By the fourth day, Yao Yao was at her limit.
She stood by the window, staring blankly at the vast green fields beyond the estate walls.
Days of relentless training had drained her soul.
Her body ached, her mind was sluggish, and dark circles clung beneath her eyes. Her fingers trembled as she chewed on them, a pathetic attempt to stay grounded.
If she had to endure one more day of balancing books on her head, she swore her spine would compress and she may never grow an inch taller, doomed to be pocket-sized forever.
A feeling of regret sank in.
If she had known luxury came with this kind of suffering, she would have stayed poor without a second thought.
At least poverty didn't require etiquette trainings.
Then, the door creaked open.
Nanny Fang entered, her usual composed demeanour unchanged.
"You must prepare yourself, Miss Yao Yao," she said, her voice even. "The Master and Young Master will arrive today."
Yao Yao froze.
The world around her paused.
She had nearly forgotten, they were returning for the Grand Summoning Ceremony.
The ceremony…
Her pink eyes flickered.
Then—her face lit up with an idea.
If she… if she managed to summon a spirit—no, not just any, but a terrifying, world-shaking one—then she would never have to fear Xiu Lin again!
She could order her spirit to grab Xiu Lin by the collar and hurl her like a javelin straight into the next city—no, out of this universe.
And with a spirit like that? She could live freely in this house, basking in luxury, eating the best meals, wearing the finest silks, and rolling around on soft cushions all day long without a care in the world.
A reincarnated human like her must have some kind of cheat ability—that's how it worked in all the books and TV shows she used to watch.
So naturally, she must be a genius too!
A low giggle slipped out.
"Hee hee hee…"
Behind her, Nanny Fang froze.
Yao Yao's small frame trembled with excitement, her giggles escalating into full-blown maniacal laughter.
"Hehehehehe… HAHAHAHAHA!"
Nanny Fang's eyelid twitched. Her body instinctively leaned back, considering if she should call Xiu Lin back in.
.....
.....
By the time she was dressed and escorted to the grand entrance, she found herself lined up beside Shang Qing Ye and her two sisters.
The air was thick with anticipation as the grand carriage could arrive at any moment.
Yao Yao's gaze swept across the courtyard, noticing for the first time in days. The flowers bloomed in breathtaking colors, their petals dancing with the breeze. Birds chirped freely in the trees, their sounds like laughter echoing in the open air. The sky was an endless sea of blue and the sun glinted down like scattered diamonds.
It was beautiful.
It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in her entire life.
A lump formed in her throat.
And then—
A single tear welled up in Yao Yao's eye.
After three days—three miserable, torturous days, she had almost forgotten what freedom felt like.
Beside her, Min Min stiffened, eyes widening in horror.
What's wrong with her?! Min Min thought, taking a slight step away as if Yao Yao might be contagious. Why is she crying?!
Watching Yao Yao's teary-eyed display with increasing discomfort, she finally couldn't bear it anymore.
Her expression twisted as she blurted out, "What is your problem exactly—"
Before she could even finish, Yao Yao suddenly turned to her.
Her large, pink eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she gazed at Min Min, like a heartbreaking tragedy in motion. She then raised a finger to her cheek, gently wiping away a single tear.
Then, in a soft, trembling voice, she whispered, "This world… is so beautiful…"
Min Min was speechless.
Her mouth opened, then closed.
She turned to Ying Ying, who simply raised a brow as if to say, Don't look at me.
She turned to Shang Qing Ye, but her mother didn't even seem to register what had just happened—her mind was elsewhere, locked on thoughts.
Min Min clenched her hands into fists. "You—"
But before she could gather her words, the sound of approaching hooves cut through the moment.
Everyone's attention snapped forward.
The carriage had finally arrived.
The grand vehicle rolled smoothly into the estate, its polished exterior gleaming beneath the sunlight. The horses neighed, their breaths visible in the crisp air, while the guards moved swiftly to open the heavy doors.
Yao Yao immediately straightened, her heartbeat quickening.
This is the moment she had been waiting for.
Step One: Get on Shang Zhao's good side.
Step Two: Secure her a ticket to the Grand Summoning Ceremony.
Step Three: Somehow, some way, summon a world-shattering spirit.
And how to do that? She'll figure it out later.
For now, she just had to wing it.
The door swung open and the first to descend was Shang Jun. His movements were fluid, the very picture of composed nobility. Just as his feet touched the ground, his sharp gaze instinctively landed on Yao Yao.
She stood there, staring straight at him, her large pink eyes still shimmering with unshed tears and a hint of sadness.
Shang Jun felt a moment of confusion.
Quickly regaining his composure, he let out a quiet breath, straightening his back. His expression smoothed into its usual calm as he offered a slight, measured nod.
"Mother. Sisters," he greeted smoothly, his voice steady.
Behind him, another figure emerged from the carriage.
Shang Zhao stepped down from the carriage, the atmosphere shifted instantly. He didn't need to assert authority, he simply carried it in his very presence.
"Welcome home, my lord," Shang Qing Ye said formally, as she lowered her gaze in a graceful bow.
Shang Zhao gave a nod as his eyes swept over the children, lingering briefly on Yao Yao before shifting away, cold and indifferent.
"Father," Ying Ying greeted, lowering herself into a flawless curtsy. Min Min followed suit, bowing slightly at the waist. "Welcome home, Father," she echoed.
Shang Zhao's placed a palm on each of their heads in turn, a brief gesture of acknowledgment.
"You two have grown," he remarked, his tone even, neither warm nor distant—just a simple observation.
Yao Yao, who had hesitated just a second too long, found herself completely overlooked.
She had missed her moment to chime in.
Her fingers curled at her sides as she swallowed, forcing herself to gather her courage. She parted her lips, her voice barely above a whisper.
"F-Fath—"
But before she could finish, Shang Zhao had already turned away, without another word, he strode past her into the mansion, brushing past her as if she were nothing more than air.
The words died in her throat.
Right beside, Shang Jun remained silent, his expression blank, as he observed the exchange.
Yao Yao stood there, frozen.
She had hoped for some sort of reaction, some exchange. A hint of acknowledgment. Anything.
But there was nothing.
This man… was he really her father?
Yao Yao exhaled slowly, forcing down the strange feeling in her chest.
Father..
Her real father. however… the one from her past life… had worked himself to death to raise her.
She was in high school when he passed, too young to fully understand, but old enough to remember the exhaustion in his eyes, the way he smiled at her even when his body could barely keep up.
She had never known her mother. After he was gone, she was taken in by her aunt.
But this father?
For a fleeting moment, she had hoped—that maybe he would be different. That perhaps, only Shang Qing Ye and her sisters harbored resentment toward her, while her father…might see her differently.
After all, Su Mi had said he loved her mother.
But it seemed she was wrong.
…
That night, the family gathered for dinner
The dining hall was grand, the flickering candlelight casting elongated shadows against the walls. The long table was set with exquisite dishes, yet the air was thick with silence.
Yao Yao's brows twitched as she fidgeted uncomfortably.
Is this a meal or a mourning session?
Didn't they just return from a long trip?
Shouldn't there be at least a "Welcome back, Daddy!", or a "How was your journey?" Or something?
She glanced around, hoping someone would break the silence.
Shang Zhao sat at the head, quietly eating, his expression unreadable. Not once did he look up.
Shang Qing Ye, poised as always, delicately sipping her wine, looking as if she were at an art exhibition rather than a family dinner.
Ying Ying, the very image of a dignified lady, maintained perfect posture, eating with flawless grace—she would have made Xiu Lin proud.
Min Min, on the other hand, was poking at the pile of vegetables on her plate as if they were poison.
Yao Yao exhaled slowly.
This family is insane.
Then, as she lifted her gaze slightly, her eyes met Shang Jun's.
He was looking at her.
She stiffened.
He smiled.
Yao Yao blinked, momentarily thrown off as she instinctively lowered her gaze.
He seems… nice?
Slowly, cautiously, she peeked up again—only to find he was still looking at her.
A moment of hesitation.
Her lips parted slightly, as if unsure, before she pressed them together and curved them into a tiny, sweet smile.
Shang Jun felt something squeeze in his chest.
Adorable.
That was the only word that came to his mind.
His lips curled up instinctively, a flicker of warmth softening his gaze. Before he even realized it, his smile had widened.
Min Min, who caught the entire exchange, viciously stabbed her broccoli in jealousy.