It was said they were already on the way, but when Ji Nian and Shen Qingtang arrived home, no one was there.
The servant who kept in touch with the Shen family mentioned they had encountered a minor accident on the road, causing a delay. They would likely arrive in about half an hour.
Shen Qingtang went upstairs to change.
Ji Nian asked about Ji Tingzhou and learned from Zhiliao that he was in the meeting room with a guest—someone important, apparently. No wonder she had seen so many unfamiliar faces outside earlier, resembling bodyguards.
But… Ji Nian had a vague feeling they seemed more like military personnel than mere bodyguards.
"Zhiliao, if Grandma Shen and Grandpa Shen arrive, let me know. I’ll be in the secret base."
Zhiliao nodded, knowing she meant the laboratory.
The universal antidote was effective, but after all these years, its sales were nowhere near the golden era of a few years ago. With the disappearance of the 'Crow' organization, demand for specialized antidotes had also dwindled.
So, Ji Nian had recently begun researching something new—venturing into an entirely unfamiliar field, far outside her comfort zone.
"Hey, Uncle."
Just as she was about to change, Ji Nian received a call from Chen Mo.
Since the long-dormant toxins in his body had been purged, Chen Mo’s health had improved year after year, especially after he took up martial arts as a hobby.
A while ago, Ji Nian had persuaded him to take a vacation, so he flew to a country with a tongue-twisting name, supposedly to learn some local master’s boxing technique.
"Yeah, I just got back from school."
"When are you coming back? In a while?"
"Oh, the flight route is being approved? That’s good."
"Great! It’ll be just in time for Da Dan’s birthday. Don’t forget to come."
After chatting with Chen Mo for a bit, Ji Nian heard some unfamiliar language in the background. Chen Mo responded briefly before hanging up.
...
By the time the elderly Shen couple arrived, Ji Nian was in the middle of writing her experiment notes.
Sigh, every time I write these, I wish I had an assistant.
Why can’t Zuo Yi do experiments?
Maybe I should find a way to make him learn?
The system: "...Please spare Secretary Zuo."
Working for your Ji family must be the worst luck in eight lifetimes.
Just as she was writing, a call came from the main house.
The Shen couple had arrived at the gate.
Ji Nian set aside her notes, removed her gloves, tidied up, and headed out, boarding the small cart waiting for her.
"Finished your work, Miss?"
The driver smiled at her.
"Not yet. I might have to trouble you again tonight."
Ji Nian rested her arms on the front seats and grinned at him.
The driver waved a hand dismissively. "Don’t be so formal with me. It’s no trouble at all."
While Ji Nian and the driver chatted...
At the main gate.
"So this is the Ji family?"
A woman in a pale pink suit stepped out of the car and looked up at the grand, intricately designed mansion before her.
Grandma Shen, helped out of the car, nodded. "Yes, this is the Ji residence."
"I was just as stunned the first time I came."
The Shen family was wealthy, and Grandma Shen had seen plenty of luxuries over the years, but even she had been awestruck during her first visit here.
"What’s so great about it? It’s just old-fashioned architecture. So tacky."
A girl wearing a headband, dressed in a Chanel suit and carrying a designer bag, pouted disdainfully.
"Our house is way prettier, Grandma."
She snuggled into Grandma Shen’s arms, whining.
Shen Ping sighed helplessly. "Xiaofei, you can’t compare them."
"Once we’re inside, you mustn’t speak like this, understand?"
Ma Xiaofei was her only daughter. Heartbroken that the girl had grown up without a father, Shen Ping had spoiled her. A little arrogance in a young girl wasn’t a big deal, but lately, her temper had worsened.
Not long ago, the school had called Shen Ping in because Ma Xiaofei had slashed a classmate’s pants with a knife. When Shen Ping arrived, she saw a young white boy clutching his trousers, which barely covered half his bottom, crying.
Ma Xiaofei, dragged into the office, was still defiant, pointing at the boy and yelling in Chinese, calling him a shameless pervert who exposed himself for sympathy.
Hearing such vulgar words from her ten-year-old daughter, Shen Ping nearly fainted.
According to the teacher, this wasn’t the first time. Ma Xiaofei had thrown a girl’s gym clothes in the trash, smashed ink bottles on boys’ heads, and even called a teacher a "fat busybody."
That was when Shen Ping realized her daughter had truly been spoiled rotten.
So she made the firm decision to transfer her to a stricter, more conservative environment—back in China.
"Did you hear me, Ma Xiaofei? If you misbehave, I’ll freeze your cards."
Seeing her daughter’s defiant expression, Shen Ping hardened her tone.
But Ma Xiaofei wasn’t intimidated. She bargained, "Then if I behave, will you buy me that 6-carat pink diamond?"
Shen Ping’s face darkened. "What does a child need with something that expensive?"
13 million? How could she even ask?
Ma Xiaofei huffed. "Marla has a 3-carat one. Mine has to be bigger."
Shen Ping thought, Well, at least she won’t see Marla again.
"A dragonfly!"
Spotting something flitting by the lake, Ma Xiaofei lost interest in the argument and dashed off after it, leaving her mother behind.
Ji Nian stepped off the cart and turned onto the covered walkway just as a slow-moving dragonfly drifted toward her.
"Move—!"
Before she could even see the color of its wings, a sharp yell cut through the air, followed by hands shoving at her, trying to push her aside.
Ji Nian instinctively sidestepped.
Splash!
The person who’d tried to push her, unable to stop their momentum, crashed into the railing and toppled straight into the water.
"Ahhh!! Help! Help!!!"
Ji Nian leaned over the railing and looked down.
A girl about her age was flailing in the water, crying in panic.
But when Ma Xiaofei saw Ji Nian calmly watching her from above, something clicked. She suddenly stood up.
Glancing down, she realized the water only reached her thighs.
"You tricked me!!!"
She pointed furiously at Ji Nian.
Ji Nian blinked, baffled. "Girl, you fell in by yourself."
Ma Xiaofei scowled at the term. "I hate being called 'girl'!"
Ji Nian shrugged. "Fine then, human female."
Ma Xiaofei: "......"
Hearing the screams, Shen Ping rushed over and gasped at the sight of her daughter in the water. "How did you fall in? Get out now!"
Only after confirming the water was shallow did she relax.
The moment she saw her mother, Ma Xiaofei pointed at Ji Nian. "Mom! She pushed me in! Punish her!"
Shen Ping finally noticed Ji Nian standing there.
A little girl in school uniform stood to the side, her slightly curly long hair tied up with a peach-colored scrunchie, watching her.
Shen Ping was momentarily stunned by the girl’s striking beauty.
After all, this was her own daughter—she knew exactly what Ma Xiaofei was like. Things couldn’t be as serious as the girl had claimed.
“What exactly happened?”
But why was there a girl around her daughter’s age in the Ji family? Who was she? A servant’s child?
She didn’t look like one.
Pulling Ma Xiaofei aside and eyeing her dripping wet daughter, Shen Ping turned her gaze back to Ji Nian. “Little girl, where are your parents?”
Ji Nian blinked.
Before she could answer, the servant who had been guiding them rushed over.
The servant, who had been wearing a polite smile, brightened genuinely at the sight of Ji Nian. “Young Miss,” she greeted.
Just then, the elderly Shen couple—slower on their feet—caught up. Grandma Shen spotted Ji Nian and called out warmly, “Ji Nian, dear.”
Ji Nian greeted the two elders politely.
Then, turning back to Shen Ping’s slightly startled expression, she smiled faintly. “My father is busy. Did you need him for something?”
