In a suburban villa area in Beijing, new buds sprouted from the bare branches, adding a touch of green to the slightly overcast weather. Aunt Li swept away the accumulated dead leaves from winter, leaving only a clean, open space with a round table and stone stools for tea, making the yard look both tidy and lonely.
Inside the He family house, Yu Xin checked the rooms again to make sure everything was in order before hurrying downstairs. She hadn’t even reached the living room when she called out, “Aunt Li, is the chicken soup on? Are the lobsters fresh enough?”
“The chicken soup has been on for a while, and the lobsters are good.” Aunt Li poked her head out of the kitchen, responding again in a good-natured manner.
“That’s good. Is there anything missing at home?”
“I think we have everything. You should rest a bit.”
Yu Xin was like a cat on hot bricks today, pacing around the house all day, unable to relieve her nervousness. The reason was simple: she was about to meet her biological daughter, who had been accidentally switched at birth and lost for many years.
Slightly comforted by Aunt Li’s reassurance, Yu Xin was just about to rest in the living room when she turned around and saw a cold silhouette on the sofa.
A seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy sat quietly on the European-style sofa, caught in the ambiguous stage between boyhood and manhood. The light from outside the window streamed into the spacious room, leaving only a silent and lonely shadow on him. He was like the only stone stool in the courtyard outside the floor-to-ceiling window, appearing lonely and out of place in the house.
Yu Xin’s busy excitement instantly faded. Her heart was suddenly pricked by this scene, and she couldn’t help but ask with concern, “Shi Chen, do you want some fruit?”
He Shichen turned his head at her words. With black hair and dark eyes, and handsome features, he showed a faint smile, “No, Mom, you go ahead and keep busy.”
Yu Xin walked into the living room, glanced at the book in He Shichen’s hand, and then carefully sat beside him, holding his hand solemnly. She said earnestly, “Shi Chen, I know your feelings are complicated too, but your dad and I have discussed this thoroughly. Both you and Qianli are our most important children, and we can’t be without either of you.”
He Shichen held her hand in return, saying softly, “Mm, I know, Mom. Don’t worry about me. I’m not a kid anymore. I’m just worried that my sister won’t be able to keep up with her schoolwork.”
“I was just looking through some old textbooks, maybe she can use them.” He casually shook the book in his hand.
Yu Xin saw the old textbooks in He Shichen’s hand and relaxed, smiling, “You’re thoughtful, but she probably isn’t as good at studying as you. Your dad and I were just discussing yesterday whether we should get her a tutor…”
He Shichen: “I can teach her. Tutors won’t be as effective.”
Yu Xin couldn’t help but sigh, “That would be a lot of work for you.”
He Shichen: “Teaching my sister is no trouble.”
Yu Xin chatted with He Shichen for a while, confirming that he was emotionally stable before daring to continue to the kitchen to supervise the progress.
After Yu Xin left, He Shichen’s warm expression instantly disappeared. His eyes darkened, and his face grew somber as he repeatedly fingered the pages of the textbook, feeling an almost explosive frustration.
Chu Qianli hadn’t even come home yet, and they were already planning to get her a tutor, focusing all their attention on her. Once she actually moved in, would there be any space left for him?
As the only son, He Shichen had always been resilient and competitive, striving to become the best heir of the He family since birth. But recently, he had been hit by a devastating revelation—he wasn’t actually the He family’s child!
His biological parents were poor, shallow, and malicious. They had switched babies back then, deliberately deceiving everyone. When they finally revealed the truth during a severe illness, it was because they couldn’t afford the high medical expenses and wanted to extort money from the wealthy He family.
He Shichen was darkly grateful that his foolish biological father had died in the hospital without enjoying a penny of wealth, nor did he live to stain his reputation. His past pride was shattered to pieces; despite receiving top-notch elite education from a young age and being surrounded by classmates who valued family background, he was the child of such a despicable person.
He had been suffering from insomnia night after night recently, occasionally driven to self-loathing by the drastic changes.
However, he could not be defeated, for the return of Chu Qianli marked the beginning of the real challenge. Even if Yu Xin said both he and Chu Qianli were important, a biological child would always be closer.
She might be full of anger and hatred, eager to reclaim everything; or perhaps she grew up in a poor rural area, timid by nature and limited in ability, unable to adapt to the glitz and glamour of the wealthy family.
Regardless of the situation, He Shichen had to gain the upper hand and strive to remain invincible.
Even if he was a despicable beneficiary, he was also the heir cultivated by the He family and could not willingly hand over everything.
Suddenly, the servants in the house became noisy and chaotic. He Shichen knew that He Zhenghe had returned with someone. He casually tossed the old book aside, stood up, and meticulously adjusted his cuffs, preparing for the upcoming tough battle.
Outside the courtyard, the driver respectfully opened the car door for the two people inside, standing quietly aside, waiting for them to slowly get out. The middle-aged man was dressed in exquisite clothing and exuded an extraordinary aura, while the young person following him was dressed simply and plainly, their styles starkly different.
When the dusty young person got out, the driver took a closer look and realized that it was actually a girl. Her hair was cut too short, making her look like a boy from afar, but her features were delicate, with red lips and white teeth, and upon closer inspection, it was not difficult to distinguish her gender.
Noticing the driver’s astonishment, He Zhenghe turned to look at Chu Qianli and roughly guessed the reason. He said helplessly, “Qianli, are you really not going to buy some clothes? We can still turn back now.”
He Zhenghe had originally intended to take his daughter shopping during the trip to buy her some new daily necessities, but she had flatly refused.
As expected, Chu Qianli was still resolute, shaking her head, “Today is not a good day for shopping.”
He Zhenghe: “Who says?”
Chu Qianli: “The stars say so.”
He Zhenghe: “?”
He Zhenghe couldn’t understand the girl’s whimsical thoughts and asked curiously, “What else did the stars say?”
Chu Qianli said slowly, “The stars also said, if you feel bad not spending money, you can transfer it directly to me, and we’ll both be happy.”
Today was not suitable for shopping, but her financial luck seemed pretty good, and there might be an unexpected income.
He Zhenghe laughed out loud, “So, this is what you’ve been waiting for!”
Chu Qianli tilted her head, “Did the stars lie?”
He Zhenghe: “No, no, no, the stars didn’t lie. I’ll transfer it to you later, and you can buy it yourself.”
Looking at Chu Qianli’s dog-chewed short hair, He Zhenghe thought about the sensitive nature of teenage girls and asked cautiously, “But do you like short hair?”
Chu Qianli had a proper appearance, but her hair was not well-groomed, cut in a messy and chaotic manner, exceedingly disheveled.
He Zhenghe didn’t want to point it out directly, so he could only subtly discuss aesthetics, trying to understand his daughter’s true thoughts.
Chu Qianli instinctively touched her head, suddenly realizing and honestly answered, “Oh, it’s not that. It’s just that I used to be in charge of sweeping, and long hair was too troublesome to sweep.”
“But we have someone to sweep the floor here, right? So, can I grow my hair long and not worry about hair falling on the ground?” Her eyes lit up at the thought. If laziness hadn’t outweighed vanity, who would have their hair cut like a dog’s chew toy?
She found it annoying and tiring to clean herself, but if someone else did it, it was fine.
He Zhenghe was both amused and helpless after hearing the simple reason for the short hair. He nodded, “Yes, there’s someone to sweep the hair at home, and someone can cut your hair too. Whether you keep it long or short is up to you.”
Chu Qianli swayed her shoulders, satisfied and smug, making He Zhenghe find her even more amusing.
He had originally feared she might be timid and reluctant to speak, but now he felt his daughter had a pretty good personality, being calm and at ease most of the time, occasionally showing a child’s naivety.
He Zhenghe kindly led her to recognize the place, “Alright, this will be your home from now on.”
Chu Qianli followed him into the courtyard, casually commenting, “The feng shui is pretty good.”
“Oh, you know about this too?”
“A little,” Chu Qianli added, “Grandpa played with this.”
He Zhenghe was taken aback, realizing that the “grandpa” Chu Qianli referred to should actually be He Shichen’s great-uncle, who had raised her. He was reportedly a feng shui master in the village and had passed away long ago.
Inside the house, Chu Qianli had just entered with He Zhenghe when they were met by an emotional Yu Xin.
Yu Xin looked at her biological daughter, whom she had never met before. The motherly love, stronger than blood, overcame the unfamiliarity, and her eyes instantly reddened with tears, choking out, “My daughter has suffered…”
Chu Qianli was suddenly hugged by her biological mother, like a plush toy being manipulated, almost suffocated by the strong embrace. Feeling the fabric wet with tears, she helplessly hugged Yu Xin back, calmly saying, “Actually, I haven’t. It wasn’t bitter or sweet, just plain.”
These were her true feelings; life in the countryside was okay.
After all, the village had been shortlisted for the civilized village candidate list, effectively outperforming many villages nationwide.
Yu Xin cried even more after hearing this. She had imagined their reunion countless times but never expected her daughter to be more magnanimous than herself.
After comforting the emotional Yu Xin, He Zhenghe and Yu Xin were about to introduce He Shichen. He Shichen watched the deeply moving mother-daughter reunion scene, feeling a chilling coldness throughout his body but not showing it on his face.
Yu Xin wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and carefully brought He Shichen forward, looking at Chu Qianli with caution and saying softly, “Qianli, this is Shichen. He is…”
Yu Xin looked troubled, finding it difficult to introduce him.
Chu Qianli was their biological daughter, but they had no shared memories over the years. He Shichen was not their biological son, but the accumulated affection over time was real. Neither child was at fault; the ones who did wrong were the adults. Both children were innocent victims, both loved equally.
But would Chu Qianli resent He Shichen?
Her life was indeed stolen, and she suffered hardships for no reason.
Chu Qianli looked at He Shichen and silently added in her heart that he is the male protagonist in the book.
The next second, she took the initiative to break the ice and said gently, “Hello, brother.”
Seeing her so composed, He Shichen’s alarm bells rang in his mind, but he responded kindly, “Hello.”
Yu Xin saw the successful first interaction between the siblings. She noticed that Chu Qianli’s attitude was good, so she quickly said with a smile, “Yes, yes, yes, he’s your brother. If you have any questions at school, just ask him.”
The family finally reunited and moved to the dining room for a meal.
At the dining table, He Shichen kept secretly observing Chu Qianli. He saw her unhurried actions and eloquent responses, and he became increasingly convinced that this person was scheming and deep, probably far more skilled than he had imagined.
Her immediate recognition of him as her brother upon entering the house instantly boosted her parents’ goodwill. Moreover, she had no trace of a commoner’s demeanor, as if she had lived in a privileged environment since childhood, showing no generational gap with the family.
This was simply the template of a vengeful character.
She must be ambitious, just biding her time, planning to reclaim everything that rightfully belonged to her!
If He Shichen were Chu Qianli, he would undoubtedly be filled with hatred for the usurper, never without emotion or waves. The hidden currents beneath the still waters were where the danger lay.
Chu Qianli had no idea that her arrival would trigger sibling competition within the family and give her new brother a strong sense of crisis. She truly had no feelings for He Shichen. She wasn’t a character from a novel, naturally indifferent to some profound plot points.
Could the vast He family not afford to raise two children?
Besides, in the novel, the male protagonist was incredibly capable of making money. He might even increase the value of the shares she would inherit. Only someone with a problem in their head would kick him out of the house. Not letting him die from overwork on the job was already kind.
What’s so great about being a CEO? What’s so great about being the heir to the He family?
It’s just a fancy title for a worker!
This life, she wanted to spend her days playing with stars and cards, then wildly spend the dividends the male protagonist earned, and never be exploited for her labor’s surplus value by anyone.
“Qianli, what are your hobbies?” Yu Xin, still not familiar with her daughter, took the initiative to find a topic, trying to bring the family closer.
Chu Qianli snapped back to reality and smoothly replied, “I like studying stars.”
Yu Xin asked in confusion, “Studying stars?”
He Zhenghe: “It seems you mentioned it just now.”
Chu Qianli nodded, “Yes, for the sake of our harmonious life together, can I have your birth star charts, Mom and Dad?”
Yu Xin, quite intrigued, asked, “What is a birth star chart? What do you do with it after you get it?”
Chu Qianli explained eloquently, “When a person is born, with the birthplace as the base point, the positions of the stars in the sky at that time form the person’s birth star chart, also known as a natal chart by astrologers.”
“We can use the birth star chart to better understand ourselves, those around us, and how to interact with each other.”
He Zhenghe: “This sounds like mysticism.”
Yu Xin: “It sounds interesting, but how do we give it to you?”
Chu Qianli: “The date, month, year, time, and minute of birth, along with the coordinates of the city of birth.”
Naturally, her parents wouldn’t refuse any request from their long-lost daughter. Besides, they thought sharing birthdates and places wasn’t a big deal, and it could even be a good topic to bring the family closer.
Seeing them reveal the information without reservation, Chu Qianli listened carefully and solemnly responded, “Thank you for your trust.”
For most people, sharing this information is just giving out their birth details. However, in the hands of someone knowledgeable, it’s entirely different. This is a gesture of opening one’s heart and trust. Even if her parents were unaware of the significance, Chu Qianli appreciated their goodwill.
Yu Xin noticed He Shichen remained silent and couldn’t wait to draw him into the dinner table conversation, gently inviting, “Shichen, join us. Your birthday is…”
Yu Xin’s voice abruptly stopped as she suddenly remembered something, and she looked a bit embarrassed.
He Shichen’s expression darkened, and he didn’t say a word.
His birthday had been changed; the original date was actually Chu Qianli’s.
She was using strange and subtle methods to humiliate him, silently implying that he had stolen someone else’s natal chart.
This was a sensitive and taboo topic, instantly cooling the cheerful atmosphere at the table.
Yu Xin and He Zhenghe exchanged looks, unsure how to smooth things over.
Chu Qianli was the first to break the silence, casually saying, “Ah, I know my brother’s birthday, so getting Dad and Mom’s will be enough.”
He Shichen believed she was being sarcastic and subtly mocking him.
After dinner, the adults got busy. He Zhenghe was on the phone with school officials, and Yu Xin went upstairs again to check the rooms, leaving only Chu Qianli and He Shichen in the living room.
The two sat at opposite ends of the sofa. Despite sharing the same sofa, they maintained the maximum possible distance, the atmosphere as frozen as the polar regions.
He Shichen had no idea what to talk about, while Chu Qianli was rummaging through her pockets. She pulled out a deck of cards from a pocket faded with washing and casually tossed it beside her leg, then continued searching her other pocket.
Out of the corner of his eye, He Shichen noticed the old deck of cards on the sofa. The cards were very ordinary and severely worn, seemingly from frequent use.
Chu Qianli’s actions were clumsy and a bit vigorous. She accidentally knocked over the deck of cards.
The cushions of the European-style sofa had a certain curve, and the old deck of cards scattered with a slight impact, spilling all over the place in an instant.
“Ah…” Chu Qianli hurriedly picked up the cards, beginning to clean up her mess.
He Shichen watched her clumsiness, suppressing his inner impatience. He picked up a few cards by his feet and silently handed them to her.
Chu Qianli had already gathered the other cards. She took the last few cards from him and politely said, “Thank you.”
He Shichen awkwardly responded, “You’re welcome.”
Chu Qianli was about to put the cards back when she noticed the faces of the cards and paused, puzzled. “Did you pick these up?”
He Shichen looked up at her, not understanding the significance of her question. Didn’t she see him pick up the cards?
Chu Qianli looked at the cards in her hand and hesitated, scratching her head. “Uh… there’s something I don’t know if I should say or not…”
He Shichen: “If you shouldn’t say it, would you not say it?”
“Not really,” Chu Qianli responded decisively. She showed him the faces of the cards and softly said, “Your luck isn’t very good today.”
These were the cards He Shichen had picked up, and their combination had a particular meaning.
He Shichen snorted lightly. “Hmm, tell me something I don’t know.”
He had recently found out he wasn’t the He family’s child, and today he had to put on a forced smile to welcome her home. It would be a miracle if his luck was good.
Chu Qianli rested her chin on her hand, thinking. “Hmm… this bad luck is both mental and practical. It means bad mood and bad luck, with a tendency to be irritable and explosive, very likely to encounter the situation I’m about to demonstrate.”
She clasped her hands together and then suddenly spread her arms wide, mimicking the explosion of fireworks with her body movements while dramatically shouting, “Destroy the world! Shatter the universe!”
Faced with her childlike performance, He Shichen couldn’t help but show a confused expression. “?”
He Shichen: “I’ll ask Dad and Mom to arrange for a doctor later.” To get their biological daughter’s brain checked out; she seemed a bit not smart.
At that moment, Yu Xin’s voice came from the second floor: “Qianli, come up quickly! I’ll show you your room!”
Chu Qianli’s suitcase had already been brought upstairs. She hurriedly left, clutching the deck of cards, without continuing her chat with He Shichen.
Watching her childish performance, He Shichen felt extremely speechless. He wanted to drink some water to calm down but couldn’t find a cup on the coffee table. The house had been thoroughly cleaned to welcome Chu Qianli, and even the usual items had been moved.
Usually, He Shichen would just call Aunt Li to find a cup and get water, but Aunt Li was currently with Yu Xin upstairs, tidying up Chu Qianli’s room. Not wanting to bother them, he reluctantly went to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, He Shichen took out a glass. Unfamiliar with the drinking water equipment, he randomly pressed a few buttons, and hot water gushed out. The next second, something unexpected happened!
Caught off guard, He Shichen turned around, and countless shards of glass and drops of boiling water splashed everywhere. He instinctively yelped in surprise, frantically dodging the unexpected explosion.
The glass had shattered from the heat, resembling a burst of fireworks!
Was her mouth blessed by a crow or something?
Upstairs, Yu Xin and Aunt Li felt uneasy hearing the noise. They peeked out, wanting to know what was happening downstairs. “It sounds like something happened?”
Chu Qianli calmly said, “Brother just said to have Dad and Mom arrange for a doctor.”
He must have heard the fortune-telling and decided to prepare early.
Yu Xin: “?”
![Dissatisfied [e-sports]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/4997572.jpg "Dissatisfied [e-sports]")
