Chapter 4 : Family Games and Hidden Scars

Chen Yanxing was brought back to replace Chen Xingxing in an arranged marriage.
The Chen and Feng families, old allies in Jiangcheng, had plans to deepen ties.
The Feng family’s eldest son had just returned from abroad, and both families decided Chen Xingxing, of marriageable age, should wed him.
The Feng heir wasn’t bad among his peers, but Chen Xingxing refused, throwing tantrums.
With no other choice, Chen Zhiyu summoned her forgotten second daughter, Chen Yanxing, from the mountains to take her place in a betrothal to the Xu family.
Last night, both families were set to dine and finalize the matter, but Chen Yanxing didn’t show, her phone unreachable.
It was a loss of face.
Chen Zhiyu skipped work today, waiting at home for her.
But Chen Yanxing offered no real excuse—just a lost phone?
Getting lost?
Chen Zhiyu, fuming, stood and grabbed Chen Yanxing’s arm.
“Everyone was there, except you!
What makes you so special?”
She snapped, “What a big shot, huh?
Daring to snub the Fengs.”

Chen Yanxing winced—her mother’s grip was fierce, the sudden pain jarring.
But she quickly masked her emotions.
“Chen Xingxing was there,” she said.
“Let her marry him.”
Before she finished, a slap struck her face.
Her head turned, hair falling to hide her reddened cheek.
Her fingers clenched the soft cap, suppressing the anger flaring inside.
She lowered her eyes, burying her disgust and resentment beneath thick lashes.

“You’re the elder sister—how can she marry if you don’t?”
“Then why hasn’t Big Sister married?”
Chen Zhiyu raised her hand again.
Chen Yanxing flinched instinctively.
Noticing, Chen Zhiyu held back, pointing instead, livid.
“You… your wings have grown!”

Chen Yanxing bit her lip, silent.
To Chen Zhiyu, her silence was defiance.
She moved to strike again, but Chen Yanqing, the eldest, returned just in time, saving Chen Yanxing from her mother’s wrath.
She was sent to kneel in the ancestral hall instead.

Chen Yanqing, after grasping the situation, glanced at Chen Xingxing on the second floor.
Chen Xingxing snorted smugly, turning back to her room.
She didn’t know why her eldest sister always helped Chen Yanxing, openly or not, but she scorned it.
Sitting on the sofa, she studied a photo on her phone.
She didn’t know why Chen Yanxing’s room had someone else in it last night, but it was leverage.
Still, with the fire already raging downstairs, she didn’t need to add fuel.

Chen Yanxing knelt in the ancestral hall, facing ancient plaques, and put her black cap back on.
Her hand brushed her neck where Shen Mengke had bitten her.
It still stung, but the memory brought a tingling thrill.

She hadn’t planned to attend the dinner.
Chen Xingxing’s cronies—self-proclaimed “modern youths” rejecting arranged marriages—showed up, dragging her to their drinking party.
Chen Yanxing knew their motives but went anyway.

Then came the drinks, spiked with something.
She barely drank—she disliked alcohol—but ate and socialized.
As she moved to leave, her body weakened.
Caught off guard, she suspected everything in that room, even the air, was drugged.

Her mind clouded, she was helped to a hotel bed.
Muffled voices spoke nearby.
She couldn’t make them out but understood her situation.
A hand touched her.
Grabbing it, she summoned her last shred of clarity and pushed the person away.
Standing, she leaned against the wall, its coolness anchoring her fading reason.
Threatening to call the police, she drove the girl off.
Looking up, her eyes met Shen Mengke’s, leaning against the door.

Shen Mengke smiled faintly, her fox-like eyes captivating.
In that moment, Chen Yanxing’s reason vanished.

Foxes are agile predators, fiercely territorial, marking boundaries with scent.
Recalling Shen Mengke’s insistence on leaving marks on her body, Chen Yanxing smiled unconsciously.

“Still smiling?
Guess the slap wasn’t hard enough.”
A voice came from behind.
Chen Yanxing dropped her hand, straightening.
“It’s me,” Chen Yanqing sighed, stepping forward.

Seeing her eldest sister, Chen Yanxing relaxed, slumping slightly, her eyes fixed on Chen Yanqing without a word.
Chen Yanqing crouched beside her, holding a tube of ointment.
“Where’d the cap come from?”
Chen Yanxing didn’t answer.
Used to her sister’s silence, Chen Yanqing opened the ointment.
“Why not just go along with Mother?”

“Go along?”
Chen Yanxing stopped her from applying the ointment, taking it to inspect.
“Go along and marry myself off?
Why don’t you?”
Chen Yanqing laughed, unbothered by the jab.
“Getting sharp-tongued now?
Why so quiet with Mother?”
“Nothing to say to her.”
Chen Yanxing capped the ointment, toying with it.
Chen Yanqing’s gaze landed on her neck, puzzled.
“Mosquito bite from last night?”
Chen Yanxing froze, covering it.
“No…”

She was terrible at hiding things.
Chen Yanqing chuckled, not pressing.
“This is settled for now.
Last night was a mess—both families lost face.
The Feng heir’s a jerk, brought his girlfriend right in front of everyone.
The Fengs were embarrassed, apologizing to Mother.
It’s dropped for now—you can breathe.”
Chen Yanxing glanced at her.
“For now?”
Chen Yanqing hesitated.
“Last night… Xingxing suggested…”
“Sending me back?”
Chen Yanxing wasn’t surprised, sneering.
Once useless, she’d be cast out of the Chen family.

“Yanxing, I’m saying, find a job before Mother decides.”
“I wanted you in the Chen Group, but…”
Chen Yanxing understood—Chen Zhiyu wouldn’t let her near the family’s core.
She wasn’t even allowed to live at home, let alone touch the business.
Lowering her head, she spun the ointment tube.
“Got it,” she said after a pause.

The Chen family was Chen Zhiyu’s domain.
Its success came from her ruthless decisions.
She was like an ancient emperor, tolerating no defiance.
Even Chen Yanqing, accomplished and respected, couldn’t escape her control.

Chen Yanqing was exceptional, far surpassing the pampered Chen Xingxing.
But in the Chen family, only those with “Mother’s favor” like Chen Xingxing had a voice.
Yet, without Chen Yanxing, Chen Xingxing would’ve been forced into the marriage.

Chen Yanxing sneered.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Chen Xingxing’s smugness would crumble one day.

Chen Yanqing, seeing her sister’s bowed head, assumed she was upset.
She knew their mother’s bias but could say little.
She patted Chen Yanxing’s shoulder.
“Get up.
Mother’s at the company.
Go rest.”

Chen Yanxing composed herself, returning the ointment and standing without help.
“I won’t stay here,” she said, glancing at the plaques.
“She doesn’t like me.
If I’m around, it’ll just remind her to ship me off.”
She smiled at Chen Yanqing.
“Thanks.”

She turned to leave.
Chen Yanqing, stunned by her smile, called after her.
“Where are you going?”
Chen Yanxing waved without looking back.
“Wandering!”