Chapter 14

If what Shang Jinyue gave Shi Xiu was the implicit violence of contempt and neglect,

then what Shi Wendong had brought Shi Xiu since childhood was scolding and humiliation that rose to the level of physical violence.

Shi Xiu’s mother, Yin Qiang, had passed away when Shi Xiu was very young.

In Shi Xiu’s memories, her mother was always plagued by illness, yet whenever Shi Xiu came to her, she would always reveal a gentle smile, even though the disease tortured her entire body with pain.

It was such a strong and gentle person who, at the very end of her life, chose not to be intubated.

Yin Qiang used her life to teach Shi Xiu that one had to live actively and with dignity.

So in the face of Shi Wendong’s education, which so often involved beating and scolding, Shi Xiu had learned to resist from a very young age.

In any case, this person always managed her on a whim. The next day, he might fly off somewhere because of some business matter. By the time he came back, the matter would already have been completed according to Shi Xiu’s wishes.

At most, he would scold her a couple more times.

Whatever Shi Xiu wanted to do, Shi Wendong could always find some excuse to nitpick.

Only in one matter had Shi Wendong supported Shi Xiu.

Pursuing Shang Jinyue, and marrying her.

With the vast Shang Group placed before him, how could Shi Wendong still care about any feudal thinking?

In his view, Shi Xiu being with Shang Jinyue had a hundred benefits and not a single harm. As the father-in-law of the Shang family heir, he should at least be able to get a share from the Shang family.

But in the end, he got nothing.

After Shang Jinyue discovered that he had misappropriated public funds and fired him, he ran to the gallery and cursed Shi Xiu furiously. “You useless thing! You can’t do anything for me. Why did I agree to let you two get married back then!”

The past and reality overlapped. Shi Wendong’s hideous expression was exactly the same as it had been then.

Shi Xiu felt sick to her stomach, and her resolve became even firmer: whatever Shi Wendong opposed, she absolutely had to do it. She took another acknowledgment form from her bag. “I won’t spend your money. I can work part-time and study.”

“You? Work part-time and study? If that gets out, do I still get to keep my face?” As Shi Wendong spoke, he raised his hand and slapped his own face twice.

“Then pay for me,” Shi Xiu said next.

“Dream on!” Shi Wendong let out a scoffing laugh. “If you want me to pay, then stay honestly at school. As long as you get into university, I’ll support you. Otherwise, not a chance.”

“I can get into university by studying art too.” Shi Xiu’s expression was completely cold. She was suppressing the anger in her heart, using the last of her rationality to negotiate with Shi Wendong.

Shi Wendong did not feel at all that there was any future in Shi Xiu studying this thing. “What university? Apart from those insanely expensive private academies, do you have the ability to get into Ning University, the Central Academy of Fine Arts, or the China Academy of Art?”

“I do.” Shi Xiu was certain.

But what her certainty earned was Shi Wendong’s contemptuous smile.

He sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, like a wealthy merchant lord looking at a poor scholar who had come to his estate to beg for travel money. “I don’t believe you.”

“What are you doing? If the child says she can, then let her try.” Perhaps unable to keep watching, Shi Xiu’s stepmother, Cen Yuan, walked over from the kitchen and brought a warm soup to Shi Wendong. “Taste the soup I just made.”

Shi Wendong did not buy it. He glanced at the soup and pushed it away with a wave of his hand. “Does trying not cost money? Did I earn all this money so she could spend it for fun? It’s not like you don’t know. The situation is bad right now. We only made so much from this trip!”

Businessmen were just like this. Whatever they said, the situation was always bad, and no matter how much money they earned, it was never enough.

Shi Wendong had a bad temper, but Cen Yuan was not an easygoing person either.

Looking at the soup in her hand that had nearly spilled, anger blazed inside her. “If you’re angry at her, don’t drag me into it! You’re not drinking it, right? I’ll dump it all out!”

After saying that, Cen Yuan turned and left with the bowl.

Seeing this, Shi Wendong hurriedly crossed past Shi Xiu and went to coax her. “Don’t, don’t, don’t. I wasn’t losing my temper at you. Look at you too, why did you speak up for her? I was just angry, wasn’t I? I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It’s my fault, I was wrong…”

“Too late. Get lost.”

Splash—

Cen Yuan’s voice was wrapped in the steam of the hot soup as she shoved Shi Wendong away.

In Shi Wendong’s heart, how could Shi Xiu be more important than Cen Yuan?

He instantly forgot about suppressing Shi Xiu and eagerly crowded over to coax Cen Yuan. “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. When you’re angry, my heart hurts too. It’s all that wretched girl’s fault. I definitely won’t do it again…”

Under Shi Wendong’s apology that soothed Cen Yuan by trampling on Shi Xiu, the living room became completely cold and empty. The only things accompanying Shi Xiu were her acknowledgment forms, torn up and balled into scraps.

The night was silent, and the headlights of people returning home flashed outside the window.

Shi Xiu stood quietly where she was and felt that this family was exceptionally ridiculous.

She did not speak again, nor did she think of pulling back the topic that Shi Wendong had ignored. She casually pulled a coat from the foyer and put it on, preparing to open the door and leave.

The cold wind outside surged in with a whoosh, making Shi Xiu’s calves turn icy.

Before she had time to open the door, someone came in from outside.

It was her stepsister, Cen Anning.

Seeing that Shi Xiu was going out so late at night, she was somewhat surprised. “Hey, you…”

But Shi Xiu had nothing to say to her. She pulled up the hood of her coat and walked straight out.

At this hour, the streets could still be considered lively. People who had stolen contentfinished late-night snacks and were strolling back walked arm in arm.

But the night was already late, and the liveliness nearing its end already showed signs of scattering. The half-empty carts of the snack stalls swayed under the moon.

The streetlights stretched Shi Xiu’s shadow long, then short, as if wantonly playing with her loneliness in the palm of a hand.

A family of three nearby brushed past her. Her shadow only briefly melted into their lively harmony before quickly peeling away.

The warmth of returning home did not belong to her.

She was alone, like a wandering ghost…

“Woof, woof, woof!”

Suddenly, the clear and enthusiastic barking of a little dog came from in front of Shi Xiu.

That white, fluffy ball seemed to have mistaken its owner. So excited, it kept crashing straight into Shi Xiu’s arms.

Shi Xiu was baffled by the little thing’s sudden attack.

When she looked down, the little dog was also lifting its round eyes and meeting her gaze. Those gem-like eyes were exactly the same as in Shi Xiu’s memories.

It was Grape.

Shi Xiu’s heart almost skipped a beat.

She seemed to realize something, and then her heartbeat grew even faster.

The streetlights intertwined beneath the night, paving a golden path.

Shi Xiu lifted her head and saw Shang Jinyue walking this way with an empty leash in her hand, as if the little dog had broken free from its owner’s lead just to come see her.