Having made up her mind, Qin Sheng began jotting down ideas on paper. Stock trading also required capital, so she carefully listed several methods to earn money and eventually settled on the final method she deemed most viable.
Just as she set down her pen, a servant entered without knocking, the clatter of her footsteps loud and irritating. Qin Sheng frowned in displeasure, her irritation mounting as the servant's presence disrupted her thoughts.
The servant unceremoniously dumped a large pile of clothes and toiletries on the floor and said in a grating tone, "These are your clothes and personal items. Madam asked me to bring them over."
With that, she muttered under her breath and began to leave, clearly eager to escape the scene.
"Does she really think she's a young lady? Just because she's back, she expects to be waited on hand and foot."
From the conversations she had overheard between Lin Shiya and Qin Hai in recent days, it was clear they had little regard for Qin Sheng. Their disdain was further compounded by the clash she had had with Qin Hai upon her return.
The servant, like everyone else, exhibited little respect for Qin Sheng, clearly disregarding her as if she were of no consequence.
"Wait."
Qin Sheng turned, narrowing her eyes as she assessed the servant with a steely gaze.
A mere servant?
In her previous life, in an attempt to make a favorable impression on Lin Shiya and Qin Hai, she had grown accustomed to swallowing her grievances. The servants had never treated her as the Qin family's young lady, always keeping their distance and exhibiting a lack of respect.
Such attitudes from the servants were undoubtedly instigated by Qin Churuo, who had a knack for manipulating perceptions to her advantage.
This time, she would not allow herself to be demeaned for the sake of irrelevant people.
Qin Sheng scoffed, "Who do you think you are, to address your employer with such disdain? Though I have just returned from the countryside, I am still a member of the Qin family. How dare you, a mere servant, assume superiority over me? Do you think if I reported this to Qin Hai, he would condone it?"
Qin Sheng's commanding presence and authoritative tone silenced the servant, who was immediately engulfed in a chill of fear.
Confronted by Qin Sheng's icy gaze and her words echoing in her mind, the servant's anger flared. How dare a seemingly insignificant person speak to her in such a manner? Even if Qin Sheng were the Qin family's young lady…
The servant's face stiffened, and her complexion drained of color as the realization of her precarious position sank in.
Regardless of her status as Qin Sheng's biological parent, Lin Shiya had not valued her, while she, a lowly servant, knew her place in the hierarchy of the household.
If Qin Sheng reported her to the master, she would surely face dismissal and possibly worse consequences.
Realizing this, the servant hastily apologized, her voice trembling, "Miss, I was at fault. I'm sorry. I won't do it again."
Qin Sheng's gaze toward the door was clear and unyielding.
Relieved by Qin Sheng's apparent willingness to overlook the matter, the servant hurriedly left the room, her legs trembling and her gait unsteady as she exited.
After the servant departed, Qin Sheng cast no more than a passing glance at the items Lin Shiya had prepared for her, discarding them into the trash bin without a second thought. After a brief washing, she climbed into bed.
Lying there, Qin Sheng kept her eyes open, contemplating the surreal events of the day. Though she had never believed in the supernatural, what had happened to her was undeniably real and offered a chance at redemption.
She had a chance to start anew, to reclaim all she had lost and more.
Brother Fu, Grandpa Lu.
She would not be manipulated into distancing herself from them again. This time, she was determined to hold on to those who truly mattered.
---
The next morning, Qin Sheng rose early, her resolve solidified.
Qin Churuo had already left for school, and when Qin Sheng descended the stairs, only Qin Hai and Lin Shiya remained for breakfast.
Qin Sheng pulled out a chair and sat at the table with a sense of purpose and calm.
"Sheng'er, I'll arrange for you to start school tomorrow. Life in the countryside is far different from H City. The educational conditions here are superior, and the students are exceptionally talented. Even the best performance from the countryside would rank at the bottom here, not to mention your already poor grades."
Qin Hai had little hope for Qin Sheng's future. A girl raised in the countryside had little chance of making a mark in such a competitive environment.
Fortunately, they had Churuo, who consistently ranked in the top ten and had studied painting with Master Qi, restoring some of his prestige and ensuring the family's status was upheld.
**(End of Chapter)**