Shi Ning, a radiant smile breaking across her face, stepped forward and linked her arm through Shi Guoqiang’s. “Dad, do you really want Shi Qingyin and the others to move out of the house?” Her eyes, sparkling with delight, and her sweet, sticky voice of “Dad” melted his heart.
He nodded heavily. “Well, Ningning doesn’t like it, then let them move out.”
“Dad, you are truly too good, the best dad in the world!” Shi Ning happily shook his arm, her joy unbridled, like a child lost in innocent delight. The fatherly love in Shi Guoqiang’s heart, vacant for over a decade, finally swelled with fulfillment.
Shi Ning looked up at Jiang Huaijing. “Dad, let my eldest brother go directly to our household registration, change his surname, be your son, and be my eldest brother.”
Jiang Huaijing quickly demurred. “No, it’s good now.” A slight blush crept onto his cheeks. “You don’t hate me, and you still call me eldest brother; that’s good enough.” For years, he had lived under the shadow of Shi Ning’s hatred, with no demands beyond her not despising him. The idea of becoming family was almost too much to bear. It didn’t matter what her attitude was, or if they were officially siblings on paper, or if she simply treated him as a servant. He considered Shi Ning his sister and Shi Guoqiang his father—they were his last two true relatives in the world. And not being registered under the Shi family name also gave Shi Ning a sense of security. He truly didn’t desire the Shi family’s wealth; he simply wanted to be a part of their lives.
Shi Ning tried to persuade him for a long time, but Jiang Huaijing remained steadfast in his refusal to be adopted. Respecting his decision, Shi Ning finally relented.
The Shi family residence.
Upon arriving home, Shi Ning and her companions found Shi Guogang, her second uncle, alongside a visibly battered Shi Qingyin. Her face was bruised, and her body bore fresh marks—evidence of a beating far more severe than Tao Bichun’s.
“Brother, Xiaoning,” Shi Guogang’s voice was humble, laced with guilt. “I’m so sorry. I just found out Yinyin did something truly foolish. I deeply regret it.”
Shi Ning observed Shi Guogang, who projected an image of honesty, almost appearing meek. His hair was graying, his face lined with wrinkles, and his clothes simple. Though Shi Guoqiang’s younger brother, he looked considerably older than his elder sibling. Shi Guoqiang, seeing his brother, felt a pang of guilt.
“Second brother, Yinyin was wrong in this matter. It has nothing to do with you. Don’t let this affect the bond between us two brothers.”
Shi Guogang offered a strained, honest smile. “No, the younger generation’s affairs won’t affect us. It’s just that Yinyin went too far, and I also gave her a good lesson.” He nudged Shi Qingyin forward. “Hurry and apologize to Xiaoning.”
Shi Qingyin bent low, bowing her head deeply. Her apology was delivered with feigned sincerity. “Sister, I’m sorry, I was wrong. Sister, please forgive me.”
Shi Ning saw through the facade, a sarcastic glint in her eyes. “What’s the difference between what you said and a Pin Xixi’s slash? An apology is going to cut off the damage value to me, so that I can forgive you?” She knew that if she forgave Shi Qingyin, she would be nothing short of a fool.
Shi Qingyin’s face flushed with anger, and she opened her mouth to retort, but Shi Guogang held her back. He then stepped in front of Shi Ning and bowed deeply himself. “Xiaoning, I’m sorry. As a father, I failed to teach my daughter well.” He straightened. “Yinyin should apologize, and you shouldn’t forgive her. Second uncle understands.”
Shi Ning sneered. “The best apology is to let her experience the hurt I suffered.” Her voice hardened. “Second uncle, if you truly want to apologize so sincerely, why don’t you find someone to do to Yinyin what she did to me?” For seven years, she had believed she was molested, that she was unclean, leading to deep inferiority and self-doubt. Her love for Shen Xizhou had been a desperate, humble attempt to please, constantly fearing rejection. Not to mention the psychological scars and nightmares that had plagued her for years. These were not wounds that could be healed by a simple apology or a few superficial beatings!
Shi Qingyin seethed, about to speak again. But Shi Guogang continued to shield her. “I’m sorry, Yinyin is my daughter. I can’t do this.” He paused. “But if you want to beat her up, or you want to retaliate in the same way, Second Uncle will never say no!”
Shi Ning’s lip curled in disgust. “I don’t want to touch her. Who knows if I’ll catch some dirty disease!”
Throughout this exchange, Shi Guoqiang watched quietly, never interrupting. The decision to forgive Shi Qingyin was Shi Ning’s alone; she was the one who had been hurt. His gratitude to his second brother, his desire to repay the favor, was his burden, not Shi Ning’s. Repaying a favor could not be outsourced.
Shi Guogang believed he was being humble and contrite, but Shi Guoqiang’s silence, his lack of intervention, signaled that this time, things were truly different. With a heavy sigh, Shi Guogang addressed Shi Guoqiang, guilt etched on his face.
“Brother, we’re too embarrassed to stay in the Shi family after what Yinyin did, so we’ve decided to move out.”
Shi Ning was genuinely surprised. She hadn’t even had to push them out; Shi Guogang had volunteered it himself!
Shi Guoqiang’s face flushed with guilt, and he instinctively started to protest. “Second brother, actually…”
But Butler Zhao intervened, his voice a quick reminder. “Mr. Shi, your daughter will not want you.”
Shi Guoqiang’s eyes widened. He immediately frowned, his expression turning serious. “Actually, I had this idea too. Since you brought it up yourself, it’s even better.” He paused, then asked, “I don’t know, when will the second brother move?”
Shi Ning raised an eyebrow. “Moving today?”
Butler Zhao was already holding his phone, dialing a number. “Are you two ‘bad brothers’ moving? Well, someone here is moving soon, the address is…” He rattled off the address, then nodded. “About 40 minutes? Sure, but I hope it can be faster.”
Butler Zhao’s swift actions stunned everyone into silence. They all stared at him, bewildered.
Shi Ning herself was speechless. This scumbag’s brain is faster than mine!
Butler Zhao, a wide smile on his face, then addressed Shi Guogang. “Doesn’t the second master plan to move now? Do you want the master to keep you?”
Shi Guogang had, indeed, intended a strategic retreat, hoping to be asked to stay. But having it exposed so directly was mortifying. He forced a smile. “No, I plan to hire a moving company to move.” He then tugged at Shi Qingyin. “You guys chat, I’m going to pack up.” If he stayed any longer, he feared he would lose his composure and reveal his true nature.
The hidden comments flickered across Shi Ning’s vision.
[“Butler Zhao’s operation is too stupid, directly calling a moving company, two bad brothers, I laughed to death, so weird!”]
[“No wonder the vicious female supporting role is stupid and bad, look, if there is anything, the butler will help her to settle it directly, and she doesn’t have to use her brain, she will be spoiled.”]
[“The butler always threatens Shi’s father: Your daughter doesn’t want you! Shi’s father immediately gives in!”]
[“User 163192: This butler and father are very good.”]
Shi Ning’s eyes widened. Don’t mess around! Baby!
[“Don’t you think the vicious female supporting role is too much? The heroine’s father dropped out of school to support the female supporting role’s father to go to school and to give him the first pot of gold for his business. That was a great favor!”]
[“In the end, just because of such a small thing of a girl, the whole family was driven out? And they are so impatient!”]
[“The vicious female supporting role is the vicious female supporting role. The whole family is not good people. They deserve to die in the end! Die out the household registration book as soon as possible!”]
[“Yes! When our heroine Yinyin marries the hero Xizhou, the sweet and refreshing plot will begin. The vicious female supporting role will be envious and jealous, and the plot will really begin!”]
[Shi Ning stared at the comments. Is indecent assault just a “small thing” for a girl? She scoffed. She would not be jealous of Shi Qingyin and Shen Xizhou, those two scumbags! In fact, she wished them an early marriage, a “happy” marriage, infertility, and a house full of nothing but empty rooms.]