Chapter 11

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Xu Zhaomu didn’t dare to move at all. If she went over near him, it’d be a wonder if he didn’t peel off her skin.

“You…you promise…? Wah, let go!”

Before Xu Zhaomu could even finish speaking, someone had seized her by the collar. Shen Chi lifted her up and brought her closer to him.

“Murderer! Murderer!” Xu Zhaomu wailed.

“Shut up!” Shen Chi tossed her onto the sofa.

If it weren’t for her sickness, he would have thrown her directly out of the room.

Xu Zhaomu no longer dared to speak. She remained silent in full obedience. Her large watery eyes shimmered as she stared innocently at Shen Chi, as though she wasn’t the one who had misbehaved.

“Spill it. Where did this book come from?” Shen Chi asked.

“I picked it out of the dustbin!” Xu Zhaomu lied without any change in her expression.

“Then from today onward, pick out books from the trash and pass them to me. If you can’t find ten books, you won’t be getting any food.” Shen Chi hardened his face.

Xu Zhaomu didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. After all, she couldn’t tell him that Little Fatty at the orphanage had been her supplier…

“I was wrong. I know my mistakes…” Xu Zhaomu started to wipe her tears away again.

Shen Chi no longer fell for this ruse. He harrumphed coldly, “If you dare to read this kind of book ever again, I will cripple your legs.”

A shiver ran down Xu Zhaomu’s legs. She didn’t even understand the drawings in the manga, she was purely reading it for fun…

Unless…the manga contained an unspeakable secret?

“If you hit me, I will report you for abusing women,” Xu Zhaomu muttered.

“What did you say?” Shen Chi frowned.

“I said, you are handsome, confident, and lovable.” Xu Zhaomu squeezed out a smile.

“Hmph.” Shen Chi stared at her with disdain.

“Then…in view of my sincerity, can you return the book to me?” Xu Zhaomu tried to curry favor with Shen Chi.

Shen Chi picked up the manga and glanced at it. He lifted up his hands and started to rip it apart.

“Hey! You’re not allowed to rip it. I haven’t finished reading it yet. Return the book to me.”

Xu Zhaomu threw herself onto Shen Chi at the speed of light. Her little hands stretched out to snatch the manga away.

Shen Chi grasped the book tightly in his hand while using his other hand to shove her away. This girl was pushing her limits.

However, Xu Zhaomu put up an intense fight, all for the sake of the stupid manga. She straddled Shen Chi’s body and used both her hands and legs to snatch it. She remembered that the female protagonist in the manga had an ultimate move. Every time she straddled the male lead’s body and twisted her body, the male lead would always beg for mercy.

Hmph, hmph, she wanted Shen Chi to beg for mercy as well.

However, against all expectations, Shen Chi’s face turned black to a frightening degree.

Xu Zhaomu had made a mistake in her calculations. Not only did she fail to get Shen Chi to beg for mercy, she was even shoved onto the ground once again.

Xu Zhaomu obviously wasn’t a match for Shen Yue. She landed on her bottom and bruised it.

Then the manga was made to resemble snowflakes as he shredded it to bits.

Shen Chi warned her coldly, “Xu Zhaomu, if I catch you one more time, you’ll have to leave the Shen family.”

He readjusted his shirt and took large strides out of the room.

Xu Zhaomu stared at her manga, completely heartbroken. However, she was even more bummed out by the fact that the woman on top position had been completely ineffective when performed by her, even though it had appeared to be an extremely powerful move in the manga.

It was likely because she wasn’t well-practiced. Mmm, this must definitely be the case.

However, as a clever girl, she knew that it was important not to divulge all her secrets at once.

Xu Zhaomu spared no effort to dig out all her beloved manga books from under the bed with great satisfaction. Not too bad, not too bad. From now on, she needed to be more careful when reading books.

Unfortunately, it was a pity that she had been unable to read the ending of the book that Shen Chi had torn up.

Once Shen Chi exited Xu Zhaomu’s room, he was summoned by his mother. Zhou Ran was sitting before the window admiring the scenery. From the looks of it, Lawyer Fang had already taken his leave.

“Chi, I have something to tell you.” Zhou Ran parted her lips slightly.

It was currently December, and it was winter. A white fog could faintly be seen on the surface of the windows, and there wasn’t much scenery to behold. It was a lonely scene.

Zhou Ran had tied her hair back in a bun. She wore a navy satin dress, and her eyes seemed to possess an unreadable sense of composure. She looked just like a girl straight out of an oil painting as she sat quietly by the window, completely at ease.

As she spoke, she adjusted the beige shawl that was draped over her shoulders. Her jade earrings swayed with her every movement, and in a way she blended in with the scenery.

Shen Chi walked over and stood before Zhou Ran.

“Does it have something to do with Father?” Shen Chi asked.

“Yes.” Zhou Ran said quietly. “He no longer wants to live with me anymore.”

“What about you? What do you think?”

“I’m not fond of forcing people into things they don’t want. All these years, I have been the only one keeping this marriage together. I am tired as well.” Zhou Ran sighed. “Since he wants a divorce, then we shall just get one. In any case, you and your sister have already grown up.”

“My older sister and I both want you to live a good life. We will respect your decision.”

All these years, Shen Chi had rarely seen his father and mother show any loving affection to one another. Besides, he had long known that his father had another woman. That woman was called Liu Rumei. What’s more, this woman had even bore his father two other children who were older than he was.

“That’s good as long as you understand. I will arrange everything well.”

“My older sister and I have no choice but to live with Father, right?’ Shen Chi asked.

“Yes.” Zhou Ran put things simply. “The Shen Group has to belong to you in the future.”

“I have always wanted to know why you decided to bring Xu Zhaomu home. You seemed to know her?”

“In the future, you will understand.” A trace of exhaustion appeared on Zhou Ran’s face.

“Then will you take Xu Zhaomu away with you?”

“No, I will not take her away. I will keep her in the Shen family forever!” Zhou Ran’s face finally displayed a trace of emotion.

“Okay, this works too.”

“Chi, you don’t have to treat her too well. I have already shown her great regard by asking the servants to call her Miss Xu. She doesn’t amount to anything to me.” Anger could be seen in Zhou Ran’s eyes.

“You hate her?” Shen Chi frowned.

“Do I hate her?” Zhou Ran flashed a bitter smile. “How could I hate her, she is only a child. I don’t even hate her mother; how could I hate her…”

Her eyes were shrouded by a thin layer of fog. However, she continued to maintain an expression of calm.

Shen Chi did not understand what his Mother was saying, he could only listen to her.

“The court proceedings will begin the day after tomorrow. You don’t have to bother about it. This is between me and Shen Cexian,” Zhou Ran said.

“Mom, then where you will go?” Shen Chi’s heart seemed to ache a little.

“I’ll return to the Zhou family and live there for a while. The Zhou family also does business. I will help to sort things out.” Zhou Ran was very composed, as though she was merely taking a long journey.

Shen Chi didn’t speak any further, and Zhou Ran didn’t say anything else. The mist outside gradually condensed onto the window outside, fogging up the glass surface of the window.

…

On the other hand, Xu Zhaomu was in her room reading manga with keen interest. She had been crafty enough to lock the door once again. Hmph, now she could read her manga in broad daylight.

Either the medicine had proved to be effective or the manga had some miraculous healing properties. Her fever finally receded that night.

Her entire body was still weak, but fortunately her appetite had returned.

These manga books were very interesting. She enjoyed them book after book.

At dinnertime, Zhou Ran didn’t have much of an appetite and retired to her room early. Shen Cexian didn’t return home either.

The massive Shen family villa was especially empty. It didn’t seem to have much character.

Shen Chi stared at the dishes on the table. He didn’t have any appetite.