“Wah…” Su Jiaojiao covered her mouth and ran back to the State-Run Restaurant in tears.
At that moment, the State-Run Restaurant was quite crowded with customers.
Old Master Luo sat at a table with two young men and Shen Jianguo.
Shen Jianguo wore an ingratiating smile upon seeing Old Master Luo, but the latter appeared distracted.
Old Master Luo asked, “Shen Jianguo, it’s Jiaojiao’s birthday today. Haven’t the guests you invited arrived yet?”
Shen Jianguo smiled and replied, “Old Master, the other guests will be here a bit later.”
But inwardly, he cursed, “How could Liu Dongmei be so slow in inviting people? It’s so late, and they still haven’t arrived!”
Just then, Su Jiaojiao returned, covering her mouth with red-rimmed eyes.
As soon as she entered the restaurant and saw Old Master Luo, she froze for a moment. Then, wiping her tears, she said in a slightly hoarse and choked voice, “Grandpa Luo, you’re here so early?”
Noticing her red eyes, Old Master Luo immediately asked, “Jiaojiao, why are you crying? Who bullied you? Tell Grandpa Luo, and I’ll make sure they pay for it.”
Su Jiaojiao shook her head and said, “Grandpa Luo, no… no one bullied me. I just got some dust in my eyes.”
Old Master Luo asked again, unconvinced, “Really?”
At that moment, Yang Huihui’s voice echoed from nearby.
“Shen Qingyu, don’t run away! Tell me, why did you say that Su Jiaojiao is your family’s adopted daughter? And that as an adopted daughter, she has no sense of her place—not only does she arrogantly snatch your things, but she also tries to steal your father?
Because of this, every time I saw Su Jiaojiao, I stood up for you.
But now the truth is, Su Jiaojiao is the legitimate biological daughter of the Shen family, and you’re the stepdaughter who followed your mother into the Shen family. Shen Qingyu, why did you lie to me?
Are you using me as a pawn to deal with Su Jiaojiao for you? Shen Qingyu, how could your heart be so malicious?”
Yang Huihui’s loud voice reached every corner of the restaurant.
As she spoke, she tugged at Shen Qingyu, who was struggling to break free and escape.
Shen Qingyu grew increasingly uneasy as more and more people gathered around.
She glanced at Su Jiaojiao, who had run off, while trying to calm Yang Huihui, hoping to prevent the situation from escalating.
However, Yang Huihui had a straightforward and fiery temperament. Previously, believing Su Jiaojiao had bullied Shen Qingyu, she had willingly defended her.
Now that she realized she had been deceived by Shen Qingyu all along, she was furious. Unless Shen Qingyu gave her a proper explanation, she had no intention of letting her go.
Amidst the tugging and pulling, they arrived at the State-Run Restaurant.
The crowd of onlookers following them grew larger, and even Chen Heng, the owner of the jewelry store, came along to join the commotion.
Hearing Yang Huihui’s words, Old Master Luo’s face darkened.
“Shen Jianguo, who is this girl to you?”
Pointing at Shen Qingyu, Old Master Luo asked, suppressing his anger, “Yesterday, she declared in front of everyone that Jiaojiao is the Shen family’s adopted daughter. And now, there’s talk again about Jiaojiao being an adopted daughter?”
Shen Jianguo glared darkly at Shen Qingyu, inwardly fuming, “That wretched girl Shen Qingyu! I repeatedly warned her not to cause trouble at such a critical moment, but she never learns. Now she’s even drawn Old Master Luo into this! What an idiot!”
With a smile on his face, he said, “This is the daughter my current wife brought with her! Young girls have strong self-esteem—perhaps she didn’t want to be looked down upon, which is why she said that.
Old Master, please calm down. This is just a childish quarrel between kids! Old Master, please be magnanimous and let it go.”
Old Master Luo snorted coldly and said, “A childish quarrel between kids? Do you know who was hurt? It was Jiaojiao.
Jiaojiao is the only daughter of you, Shen Jianguo, and Yingxue.
Instead of protecting her, you let your stepdaughter hurt her. What are you doing? Or is it true what people say—that a stepmother brings a stepfather?
But don’t forget, Shen Jianguo, everything you have now was given to you by the Su Family. Even after her mother passed away, Jiaojiao didn’t rely on you for support—she has her own living allowance.
And now you stand by while your stepdaughter bullies your own daughter, making outsiders think Jiaojiao is an adopted daughter?”
Su Jiaojiao, her eyes red, defended Shen Jianguo, “Grandpa Luo, you’ve misunderstood. Dad and my stepmother really treat me very well.
Usually, my stepsister is also very good to me. I just never expected that behind my back, she held such strong opinions about me.
But this is just an issue between us sisters. Grandpa Luo, please don’t worry.”
She was imitating Liu Dongmei’s manner—seemingly speaking up for them, but in reality, leaving even more room for imagination.
“As the saying goes, a parent’s upbringing influences a child’s upbringing. If her biological father and stepmother truly cherished their own daughter, where would this stepsister get the audacity to spread rumors about the real daughter?”
“Isn’t it obvious? That this stepsister dares to claim the real daughter is adopted—isn’t it because her stepfather and birth mother have indulged her?”
“Exactly. This stepsister is just a stepsister, brought into the Shen Family by her mother. If they give her a meal and don’t mistreat her, she should be grateful. Yet now she dares to try and compete with the real daughter? Who gave her such courage and nerve?”
“Need we even ask? It must be her birth mother. As the saying goes, a stepmother brings a stepfather. This stepmother probably pretends to care for the family’s real daughter on the surface, but secretly, she’s scheming for her own daughter to fight for the family inheritance.”
“Shen Jianguo? Isn’t he the deputy director of the Textile Factory? I heard their family of three all work at the Textile Factory and are very close. Shen Jianguo and Shen Qingyu, this father-daughter pair, behave very intimately.
I always thought they were biological father and daughter—holding arms, hugging—these intimate gestures didn’t raise any suspicions.
Who would have thought they aren’t actually father and daughter?
As the saying goes, daughters should keep a distance from their fathers as they grow older, and sons from their mothers. Even if they were biological, such intimate actions should be moderated.
Besides, Shen Jianguo and Shen Qingyu aren’t real father and daughter. Aren’t their words and actions a bit too intimate? Those who don’t know might even think they’re lovers!”
“Ah, why doesn’t Liu Dongmei stop their behavior? Does she just watch her daughter and husband being so… intimate? Isn’t she afraid they might get involved, leading to a mother and daughter fighting over the same man?”
…
Su Jiaojiao listened to these discussions, her head slightly lowered, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes.
Indeed, the masses are always more effective.
Shen Jianguo, Liu Dongmei, and Shen Qingyu, face these verbal assaults.
Shen Jianguo’s expression grew increasingly grim as he listened, turning ashen with fury.
Shen Qingyu’s face also shifted between pale and livid, rage surging through her heart.
She roared, “What nonsense are you spouting? How could I compete with my mother for my father? My father and I are truly…”
Biological father and daughter!