On the surface, Lu Xiaoxiao appeared pitiful, but her inner monologue was sharp and merciless.
[Seriously, Lu Yubai and Lu Jiaoyue look so similar, so how can one face be so likable while the other is so detestable? No wonder he ends up so miserable later on.]
This novel starts as a Beloved-by-All Novel, but once the female lead's romantic storyline emerges later, the happy facade shatters.
The male lead, Gu Sipei, is a lunatic. To ensure Lu Jiaoyue relies solely on him, he orchestrates the Lu Family's bankruptcy.
After that, the Lu sons, once hailed as prodigies, lose their former glory. The most reckless and willful among them, Lu Yubai, nearly loses his life after heading down the wrong path.
Lu Xiaoxiao cast a regretful sidelong glance at him before slowly lowering her eyelashes.
Of course, all that happens much later. That guy Lu Yubai still has plenty of time to strut around.
[Being adopted by the Lu Family wasn’t something I could decide as a child. They treated me like a treasure when they needed comfort after losing their beloved daughter, but as soon as their biological daughter was found, they pinned all the blame on me. What kind of sucker am I?]
She subtly glanced at Lu Yuan, pursing her lips.
[It’s bad enough that Mother is indecisive, but Father is downright irresponsible. Having so many children but failing to discipline them, acting like it’s none of his business—how disappointing. I’d honestly be better off going back to being an orphan.]
Lu Yuan was stunned by the accusations in these thoughts. His authority as the head of the family made him instinctively want to lash out, but seeing Lu Xiaoxiao’s stubborn, tear-filled red eyes left him speechless.
Crucially, after calming down, he had to admit that Lu Xiaoxiao’s perspective made sense.
To outsiders, he was undeniably successful, but only he knew how superficial his relationships with his family were. Song Zhilan and he had a Commercial Marriage—at best, they treated each other with respect. Most of the children feared him, and beneath the Lu Family’s lively exterior, there was a distinct lack of warmth.
“Enough! Who said she isn’t your sister?” Lu Yuan’s stern voice cut through the tense silence. “Lu Yubai, sit down and eat your meal. And don’t you dare spout such nonsense again.”
Lu Yubai, who usually feared his father the most, immediately deflated under the reprimand. All his anger and resentment vanished as he sat back down, instinctively shrinking his neck.
Recalling Lu Xiaoxiao’s earlier thought about him “ending up so miserable,” Lu Yubai doubted it was true, but he couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
He had never been one to believe in superstitions. Spoiled since childhood, he rarely took anyone seriously.
But after experiencing this Mind Reading phenomenon, Lu Yubai couldn’t shake the feeling that Lu Xiaoxiao was somewhat eerie.
What if she could foresee the future?
The thought sent a shiver down his spine, but he quickly dismissed it as too absurd. Shaking his head, he pushed the idea aside.
Fine, he’d just keep a close eye on her for a while. Sooner or later, he’d figure it out.
Lu Yuan turned his gaze to Lu Xiaoxiao, his tone softening slightly. “You don’t need to overthink things. Since you’ve joined the Lu Family, you are one of us. You are my child, just like the others.”
Lu Xiaoxiao was momentarily taken aback, then curved her eyes into a smile. “Thank you, Dad.”
Her "thank you" rang out clear and crisp, probably the most sincere sentence she'd spoken all evening.
【Alright, I'll temporarily retract my earlier evaluation. Dad is actually pretty good—at least he's reasonable!】
Lu Yuan: "…"
Lu Yuan was somewhat surprised by how easily his daughter was appeased. Accustomed to the ways of the business world, he knew that without offering sufficient benefits, one couldn't expect any returns.
Yet Lu Xiaoxiao's change of heart toward him required only such a brief remark—a simple, fair statement.
After the surprise, a wave of guilt washed over him.
Lu Yuan remembered that just this morning, he had told Lu Xiaoxiao to vacate her room for Lu Jiaoyue. Looking back now, he realized his consideration had been lacking.
Unable to help himself, Lu Yuan spoke again: "Your room… has it been cleared out yet?"
Lu Xiaoxiao: "No."
She had actually prepared herself to move out, but according to the System, resisting giving up the room was part of establishing dominance over Lu Jiaoyue.
Long before coming downstairs, she had mentally rehearsed a dramatic script, and now it was time to perform it!
Lu Xiaoxiao took a deep breath, squeezing out a few glistening tears: "Dad, if you're wondering why my eyes are often filled with tears, I can only say it's because I love this room so deeply. All these years…"
"You don't need to clear the room," Lu Yuan interrupted.
Her performance cut short, Lu Xiaoxiao stared blankly: "Huh?"
Lu Yuan repeated: "No need to clear the room. You can keep living there. Later, I'll have Uncle Liu prepare the room next to yours for your sister."
Uncle Liu was the Lu Family's butler. Hearing Lu Yuan's instructions, he immediately turned to arrange the task.
"Oh, and didn't you mention earlier that your sister's attire doesn't match her status? When you have time tomorrow, take her to the nearby mall for some shopping. Get her some clothes she likes." After a pause, Lu Yuan added, "If you see anything you like, buy it for yourself too."
Lu Xiaoxiao was momentarily stunned, but once she grasped the meaning, she couldn't quite suppress the corners of her mouth from lifting.
Lu Yuan watched as her eyes gradually brightened, then she stared directly at him as if expecting something more.
A bit puzzled, Lu Yuan immediately tuned in to her inner thoughts.
【Dad! Dad! Show me the money, Dad!】
Lu Yuan: "…"
Pretending to be nonchalant, Lu Yuan pulled out a black card and slid it over: "Use this card. There's no spending limit."
Lu Xiaoxiao feigned reluctance: "Ah! Is that really okay?"
But her hands didn't hesitate in the slightest—she snatched it over swiftly, as if afraid he might change his mind.
【Hehehehehehehe Dad is the best I love you Dad!】
Lu Yuan cleared his throat lightly, his ears tingeing red from the bluntness of her inner voice.
He hadn't realized before that his daughter had such an amusing personality.
"Of course it's fine. If I'm giving it to you, just take it. Let me know if you need anything else. Let's continue with dinner for now."
Beside them, Lu Yubai's eyes were nearly popping out of his head. The soda he had just sipped almost sprayed out uncontrollably.
Since he was still in high school and frequently got into trouble, his family was quite strict with his finances. So, he was genuinely jealous!!!
Lu Xiaoxiao also felt his intense gaze and glanced at him innocently.
"Hehehehehehehehe, what's wrong little brother? Jealous? Green with envy? So what? Anyway, I'm having a great time."
Lu Yubai: "…"
He suddenly felt that having a superpower like Mind Reading wasn't such a good thing after all.
So! Damn! Noisy!
However, his feelings were no longer within Lu Xiaoxiao's concern. Lu Xiaoxiao was in an absolutely wonderful mood, and her appetite had improved along with it.
Just as she had eaten until about seventy percent full, Lu Jiaoyue pushed a plate of dessert toward her.
Her tone was somewhat nervous, carrying obvious attempts to curry favor: "Sister, would you like some cake? This is for you."
Lu Xiaoxiao instinctively wanted to accept, but just as she was about to speak, she received a warning from the System:
"Host, tonight's developments have already diverged significantly from the original plot. If you continue like this, you'll end up developing a harmonious sisterly bond with the real daughter."