Wen Zhi walked into the teahouse, looked around, and saw a waitress dressed in a qipao coming towards her with a gentle smile.
"Are you looking for someone?"
"Is there an older man who has come here?"
The waitress nodded, "Yes, please follow me."
They walked one after another without delaying Wen Zhi from sizing up the teahouse.
The interior of the teahouse was decorated with an antique charm, and upon entering, she almost thought she had time-traveled.
The waitress stopped in front of room number 888, knocked twice on the door lightly, then opened it, turning to Wen Zhi, "This is the place."
Wen Zhi thanked her and walked straight in.
At first glance, she saw a man with graying temples sitting at the center, wearing a plain Zhongshan suit, looking very imposing.
She looked at the 'old acquaintance' in front of her and curled her lips, "I didn't expect that after a few years, your health is still as vigorous as ever."
Since Wen Zhi had left the He Family, Grandpa He indeed hadn't seen her again and, having caught wind of her whereabouts, wanted to meet and see for himself how she had turned out over the years.
Wen Zhi was naturally good-looking back in the day, and now, after going through society's trials, learning the art of dealing with people, and becoming more tactful, the charming air about her had only grown stronger.
It could make any man in his prime feel his blood surge upon seeing her.
"My health is certainly not your concern," Grandpa He snorted coldly.
Although he didn't harbor good feelings toward Wen Zhi, his gaze incessantly swept over her.
Her appearance had matured greatly, and her curvaceous figure was particularly suitable for the He Family's use.
The He Family often needed social interaction, and to Grandpa He, women were merely tools that could be exploited. Wen Zhi was still the He Family's foster daughter, so she should know what to do.
Having encountered all sorts of people, Wen Zhi had roughly figured out their thoughts, especially with Grandpa He's unguarded gaze, which could hardly make her misjudge his intentions.
However, she had no desire to initiate the conversation.
Wen Zhi pulled out a chair opposite her and sat down gracefully, pouring herself a cup of tea to taste.
"Grandpa He, if you keep staring at me like this, people might mistakenly think you harbor inappropriate thoughts at your age," Wen Zhi said with a laugh.
Upon hearing this, Grandpa He's face turned red, and he slammed his hand down on the table forcefully.
A loud 'bang' emanated from the table.
"Nonsense!"
"Why so agitated? Could it be that you're angry because I actually guessed right?"
Wen Zhi covered her mouth and giggled.
After many years, Grandpa He felt an unsettling sense of being unable to control the cunning Wen Zhi before him.
Impossible, she was after all brought up by the He Family, and from any perspective, when the time came, she should contribute to the He Family.
"You've been wild outside for too long, forgetting the proper upbringing that the He Family taught you, disgraceful!" Grandpa He chastised.
If this had happened a few years earlier, Wen Zhi would have been scared and at a loss, fearing that the anger of the He Family members might lead them to drive her out and leave her homeless.
Back then, she was like duckweed, without any support.
To her, the He Family was like a life-saving straw, something she had to cling to desperately, no matter what.
But now, things have changed.
She had already endured all the hardships by herself, how could she possibly feel inferior again just because of a few words from him.
She had had enough of the dark, never-ending days in the He Family!
Wen Zhi curled her lips into a smile, her lips leaving the teacup and slowly placing it back onto the table.
She looked at Grandpa He, his face flushed with anger, and her smile deepened, "What the He Family taught me, we both know very well, I didn't learn a thing about manners or upbringing, the only thing I learned was how to bow and scrape, to obey mindlessly, even to be as low as to act like a dog for men."
"Do you really think that by saying these lofty words, you can make me forget everything that happened?"
"That's right, people of your age are good at relying on their seniority to shift all the blame onto me, making me continue to carry the burden of guilt, right?"
Towards the end, a cold light slowly emerged in Wen Zhi's eyes.
She might speak these words lightly, but each and every one of them made her relive the unbearable past once again.
Each word was like a knife, cutting into her heart, blood spilling everywhere.
Grandpa He's face looked even uglier, yet he felt not an ounce of remorse, completely dismissing her words.
He snorted and stared straight at Wen Zhi.
"You've grown up. The He Family supported you unconditionally in the past, and now it's time for you to repay us."
Repay?
How laughable.
All they wanted was for her to sell her body, yet he had the nerve to make it sound so respectable.
A heart of a beast in human guise.
Wen Zhi crossed her legs, folded her arms, leaned back slightly, and looked at Grandpa He with compelling eyes, firmly refusing, "Impossible."
"Ungrateful wretch! Do you know how much the He Family has invested in you!"
"Back then, I was nothing more than a financial burden to the He Family. If we're talking about living expenses, we can settle that now. How much money? I can even pay you double, no, triple, but to think that I would repay the He Family, dream on!"
Wen Zhi lowered her arms, looked at Grandpa He with a face full of rage, slowly stood up, and her face turned cold and stern.
"My worth is not low nowadays. Material wealth, I lack none, and moreover, I'm no longer a person from the He Family. Don't even think about using that as a reason to tie me down!"
This scene had appeared in her dreams countless times, and now that she was actually doing it, there was an indescribable sense of relief in her heart.
She didn't look at Grandpa He again, and after speaking her piece, she turned and left immediately.
She had said all that needed to be said and didn't want to stay a moment longer, not wanting to exchange another word with this nauseating old man.
The door was pushed open and then shut automatically, Grandpa He kept staring in the direction of the door.
At first, he was somewhat angry, but soon, Grandpa He calmed down.
Anger is not an emotion befitting those in power.
Grandpa He's eyes slightly darkened, he raised his hand and gently stroked his chin, a confident expression slowly emerging in his eyes.
It was the He Family who had taken her in initially, and if they could control her back then, they could do so again today.
Such a promising prospect, it would be a pity if she couldn't be used for the benefit of the He Family, wouldn't it?
Moreover, the identity of a fostered daughter of the He Family, could arouse the desires of other men even more.