The system makes me so beautiful that I don't care about anyone else's life or death.

"Just because of this? Because of your pride?" Su Ran asked, amused.

Shi An frowned. "Otherwise what? So what if you get an acceptance letter from Qingcheng Academy? Do you have money? Qingcheng Academy is extremely particular about family background. Do you think you can survive there on your own?"

“Even if you manage to get through the student loan, do you know how to play a musical instrument? You’re not like Youyou, who has been learning music, chess, calligraphy and painting since elementary school. You don’t even know the simplest children’s song on the piano. Are you sure you can keep up with the course? As long as you come back, we can still hire a piano teacher to teach you.”

Shi An went on to say a lot more, believing that the pros and cons he mentioned were enough for Su Ran to consider, and that anyone with a brain would know which option to choose.

Analyzing the words Shi An revealed, Su Ran roughly understood that Shi An had made quite a fuss about finding someone, and coupled with what happened at the graduation banquet, everyone wasn't stupid, so the rumors spread.

At the time, there was also a stepdaughter who said he was too petty and that he abandoned his child in the countryside to be raised because he didn't like the child.

This was a blow to Shi Zheng, who always cared about his reputation, so he scolded Shi An and urged him to find Su Ran as soon as possible.

But she was also worried that Su Ran, who grew up in the countryside, didn't know anything and would become a laughing stock if word got out.

Seeing Su Ran's calm expression, Shi An believed that she had listened to everything.

He continued, "I know you must have received your acceptance letter. Your parents have rented an apartment for Youyou in Kyoto. It's a two-bedroom apartment, and you can move in with her to build a relationship."

The little butterfly chimed in with sarcastic remarks, ["The house was rented to the stepdaughter so the host could live there too, in a condescending tone."]

Su Ran wasn't so angry anymore.

She looked up, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

"Okay, pick me up in Kyoto tomorrow."

Do you really think she'll go back to the Shi family?

No, she just wanted to see what kind of show that wicked mother and daughter would put on in front of her.

Before officially retaliating against them, it wouldn't be unreasonable to collect a little interest and tease them a bit.

[Host, how could you agree to this? They're full of bad intentions, Host!] The little butterfly disagreed.

After receiving a definite answer, Shi An wore a "I knew it" expression, knowing that Su Ran would be in the family from now on, and her eyes showed a hint of disgust.

After the two left the room, Shi An told Shi Zheng and the other two about Su Ran's choice. Shi Zheng's anger subsided a bit, but his gaze towards Su Ran still carried a hint of contempt.

"Study the piano well, don't embarrass me!" Shi Zheng's tone was utterly impolite, as if he thought Su Ran staying was a done deal.

Su Ran smiled but remained silent; she no longer let people she didn't care about affect her emotions.

"Ranran, we'll be best friends again from now on."

Shi Youyou greeted him with a bright smile. She gently placed her hand on Su Ran's wrist, then gripped it tightly. Her smile remained gentle as she said, "I will treat you well from now on."

Su Ran lowered her eyes, her dark gaze sweeping over the slender, white fingers that were tightly gripping her wrist. They were fair and delicate, clearly indicating that the person hadn't done any heavy work.

Wang Xiaoxia was still pretending to wipe away her tears, nestled in Shi Zheng's arms, "Husband, look how good they are. I can't believe that one day I will see the two sisters standing together."

The man hugged his wife tightly, saying, "Youyou is so kind; she accepted Shiran without me having to say anything."

“Youyou has always been obedient since she was little. When has she ever failed to fulfill our requests? She has a good temperament, but I’m just worried that she might be taken advantage of if we don’t protect her.” As Wang Xiaoxia spoke, she covered her mouth and laughed, “See what I said? Ranran is also a good child and would definitely not bully Youyou.”

"She dares?!" Shi Zheng's face was serious.

Seeing her husband siding with her daughter, Wang Xiaoxia lowered her head and chuckled to herself.

So what if they're your own children? If you're separated for too long, you can't bring their hearts back together.

Since Su Ran agreed to stay, Shi Zheng felt much more at ease. When faced with gossipy questions from some old friends, he openly replied that he did indeed have another daughter who was recuperating in the countryside due to illness.

However, he refers to Su Ran as his stepdaughter in public.

Shi Zheng was a man who spent his whole life pursuing perfection and dignity.

He wouldn't allow his biological daughter to be a wild girl who came back from the countryside and knew nothing. He preferred to treat Shi Youyou, whom he had personally raised, as his own daughter.

Anyway, they weren't born from his womb, so what's the difference besides blood relation?

Su Ran returned to Kyoto that day. Jiangcheng is very close to Kyoto, only a 30-minute high-speed train ride away.

Since Grandma's health improved a lot, she's been talking about the free-range chickens and ducks at home, as well as the rice seedlings in the paddy fields. She worries that there won't be enough chickens and ducks to eat, and that the rice seedlings will be pulled up by others.

Previously, because her grandmother was in poor health, Su Ran decided to take her grandmother with her wherever she went.

Now, after being nourished by the Marrow Cleansing Pill, Grandma's body, though not as strong as when she was young, is still quite robust compared to other elderly people her age.

So Su Ran suggested that Grandma go back first, and they could pick her up again when she wanted to come back later.

Grandma Su hesitated for a few minutes, but then agreed.

Firstly, seeing that Su Ran now has a part-time job and doesn't have to worry about her life.

Secondly, she noticed that Su Ran's condition was improving day by day, and since Su Ran had always been very independent and lived in a safe place, she felt at ease.

She'd been moving around a lot these past few days, so she didn't have much luggage and packed it up quickly. After buying her grandmother's train ticket and taking her to the station, Su Ran went back to pack her own things.

She didn't bring much with her, just a few sets of clothes, a few pairs of shoes, a live-streaming stand, and the black guitar that Zhong Jue had given her.

The next day, Shi An did not pick her up by car as she had said, but instead told Su Ran to buy her own ticket to Jiangcheng.

Su Ran didn't care; she felt more at ease without Shi An.

Since she visited the Shi family yesterday, she knew that in the thirteen years since she left, Shi Zheng had long since lost any fatherly affection for her. He looked at her as if she were a burden.

She suddenly began to doubt whether Shi Youyou was Shi Zheng's biological daughter. Given Shi Zheng's character, he would definitely do something like this to cover up his marital infidelity and moral failings.

****

When Su Ran arrived at the Shi family home with her suitcase, only the housekeeper, Li Ma, opened the door for her. The living room was deserted and empty; they didn't seem to welcome her at all.

"Second Miss, it's unfortunate today. Eldest Miss has a performance, and the master, mistress, and young master have all gone to watch it. The mistress instructed me to take you directly to your room when you arrive."

Li Ma said that, but she had no intention of taking over Su Ran's luggage. She told Su Ran to carry her own things in, and then turned around and went to the kitchen to make soup, leaving Su Ran alone in the living room.

The little butterfly retorted arrogantly: "Hmph, 'Young Miss' and 'Second Young Miss'? We're not from some wealthy family. Besides, in terms of rank, you, Host, are the Young Miss!"

Su Ran just smiled and remained silent.

The Shi family was not a wealthy family. Although their house was in a good location, it was not a luxury villa, but a small two-story duplex with a floor area of ​​100 square meters. Their family was well-off, but could only be considered middle-class.

The reason they had the nanny call them "Mr.," "Mrs.," "Young Master," and "Miss" was because at that time, they valued pomp and circumstance, and they also had an unfulfilled dream of becoming celebrities.

Shi Zheng works in the film and television industry and is a well-known producer in the circle, having accumulated a wealth of connections and savings in the entertainment industry. However, after working hard for most of his life, he is now old and his energy is not what it used to be, but his ambition remains undiminished.

So he began planning to have his son, Shi An, gradually take over his connections, pave the way for him, and get him into the entertainment industry; he also planned to cultivate Shi Youyou into a famous talented woman in Jiangcheng's high society, intending to attract wealthy and powerful families, so that the Shi family could leap directly from ordinary people to high-ranking officials and nobles, and occupy a place in Jiangcheng or the entertainment industry.

"This dream should be shattered." Su Ran sat leisurely on the sofa.

When Li Ma saw Su Ran sitting on the sofa by herself, she frowned.