At the dinner table of the second house.
Shen Xi's father occupied the main chair, with her stepmother seated to his right and her fourth sister to his left. Shen Xi took a place beside Shen Miao, across from her younger brother who sat next to his mother.
Shen Miao seemed displeased to see her fifth sister at the family table, as she vied for her father's attention.
Attempting to gain her father's favor, Shen Miao began, "Father, today Master Shao visited our class and praised my painting. He said he would recommend me for the annual apprentice-level painting competition."
Second Master Shen expressed joy at his daughter's opportunity to participate in the competition, even if she didn't win. "Then you should prepare well for the competition." he encouraged.
Shen Miao's mother, Second Madam Shen, added proudly, "Our daughter is so clever that she can participate in such a competition at the tender age of eight. If she excels, she might even be accepted as a disciple of Grandmaster Yu."
Shen Miao looked at Shen Xi with a smug smile. Master Shao is a disciple of Grandmaster Yu, a renowned high-grade painter in the imperial city.
Although artistic talent wasn't inherently powerful, it possessed a unique utility. A high-grade painting had the potential to facilitate breakthroughs and provide insights to those of lower abilities, provided there was sufficient compatibility between the painting and the person's innate skills.
In the early days of Shen Xi's mental health issues, Shen Zhuang had invested in an expensive painting by Grandmaster Yu with the hope that it might cure her condition. Unfortunately, the attempt had proven futile.
The realms in the world of painting were the same as with any other ability: Apprentice, Master, Grandmaster, and Transcendent. Those realms were further divided into low, intermediate, high, and peak levels.
Master Shao, at the tender age of 30, held the status of a high-level master painter, a testament to his prodigious talent. Being a disciple of a grandmaster only added to his reputation, making him a well-known and respected figure in the capital. His praise for Shen Miao indicated her exceptional talent in the art of painting. However, her journey towards grandmaster status would necessitate the awakening of her innate ability. This was significant because painters without abilities couldn't progress beyond the apprentice level. Even achieving the Apprentice realm without abilities required an abundance of raw talent and unwavering dedication.
Shen Miao was already a low-level apprentice painter at the age of eight and could indeed be considered a prodigy. She was confident she would awaken her ability soon. Why? Because she has reincarnated back in time and knew the future.
However, what left Shen Miao shocked was the fact that Shen Xi had recovered from her illness. In her past life, Shen Xi never recovered and died young. This led her to wonder whether her sister had also returned to the past or if this was a butterfly effect of her own reincarnation. She would consider these issues later. Right now, she had her own plans to focus on. As long as Shen Xi didn't interfere with her, she wouldn't pay her much mind. After all, even though Shen Xi was no longer afflicted by her condition, she was still insignificant.
Shen Miao, seemingly kind and benevolent, turned to Shen Xi. "Fifth sister, in the past, you were unwell, which is why you didn't attend the academy. But now that you have recovered, it wouldn't befit a daughter of the Shen clan to remain uneducated. How about you join me in attending the academy? If Young sister has any difficulties, you can come to me for help, and I'll teach you."
Father Shen was touched by his eldest daughter's consideration, but Shen Xi's response was cold. "I don't want to go to the academy," she stated flatly.
This response displeased her father who frowned, and Shen Miao continued, "Fourth sister, you don't have to be afraid. It's alright if you don't understand; I'll do my best to help."
Shen Xi regarded her fourth sister with a cold stare. "It's not about that. Ever since you and our cousins began attending school, I've seen you every day, dressed in beautiful outfits. All my clothes are old, and the only decent ones are the ones my nanny bought for me with her limited funds. I don't have anything suitable to wear to school."
Second Madam Shen appeared alarmed and tried to wear a pitiful look. "Shen Xi, what are you saying? Haven't you received the clothes I make for you every New Year? Why are you lying? I know you don't like me, but I've always done my best to care for you."
Shen Xi interjected, showing no regard for her stepmother's pitiful expression.
"The clothes you sent me each year are the old clothes Shen Miao has already worn. Did aunt think I wouldn't notice because I'm stupid?"
Second Madam Shen tried to explain.
"I made a set of clothes for both of you, but I didn't give them to you right away to avoid you getting them dirty. That's why you sometimes saw Miao'er wearing them first. You might not remember, given your illness, but last year, you threw a tantrum because you admired your sister's clothes, and she kindly gave them to you."
Shen Xi stared coldly at her stepmother.
"Oh. Actually, I remember very well. My tears weren't over wanting Fourth sister's clothes. I cried because you gave me Shen Miao's old blue dress for the New Year but you made her a new dress. I threw a fit because I also wanted a new dress. However that day, not only did I not receive The new clothes, but you also lied to Father who directly blamed me for being insensible. "
Her stepmother wanted to say something to salvage the situation but Shen Xi did not give her the chance and continued her speech. She turned to her father who wore a confused expression on his face and said:
"Father, even though my mother is no longer here, I am still your legitimate daughter from your first wife," Shen Xi continued, her voice devoid of emotion. "Is it necessary to humiliate me and my late mother by making me wear the leftovers of your concubine's child?"
Father Shen was at first taken aback by these revelations, and his expression revealed his initial confusion. While he wasn't particularly fond of Shen Xi due to her illness, she was still the only child born from the woman he once deeply loved. If she was mistreated by his new wife, he would be unable to face his late wife.
However, Shen Xi's last statement touched upon a dark aspect of his life, making his expression turn ugly. He wanted to reprimand her, but her cold, indifferent eyes had a chilling effect, and he swallowed his words, his guilt clear.
Shen Xi rose from her chair, her voice still cold as ice. "In the past, I endured numerous grievances because of my illness. I no longer care about that past. Mother told me to let go. However, Father, I don't want Aunt to manage my affairs any longer. My nanny is sufficient. I also request that my pocket money from the past three years be returned to me, along with new dresses to make up for the previous years."
Shen Xi's words hung in the air, her demeanor cold and unyielding. Her father felt a twinge of irritation, facing this direct call-out from his daughter. Nevertheless, the stark indifference in her eyes seemed to echo his late wife's expression during the years after his betrayal. He could only cast a disappointed look at his now-wife and instruct her not to interfere with Shen Xi's affairs any longer.
Li Ning, although resentful, had no choice but to endure the situation. After all, she had spent years cultivating an image of sensibility and victimhood, and she couldn't afford to jeopardize her persona.
Shen Miao, on the other hand, was left in puzzlement. She had assumed that even if Shen Xi recovered from her condition, she still had much to learn and would never surpass her. However, the events of the evening had made her reconsider, prompting her to pay more attention to her once-disregarded sister.