The heavy silence in the living room was finally broken by Aunt Wu Ming, who shifted on the velvet sofa and addressed Jia li directly, maintaining a tone that was flatteringly normal, devoid of the aggressive pity she sometimes used.
"Jia li," Wu Ming began, folding her hands neatly. "Your education is paramount. We have already finalized your enrollment at the City's Elite Academy. It is the same school your cousins attend, and it is imperative that you maintain the high standards expected there."
Jia li stood near the fireplace, still and composed. The school was a minor detail, she had no attachment to her old life's institutions and simply viewed the move as a change of scenery. "That is acceptable, Aunt Wu Ming," she replied, her voice cool and low.
The matter of fact acceptance seemed to irritate the younger generation more than compliance. Wu Bao, who sat next to her cousin Wu Mei, immediately reacted with open disgust, unable to maintain the forced civility.
"Seriously? Our school?" Wu Bao whispered loudly, throwing her hands up in a small, dramatic fit. "That is completely embarrassing. What will my friends say?"
Wu Mei, ever mindful of her grandfather's presence and her own carefully poised image, did not react visibly, but a sharp, icy glance darted from her to Wu Bao, a subtle but absolute reprimand.
Jia li, however, possessed an intimate knowledge of the Wu children's ages, information she had gathered during the funeral proceedings and a quiet review of online social profiles.
This information allowed her to place their arrogance in context. Wu Hao was the eldest cousin at fifteen along Wu Mei and Fu Shenxi at the same age, and then herself and Wu Bao were fourteen.
"You will be placed in the same class section as Wu Bao, Jia li," Aunt Wu Ming continued, oblivious to the silent communication between the cousins. "Due to the structural difference in your previous school's curriculum, you will maintain the typical age placement, regardless of any classes you may have skipped previously, this is the school protocol, it wasn't decided by me."
Jia li had, in fact, skipped a grade in her old, comfortable neighborhood school due to her sharp intellect, but she accepted the demotion without protest. Being in the same class as the hostile Wu Bao only guaranteed a constant, predictable source of antagonism, which was a useful constant in this new, unpredictable environment.
This time, Wu Bao's mother, Wu Kang's wife, was absent from the city, visiting a sick aunt. Therefore, it fell to Aunt Wu Ming to enforce the rules on the aggressive cousin.
"Wu Bao," Wu Ming said sharply, cutting through her silent protests. "Enough. Jia li is family, and you will extend her courtesy. If you cannot behave, you will be excused to your room."
The explicit threat of punishment silenced Wu Bao, though her eyes blazed with resentment toward both Jia li and Wu Ming. Wu Mei watched the entire exchange with a calm, analytical expression, a subtle smirk playing on her lips she did not need to fight her own battles when Wu Bao was so readily provoked with only a little push from her.
The guardianship discussion was quickly glossed over, as the patriarch, Grandpa Wu Dongshi, had already decided the outcome. The adults mostly discussed logistical matters.
Finally, Grandma Wu Lilan turned to the grandchildren, her voice soft but authoritative. "You are all family. Regardless of your personal feelings, you will look after Chen Jia li. She has no one else now. Be good cousins."
The responses were instant, tailored to their distinct personas.
Wu Hao, the eldest and most outwardly agreeable, stepped forward with easy sincerity. "Of course, Grandma. We will ensure she settles in well." His charm was effortless, a natural foil to the hostility.
Wu Mei offered a graceful, serene nod. "We are family, Grandmother. I understand my responsibility perfectly." Her feigned sweetness was a perfect performance for the adults, masking the silent, calculating resentment she harbored.
Wu Bao, however, could not contain her true feelings. She folded her arms and simply muttered, "Whatever," her disapproval loud and clear despite the reprimand she had just received.
With the decision made and the duties assigned, the family dispersed for the day.
The uncles and aunts left for their offices, and the cousins retreated to their various sections of the sprawling mansion.
Jia li went back to her large, silent room. She sat on the edge of the plush bed, not overwhelmed by the luxury, but calculating her next move.
The school enrollment was unavoidable, but the mansion itself was a vast source of information. She needed to quickly figure out how to operate unseen.
After an hour of quiet strategizing, Jia li decided the best way to gain reconnaissance was simply to explore, adopting the posture of a bored, quiet teenager getting used to her new surroundings. She needed to map the territory, identify the quiet wings, and locate any private offices or studies.
She left her room and began a silent, methodical circuit of the first floor and then the second floor, which was reserved entirely for the private family quarters and offices. She moved like a shadow, light footed and invisible to the few passing staff.
As she moved down a seldom-used corridor in a remote wing, she heard voices. They were low, intense, and clearly arguing, sounding like a muffled, angry hiss.
She instinctively slowed her pace, recognizing the clipped, stressed tones of Aunt Wu Ming and the deeper, frustrated rumble of Uncle Wu Lang. They were in a room just around the corner, likely Wu Lang's secondary office or study.
Jia li did not want to eavesdrop and was about to turn until she heard something that made her freeze.
"...Fuyao, that stubborn fool. She should have just signed it years ago!" Wu Ming hissed, her voice laced with venom and disrespect.
Jia li's breath hitched. Chen Fuyao her mother's name. The indifference she had maintained for weeks shattered, replaced by an icy jolt of focused rage. She pressed herself against the cold marble wall, straining to hear the fragmented conversation.
Wu Lang's voice was strained. "It's too late now! The timing is terrible. We need the liquidity now, Ming. The company is doing badly, and the insurance payout from Chen Hanbin's policy is massive. But that damn trust fund requires time and the signature of the legal guardian…"
"Billions," Wu Ming whispered, the greed palpable even through the wall. "...tied up in red tape because of her…"
The harsh, disrespectful tone they used for her deceased parents, calling her mother a "fool" combined with the explosive words "insurance," "billions," and the critical reference to the "company doing badly," sent a wave of confused nausea through Jia li.
This was not just about the old restaurant or the house. Her parents are somehow related to 'billions in insurance', and the Wu family wanted it, viewing her parents as obstacles.
The simple idea of estrangement and secret background dissolved. This was something far darker.
Before she could process the full meaning of the financial conspiracy, the arguing abruptly stopped.
"Did you hear that?" Wu Lang's voice, sharp with paranoia.
Jia li reacted instantly. She had barely made a sound, but their heightened stress had made them hyper-aware. She quietly and quickly slipped back, turning the corner and pressing herself into an alcove, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. She held her breath until she heard the office door open and close, followed by the sound of their footsteps retreating in the opposite direction.
She stayed in the alcove for a full five minutes, trembling not from fear, but from the cold shock of realization. The puzzle was changing. Her parents' death might not have been a tragic accident; it was the potential source of billions, Jia Li was far from stupid, she knew how this works in dramas, and maybe it was happening to her in real life, and the family who took her in were the ones fighting to claim the prize.
Jia li returned to her room, the image of Wu Ming's polite, forced smile now overlaid with the venomous hiss she had just heard. The gilded cage was a trap, and the search for "secrets" had just turned into a cold, hard investigation into betrayal and possible murder.