"Miss, you're returning to the Jiang family, all items have been replaced with new ones, there's no need to bring these scraps."

In a dilapidated room, a plain-clothed young girl is undeterred, still meticulously packing her belongings.

What she's packing are things like old copper coins, tattered yellow paper, and old books that look like ghost talismans.

The butler eyes carried a hint of contempt. He was dispatched to pick up the daughter of the Jiang family that had been drifting outside for many years. Due to a hospital error years ago, the true daughter of the family was forced to grow up in this remote and impoverished area.

What did it matter if she was the true daughter? A child grown in poverty will inevitably be narrow-minded.

Finally, Jiang Yi Zhi finished packing her small bundle and calmly glanced at the butler, "Let's get in the car."

With that, she took the lead to leave the house and slipped into the back seat of the car.

The butler touched his nose and followed into the co-driver's seat. He couldn't help but feel there was something odd about the young miss.

People in the town had said that the parents who adopted the young miss passed away years ago, afterward, she lived with a geomancer.

How eerie!

Just as the driver was adjusting the navigation and preparing to start the car, a crisp cold voice came from the back seat, reminding him softly, "If you don't want to die, take the small road to the right."

The driver hesitated for a moment, uncertainly looking at his sidekick, "But the main road is the only way to the highway."

The butler looked through the rear-view mirror at the gloomy girl sitting in the back seat and felt a shiver down his spine.

Eventually, he capitulated, "Listen to the young miss, let's take the national road."

In the most prosperous villa area of the imperial capital, the Jiang family's villa is located in the outer ring.

The car slowly came to a stop in front of the courtyard. Jiang Yizhi, carrying her small bundle, stepped off the vehicle. A servant came forward to guide her, "Miss, Sir and Madam are waiting for you in the living room."

Jiang Yizhi let out a self-deprecating laugh.

So this was how her biological parents, whom she's been estranged from for years and finally found her way back to, received her. No signs of excitement from Mr. and Mrs. Jiang, and they even expected her to find her own way to the living room to meet them?

Their indifference was telling.

The servant led her to the entrance, but just as Jiang Yizhi, having changed her shoes, was about to step in, the gentle and loving voice of a woman was heard from inside the living room.

"Nian-Chen, you're the daughter that mom has painstakingly nurtured for over a decade! Even if we bring that girl home, mom still loves you the most!"

Peering through the gap, Jiang Yizhi saw the still aggrieved Jiang Nian-Chen pouting, "Now everyone knows I'm not the biological daughter of the Jiang family. How can I find my footing within their circles in the future!"

She wore a delicate dress, and the jewelry and necklace around her neck were limited-edition pieces from luxury brands.

Mrs. Jiang, Fang Suwan, sympathetically stepped forward to embrace her, "The decision to bring that girl home was ultimately for your sake!"

Quiet for some time, Jiang Fengnian, who had been reading financial newspapers, finally spoke, "Your engagement with the Fu family was arranged years ago, and we can't just revoke it. Your mom is just worried about you. She doesn't want you to marry sickly Fu Qing, and ruin your life."

Jiang Nian-Chen sniffled, "How is my not marrying Fu Qing related to bringing her home?"

Fang Suwan tapped her forehead with her finger, "When the engagement was arranged, it was stipulated to be between the eldest miss of Jiang's family and the fifth young master of Fu's family. Now that this girl is back, she's the true heiress of the Jiang family. It's only natural that she fulfills this engagement."

Jiang Nian-Chen, finally seeming to understand, let out a smirk and acted as if she was getting a raw deal, "Is this really okay? Regardless, she is still your biological daughter..."

Fang Suwan simply brushed it off, "Yes, she is my biological daughter, but it's not like I'm doing her wrong. She grew up in a small town. Marrying into a wealthy family like the Fu's is already considered a blessing for her."

Jiang Yizhi's hand, hanging by her side, tightened and then let loose. Listening to these heart-wrenching words should've devastated her, but she maintained an expressionless face, which was hard to read.

"Cough."

The three people in the living room stiffened, all their gaze projected on Jiang Yizhi who had just stepped into the living room from the entrance.

She donned a plain and worn-thin outfit, yet it was clean and neatly pressed. Her delicate and pure face, although devoid of makeup, still caught attention effortlessly.

With such temperament, one could hardly recognize that she had grown up in the countryside.

Jiang Nianchen’s expression changed, then he quickly put on a smile, and feigned a warm greeting: "Sister? Uncle Zhong brought you back, why didn't you let us know?"

Fang Suwan coughed lightly, her face looking slightly unnatural and somewhat guilty, unsure of how much of their previous conversation the young girl eavesdropped on.

"It's good that you're home. Let's call the kitchen to prepare a meal." Jiang Fengnian folded up his newspaper and was the first to enter the dining room.

At the dining table, Fang Suwan placed a shrimp ball in Jiang Yizhi's bowl, and kindly said, “From now on, you're going to live with dad and mom, and Nianchen will accompany you. You won’t have to live a hard life like before."

Jiang Yizhi put down her chopsticks, "I don’t think I was living a hard life."

She was adopted by her foster parents; although they weren't well off, they gave her all their love. They passed away due to diseases in succession when she was thirteen, then she met her mentor who taught her many skills.

If it weren't for her mentor disappearing for a year, whether she would be willing to return to the Jiang family would be another matter.

Seeing Fang Suwan's awkwardness, Jiang Nianchen quickly deflected the conversation: "Sister, I heard that you didn't continue your studies after you graduated high school?"

Jiang Yizhi responded impassively: "Mm."

Jiang Fengnian said indifferently as if he was doing a favor: "You can take a day to adjust, then you'll start attending the Imperial City International University with Nianchen the day after. I went through a lot of trouble to arrange this for you, even donated a tennis court to the school."

The Jiang daughter could only have a high school diploma? There was a hint of scrutiny in Jiang Fengnian's eyes.

"Capital International University?" Jiang Yizhi was stunned.

Jiang Nianchen thought her surprise was due to the fact that she could attend such a prestigious school. He responded with a tinge of pride, "This is the best university in the entire R country. The admission requirements are very strict. You should really be grateful for the sacrifices our father made to get you in."

"I don't need it." Jiang Yizhi's attitude remained cold, showing no gratitude, which successfully irritated Jiang Fengnian.

"What are you saying? We're trying to help you, but you're not appreciative!"

Everyone looked on as Jiang Yizhi calmly turned her head and pulled out a letter from her bag. "This is the admission notice I received from Capital International University last year. Due to personal reasons, I applied for a year's leave of absence. The school has promised me that I can directly skip a grade and start as a sophomore this year."

Everyone was stunned. Jiang Nianchen quickly grabbed the letter and examined it repeatedly, unable to believe that it was real.

"Our department head did mention that this year, there would be a transfer student who is a genius and skipped grades. Could it be you?"

"I dare not claim to be a genius, but I did rank first in the entrance examination that year."

Ah, what...

What a slap to the face.

Jiang Yizhi tidied up her admission letter and continued eating, not forgetting to add, "So, you wasted your effort donating the tennis court."