The funeral ended with the swift dispersal of the extended Wu family. While the cousins and siblings climbed into their various luxury vehicles, Jia li stood aside, observing the hasty departure.
A moment later, Grandpa Wu Dongshi approached her. He was an imposing man whose authority was evident even in his quiet gestures.
"Jia li," he said, his voice firm. "You will ride with your Grandmother and me."
Jia li nodded, offering no argument, her face a mask of exhaustion and indifference.
She was escorted to a long, black sedan, where Grandma Wu Lilan was already waiting. The car was immaculate and silent, isolating them from the world outside.
Jia li sat next to her grandmother. Lilan's expression was weary but tinged with genuine maternal concern. She gently placed a hand on Jia li's arm.
"How have you been, child? Truly, these past weeks must have been unbearable."
Jia li pulled her arm back subtly, not out of fear, but out of a cold reluctance to accept sympathy from a family that had deliberately maintained distance from her parents for years. She looked straight ahead. "I am fine, Grandma. Thank you for asking."
The reply was curt and cool, a clear refusal to engage. Lilan sighed softly, understanding the barrier the girl had instantly erected. She exchanged a knowing glance with Grandpa Wu, who remained impassive but tinged with guilt.
The rest of the ride passed in silence, but Jia li's mind was sharp, cataloging the subtle differences in their reactions. Her curtness had not shocked them; it had merely confirmed that she would be a difficult, quiet problem.
The Wu family mansion was a monument to their generational wealth. It was a spectacular, sprawling structure of elegant stone, set within vast, private grounds. The gates parted for them, revealing manicured lawns and fountains, a stark, overwhelming contrast to the simple, comfortable home she had shared with Shan Hu.
As they pulled up, the main doors opened, and a tall man in immaculate livery bowed deeply. This was Zhi Meng, the family butler.
"Welcome back, Master, Mistress," Zhi Meng greeted them.
Grandpa Wu stepped out. "Zhi Meng, Chen Jia li is now a permanent resident. Prepare a suitable room for her. I want one of the spacious, bright rooms on the first floor immediately."
The luggage,which Jia li had already neatly packed from her wardrobe at her grandmother's house was whisked away by other staff.
Not only was she taken in, but she was given accommodations far exceeding any necessity, ensuring that anyone watching would see the Wu family's generous 'benevolence.'
Jia li was led to her new quarters. It was breathtakingly large. The room was bathed in natural light from a set of French doors leading to a private balcony. It was furnished with fine antiques, a plush sitting area, and an enormous, mirrored wardrobe. The adjoining bathroom was tiled in marble, dominated by a luxurious, oversized bathtub. This was the golden cage; beautiful, but stifling.
She quickly walked to the wardrobe where her bags had been placed. Her clothing, adequate and well-kept from her average life, seemed ridiculously sparse next to the sheer scale of the closet space. She began arranging her few simple outfis. She had to settle in, quickly, before the real machinations began.
A precise knock sounded at the door. "Miss Jia li," Butler Zhi Meng announced. "Breakfast is served. The Master requests that everyone join the table as no one had a proper meal this morning."
Jia li descended the grand staircase with deliberate slowness. She entered the dining room, a place of almost museum-like formality. Most of the adult family members were already seated.
The first person to address her warmly was Aunt Fu Wei, her mother's older sister, who still displayed genuine, open sadness. "Jia li, dear, come sit here next to me. We've been waiting for you."
Jia li accepted the invitation with a small, polite nod, her eyes sweeping over the room. She noted the aunts and uncles, all maintaining their courteous façade.
Soon, the cousins arrived. Fu Shenxi took the seat on the opposite side of her mother, Fu Wei, completely ignoring Jia li, her focus already on the meal. Wu Mei and Wu Bao took seats together farther down the table, exchanging only the briefest, most cold glance in Jia li's direction before launching into their own conversation, pointedly. Zhang Hui just remained quiet.
The table was set with an array of magnificent breakfast food. Jia li, though internally focused, maintained her quiet, withdrawn persona. She had no appetite,the tension was too high and she began picking at her food.
Grandma Lilan, ever observant, noticed her untouched plate. "Jia li, dear, are you not feeling well? If you don't care for this, the chef can make something else."
Jia li forced a slight, composed smile. "It's excellent, Grandma. Thank you. I am simply not very hungry yet."
A loud, scornful scoff broke the composed quiet of the table. Wu Bao looked at Jia li with undisguised contempt. "It's a wonder she can stomach anything at all," Wu Bao said, loud enough for the table to hear. "She's likely never seen a table like this. It's probably too rich for her average system."
The insult was designed to humiliate, targeting the difference in their perceived social standing. But Jia li didn't flinch. She did not blush or look down. Instead, she lifted her chin, meeting Wu Bao's challenging gaze with a look of utter, profound indifference.
Her black eyes were flat, acknowledging the insult but granting it no weight, as if Wu Bao were merely a buzzing insect. The calculated move instantly annoyed the cousin.
Before Wu Bao could escalate, Grandpa Wu Dongshi's deep voice cut through the air, carrying the weight of command. "Wu Bao. Silence. We will finish this meal with the decorum this house requires."
Wu Bao instantly backed down, muttering a quick apology to her grandfather and shooting a final, furious glare at Jia li.
The rest of the meal continued in a tense, manufactured peace. Jia li finished her drink, her resolve hardening with every second she spent enduring their false kindness and their children's blatant scorn.
As the plates were cleared, the entire extended family migrated to the cavernous main living room. The adults took their places on the silk and velvet sofas, leaving the younger cousins, including Jia li, standing along the edges of the room. The transition was complete, the funeral was over, the orphan had been retrieved, and now, the family business was about to begin.