Song Xiang Dong, the son of Song Jianming, the director of the steel factory, was twenty-one years old. He appeared handsome, refined, and polite.
Shen Qingyu was drawn to Song Xiang Dong not only because of his looks but also because of his status.
In her previous life, before Su Jiaojiao was deceived into going to Yangcheng Stone Village, she had heard that Shen Qingyu had a boyfriend but never found out who it was.
Although Shen Qingyu and she were supposedly as close as sisters, Shen Qingyu never brought Su Jiaojiao to meet her boyfriend.
The reason, of course, was that Su Jiaojiao was a fair-skinned, beautiful girl. Standing next to her made Shen Qingyu feel like a supporting character, a mere green leaf. She was even more worried that men who saw Su Jiaojiao would be captivated and fall for her.
Before Su Jiaojiao passed away in her previous life, she waited at the doorstep of the Shen Family villa for thirty days and was beaten for thirty days. During that time, she saw that Shen Qingyu’s husband was not Song Xiang Dong.
Regardless of whether it was Song Xiang Dong or not, she just wanted to cause some trouble for the Shen Family before leaving.
As soon as Shen Qingyu saw Su Jiaojiao appear at the State-Run Restaurant, her eyes flickered with confusion.
But when she noticed Su Jiaojiao smiling at Song Xiang Dong, a sense of foreboding washed over her. She turned to look at Song Xiang Dong.
Sure enough, Song Xiang Dong was completely mesmerized by Su Jiaojiao. His eyes were fixed and unmoving, his expression utterly dazed.
Glancing around the restaurant, she saw that almost every other man’s gaze was glued to Su Jiaojiao’s face.
Anger surged within her. Her hands, resting on the table, clenched and unclenched repeatedly.
That wretched girl shouldn’t have shown up. The moment she appears, she seduces men. Wretched, wretched girl!
However, to avoid ruining her gentle image in front of Song Xiang Dong, she gritted her teeth secretly and held back her rage.
“Brother Xiang Dong, Brother Xiang Dong…” Shen Qingyu called out twice, but Song Xiang Dong didn’t respond. She nudged him with her hand.
Finally, Song Xiang Dong snapped out of his trance. Realizing his impropriety, his face flushed red.
“Ahem…” Song Xiang Dong asked somewhat awkwardly, “Qingyu, who is this?”
Shen Qingyu forced a smile and introduced, “Brother Xiang Dong, this is Su Jiaojiao. She’s the child my father and his ex-wife adopted.”
As soon as Shen Qingyu finished introducing her, Su Jiaojiao retorted angrily, “Sister, what nonsense are you talking? I am Father’s biological daughter. How can you say I’m adopted?”
“Clearly, you’re the one who is adopted—oh no, I mean the stepdaughter. My father is a live-in son-in-law. You, my stepsister, took our father’s surname, Shen.”
“Just because my surname is different from Father’s, how could you fabricate such a lie and claim I’m adopted? Sister, you’ve hurt my feelings.”
As she spoke, her eyes reddened.
In this era, the status of a live-in son-in-law was highly looked down upon, especially if the person originally had some social standing.
The older generation knew that the Su Family once held status and prestige in Hu City. During the war against foreign invaders, they had also made significant contributions.
However, after the Su Family handed over their family assets and only one daughter remained, few people discussed the Su Family’s affairs anymore.
Especially after Su Yingxue passed away and Shen Jianguo took over the household, the Su Family became the Shen Family.
The younger generation naturally had no idea that Shen Jianguo was a live-in son-in-law.
Hearing Su Jiaojiao’s introduction, Shen Qingyu’s face turned ashen.
She never expected Su Jiaojiao to reveal her identity so bluntly and even expose her father’s status as a live-in son-in-law.
How could she ever hold her head up in front of others from now on?
Listening to Su Jiaojiao’s explanation, Song Xiang Dong’s expression was one of astonishment.
He looked at Shen Qingyu’s expression with confusion.
Su Jiaojiao spoke loudly, and the surrounding customers heard every word clearly.
At that moment, a customer asked, “Young lady, who is your father?”
Su Jiaojiao replied, “My dad is Shen Jianguo, the deputy director of the textile factory. Do you know him?”
“Deputy Director Shen Jianguo of the textile factory? Of course, we know him.”
Just then, an elderly man with white hair approached from inside the shop, his face filled with excitement. “Young lady, did you say your father is Shen Jianguo from the textile factory? Then you must be Snow Girl’s daughter?”
Su Jiaojiao looked at the old man, puzzled. “Grandpa, do you know my mother? My mother is Su Yingxue.”
The old man studied Su Jiaojiao closely and exclaimed, “Alike, truly alike! Young lady, you look exactly like your mother, as if carved from the same mold.”
“Young lady, I’m Grandpa Luo, a close friend of your grandfather. I even held you when you were a child. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, that adorable little girl has grown into such a graceful and beautiful young woman.”
Then, his gaze turned sharp as he glared at Shen Qingyu and scolded angrily,
“What’s wrong with you, young lady? At such a young age, you dare to spout nonsense.”
“Since when did the Su Family become the Shen Family? Shen Jianguo is merely a live-in son-in-law of the Su Family. Su Jiaojiao is the rightful eldest daughter of the Su Family.”
“Back in the day, the girl’s grandfather, Su Qiaoshan, was a national hero in Hu City. How dare you casually slander his biological granddaughter as an adopted daughter?”
“Which Su Family and Su Qiaoshan?”
Someone who heard Old Master Luo’s words expressed surprise.
“The Su Family that was famous throughout Hu City back then?”
“If it’s really that Su Family, I’ve heard some stories. Back then, Grandpa Su had no sons, only one daughter named Su Yingxue. He carefully selected a live-in son-in-law, said to be an ordinary employee in his company.”
“Could it be that the Su Family’s live-in son-in-law is the current deputy director of the textile factory, Shen Jianguo?”
“That’s right, it’s him.”
“I heard Su Yingxue had a daughter. Could it be this young lady here?”
“Didn’t you hear what the old man said? This young lady looks almost identical to Su Yingxue from back then. It must be her.”
“So, this young lady is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Su Family. What ulterior motives does that other girl have for calling her an adopted daughter?”
“What else could it be? Of course, she wants to take everything from the Su Family for herself. Poor Jiaojiao, judging by her expression, she doesn’t even know her stepsister has been telling others she’s an adopted daughter.”
“But I heard Deputy Director Shen’s two daughters, though not sharing the same mother, have a very good relationship. Also, Deputy Director Shen’s current wife treats this adopted daughter very well.”
“Hmph, it’s probably all superficial kindness. Turning the legitimate daughter into an adopted one while presenting her own stepdaughter as the biological daughter of the Shen Family—what kind of intentions are those?”
“Exactly. There are good stepmothers in this world, but they only exist where there’s no conflict of interest.”
…
Shen Qingyu listened to the surrounding discussions, her face alternating between pale, flushed, and ashen, looking utterly dreadful. She clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.
Su Jiaojiao, this idiot, what’s going on with her today?
Though Shen Qingyu usually pretended to be gentle, being only eighteen years old and still very young, she had a fiery temper and couldn’t bear such humiliation with so many people gossiping about her.
She looked around and shouted loudly, “What are you all talking about? What does my Shen family’s business have to do with any of you?”
Then, she turned to Su Jiaojiao and scolded, “Su Jiaojiao, are you deliberately trying to embarrass Father and us?”