Chapter 20: Why Doesn’t Shen Miao Have Living Expenses?

Just as Shen Miao contacted that incredibly talented candidate who could fly over to apply, her latest livestream swiftly surged to the top of trending searches.

【Taming wild boars with just a dog leash】【Dog appraisal turns into uncovering a mistress?】

Beyond these two adorable pet topics, the heiress of the Wen family struggling with part-time jobs while repaying student loans also sparked heated discussions among onlookers.

After all, homework can be skipped, work can be shirked, but gossip cannot be missed!

Netizens quickly traced the thread to Wen Jiao Jiao’s comment section.

However, Wen Jiao Jiao only replied once, saying it wasn’t like that, and gave no further response.

With no clear answers, tabloids and paparazzi turned their attention to Wen Yun Yi, the Wen family patriarch.

Soon, at a financial and stock market conference, a reporter stood and asked Wen Yun Yi:

“May I ask why your two daughters live such vastly different lives? Wen Jiao Jiao never worries about food or clothing, flaunting a new designer outfit every day, yet your other daughter isn’t even given basic living or tuition expenses. Netizens speculate this is because your younger daughter was born to your ex-wife but raised by your current wife. Is that true?”

Immediately, everyone at the conference widened their eyes.

Among the elite in attendance, the atmosphere shifted as they glanced at Wen Yun Yi with newfound curiosity.

Wen Yun Yi’s face darkened, and he sharply snapped:

“What nonsense are you spouting? If you keep spreading lies, I’ll sue you!”

“But Mr. Wen, your favoritism seems undeniable, doesn’t it? According to the bills from the streamer Panda Has a Cat, both your daughters share the same birthday, yet when Wen Jiao Jiao received expensive birthday gifts, what did you give your younger daughter? If there was a gift, why did she only dare buy herself a ten-yuan milk tea as a reward on her birthday?”

“That’s utter nonsense! Our Wen family—”

Wen Yun Yi faltered mid-sentence, unable to recall any gifts given to Shen Miao over the past four years.

He only remembered that when eighteen-year-old Shen Miao was first brought home, the very next day was Wen Jiao Jiao’s birthday. They hurriedly bought Shen Miao a bracelet.

But the next day, Shen Miao spilled wine on Wen Jiao Jiao’s dress, which angered him greatly. As punishment, no gift was given.

Shen Miao constantly angered them after returning home, leaving him so disappointed that he never gave his daughter any gifts afterward.

Wen Yun Yi’s hesitation made the reporter immediately understand. He pressed on:

“So it seems to be true. Is it really as netizens guessed—that your younger daughter was raised by a stepmother?”

“What nonsense! Shen Miao is the biological daughter of my wife and me!” Wen Yun Yi instinctively retorted.

“What stepmother? You journalists just jump at rumors!”

“Oh? If there’s no stepmother, then why is it that when your eldest daughter is studying abroad, driving luxury cars, and attending parties, your younger daughter is working three jobs and still has student loans? Both are your daughters—why does the younger one not even have twenty yuan for a day’s meals?”

The room erupted in murmurs. For these wealthy elites, twenty yuan isn’t even enough to buy a bottle of water.

What on earth was going on with the Wen family? How could they let their own child live in poverty?

Either they were on the brink of bankruptcy, or Wen Yun Yi had lost his mind.

“What student loans? Stop spreading lies! Who even are you? Security, escort this person out immediately!”

Everyone was abuzz. Wen Yun Yi hurriedly called for security, but the reporter, having gotten what he wanted, didn’t care about being removed. He immediately wrote and posted the story.

Netizens online quickly caught wind of the scandal.

“Good grief! They’ve completely neglected their own streamer! The whole family is tall, but she’s the only short one—probably malnourished since childhood! Poor streamer!”

“Is this economic abuse? But she’s over eighteen, so it’s not illegal…”

“So the Wen parents are brainless? Forcing their own daughter into hardship yet claiming she’s their biological child? Typical capitalist hypocrisy—heartless even to their own children, let alone customers and employees. Tsk tsk.”

The netizens’ criticisms were relentless. Soon, it affected the Wen Group’s stock price. Wen Yun Yi and his wife finally became aware of Shen Miao’s accounts and were shocked.

“What’s going on? Why has Shen Miao been working all this time? Didn’t you give her living expenses?”

Wen’s wife learned for the first time that Shen Miao had been short on money and asked in confusion:

“I thought you had given her a card, so I didn’t. But Jiao Jiao, I remember giving you a card as extra spending for you and your sister. Didn’t you give her one?”

“I… I thought she had her own living expenses and she never asked me, so I forgot about the card…” Wen Jiao Jiao lowered her head and spoke softly.

Wen Yun Yi and his wife fell silent.

Wen’s wife recalled the accounts she had seen and how she had once scolded Shen Miao’s “shabby” dress at Jiao Jiao’s birthday party.

Only now did she realize that the outfit she had dismissed as ragged was actually rented by Shen Miao through her own labor.

A bitter feeling welled up in her heart.

How had things come to this? Shen Miao was her biological daughter, yet why had she never asked if Shen Miao had enough money or living expenses?

“Mom, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault! I subconsciously thought you might have given Shen Miao a card, so I didn’t pay attention…”

Wen Jiao Jiao’s eyes reddened as she cried. Wen Yun Yi and his wife hurriedly comforted her. Wen Yun Yi said immediately:

“This isn’t your fault, Jiao Jiao. It’s that stubborn Shen Miao—she should have just told us if she was short on money! Does the Wen family lack that little living expense?”

“Exactly! Isn’t this what they call ‘grin and bear it’ online?” Wen’s wife instinctively reproached.

“How can it be our fault? She never tells us anything! What’s wrong with this child? How can her pride be so strong?”

Wen Yun Yi and his wife couldn’t understand; they blamed Shen Miao’s lack of communication.

“But let’s hurry and bring Shen Miao back. From now on, don’t withhold her allowance to prevent her stirring up trouble online.”

After Wen Yun Yi finished, his wife nodded and prepared to leave.

Just as Wen’s wife was about to fetch Shen Miao, unaware of the turmoil, Shen Miao was busy trying to save her skin by interviewing the flying candidate.

When she saw him, her eyes widened immediately:

“Bluebird? You’re Bluebird! What about Phoenix? Is Phoenix with you too?”