Reborn as a Fake Heiress Marrying the Tycoon-Chapter 1096: Heaven’s Punishment

The homeroom teacher gave an awkward little chuckle as she tried to smooth over the tension in the room. "You’re both new transfers," she said to Xu Sheng and Su Bing with a bright, practiced smile. "This is Su Bing—why don’t you get to know each other a little before heading to your seats?"

Just outside the classroom, the stately woman—elegantly dressed and clearly someone accustomed to more refined surroundings—finally took notice of the other new student. Her eyes fell upon his face, and in that very instant, her heart gave a sudden, involuntary jolt.

She stared, transfixed. That face... it was far too familiar.

After the registration process concluded, students began streaming out of the classroom, saying goodbye to teachers and classmates, reuniting with parents and heading home.

But Yu Fang—still stunned—had only turned her gaze for a moment when she realized the boy called Su Bing had completely vanished. She quickly collected Xu Sheng and asked, "Xu Sheng, do you know that boy named Su Bing?"

Xu Sheng, carrying his schoolbag as he exited the classroom beside his grandmother, nodded readily. His father had dropped him off earlier and already returned to Guangcheng to take care of unfinished business, so Xu Sheng was temporarily staying at his grandmother’s house.

"Of course I know him," he said cheerfully. "Grandma, when I was still in Guangcheng, his family lived just across the street from us. There are three siblings in that house—an older brother, a younger brother, and a little sister. He’s the eldest. I always thought they were really nice." frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Yu Fang’s expression shifted as her heart trembled. Three siblings. An eldest brother. And that face—so achingly similar to her own son when he was a boy. Could it really be...?

Memories began to swirl in her mind like a dust storm, whipping up emotions long buried. She had completely forgotten her promise to take Xu Sheng to the library.

"Xu Sheng," she said abruptly, "we won’t be going to the library today. I just remembered something important I have to do. Let’s go home."

The Xu family residence was a historic courtyard house tucked right in the heart of the city. When they arrived, the chauffeur left to service the car, while a team of household staff came bustling out to greet them.

The housekeeper responsible for Xu Sheng took his schoolbag and led the boy off to his room, but Yu Fang dismissed the older maid who attempted to follow her, ascending the stairs alone.

She entered the master bedroom, where her husband lay asleep in their grand old bed—his hair now a soft silver, his breathing shallow and steady. He had been bedridden ever since the stroke several years ago.

Yu Fang sat quietly at the edge of the bed, reaching out with trembling hands for the photo frame on the bedside table. It held a picture of a handsome young man—her son in his prime. Her fingers caressed the image, and tears welled up in her eyes, unbidden and unstoppable. She broke down in a whispery sob, her voice cracking with grief.

"Son... you left us too soon. Your father had a stroke a few years after you were gone. He’s been paralyzed ever since. Sometimes I wonder... was all of this heaven’s punishment for us?"

Meanwhile, at the Su residence just across town, Su Shen was up to his elbows in the kitchen—quite literally.

The entire kitchen was undergoing renovations to suit Gu Zi’s exacting culinary standards. It was a full-scale overhaul, and naturally, Su Shen couldn’t entrust it to just anyone. He had brought in his own team and was personally overseeing the project.

If all went well, it would be completed by day’s end.

At that very moment, just outside the alley where the Su family lived, a man in his thirties was making his way toward the house. He had shopping bags in both hands and a younger man in tow. The younger one, clearly unimpressed, looked around at the narrow lane and worn-down houses, his expression sour.

"Bro, seriously? You’ve been doing business since you left the army, and you’re practically a household name in the capital’s business circles. And this is where your friend lives? It’s practically a dump. And you haven’t helped him out at all?"

This was Jiangjia Village, after all—infamous for being one of the oldest and most rundown neighborhoods in the capital. The real estate here was so undesirable it wouldn’t sell even at a loss. What kind of normal person would choose to live in a place like this?

The older man gave his younger brother a solid kick in the rear. "I swear, it’s been too long since you got smacked. Don’t get smart with me. What’s wrong with living here? You’ve gotten way too spoiled. And listen—when we get to Su Shen’s house, you’d better behave yourself. Say one wrong word, and you can forget about your allowance for the entire month."

The young man staggered forward and straightened his shirt, still full of defiance. "If you don’t give it to me, I’ll just ask Mom. Doesn’t change the fact that this place is a disaster. Honestly, you have zero loyalty. Letting your friend live in a hole like this? I’m disappointed in you."

The man lifted a hand threateningly. "That was years ago! Can you not make a scene? Let’s go."

The younger one finally quieted down and followed obediently to a courtyard house at the far end of the lane. The man rapped respectfully on the door three times and stood straight with his bags, waiting.

Moments later, the wooden door creaked open, and a small head peeked out. It was Su Li.

"Who are you looking for?" he asked cautiously, his voice clear and crisp.

But the moment he locked eyes with the young man standing beside the visitor, a look of recognition dawned on both of them.

The young man blinked. "You live here?"

Su Li opened the door fully and stepped out. "Of course. I remember you too! You’re the one who lost a chess match to my brother on the train!"

Chen Xi could only groan inwardly. This kid! Did he have to bring that up every single time? Did he not understand the concept of saving face?

The older man laughed, clearly amused by the coincidence. "Well, what do you know? So you two do know each other. Little one, we’re here to visit your father."

Chen Xi turned to his brother. "So this is the home of your old army buddy? They just moved in, right?"