Chapter 46: The Canary’s Self-Cultivation (11)
Zhou Jing’s ultimate goal was not to kill Shen Handeng, but to wrest the inheritance from his grasp. So long as Shen Handeng willingly transferred it, she could lawfully acquire the Shen family’s assets. Before Shen Handeng turned eighteen, he had no right to do so. Once he came of age, he was no longer a child to be easily deceived, which caused Zhou Jing no small amount of distress.
It wasn’t as if she never tried placing people at Shen Handeng’s side before—nannies and tutors alike—all of whom were chased away by him within a week. But Ling Qiong was different; she had quietly stayed by his side for quite some time now. Today, Shen Handeng had even brought her out himself. Zhou Jing sensed an opportunity.
Conveniently, Ling Qiong had a gambling relative. Zhou Jing had investigated thoroughly and knew that Ling Qiong cared for this person and would never abandon them. With such a weakness to exploit, things would be much easier. And so, the current scene unfolded…
Ling Qiong felt not the slightest guilt for fleecing money from NPCs. If someone kindly gifted her equipment, how could she refuse? Of course, she would sincerely thank them—and take a bit more if she could. Hehe…
“What’s making you so happy?”
Shen Handeng appeared beside Ling Qiong like a ghost, his expression unfriendly as he regarded her.
Ling Qiong, eyes crinkled with laughter, leaned over and waved the check in her hand, half in pride, half in boasting. “Look, your stepmother gave this to me.”
Shen Handeng’s gaze darkened slightly. “She gave you money?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What did you promise her?”
“Just… to keep you happy.”
“That’s all?”
“For now, that’s all.”
“…You took her money and are telling me this now?”
“What’s the problem? I can play both sides—no, I mean, act as a double agent. I’m quite skilled at it.” Ling Qiong held out her hand obediently. “So, young master, pay up.”
Shen Handeng: “…”
Shen Handeng thought Zhou Jing was going to miscalculate this time.
He brushed Ling Qiong’s hand away. “I don’t need to.”
“You do.”
“I don’t.”
“You do. Think about it…”
Unwilling to listen to Ling Qiong’s endless chatter, Shen Handeng strode away.
“Don’t walk so fast…”
…
Shen Handeng heard about Pei Ziqing’s drunken fall into the water and subsequent hospitalization just as he was about to leave.
How could Pei Ziqing, perfectly fine earlier, end up drunk and in the water? In such circumstances, who would drink to excess except for family overcome by grief?
The Pei family had checked the surveillance footage, which only showed Pei Ziqing walking alone toward the pool. He already seemed unsteady, bumping into people and ignoring them when they called out. But Pei Ziqing’s state didn’t look like an accidental fall—more like he jumped in himself.
And the last person Pei Ziqing spoke to before the incident was Ling Qiong.
The Pei family, having seen the footage, hurried to intercept Ling Qiong.
Ling Qiong, looking utterly innocent and harmless, replied, “He insisted on talking to me, so I spoke with him for a bit. The rest, I have no idea about.”
While Ling Qiong spoke with Pei Ziqing, she was always in view of the cameras. She hadn’t done anything improper or suspicious. In fact, the two seemed to be having a rather pleasant conversation. After Pei Ziqing left, there was no footage of where he drank or whom he met.
The Pei family, unable to glean anything useful and though suspicious, had to admit the young lady had done nothing wrong.
Once the Pei family departed, Ling Qiong winked at Shen Handeng, her smile sly as a little fox.
“Was it you?”
“He bullied you. And you’re under my protection—no one bullies you.” Ling Qiong huffed softly. No one but me gets to bully my cub!
Shen Handeng: “…Father?”
Who are you calling father?
“How did you do it?” He’d watched the surveillance too—there was nothing amiss.
Ling Qiong stroked her cheek, eyes full of mischief. “Maybe because I’m pretty?”
“…”
No matter how he asked, Shen Handeng couldn’t figure out how Ling Qiong had made Pei Ziqing jump into the pool himself.
Rumor had it that after waking, Pei Ziqing himself remembered little about what happened. The Pei family believed he was possessed and went everywhere seeking exorcists.
After the funeral, Ling Qiong kept a low profile for a few days.
At first, Shen Handeng thought she’d suddenly become sensible and stopped bothering him, but later realized she simply wasn’t around. No one knew when she left or returned.
Shen Handeng, face dark as thunder, instructed Kelly, “Install surveillance cameras.”
Kelly: “…”
When Ling Qiong returned and saw the new cameras at the door, she hesitated, debating whether to go in.
Kelly opened the door for her. “Miss Ye, you’re back.”
“Mm.”
Kelly reminded her carefully, “The young master is angry. You’d better think how you’ll explain yourself.”
Ling Qiong: “…”
She had to raise her cub and placate him too?
Ling Qiong pushed open Shen Handeng’s bedroom door and peered inside cautiously.
The familiar chaos greeted her—Shen Handeng had smashed quite a few things.
The room was dim and silent. Shen Handeng lay on the bed.
Ling Qiong sidled in, gathering her skirt as she climbed onto his bed. “Young master.”
Shen Handeng, his back to her, sounded cold. “So you remembered to come home.”
“With you here, of course I’d come back.”
“Didn’t I tell you not to go out?”
“You did, but I never agreed, did I?” Ling Qiong replied innocently—if she hadn’t agreed, it didn’t count.
“…”
Shen Handeng sat up.
The girl knelt beside him, her brightly colored skirt fanned out like a blooming flower. The first thing that caught Shen Handeng’s eye was her long, softly curled golden hair.
“…”
He remembered that morning, her hair had been black.
Now dyed a brilliant gold, it made her look even more like a fairy-tale princess.
Shen Handeng frowned. “You dyed your hair?”
“Yes.” Ling Qiong nodded. “Does it look good?”
“…Hideous.” He averted his gaze.
Ling Qiong: “…”
She’d been about to coax him, but after that remark, she lost all desire and went straight back to her own room.
Shen Handeng was so angry, he smashed half his room again.
At least when he was angry, he only broke things and didn’t hit anyone.
…
After that incident, Kelly watched Ling Qiong even more closely; she could hardly find an opportunity to sneak out.
And, surprisingly, Shen Handeng stopped seeking her out.
Ling Qiong sensed something was wrong.
Her suspicion was soon confirmed.
[Dear, if you don’t draw cards, you won’t be able to meet the target again.]
“…”
She had to pay to progress.
If she didn’t, she’d be stuck here.
What a lousy game—forcing players to spend so much, it’s a wonder it ever launched!
But if she didn’t pay…
She thought of her cub—his looks, his figure, his voice…
Fine! I’ll pay! Daddy will pay, isn’t that enough?
[Dear, if you’d paid earlier, none of this would have happened, right?]
“Heh.” She hadn’t enjoyed herself yet—why should she pay?
[But if you pay, you’ll be even happier.] The system’s voice was almost bashful.
“…”
She suspected it was tricking her into spending, but couldn’t refute it.
Drawing cards was both joyful and painful, thrilling and cruel.
The joy was in that instant the card was drawn—a rush like no other.
The thrill was in the moment before revealing the result—would it be there or not?
The pain was… drawing nothing at all.
At that moment, Ling Qiong was experiencing all three sensations.
On the screen before her, the cards flashed:
Keep going, you can do it!
Try again—you’re the light of the future!
Victory is just ahead, charge forth!