Volume One, Chapter 17: You Enjoy the Glory and Wealth of the Shen Family—Pay Up

Shen Ruzhi: "..."

Shen Ruzhi was certain she’d never offended him. Their only connection was her stopping his car the day before—and she’d paid the fare, after all. Where did all this hostility come from?

Tian Xiaoxia felt it was unfair for her friend. Why was her cousin so ill-mannered? Zhezhi had only greeted him out of kindness. Who spoke like that? Yet she didn’t dare lecture her cousin, either.

"Zhezhi, that’s just how my cousin is. Let’s go, we agreed to go together—"

Before Tian Xiaoxia could finish, Song Qitian interrupted coldly, "Tian Xiaoxia, take me to your house."

"What?" Tian Xiaoxia was baffled, confused. "Cousin, you know the way, don’t you? And my friend and I have plans, so we—"

Tian Xiaoxia was clearly troubled. Shen Ruzhi patted her on the shoulder and smiled gently, "Xiaoxia, it’s fine. I’ll go alone. You go on home."

"But Zhezhi, you—"

"I’m off," Shen Ruzhi said, turning to leave.

Song Qitian signaled for Tian Xiaoxia to get in the car, then with a few long strides, he caught up with Shen Ruzhi and called out, "Wait."

Shen Ruzhi turned, puzzled eyes lifting to meet his.

"Comrade Song Qitian, is there something else?"

That address was traditional enough, surely!

Shen Ruzhi’s eyes were naturally bright, like talking stars, her small, delicate face wearing an indifferent expression.

Song Qitian’s voice was icy as he warned, "Shen Ruzhi, stay away from the Tian family. Don’t think your little schemes can fool everyone."

With that, he strode off ahead.

Shen Ruzhi’s lips twitched. Did he think she approached Tian Xiaoxia with an ulterior motive?

She wanted to retort, but Song Qitian’s long legs had already carried him far away.

She gritted her teeth. She admitted that to cut ties with the Shen family for good, she’d invited Tian Xiaoxia’s parents to witness her claim to her own identity—it would spare her much trouble later.

Could he see through even that small maneuver? Just who was Song Qitian?

"Cousin, let’s go. Didn’t you want to visit my house?" Tian Xiaoxia called from the car.

Song Qitian: "Get out."

"What?" Tian Xiaoxia pointed at herself in disbelief.

Song Qitian never repeated himself.

Feeling a bit intimidated by his presence, Tian Xiaoxia quickly opened the door and got out. "Cousin, what’s the matter?"

Song Qitian’s gaze was sharp and cold as ice, devoid of any warmth. He reminded her, "From now on, stay away from Shen Ruzhi."

Tian Xiaoxia’s eyes widened, puzzled. "Why?"

"There’s no why. Just remember my words—she’s not a friend worth keeping."

Now Tian Xiaoxia finally understood—her cousin had misunderstood Zhezhi!

She hurried to explain, "Cousin, you must have it wrong. Zhezhi is a wonderful girl. She’s my best friend. We’ve been close for over a decade—she’s always been good to me."

Song Qitian replied coldly, "Utterly foolish."

"Cousin, what do you mean by that? Zhezhi is my closest friend. She would never harm me."

Song Qitian: "I’ve said what I need to say. Believe it or not, that’s your choice."

With that, Song Qitian got into the car and ordered Uncle Zhou to drive.

Tian Xiaoxia was left utterly bewildered, frowning and then relaxing her brow, before finally arriving at a conclusion.

Her cousin had read too many books and gone soft in the head!

Shen Ruzhi planned to rent a place first, ideally somewhere close to the university. She knew that in a year, the college entrance exams would resume.

She wanted to go to university, start a business, make money. She already had a decent amount stashed away as startup capital.

"Hello, I’m here to see about an apartment."

Knowing she was a young woman, Shen Ruzhi was determined to find somewhere secure. The villas near the military district fit her requirements perfectly—the only downside was the price.

"Young lady, are you by yourself?"

The agent was a plain, unassuming woman in her thirties.

"Yes, just me. Please show me the place."

"Alright, come with me! Just call me Sister Zhang. I’m just the middleman—if you like the place, I’ll contact the owner for you."

"Great," Shen Ruzhi agreed cheerfully.

She didn’t expect to run into Song Qinian again so soon.

Once arrangements were made, Sister Zhang told her the landlord would be by that afternoon to sign the contract. The monthly rent was thirty yuan, utilities not included.

Thirty yuan for two stories and a large courtyard—though it was half a month’s salary for most people, it was well worth the price.

Paying six months up front came to one hundred eighty.

Zhang Lili was surprised at how decisively the young lady paid. Taking the money and her identification, she hurried to report back to the Song family.

"Sister Zhang has arranged everything. The renter is a pretty young girl, soft-spoken and kind. She’s coming by this afternoon to sign the contract—you go handle it."

Upon hearing this, Song Qinian put down his teacup and looked over at his mother, who was knitting a sweater. "I’m not going."

"You have to go. Song Qinian, are you refusing to listen to me now? You brat, you come home and immediately give me that cold face. I’m your mother—can’t you show your old lady a little respect?"

Xu Qing tossed her sweater onto the table in a huff, glaring at her unfeeling son. How did he grow up with such a frosty demeanor? Who did he take after?

Song Qinian’s face was expressionless as he calmly sipped his tea.

"I have to visit a new development this afternoon. The college entrance examination may be reinstated next year, and after I start university, I’ll be pressed for time."

In short, he was busy and had no time for this.

Xu Qing was speechless. What sort of creature had she raised?

"Oh dear, oh no, my stomach hurts, I have to go to the bathroom. You hurry up and go for me."

Song Qitian: "..."

He was long used to his mother’s clumsy theatrics. He finished his tea at a leisurely pace, then got up and headed out.

As he reached the doorway, he heard voices raised in argument inside.

"Shen Ruzhi, you little wretch, did you ruin my sister’s family?"

Seeing Wang Dazhu, Shen Ruzhi’s face turned cold, her entire demeanor radiating disgust.

Wang Dazhu, younger brother of Wang Cuilian, had never treated her kindly. Years ago, when he came to pick her up from school, he’d even tried to take liberties with her on the way home. When she told Wang Cuilian, she’d received nothing but a furious scolding.

She was accused of being a troublemaker with a persecution complex.

Thinking back, Wang Dazhu was Wang Cuilian’s own brother, and Wang Yaoyao had been found by him as well.

Perhaps Wang Dazhu had known her true identity all along—and had a hand in the scheme to substitute her for Wang Yaoyao.

"Wang Dazhu, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Leave now."

Wang Dazhu shouted, "How convenient, acting all innocent! Shen Ruzhi, you’ve got no conscience. You enjoyed eighteen years of luxury with the Shen family. Now they’ve been sent to reform at a farm, and you shamelessly come here to rent a house?"

In this new life, Shen Ruzhi refused to suffer any further grievances.

She’d had more than her fill in her previous life.

"I’m not the Shen family’s biological daughter. Why shouldn’t I live with a clear conscience? It was Wang Cuilian who stole me away to replace her own daughter. I owe the Shen family nothing."

"You—" Wang Dazhu was momentarily speechless, his face turning a deep, ugly red as he clenched his fists.

Seeing his reaction, Shen Ruzhi boldly surmised that Wang Dazhu not only knew her true identity, but had also been involved in stealing her to replace Wang Yaoyao.

"Wang Dazhu, get out of my house now."

Wang Dazhu slung an arm over a chair and planted his foot on the step.

"Shen Ruzhi, you took a lot of money from my sister, didn’t you? Since you’re not really part of the Shen family, you have no right to their money. Now hand over every cent."

Wang Dazhu had always been a loafer, never holding a proper job, getting by on petty tricks and empty boasts. Decades ago, the Wang family was well off, and he’d grown used to a life of leisure, with Wang Cuiping often supporting him.

Now that the Shen family had fallen, he was the first to panic.

"Ha! Everyone knows when I left the Shen family, I didn’t have a penny to my name. You want money from me? I have none."