Chapter 14: The Fake Heiress of the Wealthy Family (Part 14)

Shi Xu lowered her gaze, looking down at Shen Ke who was leaning into her embrace at that moment.

Shen Ke was half a head shorter than her, with a slender frame that seemed able to fit completely into her arms.

Her ears were still filled with Shen Ke’s mumbling complaints.

Shi Xu took a deep breath. At this distance, she could smell the fragrance on Shen Ke’s body, which was somewhat intoxicating.

She lifted her hand and gently wrapped it around Shen Ke’s waist, confining the slender waist with her arm.

Shen Ke looked up in confusion, her face sullen yet exceptionally cute. “What are you doing?!” Although her tone wasn’t pleasant, she didn’t push Shi Xu’s hand away.

Shi Xu furrowed her brows, putting on a pitiful expression. “Baby, do you still have contact with Feng Jian?”

Shen Ke slapped Shi Xu’s shoulder, her expression ugly. “Don’t mention that person in front of me!” If it weren’t for Feng Jian suddenly going crazy, she would still be staying comfortably in the Shen Family.

A dark glint flashed through Shi Xu’s eyes. She tightened her arm, drawing their bodies even closer. “Alright, alright, Baby, don’t be angry. I won’t mention her.”

“Right, there are too many people on the bus. Come a bit closer to me so you don’t get squeezed by others.”

Shen Ke huffed but didn’t push Shi Xu away. In fact, it was true—she would rather squeeze together with this pervert who had sat on the toilet twice last night than with strangers.

Shi Xu held Shen Ke, lowering her head with her bangs covering her eyes. At this distance, she could lean right up to Shen Ke’s ear to whisper.

So Shi Xu leaned in, her gaze fixed on the fair ear before her, and softly said, “Baby, I forgot to say—sorry about last night. The water splashed on your feet.”

As soon as she said it, the ear in front of her turned completely red. At the same time, the soft flesh at her waist was pinched hard.

She didn’t need to look to know what Shen Ke’s expression must have been like right then—shy and furious, dying to slap her.

Clearly the young miss of a wealthy family, yet willing to ride the subway with her on dates.

Eating cheap food, but always giving her expensive gifts.

Even her occasional little tantrums were explosively cute.

Annoying, disgusting, pervert, I hate you—what else could those be but coquetry?

Shen Ke always thought she was awful, but the things she said and did were far too innocent and harmless.

Shi Xu curled her lips, gently inhaling the fragrance of Shen Ke’s hair, revealing a greedy smile that didn’t match her refined and handsome face at all.

Shen Ke would only be hers—

＊

“Boss, President Shen has already made the arrangements.”

“This afternoon, the identities of Third Little, Shen Ke, and Third Miss will be exposed.”

“Also the matter of Third Miss being pushed down the stairs, and Third Miss being slandered.”

Shen Yi took a sip of coffee and slowly said, “So cold, indeed.” She had probably investigated the truth of the previous incident. These events, combined with Shen Ke’s past reputation, were meant to break someone down.

After all, a biological child was still more important than one raised for eighteen years—especially when that child was a homosexual who brought shame to the Shen Family.

Mama was truly cold-blooded.

Shen Yi thought idly.

“Boss, do we need to suppress the public opinion when it breaks?”

Shen Yi set down her mug. It made a dull thud against the solid wood desk. “No need.” Malicious public opinion would only hasten Shen Ke’s return home.

Someone so prone to tears, dramatics, and face-saving couldn’t hold out for long.

“Little Ke took the bus today?”

The assistant pushed up their glasses. “Yes.” They really couldn’t figure out their boss—was she concerned or indifferent? If concerned, why not quash the rumors? Letting them ferment would crush the person involved. If indifferent, then why send people to tail her day after day?

The assistant glanced up, sneaking a peek at Shen Yi, but discerned no emotion on her face, as always.

Shen Yi was aware of the assistant’s scrutiny, but her expression remained utterly flat from start to finish.

Yet if anyone looked closely into those narrow, elongated eyes, they would be overwhelmed by the vast darkness churning within.

A bus—so many people. Who knew how many hands would touch her. So dirty. She’d need a long, long bath.

Would she cry? She would, surely. Eyes swollen red, skin flushed pink all over, sobbing out broken words like she was seducing someone.

Gazing at the coffee still rippling faintly before her, Shen Yi lowered her eyes. Just the thought made her feel on the verge of losing control.

Hospital.

Feng Jian woke the afternoon of the second day after falling down the stairs.

Unfamiliar voices rang in her ears.

“My good sister, you’re awake.”

Feng Jian stiffly rolled her eyes, meeting a pretty face wearing a playful smile.

Feng Jian parted her dry, chapped thin lips, her hoarse voice slowly saying, “Shen Ke… where.”

Shen Yu laughed. “Thanks to you, Shen Ke got kicked out of the Shen Family. She’s probably holed up somewhere crying right now.”

Shen Yu’s words stabbed like thorns into her chest, making her heart ache. Feng Jian struggled to sit up, trying to get out of bed.

Shen Yu saw through her intentions at once. She stepped forward and pinned Feng Jian’s shoulder, her expression almost pitying. “My dear sister, here’s another piece of good news—Mama’s already posted about you and Shen Ke online.”

“After all, the Shen Family’s a big deal, with plenty of eyes on it. Who knows if Shen Ke will see.”

The body beneath her palm trembled. Shen Yu patted Feng Jian, her smile widening. “Gotta say, your little trick worked wonders. Drove Shen Ke right out.”

“I thought you liked her. Guess not that much.”

“Besides, without the Shen Family behind her, Shen Ke’s just an idiot with a pretty face.”

Shen Yu’s words cut like knives. Feng Jian clenched her fists. Her narrow eyes, unshielded by bangs, burned with cold malice. Her gaze locked onto Shen Yu’s face. “I will—tear your mouth to shreds.”

Shen Yu narrowed her eyes, her smile mocking. “Tear my mouth? You should tear your own, you waste—”

Even her seductive makeup couldn’t mask the icy detachment seeping from her bones. “If I were you, I’d work hard to please Mama and grab more power.”

“With enough power, keeping someone right in your grasp is effortless.”

“Instead of fishing for attention with this self-destructive crap.” She’d seen the surveillance footage, and from that angle, it sure looked like Shen Ke had pushed her.

But Shen Ke’s panicked, terrified, stupid expression let her guess the truth.

Not that she’d say anything. Wasn’t her business.

Shen Yu’s words hammered into Feng Jian’s mind. “Power”—the word branded itself there.

Feng Jian lowered her head. “This has nothing to do with you.”

“No relation.”

Shen Yu waved it off. “Of course not. I just love a good show.” Could this girl, raised in some ordinary family, actually challenge her big sis?

Big sis’s holier-than-thou attitude was annoying anyway.

She’d only come on Mama’s orders to check on Feng Jian. Person was fine; time to go.

At the door, Shen Yu turned back, flashing Feng Jian a meaningful smile. “Bet Shen Ke hates your guts now.”

“If the nice way won’t work, why not just lock her up?”

“She’ll belong to you forever.”

“But only if you’ve got the power—”

＊

“Hey, you see the Shen Family drama?”

“I did! Internet’s exploding! Who knew Shen Ke wasn’t the real deal—Feng Jian is! Total soap opera.”

“Tell me about it. I’ve hated Shen Ke forever, always acting so superior just ’cause she’s got money. Serves her right—total joke now.”

“Hahaha, too funny. Dying to see her face.”

The discussions around her weren’t quiet—Yue Lingqing heard every word.

Someone sidled up, grinning. “Yue Lingqing, don’t you hate Shen Ke? Perfect timing—no one’s got her back now.”

“Want us to help you mess with her?”

Yue Lingqing squeezed her eyes shut, grinding out through clenched teeth, “Fuck! Dog bastard! What’s it got to do with you!!!” Her voice carried.

The class fell instantly silent. No one expected their usual cool, elegant Yue Lingqing to snap like that.

Yue Lingqing shot to her feet, yanking the guy’s collar, her eyes cold as shattered ice. “Don’t let me hear that shit again!”

She shoved the now-terrified person away, then stormed out. She had to find Shen Ke!

That scaredy-cat was surely hiding.

The class bell rang. Yue Lingqing dashed to Shen Ke’s classroom—yep, no sign of her.

Gritting her teeth, she headed back downstairs. The school was huge; she searched everywhere, even the cafeteria. Nothing. Damn it!

Sweat soaked her forehead bangs. She didn’t know why her heart was pounding with panic and anxiety, why the irritation wouldn’t fade.

Last time at the Shen Family, seeing Feng Jian, she’d suspected. But she hadn’t expected the Shen Family to go this far, this fast.

Maybe Shen Ke had already left. But where could she go?

Yue Lingqing had been brought back to the Yue Family at ten—and that’s when she met Shen Ke.

At a banquet, she’d caught Shen Ke secretly crying in the bathroom. Their grudge started there.

From ten to eighteen, Shen Ke had never once looked at her kindly.

She hadn’t cared. They weren’t close anyway.

So why did every memory of Shen Ke stick so vividly?

Shen Ke—

Yue Lingqing pressed her lips tight and returned to the bathrooms on her class floor. She’d checked once already—no luck.

Class was in session now; the place was empty. Yue Lingqing called softly, “Shen Ke.”

“You there? It’s me.”

No answer. She called again. “Shen Ke, don’t be scared. I won’t do anything to you.”

Then—a faint sob. Yue Lingqing’s eyes widened. She approached a stall marked green for empty.

She reached out and slowly pushed the door open. There sat Shen Ke on the toilet, tears streaming down her face.

Time seemed to overlap. Back then, little Shen Ke had cried just like this on a toilet—so aggrieved.

Crystal tears soaked her collar.

Shen Ke’s round eyes blinked open, her voice hoarse. “You here to… to mock me too?”

“I’m a fake. A thief.”

Yue Lingqing stepped into the stall and shut the door, staring at Shen Ke. Tears had smeared her cheeks; she no longer looked proudly haughty, but like a homeless stray puppy.

This wasn’t how Shen Ke should be. Shen Ke should shine bright and bold with her smile.

She didn’t even know what the surging emotions in her chest meant.

But right now, she wanted to hug Shen Ke. Kiss her.

Kiss—an intimate word.

Her mind overflowed with it.

Cupping Shen Ke’s tear-reddened cheeks, Yue Lingqing wiped the tears with her thumb and said softly, “I’m not here to mock you.”

Sweat still beaded her forehead, her breathing uneven—anyone could tell she’d run here.

It was the first time in years Yue Lingqing had held Shen Ke’s face like this.

So small. So soft.

Yue Lingqing’s touch and gaze were too gentle. Shen Ke burst into loud wails, like a child heartbroken beyond endurance.

“Yue Lingqing, they… they’re awful! I didn’t push Feng Jian—she fell on her own!”

No one else to vent to, so she told her enemy?

Yue Lingqing lowered her eyes, leaned in close, and bent to pull Shen Ke into her arms.

“Shen Ke, don’t cry.”

Shen Ke’s body was slender and soft, carrying a faint fragrance.

So nice—sweet without being cloying, emanating from her skin itself, not some perfume.

She wanted to—kiss her.

A obscure emotion flickered in Yue Lingqing’s eyes. In a low, husky voice, she asked, “Can I kiss you?”

Shen Ke’s eyes went wide. She didn’t understand why Yue Lingqing wanted to kiss her.

But she didn’t want to refuse. In her darkest moment, Yue Lingqing was the first to find her.

There was no mockery, no kicking her when she was down, no strange looks directed at her. Instead, they gently comforted her.

She had never treated Yue Lingqing well before. Last time too, she had acted spoiled and clingy, and though Yue Lingqing wore a sour face, she still carried her on her back for a full half hour.

Shen Ke nodded, sniffed, and said in a thick, teary voice, “You can… you can kiss me.”

Shen Ke’s agreement was like the temptation of a devil.

Yue Lingqing took a deep breath. She knew that once she took this step, there would be no turning back. But the sight of Shen Ke nodding through her tears was unbearably cute. Shen Ke had never shown such a vulnerable side in front of her before.

Perhaps it was because she was too heartbroken, or for some other reason, that she agreed to the request.

But none of that mattered.

Yue Lingqing gripped her fingers tightly and lifted Shen Ke’s face, then slowly leaned in. One kiss after another landed on Shen Ke’s face.

Kisses on her forehead, the corners of her eyes, the tips of her brows, her cheeks.

They were very gentle kisses, yet they made Shen Ke’s crying spiral completely out of control.

In that moment, all her strength vanished.

Yue Lingqing was too gentle. Her kisses carried no trace of desire.

Completely different from Shen Yi’s kisses.