"Who is it?"
"Li Si, it's your Second Aunt and Fei'er."
Upon hearing the familiar voice, it was as though those words echoed in her ears again: "That Li Si is just unlucky, born with the fate of a short life. Your mother-in-law was saying yesterday, otherwise, she would have died by now at her age. But dying wouldn't be so bad; at least she'd leave behind some compensation money. That way, her death wouldn't be totally meaningless. It's just that Fei'er's engagement banquet turned out less than perfect because of it."
"Oh, Mom, if you say so, then both my uncle and Li Si have the same short-lived fate. Like father, like daughter. But both have brought benefits to our family, so you could say they're quite self-sacrificing in a way!"
It was this calculating woman who schemed against her time and time again. Taking a deep breath, Li Si knew the version of herself that once was was gone. None of it had happened yet, and now was not the time to tear off the facade.
She reached out and opened the door. Looking straight at Second Aunt Zhang Meihua, she noticed the woman seemed rejuvenated. A gold necklace lay around her neck, and she wore a black dress. Her gaze was warm and caring as she looked at Li Si—back then, it was this exact face that had deceived her again and again.
Beside her, Li Fei wore a white dress, her beauty striking, her figure slim, her over-shoulder black hair flowing freely. Her appearance radiated purity with a touch of ethereal charm. But behind the seemingly caring eyes, there was a hint of calculation.
"Sis, are you okay? Mom and I were worried about you."
Such transparent schemes—why had she been so naïve before, blindly misjudging people's intentions? Li Si pressed down the complex emotions in her eyes.
"I'm fine now. Second Aunt, Li Fei, come in and have a seat."
Zhang Meihua subtly observed Li Si, feeling that her appearance had slightly changed, and there was a newfound coldness in her demeanor. Previously, she had been warm and close to her, but now, she sat detached on the opposite side.
Suppressing the doubts in her heart, Zhang Meihua feigned a sorrowful expression and began persuading.
"Li Si, Second Aunt came today because I needed to talk to you about something. You know, after the summer, you'll be heading off to university. Although your father isn't around, your uncle and I are your family now. How about this: Why don't you move into Second Aunt's home? We can all take care of you. Fei'er is in the same school as you—though in a different program—you could come home together during holidays and look out for each other."
"Second Aunt, I appreciate your kindness, but I've grown up now. Though Dad is no longer with me, I'm determined to face life with resilience. You don't have to worry!"
Li Si looked at her calmly, her eyes resolute and unwavering.
Zhang Meihua's gaze flickered, and she quickly said, "How could we not worry? You're still so young, juggling school and taking care of yourself—it's too much for anyone. How about moving in with us? You and Fei'er have always gotten along so well!"
Saying this, she nudged Li Fei lightly. Catching her meaning, Li Fei quickly moved to sit beside Li Si, affectionately taking her hand. "Sis, come on. We've always been together before, haven't we? If you come to my house, we'll be together again. Mom and Dad can take care of you."
She finished her plea, her moist eyes locking onto Li Si's, as if poised to shed tears if refused.
Li Si calmly withdrew her hand, her expression stoic, though deep down she felt nothing but revulsion. She detested any physical contact with Li Fei. Raising her head, she pursed her lips slightly before staring directly into Li Fei's eyes.
"I still prefer living on my own. When Dad was here, I took care of myself. Now that he's gone, I need to be even braver."
"Li Si, you really should listen to us and come stay with us. You're just a child—we'd be too worried about you alone out there!"
Zhang Meihua found Li Si's unexpected attitude unsettling. She had assumed, given Li Si's close relationship with them growing up, that now that her father was gone she'd naturally rely on them. Once she moved in, whatever money and property her father left behind would inevitably flow into their hands.
Her younger brother was rushing to get married but didn't have a house to his name. It just so happened this house was sitting empty—what a waste not to take advantage. That little girl could easily be held in the palm of her hand; what trouble could she possibly cause?
But since nothing had been secured yet, she couldn't afford to provoke her. It seemed this would require a longer-term plan!
Li Si studied the nuanced expressions of the mother-daughter duo before her. Behind her glasses, her eyes briefly glimmered with a cold light that quickly faded.
"Second Aunt, Li Fei, you don't need to persuade me anymore—I've already made up my mind. During breaks, I can visit you and Uncle. I intend to work hard in university to secure a good job after graduation. That way, my parents can rest easy knowing I'm doing well."
Li Fei secretly curled her lips in disdain, amused. Li Si might have some skill in piano, but her academic performance had always been average. In middle school, she only got into the top high school by paying extra tuition fees. She might look decent, but compared to herself, she was miles apart. What's there to act proud about? Mom was ridiculous, telling her at home to convince Li Si to stay with them. But who cared if good things came her way? Not like Li Si ever appreciated it. Talk about casting pearls before swine!
Zhang Meihua thought for a moment and said, "It's good that you have ambition, but you need to work hard, understand? Look at Fei'er; she's always put in so much effort—she exceeded the admissions cut-off scores by a wide margin back then!"
"Oh, Mom, why do you have to tell everyone about my scores? It's like you think nobody else did well on their exams!" Her smug expression couldn't stay hidden.
"Sis, don't take it to heart. Your grades may not be as good as mine, but hey, you still got in! Now that Uncle isn't here, do you have your tuition covered for this semester? I heard you can apply for student loans these days. My family's just finished paying off mine, so there's nothing extra left."
Zhang Meihua's face stiffened slightly at her daughter's careless remarks. This girl was still too young—thoughtless with her words.
Lightly patting her daughter's head, she said, "What's wrong with you? Your sister's all alone now—how pitiful. Without your uncle, shouldn't we step in and support her? You know her situation better than anyone."
She swept her eyes around the room before her gaze sharpened. "Li Si, this house feels so lonely with just you living here. Why not come stay with us and sell the house? The money could cover your tuition and living expenses. What do you think?"
Li Si's lips curled into a mocking smile. Here it was—the same ploy as before. Her past self had naively gone along with this suggestion, selling the house and becoming nothing more than a guest in someone else's home. The proceeds from the sale never landed in her hands; they remained with her aunt. Anytime she needed the money, excuses for delays abounded.
The echoes of those manipulative words from her previous life came rushing back: "You're still young. If the money goes to you, you might waste it. It's safer with Second Aunt. Don't worry—I'll give it to you whenever you need it!"
"Li Si, you're eating and living at our place. It's not as though you're spending anything. Meanwhile, your uncle's earning a fat paycheck at the company—why not save up? You'll need a dowry when you get married. Second Aunt will save part of it for you and add a little extra when the time comes."
Absentmindedly rubbing her fingers, Li Si pulled herself out of her reverie and focused on the present. Her tone was calm as she looked at the pair.
"My father left me enough money to cover college, so really, there's nothing to worry about. I can take care of myself. Besides, this house holds memories of my dad and me—I won't sell it. Li Fei is even younger than me; you might as well focus on taking care of her!" Though, truthfully, Li Fei was only two months her junior.
"Your uncle, you know, he got called away by a client early this morning; otherwise, he'd be here to persuade you, too!"
"Even if Uncle came, it'd be the same. I'm the only one left in my family now, and I have the ability to make my own decisions. You all should go about your own business."
Li Si's confidence gave Zhang Meihua the uneasy sense that everything was unfolding under her control. She began to suspect—did Li Si already know her true intentions? And just how much wealth had her older brother left behind?
Her husband had mentioned that her brother had likely accumulated some money over the years, though the exact figures and locations were unknown. The chaotic preparations for the funeral, with so many people around, had left no opportunity to investigate further. But how could a single night bring about such a transformation?