You unfilial daughter, get out of my sight!

After Wen Shuang passed her audition for the provincial theater, she was elated! She sent Yao Qianqian a message of thanks, promising to treat her to a lavish meal next time. Yao Qianqian replied quickly: "Shuangshuang, with your professional skills, joining the dance troupe was only a matter of time!"

Wen Shuang’s first thought was to share her joy with Wen Fanhai. Since Wen Fanhai’s release from prison, she hadn’t returned home. Now, with good news in hand, she decided to visit, bringing several boxes of health supplements with her, certain that her father would be thrilled by her acceptance into the provincial theater.

She pressed her fingerprint to the door. Error! Disbelieving, she tried several more times, but it remained incorrect. Her expression stiffened.

“Oh, isn’t this Shuangshuang? What brings you here today?” Aunt Chun opened the door after hearing the commotion, treating her as a guest. “We just changed the code lock a few days ago, so your old fingerprint doesn’t work anymore.” The implication was clear: she was no longer considered family.

A chill flickered in Wen Shuang’s eyes. “Where’s my dad?”

Aunt Chun turned and called her husband.

When Wen Fanhai saw Wen Shuang, there was not a trace of joy on his face. “What are you doing here?”

Her excitement was doused in an instant, like a bucket of cold water poured over her head.

Wen Shuang awkwardly lifted her gift boxes. “I just wanted to visit you, Dad. And I have some good news to share…”

“So you still remember to visit me. I thought you’d completely forgotten you had a father out there!”

These days, Aunt Chun had whispered countless things into Wen Fanhai’s ear, telling him that while he was in prison, Wen Shuang had money to spend but refused to give a cent to Aunt Chun and her daughter, leaving them to suffer, and had blocked all their phone numbers. Yaoyao, trying to earn money, was beaten and now lay in the hospital for treatment.

Wen Fanhai, recalling Wen Shuang’s strange attitude that day, suddenly felt utterly disappointed in his daughter.

Wen Shuang forced a cheerful smile and affectionately took his arm. “Dad, how could I ever forget you? Look, I brought you lots of health supplements!”

His stern expression began to soften.

Aunt Chun suddenly interjected, “Shuangshuang, where have you been staying lately? Your father misses you every day. Why don’t you move back? It’s not safe for a young woman to live outside.”

Wen Shuang replied coolly, “I’ve already agreed to share a place with friends; it’s not convenient to move back now.”

“What kind of friends are you so close with? Not a boyfriend, is it?” Aunt Chun lifted the gift boxes. “If it is, bring him home to meet us sometime.”

Wen Fanhai’s eyes widened. “Wen Shuang, break off those improper relationships at once—don’t ever see them again! What’s a young woman doing out there behaving so disgracefully?”

Aunt Chun had hinted at this many times, saying Wen Shuang was involved with a wealthy older businessman, supposedly her boyfriend, but in truth just a sleazy, married man. Wen Fanhai was deeply traditional and would never allow his daughter to be involved with such a person. He couldn’t help but explode this time.

Wen Shuang was stunned, then bit her lip. “Dad! I finally came to see you. Don’t jump to conclusions. When have I ever behaved improperly? I don’t even have a boyfriend. Don’t let someone’s one-sided words wrong me!”

Aunt Chun bowed her head. “Shuangshuang, don’t deny it… We’re only thinking of you…”

“Shut up!”

From childhood, Wen Shuang could never stand her manipulative ways.

Wen Fanhai grew angrier. “Wen Shuang! Aunt Chun is your stepmother—how dare you talk back to her? Apologize!”

“Why should I apologize?” Wen Shuang stubbornly lifted her chin. “Dad, can’t you open your eyes and see who’s really good to you? Remember, while you were in prison, Aunt Chun never once came to see you!”

Aunt Chun began to sob.

“Wen Shuang, you’ve gone too far! Messing around outside, talking back at home—how could I have raised such an ill-mannered daughter!”

Wen Fanhai was deeply disappointed, and then noticed the faint mark on her neck. It was slight, but enough to infuriate him.

“Look at you, degrading yourself out there, disgracing our family! If you don’t cut ties, then don’t ever come home again! I have no daughter like you!”

Wen Shuang stood there, dumbfounded by Wen Fanhai’s loud reprimand.

She stared wide-eyed in shock, then kicked over the carefully chosen health supplements.

“Fine! The Wen family has nothing to do with me anymore! I won’t come back! Even when you die, I won’t return!”

...

Wen Fanhai nearly rushed out after her.

“Damn it, now she won’t even listen to me! Cursing me for dead!” He couldn’t understand how his gentle daughter, whom he’d doted on since childhood, had turned out like this.

Aunt Chun held him back and soothed him. “Fanhai, you’ve just come out of prison and your health is still fragile—don’t get angry with Shuangshuang. Besides, she’s only tasting the sweetness of following that boss for now. Eventually, she’ll realize her mistake.”

Wen Fanhai grew even angrier. “If she’s shameless, I still have dignity. Our family doesn’t need a daughter with such poor character!” He felt sorry for Aunt Chun and took her hand. “Shuangshuang has such a bad temper now—you’ve suffered for it.”

...

Wen Shuang had entered full of joy, but left the house with a heart full of grievance.

This so-called home!

She ran out, crying, feeling utterly aggrieved. In the end, a daughter could never be more important than a wife! Whatever that manipulative Aunt Chun said, Wen Fanhai believed, refusing to hear even half an explanation from her.

Wen Shuang was deeply disappointed in this family.

That morning, Ji Shen had told her he’d be working late. Wen Shuang thought it was too embarrassing to cry outside, so planned to return home and hide in her room to cry there.

As soon as she opened the door, Ji Shen seemed startled. “Ms. Wen, you’re back so soon?”

He’d seen her message saying she’d gone home and thought she wouldn’t return until later.

Wen Shuang stood frozen in astonishment.

Suddenly, the gray and white apartment was filled with colorful balloons. On the wall, the words “Happy birthday” were spelled out in English letters.

Today was her birthday!

She herself had forgotten, but Ji Shen had remembered and arranged a celebration for her at home.

She stared, wide-eyed. “Officer Ji… this is…”

“I left work two hours early today to prepare a birthday surprise for you,” Ji Shen said, noticing her red eyes. “But from the looks of it, it seems more like a shock than a surprise.”

Sadness and joy flooded her at once, her emotions swinging wildly in a single day.

Her eyes grew even redder. “Thank you, Officer Ji.”

“Why are you crying?” Ji Shen noticed something was wrong. “Didn’t you have the dance troupe audition today? Didn’t pass?”

Wen Shuang mumbled, “… I did pass.”

“Then why aren’t you happy?” Ji Shen reached out, pulling Wen Shuang into his arms, his voice suddenly deep. “Did someone bully you?”