novelraw Chapter 156
Chapter 156
Chapter 156: Smashing Glass Again? Start the Class, We’ll Kneel to Listen!
At the same time, in Hongye Estate…
Inside Yin Shuya’s brightly lit villa, the air buzzed with voices.
Outstanding young talents from every industry gathered in the courtyard.
Right hands tucked in their pockets, left hands holding champagne, each one dressed in sharp suits, looking dignified and confident.
Just then, Yin Shuya pulled up in her Ferrari at the gates.
The moment she got out of the car, a crowd swarmed toward her.
“Miss Yin, happy birthday!”
“Miss Yin, happy birthday!”
…
Yin Shuya smiled naturally at each of them, but soon excused herself, claiming she wasn’t feeling well and needed to rest.
Once inside her room, she tossed her bag aside and collapsed onto the bed, lying flat on her back.
Her eyes remained open, staring at the patterns on the ceiling.
Everything in her vision seemed like the kaleidoscopic shards of glass — stretching, spinning, endlessly repeating.
She let out a long breath, her lashes trembling.
Being a stay-at-home heiress, she rarely went out, and tonight the heels she wasn’t used to wearing left her ankles aching.
After sitting in silence, she turned on the bedside lamp.
The warm glow lit up a corner of the room, but outside the window the night seemed even darker in contrast.
It was her birthday.
The same as every year, no surprises at all.
Knock, knock, knock!
Someone rapped on the door.
Yin Shuya sat up quickly and straightened her clothes. “Come in.”
The door clicked open, and in came old Xu, pushing a golden cart.
On it stood a towering eight-layer cake, each layer sculpted uniquely, exquisite and magnificent.
One glance was enough to tell it cost a fortune.
“Happy birthday, young miss,” Uncle Xu said.
“Thank you, Uncle Xu.”
“Those people outside are getting a bit noisy. Shall I clear them out?”
“No need. I know they only come every year to show my father their loyalty. Still, at least they said happy birthday to me.”
Uncle Xu nodded silently, then reached into his pocket.
He wanted to light the candles, but after fumbling around he couldn’t find it, “Ah, sorry, young miss, I seem to have forgotten the lighter.”
Yin Shuya smiled faintly. “It’s fine, it looks good as it is.”
“But it’s your birthday. You should at least make a wish…”
“Every year it’s the same. I’ve gotten used to it. A wish only counts as a wish when it can’t come true.”
Uncle Xu lowered his head apologetically.
“It’s alright,” she said softly. “I’ve had enough cake over the years to be sick of it.”
“…Then, I’ll leave you to rest.”
“Mm.”
After he left, Yin Shuya finally shed her composed heiress act.
She curled up on the bed like a lost girl of twenty-nine.
Every year was the same cake, the same blessings, the same faces.
Everything remained unchanged.
The monotony left her life dull, like she was a puppet princess living in a luxurious villa, eating exquisite meals, but year after year, nothing ever changed.
That’s why she had wanted Jiang Zhou to take her out to dinner earlier.
Even a roadside stall would’ve been different.
But he had refused.
Knock, knock, knock!
Uncle Xu returned again.
“Young miss, it’s about time. You should go accept the gifts and let the guests leave.”
“Alright, I know.”
She walked to the front hall, which was now crowded.
Executives, entrepreneurs, and rising stars filled the room.
“Miss Yin, this is a necklace by an Italian designer.”
“Miss Yin, I bought this porcelain vase at auction.”
“Miss Yin, this custom wristwatch was made especially for you.”
“Miss Yin, here’s a bottle of Romanée-Conti Grand Cru.”
…
Yin Shuya smiled politely and accepted each one.
A necklace so heavy it would choke her.
A fat, ugly blue-and-white porcelain jar.
A strange-colored bottle of grape juice.
A watch she’d never wear while stuck at home.
Perfect. Once again, they had all missed her taste.
The crowd noticed her faint, forced smile.
These accomplished men knew how to read faces, and they knew they had failed, again.
She went through the motions: accept gift, say thank you.
Her smile carried nine parts reluctance, one part disappointment.
But really, what could they buy for her?
A young lady of immense wealth lacked for nothing.
What gift could truly delight her?
Crash!
A sharp sound split the air.
Everyone turned their heads in shock.
One of Yin Shuya’s villa windows had shattered.
On the ground lay a brick, a half-burned cigarette butt, and beneath the brick, a squashed paper cupcake.
Glass shards sparkled all around.
Gasps echoed.
Who dared?!
On the young miss’s birthday, smashing her glass?!
“Miss Yin, don’t be afraid, I’ll go check!”
“Yeah, let’s get him!”
“Whoever it is, I’ll smash his teeth in!”
A group of suited men rolled up their sleeves, eager to prove themselves and perhaps win her favor.
But before they could rush out, Yin Shuya stopped them.
“Wait, don’t bother.” She walked over to the broken glass.
Under the brick, she picked up the cupcake. It was just a supermarket kind, with red and green cream flowers.
Two yuan a piece in a small shop, maybe three for two in a bigger one.
A note was attached: “Happy birthday to the ignorant girl turning thirty.”
Yin Shuya stared at it, gritting her teeth.
But after her anger faded, she broke off a piece and tasted it.
“Emmm… not bad.”
Humming softly, she left everyone behind and went upstairs.
This birthday, at least, was different.
Downstairs, silence reigned.
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances.
No way, Miss Yin actually smiled so happily?
They had never seen such vivid expressions on her before.
So she only acted cold toward them?
Was this the kind of gift she really liked?
Smash her window and toss in a cheap cupcake — so exaggerated, so dramatic, so perfect for the atmosphere!
Which genius had thought of this?!
Would he teach them?
They’d pay! Even kneel to listen!
—
Meanwhile, out on the highway, Jiang Zhou sped back toward Shangjing University.
He had learned from his past life as a marketing executive that remembering clients’ birthdays was essential.
And Yin Shuya, who had invested ten million in him, was no exception.
That’s why he hadn’t forgotten her birthday.
But the idea of taking out a twenty-nine-year-old woman who had never dated before made him nervous.
He was handsome. What if she really fell for him?
So, he had declined her dinner invitation.
Still, he couldn’t just ignore her birthday.
His solution? Buy the cheapest cake, deliver it without showing his face.
If she still fell for him after that, well, then it had to be fate.
What he didn’t realize was that this broken-glass cupcake delivery would make her remember this birthday forever.
Beep beep beep!
Just as he returned to campus, his phone rang.
“Bastard, did you smash my window again?”
“Nonsense, I was sleeping in the dorm!”
“…But thank you. I really enjoyed this birthday present.”
Jiang Zhou fell silent, gripping his phone.
Birthday? Who gave her a birthday present?
I had only smashed her window with a brick and a cupcake!
Please don’t overthink this, please don’t overthink this…
You’re a mysterious rich lady, surely you can’t be moved by a cheap cupcake… right?