Chapter 7: A Group of Mindless, Reckless Fools

Following her gaze, Shi Yun’s eyes flickered slightly. She shifted her shoulders awkwardly, trying to let the stray strands of hair fall back over the reddened mark.

“Did they bully you?” Jiang Zhiyu’s eyes flashed with anger. “How could they do that? It’s absolutely outrageous!”

Shi Yun bit her lip softly, remained silent for a moment, then spoke slowly, “It’s nothing, Zhiyu. It was just an accidental scratch…”

“Don’t lie to me. That doesn’t look accidental at all,” Jiang Zhiyu fixed her gaze on Shi Yun’s eyes. “Tell me what really happened. I’ll go confront them!”

Shi Yun gave an embarrassed smile.

Alright, she couldn’t hide it anymore.

Jiang Zhiyu, seeing Shi Yun’s expression, realized what was going on a little late.

She crossed her arms, raised an eyebrow, and dragged out her tone, “No, you’re hiding something from me. Confess now, and I’ll go easy on you. Resist, and I won’t.”

Shi Yun lowered her eyes, her slender fingers gently turning the cup in her hand as she calmly recounted everything that had happened.

After listening, Jiang Zhiyu rolled her eyes and smiled meaningfully, saying, “That’s more like it. You used to be so fierce with Shen Yuezhou that even Wang Baochuan would dig up wild vegetables for you. Luckily, you’re out of that mess now. So tell me, how is he?”

Shi Yun glanced at her, “How is who?”

Jiang Zhiyu grinned mischievously and nudged Shi Yun with her elbow, “Oh, come on, don’t pretend.”

Shi Yun’s usually cold face flushed bright red instantly. She raised her hand and swatted Jiang Zhiyu, “What kind of nonsense is going through your head!”

Jiang Zhiyu laughed and dodged, saying as she moved away, “I’m just concerned about you. Fu Siyu looks so pure and indifferent, but men like that—behind closed doors—they’re wolves in sheep’s clothing, irresistible and wild, right?”

Shi Yun raised her hand to her forehead, “...I was drunk. I don’t remember.”

Jiang Zhiyu’s expression was full of gossip.

—

Early the next morning, Shi Yun and Jiang Zhiyu sat at the breakfast table.

Warm sunlight bathed the room, making everything feel comfortable.

As they enjoyed their meal, they scrolled through their phones, eagerly sharing interesting posts with each other, chatting and laughing.

Suddenly, Jiang Zhiyu’s face darkened. She slammed her phone onto the table with a sharp “crack” and shouted angrily, “A bunch of brainless idiots spewing nonsense!”

Shi Yun was startled by the sudden noise and looked down at the phone on the table.

On the screen, a scandalous video blazed with a glaring headline: “Ruan Tian Usurped by Vicious Fake Heiress.”

Seeing this, Shi Yun’s eyes grew cold, her lips pressed into a thin line.

She picked up the phone and clicked to watch the video.

The footage showed the scene from yesterday’s banquet where Ruan Tian had staged the wine spill herself.

Maliciously edited and distorted, the video made it look like Shi Yun was bullying Ruan Tian.

She smiled faintly.

If she weren’t the one involved, she might have believed it.

Opening the comment section, she was met with a barrage of insults and slander:

“They’ve been in wealthy families for years and still act this poorly! Born trash!”

“That bitch stole someone else’s life for over twenty years, and now she’s bullying others? Why doesn’t she just die?”

“I’m so disgusted. If I ever see her, I’ll throw ten rotten eggs at her!”

“We’re all princesses, so why is she the only one who’s sick?”

“Poor Ruan Tian, having everything taken from her. She must have suffered so much all these years.”

“Seeing what happened to Ruan Tian made me cry. That bitch deserves punishment and should return everything she stole.”

The comments split into two camps—one fiercely attacking Shi Yun, the other pitying Ruan Tian’s fate.

Shi Yun gently put down the phone and said calmly, “The innocent remain innocent. No need to pay attention.”

Jiang Zhiyu sighed.

She knew Shi Yun’s nature well—lazy by temperament and averse to endless disputes. No matter how serious the matter, she remained composed.

Even when it concerned herself, she showed no ripple of emotion.

But Jiang Zhiyu couldn’t help but feel protective. The more indifferent Shi Yun was, the more she worried. “This video is so badly edited; anyone with eyes can see it’s deliberately pieced together. Can Ruan Tian’s fans grow some sense?”

Shi Yun lowered her long lashes and said lightly, “If they had any sense, they wouldn’t be her fans.”

Jiang Zhiyu bit her lip, silenced by the truth in her words.

After finishing breakfast, Shi Yun tidied herself and prepared to leave.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her and stopped in her tracks.

Shi Yun wore a lotus-pink silk cheongsam, the color as fresh and tender as spring’s first peach blossoms.

The dress clung to her figure perfectly, accentuating her slender waist that seemed small enough to be pinched by two hands.

A gentle jade bracelet adorned her fair, delicate wrist, enhancing her elegance.

She looked like a beauty from an ancient painting, born to wear such exquisite attire. Ordinary clothes could never showcase her charm like this.

Jiang Zhiyu came back to herself and stepped forward with concern, “Yun Yun, are you sure it’s safe for you to go out alone?”

Shi Yun’s expression was indifferent, “I can’t just skip work.”

Everything in the Shi family was no longer hers.

If she didn’t work hard, she wouldn’t even have a place to eat.

With that, she brushed past Jiang Zhiyu and headed for the door.

Jiang Zhiyu pursed her lips and muttered as she followed, “Don’t underestimate online bullying. It’s not safe to go out alone now. Let me take you.”

Shi Yun raised her hand, brushing hair behind her ear, “No need. You go about your business.”

Jiang Zhiyu stopped and watched Shi Yun’s retreating figure, sighing helplessly, “Be careful, then.”

Shi Yun paused briefly, answering softly, “Mm.”

Then she opened the door and left.

After a few steps, she turned back and grabbed the blazer she had packed in a bag.

Shi Yun settled into the backseat of a taxi, closed the door, and took out her phone.

Her fingers swiped to unlock it and saw a message from Shi Xiao: [Don’t come to the company for the next few days.]

The message was brief and cold, without any explanation or warmth.

Shi Yun’s eyes dimmed slightly, but a self-mocking smile curved her lips.

She hadn’t planned to return to the Shi family’s company anyway.

She usually split her time between the studio and the company.

Not going to the company now was just saving her precious time.

Just then, the phone rang sharply, breaking the quiet in the car.

Shi Yun lowered her eyes to see the caller ID: Ji Xiaolin.

A strange unease stirred in her heart.

Ji Xiaolin ran a teahouse right next to Shi Yun’s studio, Mo Rutang.

Mo Rutang was tucked away in a quiet corner, visited only by those needing calligraphy mounting or restoration and the occasional passerby.