Bai Wanjun slammed her chopsticks down on the bowl, her face dark with anger.
“Shi Han, you left home without a word two years ago. Do you know how many people we sent to look for you? Now you suddenly come back—don’t you think you owe us an explanation?”

“I don’t think my leaving had much of an impact on any of you.”

Shi Han dabbed her mouth with a napkin, then looked up at the group.

“Or maybe it’s my sudden return that’s making you all uncomfortable.”

“Outrageous!” Father Shi glared at Shi Han, his body trembling with anger.

“Where have all the manners you learned in this house gone?”

In the two years after Shi Han was first brought back home, she had been particularly obedient.

Every evening, she would prepare small desserts for Father Shi and bring Bai Wanjun a glass of milk.

Sometimes, she would even cook the family’s favorite dishes herself.

She was always full of energy, never arguing with anyone at home.

Now, faced with her sudden sharp tongue, Father Shi was clearly unsettled.

“Just who have you been spending time with these past two years?”

“I’ve been with all kinds of people these two years — how am I supposed to know which one you mean?”

“You—!” Father Shi felt a wave of dizziness hit him.

“Shi Han, what exactly are you trying to do?” Shi Xuan frowned, his face filled with disgust at his sister.

“Two years ago, you insisted on street racing, ended up in a car accident, and dragged Yinyin into the hospital with you. And to this day, you haven’t even apologized.”

“I insisted on street racing?” Shi Han turned her head to look at Shi Yinyin, who sat quietly by the side.

“Was it you who told them I insisted on racing?”

“I… I didn’t, Sis, I didn’t say that,” Shi Yinyin shook her head quickly, her eyes turning red in an instant like a startled little rabbit.

Shi Han let out a soft laugh, lazily propping her chin on her hand.

“Why don’t you tell them now what really happened that day?”

“I… I don’t remember…” Shi Yinyin’s gaze darted away, unable to meet Shi Han’s eyes. She lowered her head in a panic, tears falling onto the back of her hand.

She didn’t dare say it — that she had been the one to push for the race that day, that she had clung to Shi Han and begged to try it just once.

And in the middle of it all, it was her panicked grip on Shi Han’s arm that had caused Shi Han to lose control of the wheel, leading to the crash.

Shi Yinyin bit her lip. If the Shi family knew the truth, they would surely hate her.

But Shi Han was different — she was their real daughter. Mom and Dad would never truly blame her.

Why did she have to force her to reveal the truth?

The girl’s quiet sobs slowly filled everyone’s ears.

“How long are you going to keep bullying Yinyin?” Bai Wanjun’s heart ached as she stood up and half-embraced Shi Yinyin, glaring at Shi Han.

“Do you have any idea that because of that car accident, Yinyin nearly died? She almost died because of you!”

The sound of crying mixed with soft murmurs of comfort, while the humidifier in the corner gently hummed, filling the room with a strangely soothing atmosphere.

“That’s right.” Shi Han, starting to feel drowsy, lounged lazily in her chair, shooting Bai Wanjun a wicked smile.

“We all almost died, didn’t we?”

The words Bai Wanjun had been about to snap caught in her throat.

She remembered the moment at the hospital when she had been forced to choose between them — a wave of guilt instantly dousing her fury like cold water.

And yet, she couldn’t help but think: it was Shi Han who caused the crash in the first place.

Besides, her decision hadn’t really changed anything in the end.

In the end, hadn’t Shi Han been saved too?

Irritated, Bai Wanjun muttered, “Let’s not bring this up again.”

After all, she was still her own daughter. Bai Wanjun softened her tone slightly.

“Where exactly have you been these past two years?”

What she really wanted to ask was whether Shi Han had been kept by some man.

As Bai Wanjun looked at Shi Han’s strikingly beautiful face, her suspicion only deepened.

Shi Han had left without taking a single piece of jewelry, no designer clothes, not even her handbag. Not long after she left, the family had even frozen her bank cards to force her to come home.

A young girl with no money — how else could she have survived out there for so long, if not by relying on a man?

=^_^=