Chapter 13: Not Interested

Wen Ya slept deeply until morning. She rubbed her pillow, stretched lazily, got up, and opened the curtains. Sunlight streamed in, warm and soothing, making her squint slightly.

Today was Sunday. Although there was a lot of work waiting for her at the company, Wen Ya decided to take a day off for herself.

Ever since she woke up in this body, she had been constantly worried, unable to eat or sleep properly. Now that the crisis of survival was over and her mother was alive and well, she could finally relax and breathe easily.

After washing her face, she hummed a tune and touched her soft, delicate skin. It felt so tender, as if water could be squeezed from it. She admired herself for a moment before heading cheerfully to the closet.

To appear more mature and professional, she had been wearing formal outfits lately. Though she looked good in them, as a girl, who would want to wear the same style every day?

The original owner’s wardrobe was filled with many skirts. Wen Ya preferred simple and elegant styles, so she chose a white chiffon blouse and a black short skirt, showing off her long, slim legs. Next, she picked out her accessories. Since it was spring, she kept it light—a thin ring on her index finger and a delicate clavicle chain. The red string on her wrist was a gift from her mother, Wen, who had gotten it from a Taoist master on her twentieth birthday. She had been told to wear it always, so she never took it off.

When Aunt Wang saw Wen Ya coming downstairs, she quickly asked, “What would you like to eat this morning?”

“What’s for breakfast today?” The Wen family usually prefers Chinese-style breakfast. Aunt Wang prepares soy milk, white porridge, fried dough sticks, and buns daily—all nutritious and tasty.

“I made your favorite crystal shrimp dumplings today. How about pairing them with some white porridge?” Aunt Wang noticed Wen Ya had lost weight and felt concerned.

“Sure.” Wen Ya wasn’t a picky eater, but she avoided winter melon, leafy greens, and radishes if she could.

As an orphan, she had been grateful just to have enough to eat and never had the luxury of being choosy. She remembered a year when the orphanage faced financial difficulties. Throughout summer and autumn, they ate winter melon donated by villagers—stir-fried, in soup, or with noodles. In winter, it was mostly vegetables and radishes, which lacked flavor and tasted bland. When she went to college, her friends asked why she never ate those dishes. Wen Ya realized she had unconsciously avoided them because she had eaten so much of them in the past.

While enjoying her breakfast, Wen Ya heard some commotion outside but didn’t bother to check.

“Should I go and see what’s happening?” Aunt Wang asked, removing her apron.

“No need. Uncle Li will handle it when he returns.” Wen Ya trusted Uncle Li to deal with such matters quickly.

Soon, Uncle Li came in with a smile. Seeing Wen Ya had finished breakfast, he said, “It’s Second Madam and Madam Lin. You said last time not to let them in, so I stopped them.”

Wen Ya had been so busy lately that she almost forgot about her second uncle and younger uncle being arrested. She wasn’t sure about their current situation.

“How are Second Uncle and Younger Uncle doing now?” She hadn’t paid attention, but she knew Uncle Li would have updates.

As expected, Uncle Li had been keeping track. That night, her second uncle and younger uncle were arrested. With solid evidence against them, they were detained immediately. Their lawyers were now trying to negotiate a private settlement, but if Wen Ya insisted on suing, their chances were slim. The lawyers had approached her second aunt and others, hoping to resolve things privately.

The two women were furious and cursed at home, but Wen Ya wouldn’t listen. Now that her niece had become the head of the Wen family, she held more power. Their relationship had never been close, and after a few harsh words, Wen Ya had even allowed the police to arrest them. Would someone so ruthless agree to a settlement easily?

They had tried to reach Wen’s mother but were barred from entering the hospital. When they attempted to force their way in, they were thrown out.

In the past, they would have stormed into the company, causing chaos and tarnishing Wen Ya’s reputation as disrespectful and cruel. But with their husbands in her custody, they didn’t dare act recklessly.

“So they came to reconcile but caused a scene? It seems I haven’t taught them enough of a lesson,” Wen Ya snorted. “Ignore them for now. Let them stay locked up a while longer. Make sure my mother is well-guarded, and don’t let them disturb her.”

“The hospital has been informed. I’ve also asked Wei and the others to guard outside. Not even a fly will get in,” Uncle Li said, clearly pleased. He had long wanted to teach them a lesson, but the master and mistress had always been too kind, prioritizing family ties.

Wen Ya nodded, satisfied. “We still need to keep an eye on them. Let me know immediately if anything unusual happens.” Once her mother’s health improved, she wouldn’t need to be so cautious.

It was a rare good day, and Wen Ya decided to go out. Since her arrival in this world, she had only been to the hospital, the company, and the suburban villa twice. Back then, her mind was preoccupied with survival, and she hadn’t appreciated the scenery. However, the food there was excellent, and she planned to visit again.

The original owner had her own stylist, whom Wen Ya had called earlier. By the time she finished breakfast, the stylist had arrived and helped her with her hair and a simple nude makeup. Wen Ya twirled in front of the mirror, feeling delighted.

She touched her face and thought, “People say clothes make the man, but I think it’s the opposite. If you’re beautiful, even a sack would look like a runway outfit.”

She initially wanted to shop alone, but given the enemies she had made recently, she couldn’t risk it. She valued her life too much. She didn’t let Ah Yong get too close, just followed her from a distance, and asked Uncle Li to drive her to the most bustling mall. Wen Ya walked in briskly, her small bag in hand.

In her previous life, after paying rent and sending 500 yuan monthly to the orphanage, she barely had enough left for new clothes. Now, she could buy anything she liked without worry.

Previously, the threat of Wen’s bankruptcy had loomed over her, leaving her too stressed to shop. Today, she wanted to enjoy the thrill of shopping without restraint.

The first floor was filled with jewelry stores. She had initially thought she’d buy everything, but after selecting pieces from her own jewelry cabinet each morning, she found these items a bit plain. Taste, she realized, wasn’t something you couldn’t learn—it was something you couldn’t afford to learn. With money, her taste had naturally improved.

She headed straight to the KDY counter, where the salesgirl recognized her.

“Ms. Wen, you’ve come at the perfect time! Some limited-edition pieces just arrived yesterday, and I was about to call you!” The salesgirl greeted her enthusiastically.

Wen Ya searched her memory. After returning to China, the original owner had met Gu Chengze twice. The first time, they dined at a Western restaurant and watched a musical. The second time, he had promised to shop with her but left midway, citing work. Furious, the original owner had come to the mall alone. The salesgirl’s enthusiasm was a testament to her shopping spree that day.

“Show them to me,” Wen Ya nodded. As she glanced around, she spotted someone in the distance who looked strikingly like Gu Chengze and Xu Qingqing.

No? Didn’t she just say she was leaving his world, and then they went shopping together? Is this heroine too easy to please?

Wen Ya rolled her eyes, said something to the salesgirl, and walked straight toward Gu Chengze. As she turned the corner, someone stopped her.

“Who are you? Why are you pulling me?” Wen Ya gave Ah Yong a calming look. The man in front of her, dressed stylishly, wasn’t looking at her with malice but with amazement.

“Hello, beautiful lady, can I take a few minutes of your time?”

“No,” Wen Ya refused directly. When she looked up again, Gu Chengze and Xu Qingqing were gone. She wanted to check if Gu Chengze was still there, but the man beside her kept stopping her. “I said, I don’t have time.”

Sensing her irritation, the man quickly handed her a business card. “I’m a scout from Xingyao. You’re stunning. If you join the entertainment industry, you’ll become a huge star.”

“Sorry, I’m not interested.” Since Gu Chengze was out of sight, she returned to the KDY counter to continue picking jewelry. Wen Ya wasn’t pleased with the man who had interrupted her.

“Beautiful lady, aren’t you interested in being a star? You’ll shine brightly and earn generously. The dreams of countless girls are within your reach. Trust me, if you sign with Xingyao, we’ll support you fully. You’ll become an idol for many.”

Wen Ya ignored him and went straight to the counter. She glanced at the jewelry the salesgirl showed her and said, “Pack them all.”

The scout, who had been imagining the glamour and wealth of stardom, realized she didn’t care. The jewelry she bought cost millions, and she swiped her card without hesitation. Her demeanor made it clear she was from a wealthy family. Unless she was genuinely interested, she’d never join the entertainment industry. What a pity. With her beauty, figure, and grace, she’d rise to fame with minimal effort.

“Even if we can’t work together, we can still be friends. If you change your mind, feel free to contact me anytime,” the scout said politely before leaving.

Wen Ya glanced at the business card—Xingyao. She raised an eyebrow. Wasn’t Ji’s investment involved in this?

With her original looks and personality, why hadn’t she become a star? Even without a family background, she could have turned things around. Why did she choose the entertainment industry?

She felt there was more to the story, but it wasn’t written down, so she didn’t know. Now that she’d changed her life’s path, such things wouldn’t happen again, so she didn’t dwell on it.

As for Gu Chengze and Xu Qingqing, she needed to resolve this soon. Otherwise, it would feel like a thorn in her side, making her sick.