Chapter 7 : Severing Relationship

“Aunt Tang, I’m going to the countryside in Shu Ruxue’s place. Think of it as me repaying you for raising me for eighteen years. You should write a document severing ties with me as soon as possible so I can register to go. Otherwise, your precious daughter will have no choice but to head to the countryside herself,” Yun Siying said coldly, her gaze indifferent as she looked at the few people in front of her.

“Fine, I’ll write it right away,” Tang Lingxue replied. She felt a strange sense of unease as she met Yun Siying’s icy eyes. Thinking of her own daughter, she decided that if Ruxue minded Siying’s presence so much, then cutting ties was for the best they could all live more peacefully.

Shu Chengzhi and Shu Guofeng watched the situation unfold and felt somewhat relieved. At least Ruxue wouldn’t have to go to the countryside now. It was clear the two girls couldn’t live peacefully under the same roof. To compensate Ruxue for all the hardship she had endured over the years, Yun Siying would just have to endure a bit of grievance.

Tang Lingxue fetched paper and a pen from the house and began writing. Yun Siying reminded her, “Aunt Tang, please write clearly in the document that I’m going to the countryside in Ruxue’s place as repayment for the eighteen years you raised me.”

Tang Lingxue looked up, irritated, and snapped, “I know.”

Before long, she finished writing the severance document and handed it to Yun Siying with visible displeasure. “Is this good enough?”

Yun Siying ignored her attitude. She took the document and read it carefully. It was written properly, so she signed her name without hesitation. Then she said to the others, “Please sign your names too.”

The others could only sign helplessly. Shu Zhicheng looked at Yun Siying with a complicated expression. His lips moved a few times, as if wanting to say something to comfort her, but in the end, he said nothing and quietly signed the document.

After all, Shu Ruxue was his biological sister, and she had suffered a lot over the years. Now that she was finally reunited with the family, they couldn’t let Yun Siying’s presence continue to upset or threaten her. That was the reason she had framed Yun Siying before.

“Since you’ve decided to go to the countryside, you’ll transfer your job to Ruxue tomorrow!” Tang Lingxue, catching a signal from Shu Ruxue’s eyes, couldn’t wait to press the issue.

“I can transfer the job to Shu Ruxue,” Yun Siying said with a faint smile, laced with sarcasm, “but only after you pay me.”

“Siying, you’re really greedy. That job should’ve belonged to the Shu family in the first place,” Shu Ruxue snapped, her chest rising and falling in anger.

“I got this job on my own. I didn’t rely on your Shu family at all. How does that make me greedy?” Yun Siying replied calmly. She wasn’t about to let herself be taken advantage of.

“Go get Siying a thousand yuan,” said Shu Zhisheng, tapping his cane on the ground twice as he turned to Tang Lingxue. “It’s hard to find work these days. I wanted to use connections, but in this sensitive era, many people are watching our family. It’s best to settle this with money.”

“Dad, that job should’ve been Ruxue’s from the start. Why do we still have to give her money?” Tang Lingxue protested, clearly reluctant.

“Go get it,” Shu Zhisheng said again, his expression dark and his tone commanding. His authority was undeniable.

“I—I’ll go get it now.” Tang Lingxue was most afraid of the old man. Under his imposing presence, she hurried off to the bedroom.

A short while later, she returned with a stack of banknotes and handed them to Yun Siying. “Here, are you satisfied now?” she said, clearly resentful.

Yun Siying accepted the money calmly and smiled. “I’m quite satisfied.” As she spoke, she began counting the cash in front of the family.

Tang Lingxue’s forehead twitched in irritation. She snapped, “Yun Siying, I raised you for eighteen years, and you don’t trust me even a little?”

“There’s a saying ‘Even brothers should settle accounts clearly.’ Since we’re not that close, it’s better to count it in person,” Yun Siying replied without even looking up. She didn’t stop counting, intentionally provoking them.

“You… you—” Tang Lingxue was speechless. She pointed at Yun Siying for a long time, unable to get a single word out. She had never seen this side of her so sharp, so infuriating.

Shu Ruxue, on the other hand, was quietly overjoyed. She finally had a job of her own. It felt like fate was finally on her side.

“Not a penny more, not a penny less. Exactly one thousand yuan,” Yun Siying said nonchalantly, her expression unchanged.

“Since you’ve taken the money, go to the machinery factory tomorrow and transfer the job to Ruxue,” Tang Lingxue ordered immediately.

“Then you’d better take care of your injuries first,” Shu Guofeng added, seeing Yun Siying nod. His eyes were complicated. The child had clearly grown distant. Though he felt a bit guilty, his own daughter had suffered in the countryside for eighteen years, Yun Siying would just have to bear the burden this time.

It was only now that Shu Chengzhi noticed the whip marks and bruises on Yun Siying’s arms. He opened his mouth to say something, but Tang Lingxue shot him a glare, silencing him. Yun Siying noticed the exchange and looked slightly uneasy.

“Then I’ll head back to my room. You all should get some rest too.” With that, Yun Siying nodded at Shu Zhisheng and slowly made her way up to the second floor.

Shu Zhisheng watched her back as she ascended the stairs. Reflecting on how they had favored Shu Ruxue over the past six months, he couldn’t help but wonder: was this indifferent, stubborn girl really a child of the Shu family?

“Come with me to the study,” he said suddenly. His voice came from behind her, deep and commanding.

She followed him upstairs. It had only been a day since she arrived in this world, but her vigilance was already fading. The old man and the girl entered the study. A guard stood outside the door, no one was allowed near.

Inside, the two sat across from each other. Shu Zhisheng handed her an envelope. “Take this. You’ve been my granddaughter for eighteen years, after all. Don’t starve to death out in the countryside.”

Yun Siying glanced at the thick envelope but didn’t reach for it. She didn’t want anything that didn’t rightfully belong to her, taking it would only create obligations, or worse, entanglements.

Shu Zhisheng didn’t miss the cold indifference in her eyes. She showed no emotion. He urged her again, “Why are you just staring? Take it.”

“Tsk. I can’t take it,” she replied with a mocking smirk. “If we’re cutting ties, we should do it properly. Otherwise, your beloved granddaughter might find some excuse to come after me. I’m just an ordinary person, I can’t afford her revenge. Old man, you’d better not set me up.”

Shu Zhisheng was silent for a moment. Then he said, “Fine. Live well in the countryside. Don’t forget the skills I taught you. It’s not as safe as you think out there, protect yourself.”

He opened a drawer, pulled out a military dagger, and tossed it onto the desk. He gestured for her to take it. This, perhaps, was his last act of protection for the child who had once been his granddaughter.