Chapter 4: Can You Stand Up?

"Si Fuqing!" Zuo Tianfeng shouted angrily. "I didn't argue with you about your attitude toward your aunt yesterday, but now you dare to come here again? Do you really want to rebel?!"

Zuo Qingya stopped crying and stared at Si Fuqing in shock.

After a moment, her anger flared again. "Alright, Si Fuqing! You pretended to be a good girl when Grandpa was around, but now that he's gone, your true colors are showing. You really know how to act!"

If Mr. Zuo knew Si Fuqing's real personality, would he have still spoiled her?

"Not bad." Si Fuqing clapped her hands. "That's a good explanation, thanks for the excuse."

She had been wondering how to explain her sudden change in personality.

Now, she didn't have to. She used to pretend.

"Don't make me say it again." Zuo Tianfeng's anger deepened. "Hand over everything in your bag!"

Si Fuqing shook the bag in her hand and smiled. "If you have the ability, come and take it yourself."

Just like that, she strolled away leisurely.

Zuo Tianfeng was so furious that he smashed a glass.

"Dad!" Zuo Qingya started crying again. "She just treated me like that, and you didn't even care. Who is your real daughter?"

"Why are you crying?" Zuo Tianfeng was extremely annoyed. "Go back and study hard. If you had even a third of your sister's ability, I wouldn't have to say anything to you."

Zuo Qingya stomped her feet and ran away in frustration.

"Go to her room and check," Zuo Tianfeng ordered the housekeeper angrily. "See what she took with her."

The housekeeper obeyed and hurried upstairs.

Ten minutes later, he returned and respectfully reported, "Master, I checked everything. The jewelry, bank cards, and other valuables are all there. The only thing missing is a book from the bookshelf, but all those books were ones she bought herself."

Zuo Tianfeng frowned. "What book?"

"It's a biography of an emperor," the housekeeper replied quickly. "The Biography of Emperor Yin. It's commonly sold in bookstores and is a required reading for junior high and high school students."

Zuo Tianfeng immediately lost interest and waved his hand dismissively.

Honestly, even if Si Fuqing had taken a few hundred thousand, he wouldn't have made a fuss. After all, Old Man Zuo had raised her for years.

She only took a book.

As expected, she would never amount to anything significant.

Since it was just a book, Zuo Tianfeng stopped caring and went back to his study. After gathering a few documents, he left again.

---

It was five o'clock in the afternoon, and the sun was setting.

A golden-red light burst through the layers of white clouds, like flames burning inside a white lantern.

The wind picked up suddenly, rolling the clouds like waves.

Si Fuqing walked down the street, feeling like she should just sit down and start chanting with a wooden fish.

She was truly poor.

After using the money from her personal bank card to rent a small apartment ten kilometers from the city center, she had only 1,500 yuan left.

It was tragic.

A celebrity had ended up this broke.

In a few days, she wouldn't even be able to afford a Coke.

This wasn't good.

Moreover, she needed to find a way to see Old Man Zuo's body.

Si Fuqing frowned, checked the time, and headed toward a supermarket across the street to buy some daily necessities.

Up ahead, a pure black car was parked.

It had no branding, not even a logo.

Shen Xingjun stepped out of a nearby convenience store and opened the car door. "Shi Yan, there's news."

"Hmm?" The man in the passenger seat didn't open his eyes, only responding faintly.

He wore a black suit with the top two buttons of his white shirt undone, the collar casually rolled up.

On his right wrist, he wore a silver-black watch. His fingers were long and slender, his fingertips as white as jade.

He sat casually, but his natural aura of nobility was impossible to hide.

Despite his young and handsome face, his presence was overwhelming—like an emperor who wielded life and death in his hands.

"Why did you choose such an old-fashioned name?" Shen Xingjun chuckled. "Or is it because your Yu family follows strict traditions? Do you have to abide by your ancestors' rules?"

"I've seen other nobles in the city, and they aren't as rigid as you. Should I call you by your given name, Xiheng, or your courtesy name, Shiyan?"

Yu Xiheng still didn't open his eyes. "I'm used to it. Call me whatever you want."

Shen Xingjun laughed. "You seemed very formal before, but now you're quite relaxed."

As he spoke, he dialed a number. "Shi Yan, I'll call again to confirm the time."

Yu Xiheng nodded but kept his eyes closed.

The next second, his ears twitched, and he suddenly opened his eyes.

His eyes were strikingly beautiful—narrow at the corners, deep and sharp, holding an unreadable glint.

In his line of sight, a little girl, about six or seven years old, stood in the middle of the road, looking lost.

Ahead, a large truck made a sudden sharp turn—heading straight for her.

Yu Xiheng's eyes flickered, and he raised his fingers.

"Watch out!"

A voice rang out.

A very familiar female voice.

Those two words made his hand pause.

Yu Xiheng turned his head, and when his calm gaze fell on Si Fuqing—who had moved before him—his expression shifted slightly.

He watched as she dashed forward, scooped up the little girl, and rolled on the ground.

A second later, the truck roared past them.

The danger was resolved in the nick of time.

Seeing that both were safe, he withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes again.

The hidden weapon between his fingers disappeared instantly.

In front of the black car, Si Fuqing let go of the little girl and looked at her left hand.

The wound had reopened, blood seeping out.

One word: Miserable.

Si Fuqing patted the little girl's head with her right hand. "Don't run around next time, okay?"

The little girl, clearly frightened, stood still, dazed, tears streaming down her face.

Si Fuqing sighed.

In the past, people ran away when they saw her—she had no idea how to comfort children.

"Go find your family." She asked again, "Do you know the way?"

The little girl nodded blankly, but her tears only flowed harder. She pointed at Si Fuqing's hand and sobbed, "Blood… Sister, blood…"

"It's just a small injury, don't worry." Si Fuqing stood up using her right hand and smiled. "Be careful, kiddo. Next time, there won't be a beautiful and lovely sister like me to save you."

The little girl blinked in confusion, staring at her.

Si Fuqing stood up.

However, her legs were numb from the earlier movement, and she stumbled backward.

"Pa—"

An arm immediately wrapped around her waist.

The man's thighs were warm, slender, and strong.

Si Fuqing could clearly feel the firm muscle beneath his suit pants—the raw power hidden within.

His entire body was cold, like an icy soul, devoid of warmth, as if he was made of frost and snow.

A second later, a deep male voice sounded above her head.

His tone was low, his ending note chilling.

"Can you still stand up?"