CHAPTER 845: CHAPTER 756: DISLOCATED LIVES 44

Wen Zhijin arrived beside the two of them under such circumstances, her face covered in bruises making her hardly recognizable. Naturally, Wen Zhijin kept her head down, but even lowering it couldn’t hide the vibrant colors spreading across her face like a dye shop had exploded.

Upon seeing Wen Zhijin’s face, both Wen Jianyun and Liu Yun instantly bristled with anger. Despite their discontent in certain aspects about their daughter, Wen Zhijin was still their biological child, and blood ties are irreplaceable, emotions stemming from blood can’t be disregarded.

Seeing their daughter beaten like this, Wen Jianyun and Liu Yun’s expressions turned sour. In a place like this, someone dared to hit their daughter—is this an assumption that Wen Jianyun and Liu Yun are dead!

They immediately pressed Wen Zhijin to reveal who had hit her, but she only stammered and refused to say, leaving Wen Jianyun and Liu Yun worried to no end. Liu Yun, feeling sorry for Wen Zhijin’s heavily bruised face, held her hand and tried to lift her face to check her injuries.

However, Wen Zhijin resisted Liu Yun’s attempt to check her face, constantly dodging and struggling, until a pen unintentionally slipped from her waist.

Wen Zhijin was wearing a dress with a palm-sized, finely-crafted pouch on her waist, both as an ornament and to hold small essentials, such as a little makeup kit. Although limited in space, it could fit an eyebrow pencil, lipstick, and foundation.

The pen that Wen Zhijin dropped came from this pouch. Panicked upon seeing the pen fall out, Wen Zhijin hurriedly tried to pick it up, inadvertently pressing the pen’s middle button, causing it to emit sounds; it turned out to be a recording pen.

Right from the start, the sounds from the pen were particularly explosive, beginning with several crisp slaps that easily led one to imagine someone being forcefully slapped.

Sure enough, following the slaps, a proud, commanding voice echoed, "Wen Zhijin, don’t think I don’t know you deliberately spilled juice on me! Let me tell you, the dress I’m wearing is worth more than all the clothes on your back combined could fetch, not even close to a piece of cloth.

You’re just envious because I’m more popular than you. Even if you’ve snatched the title of Wen family’s eldest daughter, I’m still the one who shimmers in glory, still the one whom Mom and Dad favor. If you think being their biological daughter allows you to compete with me, you’re mistaken.

I’m telling you, I’m the true Phoenix, and you’re just a poor common girl, like a mountain chicken trying to rise to the treetops; no matter how hard you try, you’re just a wild chicken dreaming of challenging the Phoenix."

The appearance of this voice changed everyone’s expressions, especially Wen Jianyun and Liu Yun’s, whose faces turned even darker as they recognized it all too well; it was the voice of their daughter, Wen Shuangshuang.

After Wen Shuangshuang’s voice ceased, Wen Zhijin’s timid voice followed, "Shuangshuang, you’ve misunderstood. I only want to know who my real parents are. I’ve never wanted to compete with you for anything, honestly, I just hope to stay with my biological parents. I didn’t intentionally push your identity away, and Mom and Dad have always liked you. I didn’t mean to..."

Wen Zhijin’s words were cut off by two crisp slapping sounds, followed by Wen Shuangshuang’s domineering voice, "You sound so nice, claiming no competition. Then remember, whether it’s parental affection or their company, that’s all mine.

If you dare harbor any thoughts, I have ways to deal with you. Listen, don’t expect to show off in front of them, playing the dutiful daughter card. You’re just greedy for wealth; don’t make me laugh.

If you don’t obey, I’ll find someone to gang up on you and upload your scandalous photos online. You know I’m good with computers. I guarantee I’ll spread your scandal across the globe, leaving you nowhere to hide."

Next followed Wen Zhijin’s pitiful crying and feeble resistance, "You, you can’t do this. I am their child too. I can give up everything, as long as Mom and Dad acknowledge me. I won’t fight you for anything, really. I can give up everything, just to be with them, Shuangshuang, please don’t treat me this way."

Wen Zhijin’s voice sounded heartbreaking, eliciting much sympathy, whereas Wen Shuangshuang’s voice was haughty and loathed, particularly the ending marked by her violent curses, punches, kicks landing on a person, and Wen Zhijin’s pleas and cries of pain.

After listening to the recording, everyone fell silent, slightly stunned by the revelation that the seemingly poised and talented Wen Shuangshuang was such a morally flawed person; truly surprising!

While they disdained Wen Shuangshuang’s character, no one spoke out against her, understanding that despite her poor conduct, her talent was undeniable. Such skilled individuals are not to be befriended, nor offended; indeed, their circle consists of many morally poor individuals who are still held in high regard; Wen Shuangshuang is only one among them.

Except for Wen Jianyun and Liu Yun whose faces were ashen, with expressions of disbelief, and Zhu Shihao holding Wen Zhijin with pity in his eyes full of disappointment for Wen Shuangshuang and sympathy for Wen Zhijin; everyone else, including Zhu Wanpeng, wore calm faces devoid of any anomalous expressions.

Wen Zhijin furrowed her brow in frustration; this wasn’t right! It was completely different from her expectations. Weren’t these people supposed to be critiquing Wen Shuangshuang and showing her pity? Why is the reaction so abnormal!

Wen Zhijin failed to realize that in her previous life she had never interacted with truly capable and high-status individuals, often mingling with heiresses and socialites who pursued a lifestyle similar to her own; therefore, she was unaware that to capable people, personal conduct is truly irrelevant.

No matter how much disdain one feels internally, outwardly maintaining good relations remains essential. Furthermore, Wen Zhijin might regard the recording pen’s contents as significant; however, to those attending, it was just another family affair providing gossip material but impossible to take to heart or to damage relationships with Wen Shuangshuang over it.

Perhaps due to the suddenness of the situation, no one immediately spoke up, until the sound of clapping rang out, causing everyone to look up towards the origin of the noise, finding Wen Shuangshuang standing on the second floor, overlooking the crowd and applauding.

As everyone lifted their gaze, Wen Shuangshuang offered a faint smile, descending the stairs slowly while speaking casually, "What a great show this is, Wen Zhijin. In return for providing me this entertainment, I’ll offer you a real spectacle."

With those words, Wen Shuangshuang reached the ground floor, and the crowd, surrounding Wen Zhijin, Liu Yun, Wen Jianyun, and Zhu Shihao, instinctively parted ways, seemingly creating a path for Wen Shuangshuang to walk through, standing before Wen Zhijin.