Night had already settled over the neighborhood when Xueling finally made it back to the Feng household.
The lingering warmth of Grandpa Su's gentle embrace…Uncle Su Jiancheng's quiet welcome…Grandma Su's tearful recognition when she briefly woke during the check-up…
Those moments still glowed faintly around her like a protective shield.
And because of that warmth, the Feng house felt even colder.
The harsh lights, the rigid silence, and the air of constant calculation—in the past, she would have walked in without thinking.
But now, after meeting her mother's real family, Xueling felt a deep, sharp aversion twist inside her chest.
This house was fake.It was desperate.It was transactional.She did not have a single good memory here across both lives combined.
She used to tolerate it only because she was determined to make them pay, and because legally, it was difficult to obtain an independent household registration before turning eighteen.But now, things were different.
She had tasted warmth—from Mo Shenyu, and from the Su family.She no longer wanted to live surrounded by hate.
Oh, the Fengs would still repay what they owed her, in this life and the last.But she would not allow them to consume her any longer.
It's time to move on, Xueling thought as she paused at the gate.
She exhaled once, centered herself—
And stepped inside.
"FENG XUELING!"
Liu Jiahui's shrill voice sliced through the air.
The woman stood rigid in the living room, eyes bloodshot, anger twisting her heavily powdered face.Feng Zhiyuan sat on the sofa, expression dark as thunder.Feng Xueyao hovered behind them, pale and trembling.
Xueyao's panic was justified.Zhang Qiqi had been harassing her nonstop, demanding Xueling withdraw her "unreasonable conditions."She had even threatened to go public with their chat log—evidence of instigation, bullying, and harassment she had said. Xueyao had been terrified. She could not afford to ruin her image or her persona. All her work over the decades would be for naught!
Even worse, the Zhang family had called Feng Zhiyuan directly, demanding the Feng family "handle your daughter's mess or deal with the consequences". Father Feng had been understandably furious. Alhtough not a top tier family, the Zhang and Feng family had enough common interests that if the Zhang family were to go head to head with the Fengs, the Feng businesses would suffer a huge blow.
So when her father had asked her for details, Xueyao had spun lies as fast as she could, painting Xueling as the villain so her parents would pressure her into surrendering.
And now, fueled by the Zhang family's anger and by Xueyao's glib tongue, both parents were incandescent with rage.
"You finally decided to come home?" Liu Jiahui spat. "Do you know the mess you have caused these past two days?"
Xueling removed her shoes calmly.
"No. Why don't you tell me?"
"The bet with Zhang Qiqi!" Liu Jiahui jabbed a finger at her."Public humiliation! Are you trying to ruin our family?!"
"How did I ruin anything?" Xueling asked mildly. "It was the Zhang girl who insisted on the bet. If I hadn't risen to the occasion, the Fengs would've been labeled cheaters—or cowards. Which one would you prefer?"
"Arrogant!" Feng Zhiyuan thundered, rising slowly as the air around him grew cold. "Is this how you talk to your elders?"
"I'm merely answering Madame Feng's question about the bet and its impact."Xueling folded her hands and leaned lazily against a pillar."How is that rude or arrogant? I haven't even raised my voice."
"You—You—!" Liu Jiahui sputtered, face turning red as she grasped for a retort.
"It doesn't matter how it started," Feng Zhiyuan cut in."Tomorrow morning, you will publicly withdraw from the bet and give the Zhang family a way out. Do you understand?"
"No," Xueling said softly. "I will not withdraw."
Feng Zhiyuan froze.Liu Jiahui's jaw dropped.Even Xueyao paled.
Xueling had never disobeyed before.
Liu Jiahui erupted.
"How dare you defy us! Remember who gave you everything you have! If you don't want to be disowned, try saying no one more time!"
Xueling yawned, almost bored with these predictable set of theatrics.
She covered her mouth demurely and cast a disinterested look at her outraged audience.
"No," she said again—this time with a hint of cheekiness.
"BASTARD—! UNGRATEFUL BITCH!!" Liu Jiahui shrieked."Do you really want to be disowned? Without us—without our name—where would you be?!"
Xueling lifted her gaze, her eyes gleaming with cold fire.
"Ah, Madame Feng… your pet names are as flattering as ever."She smiled faintly."But you're asking the wrong question."
Liu Jiahui blinked."…What?"
"The question isn't what I would do without you."Xueling stepped forward."It's what you would do without me."
Silence crashed over the room.
"You—what nonsense are you saying?" Liu Jiahui snapped, voice shaking.
Xueling laughed—a soft, lethal sound.
"Do you actually think being part of the Feng family has benefited me… at all?"
Liu Jiahui flinched.
"What would I miss if I left?" Xueling asked, voice smooth and razor-sharp."The title of the despised daughter?""Or the monthly stipend you supposedly spend on me?"
Liu Jiahui went white.
"Oh wait." Xueling tilted her head."You never gave me a stipend."
She turned to Feng Zhiyuan.
"You never paid for my education."
Then to Feng Xueyao.
"You never even bought me a dress."
Xueyao trembled.
"All my clothes are your precious Yaoyao's hand-me-downs," Xueling continued."And everything else—school supplies, shoes, notebooks—I bought with my own money."
Feng Zhiyuan's face twisted."Your… your own…?"
Xueling smiled coldly.
"Yes. With part-time jobs. That I've had since Grade 1."
"You… you're lying—!"
"Am I?"Her voice dropped to a dangerous softness."Did you ever once check how I paid for anything?"
The silence said everything.
"So what would my life be like without the Feng family?" Xueling shrugged."Honestly? The same. Maybe even better."
Liu Jiahui opened her mouth, but Xueling's gaze turned fiery—frightening.
"You, on the other hand—"She swept her gaze across all three Fengs."Where would YOU get the next idea for your precious Yaoyao to shine?"
Liu Jiahui choked.
"What do you—"
"Who would she copy?"Xueling's smile was icy."Who would make your boring daughter appear smart, talented, and interesting?"
Xueyao staggered back."M-Mom…"
"So tell me again—"Xueling raised her chin."If I left, who do you think would be worse off?"
Silence swallowed the room.
"Sister…" Xueyao whispered shakily."How can you talk to our parents like that? No matter what, we're family. Our blood—"
"Family?" Xueling scoffed."Which mother calls her own daughter a bastard and a whore?"She arched a brow."Which parents are this biased and indifferent? Does anyone truly believe we are family?"
"ENOUGH," Feng Zhiyuan snapped.He did not want to touch the question of blood—too dangerous.
"What do you want to resolve this?" he asked tightly. "Withdraw from the bet and I will compensate you. We'll buy you all the dresses you want. You can even attend the expo."
"No! Not the expo!" Xueyao shrieked."That's my chance to shine—and to get close to Brother Gu—"
SLAP.
Feng Zhiyuan struck Xueyao across the face.
"Stop interfering in matters you don't understand," he said sharply.
"You—you hit me for her? For that bitch—Mom—!" Xueyao cried.
"SHUT UP!" Feng Zhiyuan roared."Look at the 'good daughter' you raised," he spat at Liu Jiahui."Utterly lacking in decorum and intelligence."
Both mother and daughter froze, terrified.Feng Zhiyuan rarely lost his temper.
He turned back to Xueling.
"Name your terms."
"My terms are simple," said Xueling."Give me the same treatment as Yaoyao.The same amount of Feng family shares.Permission to participate in the Expo.And return the engagement with Brother Gu to me."
"I won't count the years of neglect. Meet these terms—and I will give the Zhang family a way out."
"You outrageous, ungrateful—!" Liu Jiahui began.
"You have one night to decide," Xueling said coldly."The bet will be decided at tomorrow's school assembly. Make the right choice."
She turned, walked regally up the stairs, and closed her bedroom door—leaving behind Liu Jiahui's furious shrieks and Xueyao's wails echoing through the hall.