Chapter Eight Moving to a New Home

When Sheng Jiaoyang received the transfer, she wasn't very happy. Her mind kept replaying Shen Zhining's last words.

"In her name"—who was "her"?

Was it someone else named

Jiaoyang? With such a brilliant example before her, and now accusing her of imitating others, she was clearly being accused of copying someone else, just because her Chinese wasn't great.

The world was vast, but circles had their limits. If there was someone in the same field, with the same name, and even more outstanding than herself, how could she not know?

If that person was herself…

Sheng Jiaoyang suddenly understood. She hadn't realized it before because she still saw herself as the same person she used to be, but in others' eyes, she was a different person.

"I never imagined I had such a good impression on Shen Zhining, even considered a gem!"

Holding her newly issued bank card, Sheng Jiaoyang walked out of the bank lobby in high spirits, heading towards the pedestrian street.

An hour later, Sheng Jiaoyang emerged from an optician's shop wearing a pair of dark green-rimmed glasses. She wasn't short of money for a new pair now; naturally, she wanted to get a new pair before her refractive surgery.

The world became clear again; she no longer needed to get within a meter to see people's faces clearly. Plus, she finally had money in her pocket. Sheng Jiaoyang was in the best mood she'd ever been since becoming Xu Jiaojiao.

But her good mood vanished in an instant. With clearer vision, she could see further, and then a young couple standing in front of the jewelry store across the street inadvertently came into view.

Sheng Shiyun and Lin Yu.

One was her half-sister.

The other was her boyfriend, whom she hadn't been dating for long.

Of course, that was all in the past; they had nothing to do with her now.

Thinking that she was in trouble because of them, Sheng Jiaoyang felt a little disgusted. Her greatest virtue was that she reciprocated whatever others gave her.

Sheng Jiaoyang looked around and saw a milk tea shop nearby, so she bought a cup and went into the jewelry store.

Without hiding her intentions, she went straight to Sheng Shiyun and poured the milk tea at her feet.

"Ah—!" Sheng Shiyun screamed and jumped back, stomping her feet.

"Oh, sorry," Sheng Jiaoyang said with a particularly irritating smile, "my hand slipped."

"Are you crazy! Do you know what my shoes are like..."

"They're expensive, I know, Christian Louboutin red-soled shoes," Sheng Jiaoyang glanced at Sheng Shiyun's high heels, a slight smirk playing on her lips, "Last year's style."

Ignoring the strange girl's motives, Sheng Shiyun felt only the shame of being publicly exposed for wearing old shoes. She quickly greeted Lin Yu and hurried to the restroom.

"Why are you targeting Shiyun?" Lin Yu frowned. The strange girl's face was filled with undisguised malice; even a fool could see something was wrong.

Looking at Lin Yu's handsome face, so similar to the sketch she had drawn, Sheng Jiaoyang couldn't help but feel the same emotion she felt when she first met him. She had also suspected Lin Yan was from the Lin family and had specifically asked Lin Yu if she knew him, but it turned out the other woman didn't.

"Your girlfriend just had an accident, and you're already dating Sheng Shiyun. Oh, no, you two were already hooking up before the accident even happened. Young Master Lin, your cheating skills are truly impressive!" Sheng Jiaoyang raised an eyebrow and said casually.

"Don't talk nonsense. Shiyun and I are just friends. Who are you, and how do you know us?"

"I'm Sheng Jiaoyang..." Seeing Lin Yu's expression turn to astonishment, Sheng Jiaoyang smiled, "a friend."

"Before her accident, she was telling me that her 'good sister' sent her a very ambiguous photo with her boyfriend, saying that Brother Yu was very busy lately and told her not to contact Brother Yu all the time. That bitch is so pretentious. If you really like someone, just say so. Being so sarcastic behind their back is disgusting."

"What are you saying?" Lin Yu's expression turned serious.

Sheng Jiaoyang's lips curled slightly as she said, "I'm finding you increasingly interesting. You have a green tea bitch by your side who completely adores you, yet you don't seem to notice? Don't argue, I know Sheng Shiyun better than you do!"

"Sheng Jiaoyang's troubles are all her fault. And you, as her boyfriend, still have the nerve to go shopping for jewelry with the culprit? Looks like your 'love' isn't all that great!"

Seeing Lin Yu's deeply hurt expression, Sheng Jiaoyang turned and walked away with satisfaction. "

Come on, let's hurt each other!"

Sheng Jiaoyang hummed an off-key tune as she entered a bustling snack shop.

Although they hadn't known each other long, she understood Lin Yu. Among the men she knew, Lin Yu was exceptionally pure-hearted, and his uprightness was truly a rare breed in their circle. He was very good to his friends, but friends were just friends. He never flirted with his female friends, which explained why Sheng Shiyun hadn't dared to confess her feelings before Lin Yu developed romantic feelings for her. If she had revealed her feelings before Lin Yu had even developed romantic feelings for her, Lin Yu would have simply distanced himself without hesitation.

Now that the facade of friendship has been shattered, Sheng Shiyun's dream of slowly winning over Lin Yu will also crumble. Given Sheng Shiyun's personality, the more distant Lin Yu becomes, the more unwillingly she'll cling to him, while Lin Yu will only grow more disgusted with her advances.

Speaking of Lin Yu, who is intolerant of any imperfections, she still doesn't understand how he fell for her despite Sheng Shiyun's preconceived slander. Back then, almost all his friends advised him against it, but he never wavered, running around taking care of her during the days she agreed to date him, practically feeding her himself.

Sheng Jiaoyang doesn't think she's charming enough to inspire such unwavering devotion; otherwise, why would the person she likes, who clearly has feelings for her, refuse to accept her? She can only conclude that Lin Yu is an oddball.

As for whether she would feel guilty using someone who genuinely liked her, Sheng Jiaoyang sneered that she wouldn't at all. Conscience is something you can't eat or use, and it can't change the fact that she's a poor girl. What use is it? She only knows that whoever makes her unhappy for a moment, she'll make them unhappy for a lifetime.

After enjoying a meal of food she used to avoid, Sheng Jiaoyang returned home in a good mood.

"I want to top up my phone credit," Sheng Jiaoyang said, walking back into the same mobile phone store.

It was the same clerk. She vaguely remembered this girl whom she had secretly complained about to many people. Her smile vanished, and she asked coldly, "How much?"

"One, no, two..."

"How much exactly?" the clerk interrupted impatiently.

Sheng Jiaoyang glanced at the clerk, slowly opened her backpack, took out a stack of brand-new gold bills, and under the clerk's wide-eyed gaze, slowly counted out twenty bills and placed them on the counter.

"Recharge two thousand!"

The sales clerk stared at Sheng Jiaoyang in disbelief for several moments. Although the change was significant, she was certain that this was the same person who had recently recharged ten yuan into her phone. After the two thousand yuan went through the money detector twice, she politely inquired about her number.

"Dear, we're having a promotion right now, and there are great deals on package deals!" The sales clerk's attitude had completely changed, becoming unprecedentedly friendly.

"Do you have international packages?"

"Uh, not currently." The sales clerk looked embarrassed.

"Oh." Sheng Jiaoyang picked up her backpack and turned to leave.

"Dear, there are also gifts!"

"I don't need them."

Back in her low-rent apartment, Sheng Jiaoyang began packing up the things she had borrowed yesterday. Although they were mostly small brands she would rarely touch before, they were still better than the original owner's cheap items. They could last her for a while until she earned enough money to splurge.

When Xu Qing returned, Sheng Jiaoyang was searching online for rental information in nearby upscale neighborhoods.

"Jiaojiao, have you eaten?"

"Yes." Sheng Jiaoyang replied without looking up.

Xu Qing stood next to Sheng Jiaoyang, a hint of hesitation on her face. She stammered, "Jiaojiao, I found a job."

"Oh? That's great!"

"But she requires me to stay there at night too."

Sheng Jiaoyang found it strange and looked up at Xu Qing: "What kind of job is it? Do you have to work overtime at night?"

"It's housekeeping." "

Housekeeping?" Sheng Jiaoyang frowned. "That's so hard, I'd rather not."

"She said it's not hard, just cleaning the villa and helping the kitchen lady cook. It's really not hard, and it's five thousand a month." Xu Qing hurriedly explained.

Five thousand? Is that a lot? Sheng Jiaoyang curled her lip. Aunt Li, who used to take care of her, gave her more than that in bonuses every month.

"If you think it's okay, then it's fine." She could always quit later.

"But I can't come back at night." Xu Qing hesitated.

"That's perfect. I signed up for a competition; I have to be there all day and can't come back."

"A competition?" Xu Qing was incredibly surprised.

Sheng Jiaoyang didn't want to say much and changed the subject: "Where do you work as a housekeeper?"

"On Yunjin Road, near Xueyuan Road, not far from the university you got into." Xu Qing was a little happy to hear this, as she could take care of her daughter more easily in the future.

"Oh." Sheng Jiaoyang lowered his head to search for rental information again.

"Ding-dong, done." He clicked to confirm payment and quickly entered the payment password.

Xu Qing, sitting next to him, was startled and hurriedly asked, "What's done?"

"I rented an apartment in a community on Xueyuan Road. The deposit has been paid, so let's move in now!"

"What?" Xu Qing was surprised again. "Where did you get so much money?" "

I earned it by selling paintings. Okay, don't ask anymore. Anyway, my money is earned honestly. When I earn more money in the future, you won't have to work anymore and can just stay home and play."

Hearing this, Xu Qing was amused, but then she was a little worried. However, her daughter didn't want her to ask any more questions, so she had to keep it to herself and think she would take it one step at a time.

Packing was another ordeal. Xu Qing wanted to take everything, but her daughter insisted she leave behind the old and worn-out things and go alone. After much persuasion, she was only allowed two sets of clothes.

Unbeknownst to her, the pillar of the family had shifted from Xu Qing to Sheng Jiaoyang.

After giving up the subsidized housing, Sheng Jiaoyang, under Xu Qing's pained gaze, hailed a taxi and went to their newly rented apartment.

When they arrived, the landlord was already waiting inside.

Sheng Jiaoyang then demonstrated her efficiency to her new mother: signing the lease, changing the locks, buying household items, bedding, even replacing the mattress, hiring a cleaning service to thoroughly clean the apartment, and completely rearranging the suite.

Xu Qing had no say in the entire process. She wanted to help and save money, but Sheng Jiaoyang refused, keeping her by her side and directing others.

For her, why make things difficult when money could solve them?

Sheng Jiaoyang, who finally didn't have to share a small bed with anyone that night, had a rare good night's sleep. Just as she was dreaming that she was about to win the heart of a handsome man, a phone call from a staff member of the supermodel program woke her up.