Chapter 12 : Leaving the Shu Family

Yun Siying noticed a familiar figure quickly entering the Youth Office. From the original owner’s memories, she recognized her as Shen Subai’s younger sister, Shen Muyu. She withdrew her gaze and began strolling casually along the street, wanting to observe the characteristics of this era.

Pedestrians hurried through the narrow streets, and there were few vehicles in sight. Occasionally, a bicycle would weave through the crowd, its crisp bell ringing and breaking the street’s stillness. The trees on both sides of the street, though not very tall, provided shade for the pedestrians, offering a slight relief from the heat.

When she reached the newsstand, she remembered the notice of severed ties she had published, so she bought two copies of the day’s newspaper. She examined them carefully it was worth every penny. The layout was neat and eye-catching, especially the photo of the handwritten severance letter by Tang Lingxue. Both the handwriting and content were clearly visible.

Feeling pleased, she went to the state-owned restaurant again, ordered a few good dishes, and slowly savored them as if they were delicacies. She ate with great enjoyment, a satisfied smile appearing on her face. Unexpectedly, just as she walked out of the restaurant, she ran into Shen Subai and Shen Muyu.

“Well, if it isn’t Shu Siying! Sister Ruxue has been back for half a year now, and you’re still lingering in the Shu family. You really are a shameless woman stealing someone else’s place,” Shen Muyu mocked.

She felt delighted. Yun Siying had always been outstanding, she was the model child everyone admired. Shen Muyu had never matched her looks or her academic performance. Even the boy she liked had a crush on Yun Siying, which left her heart twisted with jealousy.

Fortunately, it turned out Yun Siying wasn’t Uncle Shu’s biological daughter after all, but the child of some lowly peasant. That fact alone made her feel superior.

“What does that have to do with you?” Yun Siying replied coldly. She remembered that ever since Shu Ruxue had returned to the Shu family, Shen Muyu and Shu Ruxue had teamed up to bully and slander the original owner, ruining her reputation in the compound.

“Hah! You’re not still thinking about my brother, are you? Have you even looked at your own status? As long as I’m around, you’ll never become my sister-in-law or marry into the Shen family,” Shen Muyu said, eager to see Yun Siying humiliated.

“Muyu, just look at her. She’s not even worthy of standing next to our brother Subai,” another person added mockingly, glaring at Yun Siying with contempt.

“Shu Siying, are you following me?” Shen Subai chimed in smugly. “Let me be clear, my fiancée is Ruxue. Know your place, and stop dreaming about things that were never yours to begin with.”

“Idiot,” Yun Siying muttered. She had no interest in wasting time with these fools and turned to walk away.

“Stop! What did you just say? Say it again!” Shen Subai was caught off guard. Did Shu Siying just insult him? Was she trying to play hard to get?

Yun Siying stopped, looked him straight in the eye with her clear and bright gaze, and said distinctly, “Idiot.” She even emphasized the word deliberately.

Shen Subai stared at her back as she walked away, his face flushed with anger. He raised his leg to chase after her, wanting an explanation. But Shen Muyu stopped him. “Brother, she’s just playing hard to get. Don’t fall for her act. If Sister Ruxue sees you talking to her, she’ll be jealous again.”

She had always known that Yun Siying liked her brother, she’d followed him around since childhood. Not long ago, she even came to see him looking all heartbroken, which Shen Muyu had found very satisfying.

But now, she hadn’t expected Yun Siying to be so composed and indifferent. Her expression showed no trace of emotion. It seemed she had grown a lot in just a few days, she had learned how to mask her feelings.

Yun Siying returned to the Shu family residence and began storing away the original owner’s belongings. She placed her junior high and high school textbooks, study materials, household registration book, rural relocation certificate, and other important items into her personal space. She also packed away the original owner’s favorite outfit, along with shoes and socks.

Then, she took out a crystal core for the spiritual system and began absorbing its energy. Once her spiritual power reached level two, she stopped. Looking at the darkening sky outside, she stepped out of her room and went to the living room to wait for dinner.

“Siying, you’ve really outdone yourself!” Shu Guofeng stormed into the house, slamming a newspaper onto the table in a fit of rage.

“Getting angry is bad for your health. You’re old now if you die from a stroke, no one’s going to take your place,” Yun Siying said coolly, immediately recognizing that he must have read the severance notice she published in the newspaper.

“Get out! Since you’ve already severed ties with us, get out of the Shu family!” Shu Guofeng shouted, rubbing his temples in anger.

“Alright!” Yun Siying had been waiting for this very moment. With her hands in her pockets, she left the Shu family residence without a trace of hesitation and took nothing with her.

“Dad, what’s going on?” The mother and daughter upstairs, who had just been laughing and chatting, rushed downstairs upon hearing the shouting. Shu Ruxue’s eyes flickered with excitement, though she put on a concerned face.

“Can’t you read it for yourself?” Shu Guofeng snapped, pointing to the newspaper. The two quickly picked it up and read it, their expressions changing drastically.

“That wretched girl! How dare she, I’ll beat her to death! Where is she?” Tang Lingxue’s face went from pale to red, then to purple. Her expression changed like a shifting sky, her heart racing and her breath becoming short as she gasped for air.

“Siying, how could you be so inconsiderate of the Shu family’s reputation? This is way too selfish,” Shu Ruxue added, fanning the flames. It looked like the Shu family would become the laughingstock of the whole compound. No wonder her parents were furious.

“She’s already left,” Shu Guofeng said as he sat down, looking drained and defeated, his face ashen.

“Siying, it’s getting late where are you going?” asked Jiang Xianmin, a neighbor from across the way, noticing the girl walking out with nothing in her hands.

“Aunt Jiang, I’m leaving the Shu family. I’m going to find a guesthouse to stay in for a few days. I’ll be heading to the countryside in three days,” Yun Siying replied with a calm and polite smile.

“You’re just walking out of the Shu family like this, with nothing at all?” Aunt Jiang asked in disbelief, eyeing Yun Siying’s thin frame and empty hands.

Neighbors poked their heads out of windows and doorways, listening in. They had all read the newspaper and knew the child had formally severed ties with the Shu family. Now, she was going to the countryside as a way to repay them for raising her.

“I won’t take anything that doesn’t belong to me,” Yun Siying answered with a smile. She seemed to be in high spirits, showing no signs of regret or attachment to the Shu family.

“Then what about the supplies you’ll need for the countryside?” Aunt Jiang asked with concern. Life in rural areas was hard, and the girl had never done farm work before. How would she survive?

“I sold my job for a thousand yuan. Plus, the wages from the past few months and the countryside subsidy are enough to buy what I need,” Yun Siying replied cheerfully. To her, leaving the Shu family felt like escaping from a wolf’s den.

“That’s good to hear. If you ever need anything, remember to come find Aunt Jiang.”

“Thank you, Aunt Jiang. Goodbye.” Yun Siying walked out of the military compound with a light step. Her figure gradually grew smaller and eventually disappeared from view, leaving behind an indescribable sense of loneliness and desolation.