He Yuan looked down at her, his eyes tender yet firm.
“You won’t have to face such things again in the future. I’ve already spoken to Old Zhang from the logistics department and told him to keep his wife in check. If anyone dares to spread rumors or cause trouble again—no matter who it is—I won’t be polite.”
Ji Shuyu smiled but said nothing.
She knew He Yuan would protect her, but she had no intention of always hiding behind him.
Although Lin Feifei’s methods were clumsy, they served as a reminder that relying solely on “innocence will prevail” wasn’t enough. When it was time to fight back, she needed to show some strength of her own.
Meanwhile, Sister Zhang took her child to the clinic. After examining the girl, the doctor said the rash was caused by eating too many sweets and then rubbing her face with dirty hands—it had nothing to do with the snowflake cream.
Embarrassed and frightened, Sister Zhang went back to Lin Feifei, intending to return the patterned fabric. But Lin Feifei refused to take responsibility, even blaming Sister Zhang for bungling the task.
Sister Zhang was filled with regret. However, neither of them expected that their conversation had been overheard by Sister Li.
Despite their past conflicts, since the matter involved a child, Sister Li was more than happy to spread the word about Lin Feifei’s scheming.
Within a couple of days, the story of how Lin Feifei had deliberately incited Sister Zhang to cause trouble had spread throughout the entire residential compound.
Everyone had already felt that Lin Feifei’s previous behavior was inappropriate, but now they saw her true colors even more clearly and began to distance themselves from her.
Her colleagues in the cultural troupe no longer surrounded her as they once had, and some even whispered behind her back that she was devious and trying to steal another woman’s husband.
Watching herself become increasingly isolated, Lin Feifei grew both angry and anxious, but she no longer dared to trouble Ji Shuyu so easily.
That said, she wasn’t about to let things go.
Unaware of all this, Ji Shuyu was busy training new staff at the supply and marketing cooperative.
Xiao Zhang watched from the side, growing increasingly impressed as Ji Shuyu clearly explained sales techniques and patiently answered the newcomers’ questions.
“That’s pretty much it. Remember, the number one rule of service is to greet customers with a smile. No matter how a customer behaves, you must always maintain your smile,” Ji Shuyu said.
Xiao Xin, one of the new hires, diligently took notes as she listened.
She was a somewhat shy and timid girl when speaking—not as confident and outgoing as Xiao Zhang—but she made up for it with her attentiveness.
The two complemented each other well, working together seamlessly.
After finishing Xiao Xin’s training, Ji Shuyu prepared to leave.
As luck would have it, Director Wang happened to stop by. Spotting Ji Shuyu, he quickly pulled her aside.
“Sis, about those submerged reefs you asked me about the other day—someone went there recently and said the place is downright eerie. You mustn’t go there, no matter what.”
Hearing the seriousness in Director Wang’s tone, Ji Shuyu frowned slightly and pressed for details. “What happened?”
“I’m not too sure myself, but I heard that area is full of whirlpools. The coral there is so vibrant it’s almost purple—really mesmerizing.
If his companion hadn’t pulled him back, he would’ve jumped right off the boat.”
Director Wang spoke while washing his hands.
The story sounded far-fetched, and Director Wang didn’t quite believe it himself.
But he remembered Ji Shuyu had asked about the reefs before, so he felt he should warn her just in case.
If she decided to go, it could be deadly.
“That strange? I won’t go—I was just asking,” Ji Shuyu replied.
Yet, as she listened to Director Wang, another thought began to form in her mind.
A beautiful purple—that color sounded very much like the two fragments of coral she had stored in her space.
She was becoming increasingly convinced that this coral held secrets.
Anything the system was so eager to obtain had to be extraordinary.
After saying goodbye to Director Wang, Xiao Zhang, and Xiao Xin, Ji Shuyu headed home.
As she reached her doorstep, she ran into He Jiang, who was just coming out.
This was already the third round of mediation between He Jiang and Li Cuihua.
The Li family had tried every tactic and method they could think of, but nothing could change He Jiang’s mind.
Li Cuihua had finally come to understand that He Jiang would no longer indulge her.
The only path left for them was divorce.
“Shuyu, you’re back?” He Jiang greeted her politely.
Ji Shuyu nodded slightly in response.
“By the way, Shuyu, there’s something I’d like to…”
“If it’s about He Qiang, Big Brother, please don’t say any more.”
Before He Jiang could finish, Ji Shuyu interrupted. She didn’t need to guess—she already knew what he was likely to bring up.
He Jiang was taken aback for a moment, then tightened his grip on the object in his hand.
“It is about He Qiang. I was thinking of taking him away from here…”
He Qiang had been sent to a juvenile detention center on the island for mandatory correctional education.
He Jiang had visited him a few times. The once chubby and fair He Qiang had grown noticeably thinner.
Not only that, but the boy had also lost his former liveliness and cheer. When he saw He Jiang, he didn’t even call him “Dad.”
After all, this was his own son. Seeing He Qiang like this pained He Jiang deeply.
He wondered if Ji Shuyu would be willing to write a letter of understanding so he could take He Qiang away from the island.
“Shuyu, I know the things He Qiang did have hurt you deeply. If I take him away, we’ll go far from here—somewhere distant.”
He Jiang sighed, but Ji Shuyu responded calmly, “Big Brother, since the child is still young, it’s best to leave him to the professionals for now.”
“I believe that ‘human nature is inherently good’—that a child is like a blank sheet of paper. But if someone stains that paper, staying close to that person will only make it darker.”
It wasn’t that Ji Shuyu was being heartless. It was just that He Qiang’s actions had amounted to attempted murder.
He was better off under the guidance of the detention center staff.
Otherwise, he might truly become a criminal in the future.
Ji Shuyu’s words were reasonable and well-justified. He Jiang wanted to say more, but he couldn’t find the words.
In the end, he said nothing further and left the courtyard.
Ji Shuyu turned and met He Min’s gaze.
“Third Sister-in-law.”
He Min walked over and linked her arm with Ji Shuyu’s.
Ji Shuyu smiled and asked, “You heard what I just said to Big Brother, didn’t you?”
“I did. I think you did the right thing. Actually, He Qiang wasn’t always like this.”
Back then, He Qiang was, at worst, a little annoying—mostly because he liked snatching food from He Ming.
He Ming was thin, frail, and had been taught to be very polite. Most of the time, He Min felt sorry for him.
Still, there were times when He Qiang would stand up for He Ming if he was being bullied at school.
Who would have thought he’d end up like this?
“Staying in the detention center is what’s best for him now.”
Otherwise, he might grow into a truly wicked person.
But what Ji Shuyu didn’t know was that, despite the correctional education, He Qiang would never improve as long as Li Cuihua kept whispering poison in his ear.
The He family had forgotten to inform the authorities that Li Cuihua was no longer He Qiang’s legal guardian and should not be allowed to visit him.
During this time, He Qiang would carve the word “HATE” into his bedframe every day.
His downfall, his parents’ divorce—it was all because of Ji Shuyu.
It was her arrival that tore their family apart.
He hated her. He hated her so much he wished he could chop her into mincemeat.
“Just wait,” he muttered to himself. “When I get out, I’ll kill you.”
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