Shen Nian Nian and Wen Yang always met in the presidential suite of a hotel.
Unlike before, Shen Nian Nian rushed in, hurriedly turned off the television, and said urgently to Wen Yang, “My brother has found out the truth!”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Wen Yang remained calm and asked, “How did he find out?”
“I went into his room and found a childhood photo of me inside one of his books.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Wen Yang picked up the remote and turned the TV back on. “Isn’t it normal for a big brother to have a photo of his little sister?”
“That’s not my photo!” Shen Nian Nian screamed hysterically. “That was Qin Xiaoli’s photo! It wasn’t mine!”
Wen Yang chuckled. “Aren’t you Qin Xiaoli?”
“I’m not anymore! I’m Shen Nian Nian now! Did you even understand what I just said?” She climbed onto the bed, grabbed his collar, and shouted in distress, “He found out my true identity! He knows everything—he knows I’m not his biological sister!”
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Eld Zydt eked’v pllx qzwpvlale. Tl pkxrzu ypjle, “Tso eke bl alynv? Pke bl vyzj vs uswa ryaldvp ycswv kv?”
“Lsv… dsv ulv.” Fbld Lkyd Lkyd blpkvyvle. “Tl’p ralvldekdt zkjl dsvbkdt byrrldle. Tl’p ynvkdt vbl pyxl yp yzoyup.”
“Mbld vbyv plvvzlp kv.” Eld Zydt zkv y nktyalvvl, tzydnkdt yv bla kdekqqlaldvzu. “Tsdlpvzu, fwpv zssjkdt yv usw, kq R olal uswa casvbla, R’e byhl eswcvle usw olald’v xu alyz pkpvla y zsdt vkxl yts. Jwv pwprknksd kpd’v rassq. Yyucl bl eslpd’v lhld oydv vs lmrspl usw.”
Fbld Lkyd Lkyd nyzxle esod y zkvvzl yde ypjle pbyjkzu, “S-Slyzzu?”
“Zsw’hl clld pkczkdtp qsa xsal vbyd vld ulyap. Ohld kq usw’al dsv bkp ckszstknyz pkpvla, usw’hl pvkzz cwkzv vbyv csde. Mbl alyz Fbld Lkyd Lkyd dlhla prldv bla eyup okvb bkx. Ebs es usw vbkdj bl’e cl xsal yvvynble vs?”
Tlyakdt vbkp, Fbld Lkyd Lkyd qkdyzzu qlzv vbl olktbv kd bla blyav lypl. “Mbyv xyjlp pldpl… Gqvla yzz, xu casvbla yde R byhl y alyz pkczkdt csde. R nyd qllz kv—bl vawzu nyalp ycswv xl.”
“Omynvzu. Jzsse vklp yald’v lhlauvbkdt. Fsxlvkxlp, vbl sdl obs oyp aykple kp nzspla vbyd vbl sdl obs oyp csad. Zsw esd’v dlle vs osaau ycswv uswa keldvkvu clkdt lmrsple. Ohld kq kv kp—ps obyv? Gp zsdt yp vblka alyz eywtbvla ds zsdtla lmkpvp kd vbkp osaze, yald’v usw vblka sdzu eywtbvla?”
Fbld Lkyd Lkyd zssjle yv Eld Zydt kd pbsnj. “Ebyv… yal usw pyukdt?”
Though Wen Yang was smiling, a chilling ruthlessness flickered in his eyes. “As long as Jiang Xingxing is gone, no one can take your place. You will always be the eldest daughter of the Shen family. And your position will remain unshaken.”
Seeing the cold, determined glint in his eyes, Shen Nian Nian felt a shiver run down her spine. “What… what are you planning?”
“Ten years ago, she was lucky enough to survive drowning. But that doesn’t mean her luck will last forever.”
“You want to harm her?” Shen Nian Nian backed away, looking at him as if he were a deranged killer. “You want to kill her?!”
“Don’t look at me like that.” Wen Yang’s voice was icy. “I’m doing this for both of us. As long as Jiang Xingxing is alive, neither of us will have peace.”
Shen Nian Nian stared at him, her heart pounding. “You’ve been planning this all along, haven’t you?”
“Otherwise, why would I have led Qin Zaolin and his wife right to her?” Wen Yang said coldly. “They weren’t going to live long anyway. At least this way, she’ll know who’s behind it when she dies.”
Shen Nian Nian collapsed onto the sofa, feeling weak. She couldn’t accept that the man she was supposed to spend her life with was a murderer. Goosebumps covered her skin.
“If you kill her… how will you get away with it?”
“I have my ways.”
Shen Nian Nian lowered her gaze, a flicker of unreadable emotion flashing in her eyes.
Wen Yang stared at her sharply. “I know exactly what you’re thinking. You want to report me. But let me warn you—forget that idea immediately. We’re in this together. If I go down, you won’t have a good ending either.”
Shen Nian Nian steadied herself and asked, “What do you want me to do?”
Wen Yang smirked. “I heard you’re throwing a grand party for your 24th birthday?”
She eyed him warily. “So what?”
His smirk deepened. “I want you to announce at the party that you’re pregnant with my child.”
“What?!” Shen Nian Nian froze as if struck by lightning. “Impossible! My dad would kill me!”
“He won’t touch you. You’re pregnant—who would dare lay a hand on you?”
“But I’m not pregnant!” Shen Nian Nian’s lips trembled with agitation. “No! This will ruin my reputation! My friends—they’ll mock me behind my back!”
“Do you want your reputation, or do you want to keep your status as the eldest daughter of the Shen family?” Wen Yang threatened. “If you don’t agree, I’ll call Jiang Xingxing right now and tell her everything—the whole truth. I’ll tell her how your brilliant father orchestrated the switch, swapping a real princess for a fake one. I’ll tell her how you covered it up, stole her parents and brother, and took everything that rightfully belonged to her.”
Shen Nian Nian collapsed weakly onto the sofa. Even though it was winter, sweat beaded on her forehead. “I already agreed to tell my parents that I want to marry you, that no matter how much they object, I will insist on being with you. Why are you still forcing me?”
“I’m not forcing you,” Wen Yang stepped forward and gently caressed her delicate face. “I’m forcing that stubborn old man, Shen Sushan. Only if everyone knows you’re pregnant with my child will public pressure force him to relent and agree to our marriage sooner. Do you understand?”
That night was another round of madness. Wen Yang showed no mercy as he ravaged her. She knew exactly what he was trying to do—he wanted to get her pregnant as soon as possible. That way, he would become the father of Shen Sushan’s grandchild, securing his stake in the Shen family’s vast fortune.
Outside, a light rain began to fall. Shen Nian Nian couldn’t help but feel that this was her retribution.
To gain something, one must lose something. She had secured her title as the Shen family’s eldest daughter, but in return, she had lost control of the rest of her life…
On the morning of Shen Nian Nian’s birthday, Jiang Xingxing woke up early, freshened up, and carefully selected a light blue evening dress.
Shang Jie sat at his desk, watching her.
She turned slightly to the side as she pulled on a pair of sheer stockings, sliding them up her long, shapely legs. The room’s lighting illuminated her oval-shaped face, where a light dusting of setting powder gave her skin a radiant glow.
Shang Jie walked over, zipped up the back of her dress, then lowered his head to kiss her slender neck.
“Do you really have to go?”
Jiang Xingxing, tickled by his kiss, turned back and said, “I already promised Chuyan-ge.”
“You and Shen Nian Nian aren’t close. She doesn’t like you. Why bother going?”
“Chuyan-ge said he has an important announcement to make. Maybe he’s finally going to reveal his mysterious girlfriend!” Jiang Xingxing shot Shang Jie a mischievous smile, her eyes gleaming like a playful little fox. “How could I miss such a big event?”
“Mysterious girlfriend.” Shang Jie scoffed. “I think he’s just out of his mind.”
“Don’t badmouth people behind their backs. It’s rude.”
“I’d say it to his face, too.”
Just then, the sound of a car horn came from downstairs—Shen Chuyan had arrived.
Shang Jie walked Jiang Xingxing to the door, where Shen Chuyan stood by the car, nodding politely in greeting.
Right in front of him, Shang Jie wrapped an arm around Jiang Xingxing’s waist and kissed her lips.
Shen Chuyan averted his gaze.
Jiang Xingxing had expected just a brief goodbye kiss, but to her surprise, Shang Jie deepened it, even using his tongue—as if deliberately staking his claim in front of Shen Chuyan. Irritated, she lifted her heel and stomped on his foot.
Only then did Shang Jie let her go, wincing slightly from the pain.
Shen Chuyan opened the car door for her, and Jiang Xingxing slid inside.
Leaning down by the window, Shang Jie reminded her, “Buckle your seatbelt. If you’re not having fun, call Lin Chuan and have him pick you up.”
“I know.”
Shang Jie shot Shen Chuyan a displeased look before slamming the car door shut.
The car pulled away.
Since it was still early, Shen Chuyan and Jiang Xingxing decided to stop by a café for a drink before heading to the banquet hall. It was much more relaxing than arriving too soon.
“What do you want to drink?” Shen Chuyan asked.
“An Americano. No milk, no sugar.”
He smiled faintly. “What a coincidence. I like Americanos too.”
“Looks like we have the same taste.”
After ordering, the two of them chose a cozy window seat and sat down.
Sunlight streamed diagonally through the glass, casting a soft glow on her face. Her earlobes were crystal clear, with tiny, delicate fuzz barely visible.
Shen Chuyan looked at her, a warm feeling rising in his heart. In the blink of an eye, his little Nian Nian had grown up so much.
He vaguely remembered how, as a child, she would always hold his hand and say, “Brother, take me to the street corner to buy cotton candy, okay?”
His eyes stung slightly. Turning his head, he noticed a street vendor selling cotton candy near the café courtyard gate.
So he stepped outside, bought two pink, strawberry-flavored cotton candies, and handed one to Jiang Xingxing.
Jiang Xingxing chuckled to herself—so this guy had disappeared when it was time to pay just to buy cotton candy.
“Chuyan, you still eat this stuff? Isn’t it for kids?”
“Aren’t you a kid?”
“Fine.” Jiang Xingxing took the pink cotton candy, twirled a bit around her tongue, and let it melt sweetly in her mouth.
Shen Chuyan watched her and smiled. “My little sister used to do the same thing—licking her cotton candy just like you.”
Jiang Xingxing raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“Mr. Shang seems to have some misunderstanding about me,” Shen Chuyan said. “The way he looks at me—like he’s about to stab me.”
Jiang Xingxing sighed helplessly. “You showed up at his door in the middle of the night, hugging his wife and refusing to let go. Shang Jie has good manners; if it were someone else, they would’ve kicked you out, okay?”
Their relationship was now close enough that teasing each other felt natural.
“But seriously, what was up with you that night?”
Shen Chuyan gazed at her, a faint smile on his lips. “You’ll find out everything at the banquet later.”
“You better not pull any surprises.” Jiang Xingxing put down her cotton candy and spoke seriously. “I’m getting older—my heart can’t take too many shocks. You’re not planning to confess to me, are you? Let me warn you, I’m a married woman, and I love my husband very much.”
Shen Chuyan’s eyes were filled with affection as he reached out and ruffled her hair. “Silly girl, who wants to confess to you? I only see you as my little sister.”
Jiang Xingxing scoffed. “I’ve noticed that you single guys of a certain age always want to be someone’s big brother. What kind of mindset is that? Seriously…”
“Xingxing, you have an older brother, right?” Shen Chuyan suddenly asked.
“Yeah,” Jiang Xingxing replied. “He’s super annoying. Every time he sees me, he nags—Are you cold? Wear more clothes. Did you get scolded again? If you keep this up, you can forget about being a celebrity. Just come back to the countryside and farm with me…”
As she complained about Jiang Zhi, a softness appeared in her eyes, making Shen Chuyan feel a little envious.
“Is he really that naggy?”
“Yep, he’s like a housekeeper!” Jiang Xingxing lowered her gaze slightly. “Our parents divorced when we were young, so he lived with our grandmother while also taking care of me. He worried about everything, big or small, just like a parent.”
Shen Chuyan nodded. “The eldest brother is like a father—it makes sense.”
“In middle school, a boy held my hand outside my apartment building. My brother saw it and ran down to beat him up. After that, no guy dared come near me.”
Shen Chuyan felt a sharp pang of jealousy—it was an unpleasant sensation. “Sounds like a good brother. I guess I never really fulfilled my duty as one. When Shen Nian Nian was being rebellious, I just ignored her.”
“I think you’re great. You take good care of your sister. Look, for her birthday, you even invited all your friends to celebrate with her.”
A strange look flickered in Shen Chuyan’s eyes.
“Xingxing, if one day, you found your biological parents, would you acknowledge them?” He suddenly asked, his tone urgent. “I mean… if they had a good reason back then, if they didn’t want to be separated from you but had no choice… If they really loved you—would you forgive them?”
“Why are you asking this?” Jiang Xingxing’s mood darkened. “I’ve never thought about it.”
“Then think about it now… If you’re ready, we’ll go. If not, then—”
Jiang Xingxing gave him a weird look. “What do you mean by ‘if I’m ready’? Don’t tell me you’re introducing me to my biological parents at the birthday banquet?”
She was joking, but Shen Chuyan’s face was deadly serious. There was no trace of a smile.
His expression was unusually heavy. “I just don’t know if what I’m doing is right…”
Jiang Xingxing couldn’t understand him. He had been acting strangely these past few days.
“Alright, let’s go.” She checked her watch. “It’s about time we head over.”
“Wait a moment.”
Jiang Xingxing looked at him in surprise. It was rare to see him so hesitant. Suspiciously, she asked, “You keep bringing up my parents, saying something about whether I can accept them… I’m starting to suspect you really are planning some big reveal at the banquet…”
Shen Chuyan’s heart pounded. If she figured it out, should he just tell her everything now?
His heartbeat quickened.
Thump. Thump.
“You’re not seriously confessing to me, are you?”
Shen Chuyan: ……
“Forget it. What’s meant to happen will happen. A mistake has already been made. The only thing we can do now is set things right. Get in the car.”
“Ugh! You’re being so weird about this!” Jiang Xingxing grumbled. “Now I’m super nervous. At least tell me what’s going on so I can mentally prepare myself!”
But Shen Chuyan had already ushered her into the car.
“There’s no way to explain right now. You’ll understand when we get there. Don’t worry, I won’t confess to you. Just think about how many people Shang Jie has blacklisted for getting too close to you—I don’t want to be one of them.”
Sansukini: The big reveal soon. I just realized, this novel is ending soon too. We have 18 chapters left.
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In such important moment and her husband is not even present? Is this a joke?