Chapter 6

Chapter 6

After my father was buried, the lawyer had given me my father's will and the asset transfer agreement—and Shao Qin had been right there watching. At the age of twelve, he could clearly understand the black words on the white paper.

Mia's repeated denial and disbelief were like salt rubbed into Shao Qin's wounds, reminding him again of how cold and resentful his father had been toward him. In fact, I hadn't wanted to be so blunt, but seeing how Shao Qin was being led by the nose by Mia, I couldn't hold back anymore. I had to jolt him awake like this.

A few days after they left home, Shawn Bennett came back with Mia—because I had canceled all his bank cards.

"What exactly do you want?" Shao Qin asked, his eyes bloodshot and dark circles under his eyes. Mia hid behind him again, putting on that innocent act.

I replied casually, "Didn't I already tell you? Let Mia work as a cleaner for a while. I asked around about the place where she used to work—her main job was cleaning the mall restrooms, right? The auntie who trained her back then said she did a good job. If she can stick with it for a month, maybe I'll consider your relationship."

"Okay," Mia said this time, no longer hiding behind Shao Qin. "Shawn, as long as we can clear up Sis's doubts and get her to approve of us, I'll do whatever she asks."

Watching them act like they were deeply in love, I just smiled faintly. Mia really went to a mall and got a job as a cleaner. I also arranged for someone to go in and observe Mia's every move. Sure enough, she didn't know how to do anything. When she emptied the trash cans in the restrooms, she had to curl her fingers like a delicate lady, looking utterly disgusted. Moreover, she didn't clean properly and was scolded by her supervisor many times. I showed the evidence to Shao Qin, but he still didn't believe it.

"Sis, no matter what you say, I'm going to be with Mia," Shao Qin insisted.

I was really at my wit's end. Why did he have to inherit this trait? Of all things, why did he have to inherit our father's love-struck naivety?

I rubbed my forehead and said, "From Mia's performance, it's obvious that she's the one lying. What do you see in someone who's so full of schemes? Do you like her because she's good at sweet-talking? Because she's good at distorting the truth?"

Shao Qin looked at me and said word by word, "Only with her do I feel valued. She's the only one who truly understands me. Ever since I was little, I've always been dispensable in this family. For twelve years, my father never gave me a single smile or a hug. Everyone in the family only has eyes for you—no one has ever looked at me properly. When people talk about the Gong Group, they only know Chairman Qi Yu (Queenie Bennett). I've always lived in your shadow. It's Mia who made me feel valued, who made me feel like I'm needed. If you really object to us being together, then I'll leave with her. After all, no one here cares about me anyway."

I couldn't hold back anymore—I slapped Shao Qin across the face. "Who was it that 哄 you to sleep when you were little? Who stayed by your bedside when you were sick? Who helped you with your homework? Who stood up for you when you were bullied at school? Who paid for your education and gave you living expenses? And yet you say no one in this family cares about you? Shawn Bennett, how can you say that? Do you think just because I'm your sister, all the good things I do for you are 理所当然？"

"I'll say this clearly today—As long as I'm around, Mia Carter will never step foot into the Gong family. If you want to be with her, fine—do what you said and leave with her."

Shao Qin mumbled an apology and turned to leave. But I still couldn't 放心 him, so I secretly sent someone to follow him. Although I had already paid his tuition for his senior year of college, he had no money on him now and had to find a part-time job to support himself.

I heard that Mia found another job as a restaurant server, but she quit after not working for long, complaining that it was tiring and dirty. After quitting, she just stayed in the one-bedroom apartment Sophia Chen had rented for them in City L, sleeping and playing video games all day.

She was probably betting that I wouldn't really abandon Shawn Bennett. When September came and school started, I had someone send Luna back to the university she was supposed to attend. Shao Qin also started working part-time to support himself. It seemed like he really had no intention of coming back to apologize and ask for forgiveness.

But on my birthday in February, Mia showed up at the door of the villa. She was wearing a plain white cotton jacket and had a big smile on her face—but Shao Qin wasn't with her.