“Silence!”
Shen Jianguo snapped with a stern face, “Shen Qingyu, it seems I’ve been too lenient and indulgent with you as your stepfather, allowing you to secretly bully my biological daughter. Apologize to Jiaojiao immediately, or you and your mother will leave the Shen family at once!”
While scolding Shen Qingyu, Shen Jianguo kept giving her meaningful looks, urging her to swallow her pride for the moment and apologize to Su Jiaojiao, not to complicate matters at this critical juncture.
But the furious Shen Qingyu failed to grasp Shen Jianguo’s well-intentioned efforts. All she knew was that the father who had always doted on her was now scolding and rebuking her for Su Jiaojiao’s sake. Clearly, she, Shen Qingyu, was the daughter Shen Jianguo cherished the most. Even if she had told others that Su Jiaojiao was an adopted daughter, it hadn’t caused any real harm to Su Jiaojiao. Why should she apologize?
Shen Qingyu glared angrily at Su Jiaojiao, biting her lower lip and refusing to speak.
Su Jiaojiao covered her mouth, nearly laughing out loud but instead shedding tears. How could she have been so foolishly deceived into believing that this stepsister Shen Qingyu had ever been genuinely kind to her? Su Jiaojiao pondered—perhaps after her mother and grandfather passed away, she hadn’t wanted to ruin her relationship with her father. Or maybe she had been lost in the illusion of occasional deception from Liu Dongmei and Shen Qingyu.
Old Master Luo observed Shen Qingyu’s demeanor, his sharp eyes flashing as he said sternly, “Shen Jianguo, is this the fine stepdaughter you’ve raised? She dares to glare at Jiaojiao right in front of you—who knows what she does to Jiaojiao behind your back?”
“Look, haven’t you noticed? This stepdaughter seems to harbor a lover-like resentment toward her stepfather Shen Jianguo.”
“Now that you mention it, it really does feel that way. Could it be that there’s some unspeakable relationship between this stepdaughter and stepfather?”
The last remark was exclaimed in shock.
Su Jiaojiao’s shoulders trembled, finding it extremely hard to suppress her laughter. Father and daughter turned lovers? Ha, how utterly ridiculous. Rumors could truly be deadly.
But Shen Jianguo, if you don’t admit to being Shen Qingyu’s biological father, how will you explain your intimate behavior with her? If you acknowledge the father-daughter relationship, then Shen Qingyu being three months older than her, your own biological daughter, would expose your illicit affair with Liu Dongmei.
Shen Jianguo, oh Shen Jianguo, I want you and Liu Dongmei to fall into eternal ruin. The show has begun—let it continue.
“Silence, silence!” Shen Qingyu, hearing the crowd speculating about her and Shen Jianguo being lovers, shouted in fury and indignation, “My dad and I are not in that kind of relationship! We… we’re just… mmm—”
Shen Qingyu’s mouth was abruptly covered by Liu Dongmei, who had rushed over in haste. The commotion had grown so significant that acquaintances quickly found Liu Dongmei and informed her of the situation. She hurried over just in time to hear someone suggest that Shen Jianguo and Shen Qingyu might be lovers. Her heart sank, and seeing Shen Qingyu about to reveal their true relationship, she immediately stepped in to stop her.
Covering Shen Qingyu’s mouth, Liu Dongmei smiled apologetically at the crowd and explained, “This child lost her father at a young age. After I married Old Shen, she has always regarded him as her biological father, sharing a closeness like that of real father and daughter, without giving it much thought. However, we will be more mindful of this issue in the future.”
“Like biological father and daughter, but after all, they’re not biologically related. They should avoid suspicion where necessary – this is so easily misunderstood.”
“Exactly. With such a close father-daughter relationship in the factory, once people find out they’re not biologically related, anyone would start speculating.”
Liu Dongmei forced a stiff smile and said, “Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right.”
A flash of disappointment crossed Su Jiaojiao’s eyes.
She had been so close, so very close to having Shen Qingyu expose her true identity.
Never mind. In any case, this entire family wouldn’t be able to escape.
Before going to the countryside, she would definitely make sure he was disgraced and condemned by everyone.
Su Jiaojiao then stepped forward, linking arms with Old Master Luo, and said coquettishly,
“Grandpa Luo, please don’t worry, I’m really fine. My dad and stepmother are genuinely good to me. It’s probably just my stepsister who has some minor grievances.
Grandpa Luo, it’s almost lunchtime. Let’s go in. You must eat and drink well later.”
Old Master Luo smiled and said, “You’re right. Today is your birthday, so you, the birthday girl, are more important. We can settle other matters another day.”
He then turned to Shen Jianguo with a stern face and said, “Alright, you can properly educate your adopted daughter when you get home. Don’t let her delay Jiaojiao’s coming-of-age ceremony now.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Jianguo immediately smiled and said, “Good, Old Master, rest assured. After returning home, I will definitely educate Yu’er properly and absolutely won’t let her develop any ambitions to snatch Jiaojiao’s family assets.”
Old Master Luo nodded, then introduced the two young men beside him to Su Jiaojiao, “Jiaojiao, come, let me introduce you. These are my two grandsons, Luo Wen and Luo Wu. They’re twins, three years older than you. You can call them Third Brother and Fourth Brother.”
He had brought these twins along with the intention of setting up a matchmaking between Su Jiaojiao and them.
Su Jiaojiao sweetly called out, “Third Brother, Fourth Brother.”
Luo Wen and Luo Wu nodded in response, “Jiaojiao, little sister!”
Luo Wu said naively, “Jiaojiao, little sister, you’re really beautiful. You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
Su Jiaojiao smiled and said, “Third Brother and Fourth Brother are very handsome too.”
Old Master Luo laughed and said, “Alright, no need for you all to flatter each other. Come and sit down. Jiaojiao, you sit next to me.”
Su Jiaojiao replied, “Okay.”
Subsequently, the four of them sat down.
Shen Jianguo also sat down.
Liu Dongmei pulled Shen Qingyu into a deserted corner and scolded her,
“Shen Qingyu, why did you provoke her today? Don’t you know today is the most important day?
How many times have I told you that before obtaining the power of attorney, you must try to please Su Jiaojiao? How could you cause such a big incident in just half a day?”
Shen Qingyu said very wronged, “Mom, I didn’t. It was clearly Su Jiaojiao who suddenly dragged me out shopping, then we went to a jewelry store. She picked out a gift and wanted me to pay for it. I got really angry. Why should I pay for a gift she bought for herself?
Who would have thought that later, that fool Yang Huihui came to the jewelry store, didn’t notice my signals, mocked Su Jiaojiao, and even exposed that I had been telling people outside that Su Jiaojiao was the Shen family’s adopted daughter.
I… I really didn’t do anything. How could I have caused any trouble?”
Liu Dongmei tapped her finger several times on Shen Qingyu’s head, “Shen Qingyu, are you an idiot? How many times have I told you not to casually tell people outside that Su Jiaojiao is an adopted daughter? Why can’t you remember this?”
“Today, you nearly exposed your relationship with your father. Do you realize that if your connection to him were revealed, it would be an utter catastrophe for us? Not only would we fail to obtain the authorization signed by Su Jiaojiao, but it could also ruin your father’s and my reputation. When will you learn to control your impulsive temper? Fortunately, I stopped you in time today. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”
Listening to Liu Dongmei’s words, Shen Qingyu felt a surge of lingering fear, her face turning pale and then ashen.
Liu Dongmei sighed. “Let’s hope nothing else goes wrong at the upcoming birthday banquet.”