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Chapter 2: Slapped in the Face
Chapter 2: Slapped in the Face
Chapter 2
"Exchange Lives" is a program where rich second-generation kids go to live in rural children's homes, while rural children stay in the wealthy families' homes.
It allows them to experience each other's lives.
Li Qingqing was thus driven by the show's crew to the Sheng family's mansion.
The Sheng family's luxurious residence was surrounded by mountains on three sides, occupying over 10,000 square meters. The three-story villa offered an effortless view of the nearby golf course and ocean.
As soon as Li Qingqing got out of the car, she was enveloped by the overwhelming aura of luxury.
It wasn't just her; the online commenters were stunned too.
[Wow, as expected of the Sheng family! This mansion is so grand.]
[Ah, this lucky girl must have accumulated good karma for several lifetimes to get such an opportunity. I'm so envious.]
At this moment, a middle-aged man in a black uniform walked over slowly: "Hello, Miss Li. You can call me Uncle Fang. The master and madam are not at home. Please rest for now."
[Is that the butler? I've finally seen a real-life butler outside of novels!]
[Fiction becoming reality, I can only dream of this.]
Li Qingqing in the camera frame actually looked a bit disappointed.
The master and madam weren't home... She had already planned how to win their favor before coming.
"This is a small welcome gift from the master and madam for Miss Li," Uncle Fang said as he handed over a paper bag with the CHANEL logo printed on it.
Li Qingqing's breath caught, but she maintained her composure as she accepted it, saying, "Thank you, uncle and auntie."
[The young lady is quite gracious and composed. She's not even excited?]
The online comments were already praising her.
Uncle Fang showed no expression, thinking that the rural child probably didn't recognize luxury brands.
He had a maid lead Li Qingqing inside, and the interior luxury came into view for the audience.
[Living here is almost like being a princess. Suddenly curious, when the young master Sheng moves from a place like this to live in the countryside, wouldn't that be like playing a survival game on extreme difficulty?]
The camera then cut to Sheng Yuxiao's perspective.
The image shook twice before focusing on a dilapidated house.
It could hardly be called a house anymore, with half of it collapsed, held up only by wooden beams. It looked particularly precarious in the sudden downpour.
[It really is like a survival game...]
[Is Li Qingqing's family this poor? How pitiful.]
The camera then panned to Sheng Yuxiao.
Sheng Yuxiao stared in disbelief: "...This rundown? Is this really the place?"
[Young Master Sheng indeed can't handle it.]
Suddenly, Sheng Yuxiao crouched down in front of the camera, at eye level with Li Xiaoya.
Above them, the staff held an umbrella, shielding them from the rain.
"Is this your home? You live in a place like this?" Sheng Yuxiao's brows were so tightly knitted they could kill a mosquito.
[Who is Young Master Sheng talking to?]
The camera moved down, and the audience saw—
A shivering child standing in front of Sheng Yuxiao, wrapped in an expensive custom-made coat. She nodded slightly, her eyes particularly striking, misted by the rain.
The audience's gaze lingered.
[What a beautiful child. Who is she? Why is Young Master Sheng at her house?]
[Isn't that Li Xiaoya, the one who lies, has no manners, and steals things?]
[Is that Sheng Yuxiao's coat she's wearing?]
[Ah, Young Master Sheng, don't talk to her! She's just a little con artist! Be careful she doesn't steal from you!]
"Would you like to come in for a drink?" Li Xiaoya looked up and asked. Her voice was soft, and she spoke slowly, giving a gentle impression.
Sheng Yuxiao twisted his lips. Forget about drinking, he didn't even want to enter this rundown house.
But as the words reached his lips and he met Li Xiaoya's bright eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say it.
"We've arrived at her home, shall we head back now?" a staff member suggested.
This intervention only served to trigger Sheng Yuxiao's rebellious streak.
Sheng Yuxiao placed a hand on Li Xiaoya's back, pushing her forward, saying, "Let's go in."
Li Xiaoya walked carefully through the wind and rain, while Sheng Yuxiao took a large step, trampling on the threshold of Li Xiaoya's house.
The already dilapidated house became even more rundown.
Sheng Yuxiao: "..."
Sheng Yuxiao: "Don't worry, I'll compensate you for that."
As soon as he finished speaking, an angry voice suddenly rang out from inside, speaking in dialect: "You little harlot, only coming back now? Are you trying to freeze your grandpa to death?"
The speaker had a thick accent, and his voice was muffled as if his throat was full of phlegm.
Sheng Yuxiao didn't understand at first.
Li Xiaoya understood, but she only sniffled slightly, then stepped inside and hurriedly went to light the fire.
She scooped water from a large vat into a pot, setting it to boil while also placing two potatoes on top. This way, when the water boiled, there would be hot water to drink, and the potatoes would be cooked too.
Sheng Yuxiao followed and asked, "Who was that?"
Li Xiaoya said, "It's grandpa."
Sheng Yuxiao frowned, wondering why the tone sounded so fierce.
"What's this thing?" Sheng Yuxiao asked, his gaze shifting.
Li Xiaoya spared a moment to answer him: "It's for boiling water."
Sheng Yuxiao pointed at the misshapen pile of mud: "I mean, what is this thing?"
"It's a stove."
Sheng Yuxiao: "..."
This thing could be called a stove?
He quickly turned his head to survey the surroundings.
Mud walls, broken tiles, and thatched roof made up a home.
There was no light inside, only borrowed light from holes in the walls. No TV, sofa, or coffee table in sight!
Not far away, an oilcloth hung down, and behind it, the vague outline of a person could be seen. The one who had spoken earlier was probably him.
It was too rundown.
It was just too damn rundown!
While Sheng Yuxiao was staring in shock, Li Xiaoya had already boiled the water. She took a white porcelain bowl and poured some hot water for Sheng Yuxiao.
"Here, drink this," Li Xiaoya offered with both hands. The skin on her fingers was reddened by the steam, but further down, her wrists were a bluish-white. That was from the cold.
[This child is so cunning! She's trying to win over Young Master Sheng, isn't she?]
[Don't drink it! It's dirty! This house is filthy!]
Contrary to the intense reactions in the comments, Sheng Yuxiao's eyelid only twitched heavily. He then snatched the bowl from Li Xiaoya's hands, set it down hard on the mud stove, and said coldly, "Who wants to drink water?"
[Great, Young Master Sheng didn't drink it.]
[After all, she's just a rural child. Her attempts at flattery are limited. Who would want anything served by those dirty hands?]
The next second...
Sheng Yuxiao scooped up Li Xiaoya and tucked her under his arm. He turned to the staff member with a cold expression and asked, "Where can she take a hot shower? Let her wash up first. She's nearly frozen stiff."
Despite being almost frozen, she had still managed to pour him water.
Sheng Yuxiao paused for a moment before cursing in dissatisfaction, "Damn it, I thought she could at least bathe at home. What kind of home is this? What a joke. It's nothing but a thatched hut. Even a real thatched hut would be better than this."
[...Huh?]
The cruel netizens who had been leaving comments seemed as if they'd been slapped across the face, momentarily stunned into silence.