Chapter 1: The Fake Heiress of the Wealthy Family (Part 1)

I met her for the first time at a banquet. At that moment, I wondered how someone could shine so brightly that I couldn’t tear my eyes away—

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“Yue Lingqing, can’t you have a shred of shame!”

Yue Lingqing’s collar was yanked, her entire body pinned against the rough tree trunk. She stared at the face inches from hers and curled her lips provocatively. “Shen Ke, your girlfriend came up to me on her own. The one you should be yelling at is your girlfriend, not barking at me here like a dog.”

Shen Ke’s fingers clenched on Yue Lingqing’s collar until they turned white. She ground her teeth. “Yue Lingqing, you dare say you didn’t give my girlfriend any hints?!”

Yue Lingqing let out a light tsk, the corners of her eyes lifting in disdain. “Lightly touching her face counts as a hint? Then I’ve hinted at plenty of people.” With that, Yue Lingqing grabbed Shen Ke’s arm to shove her off. But the moment she touched it, Shen Ke jerked back like she’d been shocked and released her.

Shen Ke stumbled back a few steps, her eyes blazing. With a face full of disgust, she slapped at the spot Yue Lingqing had touched. “Don’t touch me! You’re filthy.”

Yue Lingqing’s gaze darkened. She slowly straightened her collar, lifted her eyes to Shen Ke, and let out a cold sneer. “Such a hypocrite. Oh, right—keep a better eye on your girlfriend. Don’t let her come slobbering up to me wagging her tail like a dog. Only a low-class stupid bastard like you would fall for that.”

Shen Ke’s face turned beet red from Yue Lingqing’s words. Furious, she swung a fist straight at Yue Lingqing’s face. But Yue Lingqing simply reached out and caught the fist firmly in her grasp.

Shen Ke’s cat-like eyes bulged wide. She yanked back, but she couldn’t break free from Yue Lingqing’s iron grip.

Yue Lingqing flung the fist aside with force, sending Shen Ke staggering to the side. The sudden motion threw Shen Ke off balance, and she fell flat on her butt.

Bracing herself on the ground with both hands, Shen Ke glared up at Yue Lingqing. Her eyes reddened, dark glossy pupils shimmering with tears, giving her an innocent, pitiful look—but only on the surface.

Yue Lingqing’s fingers twitched at her side. The next moment, Shen Ke spat out a resentful curse. “Yue Lingqing! People like you make me sick!”

Yue Lingqing paused, looking down imperiously at the somewhat disheveled Shen Ke. She curled her lips coldly. “Stupid bastard, you deserve to get cheated on.” With that, she brushed past Shen Ke.

Shen Ke froze for a few seconds before reacting. Trembling with rage, she scrambled to her feet, catching only Yue Lingqing’s retreating back.

Shen Ke bit her lower lip and kicked the nearby tree trunk. “Yue Lingqing, just you wait! I’ll find someone to teach you a lesson—a mistress’s child daring to act so arrogant!” But the trunk was too hard. The kick twisted her face in pain, and she jabbed a finger at the tree while cursing. “Damn it, I hate you too!”

As Shen Ke cursed, a faint snap of a branch sounded nearby. She frowned and shouted toward the source. “Who’s there!” A few seconds passed with no reply.

Shen Ke balled her fist and strode forward. “I’ll see who dares eavesdrop!” She growled fiercely, but Shen Ke’s pure looks robbed her words of any menace.

Moving toward the sound, Shen Ke’s eyes flicked around. She spotted the hem of a light blue school uniform skirt peeking from behind the tree.

Shen Ke let out a mocking chuckle, closing the distance in big strides. She circled behind the tree and bellowed, “You heard everything, didn’t you!”

Still no response. Shen Ke peered closer, then relaxed her brows with a playful tone. “Feng Jian?”

The girl wore a school uniform washed to faded thinness, canvas shoes with fraying edges, black-framed glasses hiding most of her face, and bangs so long they nearly covered her eyes. Her head was bowed, slender pale fingers clutching a bread bag tightly.

Called by name, she only trembled faintly, making no other move.

Shen Ke slung an arm around Feng Jian’s neck. Half a head shorter, she pressed her whole body against Feng Jian’s side.

Shen Ke flashed a smile, her pretty cat eyes narrowing slyly. She called out the nickname everyone used for Feng Jian. “Little Mute, you’re friends with Yue Lingqing, right? You heard me—I’m gonna find someone to teach her a lesson.”

Feng Jian pressed her lips together, neither nodding nor shaking her head. She stood stiffly, her body taut like a fully drawn bowstring.

Shen Ke tsked, skipping the chit-chat. “Whatever. From now on, you’re mine. I want—”

“Okay.”

Shen Ke frowned suspiciously at Feng Jian. “Did you just talk?”

Feng Jian’s head drooped even lower. Her ears, hidden under her hair, burned bright red—but no one noticed.

Shen Ke rolled her eyes and pressed on. “Whatever I tell you to do, you do it.”

“Only if you’re under my nose every day can I make sure you won’t snitch.”

Shen Ke eyed Feng Jian arrogantly. “Got it?”

One second, two seconds, three…

Shen Ke repeated herself. “Did you hear me!” She spoke as if it were a given, offering no alternatives.

Feng Jian lifted her eyes slightly, her gaze slipping through the gap in her bangs to rest on Shen Ke’s face.

Shen Ke had thick, long lashes that made her upper eyelids look lined with perfect eyeliner, curving gently up at the outer corners for a stunning eye shape.

Her lips were full and rosy, her nose small and refined, her black curly hair tied into two braids dangling over her chest. Tilting her head back now, she snorted coldly through her nose—equal parts spoiled and haughty. “No answer means you agree. Be at the school gate tomorrow morning to pick me up.”

Shen Ke reached out her hand. “Give me your phone.” The school didn’t require turning in phones, so she demanded it as her right.

Feng Jian stared at the fair, soft palm held before her eyes. After a moment’s hesitation, she fished an old feature phone from her uniform pocket.

Shen Ke glanced at the battered keypad phone and curled her lip in disdain. “This poor? Can’t even afford a real phone? This thing looks filthy.” Even so, she snatched it from Feng Jian’s hand, jabbed at the keys clumsily, and punched in her own number.

She shoved the phone back. “Here.” Once Feng Jian took it, Shen Ke snorted a warning. “Remember what I said, or you’ll regret it.” Without another word, she spun on her heel and left.

Feng Jian watched Shen Ke’s back, clutching the phone that still held her warmth. She slid down against the tree trunk, squatting slowly and burying her face in her knees.

So cute…

She had witnessed the entire argument between Shen Ke and Yue Lingqing—and Shen Ke taking out her anger on the tree.

So cute…

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Shen Ke was in a foul mood. Just ten minutes earlier, she had broken up with her girlfriend—who had not only cheated on her but trashed her behind her back as a fool with too much money.

Infuriating! Shen Ke pressed her lips tight, hesitated, then ducked into the bathroom to cry in secret.

She just felt so wronged. All she wanted was to treat her partner well—why call her a fool with too much money?

Sitting on the toilet and wiping her tears, Shen Ke heard the stall door swing open.

She jerked her head up in shock, eyes wide as saucers, teardrops clinging to her lashes, red lips parted slightly—like a startled little cat.

The next second came a loud bang as the door slammed shut.

Shen Ke sniffled and called out. “Little Mute, get in here.” Her voice still carried a childish sob, coming out all sticky and whiny.

After a moment with no response from outside, Shen Ke peered through the gap under the door and saw the pair of feet still standing there. Knowing Feng Jian hadn’t left, she yelled again. “Did you hear me? I order you to come in.” She had actually forgotten to lock the door—good thing it was just the Little Mute.

This time, the door creaked open slowly. Feng Jian’s tall, slender figure filled the cramped stall.

Shen Ke sat on the toilet with her legs crossed. The school uniform came in pants or knee-length skirts; she wore the skirt, revealing shapely calves down to ankles wrapped in white crew socks.

Feng Jian kept her head down, eyes fixed on the white tiles. She had never been alone with Shen Ke in such tight quarters before—her heart pounded wildly.

“Feng Jian, come here.” Shen Ke called softly.

Feng Jian shuffled to Shen Ke’s feet, head still lowered—right at eye level with Shen Ke looking up, her big cat eyes framed by a face flushed pink from crying.

So cute…

Shen Ke said nothing, just crooked a finger. Somehow, Feng Jian understood. She bent down slowly, drawing closer to Shen Ke, her body growing even more rigid. The next instant, an arm looped around the back of her neck, pulling her down. Feng Jian’s pupils contracted sharply.

In that fleeting moment, they were less than a handspan apart—close enough for their breaths to mingle… or for a kiss.

Shen Ke sneered coldly, tilting her head to whisper in Feng Jian’s ear. “You saw that, right?”

Feng Jian nodded faintly.

Shen Ke scowled and issued a threat. “You can’t tell a soul, or I’ll make sure you can’t survive in this school.” Her pride was sky-high—no one could know she was a crybaby!

Hot breath swirled around her ear. Feng Jian braced her hands on the toilet lid beside Shen Ke’s legs, her body completely overshadowing Shen Ke’s. Right before her eyes stretched Shen Ke’s pale neck and shoulders. Feng Jian murmured softly. “I won’t say anything.”

Shen Ke snorted coldly and pushed Feng Jian back a little. Then she yanked off the black-framed glasses that hid half of Feng Jian’s face. “Cry for me. I need photos of you crying.” Her logic was simple: Feng Jian had seen her cry, so now she’d see Feng Jian cry.

As she spoke, Shen Ke roughly shoved up Feng Jian’s bangs, fully exposing her face.

Shen Ke froze, her gaze locked on Feng Jian’s features. It wasn’t that Feng Jian wasn’t attractive—she was stunning.

Long, straight lashes quivered faintly, jet-black pupils set in narrow sockets with whites showing below, outer corners angled sharply upward, a straight nose bridge, and a tiny black mole dangling beneath her left eye.

A face both handsome and fierce.

And those features… they looked just like her family’s.

Feng Jian raised her thin double eyelids, her gaze pinning Shen Ke. In that instant, Shen Ke’s heart clenched—she felt like prey about to be devoured.

But the next second, Shen Ke shoved the feeling aside and grumbled for Feng Jian to cry.

Feng Jian pursed her lips. She didn’t dare hold Shen Ke’s gaze any longer and lowered her lashes to evade it.

“Cry for me already—hear me? It’s been over three minutes. Little Mute, cry now, or I’ll punch you.”

Shen Ke’s small voice murmured in her ear, soft and fine—like she was coquettishly whining.

Feng Jian’s lashes fluttered. She blinked once, and a single tear trailed from the corner of her eye, landing on Shen Ke’s lips.

Shen Ke instinctively licked her lips. The tear spread instantly, moistening her perfect lip line.

Feng Jian’s fingers clenched fiercely, her heart drumming like thunder.

Shen Ke tasted the salty wetness but paid it no mind. She whipped out her phone and snapped a close-up of Feng Jian. Glancing at the shot, she frowned and took more from angles she figured would look awful.

But shot after shot turned out strikingly beautiful.

Shen Ke grew annoyed. How could anyone look this good even in bad photos!

She smoothed Feng Jian’s bangs back down, slipped the glasses onto her face, let go, and stood up. Hissing under her breath—mindful they were in a bathroom—she warned, “I’ve got tons of your ugly pics now! If I hear even a whisper about me crying in here from anyone, you’re finished!” With that, she pushed past Feng Jian and left the bathroom.

Feng Jian stood rooted in place. After a long moment, she touched her own face. Had she… just cried ugly?