Extra 5-2: If From school uniform to wedding dress (Part 2)

Mingde Middle School is one of the top schools in W Province with a great learning environment. After Tao Sheng learned about the school, she applied to live on campus and was quickly given a dorm room.

When Shen Yue heard this, he visited her and asked, “Are you sure you’re okay living on campus? You just got here, after all.”

Tao Sheng shook her head. “Yes.”

Is anywhere more uncomfortable than the Shen family?

Seeing her insistence, Shen Yue nodded. “Alright. I’ll come to pick you up in two weeks.”

Shen Ruojin had been studying at Mingde for a while, so Shen Yue was familiar with the system. He knew that boarders got to go home every two weeks.

Tao Sheng thought for a moment and agreed. 

After all, this family is still her legal family. Her mother, Luo Xin, is currently abroad and hasn’t returned yet, so Shen Yu is her guardian.

She won’t turn eighteen for another six months, so it’s inconvenient for her to handle many things. It’s better for her to occasionally check on the family’s affairs in case something major happens that she’s unaware of.

Two weeks of practicing for exams flew by, and before the weekend ended, Mr. Li, the music teacher, invited her to his office.

Mr. Li got straight to the point with Tao Sheng: “I was a college classmate of your former music teacher, Mr. Wei. He messaged me a few days ago, asking about your new school and shared a lot. I checked your student file and saw you’ve won several important music awards.”

“With your talent, why haven’t you applied for the art exam? With your grades, you could get into any of the top music schools. What are you waiting for?”

Tao Sheng replied, “I’ve seriously considered it. However, Mr. Wei and I initially thought taking the standard college entrance exam would offer a broader path, not limiting me to music and art, and providing more options in the future.”

Mr. Li patted her shoulder gently and said, “We only live once. Being able to turn your passion into a lifelong career is a rare blessing.”

Tao Sheng’s eyes lit up: “I understand, thank you, Teacher.”

Mr. Li smiled: “Go and discuss it with your parents, then come back and see me.”

Everyone in the Shen family was stressed about the company’s finances.

For the Shen family, 800,000 yuan in working capital was a significant amount. The company had taken too many mortgage loans, and in recent years, they’ve been borrowing to repay debts. Several banks that had partnered with them were now refusing to lend to Shen Yu.

Shen Yue noticed Tao Sheng hesitating and asked if something was wrong.

Tao Sheng then mentioned her desire to take the music art exam.

Peng Xiaoyu laughed: “Although art exams have lower score requirements, they require a lot of effort and are expensive. If you haven’t nurtured your talent from a young age, getting into a good school is hard, and all the initial expenses and efforts would go to waste.”

Peng Xiaoyu said this to please Sang Fei and Shen Ruojin. As the niece of a step-wife, she needed Shen Yu’s approval to continue living in the house. If Shen Yu showed more care for Tao Sheng, Peng Xiaoyu wouldn’t have spoken this way.

“Don’t say that, cousin.” Shen Ruojin gently replied, “I saw Tao Sheng’s sketches recently, and they’re pretty good. She could improve with time.”

Sang Fei added, “I heard from Mrs. Chen that learning art is expensive, especially after the university art exam. If you study hard like Xiao Jin and get into university smoothly, you’ll save a lot of trouble.”

Tao Sheng almost laughed at their illogical comments.

Shen Ruojin was aiming to study abroad through the International Department. No matter how much money she had spent on art studies over the years, it couldn’t compare to the cost of studying abroad.

Just as Shen Yue was about to speak, Shen Yu impatiently waved him off: “It’s late, stop bothering me with these trivial matters.”

Tao Sheng frowned.

The college entrance exam is a once-in-a-lifetime event for any student, but Shen Yu dismissed it as something insignificant.

According to Shen Yu’s logic, he probably felt that by providing for her and finding her, he had fulfilled his duty as a father. As a daughter, she should be grateful for a life free of worries about food and clothing.

Does Shen Yu even treat her as his daughter emotionally?

Tao Sheng knew now wasn’t the time to argue. What she needed was the guardian’s approval to ensure the process went smoothly later.

“I’m applying in the music category. I’ve already prepared everything at Mr. Wei’s house, so my family won’t need to worry. Mr. Wei has laid the foundation for me. All I need is a signature.”

Shen Yu’s expression softened slightly: “You finally did something the family doesn’t need to worry about. When you’re done, bring it back and I’ll sign it.”

In Shen Yu’s eyes, a child who doesn’t cause trouble is a good daughter.

Tao Sheng lowered her eyes, staying silent, as they continued talking about financing.

The Shen family appears glamorous on the surface. Sang Fei’s closet is filled with designer bags and jewelry, and the pendants on Shen Ruojin’s schoolbag are from luxury brands, costing thousands.

Tao Sheng never expected such a family to be worried about less than a million yuan in funds.

In reality, she had enough money to invest ten times that amount, but as the saying goes, help in emergencies, not in poverty. When she visited the Xiao family, she overheard discussions about how the Shen family’s industry was a “sunset industry” ^[1]refers to a declining or unprofitable industry. and wouldn’t cause much trouble.

She didn’t trust the Shen family’s character and couldn’t take that risk. Losing money wasn’t the issue; she could earn it back. However, being dragged down and exploited was too terrifying, and it could last a lifetime.

Old Master Xiao had taught her that wealth shouldn’t be flaunted, and she had remembered that for years.

Her phone vibrated. It was a message from Xiao Ze: “The old man has been thinking of you lately. Can you come to his 60th birthday?”

Xiao Ze, the eldest son of the Xiao Group in the imperial capital, had always gotten along well with Tao Sheng.

Tao Sheng lowered her head and replied, “I’ll be there tomorrow.”

After her affirmative reply, Xiao Ze seemed very excited and sent a lot of messages. At the end, he asked, “Are your adoptive parents still abroad? Teacher Wei is getting married again. It might be best to listen to dad and come back to our family as a child.”

The Xiao family, who controls the Xiao Group in the imperial capital, is one of the most influential families in the city’s business world.

Mr. Xiao has been a prominent figure in business for many years. He doesn’t have any special hobbies, except for listening to and creating music.

He once heard Tao Sheng’s composition during a youth music competition. The quiet, ethereal feeling left a lasting impression on him. He admired her talent so much that he asked Tao Sheng to compose music for his record and game companies.

Since Tao Sheng had been influenced by Teacher Wei from a young age and had an extraordinary talent for music, she brought substantial profits to the company and earned eight-figure dividends ^[2]referring to more than 10 million yuan..

After learning about Tao Sheng’s background, the Xiao family repeatedly proposed adopting her. However, due to the many complicated relationships among the Xiao family’s relatives, Tao Sheng felt uncomfortable and turned down the offer.

Tao Sheng was surprised when Shen Yu recognized her. She hadn’t yet informed Xiao Ze. She replied to Xiao Ze, “Some things have happened to me recently, and I haven’t told you yet. Let’s talk when we meet.”

Shen Yu remembered something and said to his family, “Mr. Chen is holding a cocktail party at Hongye Villa tomorrow. Make sure to choose your dresses ahead of time. Especially you, Tao Sheng—dress appropriately so as not to embarrass the family.”

Tao Sheng was confused about why Shen Yu cared more about her dress than her college entrance exam, but since she had promised Xiao Ze, she had no plans to attend Mr. Chen’s party.

She stood up and said, “Tomorrow is the birthday of someone important to me. I’m flying out in the afternoon, so I can’t attend Mr. Chen’s party.”

Shen Yu initially wanted to scold her for being disrespectful, but then he thought it might be better if she didn’t go, as she might cause trouble.

With a stern expression, Shen Yu said, “Then don’t go.”

Tao Sheng ignored his displeasure and went upstairs to her room.

Behind her, Peng Xiaoyu said sarcastically to Shen Ruojin, “Whose birthday is so important that she skips Mr. Chen’s reception? It’s clear she doesn’t care about this family.”

Sang Fei sneered, “Who else could it be? Probably some old friends or poor relatives from the village.”