Chapter 4

“I hired an Italian designer to replan the place. When you come back in a few months, I guarantee you’ll be amazed.”

She took a bunch of keys from her handbag and held them out to me.

“Oh, right. I know you like quiet. I rented an apartment for you in the west of the city.”

“It has only one bedroom and one living room, but it’s close to the subway and convenient.”

“I paid six months’ rent in advance. You should try experiencing an ordinary life for once.”

It was an ordinary brass key with a cheap plastic tag on the ring.

Looking at it, I had to admit Xiao was very good at what she did.

No arguments, no bloodshed—just steadily squeezing my living space down to nothing.

The workers nearby stopped moving and looked at us curiously.

“Who’s that girl? She’s dressed so well. Why does someone else have to rent a place for her?”

“I heard she’s President Han’s good-for-nothing little sister. Mrs. Han is so kind to rent her a place herself.”

“Exactly. Look at how reluctant she is. So ungrateful.”

The comments were loud enough for me to hear, but not loud enough to seem deliberate.

Xiao had clearly heard them, too. She didn’t stop anyone. Instead, she looked at me with indulgent sympathy.

“Little sister, what they’re saying is harsh, but not entirely wrong.”

“You can’t live in the glory of the past forever. These eleven tea mountains are the result of Han Xu’s youth and sweat.”

She leaned closer, her voice low enough for only the two of us.

“Face reality. Without Han Xu managing it, you’re nothing.”

I didn’t take the key. I simply lifted my head and silently studied her carefully made-up face.

“Xiao, have you confused something?”

I pointed to the old house behind her, now so thoroughly demolished and renovated it was unrecognizable.

“The house and the land beneath it are both registered to Shen Zhi on the ownership certificate.”

“You renovated someone else’s private property without my permission. Under the law, that’s intentional property damage.”

Xiao froze for a moment, apparently not expecting me to bring up the law.

But she quickly regained her composure and gave a soft laugh.

“Little sister, are you so angry you’ve lost your mind?”

She pulled a document from her coat pocket and held it up in front of me.

“Yesterday afternoon, your uncle signed a long-term lease and renovation authorization for the old house as your legal representative.”

“Did you forget? Your uncle has signed all your important papers for you since you were little.”

I looked at the signature and fell silent.

My uncle’s heart had completely turned toward them.

Seeing that I didn’t respond, Xiao assumed I’d given in and pushed the cheap key into my hand.

“Be good and take it.”

“Experiencing life a little will help you grow.”

In the blink of an eye, April arrived.

Spring in Jiangzhe always brought endless drizzle. It was also the most important time of year for the tea mountains.

The Spring Tea Offering.

By tradition, the first incense at the annual ceremony had to be lit by a member of the Shen family.

It wasn’t just an act of reverence for the mountain spirit. It was also how the tea growers were reminded who owned the mountains.

This year, the altar had been built on Tea Mountain No. 1.

The rain had stopped, and the air carried the clean fragrance of fresh tea buds.

I held a black umbrella and stood at the very edge of the guest area.