Reborn in the 80s: My Whole Family Secretly Hears My Thoughts and Goes Wild with Success! - Chapter 13

When Ye Jiawen heard that Shen Liya had married Chen Can, her first impulse was to slap Shen Liya across the face.

Chen Can had been perfectly happy with Shen Zhiqiu—how could he suddenly switch to marrying Shen Liya?

If anyone claimed Shen Liya had nothing to do with this, even the dumb pig raised in her family wouldn’t believe it!

“She’s the one who became damaged goods! That’s why Chen Can didn’t want her!”

Shen Liya pointed furiously at Shen Zhiqiu and shouted at Ye Jiawen: “A family like the Chens would never accept a shameless woman! That’s why Chen Can chose me!”

“If she couldn’t keep her man, that’s her problem! Don’t you dare pin this on me!”

She then turned her finger toward Ye Jiawen, her face twisted with rage into something even uglier: “I’m warning you—if you spread lies, I’ll rip your mouth to shreds!”

“Then swear it,” Ye Jiawen shot back, utterly unfazed. She dragged Shen Liya to the window, forcing her hand toward the sky as she hissed, “Swear that you and Chen Can were innocent before this. If you’re lying, may you die a wretched death!”

Of course, Shen Liya didn’t dare. She’d had her eyes on Chen Can since joining the cultural troupe—handsome, the son of a high-ranking family, and an only child. How could she let such a prize slip away?

But Chen Can had fallen for that little tramp Shen Zhiqiu instead. The only way Shen Liya could get close to him was by pretending to “help” him pursue Shen Zhiqiu. Watching them together, watching Chen Can pour his heart out for her, Shen Liya had nearly gone mad with jealousy.

Luckily, her mother had devised a plan: Shen Liya would “cook the rice first” with Chen Can, while Shen Zhiqiu would be gifted to her two “good brothers.”

Yet things went awry—her brothers were knocked unconscious that night, and the man who’d been with Shen Zhiqiu remained a mystery. Still, Shen Liya succeeded in securing Chen Can and marrying into the Chen family, while Shen Zhiqiu was left branded as ruined.

Just when Shen Liya thought Zhiqiu’s life was over, Yue Mingyuan showed up unannounced—proposing to her with a shockingly high bride price! Meanwhile, Shen Liya’s own marriage to Chen Can was despised by his family, especially his mother, who treated her like filth.

“Zhiqiu, do you see now?” Ye Jiawen turned to her. “Do you finally understand what happened?”

Shen Zhiqiu’s clear, lake-like eyes fixed on Shen Liya, piercing as if they could see straight into her soul. Shen Liya squirmed; she’d always hated those eyes—bright as stars, clear as water, making her feel like a sewer rat in comparison.

“That night… was the note from Chen Can,” Shen Zhiqiu asked, stepping forward, “or from you?”

Ye Jiawen moved to support her, but Zhiqiu gently waved her off. She stood tall, unshaken like a pine in a storm.

“O-of course it was Chen Can’s!” Shen Liya stammered, backing against the windowsill. “What, can’t you even recognize his handwriting anymore?”

Not wanting to cower, she jutted her chest out and snapped, “Shen Zhiqiu, you’re the one who couldn’t keep her legs closed! Who knows how many men you strung along behind Chen Can’s back? Maybe one of them felt played and decided to teach you a lesson!”

“Don’t you dare dump this on me!”

“Zhiqiu,” Wang Fengqin cut in, siding with her daughter, “without proof, you can’t throw around accusations like this! I know you and Liya have your differences, but as the older sister, you should be more forgiving. These rumors could ruin her reputation!”

Shen Zhiqiu lowered her head, shoulders shaking—not with tears, but laughter.

Her mother had once taught her: “Listen beyond words, judge beyond appearances.” Yet she’d forgotten. She’d only heard Wang Fengqin call her “precious,” only heard her claim to favor Zhiqiu over Liya, only heard her criticize Liya while whispering, “You’re my only hope.”

But when it came down to it, Wang Fengqin always took Liya’s side, urging Zhiqiu to “be the bigger person.” And so, step by step, she’d been cornered into this living hell.

“Zhiqiu?” Aunt Li Shuying and Ye Jiawen hovered worriedly.

“I’m fine,” she said, lifting her gaze—clearer now, no longer fragile but steeled. “It’s just… laughable.”

Wang Fengqin’s frown deepened. She wasn’t imagining it: ever since giving birth, this girl had become harder to manipulate. She’d need to act fast.

“Enough!” Shen Daqiang barked, though his glare was solely for Zhiqiu. “Must you always make a scene? Embarrassing us in front of guests!”

His tone dripped with warning: “Zhiqiu, you’ve just had a child. Why such anger? Or is it because your uncle’s here that you suddenly feel bold?”

“Father,” she replied coolly, “my anger isn’t toward Uncle. Are you suggesting I’m using his presence to act out?”

She knew his game. Every conflict between her and Liya ended with him pretending to mediate—while always, always siding with Liya.

She’d once assumed it was for appearances, to prove he wasn’t mistreating his stepdaughter. But on the day Liya gave birth, a thought struck her like lightning:

What if Shen Liya is his real daughter?

The idea spread like wildfire. If Liya was only six months younger… then Shen Daqiang had been with Wang Fengqin barely months after marrying Zhiqiu’s mother.

Or had they known each other even earlier?