Chapter 29: [Gentle Affection Side Story] Her Past (Part 1)
Shen Yi was not originally a Prime Minister’s daughter.
She only remembered that she and her sister, Shen Wan, had depended on each other since childhood, merely little beggars wandering everywhere.
Shen Yi was very small then. She had no memory of what her parents looked like. From the time she could remember, she was raised by her sister, who was three years older.
They grew up in a ruined temple, sleeping on cheap straw mats, huddling together for warmth in winter.
Because Shen Yi was truly very young back then, Shen Wan was always worried and took her along to beg on the streets.
Fortunately, there were indeed many kind people willing to give money, so they stumbled through life like this.
One day, Shen Yi lay on their straw mat. In the middle of the night, she couldn’t sleep from hunger, her stomach growling loudly.
After all, wandering lives like theirs meant feasting one meal and starving the next; most of the time, they couldn’t eat for a whole day.
She didn’t want to disturb her sister, so she endured it, thinking about delicious food in her mind to quench her thirst with imaginary plums.
Shen Wan, who had been facing away, suddenly turned over, her eyes shining as she stared straight at Shen Yi.
Her gaze was always full of hope. Seeing it, Shen Yi felt her stomach wasn’t so hungry anymore.
Shen Wan mysteriously pulled out a sesame cake (Hu cake) from her clothes, handed it to her sister, and instructed, “Yi, eat it quickly.”
Shen Yi took it and was about to take a bite but hesitated, thinking of something. “Sister, aren’t you eating?”
“Sister has already eaten.” She curved her eyes, smiling.
Only then did Shen Yi nod. Because she really had no strength from hunger, she devoured the sesame cake in a few bites.
Although the cake was completely cold, Shen Yi still thought it was the most delicious food she had ever eaten in her life, and her eyes moistened.
Once her stomach was a bit fuller, she saw Shen Wan’s gentle expression. Her sister slowly reached out, touched her head, and comforted her, “When Sister grows a bit older, I’ll go work in a restaurant or inn. We’ll live a better life.”
Shen Yi nodded, indicating she would be obedient.
Actually, what she had never been able to say was that no matter where they were, as long as her sister was by her side, she was happy.
Even though such days were impoverished, they lived on happily.
For the next few days, their luck seemed to be blessed by the heavens—it was exceptionally good. Perhaps because the spot they occupied was quite prosperous, there were many passersby, and the copper coins were plentiful.
On the street, Shen Wan picked up the copper coins thrown by passersby one by one into the bowl, calculating silently in her heart.
This money was enough to buy a winter coat for her and Shen Yi so they wouldn’t suffer from the cold anymore.
Shen Yi was also delighted seeing this. In previous years, although her sister tried her best to raise her, because of the cold days, she couldn’t avoid suffering from chills in winter. If they could buy a cotton-padded coat now, it would be wonderful.
Thinking this, they happily put the copper coins into the purse they had picked up earlier. Before they could tighten the knot, it was snatched away by a hand.
Shen Yi looked up along that hand and realized there were about five or six people looking at them arrogantly.
The leader was a youth of only fifteen or sixteen, yet he acted extremely viciously.
It had to be said that compared to the other begging children, he was older and physically stronger, quickly becoming the boss here.
He had eyed this spot years ago, and now catching the opportunity, he naturally came to fight for it.
He was clearly a robber, yet he didn’t openly say he was robbing money. Instead, with a self-righteous attitude, he lifted his chin high. “Don’t you know we reserved this place? This money just now is equivalent to rent.”
Shen Yi looked at this person taking their money with his nostrils pointing to the sky, and her eyes instantly ignited with raging fire.
Before she could lose her temper, Shen Wan spoke before she did. “I’ve never heard of this rule before, and there was no one there when I went.”
Hearing this, the person laughed. He tightened the top of the money bag, even weighing it in his hand before stuffing it into his waist. “Don’t you know I’m the boss here?”
“The place I set my eyes on is mine.”
Hearing this, the anger in Shen Yi’s eyes burned even hotter.
Although she was only seven or eight years old, and her stature appeared exceptionally small in front of this fifteen-or-sixteen-year-old hooligan, her imposing manner did not lose in the slightest.
Shen Wan also frowned tightly at this moment. Although she had a good temper, she couldn’t let others challenge her bottom line repeatedly. Her mind was racing for a countermeasure.
“Return our money!” Shen Yi couldn’t bear it anymore. This money was begged by her and Shen Wan, yet it was snatched by another who acted so self-righteous.
Recommended Reads
![[ABO] President Shou Is Not a Total Shou](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/the-shou-is-not-a-total-shou-214x300.jpg)
