The Daily Life of a Pampered Lady With a Princess Syndrome

When Shu Jia Er returned to the classroom, her lips were still slightly red, as if she’d just secretly eaten strawberry jam.

As soon as she got back to her seat, Ning Meng leaned over excitedly. “Little Ear, was the microphone in the broadcast room, was the microphone in the broadcasting room broken just now?”

Shu Jia Er jumped a little, like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on, and let out a soft exclamation.

Now, whenever she heard the words “broadcast room,” her heart would start racing, her face would flush, and she’d feel completely at a loss.

Ning Meng gave her a puzzled look, not understanding why Shu Jia Er was so jumpy. “What’s wrong?”

Shu Jia Er quickly shook her head vigorously, trying to act nonchalant while secretly sighing in relief.

Judging by Ning Meng’s expression, she must have had no idea what happened in the broadcast room just now. Besides, Huo Chao had been standing a bit away from the microphone, so his voice must have sounded quieter to everyone else—if they heard anything at all.

That’s why Ning Meng was asking if the microphone was broken.

Of course, the microphone wasn’t broken.

It was just almost… played with to the breaking point.

Thinking about what had just happened in the broadcast room, Shu Jia Er was at a loss for words.

She always knew that Huo Chao liked to defy conventions. Even the first time he made an apology, he spoke earnestly to the whole school, saying he would work to foster friendship and cooperation with his classmates, but in reality, he’d been making a promise to her—to protect her.

He was well-practiced in saying one thing and doing another.

She also knew he had a rebellious streak, wild and untamed, but she hadn’t expected him to go so far in the broadcast room.

While warning the younger students against early relationships, saying, “Dating too soon isn’t good,” he had his head down, holding her and kissing her.

Ah, that infuriatingly charming guy!

Shu Jia Er fanned her flushed face with her hands, pretending to look unaware. “Huh? Why do you ask?”

Ning Meng looked at her strangely. “Because the boss’ voice kept fading in and out during the apology, like the microphone was having issues.”

“Oh.” Shu Jia Er tried to keep her expression neutral. “But you could hear what he was saying, right?”

“For the most part, yeah.”

“Good, then.”

And with that, the matter of the apology passed.

During this period, the Shu family was getting ready to leave Beijing for good.

On the day they left, Liu Yan and Shu Qiang both came to see Shu Er off, with Liu Yan secretly slipping a bank card into Shu Er’s hand.

The card contained one million yuan, enough for her to comfortably finish high school and college.

It would secure her future for the next few years and was Liu Yan’s way of acknowledging the bond they shared for so long.

Clutching the bank card tightly, Shu Er felt a mix of reluctance, anxiety, and confusion. Tears gathered in her eyes, her resentment toward Liu Yan momentarily softened. “Mom, Mom… Will I never see you again?”

Liu Yan felt just as conflicted. Pressing a finger to the corner of her reddened eyes, she replied in a hoarse voice, “Your mother will be with you there. Shu Shu, take care of yourself. This is as far as I can go with you.”

Shu Qiang, biting his lip, handed Shu Er all the pocket money he saved up over the years.

As the only son in the family, he was usually given a fair bit of spending money. Although he was only twelve, he’d managed to save up a considerable amount.

He pushed the card into Shu Er’s hand and said softly, “Goodbye, sister.”

From today onward, they would lead their own lives, growing in their own worlds.

Perhaps they would meet again years later, and he would still call her “sister”.

But that would be far in the future.

Shu Rou stepped over, grabbed Shu Er’s arm, and half-pulled, half-dragged her away. “Let’s go, the train is about to leave. Why are you still dawdling?”

Shu Rou didn’t miss the scene of Liu Yan and Shu Qiang giving Shu Er those bank cards.

Neither of them was stingy, and considering their years together, they wouldn’t have given her a small amount. Shu Rou thought Shu Er was lucky; even if she was no longer the Shu family’s daughter, at least she’d had 17 good years and wouldn’t have to worry about money going forward. What more could she want?

And yet, Shu Er looked miserable, like she resented her true family.

What was her problem? Does she look down on them? Does she think they weren’t as wealthy as the Shu family?

People’s desires, Shu Rou thought, are never satisfied.

She decided to keep a close eye on Shu Er and wouldn’t let her cause any more trouble in the family.

If she did, she’d make sure that money was “donated” to the family funds!

As tears streamed down her face, Shu Er waved at Liu Yan and Shu Qiang. Despite her reluctance, she had no choice but to board the southbound train with her biological family.

Beijing was truly in the past now.

The Shu family’s departure had little impact on Shu Jia Er.

She and Shu Rou, along with Shu Ya, had created a WeChat group chat for the three of them to talk and gossip.

Now the wealthiest among them, Shu Jia Er would send a few red envelopes to the group on holidays, just as a gesture—not much money, but enough to brighten up her sisters’ lives a little.

Shu Jia Er had gained a few fake sisters. As a member of the Shu family, many girls approached her, hoping to befriend her.

But now, Shu Jia Er took it casually. If they clicked, she’d be friends with them; if not, she’d say goodbye. She was more confident and relaxed than Shu Er had ever been.

She didn’t lack friends now; Ning Meng was one, and while Shu Rou and Shu Ya weren’t true sisters, they made good friends.

As for fair-weather friends, her current status made it easy to draw a crowd if she ever hosted a gathering.

Her aloof attitude seemed to draw even more people who wanted to be her friends, thinking it was prestigious to know her.

Of course, there were those who didn’t like her, but even if they did, they’d never openly say so. In this social circle, people were practical. No matter what Shu Jia Er had gone through, she was still a Shu by name.

Not to mention, she’d been the one who had pushed Shu Er out of the Shu family. She clearly wasn’t someone to be underestimated.

Li Mo and Xu Lan gradually faded from the social scene. With Shu Er gone, her two lackeys were naturally forgotten. As for Shu Er’s former admirer, Fu Mingqian, Shu Jia Er had never even met him.

Time passed, and Shu Jia Er’s life settled into a steady rhythm.

She wasn’t close with Liu Yan, and her father was busy with work and is rarely home, so their relationship was also just so-so. However, she and Shu Qiang had gradually built a brother-sister relationship.

Sometimes, she’d even take Shu Qiang out with Huo Chao.

If Shu Qiang were a bit younger, the three of them would look like a little family of three.

On a Sunday, Shu Jia Er and Huo Chao took her little brother Shu Qiang to an amusement park for a date.

Huo Chao went to stand in the long line to buy them rabbit-shaped cotton candy.

The two siblings sat on a bench nearby, waiting for him. Shu Qiang propped his hands on the bench, swinging his legs back and forth.

Suddenly, he asked, “Sister, after New Year, my brother-in-law will be starting the last semester of high school. He’ll have his college entrance exams in June, right?”

It was already January, and a cold wind was blowing.

Shu Jia Er was wrapped in the scarf Huo Chao had knitted for her, his Christmas gift to her. She was also wearing the gloves he’d given her for New Year. She was bundled up warmly, and despite the chill, she didn’t feel cold at all.

She nodded casually at Shu Qiang’s question.

“Sister, won’t that mean you’ll be in a long-distance relationship?”

“Yep.”

And who knows how many years they might be long-distance.

Shu Qiang looked worried. “Sister, my brother-in-law is so handsome. What if someone steals him away?”

Shu Jia Er couldn’t help but laugh at her little brother’s concern. If she wasn’t worried, why should he be?

She pinched his chubby cheeks. “Shouldn’t he be the one worrying? I’m the pretty one here. Plenty of people like me. If anyone should feel insecure, it’s him.”

Shu Qiang thought about it and agreed.

His sister is beautiful, so it was his brother-in-law who should be nervous.

As the siblings chatted, Huo Chao finally returned with the cotton candy, handing them each a stick.

“What were you two talking about?” he asked.

Shu Qiang was about to speak when Shu Jia Er beat him to it. “Oh, we were discussing how you’re already mature enough to recognize green tea bitches yourself.”

Huo Chao looked puzzled. “Are there any girls around me other than you?”

There was no need to recognize them—there weren’t even any girls to begin with.

Shu Qiang said, “Brother-in-law, you will go to college in the second half of the year. There are so many girls in college, and there are probably a lot of good-looking ones.”

But he was a little curious about the “green tea bitch” that Shu Jia Er just mentioned, “Sister, what is a green tea bitch?”

“It is someone that girls hate.”

Shu Jia Er asked Huo Chao to help her hold the cotton candy and started her performance.

She crossed her hands on her knees, with a look of helplessness on her delicate little face, “Ah, do you have a girlfriend? I’m sorry, I really troubled you this time. But I really can’t move things by myself.”

Shu Jiaer still used the soft Taiwanese accent, and it must be said that it was indeed soft and beautiful.

She looked at Huo Chao carefully, “Thank you; you’re really kind.”

“Your girlfriend wouldn’t be this petty, right?”

“I study with you often—wouldn’t your girlfriend be upset if she knew?”

“I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean it. It’s all my fault, I’m so sorry.”

“I only see you as a friend. Really.”

Huo Chao and Shu Qiang watched this scene with fascination. They had to admit, girls were born actors. If a girl really wanted to act like a “green tea girl” (someone who pretends to be innocent to manipulate men), she could do it flawlessly. Unless another girl was around to see through her act, she’d probably fool a ton of unsuspecting guys.

Shu Qiang scratched his head. Honestly, if he had a girlfriend and ran into a girl like this, he probably wouldn’t have the heart to say anything harsh.

Maybe it was because his sister was so pretty, or maybe she just played the part so well, but just now, she was the perfect image of an innocent, harmless girl. Who could bring themselves to say anything mean to her?

After getting her fill of acting, Shu Jia Er took the cotton candy from Huo Chao, licked it, and said, “This is what a ‘green tea girl’ is—pretending to be sorry, saying ‘I didn’t mean it,’ acting all delicate and pitiful. But really? These kinds of people hang around other people’s boyfriends all the time without any sense of boundaries.”

Licking her cotton candy again, Shu Jia Er turned to Huo Chao and asked, “Brother, what would you do if you met someone like that?”

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