Chapter 24: Then You Should Remarry

The reason behind the poor relationship between the fraternal twins, Shang Ying and Shang Yi, was simple. Growing up, they were given the exact same things, but because Shang Yi was smarter, Shang Heng’s gaze toward Shang Ying would occasionally carry a few hints of disappointment.

Once Ning Wanyuan realized this, she made a point to dote on Shang Ying extra heavily, making sure she explicitly felt this favoritism. Shang Ying didn't disappoint her expectations. She was indeed foolish, and a mere word or two from Ning Wanyuan could easily drive a wedge between the siblings.

The heavier this doting grew, the deeper Shang Ying sank. Eventually, all Ning Wanyuan needed to do was give the exact same thing to both of them, and Shang Ying would resent Shang Yi for it.

After all, Ning Wanyuan continuously conveyed a subtle message to Shang Ying: ‘Since Dad prefers Shang Yi, Auntie should love you more. That’s the only way to be "fair."’

Over time, Shang Ying came to thoroughly despise Shang Yi. The most severe incident occurred back in eighth grade, when Ning Wanyuan praised Shang Yi in front of her for winning first prize in a chemistry competition, and then deliberately gave a present Shang Ying loved directly to Shang Yi.

It was precisely because of that incident that Shang Ying kicked Shang Yi out of the car, refusing to let him share a ride with her ever again. At school, she refused to speak to him and told him to stay as far away from her as possible.

With almost no effort, Ning Wanyuan had effortlessly alienated the twins and nurtured Shang Ying's personality to become increasingly eccentric, ensuring she remained disliked by Shang Heng.

"Sure."

"Yingying, you're not... Huh?"

The words were already out of Ning Wanyuan's mouth before she processed what Shang Ying had actually said. For a moment, her mouth remained slightly open, her eyes filled with bewildered shock.

Shang Yi, hearing this response, abruptly turned his head toward Shang Ying, equally filled with utter disbelief.

Shang Ying didn't touch the bowl of soup Ning Wanyuan had offered, choosing instead to ladle soup directly into her bowl of rice. Soup-soaked rice lacked nutrition, but she loved it.

Though she knew Ning Wanyuan was up to no good, the woman played the diplomatic facade impeccably. Furthermore, Shang Ying had recently offended Shang Heng. If she cursed out Ning Wanyuan right now and the woman went to complain to the old man, Shang Ying might find herself exiled abroad by tomorrow.

After all, as a brainless, bad-tempered, and completely useless second-generation rich kid villain, her chances of winning against a wife who was as soft and gentle as water were virtually zero.

The most important thing was still that cloisonné vase. Only when she found a matching rare replacement to buy back could she show off her authority in the house once more.

The unease in Ning Wanyuan's heart grew increasingly intense. Growing anxious, she reached out to touch Shang Ying's arm, only to make Shang Ying knit her brows and pull away.

She awkwardly withdrew her hand, her tone taking on an almost humble, low posture.

"Is Auntie doing something lately that made you angry? Tell Auntie, and Auntie will change."

Shang Ying genuinely admired people like Ning Wanyuan sometimes. She clearly despises her to death, yet still able to put on such a gentle, virtuous, and ladylike performance for everyone to see. Truly formidable.

‘So envious.’

‘Why couldn't she control her temper like that?’

‘Because she didn't bother controlling it at all.’

An idea suddenly popped into Shang Ying's mind, making her unable to hold back a smile. She turned her head and asked, "You'll change anything?"

Shang Yi, who had been sitting quietly like an invisible person, glanced at her again upon hearing this line. He understood Shang Ying's expressions and line of thinking all too well.

Clearly, Shang Ying wasn't planning on having a genuine, nice conversation with Ning Wanyuan, which allowed his heart to settle down slightly.

Seeing a smile blossom on Shang Ying's face, Ning Wanyuan's anxious heart eased as well. She smiled back and said, "Of course, as long as it's within Auntie's power, I will work hard to make Yingying happy."

‘My goodness, what earth-shattering, tear-jerking words! Even she was almost moved.’

"Then you should remarry."

Dead silence fell over the dining room. All the servants froze in their tracks, no one daring to make a sound. The smile on Ning Wanyuan's face froze solid, turning her into what looked like a petrified statue.

"With a little hard work, this can be accomplished too, right?"

Shang Ying felt an absolute rush.

‘Damn, it felt way too satisfying.’

Who could understand the sheer, unadulterated thrill of saying whatever came to mind without caring about anyone else's feelings? It gave her such a massive appetite that she could devour three full bowls of rice on the spot.

Seeing Ning Wanyuan still frozen there, a trace of playful mockery curled at the corners of Shang Ying's full, rosy lips.

"If you can pull that off, I'll be exceedingly happy."

In the adjacent Chinese kitchen, Aunt Zhao, who was busy with work, heard this conversation and nearly failed to hold back a burst of laughter. ‘As expected of the Eldest Miss. Her words hit where it hurts every single time.’

Aunt Zhao was a household servant brought over by the late first Mrs. Shang. While referring to servants might sound a bit old-fashioned in this era, her family had indeed served the Shang family for generations, and her son was currently working under the oldest young master.

Thus, after the late Mrs. Shang passed away, she was the one tasked with taking care of the Eldest Miss and Young Master. Ever since this stepmother entered the house, she had watched the relationship between the Eldest Miss and Young Master grow worse by the day.

This stepmother seemed gentle and harmonious on the surface, but held endless scheming tricks beneath. The Eldest Miss's temper had been manipulated by her into becoming weirder and weirder. Fortunately, over the past couple of days, the Eldest Miss seemed to have gained wisdom. The Shang family's bloodline must have awakened!

"Yingying, you must be joking..."

The smile on Ning Wanyuan's face grew increasingly forced. No matter how much mental preparation she made, she couldn't withstand someone slapping her face like this.

Shang Ying mindlessly finished her bowl of rice.

"I'm not joking at all. Get me another bowl of rice."

The servants remained frozen, not daring to move, unsure whether Shang Ying's request for rice was real or fake. Aunt Zhao, watching from the kitchen, knew Shang Ying genuinely wanted it with just one glance, hurriedly bringing a bowl out to dish up rice.

Seeing no one moving, Shang Yi set his chopsticks down, picked up Shang Ying's empty bowl from the table, and walked straight toward the kitchen.

Shang Ying swept her eyes over the servants standing frozen like wooden logs, marveling internally that her biological brother was indeed useful. A natural-born, excellent servant.

Aunt Zhao turned around only to see Shang Yi walking in with an empty bowl, a smile surfacing on her face that she couldn't hide no matter what. She took the empty bowl and handed him the one filled with fresh rice.

The moment their eyes met, both could trace a long-absent trace of happiness in each other's eyes.

The soup in the white porcelain bowl had gone cold, a layer of congealed oil floating on top. Just like the current atmosphere at the table.

This time, Shang Ying hadn't actively caused trouble or cursed anyone out. Ning Wanyuan had insisted on playing the selfless, self-sacrificing good person, so Shang Ying had simply voiced what was in her heart.

After a long pause, a soft, subtle sob sounded at the dining table. Shang Ying raised her eyelids. Ning Wanyuan's eyes were already half-moistened with tears, glistened softly, and the outer corners of her eyes were flushed red, as if wiped forcefully by a finger, looking thoroughly pitiful and heart-wrenching.

‘She actually looks pretty nice’, Shang Ying thought quietly as she chewed her food, feeling zero guilt for driving someone to tears with her words.

‘Of course she didn't feel guilty because the other person was just acting. Heh.’

Aunt Zhao, watching this scene unfold from the kitchen, slapped her own thigh lightly, her expression incredibly rich.

‘This stepmother really possesses some serious green-tea acting skills!’

"Auntie didn't expect you to say something like that. Is it because studying has been too stressful recently? It's okay, Auntie won't mind."

Ning Wanyuan's lips trembled slightly, as if desperately swallowing down her grievance, deeply imprinting the narrative of 'a gentle, good stepmother encountering an unbearable stepdaughter' into the servants' minds.

Sure enough, the servants standing on Ning Wanyuan's side looked at Shang Ying's unreasonable attitude with hints of blame in their eyes.

Shang Ying set her chopsticks down, looking at Ning Wanyuan with absolute seriousness and composure.

"These are my genuine, heartfelt words. Since Auntie cares about me so much, please go ahead and do it."

‘Hahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahaha! So satisfying, satisfying, satisfying, satisfying! SO SATISFYING~’