Xu Anguo and Pei Lingna were easily recognizable due to their age. Of the other two women, the flustered one was Xu Mianchuan, while the one who avoided eye contact upon seeing her was likely the true heiress.
Chuan Jin remembered her name was Xia Helu, currently a rising star in the entertainment industry. While her acting skills remained unremarkable for now, her appearance truly fit the female lead archetype—a pure beauty with flowing long hair, exquisite features, and captivating charm.
The Xu family hadn’t been particularly interested in this biological daughter initially—just another mouth to feed. But her current popularity changed everything. Having a future top star as a daughter opened up numerous possibilities.
Since Xia Helu returned home, both Mr. and Mrs. Xu had treated her well, certainly better than they treated Chuan Jin, their adopted daughter who had graduated from university but remained unemployed.
And now this adopted daughter had not only failed to find work but had also landed in police custody.
Pei Lingna, summoned while halfway through removing her makeup, stormed into the hall and immediately began scolding: “What were you doing out so late instead of coming home? Getting into fights no less, and ending up at the police station! Shaming us in front of outsiders—how did the Xu family end up with a daughter like you?”
In the duty room, Lao Wang shook his head and clicked his tongue. What kind of mother was this? Instead of first showing concern for her daughter, she immediately started berating her.
Unbelievable.
Xu Anguo chided his wife: “We haven’t even clarified what happened yet. Why are you blaming Xiao Jin?”
Having been scolded so harshly, Chuan Jin suddenly threw off the blanket and stood up, shouting angrily: “Fine, fine! Blame me again? Was it my choice not to come home? Did I start the fight? Is this how a mother should act? Didn’t Dad tell me to leave?”
Xu Anguo was baffled: “Who told you to leave?”
Pei Lingna exploded: “How dare you speak to me in that tone?!”
Chuan Jin spared no one, turning to question her superstitious foster father: “Denying it already? Xu Anguo, who ensured you’d have a son? Who brought prosperity to the Xu family? Who burns incense daily praying you won’t go bald!! After all these years of dedication to the Xu family, just because I’m not your biological daughter, you’re in such a hurry to kick me out?!”
A loud “clang” echoed from the duty room as Lao Wang hurriedly picked up his thermos, telling them: “Please continue, please continue.”
Xu Mianchuan looked at her father in disbelief: “Dad, you told Xiao Jin to leave the Xu family? Her biological parents are gone—who would she go to?”
Feeling the hair on his head might be in jeopardy, Xu Anguo quickly said: “Wait, wait, explain yourself clearly. When did I ever say I wanted to kick you out of the Xu family? Who’s spreading rumors?”
“Her!” Chuan Jin pointed at the silent woman, her face full of accusation.
Xia Helu stood behind the others, gripping her purse strap tightly. With the truth exposed, her face flushed and paled alternately.
Xu Mianchuan looked utterly confused: “Lulu? Why would you do this?”
Xia Helu hurriedly denied: “N-no, I didn’t. Big sister, with our parents deceased and my brother not getting along with me, why would I make Chuan Jin leave?”
The girl’s expression was sincere, her voice clear and sweet, showing no signs of deception.
Shouldering unwarranted blame, Xu Anguo remained silent with a grim face. The situation was too absurd, and even Xu Mianchuan was half-convinced, half-doubting.
The only completely convinced one was Pei Lingna, who frowned at her adopted daughter: “Lulu wouldn’t do such a thing. Chuan Jin, I think you must have misunderstood?”
Chuan Jin rolled her eyes unceremoniously and was about to retort when someone unexpectedly spoke up for her first.
“You didn’t? So those two robbers inside were lying?”
The boy’s voice suddenly cut through the group’s conversation as Xu Longchuan emerged from the interrogation room with a dark expression.
Pei Lingna stared at him in surprise: “Longchuan, you’re here too?”
Xu Longchuan replied: “I saw eldest sister’s message and came to check the situation.”
“What’s this about robbers you mentioned?” Xu Anguo asked his son.
Xu Longchuan said: “The police and suspects are both inside. Mom and Dad should go in and understand the situation themselves.”
Zhao Guangfa and Hu San couldn’t withstand pressure – just being in the police station had scared half their souls away, and they soon confessed everything.
As the truth came to light, especially learning that those two had nearly killed Chuan Jin, Xia Helu trembled with fear and instinctively tried to flee the scene.
The moment her foot moved, Xu Longchuan closed in like a ghost: “Third sister, we haven’t finished listening yet. Don’t you want to know who hired them?”
The boy’s gloomy expression made Xia Helu’s head spin even more.
Not only was the usually silent Xu Chuanjin acting strange, but even the normally boisterous Xu Longchuan was behaving oddly!
During her time back with the Xu family, she had clearly seen these two didn’t get along – they fought whenever they met, practically wanting to kill each other. Yet today, both had completely changed!
Panicking, Xia Helu looked to her mother for help.
But to her surprise, Pei Lingna also wore a stern expression: “You actually let her go?”
Xia Helu froze again.
This mother had treated her well during her time back with the Xu family because of her celebrity status. Their relationship had been closer than with Chuan Jin. Xia Helu had thought Pei Lingna would at least side with her biological daughter, but how could she also turn on her so suddenly?
Were these people all crazy? Why were they all speaking up for Xu Chuanjin!
She was the Xu family’s real daughter!
Xu Anguo remained silent, Xu Mianchuan looked utterly disappointed, and the three officers on duty were watching the drama unfold. Under the gaze of so many eyes, Xia Helu finally cracked under pressure.
“I’m sorry, Mom and Dad. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have said those things to make Chuan Jin misunderstand, but I never thought she would actually leave. I really just said it without thinking. Yujiang also misunderstood my meaning and actually found people to bully Chuan Jin. I feel terrible about it too. I’m sorry, second sister. I shouldn’t have said those things.”
The girl’s eyes reddened, her tearful appearance enough to soften anyone’s heart.
Xu Mianchuan couldn’t bear it and gently chided: “Lulu, it’s normal for you to have mixed feelings since you just returned home, but you could have talked to us. Xiao Jin has been Mom and Dad’s child for over twenty years – she’s long been part of this family. How could you say those things about making her leave the Xu family?”
Xia Helu’s nose tingled with emotion and she pitifully followed her sister’s lead: “Eldest sister, I didn’t mean those words. You know how poorly I was treated at my adoptive parents’ home. When I returned to the Xu family and saw how well Mom and Dad treated Chuan Jin, I felt miserable and couldn’t help saying those things.”
Wrapped in a blanket nearby, Chuan Jin watched the performance coldly, sneering inwardly at these words.
Treated her well?
If Xu Anguo and Pei Lingna had truly treated her well, would the original host have left silently after being deceived? That wasn’t willingness – it was despair.
What Xia Helu didn’t know was that the Xu parents did later treat the original host well, but it came with conditions.
The year before Xu Longchuan was born, the Xu family business was struggling. Xu Anguo, being superstitious, consulted a master to change their feng shui. By chance, he learned that the Xu family already had the most auspicious birth chart – that of the youngest daughter who was nearly given away. It was only after this discovery that Xu Anguo and Pei Lingna changed their attitudes.
After the original host gained favor, the Xu family welcomed a healthy baby boy the following year. Changxu secured continuous contracts, went public through financing in less than two years, and subsequently expanded its territory, growing more prosperous each year. The Xu family successfully entered Shanghai’s elite circle.
When the true and false heiress identities came to light, Xu Anguo decided to keep Chuan Jin not because she was part of the Xu family, but purely because he refused to abandon this lucky charm. Chuan Jin dared to speak to Xu Anguo that way precisely because she relied on being the mascot.
For the true heiress to rush back to such a family, still longing for parental affection—the outcome was predictable.
After learning the whole story, Pei Lingna clicked her tongue, smoothing her hair with a hand adorned with bright red nail polish. “Well, it turns out to be a misunderstanding after all. Chuan Jin, since Lulu just returned and you’re older, don’t hold it against her.”
Chuan Jin sneered.
She was only half an hour older than the true heiress. If those words could cause misunderstanding, why say them at all?
She had been targeted within half a day of leaving the Xu family—her belongings stolen, her head injured, and her very soul replaced. Who understood the grievances she had suffered?
Now everyone was looking at her, expecting her to smooth things over. Did they still think she was the easygoing Xu Chuanjin of the past?
Scanning the group, Chuan Jin smiled ambiguously. “Oh? A misunderstanding? Then what did you originally mean?”
Uncertain of Chuan Jin’s intention, Xia Helu vaguely replied, “I didn’t mean anything else… I just felt you occupied my parents’ time for over twenty years, and I was… a bit jealous…”
In essence, it was psychological imbalance—a barely understandable reason.
Chuan Jin nodded and raised her voice. “I see. So you just want Mom and Dad’s affection, right?”
Without thinking, Xia Helu quickly nodded.
Chuan Jin raised an eyebrow, smiling. “Well then, starting tomorrow, I’ll move out of the Xu family. I won’t disturb your family reunion—giving Mom and Dad plenty of time to focus on you. Is one year enough? We can extend it if not.”
Xia Helu’s expression froze. How was she supposed to respond to that?
“I’m not being unreasonable—it’s just a simple suggestion. Look how frantic you’ve become. Thankfully, there were kind strangers today. Otherwise, my leaving would be minor, but what about Changxu’s future development? And Dad bearing such a heavy blame—if he goes bald, who takes responsibility? Lulu, don’t say things that could easily be misunderstood in the future.”
Chuan Jin emphasized “misunderstood” with palpable sarcasm. Having been labeled unreasonable, Xia Helu’s face turned green with rage.
Pei Lingna stared blankly. “Move out? Where would you go?Chuan Jin’s birth chart brought the greatest fortune to the household—no one else could leave, but she certainly couldn’t.
“As long as I’m not in the Xu family, returning Mom and Dad to Lulu, I can move anywhere, right?” Chuan Jin smiled at Xu Anguo. “What do you think, Dad?”
“Nonsense!”
Xu Anguo finally spoke up.
“Even if Xiao Jin isn’t my biological daughter, the Xu family raised her all these years, and I’ve always treated her as my own. Let me repeat: Chuan Jin will always be a child of the Xu family! And of course, she can only live at home!”
What a resounding declaration—anyone hearing it would give Xu Anguo a thumbs-up, praising his magnanimity, reasonableness, and devotion to his children.
Chuan Jin expressionlessly tightened her blanket.
Speaking so loudly—wasn’t he just performing for the three police officers?
“I’ll handle the matter here. Mianchuan, take them back. Longchuan, you should return to school immediately.” Xu Anguo wearily pinched the bridge of his nose. “From now on, no one is allowed to mention leaving the Xu family again!”
With the head of the household losing his temper, no one dared to speak up and risk his wrath.
Yet there was always someone who enjoyed being contrary.
“But Dad, I can’t leave yet,” Chuan Jin spoke up.
Xu Anguo frowned. “What is it now?”
Chuan Jin said pitifully, “I hit my head and still feel dizzy. The police said I need to get my injuries documented, but I have to pay the medical fees upfront. My suitcase was broken by those two people, and all my valuables were inside.”
Xu Mianchuan asked anxiously, “You hit your head? Is it serious?”
Chuan Jin whined in an exaggerated tone, “Extremely serious! I was unconscious for half a day!”
After a quick visual inspection that revealed nothing obvious, Xu Mianchuan said urgently, “It might be internal damage. Come on, I’ll take you to the hospital for a CT scan first.”
Chuan Jin grabbed her hand instead. “This has nothing to do with you, sister. I’ll just wait here. After those two finish giving their statements, they can compensate me. Anyway, my time isn’t valuable—I can wait.”
As Chuan Jin spoke cheerfully, her gaze drifted very, very casually toward Xia Helu. When their eyes met, the superstar’s mind went blank.
Your time might not be valuable, but mine is! If this commotion at the police station continues and someone takes compromising photos that suddenly trend online, you’ll be fine, but what about my future acting career??