Shen Jing landed in the Imperial Capital. Though she had flown to various places before, this was only the second ti she had flown back to Beijing, yet it felt as familiar as if she had experienced this scene a hundred tis.
Soone from the Shen Family ca to et her and took her luggage.
The driver, who had been with the Shen Family for over a decade and had seen her picture before, recognized her at a glance.
"Fourth Miss, please follow ."
Shen Jing simply nodded, followed him, and got into the car.
Seeing that she wasn’t inclined to talk, Old Liang, the driver, didn’t disturb her further.
The snow was still falling heavily, and the streetlights appeared dim and hazy under its white blanket.
Shen Jing was in no mood to admire the snow; instead, she repeatedly checked the text ssages from her bank.
It was a lot of money, given without the slightest hesitation.
Li Heng: "Here is your breakup fee. Please keep it safe. If you have any questions, you can contact ."
Shen Jing scoffed. She opened WeChat, her fingers trembling as she hovered over the profile photo of a starred contact. After a mont of hesitation, she deleted Zhou Luchen from her friends list.
She took a photo of the snow and posted it on her Monts.
Comnts popped up quickly.
Liang Yingning: "Is my Jingjing off to another competition? Go, Jingjing! Cheering for you!"
Shen Jing typed: "No, I quit my job."
Liang Yingning: "???"
Breaking up with Zhou Luchen, quitting her job, and suddenly arriving in the Imperial Capital... that was a lot of information to process. Chen Yao and Wei Sulin soon joined the conversation.
Chen Yao: "Sister Jing, if you’re gone, where will the Second Young Master book venues for us?"
Wei Sulin: "It’s snowing. Makes want to go skiing."
Chen Yao: "Little Lin, call ’brother,’ and I’ll arrange a private jet tonight to take you to Zermatt, Switzerland. The top-tier slopes there are even more thrilling."
Wei Sulin: "Stop trying to take advantage! Seriously, if Sister Jing leaves, who will we find when we’re short one player for mahjong?"
Shen Jing didn’t look at their ssages and couldn’t be bothered to reply.
They only acted like her friends because she used to be by Zhou Luchen’s side. These wealthy young masters only showed respect to him, not her. Otherwise, those people, so used to their high status, would never have given her a second glance.
The car stopped at the Xihe Bay Villa Estate, an area surrounded by the mansions of wealthy rchants and influential families.
The Shen Family’s main residence, Villa Number 6.
It was an old house, several decades old. No amount of revamping or renovation could erase the mory of its vermillion-lacquered door thresholds. As a child, she had tripped over one of those thresholds. The pain had been unbearable. Even after three different elders had tried to comfort her, she couldn’t be consoled. Her grandmother often joked that she was such a ’Jiaojiao,’ the hardest to raise.
Indeed, she had been a pampered child from a young age. Even Zhou Luchen eventually grew tired of consoling her.
Old Liang took her suitcase. "Please follow , Fourth Miss. The Old Master has been eagerly awaiting your return ever since he heard you were coming back. He’s been looking everywhere for you. He just learned your number was unreachable again. The Old Master has been looking so glum all day."
Shen Jing stepped over the threshold. "How is his health?"
Old Liang sighed. "Not good at all. He’s just been worried about his children and grandchildren being away from ho. He insists that the Eldest Miss, Shen Ci, must get married so he can finally be at ease."
Maids were already in the garden, decorating it by hanging red silk. Today and tomorrow were both auspicious days; her eldest sister, Shen Ci, was getting married.
Shen Jing was montarily lost in thought. With Eldest Sister getting married, only I am left. Surely they don’t want back just to groom for marriage too?
She looked at the traditional, antique-style architecture of the large courtyard house.
She hardly recognized anyone anymore; the maids were all unfamiliar won. All she wanted was to bypass the living room and go directly to the ancestral hall.
Old Liang opened the door for her, explaining various family matters in detail.
She wasn’t really listening. Instead, she focused on lighting incense before her grandmother’s and father’s morial portraits and then knelt to pay her respects.
The Old Master was ill. He had taken his dicine and was taking an afternoon nap, so she didn’t disturb him.
She then returned to the main courtyard to greet the family elders.
The Shen Family could be considered to have many descendants. Her father had been the Old Master’s youngest son and also the first to pass away—a classic case of the white-haired mourning the black-haired. That sa year, her grandmother fell gravely ill and soon followed him.
In the generation above her were her eldest uncle, Shen Rongyi, her second uncle, and her aunt, whose nas she couldn’t quite recall.
They all had their own hos and villas elsewhere and had only returned to the old family residence to gather for her eldest sister, Shen Ci’s, wedding.
Fortunately, Old Liang discreetly prompted her, reminding her who was who.
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