chapter 3

The moment I connected to the internet, messages flooded my phone, all asking whether the Wen family was treating me well.

I opened only Jiang Qi’s chat.

[Everything is under control. Don’t worry.]

His reply came almost instantly.

[What do I have to worry about? The Wens are the ones who should be worried.]

[I take it they’ve already disappointed you.]

My fingers glided over a row of expensive designer handbags, and my lips curved faintly.

The Wen family’s wealth had not disappointed me. I was very pleased with everything I saw.

Wen Yixuan was not entirely stupid. After losing her room yesterday, she appeared at breakfast much more docile.

Ye Shi’e and Wen Yanfeng looked heartbroken for her.

Wen You’an was delighted by her apparent obedience and told her at the table to take good care of me at school.

Wen Yixuan agreed sweetly. The moment we got into the car, however, she changed faces. She looked down her nose at me and said ominously, “Oh, I’ll take very good care of you.”

“Will you? I look forward to it.” I smiled.

At the most prestigious private school in Jingdu, Wen Yixuan was known as the queen. The Wen family’s power and status ensured that no one dared defy her orders.

When I followed her through the school gates, every passerby cast curious glances at my unfamiliar face.

Someone she knew asked, “Who’s that? I’ve never seen her before.”

“She came in your car. Is she a relative?”

At the word relative, Wen Yixuan’s face darkened.

“She’s my new puppy.”

Everyone’s gaze turned dark and strange.

I went first to the homeroom teacher’s office. During morning study, the teacher brought me to the front of the classroom and asked me to introduce myself.

My eyesight was excellent. The moment I entered, I spotted the only empty seat. The new books on its desk had been torn apart and drenched with several bottles of yogurt, leaving a filthy mess.

The pampered young masters and mistresses below the podium watched me as if waiting for a show.

Wen Yixuan was in my class. She sat there with a slight smile, staring at me in open provocation.

Honestly, I had not expected her to be this stupid.

Standing at the front, I pulled my lips into a faint smile.

“Hello, everyone. My name is Wen Qiu. My father is Wen You’an, chairman of the Wen Group, and I am his only daughter.”

I watched Wen Yixuan’s face grow steadily darker.

“Wen Yixuan’s biological mother used to be my family’s nanny. That vicious woman switched us at birth and stole my life.”

Without the slightest hesitation, I exposed the wealthy family’s secret.

“My parents are kind, however, and have agreed to adopt Wen Yixuan. She may continue living in my home.”

The class was stunned by this spectacular piece of gossip, their gazes darting between Wen Yixuan and me.

“Is that true? Wen Yixuan is the fake heiress?”

“Now that you mention it, the new girl really does look like the Wens…”

Unable to bear the whispers, Wen Yixuan snapped, “Shut up!”

The classroom fell silent at once.

Under her hateful stare, I walked to the ruined empty desk and surveyed the room. No one dared meet my eyes.

“What happened here?” I asked with a smile.

The homeroom teacher’s expression changed. She immediately ordered the desk and chair replaced. Several boys volunteered to help, and before long, I had new furniture and a fresh set of books.

Wen Yixuan sat directly behind me. Through clenched teeth, she whispered, “You went behind Mom and Dad’s backs and announced this in public. They won’t let you get away with it.”

Her stupidity made me want to laugh.

“I’m their biological daughter. I only told the truth. What can they possibly do to me?”

My words struck her sorest spot. Her voice turned vicious.

“I’ll show you who the Wen family’s only true heiress is.”

The moment class ended, she left the room and did not return for the next two periods.

At lunch, a boy delivered a message to me.

Shen Ji wanted to see me in the student council office.

The Wen and Shen families were known as the two giants of Jingdu. Shen Ji, the future heir to the Shen family, had been betrothed to Wen Yixuan since childhood. The two childhood sweethearts shared a deep bond.

Wen Yixuan had suffered a grievance at my hands, so he had likely summoned me to defend her.

The heirs of both great families doted on her. No wonder Wen Yixuan had sounded so confident when she threatened me.

The student council at this school was monopolized by the heirs of Jingdu’s wealthiest and most powerful families.

I looked forward to meeting them in their own domain.