Wen Ying’s joy was practically spilling over!
The thought of that “vixen” who’d haunted her for over a decade being expelled from school tomorrow made her so happy she wanted to roll around in bed, wrapped in her blanket.
Plus, her crayfish business, just three days old, had already won over customers. Everything was heading in a positive direction—how could Wen Ying not be thrilled?
After crushing the trash, she was still that upbeat kid from before!
Bounding up the stairs in a few strides, Wen Ying fished out her keys. Before she could unlock the door, Deng Shangwei yanked it open from inside.
“Uncle!”
Deng Shangwei’s nose stung.
How long had it been since this girl called him that so sweetly?
Lately, his status in Wen Ying’s eyes had plummeted. He couldn’t figure out this little princess’s moods—when she tossed him a smile, he’d be over the moon for half the day.
Wen Ying peeked inside, “You done talking with Auntie?”
“Done.”
“Everything out in the open, no secrets?”
Deng Shangwei gave a wry smile, “You think I’d dare hide anything now?”
Wen Ying huffed, “Hard to say… Did Auntie hit you?”
Deng Shangwei glanced back into the room, putting on a serious face, “Don’t talk nonsense. Your aunt’s so gentle—how could she hit me?”
True, no marks on his face, arms, or neck. But as he moved to close the door, his knee seemed off… Wen Ying saw through it but didn’t call him out. She grinned at him until Deng Shangwei surrendered, “You little trickster, can’t you let me save some face?”
Of course she could.
Chen Li emerged from the room, her expression cold toward Deng Shangwei. In front of Wen Ying, she made it clear: if anything like this happened again—true or not—he’d be packing his bags and leaving this house for good.
“Xiao Jie and Xiao Hao can’t grow up in this kind of environment!”
Deng Shangwei hung his head in shame.
Business didn’t have to mean sleazy nightlife deals. Toxic connections needed cutting—this mess had taught him a hard lesson.
Just as he was about to swear an oath, his phone buzzed on the coffee table.
Seeing “Pan Li” on the caller ID, Wen Ying and Chen Li both turned to him. Deng Shangwei shushed them, calmly answered, and—for transparency—put it on speaker.
Pan Li’s syrupy, nauseating voice oozed through, spouting the same tired clichés.
She framed her provocation as merely wanting a distant glimpse of Chen Li, curious about the woman Deng “loved.”
Meeting Chen Li, she claimed, showed her she couldn’t compare in any way, and she couldn’t help saying a few words.
Scaring the kids? She denied it outright.
Not only that, she sobbed pitifully over the phone, “Deng哥, I know I was wrong. I’m paying for it now—tomorrow the school’s announcing my expulsion. I don’t blame Chen姐 for sending people to make a scene. I wronged her first… No matter how bad I was, the child’s innocent. Don’t worry, Deng哥, I’ll go somewhere no one knows me, raise the kid alone. I’m just calling to say goodbye.”
Deng Shangwei nearly broke character, tempted to urge her to keep the baby.
—Go ahead and have it; it’s not his anyway. If Pan Li wanted to play single mom, he’d give her a big “respect.”
But acting in front of his wife and niece was a real test of skill!
He scolded Pan Li a few times—genuine, no acting needed—until she cried harder. Then, leaning on his performance, he urged her to abort and start fresh, saying she was young and shouldn’t ruin her life over one mistake. The latter half was pure theater—after what Pan Li pulled that morning, he wouldn’t spare her a shred of pity no matter how low she sank.
Pan Li wouldn’t budge. Deng Shangwei snapped, “I’ve got my own family mess to sort out. If you keep provoking my wife and she does worse to you, I won’t step in!”
He hung up.
Chen Li gave him a half-smile, half-smirk. Deng Shangwei felt the pressure, “Boss Qin says to drag it out, keep Yu Wenhao on the hook. Honey, I swear I don’t want to say another word to that woman!”
He knew he’d screwed up—shouldn’t have given Pan Li an inch from the start. But he felt a bit wronged too. Coming from the countryside to the city, how was he supposed to know these people’s tricks?
Wen Ying laughed so hard her shoulders shook, “To fool Yu Wenhao, are you and Auntie staging a big family blowout?”
Deng Shangwei nodded mournfully, “I can’t even stay home lately—I’m a man ‘caught cheating’ and kicked out by his wife!”
Chen Li glared, “Enough. No outsiders here—quit acting like you’re hooked on it. If you’re moving out, grab some clothes already.”
Deng Shangwei, always a pushover for his wife, now treated her words like gospel. For the full act, he dug out a ratty old suitcase and lugged it downstairs.
Neighbors peeked at him, seeing the shabby case and his evasive eyes. The小区 rumors were confirmed.
From the window, Chen Li watched him leave the building, sighing, “I like this小区, but your uncle thinks we should move once this is over.”
She didn’t mind gossip as long as they faced it together—no hurdle was too big.
But she worried about Deng Jie and Deng Hao overhearing nasty whispers, affecting their growth.
Wen Ying pondered.
In her last life, her aunt and uncle divorced, and the memories here stung, so they moved fast. This life, they likely wouldn’t split, yet they still planned to relocate… Full circle—some things changed, some stayed on track?
Chen Li wanted to buy in the same小区 as Wen Ying’s family. She wasn’t keen on living near Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong, but for Wen Ying, she’d stay close to help.
The next day was tutoring with Xie Qian. Wen Ying noticed even Nanny Wang and Teacher Lin were extra attentive—yesterday’s drama must’ve spread.
Ugh, if the Jiang family heard, no wonder her aunt wanted out.
At noon, Lin Lin invited Wen Ying to eat. Wen Ying trotted out her excuse about buying study guides. Lin Lin cleared her throat, “Anything you need, Xie Qian can use too. Go together!”
She shot Xie Qian a pointed look.
Xie Qian stood promptly, “I’ll go with you to the bookstore.”
To save time, they skipped the bus for a taxi.
Once inside, before Wen Ying could speak, Xie Qian told the driver, “Music Academy.” Wen Ying grinned smugly, “You want to see our victory from yesterday too, huh?”
Xie Qian’s tone was casual, “I’m worried you’d get jumped going alone.”
Wen Ying snorted, “Even if I get beat, I’d hold them off so you could run!”
Xie Qian didn’t reply. Wen Ying thought she imagined a fleeting smile on his lips.
At the Music Academy, it wasn’t like yesterday’s free rein. Security guarded the gates, tensing at the sight of this “black wind duo.”
“I didn’t bring a megaphone today!”
Security peeked behind them, ensuring no reporters trailed, then relaxed. They escorted Wen Ying and Xie Qian—flanked on all sides—to the bulletin board. Seeing Pan Li’s expulsion notice, Wen Ying felt every pore rejoice. She snapped a photo for keeps.
“Did Pan Li come today?”
Security couldn’t answer. Professor Fang, passing by, paused at Wen Ying’s aggression, “Young girl, don’t be so ruthless at your age.”
Wen Ying smiled, avoiding a spat. Xie Qian turned to Fang, “Do you have kids?”
