Sitting beside her, Si Tu didn't even raise an eyebrow or bat an eye. Brushing off all his wife's absolute drivel, he'd always known Si Yang was reliable—so much so that he trusted her more than his own secretary like another Tuesday.
Aside from the hassle, it would cause him to send his secretary when there are so many things to handle with his company, who else could manage their family's affairs if not this dutiful daughter?
"Yang Yang, you know your father's company is expanding. So, I can't go with you. Just take this card and buy something nice for your friends when you see them."
Since this would probably be the last time, Si Tu found himself acting a bit generous and handed her a golden card with a few hundred thousand yuan on it.
A golden card? Well, this was rich.
Si Yang stared at it, her disdain barely concealed.
"T-Thanks, Dad. My friends will definitely be thrilled once they receive their presents."
The unimpressed lass secretly scoffed as she muttered upon receiving it. Her father only nodded while the rest were looking rather unhappy and annoyed, especially her mother turning green.
Si Yang couldn't be bothered. In any case, this money will end up in her pocket.
Friends? Is that edible?
Would she even have time to nurture such close relationships when she's just barely scraping by to make ends meet?
Aside from the pitiful crumbs of allowance they grudgingly tossed her every month, Si Yang had barely seen a single coin from her parents—especially not from her mother, who acted as though money was some rare treasure meant only for Si Nian and her oh-so-expensive treatment and medication that she couldn't afford to buy her older daughter a new school bag.
For that reason, she'd been forced to toil hard, working a dozen part-time jobs just to survive in college.
Giving her a few pennies before selling her off, really wow, how generous of them!
If this had been her in the past, she would've been moved, maybe even tearfully grateful. But now? Now it was just laughable.
Compared to Si Nian's platinum card, worth hundreds of millions, this was practically an insult. Like being handed a half-melted candy after agreeing to their ridiculous demands.
What next? A pat on the head and a "Good job, kid"?
Ridiculous!
"Okay, Mom, Dad. Yang Yang will do as you wish," she replied with a disheartened sigh, but the wide grin tugging at her lips was anything but sorrowful.
Father's seal, huh?
Asking them to go with her was indeed the perfect bait to get her hands on that valuable thing from her neglectful and complacent parents.
Since they readily offered it to her, of course, Si Yang would have to use it to its fullest and sign whatever it was that needed to be signed!
It's just that she had a sneaking suspicion it wouldn't be for something as simple as school affairs this time.
Si Yang clenched the card tightly, her knuckles turning white.
'Even if I drain your entire fortune and sell your souls to the afterlife, it won't be enough to pay off your sins and the horrors you've caused in both lifetimes.'
Not long ago, she'd still been clueless as to how they would be so heartless to throw her under the bus and dare tarnish their own daughter's name, but now?
Now, she didn't even have to wonder anymore. She finally got the underlying message along with the painful truth she'd been too stubborn to face all her life.
It was almost laughable, really.
Just thinking about all the torment, she had endured because of them, especially after that so-called "immortal" had sold her out like some common pawn to save his pitiful life during the apocalypse, made her stomach twist with disgust.
The sheer audacity was enough to make her want to scream.
Meanwhile, Madam Si shot a glance at her husband as he sluggishly got up to fetch the seal, her fingers tapping on her wristwatch like a ticking time bomb. Now that they'd finally gotten what they wanted and somehow convinced Si Yang, she didn't have the slightest intention of wasting another second breathing the same polluted air as that brat.
"If there's nothing else," she muttered, barely glancing at Si Yang, "then go pack your things." She stood up, clearly done with the whole charade.
But the moment she turned to her precious Si Nian, her cold expression melted away faster than an ice cube on a summer day, transforming into a sickeningly sweet, sugar-coated smile that could probably give someone a cavity just by looking at it. Si Yang felt like she might need a few shots of insulin just from witnessing it.
"Come now, Nian Nian, time for your supplements," Madam Si cooed.
"But Mom, those herbal tonics are so bitter," Si Nian whined, sticking out her tongue in a dramatic show of disgust.
Madam Si's face softened, her tone becoming unfamiliarly gentle, like she was auditioning for the role of "world's most devoted mother."
Si Yang, who'd been ignored and neglected her entire life, nearly fell out of her chair from the sheer absurdity.
"Nian Nian, the medicine is bitter, but it benefits the illness. Don't worry, after you finish it, I'll take you shopping!"
"Really?!"
Si Nian's eyes sparkled with excitement, but she quickly flinched upon realizing how she had been so obvious and easily pulled a long regretful face, trying to cover up the enthusiasm bubbling beneath.
She slowly turned to Si Yang, "Oh, I thought we could hang out today, but since Sister is obviously so busy... I guess Mom and I will just have to go enjoy ourselves. Don't worry though, Nian Nian won't bother you anymore. Right, Mom? We'll just grab some takeout for her later—she'll be fine." Her voice was practically dripping with insincerity.
Without waiting for a response, the two of them stormed out of the room, practically glued to each other, arms intertwined like the best of friends. Si Yang let out a long, barely contained sigh of disgust.
Not even a moment later, she reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone, and quickly typed a number that she knew all too well from her past life, sending a message with a hint of cold amusement.
To: XXXX
[My Little Ancestor, are you open-minded and want to make a fortune?]