Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Xia Sheng supported him and said, “I appreciate the sentiment. Just take care of your grandson and live well from now on.”
Old Deng nodded. After offering a thousand thanks, he picked up his young grandson and prepared to leave.
Before the pair left, Xia Sheng added one last thing: “Don’t sell your house. In a few months, there will be a pleasant surprise.”
Old Deng had just promised Xia Sheng that he would stop swindling people, so he had planned to sell his two-story old house to get by for a while. Hearing Xia Sheng’s words, he stopped in his tracks.
“Does the Little Celestial Master mean my place will be demolished for redevelopment? But I live on the outskirts of the city; it shouldn’t be slated for demolition.”
Xia Sheng replied, “I’ve said all I can. The choice is yours.”
Old Deng thought about it and decided to listen to Xia Sheng.
This Little Celestial Master was kind-hearted; she wouldn’t lead him astray.
As Old Deng led his grandson away, the surrounding crowd dispersed slightly, but many people remained, hoping to have Xia Sheng read their fortunes.
Xia Sheng performed ten readings today. Once she finished, she began packing her things to leave.
Those waiting in line had seen Xia Sheng read ten people without a single mistake. They all called her a Little Immortal and asked when she would set up her stall again.
Just as Xia Sheng was about to answer, a sour and mocking voice drifted over from the side.
“Oh, isn’t this the School Belle of A University? I thought you’d be living such a brilliant and carefree life after leaving the Xia Family. You weren’t even willing to marry into the Zhou Family, yet here you are, scamming people with fortune-telling?”
Xia Sheng turned her head to see her half-sister, Xia Zhiruo, standing there with another girl, her expression full of ridicule.
Xia Zhiruo sized Xia Sheng up, her gaze sweeping over her. She silently compared the price difference between her own outfit and Xia Sheng’s, instantly feeling a sense of victory as her chin tilted up unconsciously.
Xia Zhiruo was also a student at A University, though she had changed her nationality and entered as an international student, which allowed her to squeeze into the Performing Arts Department-the department with the lowest entry requirements-with much lower scores.
During these two weeks of military training, she had been on leave, but she still visited the school every day to distribute fruit and drinks to the freshmen to build up her popularity.
She had been the School Belle in high school, so naturally, she wanted to be number one in university as well.
Who would have thought that despite her hard work in cultivating an image as a gentle beauty, she would still be overshadowed by Xia Sheng on the Confession Wall.
Last time Xia Sheng returned home, she had caused her father to ground Xia Zhiruo for several days of reflection.
That resentment hadn’t faded, and now that Xia Sheng was stealing her spotlight again, Xia Zhiruo truly wished she could strangle her.
Having finally caught Xia Sheng’s weakness, how could she not seize the opportunity for revenge and mockery?
Hearing Xia Zhiruo’s sarcastic words, Xia Sheng showed no anger. She merely said indifferently, “I am not a member of your Xia Family. Don’t try to claim a connection.”
“Zhiruo, claiming a connection with you? You’re just the illegitimate daughter of a crippled maid. Do you even think you’re worthy?”
The girl beside Xia Zhiruo spoke up, her tone full of hostility.
“Given the Xia Family’s status in the Capital City, it’s clearly you who wants to climb the social ladder through them, but Uncle Xia won’t acknowledge an illegitimate daughter like you!
“You share the same blood as Zhiruo, yet you’re out here swindling people. You’re truly a disgrace to the Xia Family!”
Xia Sheng’s cold eyes shifted to the girl. “Are you a dog raised by Xia Zhiruo? Why are you barking while I’m talking to her?”
The girl’s face turned livid. “Who are you calling a dog?”
Xia Sheng replied, “You know the answer to that.”
The girl’s expression became even more hideous, and she opened her mouth to hurl abuse.
However…
“Woof! Woof, woof!”
As the girl opened her mouth, several dog barks escaped uncontrollably.
The girl’s eyes widened in disbelief, and everyone near Xia Sheng’s stall burst out laughing.
This Little Celestial Master was a Little Immortal. These two women were looking for trouble for no reason; they deserved what they got.
Xia Sheng gave a half-smile. “I didn’t realize you had such a peculiar fetish, classmate.”
Hearing the laughter from the onlookers and Xia Sheng’s sarcastic remark, the girl’s face turned beet red with rage. However, unable to make a normal sound, she could only grab Xia Zhiruo’s hand in a panic. “Woof, woof, woof…”
“Shut up!” Xia Zhiruo snapped. She and the girl were on the same side; the girl being ridiculed was an indirect slap to her own face.
Xia Zhiruo shoved the girl’s hand away and turned to glare at Xia Sheng, her teeth gritted.
“Xia Sheng, don’t think I’m helpless against you just because you know a few low-rate tricks! People like you and your mother have no status and no background. I could crush you both with a snap of my fingers!”
“Is that so?” Xia Sheng arched an eyebrow. She raised her hand and made a phantom squeezing motion toward Xia Zhiruo.
Instantly, it felt as if something had clamped down hard on Xia Zhiruo’s neck. She couldn’t breathe, and her throat felt as though it were about to be crushed.
Her eyes widened in terror. She reached up, trying to tear away whatever was around her neck, but her entire body was suppressed by an invisible yet powerful force. She couldn’t move an inch.
Her face gradually turned a deep shade of purple, and her eyeballs looked as if they might pop out of their sockets.
The people around them had no idea what was happening. All they saw was Xia Zhiruo suddenly falling silent, her expression becoming increasingly ghastly, looking as if she might drop dead at any moment.
Just a second before Xia Zhiruo was about to pass out from lack of oxygen, Xia Sheng leisurely withdrew her hand.
Xia Zhiruo’s body immediately went limp, and she collapsed onto the ground.
Xia Sheng walked toward her slowly. Still immersed in the terror from moments ago, Xia Zhiruo saw her approaching and scrambled up, retreating several steps in a frantic crawl.
Xia Sheng curled her lips into a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes, making her look somewhat terrifying.
“Who did you say you were going to crush? Hmm?”
Xia Zhiruo hadn’t caught her breath yet. She gasped for air, her entire body trembling, not daring to utter a word.
Xia Sheng leaned down and patted Xia Zhiruo’s cheek, her voice dropping to a low whisper. “Xia Zhiruo, I’m not dealing with you for the time being only because I don’t want to get my hands dirty.
“But if you continue to seek death, I can send you on your way ahead of schedule.”
Xia Zhiruo froze. Xia Sheng’s breath against her cheek sent a bone-chilling shiver down her spine.
Even after Xia Sheng left, Xia Zhiruo remained slumped on the ground, her hands and feet ice-cold. She didn’t move for a long time.
The girl following her finally regained her voice and hurriedly reached out to help her up.
“Zhiruo, are you okay… Ah!”
Before the girl could finish, Xia Zhiruo slapped her hard across the face.
“That little bitch bullied me like that just now, and you didn’t help me?!” Xia Zhiruo snarled. “Were you intentionally watching me make a fool of myself?”
The girl was stunned by the slap. She clutched her face, feeling angry but not daring to speak out. “No, I… I was scared too…”
“Useless trash!” Xia Zhiruo cursed. “Go bring the car around to pick me up!”
Suppressing the grievance in her heart, the girl nodded.
***
Lately, Fang Rong had to work during the day and wasn’t home at noon.
Xia Sheng was too lazy to go back and cook, so she found a noodle shop nearby for lunch.
Before her noodles were served, Shen Ze called, his voice sounding quite excited.
“Little Celestial Master, Little Celestial Master, are you free right now? A few days ago, I auditioned for a supporting role in a movie, and I’m joining the crew tomorrow.
“This is my first acting gig, so I wanted to ask you to do a reading for me to see if it’ll be a hit.
“If it’s convenient, I’ll come find you now.”
Xia Sheng thought for a moment and said, “No need. I’ll come to you. I might as well see your Uncle Nine while I’m at it.”
Xia Sheng hadn’t had time to visit Shen Yanchen during the two weeks of military training. Today was the weekend, so Shen Yanchen should be home. It was time for her to go and have a full meal.