Chapter 2 – Cleaning the Storeroom

Back at Tingxue Pavilion, Liu Shuning saw that Chuntao hadn’t returned yet, so she shut the door and lay on the bed pretending to rest.

“System, system, are you there?”

[Host, I’m here. You just need to call my name in your mind—I’ll know you’re looking for me. You don’t need to say it out loud.]

“System, I want to sign in.”

[Sign-in successful. You’ve received a Daily Life Gift Pack. Since this is your first sign-in, you also get one lucky draw spin.]

Liu Shuning focused her mind and saw a gift pack quietly sitting in her system space, next to a prize wheel specifically for the lucky draw. It displayed all sorts of rewards.

What interested her most were the Invisibility Technique and the Martial Arts Manual at the bottom of the wheel. The other prizes were mostly household items and food.

“Start the draw.”

The wheel began spinning rapidly, the pointer flashing past various prizes. Her heart pounded with the motion of the wheel as her eyes locked on the two prizes she wanted most.

Finally, the wheel began to slow, and the pointer gradually came to a stop—on the Invisibility Technique.

Her eyes lit up instantly, and a surge of uncontrollable excitement rose in her chest.

The Invisibility Technique—this was something she had dreamed of. With it, doing “bad things” would be so much easier.

[Congratulations, Host. You’ve obtained the Beginner Invisibility Technique. It allows you to stay invisible for up to two hours. Please mind the time when using it.]

“My Strength Pill doesn’t come with a time limit, right?”

[The Strength Pill you received is a top-grade one—no time limit. For your safety, the system recommends you take it as soon as possible.]

Liu Shuning took the bottle from her system space and unhesitatingly swallowed a pill.

It had no taste at all. She had worried it might be too bitter to swallow, but it went down easily.

After taking the pill, Liu Shuning suddenly felt a rush of energy surge through her body, like a constant flow of power coursing inside her.

Crack! The bed board beneath her hand snapped with just a light squeeze.

At that exact moment, Chuntao pushed open the door and came in.

“What was that noise? Fifth Miss, are you back?”

Chuntao wasn’t her loyal person. From the original host’s memories, Liu Shuning realized Chuntao was quite close with the legitimate daughter Wu-shi’s maid.

The Liu family was about to leave Shanghai. The old residence had already been sold, and all the servants would soon be dismissed.

Whether Chuntao was loyal or not no longer mattered—as long as she didn’t cause trouble.

“Yes. Go to the kitchen and bring my meal back,” Liu Shuning said, subtly shielding the broken bed board behind her. She couldn’t let Chuntao discover that her strength had suddenly increased.

“Yes, Fifth Miss,” Chuntao said with a hint of suspicion, feeling that something about today’s Liu Shuning was off.

After sending Chuntao away, Liu Shuning finally let out a sigh of relief. She had lost control and broken the bed.

Chuntao was the one who knew the original host best—she couldn’t let her find out she was an impostor.

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Meanwhile, in Fuxiang Courtyard, the largest courtyard in the Liu estate, Lady Wu and her daughter Liu Shuyu were also discussing Liu Shuning.

“Yu’er, don’t get too close to the Lin family right now. We’re about to leave Shanghai—no need to stir up trouble. That wretched girl Liu Shuning really has no luck. She couldn’t even hold on to such a good marriage with the Lin family. Now it’s benefitted that lowly wench, Fourth Girl.”

“Mama, don’t be angry. Once the Lin family realizes it’s Fourth Sister who married over and not me, she won’t have a good life.” Liu Shuyu’s teeth clenched as she spoke—she hated Liu Shuyun.

Liu Shuyun had a silver tongue and knew exactly how to please Father.

And with her mother being somewhat favored, the two of them had always been thorns in Wu-shi’s side.

“That’s true. I thought marrying her off to some country bumpkin would be enough, but who would’ve thought she could persuade your father to agree to switch the engagement. Liu Shuning is useless—just give her a simple dowry and send her away. But I will personally ensure your father doesn’t give Liu Shuyun too much dowry. Everything in this house belongs to you and your brother—no one else should even think about touching it.”

“Mama, we’re going to Hong Kong anyway. Why worry about these scraps? What matters most now is Second and Third Brother. As for the girls, how much money can a dowry cost anyway?”

“I’ve already made arrangements for Fourth Concubine and her daughters. The journey from Shanghai to Hong Kong is long—I won’t let them arrive safely.”

Wu-shi’s eyes were dark as a bottomless abyss, flickering with a chilling light.

In the past, when the time wasn’t right, she had held back from acting against the concubines and their children. But now that the time had come, how could she let these eyesores continue to exist?

“Mother, there’s no need to touch Second and Third Brother. Most of the family’s assets are already in Eldest Brother’s hands.” Liu Shuyu couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in her heart. She felt like things wouldn’t go according to their plans.

“Yu’er, you’re still too young. Without your grandfather’s help, the Liu family would never have grown into ‘Liu Half-the-City.’ When I married your father, he was just a small businessman. All of the family’s wealth was earned through your grandfather’s backing. I won’t just give it away.”

Back then, after she first married Liu Zhixiong, they had indeed shared sweet days together. He once promised her a lifetime of love and devotion.

But as the Liu family’s fortune grew, he quickly forgot those vows.

Starting with Concubine No. 2 and No. 3, and later even No. 8—Liu Zhixiong never cared how she felt.

“Mama, will Uncle be coming with us this time?”

The Wu family had made their fortune in shipping. Only after Old Master Wu died did their business start to decline.

But even a withered camel is larger than a horse. Though mismanaged, the Wu shipping fleet still made decent money.

The Liu family would be traveling to Hong Kong aboard a Wu family ship.

“Your uncle isn’t planning to leave Shanghai just yet. Once we’re settled in Hong Kong, I’ll write and have him come over.”

Their future was uncertain. Going to Hong Kong was a last resort.

The Liu family was the wealthiest in Shanghai, and tall trees attract the wind. Even after putting all their factories and shops under others’ names, they might not be able to keep their remaining fortune safe.

“Then I’ll go visit Cousin tomorrow. Who knows when we’ll see each other again after this goodbye.”

“Good. Since we’re leaving soon, meet with your friends these next few days. You may not get another chance later.”

“Got it. I’ll head back now.”

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Tingxue Pavilion

After lunch, Liu Shuning began tidying up her personal storeroom.

“Fifth Miss, the storeroom is a mess. Let me help you.”

“No need. Just stand watch at the door. There’s not much inside—I can handle it.”

Liu Shuning waved Chuntao off. She planned to pack up everything and put all the valuables into her spatial dimension.