chapter 5

I was not buying it.

“The Qing dynasty fell more than a century ago. A few people call you the crown prince and you start believing you actually rule Jingdu?”

Shen Ji had been worshipped all his life. No one had ever humiliated him like this before. His face darkened.

“I never say anything twice.”

Wen Yixuan looped her arm through his and coaxed gently, “Shen Ji, don’t be angry.”

“She’s the Wen family’s biological daughter. I’m already grateful she lets me stay in their home.”

“You’re too kind. That’s why she bullies you.” Shen Ji comforted her softly, his eyes aching with tenderness.

“Aunt Wen and the others have always loved you as their own daughter. With me here, you have nothing to fear. No one will hurt you.”

Several girls friendly with Wen Yixuan chimed in.

“A pheasant who only just flew onto a golden branch, and she’s already strutting around in front of us.”

“No wonder Yanfeng asked us to look after Yixuan. He must have known you’d bully her.”

“Yanfeng and Shen Ji both stand behind Yixuan. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll back off.”

So that was why they dared give me attitude. The Wen family’s publicly acknowledged heir had warned them in advance.

He truly doted on his fake sister. Heaven forbid she suffer the slightest grievance.

“So you summoned me here to pin the blame on me and put me in my place. But you people think you’re worthy of that?” I looked coldly at the three girls who had spoken.

They quickly discovered that once I turned on them, no one dared come to their defense.

I gave a scornful laugh, lifted my chin with just the right touch of arrogance, and walked toward the central sofa.

As I passed Shen Ji and Wen Yixuan, Yixuan reached for me through her tears. I frowned and flung her hand away. She deliberately fell backward, straight into Shen Ji’s arms.

Wen Yixuan was the love of his life. Blinded by devotion, he saw only that she had been wronged, no matter how obvious her act was. Rage flared, and he slapped me across the face.

I did not move. He struck with all his strength, leaving my ears ringing and my cheek swollen.

Several shocked gasps sounded through the hall.

Hidden behind him, Wen Yixuan’s lips curved in a triumphant smile.

I touched my cheek with my left hand. The smile tugging at my lips could no longer be contained, and excitement lit my eyes.

You hit me first.

Before anyone recovered from the shock of the Shen heir striking a Wen heiress, I counterattacked. Every move was vicious. I brought him down, planted my foot between his legs, and seized his hair, ready to smash his head against the floor.

Another moment and someone would have died. Everyone rushed forward to pull me away.

I also felt I had done enough. I released him without resistance, stepped back, and dropped onto the sofa in the center.

Only after I moved away did Wen Yixuan dare approach Shen Ji, sobbing his name.

He curled on the floor in agony. Anger and disbelief filled his eyes as he stared at me. He had never imagined I could beat him, much less that I would fight so dirty.

A pampered young master born with a golden spoon like Shen Ji had never fought for real. Boys like him relied on brute strength.

I was different. Every fight I had ever fought was for survival. I won by being more desperate and more ruthless than the other person.

“I heard you call this seat the throne. It does feel rather nice to sit here.” I stretched my arms along the back of the sofa, perfectly content.

Half my jacket had been torn. My left cheek was swollen and dark red, my hair a mess, yet a wild smile remained on my lips. To everyone else, I must have looked insane.

Intimidated by my madness, the heirs who normally strutted around as if they owned the world now stood in stunned silence.

Against that quiet, every word of Wen Yixuan’s voice rang clear.

“It’s bad enough that you bully me. How could you beat Shen Ji? The Shen family will never let you get away with this!”

“You’re frightening me. How terrifying.” Smiling, I patted my chest with utter nonchalance.

“What is the school policy on fighting again?”

In front of them all, I called the principal.

“Principal, Shen Ji hit me.”

“What? Miss Wen, are you hurt?” The principal’s voice trembled.

“There must have been some misunderstanding between you and Young Master Shen.”

“No misunderstanding. I hit him too.”

Then I hung up.

Everyone looked at me as if I were an idiot. Wen Yanfeng supported Wen Yixuan. I might have been the biological daughter, but I was hardly the Wen family’s favorite.

Instead of trying to settle the matter quietly after beating the Shen heir, I had deliberately made it public.