Sheng Congzhi had just returned to Tinglan Garden when she received a medical test report through WeChat.
Li Chao: "The test results are out. These Chinese medicines are highly toxic and heat-inducing, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, not at all what was advertised as body-regulating and fetus-preserving medication. They're more like abortion drugs."
Sheng Congzhi raised her eyebrows.
She knew it—how could Pei Qianyun be so eager to have her bear Fu Yan's child? As expected...
Her phone rang again.
This time it was Ye Lianhai: "What were you thinking, smashing the car? Having a fit of madness? Must you always be defiant against your elders? I'm telling you, keep making a fuss, and it won't end well for you…"
Sheng Congzhi hung up directly.
She used not to understand—why didn't the Ye Family like her even though she was clearly their daughter?
It wasn't until an eavesdropped conversation that she found out she was adopted.
Because Ye Jiaorui disappeared shortly after being born, and after several years of fruitless searching, they followed a master's advice and chose her from an orphanage based on her birthdate.
They said it would accumulate merit and help them find their biological daughter sooner.
So she took the surname Sheng after Sheng Wanrou.
Even her name was carefully calculated: Jiaorui, delicate like a flower pistil; whereas she was named Congzhi, merely a branch used to highlight the beauty of the flowers.
But she was too naive back then, thinking she wasn't loved because she wasn't good enough or doing well enough.
So she studied hard, tried desperately to please them, and even put up with all sorts of tolerance and humiliation.
Until half a year ago, Ye Jiaorui returned, and the whole ordeal made Sheng Congzhi truly understand: she was just an expendable substitute.
Knowing this, she wouldn't tolerate it anymore!
**
The Ye Family was now in utter chaos.
The red sports car was battered, its glass shattered, the body scratched, and many people gathered around, pointing and whispering.
Since the car was parked outside, the Ye Family didn't hear the noise. By the time they found out, the homeowner's group chat was flooded with messages, everyone thinking the Ye Family had been targeted for revenge…
"Dad, calm down," said Ye Jiaorui. "Sister Zhizhi must have just felt wronged, so she acted impulsively and made a mistake…"
"What has she got to be wrong about? She's enjoyed the love that was yours for twenty years. Now is she aggrieved just because she is asked to sacrifice a little bit?"
"Is being wronged a reason to smash a car? She's just being malicious!"
Ye Jiaorui smugly thought to herself, but outwardly put on a pretense: "Now that I suddenly take over her lead role, won't that affect her negatively?"
"What's wrong with that?" Sheng Wanrou said. "The entertainment industry is all about your background. You are the Ye Family's precious daughter, you should have the lead female role!"
Ye Donghai took out his cellphone: "I'll call President Zhao right now. He can name his own terms as long as you can play the lead role!"
Ye Jiaorui was touched: "Dad, Mom, you're so good to me…"
"Silly child, you're our own flesh and blood. If we don't treat you well, who should we treat well?" Sheng Wanrou promised. "Just focus on your acting from now on, and leave everything else to Mom and Dad."
Ye Jiaorui nodded. "I will definitely try my hardest."
Sheng Congzhi had taken up space in the Ye Family for twenty years, enjoying all the resources and wealth that should have been hers, and now at twenty-one, she was already a rising star in the entertainment industry.
But what about herself? At twenty-four, she had been in the industry for several years, always playing minor roles! She had even flattered Sheng Congzhi, shamelessly, to secure a minor maidservant role in a drama, even respectfully calling her "Sister Zhi."
The worst part was, this role ended up being given to a newcomer who was even less influential than she was!
Thinking about this, Ye Jiaorui felt a mixture of regret and hatred.
So starting now, not only would she take back everything that belonged to her, but most importantly, she would completely drive Sheng Congzhi out of the Ye Family!
…
The next morning, the Ye Family picked up a new car.
The following day, they personally escorted their daughter to the company.
In the elevator was Sheng Congzhi.
Wearing brown sunglasses and high heels, dressed in a red gown, she exuded an extraordinary air of arrogance.
Ye Jiaorui couldn't help herself, "Sister Zhizhi, the lead female role of 'Palace' has been switched to me, haven't you gotten the notice?"
Sheng Congzhi, playing with the agarwood bracelet on her wrist, her red lips cold, couldn't be bothered with her.
Being ignored in front of everyone, Ye Jiaorui felt humiliated and pushed further, "How can you still not understand your own status? I advise you to go back to your place to avoid embarrassing yourself in front of the director later…"
"Tsck?" Sheng Congzhi finally looked up, but towards her side, "Wanwan, the lead role has been changed?"
Her assistant Chang Wan was taken aback, "No, I haven't received any notification…"
"In that case," Sheng Congzhi continued, "Ye Jiaorui, this is Yihua, you're just an 18th-tier celebrity in the company, do you think you have the right to act up here?"
How could Ye Jiaorui stand such humiliation, "Who are you calling 18th-tier…"
"Your variety show appearances and endorsements, to be frank, were only due to the face of the Ye Family. Did you really think you had fans and that your status had risen?" Sheng Congzhi chuckled, "Let me tell you, here at Yihua, if they really wanted to change the lead actress and it's not me, then it's even less likely to be you!"
The elevator arrived.
Ye Jiaorui wanted to speak but was held back by her agent.
She could only watch Sheng Congzhi's prideful departure, her gaze filled with bitterness and venom.
Just you wait.
Let's see how you cry later!
…
They entered the conference room one after the other.
As Sheng Congzhi sat down, someone whispered behind her, "Why is Ye Jiaorui here? Is she in this drama?"
Another person said, "Didn't you know? She's been switched to the lead female role."
"Really? Isn't that sudden?"
"I heard it from the assistant director. Ye Group invested 20 million to specifically get Ye Jiaorui the lead role, tsk tsk, being born to the right parents is such an advantage…"
"No wonder she got the sweet endorsement. It's all thanks to her real dad."
"It seems like there's going to be a change of winds in Yihua…"
Sheng Congzhi took off her sunglasses, her expression cool.
All these years in the Ye Family, but she never got any help from them.
Even when she entered the entertainment industry, she had always been on her own, to the point that no one in the company knew she was the Ye Family's adopted daughter…
Chang Wan's expression suddenly changed, "Was everything Ye Jiaorui said before true? The lead female role really changed to her?"
Sheng Congzhi smiled slightly, "Didn't you say you hadn't received any notification?"
"Yes, but I never thought it would turn out to be true…" Chang Wan's face fell, "Sister Zhi, how can you still smile about this?"
Sheng Congzhi's eyes were like peach blossoms in full bloom, "If we don't smile now, wouldn't it be even harder to later?"
Chang Wan: ???