The Fake Heiress's Inner Thoughts Were Heard by Her Entire Family

Shen Huaichu closed his eyes, a helpless smile playing at the corners of his mouth. It had been so long—so long that the only memory left was the final image of the car accident.

So long that Shen Huaichu no longer knew how to introduce his parents to Jing Yi.

"Yi-yi, do you think they would be disappointed?" he asked.

They had both been such outstanding people, yet their son had become like this. He had promised to become an excellent person when he grew up, promised to become their pride.

If it weren't for Jing Yi, he would have been neither truly alive nor dead.

He hadn't been joking earlier—meeting Jing Yi was truly his fortune. He selfishly wanted to keep this last ray of light by his side.

He knew perfectly well that Jing Zeyou and the others didn't approve of him. If he were in their position, he wouldn't want his sister dating someone like him either.

In the end, it was all just his selfishness.

While Shen Huaichu was still lost in these feelings of helplessness, Jing Yi gave his arm a firm pat.

Shen Huaichu looked at Jing Yi, his eyes filled with confusion.

"How could they be disappointed?! If you were my son, I'd be grinning even in death!"

Though she was exaggerating, Jing Yi truly meant it. If it were her son who had survived that car accident, helped avenge her, and recovered their property...

"Which part of that isn't worth being proud of?"

While she felt sympathy for him, if she were in his position, she definitely wouldn't advise him to let go of his hatred and live peacefully, because she knew deep down that would be impossible.

His parents had died before his eyes, while his enemies possessed what belonged to his family, and their son had treated him like a dog—how could he possibly give up?

Something stirred deep in Shen Huaichu's heart. He tugged at the corner of his mouth and said, "Yi-yi, just because I'm sick, doesn't mean you can take advantage of me."

"...Alright, alright! Heaven and earth are vast, but the patient comes first. Close your eyes and rest."

She hadn't expected him to notice she was taking advantage even while sick—she'd thought his mind would be too muddled by now.

"What about you?"

"I'm not leaving, I'll sleep in the room next door later."

Shen Huaichu mumbled drowsily, "Stay next door then. There are toiletries in the bathroom cabinet, and new clothes in the wardrobe, though they're all men's clothes. I should have prepared some things for you, but I was afraid you'd think I had ulterior motives..."

He gradually drifted off to sleep.

How strange that he became so talkative when sick?

Jing Yi carefully felt his forehead—the fever seemed to have gone down, probably no need for the compress anymore.

She removed the towel and quietly left the bedroom, stretching as she returned to the living room.

Now she finally had time to appreciate Shen Huaichu's home.

The living room of Shen Huaichu's villa was decorated in black and gray tones, with a large L-shaped dark gray leather sofa being the largest piece of furniture.

There was only one huge abstract oil painting on the wall—she couldn't make out what it depicted. Perhaps it was painted by his aunt?

The ceiling had hidden wall lamps, but even with all of them on, the room wasn't particularly bright. She wondered why he preferred such a dark living room.

The most intricate design was probably the coffee table—a black marble surface, simple and elegant, with only some coffee machines and coffee supplies on top.

It really was big and empty—must be easy to clean, she thought while looking around and making mental notes.

Wait, why did that look so familiar?

Jing Yi walked closer to the tea table, examining a bonsai decoration that seemed completely out of place with the living room's style.

Wasn't this the bonsai decoration that Shen Huaichu had snatched from her at the auction?

She touched the translucent pink morganite, her lips curving into a smile. He must really treasure it—well, it was worth over twenty million, so of course he would.

While Jing Yi was still admiring Shen Huaichu's living room, her phone rang.

Only then did she notice the time—was it that late already?

She hurriedly answered the phone; it was "Big Brother" Jing Zeyou calling.

Before Jing Zeyou could speak, Jing Zeqian's angry voice came through, "Jing Yi-yi, you've only been dating for how long, and you're already staying out all night?!"

Jing Yi did feel somewhat guilty—she should have called ahead, but it wasn't really staying out all night, was it? It wasn't even midnight yet.

"Lower your voice. Yi-yi, is something wrong? Do you need me to pick you up?"

Jing Yi quickly explained, "No, Big Brother, Shen Huaichu has a fever, and I'm at his place taking care of him."

Jing Zeqian's angry voice came through again, "You're WHERE?!"

On the other end, Jing Zeyou again told Jing Zeqian to keep his voice down. "Why not take him to the hospital?"

Jing Yi couldn't easily explain Shen Huaichu's situation, so she just said he was much better and the fever was almost gone.

"Should I call a doctor to come over?" Jing Zeqian's angry voice came through again, "What doctor?! This is ridiculous! Who doesn't go to the hospital for a fever?!"

"It probably won't be necessary, but I might not be able to come back until tomorrow." After all, he had just gotten over his fever, and she'd better keep an eye on him.

There was a commotion on the other end, and Jing Zeqian grabbed the phone, "Tomorrow?! So you're planning to spend the night at his place? A man and woman alone?!"

Jing Yi replied irritably, "He's still sick, what could happen?" She couldn't just leave him here alone, with no one else in the house.

Jing Zeqian strongly disagreed with Jing Yi's words. He even doubted whether Shen Huaichu was really sick, let alone the fact that Jing Yi was planning to spend the night at his place!

As a man, he knew all too well how crafty men could be, especially someone like Shen Huaichu with his hundred and eighty schemes!

"Second Brother, I'm not a child anymore."

"If you were a child, I wouldn't be so worried!"

"?"

After some argument, Jing Zeqian finally compromised, "Fine, fine, he's sick, right? I'll come help you take care of him."

"...This is your compromise?"

Wasn't this already a compromise? He was making such a huge sacrifice—when had he ever taken care of anyone else, let alone another man!

In the end, Jing Yi couldn't argue her way out of it and had to accept that he was coming too. Having one more person around was probably good, right? At least better than leaving Shen Huaichu alone at home.

......

In the morning, Shen Huaichu slowly woke up, staring at the familiar ceiling, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.

He sat up and turned his head to stretch his neck, feeling much better overall.

There was a note on the bedside table.

'I'm next door.'

Shen Huaichu's eyes softened as he carefully put the note in the drawer.

Leaving the room, he noticed sounds coming from the kitchen and headed downstairs.

The thought of seeing Jing Yi first thing in the morning made Shen Huaichu's mood as light as clouds drifting in the sky.

"Yi-yi..."

Instead of the person he'd imagined, there was a six-foot-tall man in the kitchen, eating breakfast.

The smile froze on Shen Huaichu's face.

Jing Zeqian looked up, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous smile, "Good morning, Mr. Shen. Feeling better?"