Chapter 6

But the smile vanished in an instant. Shen Yi’s palm exerted a slight force, just enough to cause a faint twinge of pain.

She didn’t speak. She simply stared at Shen Ke’s tear-streaked cheeks.

Shen Ke sobbed fiercely, her heavy crying laced with utter grievance. “Big Sis, don’t pinch anymore. It hurts.” It didn’t actually hurt, but she feared any contact from Shen Yi. She hoped Shen Yi would let her go.

It was just her foot being held, yet she felt utterly confined. She hated it.

Shen Ke’s voice was naturally soft and delicate. When she spoke, it came out whiny and coquettish. To others, it probably sounded like sweet coquetry, only making them want to tease her even more outrageously, to hear her beg for mercy in that sticky, pleading tone.

Her face was flushed red right now, tear tracks staining her cheeks. Her eyes were ringed in red, with fresh tears continually sliding from the corners.

Shen Yi’s gaze traced over Shen Ke in this moment. She was so delicate, yet so prone to mischief.

Shen Yi held Shen Ke’s foot with one hand while extending her index finger with the other to rest it on the top of Shen Ke’s foot. “Why aren’t you calling me ‘Sis’ anymore?” ‘Sis’ sounded better than ‘Big Sis,’ at least.

Shen Ke’s lips parted hesitantly for a moment before she chose to shut her mouth. The more she said, the more mistakes she’d make.

Her foot’s instep and sole were being touched by someone else’s hand. This strange sensation made Shen Ke’s entire body start to tremble.

Her toes curled up involuntarily. She bit her lower lip and stopped crying, staring deathly at Shen Yi’s hand with her nerves stretched to the limit. If Shen Yi made the slightest odd move, she’d kick her away immediately!

Shen Ke watched Shen Yi’s hand, while Shen Yi watched Shen Ke’s face.

Her finger slid across Shen Ke’s skin, from the top of her foot, slowly trailing up along her calf…

Shen Ke felt that gliding finger like an icy, slimy snake. She clenched her hands tightly; the bedsheet beneath her palm had wrinkled into a ball.

Ever since she was little and saw Shen Yi emotionlessly gut a cat, she’d begun to fear her. That fear hadn’t faded with age. She hated Shen Yi.

Taking in every expression on Shen Ke’s face, Shen Yi silently shifted her gaze to her own hand.

Her index finger had reached the pink-tinged knee. Pale against pink—it was a bizarre sensation that Shen Yi couldn’t quite describe. She pushed it aside for now.

Any higher, and it’d be thigh territory.

Her other hand still gripped Shen Ke’s foot. She could clearly feel Shen Ke’s faint tremors. Shen Yi arched a brow imperceptibly. Her finger twitched. Under Shen Ke’s watchful eye, she straightened the frilled hem of her skirt, then released her foot. She stood up straight and said in a flat, emotionless tone, “Don’t do that kind of thing again.”

Shen Ke sniffled and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. “I-I won’t do it again.” It seemed Shen Yi wasn’t planning to do anything to her.

“Little Ke, you need to understand—that’s my own little sister.” Shen Yi’s voice always sounded like it was filled with ice, cold and detached.

At least, that’s how Shen Ke felt. She lowered her head and murmured, “I won’t bully Feng Jian anymore.” Her throat was a bit hoarse from crying so hard earlier.

Shen Yi nodded, saying nothing more. She left Shen Ke’s room, then slowly clenched the hand that had just held Shen Ke’s foot. A lingering warmth seemed to remain in her palm. Gazing at the bright chandelier in the living room, her eyes darkened. Her behavior today had been somewhat out of control.

Once she was sure Shen Yi had really left, Shen Ke’s expression changed instantly. She grabbed a tissue and wiped her face haphazardly, then cursed, “Damn Shen Yi! We’ve lived together for eighteen years, and I’ve never seen you care about me.”

“Putting on this good big sister act now—it’s disgusting.”

“Heh, not only am I going to bully Feng Jian, I’m going to bully her to death.”

That night, after dinner and once the servants had cleared the table…

Shen Mother announced something. “Next month, I’m holding a banquet to introduce Feng Jian.”

Shen Ke shot to her feet. “Mama! What about me? Have you even considered how I feel?!” Bad news kept piling up, giving her no time to prepare. If Shen Mother really exposed the true-and-fake heiress matter, how was she supposed to face others’ gazes afterward?

Shen Mother glanced faintly at Shen Ke, fully aware of her thoughts. “I’ll say whatever the truth is.” She didn’t need a homosexual child.

Besides, public opinion on Shen Ke was all negative. Slowly distancing her from the Shen Family was the best outcome.

The Shen Family was under Shen Mother’s control, so no one else objected to the proposal.

Shen Ke objected vehemently, but she couldn’t change Shen Mother’s mind. Talking more might just make her loathe her even further.

Shen Ke hung her head, grinding her teeth. No! She had to make everyone in the Shen Family despise Feng Jian before the banquet.

Shen Mother added, “I’ll also hurry to transfer Feng Jian’s household registration over.”

“Don’t.” This time, it was Feng Jian who spoke.

Shen Mother looked at Feng Jian, her expression softer than with Shen Ke, but her tone brooked no argument. “It’s already in process.” Meaning, like it or not, it was happening.

Dictatorial and overbearing—that was Shen Mother.

Nearby, Shen Yu’s gaze flickered between Feng Jian and the head-hanging Shen Ke, a meaningful smile playing on her lips, inscrutable.

Feng Jian had already moved into the Shen Family. That was an unchangeable fact. Besides, Shen Mother wouldn’t let her go back.

And so, Shen Ke faced going to school with Feng Jian.

Shen Ke was furious. She had no intention of riding in the same car as Feng Jian.

Glancing at Feng Jian trailing behind, Shen Ke hurried into the car and slammed the door shut with a bang.

“Uncle Li, let’s go.”

The driver uncle said, “Third Miss, Miss Feng hasn’t gotten in yet. Madam instructed me to make sure both young ladies get to school safely.”

Shen Ke grew even angrier. “No! Uncle Li, drive now! Or I’ll get mad!”

The driver shook his head. “Third Miss, Madam specifically instructed me. I can’t shirk my duty.”

Shen Ke knew she couldn’t make the driver leave. She turned to look at Feng Jian, who was walking over with her backpack hugged to her chest.

Her old school uniform had been replaced with a brand-new one, and the shoes on her feet were now the exact sporty brand Shen Ke usually loved.

Shen Ke sneered silently. Biological daughters were treated differently, indeed.

Feng Jian still kept her head slightly lowered.

The driver got out, opened the door for Feng Jian, and beckoned her. “Miss Feng, hop in.”

It was the first time anyone had treated her this way. Feng Jian felt a bit at a loss. Seeing Shen Ke’s cold gaze from inside the car, she buried her head even lower and said slowly, “I’ll walk myself.”

“To school.”

The driver immediately replied, “That won’t do. Madam told me to get both young ladies to school safely.” He emphasized “both young ladies.”

Feng Jian pressed her thin lips together, her fingers gripping the edge of her backpack. She didn’t know how to face Shen Ke after everything that had happened.

At that moment, Shen Ke spoke up. “Get in the car already. Stop dawdling.”

Feng Jian paused for a moment before slowly climbing in.

The two sat on opposite sides, leaving plenty of space between them. Neither spoke.

The car started up and drove away from the villa district.

Shen Ke raised the partition, separating them from the driver.

Recalling how Feng Jian had seen her secretly wiping tears in the bathroom last time, new grudges piled onto old ones. Shen Ke leaned her upper body toward Feng Jian and grabbed her collar in one swift motion.

With her slim arms and legs, Feng Jian looked as fragile as a paper figure. Shen Ke figured one good yank would pull her right over.

And that’s exactly what happened. With one pull, she dragged Feng Jian close.

Face-to-face with her, Shen Ke’s expression was ugly. “Mute, I’m telling you—you’re not stealing the position of Shen Family’s Third Miss from me!”

Feng Jian lowered her lashes. The too-close proximity to Shen Ke left her mind blank, unable to think of anything else. Shen Ke’s scent filled her nostrils.

“Heh, not talking? Ignoring me? In just a few days, you’ve really started acting high and mighty!” Shen Ke said heatedly. “You clearly promised last time to obey me, to do whatever I say.”

Feng Jian lifted her eyes, greedily tracing Shen Ke’s vivid expressions. Shen Ke… was so cute.

But the next second, she noticed Shen Ke’s slightly swollen eyes and the faint marks on both cheeks.

Feng Jian’s heart tightened. Shen Ke had cried again. Was it because of her this time?

Shen Ke and Feng Jian weren’t on the same wavelength at all. After venting her threats, Shen Ke saw Feng Jian staring blankly and assumed she’d scared her. Feeling smug, Shen Ke thought: Timid in front of Shen Yi and the others didn’t mean she was timid with everyone.

Shen Ke tilted her face up slightly and patted Feng Jian’s cheek with her palm, grinning maliciously. “You’d better not even think about fighting me for it. Trash like you can’t beat me.” Shen Ke figured slapping someone’s face was the ultimate humiliation. She was going to bully Feng Jian to death.

Feng Jian let Shen Ke’s palm land on her face. She was a bit dazed. Shen Ke’s palm was so soft; the slap didn’t hurt. More than pain, what hit first was the sweet fragrance wafting from Shen Ke.

Feng Jian’s lashes trembled lightly as she turned her head slightly, as if trying to dodge.

Shen Ke’s smile widened, revealing her two little tiger teeth. The next second, she dropped the grin and let her finger slide from Feng Jian’s cheek down to her neck.

Feng Jian felt it—this teasing, seductive touch made her tilt her head back uncomfortably, exposing her entire neck to Shen Ke’s view.

Shen Ke huffed and pinched the side of Feng Jian’s neck without mercy. When she let go, a red mark was left behind.

Feng Jian’s skin was very fair, making the red mark look just like a hickey.

Suddenly, an idea popped into Shen Ke’s head. She quickly left more marks on Feng Jian’s neck.

These hickey-like things were especially evocative.

What Shen Ke had in mind was simple: If the Shen Family saw them, they’d think Feng Jian had been fooling around with someone and get a bad impression of her.

Shen Ke would probably never realize just how innocent her own thinking was.

Once the marks were done, Shen Ke fully released Feng Jian and grinned wickedly, like a cat that had stolen cream.

From start to finish, Feng Jian hadn’t resisted. She didn’t know what her neck looked like now, but whatever it was, she wouldn’t care—it was something Shen Ke had put on her.

The car arrived at the school gate. Shen Ke got out first, with Feng Jian following behind. Once inside the gate, Shen Ke tossed her backpack at Feng Jian without a word and ordered bossily, “Take me to my classroom.”

Feng Jian said nothing, just quietly held both backpacks and followed behind Shen Ke.

Wherever Shen Ke went, she always drew eyes—her looks were pretty and approachable.

The Feng Jian trailing behind naturally attracted attention too.

Feng Jian’s skin was very pale, making the marks on her neck stand out glaringly.

If it had been just one, it might’ve been an accident. But there were more than one on Feng Jian’s neck.

People were already whispering about the pair.

After dropping Shen Ke off, Feng Jian returned to her own classroom. As she sat down, Yue Lingqing asked in an ambiguous tone, “How’d you get those marks on your neck?”

Feng Jian pulled out her textbook. She didn’t really want to answer, so she stayed silent.

But Yue Lingqing pressed, “Shen Ke did it, right?”

“You two are progressing fast.” Even her clothes and shoes were brand new.

Feng Jian had no money for those. They could only have come from Shen Ke. Plus, they’d arrived together in the same car today.

With all those hickeys on Feng Jian’s neck, what had happened between them was obvious.

Yue Lingqing’s tone carried a coldness she hadn’t even noticed herself.

Feng Jian glanced at Yue Lingqing and murmured, “She did it.”

Guessing was one thing; hearing Feng Jian confirm it was another.

Yue Lingqing felt her heart sour bitterly in that instant. Shen Ke really was a thirsty idiot.

In just a few days, she’d already done this to Feng Jian.

Yue Lingqing couldn’t pinpoint the emotion churning inside her.

She just knew she’d completely lost the desire to chat with Feng Jian.

When they were kids, she and Feng Jian had lived in the same building. Later, after her mom died, her dad—who’d latched onto some rich woman—came to pick her up. It wasn’t until high school, when they ended up in the same class, that they reconnected.

Feng Jian had changed from her gentle, outgoing self into this insecure, gloomy version.

“Feng Jian, don’t get in too deep. Shen Ke’s way more of a player than you think,” Yue Lingqing advised coolly.

Feng Jian turned her head to look at her and shook her head. “Can’t pull away anymore.” She was already in way too deep.