C8 It's Really over

"Ha..." Jing Si released his grip, letting out a self-deprecating chuckle as he opened the bathroom door and walked out.

The air around suddenly fell silent. Shen Yueyin stood there in a daze for a long time before finally collapsing to the floor, exhausted. It was truly over between her and Jing Si.

By the time she emerged from the lounge, Jing Si was nowhere to be seen in the banquet hall. With a smile on her lips, Shen Yueyin mingled with the crowd. She needed to network, to build connections, to find allies.

After a long night of socializing, she was both physically and mentally drained. Once she and Su Ci returned to the Shen family villa, Su Ci left. She took her clutch and opened the villa door, unexpectedly finding Zhao Huirong and Shen Changqing still sitting in the living room.

Her clear, dark eyes dimmed slightly as she changed her shoes and cheerfully greeted them, "Mom, Sister."

"Oh, Mrs. Lin!" Zhao Huirong called to the housekeeper still busy in the kitchen. When she appeared, Zhao pointed to the door, "Please check if something unpleasant has come in. The air seems a bit off."

"Ma'am..." Mrs. Lin looked at Shen Yueyin with a troubled expression, unsure of what to do.

Shen Yueyin took a deep breath, walked over to Mrs. Lin, and gently said, "Go ahead with your work." She then wished Zhao Huirong and Shen Changqing goodnight and headed upstairs to rest.

Hearing the commotion, Xia Qingya hurried down to see Shen Yueyin, her face lighting up with a smile. She quickly approached and took Yueyin's hand, asking, "Tired? I saw you on TV, you looked beautiful."

"Just like you," Shen Yueyin replied sweetly, her words making Xia Qingya's smile even brighter.

Sitting on the couch, Zhao Huirong let out a cold snort, "This house is getting messier by the day. Any riffraff can just wander in."

"Isn't that the truth? If we don't clean things up around here, these folks will start thinking they own the place," Shen Changqing chimed in.

Xia Qingya's face changed suddenly, and she glanced nervously at Zhao Huirong and Shen Changqing, awkwardly pressing her lips together.

"Let's head upstairs and get some rest. With summer here, the crickets and cicadas are just too loud," Shen Yueyin said soothingly, patting Xia Qingya's hand before leading her upstairs.

Shen Changqing sprang up from the couch, pointing at Shen Yueyin from across the room. "Who are you calling a cicada or a cricket?"

"I'm obviously talking about the noisy ones outside the window. Unless, of course, you want to compete with them for the title?" Shen Yueyin replied without breaking stride, escorting Xia Qingya to her room before returning to her own.

"Click—" The door locked behind her.

Outside, Shen Changqing's voice continued, and with Shen Junheng not home, Zhao Huirong's attitude was quite brazen.

Lying on her bed, Shen Yueyin closed her eyes for a moment, then picked up her phone and dialed a number. After a brief busy signal, the call connected.

"Hello?" a cheerful male voice answered, sounding in good spirits.

"Got a job for you," she said calmly. "The price is the same as always. I need you to help me with something..."

Even in the mountain villa, where pest control was top-notch, the sound of crickets outside the window was unavoidable. Their chirping mixed with Shen Yueyin's soft voice, reaching the man on the other end of the call.

"Are you sure about this?"

"You just take the money and do the job," she replied coolly.

"I'm just worried..."

Before he could finish, Shen Yueyin tapped her phone, ending the call. Her clear eyes stared at the intricate crystal chandelier on the ceiling, lost in thought.

The next morning, Shen Yueyin was awakened by the ringing of her phone.