Chapter 6: Oscar Owes You a Little Golden Statue

Ruan Tian’s smile faltered. Her eyes turned slightly red, and she bit her lip, whispering, "Brother Yuezhou, I am only concerned about you. Why are you always so cold to me?"

Shen Yuezhou caught a glimpse of her reddened eyes, but his expression remained unchanged. He looked straight ahead and replied, "I am not. I have matters to attend to; I must leave."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Ruan Tian stood frozen in place, her eyes fixed intently on his tall, retreating back. A moment later, as if venting her frustration, she stomped her foot hard, a flash of intense jealousy crossing her eyes.

How could this be!

One after another, they all circled around the fake heiress, Shi Yun, as if they were under a spell.

Shi Yun had occupied everything that originally belonged to her. After all these years, it was time for her to return it all!

At the other end of the banquet hall, Shi Yun stood quietly in a corner. The light from the crystal chandelier gathered above her, making her expression appear all the more cold and lonely. She picked up a glass of red wine but only took a small sip. The cold liquid spread across her tongue, yet it could not cool the agitation in her heart.

She was in a foul mood. Her chest felt as if it were tightly stuffed with a rag soaked in sour, bitter bile. A sense of stifling grievance surged up, stinging her nose and causing her eyes to well up with moisture.

A home that wasn't a home, the arrogant Ruan Tian, the heartless Shen Yuezhou...

Shi Yun lifted her head slightly, holding back the tears that threatened to fall.

"Sister, why are you hiding here all by yourself?" Ruan Tian approached, her body swaying gracefully.

Shi Yun lowered her eyes, masking her emotions. She cast a faint glance at her, ignored her, and turned to walk away. There was no point in talking to someone who didn't understand her. Shi Yun didn't think there was anything worth discussing with Ruan Tian.

Seeing this, Ruan Tian curled her lips slightly, deliberately tripped, and bumped into Shi Yun.

The wine glass in Shi Yun’s hand swayed, and the liquid splashed out, with the majority landing precisely on Ruan Tian’s gown. The wine stain spread across the gorgeous fabric, looking particularly jarring.

Ruan Tian’s scream pierced the noise of the banquet. Her eyes instantly turned red, tears swirling within them as she cried out, "Sister, what are you doing! I know you’re jealous that Mom and Dad love me more now, but you can’t treat me like this! This dress was specially prepared by Mom for me. It’s my first time wearing it—how could you be so cruel?"

As she spoke, she clutched the wine-soaked area of the dress, her fingers trembling, looking utterly heartbroken.

People nearby heard the commotion and crowded around, pointing at the two of them.

"What’s going on? Is the fake heiress bullying the real one?"
"I guess she’s just feeling unbalanced."
"Why does the Shi family keep this fake one around? Won't these two be fighting every other day?"
"Exactly. She always looks so aloof, I never expected her to be so vicious!"

Listening to the chatter, Shi Yun’s lips curled into a mocking arc. "Ruan Tian, the Oscars owe you a golden statue." She really was a professional in the entertainment industry, acting wherever she pleased.

At this moment, Gao Yun and Shi Xiao hurried over upon hearing the commotion. Gao Yun protectively pulled Ruan Tian behind her and scolded Shi Yun, "Xiao Yun, how could you do this! Your sister just came back; can’t you let her have her way for once? What did you promise me at noon?"

Shi Xiao also frowned, looking at Shi Yun with dissatisfaction. "You are too immature. Apologize to your sister at once!"

Neither of them asked about the cause or the sequence of events; they simply launched into a barrage of accusations against Shi Yun.

Ruan Tian hid behind Gao Yun, a flash of triumph in her eyes. She tugged on Gao Yun’s sleeve and said hypocritically, "Mom, forget it. Sister probably didn't mean it..." Then, she sobbed to Shi Yun, "Sister, if you don't like me, I'll just tell Mom and Dad that I'll leave..."

Shi Yun watched the performance and found it laughable. But she had no desire to explain herself. Before these so-called family members, explanations were futile; no matter what she said, it would ultimately be deemed her fault.

She took a deep breath and said coldly, "No, I will be the one to leave."

With that, she strode away under the varied gazes of the crowd.

Shi Xiao watched Shi Yun’s departing back, his brow furrowing even tighter. He turned to Gao Yun and said with a note of resentment, "Look at that. You’ve truly spoiled this girl until she’s lawless. Look at the scene this has caused—what does it look like!"

Gao Yun opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but finally sighed helplessly without saying a word.

It was they who had insisted that Shi Yun not leave the Shi family. Setting aside their years of affection, the effort and expectations they had invested in her over the years created a "sunk cost" that was plain to see.

But ever since Ruan Tian returned, things had spiraled, and the situation seemed to be heading in a direction they could no longer control. The two exchanged a glance, a flicker of imperceptible worry and regret passing between them. However, in this public setting, they could only suppress these complicated emotions, intending to deal with the aftermath once the banquet concluded.

Gao Yun quickly adjusted her expression, squeezed out a smile, patted Ruan Tian’s shoulder to soothe her, and then raised her voice to the surrounding crowd, "Everyone, I am so sorry for the spectacle. It’s just a small misunderstanding between the children. Please, everyone, continue, do continue."

The surrounding guests echoed her sentiments, saying, "It’s nothing, nothing at all. They’re just kids."

After leaving the banquet hall, Shi Yun took a taxi to Jiang Zhiyu’s place.

Jiang Zhiyu opened the door and, seeing Shi Yun’s strange expression, pulled her inside without a word. "Sit for a moment. I’ll pour you some tea to warm you up."

Jiang Zhiyu walked into the kitchen and soon returned with a hot cup of tea, placing it before Shi Yun. Shi Yun picked up the cup, took a small sip, and began to recount what had happened at the Shi house and the banquet.

Her tone was calm and cold, but the more Jiang Zhiyu heard, the angrier she became, her face flushing red.

"That Ruan Tian is truly shameless!" Jiang Zhiyu stood up abruptly, clenching her fists. "It’s obvious she framed you on purpose and is now playing the victim. She’s like a vintage Longjing tea—a total 'green tea' manipulator! And your parents, accusing you without even asking what happened? Have they lost their minds? Don't they know what kind of person you are? Does all that affection from so many years not measure up to a blood connection?"

Shi Yun’s eyes reddened, and she shook her head with a bitter smile. "I feel like an outsider in that house. No, I *am* an outsider."

Jiang Zhiyu hugged Shi Yun, her heart aching. "What outsider? This isn't your fault."

She was about to say more to comfort her when she caught a glimpse of a red mark on Shi Yun’s back. The mark had been covered by Shi Yun’s cascading hair, but because of her movements, her hair had become slightly messy, revealing the faint red line.

"Yunyun, what happened here?" Jiang Zhiyu asked, her voice full of worry and anxiety as she pointed to the visible red marks.