Chapter 50: Then I'll Play Along and Drive You Mad

Her face, which had just moments before feigned such weakness and innocence, was now suddenly overtaken by shock and bewilderment. With furrowed brows and a gaze full of disbelief, she stared at Shen Zhaoxi, as if unable to comprehend that Shen Zhaoxi would actually say such words in front of everyone.

In the past, Shen Zhaoxi would never have humiliated her publicly like this. Yet now, what did Shen Zhaoxi mean by these words? What did she mean by saying she was not worthy of being a member of the Shen family?

When Grandfather had brought her back to the Shen family, he had already announced to the outside world that Shen Xin would be the young lady of the Shen family, on equal footing with Shen Zhaoxi. Now, just because she had been sent abroad for ten years and returned only with Grandfather’s permission, and even before Grandfather had said anything, how could she suddenly not be part of the Shen family?

“What do you think is going on?” murmured the maids nearby.

“Looks like our young lady doesn’t like her much,” another replied in a whisper.

The maids exchanged glances, whispering to each other, likely speculating about why their young lady was so averse to Miss Shen Xin, who had just returned from abroad.

Some went even further, saying that in her childhood, Miss Shen Xin had done something to harm the young lady, and that was why the family sent her abroad.

So now, with Shen Xin’s return, it made sense that their young lady would take such a stance.

“So that’s how it is,” one said.

“She deserves it then, for bullying our young lady.”

“Exactly! Our young lady has always been frail, and even the young masters have always doted on her. Who does she think she is, expecting to be spoiled as well?”

“Hush, keep your voice down…” another urged suddenly, nudging her companion with her shoulder when she noticed the look Shen Xin was sending their way.

It was a rare moment, to see that mask of false gentleness slip under the sunlight, revealing another expression beneath. Shen Zhaoxi smiled faintly.

“What nonsense are you all spouting?” Shen Sisi, hearing the mutters around her, stormed forward to interject. “Grandfather already said he agreed to let Sister Shen Xin return, and tomorrow is his birthday. If you keep gossiping like this, I’ll tell him everything!”

Rumors could destroy someone.

To Shen Sisi, the maids were emboldened by Shen Zhaoxi’s attitude, using it as an excuse to slander Sister Shen Xin, simply because they looked down on her.

With a hint of unease in her eyes, she turned to Shen Xin to comfort her. “Sister Shen Xin, don’t listen to them. They’re all talking nonsense.”

Only after speaking did she recall that the instigator of all this was Shen Zhaoxi herself, leading the household staff in maligning Shen Xin.

That was why everyone was acting this way.

“Shen Zhaoxi, why are you doing this?”

Shen Sisi’s expression was tinged with grievance. She felt both sorrow and injustice for Shen Xin.

Why should Sister Shen Xin be subjected to such bullying?

As she stepped forward to defend Shen Xin, she happened to catch the gaze of the girl sitting in the wheelchair—the girl’s lips curled slightly, her cool, clear eyes fixing on her.

“Didn’t you just accuse me of humiliating her in front of everyone?” Shen Zhaoxi asked calmly. “Since you’re so determined to take her side and argue who’s right or wrong, then let’s make a deal. Go to Sanqing Peak, and jump from the spot where I fell last night. If you do that, I’ll forgive her. How about it?”

“Shen Zhaoxi, you…” Shen Sisi faltered under the weight of everyone’s stares. For a moment, she was dumbfounded by Shen Zhaoxi’s reference to Sanqing Peak and didn’t understand what she meant.

“What did you say?” Shen Sisi’s disbelief was plain.

Clearly, she didn’t know what had happened the previous night.

She was about to argue, her tone exasperated, when she suddenly paused, looking at Shen Zhaoxi.

What did she mean by asking her to jump from the same place on Sanqing Peak where Shen Zhaoxi had fallen the night before? Did that mean—

“You… last night…” Shen Sisi now began to feel that there were things she simply didn’t know, things that had happened in the Shen family while she was oblivious.

Seeing the cold, mocking light in Shen Zhaoxi’s eyes, she felt a pressure emanating from the girl in the wheelchair, making her breath quicken. Instinctively, her earlier arrogance faded away.

“Heh,” Shen Zhaoxi sneered.

“Shen Sisi, if you can’t see the truth for yourself, then please keep your mouth shut. I really do have an allergy to stupidity.”

At the start, Shen Zhaoxi had simply regarded her as a fool, but not a malicious one, so she’d never bothered to argue with her.

But now, with Shen Sisi repeatedly stepping in to defend Shen Xin, Shen Zhaoxi’s patience had been worn completely thin.

Were it not for her grandfather’s dislike of violence in the household, she would have lost control long ago. She almost wanted to dunk Sisi’s head in the lake and give her a good brainwashing.

“Miss Sisi, our young lady fell from a cliff last night,” the maid who had brought Shen Sisi into the Birch Garden stepped forward, her eyes downcast as she explained. “She and Miss Shen Xin set out together, but only Miss Shen Xin returned last night.”

Everyone present, even the Birch Garden maids, seemed to understand what had happened.

And yet, Shen Sisi, in her stubborn foolishness, still insisted on shielding Shen Xin—who could blame anyone but her?

With their young lady’s usual gentle temperament, she would never pick a fight with someone without cause.

It was clear that someone had done something to upset her.

Shen Sisi’s brows furrowed into a deep crease. Even she, slow as she was, began to connect the maid’s words with her own recollections, and as she sensed the weight of everyone’s attention falling on her, she started to doubt whether she had truly misjudged Shen Zhaoxi.

“Sister Shen Xin, you…?” she began, her expression troubled, turning to the pale-faced Shen Xin beside her.

Shen Xin, already seething within, saw Shen Sisi’s gaze and quickly burst into tears. “It wasn’t me! Sisi, you have to believe me, I didn’t do it.”

Watching her tearful, reddened eyes, Shen Sisi was torn by guilt and uncertainty.

Had she really wronged Shen Zhaoxi? Or had Sister Shen Xin done something after all, hiding the truth from her?

She was the only fool here.

As the crowd’s attention focused ever more keenly on her, Shen Xin bit her lip in secret, afraid that Shen Zhaoxi’s words would sway everyone to her side. Hastily, she turned away, tears slipping down her face, her expression masked in feigned innocence.

“Zhaoxi…” she said, voice trembling. “I know it was my fault for not catching you in time, but I really tried. The cliff was slippery from the rain, and you slipped and fell on your own. Why are you accusing me?”

With Shen Zhaoxi saying so much in front of everyone, it was inevitable that doubts would arise.

“Accusing you?” Shen Zhaoxi regarded her with a cold smile, almost admiring her for maintaining the act even now.

“Whether it’s an accusation or not, only you truly know,” she replied.

With her eyes half-lowered and her lips pale and delicate against her sickly face, every curve and line appeared soft and weak, yet carried an undercurrent of steely chill.

For just a fleeting moment, Shen Xin saw in Shen Zhaoxi a person entirely different from the one she’d always known.