Chapter 52: It Is Actually Quite Painful

After school, Shi Zhaodi stayed behind as usual to tutor Zou Kai for an hour before they walked back together.

Upon returning to the Jiang residence, Shi Zhaodi slung her schoolbag over her shoulder, preparing to head over to Jiang Haoen's side, just as her mother was walking back into their room.

"Zhaodi, you don't need to go to the young master's side anymore," Mrs. Shi said to her daughter.

"Why is that, Mom?" Shi Zhaodi asked, looking at her mother with a puzzled expression.

"The young master has guests over, so it wouldn't be appropriate for you to go there," Mrs. Shi explained.

"Oh!" Shi Zhaodi replied blankly, having no choice but to put her schoolbag down. Then she asked, "Mom, I can go over to older brother's place a bit later, right? It should be fine. There are many problems I want to ask him about."

"You are not to go over there at all for the time being," Mrs. Shi said flatly.

"Why?"

"The young master's fiancée-to-be has come to the Jiang family. If you go over, won't you just be in the way? Be a good girl and stay in your own room to do your homework. If there are problems you don't know how to solve, ask your teachers. Don't go over and disturb them anymore," Mrs. Shi admonished.

Shi Zhaodi stared blankly at her mother, feeling as though she was suddenly looking at a stranger.

Her mother's words echoed relentlessly in her mind—*The young master's fiancée-to-be has come to the Jiang family!*

She had indeed heard rumors that once the old master celebrated his grand birthday, an official betrothal would be arranged for older brother.

However, she had always refused to believe it.

Now that it had become a reality, she realized she was somewhat unable to accept it.

"Be a good girl, stay in your room and do your homework. Mom will bring your dinner over later," Mrs. Shi soothed her daughter.

"Okay, thank you, Mom!" Shi Zhaodi nodded in acknowledgment and sat down.

With a sense of numbness, she pulled the practice worksheets and textbooks from her schoolbag and began to work.

Mrs. Shi watched her daughter for a moment before turning and walking out.

After her mother left, Shi Zhaodi sat blankly at her desk.

Though her textbook lay open before her, not a single word registered in her mind.

Older brother was finally going to belong to someone else!

The two-year agreement was also drawing to a close, and soon she and her mother would have to leave the Jiang household.

The night before last, when she had run a high fever, older brother had stayed by her side and taken care of her the entire night. At that time, she had even wondered if they could remain this happy forever.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, the dream had shattered, and the beauty of that night suddenly felt so distant.

Shi Zhaodi's nose stung, but she bit her lower lip, holding back the sobs threatening to escape her lips.

Still, her disobedient tears fell, drop by drop, onto the pages of her textbook.

It hurt so much!

For the period that followed, Shi Zhaodi continued her daily routine as usual: waking up the moment her alarm sounded to get ready for school, tutoring Zou Kai after classes ended, and then heading straight back to the Jiang residence.

The only thing that had changed was that she could no longer visit older brother's side whenever she pleased, as she used to do.

Time crawled by like a snail, flowing agonizingly slowly.

Yet, nothing could halt the approach of the high school entrance examinations.