The Scumbag’s Redemption: Kept by Her (GL) - Chapter 7
Answering would be awkward. Not answering would also be awkward.
Shen Yuwei’s ears turned red with embarrassment.
Just this afternoon, she had taken the initiative to kiss someone. Even though she had done it with a mindset of going down together, it did not change the fact that she had done it.
Now, faced with a teasing remark like that, she had no idea how to respond. She turned her head to the side, avoiding Ling Jiao’s eyes.
Ling Jiao’s behavior at this moment was simply meant to help Shen Yuwei calm down and treat her like an ordinary friend. At the very least, she hoped Shen Yuwei would stop seeing her as an enemy.
After all, no one helps someone for no reason. Especially not someone who, in the past, had tried all sorts of ways to get close to her, who had long desired her, but never succeeded. Today, she had a perfect chance to take things further.
But she held back.
She did not let desire cloud her mind.
Ling Jiao had told Shen Yuwei that she liked her. She would not touch her. What she wanted was a Platonic love, one that was clean and purely spiritual.
She did what she did because she liked her. Letting Shen Yuwei know her intentions was better than suddenly offering help without explanation, which would only raise suspicion.
But what Ling Jiao planned to do went beyond this.
Still, she would not say more right now. She did not want to come off as having bad intentions. She had already made a promise: once Shen Yuwei paid back the money, they would be even.
Yes, completely even.
Then Ling Jiao would no longer need to worry about dying suddenly one day.
Because of Ling Jiao’s help, Shen Yuwei found it difficult to continue acting cold. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she softly said,
“I don’t remember.”
“Also, please don’t say things like that to me again.”
She already had a fiancée.
If nothing went wrong, after she graduated from high school and entered university, they would hold the wedding. Ling Jiao was someone she could never be with.
Since they could not be together, there was no reason to offer any hope.
“You are a good person,” Shen Yuwei said.
Ling Jiao fell silent.
Was the usually guarded Shen Yuwei really this easy to trust someone now? She was honestly too adorable.
Before finishing the bubble tea, Ling Jiao had someone bring over some ice. She told Shen Yuwei to place it on her eyes. By the time she finished drinking, most of the red veins in her eyes had faded. Then the two of them went to a law office and had a formal IOU contract drafted. They agreed on a repayment date and both signed their full names.
When Ling Jiao signed her name, Shen Yuwei paused.
Ling Jiao tilted her head slightly. “What is it?”
Shen Yuwei shook her head. “Are you practicing calligraphy?”
Ling Jiao narrowed her eyes and looked down at her signature. Suddenly, she realized why Shen Yuwei had asked.
Maybe the original version of her in this world had written love letters to Shen Yuwei. If Shen Yuwei had seen the handwriting before, it would make sense that she noticed something different.
It was a timely reminder for Ling Jiao. She had transmigrated into this world. Even though her appearance and name were exactly the same, handwriting could easily give her away to someone close.
She would need to be more careful in the future.
Ling Jiao smiled warmly and said, “Yes. As they say, your handwriting reflects your character. I should take it more seriously.”
Shen Yuwei did not ask further.
There were two copies of the IOU contract. Each of them kept one. As they walked out, Shen Yuwei was ready to go her own way. Ling Jiao waved at her and said,
“Bye. See you next time.”
Wan Qing, Ling Jiao’s loyal sidekick, gazed into the distance and said,
“Boss, I don’t think she wants to see you again.”
“She can transfer the money to your account. No need to meet.”
Ling Jiao laughed.
“Whether we meet again or not is up to me.”
When Shen Yuwei returned to the Shen family home, she discovered that everything from her room had been moved somewhere else. The person responsible for this was sitting in the living room, nestled sweetly beside Shen Zhiwen.
It was as if she had not noticed someone else had entered the room.
Shen Xiaoxiao looked up with innocent admiration.
“This is the first time I’ve ever lived in such a big, spacious room. Thank you, Dad.”
“Why hasn’t Sister Yuwei come home yet? Is she mad at me?” Shen Xiaoxiao’s eyes filled with guilt. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have argued with her. She’s an Omega and there’s no one to protect her when she goes out. What if something bad happened to her?”
She shivered slightly, as if scared and full of worry.
Shen Zhiwen gently patted her and spoke in a low, comforting voice filled with affection.
“Your sister won’t blame you. That room was meant to be yours from the beginning.”
“Dad, are you really my father?” Shen Xiaoxiao rubbed her eyes and whispered through quiet sobs. “It feels like I’m dreaming. I’m scared that when I wake up, you’ll be gone.”
Shen Zhiwen stroked her hair with a sigh.
“Of course I’m your father.”
The warm, loving look on his face was so familiar. Before the truth about the switched daughters came out, he used to look at Shen Yuwei the same way. Even when she acted out, he had always tolerated her unconditionally.
“I’ve already arranged a press conference for tomorrow. I’ll let everyone know that you are my daughter. After that, no one will dare to mistreat you.”
Shen Zhiwen continued gently,
“I’ve also sent out invitations. In three days, there will be a grand banquet. I’ll formally introduce you to all my old friends.”
Shen Xiaoxiao stopped crying and smiled. She turned her head and gave Shen Zhiwen a gentle kiss on the cheek, showing complete trust and affection.
“Thank you, Dad.” Her eyes were filled with happiness.
When the butler entered to report something, he noticed that Shen Yuwei was already standing in front of the living room. She stood completely still, like a faded and cold statue.
He hesitated for a moment, then greeted her respectfully. “Miss Yuwei.”
That simple greeting instantly broke the peaceful and loving atmosphere between father and daughter. Shen Zhiwen’s expression turned cold. He looked up at her and asked sharply, “Where have you been?”
Shen Yuwei took a breath, walked forward, and asked softly, “Dad, why did you freeze my Xingxing Card?”
Shen Zhiwen’s face remained stern as he sat there. His presence was enough to create pressure without raising his voice.
Instead of answering her question, he spoke in a cold tone. “The servants have already prepared a new room for you. You left without saying a word, and now that you are back, the first thing you do is question your father? Where are your manners? Have all those years of education taught you nothing?”
He stared at her with disappointment. “You truly are my obedient daughter. Meanwhile, Xiaoxiao is still worried about your safety.”
Shen Yuwei was not someone who was good at explaining herself. She opened her mouth but could only manage a quiet apology.
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
Shen Xiaoxiao gently tugged on Shen Zhiwen’s sleeve and whispered, “Dad, Sister didn’t mean it. Please don’t be mad at her. If you’re angry, be mad at me instead.”
“Maybe I was too much. I shouldn’t have taken her room.” Her voice trembled, and her eyes filled with tears again.
Shen Zhiwen looked at Shen Yuwei coldly. “Go upstairs.”
He then turned away and gently comforted the daughter who had just come home, the one who had suffered for so long outside.
He had once thought that this daughter, who had been lost for more than ten years, might have developed a difficult personality because she did not grow up beside him. But to his surprise, Xiaoxiao turned out to be soft-hearted and very dependent on him.
This made him feel even more guilty toward her.
If he had found her earlier, maybe she would not have had to go through so much pain.
Shen Yuwei had been exhausted by the events of the day. By the time she returned home, the sky was already dark. Her body felt heavy and tired. She could not even remember how she walked from the living room to the attic on the second floor.
She felt deeply hurt. Hurt because her father’s attitude had changed so much. She also felt overwhelmed by the sudden debt she now owed, with no idea when she could repay it.
Her phone rang.
A message appeared from her fiancée.
“Are you okay? I heard you argued with your dad.”
“Vivi, don’t be upset. Uncle Shen is just excited about something new right now. You’re the daughter he raised and loved for so many years. There’s an old saying, raising a child creates a stronger bond than simply giving birth. You grew up by his side for more than ten years. That kind of relationship can’t just disappear overnight. Try to take it easy and look at things more calmly.”
“Have you made it home? I can come find you.”
Shen Yuwei was too tired to reply. She didn’t even have the strength to type a message.
She lay down on the unfamiliar bed. Tears flowed uncontrollably from her eyes, soaking into the pillow. The fabric beneath her became cold and damp.
Her phone rang again.
Another message had arrived.
She turned her head to look. It was from an unknown number.
“Shen Yuwei, this is Ling Jiao. I just thought of a way for you to pay off your debt faster. If you add me on WeChat, I’ll reduce the amount you owe by ten thousand. If you call me and let me know you’re safe, I’ll reduce it by another ten thousand.”
“I promise that once your debt is paid, I will not bother you again.”