Early the next morning, Xu Yinyin was surrounded by Jiang Xin and Xu Yao as she tried on dresses.
As soon as the old master announced that he would be hosting a recognition banquet for his granddaughter, Xu Yanwen immediately sent over haute couture dresses from top brands for her to choose from.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xin went a step further and invited the chief designer of V House to personally design custom gowns for all the future occasions Yinyin might attend.
Birthday parties, elite gatherings, socialite afternoon teas, charity galas, auctions—every scenario was meticulously considered, ensuring that not a single detail was overlooked.
“Oh my god, I’ve never seen so many haute couture dresses in my life! The fabric is silky smooth, the designs are exquisite, and they sparkle so much they almost blind me. Can you believe just one of these dresses costs millions? Today, I’ve truly experienced the world of the wealthy firsthand.”
“Who could possibly resist such dazzling things?” The system chimed in excitedly.
“Do you see that pink diamond necklace, glittering like falling stars? That piece alone is worth tens of millions! The designer casually paired it with an entire set of accessories for me—just one set could buy a luxury house in the city center. This level of extravagance is unreal!”
“Wuwuwu, being a rich family’s pampered princess is so worth it!”
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Kkydt Dkd yde Dw Zys nswzed’v blzr cwv zywtb yv bla ydvknp, lmnbydtkdt qsde yde kdewztldv tzydnlp.
“Zkdukd, qsa vbkp alnstdkvksd cydiwlv, uswa taydeqyvbla byp kdhkvle y tayde twlpv zkpv. Ohlausdl okvb vklp vs vbl Dw qyxkzu okzz cl yvvldekdt. Jwv usw esd’v dlle vs osaau—fwpv valyv kv yp y qwd lhldv. Oyv, eakdj, yde ldfsu uswaplzq. Zsw osd’v dlle vs tkhl y prllnb sa elzkclayvlzu psnkyzkgl, yzaktbv?”
“Yx-bxx, R wdelapvyde.”
“Tso nswze R rsppkczu cl dlahswp? Mbkp kp vbl bktb psnklvu tyvblakdt! R nyd’v oykv vs blya yzz vbl fwknu tsppkr. Dkys Ck, ol’al kd qsa psxl ldvlavykdxldv!”
“Gossss! R bsrl vbl olljlde nsxlp iwknjzu—pzwar!”
Kkydt Dkd tldvzu pvasjle bla eywtbvla’p pxyzz qynl, qllzkdt ellrzu xshle. Rd vbkp qzypbu, alpvzlpp osaze, Zkdukd’p nsdvldvxldv yde zynj sq talle olal vawzu ayal. Ls osdela vbl sze xypvla oyp ps lytla vs dwavwal bla—pbl oyp yzxspv kxrlahkswp vs vlxrvyvksd.
Mbkdjkdt ycswv vbl byaepbkrp Zkdukd bye pwqqlale kd vbl rypv voldvu ulyap, ulv pvkzz xydytkdt vs jllr bla rwal yde tldwkdl dyvwal, Kkydt Dkd’p byvale qsa Hbsw Dkduk yde bla bwpcyde ellrldle.
Rq Zkdukd bye tasod wr kd vbkp qyxkzu qasx vbl pvyav yde alnlkhle vbl clpv lewnyvksd, bla qwvwal ryvb oswze byhl clld lhld casyela.
Fortunately, the old master recognized her worth, and in the end, fate had a way of making things right.
Jiang Xin gently caressed her hair and said softly, “Originally, your identity should have been announced the day after you came home. But the timing wasn’t right, so it kept getting delayed. I’m sorry for making you wait, my dear.”
Xu Yinyin waved her hands frantically, flustered. “No, no, not at all! Everyone in the family treats me so well—I don’t feel the least bit wronged. Honestly, whether there’s a recognition banquet or not doesn’t change the fact that we’re family.”
Xu Yaoyao, worried that her sister might feel uneasy, quickly reassured her, “The recognition banquet must be held. Only then will our identities truly be set right. Although this won’t make up for what you’ve been through, it’s still an important ceremony. Please, just go along with it for my sake.”
Since both of them had already said so much, Xu Yinyin had no choice but to nod in agreement. “Alright then.”
“It doesn’t matter whether I’m the real heiress or not. It won’t change my determination to remain a carefree slacker. No one is going to make me strive for success!”
Xu Yaoyao and Jiang Xin exchanged smiles—Yinyin was just too adorable.
At 8 p.m. on the weekend, all the invited guests had arrived.
Tang Wan scanned the crowd, noting the presence of numerous prestigious families with ties to the Xu family. Even Yan Yashan, the elusive head of the Yan family, had made an appearance—an undeniable testament to how much the old master valued Xu Yinyin.
“This is way too extravagant,” Tang Wan muttered, her voice laced with resentment. “Even A-Yao never had a banquet this grand. He’s clearly doing this to humiliate us.”
Xu Yanrui shrugged indifferently. “What can I say? The old master just likes Yinyin more. But don’t be too upset—I recently made connections with a major tech mogul who specializes in artificial intelligence. If we can strike a deal, it’ll be a huge breakthrough for our company and set the course for the future. The stock price of Fengyi is bound to soar, and then the old man will finally take me seriously.”
Tang Wan scoffed at his confidence. “AI certainly has a bright future, but I just worry that in your hands, it’ll turn into artificial stupidity. Let’s be honest—most of the people who promise to make you rich are actually the ones scamming you. I’ve seen enough of those cases since marrying you.”
Xu Yanrui’s expression darkened. “You don’t know a damn thing. That’s just your narrow-minded opinion. I did my research this time—the guy has solid credentials and internationally recognized patents. In a fast-evolving industry like this, getting ahead of the curve is the only way to secure the top spot. Hesitation only leads to missed opportunities.”
“Mm-hmm. Well, I’ll wish you success in advance,” Tang Wan said, clinking her glass against his with a blatant lack of sincerity.
Xu Yanrui snorted coldly, downing his drink in one gulp. “Just wait and see.”
As he walked away, Tang Wan’s carefree demeanor vanished, replaced by a grim expression.
She had once believed that marrying into the Xu family and using Xu Yanrui as a stepping stone would save her twenty years of hard work. Her plan was simple: leverage her financial acumen to rise to the position of vice president of a publicly listed company by age 35, then rely on Xu Yao’s status to become vice chairman. When her son eventually inherited the family business, she would be the one pulling the strings behind the scenes1She’s so utilitarian, that’s why her son doesn’t like her
But then Xu Yinyin had appeared out of nowhere, completely derailing her plans.
Not only had she lost one of her few allies, but Guo Cheng had also been removed from the picture. On top of that, Xu Yao’s complete lack of ambition and her useless husband only deepened her sense of failure and despair.
Tonight’s recognition banquet was clearly a warning from the old master—he was showing her, in no uncertain terms, that Xu Yao was no longer the sole heir.
Her gaze shifted toward the group of wealthy ladies gathered in the center of the hall. No doubt, they were all here to catch a glimpse of the real heiress.
With such a grand occasion, anyone with half a brain could figure out the old master’s intentions. Before long, these women would be scrambling to introduce their sons, eager to arrange a marriage alliance.
If Xu Yinyin successfully married into one of these prominent families, a union of powerhouses would make her rise to family head all but inevitable. After all, the old master had never stated that the Xu family’s legacy could only be passed down to a male heir.
Tang Wan had always assumed Xu Rui would be the heir, simply because Xu Yaoyao was too timid and conventional. The old master already had one rule-abiding successor in Xu Yanwen—he would never appoint another.
But Xu Yinyin was different. She might not have impressive achievements of her own, but that mysterious “Xiao Qi” in her possession had access to explosive secrets. In just a few moves, she and Xiao Qi had effortlessly toppled two veteran family members, eliminating the old master’s biggest obstacles without breaking a sweat. It was both astonishing and infuriating.
To make matters worse, A-Yao seemed to have grown close to her. Their relationship was warm and harmonious—an ideal sibling bond.
Not only did Xu Yao lack his mother’s drive for success, but he didn’t even inherit his father’s foolish ambition. It was infuriating.
Tang Wan exhaled deeply, grabbed another glass of wine, and made her way toward the wealthy ladies.
As an aunt, it was only right for her to take an interest in her niece’s future marriage prospects.
“Madam Gao, Madam Ma, Madam Shen—it’s been a while.”
“Ah, Xiao Wan, just in time! We were just talking about you.”
“Oh? Is there something I can do for you ladies?”
“Oh, it’s nothing too serious. We were just curious—how did your elder brother’s family suddenly discover they had a real daughter? We heard there was a baby mix-up? How dramatic!”
“Exactly! The old master went through all this trouble for a recognition banquet—is this just his way of making it up to her?”
“Well, I wouldn’t call it ‘making up for it.’ I mean, mistaking your own child? That’s almost too ridiculous to believe. A mother knows her own flesh and blood.”
The subtle implication in Tang Wan’s words was immediately understood—if the parents were foolish enough to misidentify their own child, then their daughter must not be too bright either.
“That’s true. A mother would never let her child leave her sight.”
“Indeed.”
“Oh, by the way, I also heard that this girl grew up in an orphanage. Poor thing—she must be very kind-hearted, right?”
“Our Yinyin has a good character, but she’s not very sociable. Understandably so—she grew up without parents, so she’s quite introverted. On the other hand, overly lively children can be difficult to discipline. They each have their strengths, I suppose.”
Her words were carefully crafted—subtly painting Xu Yinyin as withdrawn and unpolished. Someone who, having grown up without parental guidance, might be difficult to manage and pose unforeseen risks.
The ladies exchanged glances before tacitly ending the topic with some polite words of regret.
Tang Wan curled her lips into a smile—there, problem solved.
“Yinbao, look at nine o’clock! Your second aunt is going around badmouthing you, trying to ruin your marriage prospects!”
“Let her ruin them! I don’t want to get married anyway. Marriages in wealthy families are just business transactions. If I end up paired with some psycho, I’ll probably die young. My past self had such a good life—no way I’m getting married, even if it kills me!”
“That’s fair, but what about your reputation?”
“Pfft, reputation? You can’t eat it, you can’t wear it—what’s the point? I’m not a celebrity, and I don’t need a marriage alliance to secure my status. My reputation has no effect on me. As long as I can live my life behind closed doors, why should I care about anything else?”
“You have a point… Alright, no problem then.”
Their conversation was overheard by Old Master Xu and Yan Yashan, who were standing just two meters away. The latter gave the old man a meaningful glance and chuckled.
“So this is why you had me dragged back to the country?”
Old Master Xu smiled. “Well? Isn’t my precious granddaughter something special?”
“I was wondering how Fengyi managed to remove two senior executives without causing any chaos. Turns out you had a secret weapon.”
“Just wait—you haven’t seen the best part yet. Come on, let me introduce you.”
Yan Yashan shook her head with a helpless smile. She had known Xu Hongshan for years, but this was the first time she had seen such an expression on his face—relaxed, carefree, and even a little proud.
“Yinyin,” the old man called gently.
Xu Yinyin quickly turned around and beamed at him, her eyes curving like crescent moons, bright as the stars.
“Grandpa!” She smiled as she walked up to him.
“Come, come, let Grandpa introduce you. This is Yan Yashan, chairman of Shengting Group. You can just call her Grandma Yan—she’s an old friend of mine.”
“Hello, Grandma Yan. I’m Xu Yinyin, Grandpa’s newly reunited granddaughter.”
Yan Yashan extended her hand for a handshake.
“Wow, this grandma is so elegant! She has the effortless grace of bamboo in a misty mountain. She must have been a total heartthrob when she was younger. And if she’s Grandpa’s friend, she must be super capable, too! A gorgeous and powerful woman in real life—amazing!”
Yan Yashan’s reserved smile gradually widened. Who wouldn’t love to hear such genuine praise, especially when it came straight from the heart?
“Hello, Yinyin. Your grandfather has told me a lot about you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“You flatter me, Grandma Yan. Grandpa is just being indulgent—I’m really nothing special.”
“Oh my, listen to this little one—such a sweet talker! What a clever girl.”
Xu Hongshan chuckled heartily, patting Yinyin’s shoulder with pride. “Of course! She takes after me!”
Their warm exchange deeply stung Tang Wan. Compared to the Yan family, a true powerhouse among elites, the marriage prospects she had just sabotaged were utterly insignificant. It turned out that the old man had already handpicked a suitable match.
Did that make her look like a fool? Damn it!
“Dad, Aunt Yan, what’s got you all laughing?” Xu Yanyan approached the group.
“I was just introducing Yinyin to Aunt Yan. She’ll be staying in the country for the next month. Make sure to take Yinyin out and show her around.”
“Of course! The company’s been quiet lately, so I have plenty of time.” Xu Yanyan naturally went along with her father’s plan.
“This is basically a paid vacation—awesome!”
“Yinbao, you’re way too easily satisfied. You’re a wealthy heiress—you don’t even need a job. Just eat, drink, and have fun. Your grandpa’s the one forcing you to work—it’s totally unfair!”
“Nonsense! Grandpa isn’t making me work—he’s paying me to gossip! I just drink coffee, eat snacks, and head home early. There’s a driver to take me everywhere, I don’t have to lift a finger at home, and my bank balance looks like a phone number. If all jobs came with these perks, why wouldn’t I work?”
“Since I enjoy the privileges of being a rich heiress, it’s only right that I contribute to the family. I can’t just freeload and make people resent me—that’s basic self-awareness.”
“Hmm… You have a point. But enough about that—time to eat melons!”
“Ooh, where are the melons?!”
“Look to your right—ten o’clock. That mother and son heading our way. They’re planning to introduce the younger son to our dear little aunt.”
Xu Yinyin, along with the others, turned to look at the approaching pair.
The woman appeared to be in her early forties, dressed in a royal blue evening gown. She held a palm-sized diamond clutch, and the sapphire ring on her finger sparkled under the lights. Her face was meticulously made up, carrying an air of arrogance that practically screamed, I’m rich, and I do what I want.
Walking beside her was a man in a dark green tailcoat. His proportions were unfortunate—his legs were short, making him appear squat. His face was unremarkable, and as he noticed their gazes, he attempted a polite smile that came off as slightly greasy.
“Chairman Xu, long time no see. I hope you’ve been well.” The middle-aged woman was the first to greet them.
They exchanged handshakes and small talk.
“Yinyin, this is Madam Liu Min, wife of the chairman of Ruixing Group,” Xu Yanyan introduced with a smile.
“Hello, Aunt Liu. I’m Xu Yinyin. Nice to meet you.”
Liu Min barely spared her a glance before responding with a dismissive hum. Then, turning to Xu Yanyan, she spoke in a concerned tone, “I heard about what happened to you, dear. You’ve endured so much all these years, but at least the storm has passed now. That’s a silver lining.”
Xu Yanyan smiled politely. “Thank you for your concern, Aunt Liu.”
Liu Min affectionately took her hand. “Good girl. One failed marriage doesn’t define your future. Don’t let one rotten man keep you from the whole forest.”
“I won’t,” Xu Yanyan replied smoothly, discreetly withdrawing her hand.
Liu Min quickly pulled her son over and introduced him, “This is my younger son, Xu An. He just returned to the country this month and is preparing to help out at his father’s company. You two will inevitably have business dealings in the future, so it’s best to get acquainted now and avoid any awkwardness.”
Xu An immediately reached out his hand. “Hello, Miss Xu. I’ve heard so much about you. It is truly an honor to meet you today.”
“Hello.” Xu Yanyan shook his hand.
However, the other party held on a little too tightly and wouldn’t let go, staring at her with his slightly swollen, unblinking eyes.
“Whoa, whoa. Is he… trying to flirt? With those swollen, dead-fish eyes?! And come on, when shaking hands with a lady, you’re only supposed to touch the fingertips—basic social etiquette! He doesn’t even know that? Is he some kind of nouveau riche?”
Both Liu Min and Xu An froze for a second. Who was speaking?!
“Oh? You figured it out? Yep, his family did get rich overnight. They got a huge payout from a land demolition deal—millions! Then they went into coal mining and struck it big. Now they’re living the high life.”
“No wonder. The moment he walked in, it was like he had “I’m rich” written all over him. He couldn’t wait to pile on every expensive item he could find. He’s got a totally average body, and yet he dared to wear a tailcoat? That only makes his legs look even shorter. He’s practically a walking tree stump.”
“Hahaha, I can totally picture it now!”
Xu Yanyan pressed her lips together, trying to hold back a laugh. Xu An’s ears immediately turned red with embarrassment, and he hurriedly let go of her hand.
Standing beside him, Liu Min was trembling with anger. From the reactions around her, she could tell that others had heard the same thing—but they were all keeping their composure.
Perhaps this was the difference between established noble families and upstart nouveau riche like them. Those with true class knew how to stay calm and maintain their dignity. She had to endure this, or else she would only fall further behind.
I must endure!
Liu Min steadied herself and turned to Xu Hongtian with a polite smile, continuing with her agenda. “I recall that Yanyan is thirty-five this year, right? That age isn’t too old or too young, but fortunately, she doesn’t have any children. Starting over would be easy for her.”
“My son is great in every way—he’s just a bit too honest. He doesn’t have many hobbies and prefers staying home. He’s already thirty-two and has never even dated before.”
The system couldn’t help but comment: “Ha! Yeah, your son is real “honest.” Only dares to mess around at home with his sister-in-law. And you’re right—he’s never been in a real relationship. He just skips straight to sleeping with them. Ever since your eldest son got married, he’s been sneaking around with his brother’s wife whenever his brother isn’t home. Full home runs, clothes flying everywhere!”
“Whoa, this is getting spicy!”
Everyone present: w(?Д?)w
Xu An: F***!
Liu Min looked at Xu Yinyin in disbelief. “You—”
She wanted to question her, but the words just wouldn’t come out.
“Oh, and get this—Xu An and his current sister-in-law actually dated back in college. They did everything together. But then he got bored, made up some lame excuse, and dumped her. Out of spite, she turned around and married his older brother in a flash.”
“Wait, the older brother just agreed to a flash marriage like that?!”
“Not because he’s easygoing—because he doesn’t like women. He only wanted a marriage of convenience.”
Another wave of shock hit the crowd: w(?Д?)w
“Oh my god, she actually agreed to be a “contract wife” just to get back at her ex?! What kind of logic is that?”
“She didn’t know he liked men! She only found out on their wedding night that he was completely uninterested in women. But guess what—she still ended up pregnant.”
“Oof, let me guess—it’s definitely Xu An’s kid!”
“Wrong! It’s the muscular male gardener’s!”
“No way! This drama is insane!”
“And there’s more—an even bigger bombshell!”
“What? What? Spill it!”
Everyone present, including Xu Yinyin, straightened their backs and perked up their ears.
Meanwhile, Liu Min clenched her fists so tightly that her palms were bleeding from her own nails digging in.
【That gardener is actually the mother-in-law’s little sweetheart, whom she secretly kept in the house! But her daughter-in-law found out and snatched him away out of sheer spite. She even threatened to take revenge on her, blaming her for setting a bad example, which is why Xu An turned out to be such a heartless scoundrel! Now she’s determined to throw the entire Xu family into chaos, making sure they’ll never have peace. Her next move? Seducing her father-in-law!】
“…” The deafening silence was overwhelming.
Oh. My. God. What kind of chaotic drama is this?!
Liu Min felt the weight of everyone’s probing gazes on her. She wished she could disappear into the ground.
Furious, she yanked her son by the ear and dragged him away, hitting his head repeatedly with her small diamond purse while cursing under her breath.
【Wait, why did they suddenly leave? And why is she smacking him with her purse?!】
【Who knows? Menopausal women are the most terrifying!】
The gossiping onlookers struggled to hold back their laughter. No, this wasn’t about menopause—this was the desperate frustration of a mother who had completely lost face.
But they had to admit, Liu Min’s resilience was impressive. She had just received so much shocking news in one go, yet she still managed to walk away somewhat gracefully. Respect!
After witnessing this unexpected drama, the guests began to look at Xu Yinyin with mixed feelings.
Those with guilty consciences quietly distanced themselves from her, trying to make themselves invisible.
Those with clean slates, however, subtly moved closer. Because in such a dull social event, nothing lights up the room like the holy grail of gossip.
Ahhh, this gossip is so good! More, more!
After personally witnessing how Xu Yinyin’s inner thoughts had driven Liu Min to flee in shame, Yan Yiyi finally made up her mind.
If she missed this chance, she would never get another shot at turning the tables.
“Yiyi, what are you doing hiding here? Go keep my mother company,” an irritated male voice sounded from behind her.
Yan Yiyi turned around and met the man’s unhappy expression. She apologized, “I just came out of the restroom. I was just about to head over.”
“Do you not understand that my mother has health issues and can’t be left alone? Haven’t I told you not to drink water? It’s only two or three hours—can’t you hold it in?”
The man grew increasingly angry as he spoke, the disdain in his eyes becoming more evident. “I really don’t know why I married you. You can’t take care of anyone, you can’t even have children. Besides having a famous father, what else do you have?!”
Yan Yiyi clenched her fists silently, suppressing her emotions, and forced herself to apologize. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry, sorry—if apologies were useful, murder wouldn’t be a crime! Now go and look after my mom!”
“Got it, I’ll go now.”
As soon as the man reached his mother, the two exchanged an intimate cheek-to-cheek greeting, making Yan Yiyi feel utterly disgusted.
The images she had been desperately trying to ignore flooded her mind like a tidal wave, suffocating her.
She clenched her fists tightly, exhaled a slow breath, then pulled out her phone and sent a message to her mother. After that, she bent down to pick up a teacup, only to “accidentally” spill the hot tea near her mother-in-law’s feet.
“What’s wrong with you? So clumsy! Do you know how hot this water is?!” The man berated his wife before quickly squatting down to check if his mother was hurt.
“Yiyi just didn’t mean it, sweetheart. Mommy’s fine.” The older woman reassured him sweetly, not forgetting to place a soothing kiss on his forehead.
From a distance, Xu Yinyin had been drawn to the commotion and happened to witness the intimate moment between mother and son. Her eyes widened in shock.
“Oh my god, what’s their deal? Older wife, younger husband? Acting all lovey-dovey in public—ugh, gross!”
The system hummed knowingly. “This is a major melon. Do you want to eat it?”
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I seriously think that the system is a bored God trying to have fun by gossiping with Yinyin. At this point, Yinyin is just a walking shaman or fortune teller lol and no one bother to mention to her they can hear monologue