Shi Zheng was publicly scolded by his own father, and for once, his usually stiff, bookish face actually looked a little… aggrieved.

Still, he finally figured out who he needed to please this time.

“Xiaohan, it’s my fault. I’m the one who said the wrong thing.”

“I don’t blame you,” Shi Han said softly, lowering her head a little.

Shi Zheng breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe this daughter of his wasn’t completely hopeless after all.

“I’ll make it up to you, I swear…”

He had a whole speech prepared, a long, winding apology meant to soothe Shi Han first and then turn things around with Shi Bei. But he barely got the first sentence out when his daughter let out a sigh.

A bad feeling shot straight through him.

Shi Han’s almond-shaped eyes turned slightly, her expression dimming.

“It’s not like it’s the first time,” she murmured. “I’m used to it.”

“What do you mean, not the first time?” Old Master Shi caught that one line like a hawk. His eyes widened—and the next second, he started smacking Shi Zheng upside the head.

“Say it! Did you bully Xiaohan while I was sick?!”

Shi Zheng, a grown man in middle age, yelped like a scolded child as he got whacked.

Shi Yin and Bai Wanjun had never seen anything like this before. Especially with how loud Shi Zheng was yelling—it scared the two of them into total silence. They didn’t even dare to breathe too hard, terrified that the old man’s next slap might land on them.

“No, I swear I didn’t—!” Shi Zheng clutched his head, finally losing it as he shouted,
“Dad! If you hit me again I’m gonna end up brain-damaged!”

“You going dumb would be a blessing. Not like you’re using that brain anyway.”

Old Master Shi kept cursing, but his hand finally stopped.

Not because he was feeling sorry for him—he was just tired.

Off to the side, Shi Zheng winced and bared his teeth in pain, hugging his head like a pitiful clown. Bai Wanjun and Shi Yin, meanwhile, had shrunk down like a pair of quails.

The whole scene looked… absolutely ridiculous.

Shi Han didn’t even try to hold it in—she burst out laughing.

Her laugh was bright and clear, the kind that came from genuine amusement. Her beautiful face lit up with joy, radiant and unrestrained, impossible to look away from.

But the laughter was wildly out of place, and nearly every pair of eyes turned to her.

Shi Han noticed—but instead of stopping, she laughed even harder.

She got tired of standing, so she rolled her suitcase over and sat down on the nearby sofa, still watching everyone with that same bright, amused smile.

Her gaze was lofty—like she was watching a bunch of clowns putting on a farce, as if everyone in the room was dancing in the palm of her hand.

It wouldn’t take much to ignite everyone’s temper.

Shi Yin’s eyes flickered. She shrank back like a timid little rabbit and softly asked, “Big sister… what are you laughing at?”

“I’m just happy,” Shi Han replied, lifting a brow with no attempt to tone it down.

Shi Yin’s attempt to stir the pot was obvious, but Shi Han didn’t care in the slightest. She wasn’t like Shi Yin—she didn’t need to cling to anyone to survive.

Just as she expected, her words were the spark that lit the fuse—Bai Wanjun and Shi Zheng’s faces twisted in anger.

But neither of them dared to say a word. They both kept sneaking glances at Old Master Shi.

He had to be angry now, right? No one could tolerate this.

Shi Han waited, too—waited for Shi Bei to finally get mad. She hoped for it, actually.

Only then could she finally sever her last emotional tie to this man who kept shaking her world apart.

“Why were you laughing just now?” Shi Bei’s voice came low and cold.

Here it comes…

Now he had to be angry—right?

Bai Wanjun’s expression flickered, shifting rapidly between emotions.

She didn’t even know if she should feel pleased or furious.

So disrespectful. Not even afraid of offending the old man. How did she end up with such an ungrateful daughter?

Yin Yin was better. Once Shi Han completely lost Old Master Shi’s favor, she’d make sure to push Yin Yin into his good graces. She just needed the right moment.

She perked up her ears, waiting.

“He bullied me, and you hit him for it. That made me really happy,” Shi Han said, lounging lazily on the sofa, her posture relaxed and unbothered.

She was braced for the scolding she knew was coming.

“Don’t slouch like that. It’s bad for your back. When you’re older, your neck will start hurting.”

“……”

Shi Bei, seeing she hadn’t moved, couldn’t help but step forward and tuck a soft pillow behind her.

Shi Han leaned back against the cushion, utterly bewildered. Faced with unexpected concern, she once again didn’t know what to do with herself.

=^_^=