. Even? You think you can settle things so easily? My blood runs in your veins. Out there, everyone knows you're my daughter, Zhou Ru's daughter!"

Even if their relationship was to be settled, it wouldn't be Ji Chuxing who settled it with her.

She would be the one to drive this unfilial daughter out of the house!

Ji Chuxing's gaze turned cold. "Won't live past thirty? Don't worry, he'll definitely live longer than you!"

She looked at Zhou Ru with disgust. "Your blood? That's pretty filthy."

Zhou Ru was so angry she couldn't utter a word. Ji Chuxing shrugged, picked up her bag, and headed out.

"Stop her!" Zhou Ru shouted furiously.

The Wen Family had several servants and gardeners, who had long since heard the commotion inside. This was the first time Miss Ji had quarreled with Madam since her arrival.

But a girl from the countryside like her must have accumulated blessings over several lifetimes to be able to live with the Wen Family, yet she didn't know how to repay their kindness.

She really didn't know what was good for her.

Several gardeners blocked Ji Chuxing's path.

Ji Chuxing's eyes lit up. "Very good." Now she could have a fight!

She gave Zhou Ru an appreciative look and slowly lowered her schoolbag from her shoulder, looking as if she had finally found someone she could fight.

That look gave Zhou Ru an inexplicable sense of unease.

But Ji Chuxing was the daughter she had given birth to, and even her life was in Zhou Ru's hands. What could she possibly do?

With tension crackling downstairs, Wen Xinyue suddenly rushed out of her room in a panic. "Mom, the diamond watch Brother gave me is missing. I couldn't find it anywhere just now. Have you seen it?"