The sun had almost set when a taxi pulled up to the front gates of the Shen family estate. The driver went to the trunk and took out a wheelchair. Aunt Wen stepped out and went to the other side to help Shen Yelan into the wheelchair.
Sitting in the wheelchair, she looked fragile, as if the softest wind would fly her away. Her skin was sickly pale, and the only color on her face came from her lips, which had a faint natural pink to them. She was dressed simply in loose, comfortable clothes that hung loosely on her thin frame.
But despite the obvious illness, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
The two guards stationed at the gate certainly couldn't help could not help but look at her for a moment longer.
Aunt Wen positioned herself behind the wheelchair and began pushing toward the entrance. The guards, suddenly remembering they had a job to do, quickly moved to block their path.
"Wait! Who are you, and what's your business here?"
"How dare you stop us at the gate! Can you not even recognize the Eldest Young Miss of the Shen family?" Aunt Wen snapped.
The guards exchanged confused glances, wondering what this woman was talking about. But then they remembered the jinx who was sent away by the family to lie in the countryside years ago. They had never met that girl, but they had heard of her from others.
Apparently, she was really unruly and a spoiled brat who always caused trouble for the family, and because of her wild manners, she was sent to the countryside and was never seen again. In fact, many people had long forgotten her, and some were not even aware of her existence.
Looking at this girl in the wheelchair, the two were questioning if this really was that girl. Why didn't anyone tell them she was such a beauty? And why was she in a wheelchair?
Judging from their reaction, it was clear they were not informed she was returning. This obviously displeased Aunt Wen.
"Please wait here. We'll need to confirm your identity before we can let you inside," one of them said.
"You-"
"Aunt Wen," Shen Yelan cut her off in a soft voice. Even her voice sounded weak, and one could not help but feel pity for her. The voice was the same as the one from the railway station, yet it evoked a completely different feeling.
A second later, Shen Yelan lifted a handkerchief to her lips and coughed, which made her whole body tremble.
Aunt Wen immediately forgot all about the guards. She quickly pulled out a thermal bottle and poured warm water into a small cup, pressing it into Shen Yelan's hands.
"Here, drink this slowly. Don't strain yourself."
Shen Yelan took a small sip, her hands trembling slightly around the cup.
After making sure Shen Yelan was stable, Aunt Wen turned her glare back on the guards who were staring at Shen Yelan with a sympathetic gaze. "What are you still standing there gawking for? Go inside and inform the family that the Eldest Young Miss has returned."
"Yes," one of the guards ran inside.
A minute later, he returned with Butler Wang. Butler Wang was startled when he saw Shen Yelan's appearance.
He had heard from reports that her health had not recovered after that incident, and she had even become crippled. She spent all her time at home and did not even go to school. In short, she had turned into a useless waste that was of no use to the family. Wait...she did have a use left. It was a reason why she was called back.
But could someone explain to him why a crippled waste looked this beautiful?
It was said that those who lived in villages had dark and rough skin, but the girl before him looked nothing like that. If anything, she looked like she'd been kept in a glass case all these years. She looked like a porcelain doll, pale and delicate and strikingly beautiful.
"Old Master Shen has been waiting for you," Butler Wang said, not even bothering with greetings.
The two guards immediately noticed the lack of respect in Butler Wang's voice. He also did not refer to her as Eldest Young Miss like Aunt Wen had claimed her to be. Butler Wang worked under Old Master Shen and took orders from no one but him. His words were often taken as a direct reflection of Old Master Shen's own thoughts and wishes. Right now, with just one sentence, he had told everyone what Shen Yelan's status was before Old Master Shen.
"Thank you, Butler Wang." Shen Yelan looked up at him with those dark eyes. Her expression was soft, almost innocent. She gave a small smile as if she didn't understand anything.
Butler Wang took notice of it. It seemed like she was not smart, and it would be really easy to control her.
"Follow me." He led her inside.
Pushing Shen Yelan's wheelchair, Aunt Wen gave a mocking glance at the old butler but the look was gone before anyone could notice.
The girl in the wheelchair sat still, her hands folded in her lap, her expression as gentle and fragile as a flower petal.
If anyone had been watching closely, they might have noticed the faintest curve at the corner of her lips.
But no one was watching that closely.
They were all too busy underestimating her.