Chapter 23

Editor: Henyee Translations

“`

The fireworks outside the window burst into bloom, scattering light that illuminated his picturesque features.

The slightly curved peach blossom eyes seemed to contain the entire galaxy, deep and captivating.

Ying Zijin watched him for a while before she slowly took out a tissue from her pocket with a delay and handed it over, “…Sorry.”

Fu Yunshen didn’t take it.

“It’s fine.” He bent down and, just like last time, gently patted the girl’s head, his movements light, as if he were teasing a kitten, his lips curved in a smile, “Big brother doesn’t mind.”

The little one was still very well-behaved.

But Ying Zijin was lost in thought, pondering.

It was not until a slender hand waved in front of her and then lightly tapped her forehead that she snapped out of it.

From above her, a chuckle fell.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing.” Ying Zijin returned to her senses, rolled up her sleeves, poured flour into the bowl, and added some water.

She was just considering what to give Fu Yunshen.

A cat or a dog, perhaps, to satisfy his fondness for head patting.

Otherwise, if this went on, she might actually end up bald.

After that, the two of them didn’t engage in much conversation, one boiling water and the other chopping vegetables—all harmonious.

In the living room, Wen Fong Mian was happily talking to Wen Tinglan, the atmosphere warm and jovial.

Ying Zijin’s gaze steadied.

She didn’t have many memories from her childhood; by the time she could remember anything, she was already with the Wen Family.

Wen Fong Mian had to care for two children and was overwhelmingly busy.

In the year Wen Tinglan turned five, he suffered a great trauma, adding to the Wen Family’s burdens.

While studying, she would also go out and find odd jobs, but even then, the three of them barely scrapped by, just managing to stave off hunger.

No wonder the Ying Family, when they came to find her, convinced Wen Fong Mian to let her go, as the Ying Family could provide her with better resources.

But through it all, Wen Fong Mian never considered himself.

Ying Zijin lowered her eyes.

She would protect them.

**

Two days later.

The weather had warmed up, the sun shone high, and the temperature had climbed to 20 degrees Celsius; it seemed like the snow from a few days ago was just an illusion.

The girl wore a black hoodie, casual and laid-back. She had one hand in her pocket and the other holding an ice cream cone.

The young man following her was carrying two cups of milk tea, clearly a bit helpless, “Sis, since when did you start liking sweets?”

Ying Zijin finished the cone in just a few bites, “Life is too bitter, need to sweeten it up a bit.”

The cuisine of the twenty-first century was not bad; she actually found some enjoyment in it.

Wen Tinglan, however, misunderstood her words. He fell silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice, “Sis, are you not living with us?”

“Not for now.” Ying Zijin hummed, “I still have some issues to resolve, you guys settle in without worries.”

After dinner that day, she had discussed with Wen Fong Mian about moving them to Shanghai City. Initially, he disagreed, worrying it would cause her trouble, but later he agreed.

She spent four million to purchase an eighty-square-meter apartment between the inner and outer ring roads and furnished it, settling Wen Fong Mian in.

With Wen Fong Mian coming to Shanghai City, Wen Tinglan naturally decided to transfer to Verdant.

He had received an invitation from Verdant long ago, but had always declined it.

As for the Ying Family…

Ying Zijin narrowed her eyes.

Her ability for Divine Calculation had not yet recovered, but when it came to Divination, everything still depended on cause and effect.

The cause and effect between her and the Ying Family had not been completely severed; she couldn’t leave for the time being.

Moreover, while observing the future, she discovered something crucial.

It was related to the Ying Family, but the details were blurry.

Staying with the Ying Family, she could investigate more effectively.

Wen Tinglan frowned, “But those people…”

He could hardly imagine just how much his sister had to endure in the Ying Family that she now had to eat sweets to cope.

“Don’t worry.” Ying Zijin said nonchalantly, “Beating them up is a small matter.”

If she could settle an issue with her hands, she’d always been too lazy to use her mouth. Talking was far more exhausting than fighting, after all.

“`

Wen Tinglan: “…”

He had not believed it before.

But just yesterday, he witnessed his sister kick someone who tried to harass her, and that person couldn’t even get up afterward.

The young man looked down, gripping his fingers tightly.

He swore that the Ying Family would get their comeuppance.

“Let’s go,” the girl said, biting on her straw as she drank her milk tea, “I’ll take you back.”

**

Ying Family.

The butler frowned as he watched several servants carry boxes in from the front gate and asked, “What are these?”

One of the servants wiped sweat off his brow: “They are Second Miss’s parcels.”

“Second Miss’s parcels?” The butler’s frown deepened, “What hasn’t Madam already prepared for her that she needs to buy anything else?”

She only ever causes trouble.

“Just put them in the yard,” the butler directed, “Madam is entertaining guests and can’t be disturbed.”

The servants set the boxes down, and as the butler approached to unpack them, he inadvertently noticed a word embossed on the boxes in a flowery font—

STAR

It was gold, and faint.

The butler paused, moving closer to get a better look, when footsteps stopped next to him.

A chill that flashed by for an instant froze him with a shudder.

Looking up, he froze.

The girl simply watched him, with a detached gaze.

“Second Miss…” the butler quickly stepped back, not daring to be disrespectful, “Your, your purchases have arrived.”

His knees went weak under the pressure, and he immediately “thumped” to his knees, not daring to lift his head: “I’m sorry, without your permission I just…”

Ying Zijin didn’t care; she squatted down and, without a scissors, started unpacking with her hands.

Fu Yunshen had left the day before, saying before he went that he bought her some books and would send them to the Ying Family.

It seemed these were them.

Before opening the parcels, Ying Zijin was quite interested.

After opening them, she saw a box full of children’s books: “…”

And as if calculated to the minute when she would receive the parcels, her WeChat “dinged.”

[Little friend, have you received them?]

Before she could reply, another message came through.

[These were carefully selected by your big brother, they include books from various countries, you’ll have plenty to read for a long time.]

Ying Zijin held her head.

Who wants to read children’s books?

She emotionlessly typed and sent four words back.

[Thank you very much.]

The reply came back quickly.

[You’re welcome, remember to treat your brother to several meals.]

Ying Zijin had no desire to respond; she really wanted to throw the entire box of children’s books at him.

The servants stood by, smirking at the contents of the box.

This adopted Second Miss couldn’t compare with the First Miss; even the books she read showed that.

The First Miss was reading English originals in her junior year of high school, unlike the Second Miss who was still reading fairy tales at her age.

She really was from some small place, probably didn’t even know as many English words as they did.

Ying Zijin closed the box; she accepted it nonetheless, figuring it might serve as a sedative bedtime reading.

She didn’t ask for help, instead, she picked up the books and headed inside.

“Second Miss, you can’t go in now,” the butler said hurriedly, trying to stop her, “Madam is currently…”

He hadn’t finished his sentence when the door opened.

On the living room couch, Zhong Manhua was smiling and talking about something with a guest, looking very pleased.

The sound of the door opening interrupted what she was about to say next.

Zhong Manhua frowned, and when she looked over, her smile vanished instantly: “Why have you come back at this time?”