Soft sounds drifted out from the kitchen. Wearing an apron, Gu Li appeared busy preparing food, but in reality, she was paying close attention to everything happening in the living room.
Once she heard that everyone had arrived and taken their seats, the corners of her lips lifted ever so slightly.
“The show is finally about to begin.”
As soon as Su Baozhu entered the living room, she affectionately linked arms with Zhao Yaqin. Smiling sweetly, she said in a coquettish tone, “Aunt Zhao, I’ve missed you so much. The whole way here, all I could think about was seeing you sooner.”
She knew her appearance was ordinary, so she had long learned to make full use of her strengths. Her soft, delicate voice was her greatest weapon. It had earned her countless favors, the admiration of many men, and even secured her position as the star performer of the troupe. Everyone called her the Golden Voice.
Right now, she was determined to win over Fu Yishen and prove that her charm remained as irresistible as ever. Otherwise, she would never have come to the Fu Family to curry favor with this older woman.
Still, judging from the situation, Fu Yishen had yet to return home.
Li Liping smiled as she patted Su Baozhu’s hand. Her gaze swept over Su Baozhu’s rather plain features, and she secretly sighed.
This child really does look ordinary. I have no idea where she gets the confidence to dress herself up so extravagantly every day. And that body of hers, so thin she’s nearly flat as a washboard… I truly don’t understand this kind of beauty standard.
As they sat down for the meal, Zhao Yaqin remarked politely, “Liping, Baozhu is so thoughtful. She’s bound to be blessed in the future. Unlike me…” She sighed dramatically. “Yishen hasn’t come home in such a long time.”
Li Liping inwardly smirked.
So what if your husband holds a high position? Your only son still fell out with his own father and won’t even call you Mother.
She, on the other hand, had a loving husband and a filial daughter.
Thinking this, Li Liping’s smile widened slightly. Taking a sip of tea, she launched into a lengthy speech.
“Yaqin, we can’t rush our children’s affairs. But my Baozhu really is a sensible child. The troupe simply can’t function without her, yet the moment I said I missed her, she immediately put aside all her work and came home specially to see me.”
Hearing this, Su Baozhu worried that Zhao Yaqin might feel upset, so she tactfully changed the subject. Picking up some food with her chopsticks, she placed it into Zhao Yaqin’s bowl.
“Aunt Zhao, you should try this. It’s delicious. Aunt Liu’s cooking has improved again.”
A trace of disdain flickered across Zhao Yaqin’s eyes before her warm smile returned.
“Aunt Liu took leave to return to her hometown. This meal was prepared by our new temporary housekeeper. Her name is Gu Li.”
The moment Su Baozhu heard the name Gu Li, the chopsticks in her hand slipped from her grasp and clattered against the table.
However, she quickly composed herself.
There were countless people in the world who shared the same name.
Gu Family Village was unimaginably far from Beijing. The Gu Li she knew could never possibly make it to the capital. And even if she somehow did, her biological parents would have informed her in advance.
After all, they had no intention of cutting off the financial support they had been providing.
At that moment, Gu Li emerged from the kitchen carrying another dish, deliberately slowing her pace.
Li Liping and Su Baozhu both lifted their heads at the sound of approaching footsteps.
The young housekeeper walking toward them possessed exquisite features. Her lips were naturally rosy, while the slightly upturned corners of her eyes carried an effortless allure.
The shirt and trousers she wore were several sizes too large, but the apron tied around her waist obediently accentuated her graceful figure.
Her head remained slightly lowered, yet from the corner of her eye, she carefully observed Li Liping’s reaction.
After setting down the final dish, she lifted her head and parted her red lips.
“Please enjoy your meal.”
Li Liping’s gaze instantly locked onto Gu Li.
The moment she saw Gu Li’s face, she froze as if struck by lightning.
Gu Li looked exactly like her younger self.
Those eyes, that face, those delicate features…
Everything made her feel as though time had reversed, as if she were looking at the eighteen or nineteen year old version of herself.
Instinctively, Li Liping turned to glance at Su Baozhu, who sat beside her.
Not only did Su Baozhu fail to resemble her, there wasn’t even the slightest similarity.
The doubts she had buried for years surged back to the surface.
Both she and her husband, Su Jianshe, were attractive people.
Yet their only daughter had been plain looking since childhood.
At first, she had comforted herself by thinking that children changed as they grew older, that girls blossomed with age.
But now Su Baozhu is already nineteen.
She sighed inwardly.
Su Baozhu had often complained in front of them that Heaven had been unfair, giving her only her parents’ flaws instead of their strengths.
Perhaps she had also sensed her mother’s doubts, or perhaps it was because other children had innocently asked, “Why don’t you look like your mother or father?”
By the age of eight, Su Baozhu had become increasingly conscious of her appearance, imitating adults and learning how to dress herself up. Only then had her looks become somewhat more pleasing.
Li Liping had pitied her considerate daughter and stopped dwelling on the matter, afraid of hurting her feelings.
But today, seeing a young woman nearly identical to her own youthful appearance, someone close in age to Su Baozhu…
An indescribable excitement swelled within Li Liping.
Countless thoughts flooded her mind, compelling her to learn more about the girl standing before her.
Her eyes remained fixed on Gu Li as her voice began to tremble unconsciously.
“Young lady, judging from your accent, you sound like you’re from the south. Where is your hometown?”
Gu Li remained calm.
“My hometown is Gu Family Village in Shuanglin County. Madam Su, I doubt you’ve ever heard of it.”
The final note of her voice rose slightly, carrying an almost imperceptible trace of mockery.
She felt indignant on behalf of the original owner.
Though she herself had been an orphan and had never known parental love, at least she had Panbao.
The original owner had had nothing.
“Shuanglin County… Gu Family Village?”
The moment Li Liping heard those familiar names, she shot to her feet.
Her entire body trembled uncontrollably.
Nineteen year old memories instantly resurfaced.
She had indeed been to Shuanglin County.
Back then, she had been pregnant with Su Baozhu and had quarreled with Su Jianshe. In a fit of anger, she had returned to her rural hometown.
Later, Su Jianshe personally went to bring her back. During the journey, she unexpectedly went into labor, forcing them to disembark at the nearest train station.
She had hurriedly delivered her baby at a local clinic.
That place had been called Shuanglin County.
At the time, another woman in the neighboring delivery room had also been giving birth. The two women had screamed loud enough to rival pigs being slaughtered, leaving an unforgettable impression on her.
How could such a coincidence exist in this world?
Li Liping drew in a deep breath, struggling to steady her trembling body before asking another question.
“Young lady, what year were you born?”
“April 2, 1956, at the clinic in Shuanglin County.”
Gu Li tugged slightly at the corners of her lips and raised her head, her eyes carrying a faint chill.
“How… How is that possible? That’s impossible. Impossible.”
Li Liping shook her head repeatedly, murmuring to herself. One hand rose unconsciously to cover her mouth as shock and disbelief filled her eyes.
Even this young woman’s birthday matched Su Baozhu’s exactly.
The very next moment, the world seemed to spin around her.
Her legs weakened beneath her, and she barely managed to steady herself against the table before slowly sinking back into her seat.
Only after taking several deep breaths did Li Liping regain a semblance of composure.
She refused to believe that the daughter she had raised and loved for nineteen years might have been switched at birth.
To her, such a possibility was more devastating than the sky collapsing.