Chapter 3.2: The Burden of Blood

The next morning was a Saturday. Shi Li and Shi Rong had already gone out. Their parents, unusually still at home, sat solemnly on the living room sofa.

Shi Mu was called downstairs.

Her grandmother sneered the moment she saw her—especially upon noticing her short, boyish haircut. "You shaved your hair, but that doesn't make you your brother."

Thinking of her pale, sickly twin, Shi Mu smirked. "Who'd want to be that frail guy anyway?"

Her words struck a nerve.

Old Lady Shi snapped, her voice rising with anger. "And whose fault is that? You've always been a parasite—a monster! In the past, people like you would've been burned at the stake!"

Shi Mu showed no emotion, simply picked up an apple from the table and sat down casually.

Her indifference only infuriated the old woman further.

She had never liked her daughter-in-law's family and had only tolerated Shi Mu because of the birth of Shi Li. Now, she saw Shi Mu as nothing but a curse.

"Enough, Mom," Father Shi said firmly, his patience fraying.

Old Lady Shi folded her arms and fell silent, still glaring.

Father Shi turned to Shi Mu, his voice heavy. "We've asked you down because we need to talk."

He paused, then continued slowly, "Mr. Fu made it clear yesterday—you can't stay at No. 1 High School anymore. Besides, you're not really suited for school anyway."

No. 1 High School was a prestigious institution in Lingcheng. Shi Li and Shi Mu had both been admitted—but while Shi Li earned his place through merit, Shi Mu had been accepted only because her father pulled strings and paid heavily for it.

Even then, she had squandered the opportunity—skipping classes, getting into fights, and causing trouble.

After the hotel incident, her continued enrollment was no longer an option.

"There's a technical school in the next town. We've made arrangements—"

"No."

Father Shi blinked. "What?"

"I said no," Shi Mu repeated firmly. She put down the apple and leaned forward. "Give me 150,000 yuan, and I'll leave immediately."

Everyone stared at her, stunned.

Old Lady Shi was the first to explode. "Are you robbing us? You just asked for 150,000 like it's nothing!"

Shi Mu crossed her legs and smiled coldly. "If I were a thief, I'd ask for much more."

"You—!"

She didn't let her speak.

"For more than a decade, you abandoned me. You never fulfilled your parental duty. You never even gave Grandfather a cent for raising me. I'm almost of age. Let's calculate the debt you owe for raising a child—and the next year's worth of freedom you want. 150,000 is not unreasonable."

Her smile deepened. "Shi Li's piano alone cost that much. Isn't my entire life worth at least that?"

Father Shi lowered his head, ashamed.

"…Alright," he said quietly. "I'll prepare the money and your school withdrawal documents by next week. Just stay home until then."

Shi Mu shook her head. "Better not to cause more trouble. Give me 10,000 now—I'll stay in a hotel. When everything's ready, call me."

She extended her hand toward her father.

He hesitated, ignoring his wife's glare, and pulled a bank card from his wallet. "There's a little over 10,000 on this. The PIN is your and Shi Li's birthday."

Shi Mu took the card and left without another word.

Mother Shi clenched her jaw, furious. "Why did you give her money? Can't you see she just wants to bleed you dry?"

Father Shi sighed. "She's still our daughter, whether you admit it or not."

"If you love her so much, why don't you leave with her?" she snapped, tears welling up. "Ever since she came back, I've been afraid—afraid she'd bring disaster to our home!"

Frustrated, he turned and walked out of the house without another word.