In the dimly lit corridor,
a slender, beautiful woman gracefully stepped forward.
Pei Zhengnian's pupils constricted sharply.
He would recognize this person even if she were reduced to ashes.
Who else could it be but Shen Nanchu?
Ridiculous.
Did she not realize the gravity of the situation?
He had already sent her away, yet here she was, walking right into the trap.
Suppressing the fury in his heart, Pei Zhengnian spoke coldly.
"You fickle woman, what are you doing here?"
"Come to laugh at the Pei family's misfortune?"
"Get lost. You're no longer part of the Pei family—you have nothing to do with us."
Fickle woman?
Shen Nanchu blinked.
If she didn’t know Pei Zhengnian was desperately trying to sever ties with her, she might have mistaken his words for genuine disdain.
But it didn’t matter.
As the villainess holding the villain’s script, shouldn’t she put on a proper villainous performance?
Since the opportunity presented itself today, why wait?
Time for Shen Nanchu, the little drama queen, to take the stage.
ψ(｀∇´)ψ
"Fickle?"
Shen Nanchu raised an eyebrow, her gaze dripping with scorn.
"I call it 'a wise bird chooses the best branch to perch on.'"
"I'm young and beautiful—why should I hang myself on the Pei family’s dying tree?"
[Disgust Points +1]
[Disgust Points +2]
[Disliked Points +3]
...
The system’s notifications chimed incessantly.
Most of the red-armband youths were righteous and impulsive, utterly despising Shen Nanchu’s selfish behavior.
Even Sun Younian couldn’t help but feel disapproval toward her.
Shen Nanchu couldn’t care less.
A point or two of disgust from each person added up quickly!
With just a few words, she had already harvested fifty-six points of disgust.
What a bargain.
As for what the Pei family thought?
Well, opinions varied.
Pei Yunxi exploded at Shen Nanchu’s words.
"Shen Nanchu, you shameless wretch! The Pei family treated you so well—how could you betray us? How could you betray my brother?"
Pei Yunzhou was no different.
"You vile woman! If you want to leave, fine—but pay back every cent you stole from the Pei family!"
Shen Nanchu was amused.
Finally, someone in the Pei family had some sense.
Not bad, not bad.
Pei Zhengnian watched the faint curve of Shen Nanchu’s lips, his cold eyes flickering with contemplation.
This woman… seemed delighted.
Why?
He felt like he couldn’t quite understand her anymore.
And he wasn’t the only one.
Pei's Mother and Grandpa Pei were equally baffled.
Only Grandma Pei looked at Shen Nanchu with admiration.
What a loyal and righteous child!
Meanwhile, the sly old fox Lei Zhenhua studied Shen Nanchu with a greedy glint in his eyes.
A rare gem.
Truly a rare gem.
If such a treasure could belong to him…
The thought alone made his beer belly quiver with excitement.
"Nanchu, was it?"
"I’m your Uncle Lei."
"You’re quite the remarkable girl—your ideological awareness is commendable."
"The entire Pei family has serious ideological issues, yet you’ve emerged untainted. Impressive."
Trying to flatter her? Get chummy?
Shen Nanchu gave Lei Zhenhua a thorough once-over, her face twisting in blatant disgust.
Short stature? Fine. But that protruding belly? And that bald head? Not to mention those shifty, beady eyes.
She had standards when it came to friends, thank you very much.
Looks first, figure first, character first—miss one, and it was a hard pass.
"Troublesome. Before claiming kinship, take a good look in the mirror—our family’s ancestral graves certainly wouldn’t produce such dark smoke from someone like you."
Pfft—
Sun Younian couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.
"Ah, my apologies! Please, carry on!"
Lei Zhenhua’s face turned livid with rage.
At his level of authority, few dared to speak to him like this.
Fine.
Just wait. He’d make sure she begged for mercy.
Lei Zhenhua’s gaze locked onto Shen Nanchu, predatory and brimming with confidence.
A pair of icy eyes met his, silently issuing a warning.
Pei Zhengnian stepped forward wordlessly, shielding Shen Nanchu.
Lei Zhenhua froze momentarily before his expression darkened.
"What are you all standing around for?"
"Search the place!"
The red-armband enforcers sprang into action.
"Who dares?"
Shen Nanchu planted herself squarely at the staircase entrance.
No way.
The Pei household, however modest, was now her home too.
If it got ransacked today, where would her dignity as Shen Nanchu go?
"Want to search the Pei residence? Fine!"
"Just wait!"
Lei Zhenhua let out a mocking laugh.
"Youngster, don’t overestimate yourself."
"I have a search warrant. Do you dare obstruct me?"
"Why wouldn’t I?"
Shen Nanchu’s smile was dazzlingly defiant.
"No matter how high the sky is, I’ll tread it underfoot. As for you—doesn’t your neck ache from looking up at me?"
Pfft—
Pfft—
This time, Sun Younian completely lost it.
So did the others.
"You—!"
Lei Zhenhua’s face flushed purple with fury.
"This woman is openly defying orders from leadership. I suspect she’s a rebel. Arrest her!"
"Who dares?"
This time, the voice came from the doorway.
An elderly man with a full head of white hair and an energetic demeanor strode in. Leading the group was Elder Bai, a titan in the archaeology field, followed by Director Guo of the Cultural Relics Bureau.
Red-armbands versus the rising stars of the Cultural Relics Bureau—who would win?
The answer was clear from Lei Zhenhua’s forced, submissive expression.
Elder Bai hurried over to Grandpa Pei and Grandma Pei, clasping the old man’s hands earnestly.
"Thank you, Grandpa Pei and Grandma Pei, for your generosity in contributing to our nation’s archaeological endeavors!"
What?
Grandpa Pei and Grandma Pei exchanged glances, confusion mirrored in their eyes.
But neither elder let it show.
Grandpa Pei responded vaguely, "No trouble at all."
After the pleasantries, Elder Bai got straight to the point.
"Where might the relics you donated be kept?"
Rubbing his hands eagerly, Elder Bai was practically vibrating with anticipation.
Grandpa Pei quickly looked at Grandma Pei.
The couple communicated silently.
When did you donate relics?
You know exactly what’s left in this house!
Awkward.
"Elder Bai, Grandpa and Grandma entrusted the relics to me. I’ll take you to them!"
Shen Nanchu’s crisp voice cut through the tension.
Grandma Pei immediately tried to stop her. "Child—!"
"Grandma, don’t worry. Leave it to me." Shen Nanchu winked at her.
(^_−)☆
"Director, please follow me!"
She stepped aside from the staircase and gestured graciously.
"However, these relics are extremely valuable. Only Elder Bai and Director Guo may accompany me upstairs."
Her words neatly crushed Lei Zhenhua’s hopes of tagging along.
"Of course, of course!"
Elder Bai led the way, with Director Guo close behind.
Shen Nanchu accompanied them, but Pei Zhengnian still felt uneasy. His eyes sought Sun Younian for reassurance.
Sun Younian gave an almost imperceptible nod, and only then did Pei Zhengnian follow closely upstairs.
Shen Nanchu led Elder Bai and Director Guo to the study on the second floor.
Inside the study lay two large chests.
Had Lei Zhenhua been present, he would have found these chests strikingly familiar—nearly identical to the ones in his own home.
Shen Nanchu opened the chests one by one.
Before Elder Bai and Director Guo’s eyes appeared an array of silk manuscripts, bamboo scrolls, yellowed calligraphy and paintings, as well as oracle bones inscribed with ancient characters.
...
