It wasn’t that Tan You didn’t know how to talk; she just rarely spoke. Sometimes, the outburst of a quiet person is the most terrifying thing of all.

"Let’s get straight to the point. Why exactly are you here today?"

Uncle Ji finally spoke up. "Our reason for coming here is simple. What you posted online has violated our privacy. I’ve consulted a lawyer... We have only one goal: delete that video."

Tan You glanced at Uncle Ji, her smile broadening. "I violated your privacy? That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard all year. Did I make things up? Did I slander you? Did I mention any of your names? I didn’t, did I? Do you really think I’m still the same little girl you could scare with just a few words?"

"But people have tracked us down to the village..." Ji Rongsheng said, his voice lacking conviction. "It’s already disrupting your grandparents’ lives. They’re so old. Aren’t you worried you’ll anger them to death or make them sick?"

"That’s because they brought this upon themselves. Even if they do get sick from anger, it’s just karma. And if something does happen, that compensation money should be more than enough to cover their medical bills. By the way, how much of that compensation money is even left?"

Old Man Ji and Granny Ji froze. The compensation money was long gone; it had all been given to their younger son. One look at their faces and Tan You understood. "So, it looks like my parents’ compensation money has all been spent? You’re really quite the filial son, aren’t you?"

Tan You was still smiling. "And on what grounds are you accusing me? What right do you have to say any of this?"

"There are only two people in this world who have the right to criticize me: my own mother and father. But too bad, they’re long dead. If you want to pull rank on me as an elder, go take it up with them."

Ji Rongsheng was furious. "You!"

"What are you so angry about? I’m the one they came looking for, and I’m not even mad. What are you so mad about?" Tan You shot back, casually pouring herself another cup of tea. All that talking had made her thirsty.

Shen Yu sat a short distance away, the livestream camera aimed directly at Tan You. She sat there, perfectly at ease, her smile as radiant as ever. Only the backs of the others at the table were visible to the audience.

"You’ve had it so easy all these years. Before you were married, you relied on your parents. After you got married, you relied on mine. Maybe deep down, you’re even happy about it. You could say my dad’s death served its purpose—at least it bought you all these years of a comfortable life."

Ji Rongsheng’s face was stiff. "You... you..."

Tan You chuckled. "You just mentioned a lawyer. That actually reminds me. When my parents died in that accident, by law, the compensation money should have gone to me. It’s just that I was a minor back then."

"Now that I’m an adult, shouldn’t that compensation money be returned to me? After all, I’m the primary heir. Even they come after me in the line of succession."

Tan You said, pointing at Old Man Ji and Granny Ji, "Maybe I should find a lawyer. We’re talking over four hundred thousand yuan, plus all those years of interest..."

Xu Liang chimed in, "I know a lawyer. I’ll send you his contact info later."

"Alright. So, if I were to sue, who would I sue?" Tan You mused, propping her chin on her hand as her eyes swept across the five members of the Ji family. "I guess I’ll just sue all of you."

"You... you dare sue us? You ungrateful rebel!" Old Man Ji was fuming, but he didn’t dare get violent here.

Tan You was still all smiles. "If you all had just lived your lives in peace and stayed out of my way, I would have nearly forgotten about all this. It’s just like you said when we signed that agreement: in the future, your health and well-being would be Ji Rongsheng’s responsibility, and have nothing to do with me."

"What, has it only been six years? You’ve forgotten all that already?"

Old Man Ji was silent for a long moment. "We didn’t know Ji Peng contacted you. He doesn’t know about the agreement."

"This isn’t something you can just brush off with an ’I didn’t know,’" Tan You said, glancing at Aunt Ji. "Ji Peng was the one who started this. Are you telling me you knew nothing about it?"

Aunt Ji guiltily averted her eyes. Tan You scoffed. "According to the agreement, we were to have no relationship after I graduated from high school. From then on, Ji Rongsheng would be responsible for your care. I’ve held up my end of the bargain perfectly. I haven’t contacted any of you in years."

"But what about you? The moment you see I’ve achieved a little something for myself, you try to leech off me just like you leeched off my dad? It’s not going to be that easy."

"My parents were tolerant and gentle, but I’m not. Do you know what kind of life I lived after my parents passed away?"

"My uncle on my mother’s side signed an agreement with you that you had to let me finish my last two years of high school. And how did you handle that? Was there ever a time I didn’t have to beg you repeatedly for my tuition? And you call it tuition money, but that’s all you gave me. I couldn’t even afford food or housing. It was only because the school took pity on me that my housing fee was waived and I was given a 200-yuan monthly stipend."

"I was a growing teenager with no clothes that fit. My teachers would give me their old clothes, and sometimes they’d even pool their money to buy me a new outfit. They had no obligation to me whatsoever, but they still reached out to help."

"And what did you do? You took my parents’ compensation money, kicked me out of the house, and your family of three moved into a big new place. And now you have the nerve to say *I’m* the heartless one? Who’s really the one without a heart?"

"When I was at my lowest, I survived on two steamed buns and a cup of plain water for the whole day. Did anyone see how much I was suffering?"

"In college, I worked myself to the bone at part-time jobs, saving every penny so that life would be a little easier after graduation. Did you ever give me a single cent?"

"At my thinnest, I weighed less than ninety pounds. To this day, I still have to eat small, frequent meals because of the chronic health issues I developed from not being able to care for myself properly in high school. But how was I supposed to care for myself?"

"Meanwhile, you were all living comfortably in your big house, sheltered from the elements, eating and sleeping well, perfectly healthy. And even now, you won’t let me live in peace. Why? Just because you’re completely shameless?"

"So I just deserve to be trampled all over by you? If you won’t let me live in peace, then none of us will."

Tan You’s composure remained perfectly steady. She even had a smile on her face as she spoke, but the neighborhood women who were listening in couldn’t take it anymore. The livestream chat was flooded with messages of sympathy and heartache.

Tapping her fingers on the stone table, Tan You gave a mocking smile. "Old lady, just because you’re not doing well now doesn’t mean you should come looking for me. Who was it that brought this on themselves, anyway? I made it through all those miserable days; there’s no reason you can’t, too."

"Since you were all able to live with a clear conscience back then, just keep doing so from now on. Don’t come to me with your regrets. If you really feel the need to say it, go tell my dad. Then again, would you even have the nerve to face him?"

Granny Ji asked, trembling, "Are... are you cursing us to die?"

"How could you call it a curse?" Tan You shrugged, amused. "Doesn’t my dad have a small memorial tablet at your house? You can talk to that. I’m just curious if you even have the guts to face my father’s memorial tablet."