Fu Man Lou.

"Shu'er, why did you suddenly decide to eat at Fu Man Lou?" Shen Yanxi, who had been brought to Fu Man Lou by Shen Jinshu, was still a little confused.

Shen Jinshu poured wine for Shen Yanxi and listened carefully to the sounds from next door. "Fourth Brother, Fumanlou has recently launched new dishes. I noticed you haven't been in a good mood these past few days, so I thought I'd take you out for a walk to cheer you up. Are you feeling any better now?"

"Shu'er is so thoughtful." Shen Yanxi was deeply moved, feeling as if the wine in his mouth was sweet to the core.

He was so fortunate to have such a kind-hearted sister who always cared about his feelings.

Shen Yanxi's slightly wavering heart hardened once again, and he even felt a little regretful.

How could he doubt Shu'er's feelings for them? After more than ten years of living together day and night, they should be the closest of family.

Thinking of Song Zhiyu, Shen Yanxi felt a surge of annoyance.

Why am I thinking about her again? How unlucky!

At the same time, a familiar voice reached his ears, and he paused involuntarily as he held the wine glass.

Shen Jinshu calmly observed Shen Yanxi's expression, feigning surprise, "Isn't that Second Sister's voice? Has she also come to Fumanlou? I'll go and call her to come and eat together, which will clear up any misunderstandings."

After saying that, she was about to get up and leave, but Shen Yanxi stopped her in time.

"Wait a minute, she won't appreciate your kindness at all. Why put yourself up to be slapped?" Shen Yanxi's tone was harsh.

After being reprimanded several times, he developed a psychological trauma and is no longer as impulsive as before.

"Let's listen to who she's talking to before we make a decision." Shen Yanxi held his breath and listened intently to the conversation between the two people in the next room.

Shen Jinshu sat down leisurely, gently swirling the wine in her glass, a confident smile on her face.

*

The next room.

"Zhiyu, you can't be ungrateful. Your adoptive parents raised you for several years, and now that they're in trouble, you should lend a helping hand."

"You haven't even established yourself in the Marquis's mansion yet. If your own parents knew how cold-hearted you were, I'm afraid your life in the mansion would be even more difficult." Aunt Qin sighed deeply and earnestly advised.

Song Zhiyu's face turned cold, and she flatly refused, "Aunt Qin, you don't need to say anything more. I absolutely will not care whether they live or die."

She had no adoptive parents, let alone any so-called relatives; she only had three older brothers who treated her like a precious jewel.

Aunt Qin sighed helplessly, "Your stubbornness is still the same as before. Yaozu is now being driven to the brink by the gambling den. I'm afraid they'll cause more trouble if they find out your true identity."

Although she felt that Song Zhiyu was too cold, he was genuinely thinking of her.

...

Shen Yanxi overheard their conversation and looked thoughtful.

"Fourth Brother, Second Sister has been back for so long, and I've never heard her mention her adoptive parents. I never expected such a big thing to happen now."

Everyone says that the kindness of raising children is greater than heaven, and no matter what, my second sister shouldn't be so indifferent. What do you think, should we help them?" Shen Jinshu looked troubled.

After this experience, Shen Yanxi's disgust for Song Zhiyu deepened, along with a hint of inexplicable disappointment. "Help? How could I not help? I want the whole world to see what a heartless bastard Song Zhiyu is."

She was not only malicious, but also ungrateful. She could be so heartless to her adoptive parents who raised her, so why should he show her any mercy?

He doesn't have a sister as despicable as Song Zhiyu!

Seeing Shen Yanxi storm off in a huff, Shen Jinshu knew that her scheme had succeeded.

Whether this matter succeeds or not, she will be the one to reap the benefits.

If things go well, that would be ideal. Then she could completely crush Song Zhiyu under her feet and avenge being thrown out of Yushang Pavilion that day.

If it doesn't work out, it's Shen Yanxi's doing and he's the one who found the people, so Song Zhiyu can't blame her.

In addition, she can deepen the rift between Song Zhiyu and his brothers, making it impossible for them to reconcile.

Either outcome would be beneficial to her.

She grew up with Shen Yuzhou and the others, and knew them better than they knew themselves. How could she not see that their hearts had already begun to waver?

The disgust I felt then was real, and the wavering I feel now is also real.

She would never allow Song Zhiyu to take them away.

*

Songxiyuan.

"Miss, you guessed right. Someone did indeed approach Madam Qin." Lu Bai's eyes were full of admiration. She felt that her young lady was truly insightful, having figured out every move those people made.

First, she created a coincidental encounter with the eldest young lady and the fourth young master at Yushang Pavilion, and then used Madam Qin's words to bring up the matter of her adoptive parents, successfully arousing the eldest young lady's suspicion.

Then, the spies that the young lady had planted in Songxi Courtyard obtained information that they were going to Fumanlou to meet someone, and lured the young lady there so that they could clearly hear their young lady's conversation with Madam Qin.

Given the young lady's personality, she would never allow the family reunion banquet to proceed smoothly; she would definitely try to sabotage it.

The bait deliberately thrown out by the young lady can successfully divert her attention, keeping her every move under the young lady's watchful eye.

Rather than passively taking a beating, it's better to strike first, drag the enemy out from the shadows, and strike them deadly.

This was the second self-protection technique that Lu Bai learned from Song Zhiyu, and she remembered it all.

Song Zhiyu continued mixing the poison in his hands without raising his head, saying, "Proceed according to the original plan."

From the moment she learned that Shen Jinshu was inquiring about her past, she had already planned everything.

Since they want to know those things, let's play along.

But it's up to her to know what's going on.

*

Qinghe Village, Li County.

Shen Yanxi walked on the muddy path, his face filled with barely suppressed anger.

He, the fourth young master of a noble family, has to suffer like this. Is this dilapidated place even habitable?

Qinghe Village was even more dilapidated than he had imagined. It was sparsely populated, and most of the houses were thatched and made of mud bricks. If the wind was strong, the roofs could be blown off.

So this is what Song Zhiyu's life was like before. Shen Yanxi's expression was complicated and his heart was filled with turmoil.

But no matter how hard she suffered, it was not a reason for her to harm others.

Shen Yanxi thought to himself, unwilling to make excuses for Song Zhiyu.

"The Song family is just ahead. You'll arrive in a little further." The villager led Shen Yanxi and the others to the Song family's door and then left quickly, not wanting to get involved with the Song family.

"Who are you? What are you doing in my house?" Song Yaozu sat at the front door, munching on a cucumber. His fat body completely blocked the entrance, and his beady eyes stared intently at Shen Yanxi's clothes.

When did they get such wealthy relatives?