Volume One, Chapter 20: Where Has Understanding Gone?

I listened to Xiangyi’s words and couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

How generous of her.

When Xiangyi said, “There’s no need,” her tone was dripping with disdain.

It was as if she was saying, “I’m a renowned female racer; there’s simply no need for me to bother with a fake heiress.”

But only I knew that all the honors Xiangyi had now were snatched right from my hands.

If she hadn’t suddenly fallen ill on the day of the race, I wouldn’t have had to hurriedly replace her at the master’s request.

That one race completely destroyed my racing career.

During the competition, the car’s engine failed, causing it to flip over and burst into flames. I was severely injured, with multiple fractures all over my body.

Even the eye condition I had thought cured relapsed.

When I had recovered before, the doctor warned that if the eye condition returned, it would become irreversible, and I’d never fully heal.

Sure enough, when I groggily woke up in the hospital room, everything before my eyes was a blur.

None of the Shen family or Congnan knew this.

All because Lanru Fang refused to bear the exorbitant costs of my racing training, strictly forbidding me from learning the sport.

If it hadn’t been for my master, who recognized my extraordinary talent and took me under his wing, covering the expenses, I would never have become a racer.

Lanru Fang found the cost of racing too high but was willing to lavish money on Xiangyi to support her training.

She even went to great lengths to have my master accept her as his disciple.

And so, Xiangyi became my “junior sister,” generously promising not to tell Lanru Fang about my secret racing lessons.

Who would have thought that not long after, I would almost become blind because of her?

Congnan looked at Xiangyi’s profile, his eyes full of admiration.

He adored Xiangyi’s unique poise—not like other girls who were short-sighted, but steady at their core and free-spirited.

Congnan had lost his mother since childhood and was raised by his sister, who later died in an accident.

A strong yet gentle woman like Xiangyi held a fatal attraction for him.

“Xiangyi, I was wrong to doubt you,” he said.

Xiangyi smiled, reaching out to touch Congnan’s head.

But to her surprise, he took a few steps back.

Even I was taken aback.

Xiangyi lifted her eyes in shock, staring at Congnan.

He pursed his lips and said, “From now on, I will treat you as my sister.”

His words clearly meant to draw a boundary.

Though he believed Xiangyi hadn’t deliberately slandered me, Jiangze’s words reminded Congnan of the past between him and me.

Back then, we shared everything, genuinely loving each other.

Somewhere along the way, the trust between us shattered so easily.

Jiangze’s words shamed Congnan, especially recalling how he had spoken ill of me in front of Jiangze.

He was utterly ashamed.

Because the one who cheated from start to finish wasn’t me—it was him.

Xiangyi didn’t press the issue but smiled, saying, “I know you’re afraid. When it was your birthday, Zhiyi found out and was heartbroken. I promise you, from now on, I’ll only be your sister.”

I was surprised by Congnan’s sudden remorse, but even more so by Xiangyi’s acceptance.

Hadn’t she done so much behind the scenes, all for the sake of marrying Congnan?

—

“Hmm, I thought Congnan’s wife looked different. Did I remember wrong?”

“No, you’re right. That’s not Congnan’s wife but the real lost-and-found daughter of the Shen family—Xiangyi Meng.”

“I see. I’ve seen her race in MB—she’s dashing, a woman who’s no less than any man.”

“Yes. If they hadn’t been switched at birth, she’d probably be the one married to Congnan. I heard Shen Zhiyi has a terrible temper and runs away from home on a whim. She still hasn’t come back.”

“No wonder Congnan brought Miss Meng here. Tsk tsk, better if this woman doesn’t make too much trouble.”

I never replied to Congnan’s messages.

In a fit of anger, he brought Xiangyi to the banquet.

The two speaking were his two aunts. Qindao Bo was the third son in the Bo family, with two elder brothers above him.

Both aunts loved to gossip.

As soon as Congnan and Xiangyi arrived, the gossip began nonstop.

Listening to their words, my heart was calm.

After my death, Lanru Fang spread slander about me everywhere.

Now most people believed I had run away from home on a whim, forgetting that I was the one abandoned at the wedding.

I was the real victim.

Suddenly, the voices stopped.

Bo Bingqian appeared.

As soon as he arrived, the crowd fell silent.

Although the Bos didn’t favor him, no one dared to act out in front of him.

After all, the old master’s attitude toward Bo Bingqian was clear, and no one wanted to risk offending him.

Today, he was dressed formally, wearing a perfectly tailored black suit, standing upright and imposing.

He stood out instantly in the crowd.

Jiangze took the initiative to greet him.

—

Bo Bingqian noticed Jiangze looking at Congnan and followed his gaze.

“Who is she?”

Seeing that Bo Bingqian didn’t recognize Xiangyi, Jiangze said, “She’s Shen Zhiyi’s sister.”

Jiangze was puzzled. “Congnan used to like Zhiyi so much. Why has he grown closer to Xiangyi over the past two years? When Zhiyi was sulking before, he might not have comforted her, but he never ignored her like this.”

He felt that Congnan and Xiangyi’s closeness had surpassed the boundaries of brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

Bo Bingqian said calmly, “Aren’t the Shen family worried?”

“You just came back from abroad and don’t know. Since Xiangyi returned, the Shen family—even my good brother included—has all been revolving around her. To sum it up in one word—”

“Biased.”

“So biased that even though Zhiyi has been missing for almost half a month, the Shen family hasn’t cared or asked a single question.”

Their bias was so blatant that even Jiangze, an outsider, couldn’t stand it.

I overheard the entire conversation from nearby, though I didn’t want Jiangze to tell Bo Bingqian all this.

Back in school, I was radiant and proud.

I didn’t want to reveal my vulnerabilities to my greatest rival.

I hurried over to Bo Bingqian.

There was no mockery or disdain in his eyes, only a silent pursing of lips as he looked toward the two chatting cheerfully in the distance.

Suddenly, a servant rushed over to Congnan, panting.

“Bad news! Bad news!”

“What happened?”

The servant gasped and stammered, “Old Master Bo... he... he...”

Congnan hurriedly urged, “What is it?!”

The servant caught his breath and blurted, “Old Master Bo wants to kick Miss Meng out!”

At these words, Congnan’s face instantly changed. He quickly stood in front of Xiangyi to shield her.

Before long, the entire hall fell silent.

Old Master Bo had arrived.

Leaning on his cane, he slowly walked up to Congnan.

Xiangyi’s hand curled silently, but her face revealed no emotion.

Old Master Bo scanned the room, seemingly searching for someone.

His gaze finally settled on Congnan as he spoke word by word, “Where has Zhiyi gone?”