20 – Chapter 20
The Most Beautiful Woman in the Three Realms
In the end, A Tao was sent back to the Lin family, though not without paying a considerable price.
When she woke up around noon the next day, her lips still felt numb and sore, as if the skin had been broken, but upon closer inspection, there was no visible damage.
While washing up, she studied her current appearance in the mirror again—her increasingly vibrant eyes, delicate nose, and rosy, full lips… Though it was still a far cry from her original appearance, at least she found it agreeable now.
A Tao suddenly recalled the events in the Peach Blossom Garden. Back then, her companions had called her the most beautiful woman in the Three Realms…
The Three Realms?
Which three realms were they? A Tao thought back to the TV shows she had watched at the Lin residence over the past few days and began to form some ideas.
Could it be the crosstalk world, the entertainment industry, and the music scene…
Her thoughts drifted wildly until she shook her head and snapped back to reality.
At exactly 11 o’clock, A Tao leisurely stepped out of her room and descended the staircase step by step. As she walked, she grumbled inwardly about why this house had to have stairs. Didn’t the family find it troublesome and exhausting to go up and down every day?
The marble floor felt chilly, making her feet uncomfortable.
While A Tao strolled around unhurriedly, Wang Ling and Lin Jinyi in the living room were tense and unable to relax.
Their eyes fixed on the girl descending the spiral staircase, they held their breath—not out of fear, but astonishment.
Through her trusted maid, Wang Ling had learned that Lin Xiantao had already started her period. No wonder she had been growing so rapidly lately, like leeks after being trimmed, shedding her former scrawny, unrefined appearance.
Especially now, as she descended the stairs, her slender waist swayed gently, her graceful posture even more captivating than those movie stars on TV. Paired with her mesmerizing gaze, she could easily be called a fox spirit.
Wang Ling suddenly noticed that the girl was no longer wearing the dull, grayish dresses she had bought for her. Instead, she had changed into a white dress of unknown origin that was impossible to look away from.
Even her bare feet didn’t seem sloppy or unrefined; instead, they added a carefree elegance to her demeanor.
As Wang Ling watched, she found herself inwardly praising this daughter! Realizing this, she quickly shook her head and muttered, “Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
If such dramatic changes had already occurred so early in her development, what would happen in the future? Ji Sicheng, such a golden bachelor, was in grave danger. It wouldn’t be long before this enchanting creature snatched him away!
Frowning, Wang Ling turned her gaze to her adopted daughter, Lin Jinyi.
Lately, something seemed off—why was this once lovely girl growing uglier by the day?
She had already undergone double eyelid surgery, canthoplasty, and a nose job. By all accounts, she should have been as beautiful as a movie star, but…
Under the scrutiny of the Lin family’s masters and servants, A Tao descended the stairs. Without glancing sideways, she was about to sit on the sofa when Old Master Lin arrived. Seeing his beloved granddaughter barefoot, he shot Wang Ling a reproachful look and said, “What kind of Lin family matriarch are you? I entrusted Tao Tao to your care, and this is how you treat her? You didn’t even prepare shoes for her. Anyone would think you were her stepmother!”Wang Ling was ultimately afraid of this old master and stood up: “There are shoes! How could we not have prepared any? Look at the shoe rack over there—they all belong to the two sisters!”
“Oh? Tao Tao, tell me which pairs of shoes over there are yours?” Old Master Lin asked A Tao.
“I don’t know,” A Tao replied, shaking her head blankly.
A Tao was telling the truth, but in Old Master Lin’s eyes, it carried a different meaning. His voice rose in anger: “The worst thing a parent can do is show favoritism! If you don’t know how to be a mother, then you shouldn’t stay in the Lin family!”
Wang Ling awkwardly rubbed her head—it was indeed her oversight. Since the old master was visiting, she should have put on a superficial show and prepared proper belongings for Lin Xiantao earlier!
But it was too late now. She could only borrow some from her eldest daughter’s room. “Of course I prepared shoes for Tao Tao—they just haven’t been brought out yet! They’re all stored in the downstairs cloakroom. I’ll go fetch them right away!”
Wang Ling hurried into the cloakroom.
Old Master Lin helped A Tao sit beside him and sighed, lecturing her: “Tao Tao, even though the weather is getting hotter, the floor is cold and can easily hurt your feet. You must always wear shoes properly.”
A Tao knew this little old man genuinely cared about the original owner, so she nodded politely: “I understand…”
Wang Ling soon returned, holding a pair of sneakers and a pair of leather shoes, which she placed beside A Tao. “They’re both brand new, but I’m not sure if they’ll fit. Try them on.”
The shoes were indeed unworn, but the size was clearly not A Tao’s. She gave them a faint glance and remained silent.
Old Master Lin looked at Wang Ling. “Put them on for Tao Tao.”
“Wh-what?!” Wang Ling’s eyes widened, feeling insulted. How could she possibly put shoes on for this rustic enchantress!
Lin Jinyi, who had been quiet until now, spoke up: “Grandpa, isn’t my sister old enough to put on her own shoes? Having Mom, an elder, do it for her—isn’t that inviting misfortune?”
“Yiyi, Grandpa is speaking to your mother! Wang Ling, Tao Tao is your daughter. Are you really so unwilling to even put shoes on for her?”
The old master knew all too well that Wang Ling had never treated his dear granddaughter as her own daughter. Even though she was her own flesh and blood, she showed no care at all!
“I… I…” Wang Ling had no choice but to bend down and grit her teeth as she picked up the shoes.
But before Wang Ling could make a move, A Tao pulled her feet back, covering her nose in disgust. “Why do these shoes smell like foot odor? Has someone worn them before? I don’t want them—I’m afraid of catching something.”
The old master leaned closer and indeed detected a foul smell from the new shoes. His face stiffened, and he said nothing.
Wang Ling hurriedly explained, “I must have grabbed the wrong pair—maybe I took Yiyi’s shoes by mistake, hahaha…”
Lin Jinyi, however, was flushed with shame. Seeing the suppressed smiles on the servants’ faces around her, she was furious. It was only because she hadn’t been feeling well these past few days that she had foot odor!
Normally, this would never happen!
And Mom—how could she embarrass her like this at a time like this!
The stench spread through the open space, carrying a faint hint of rotting flesh. Old Master Lin finally covered his nose too, losing the desire to press the matter further. He decided then and there to personally shop for new clothes for his granddaughter.
Stimulated into a rage, Lin Jinyi glared hatefully at her sister’s retreating figure.Why did it come to this! Suddenly recalling the day Lin Xiantao drank dew in the garden, an idea flashed through Lin Jinyi’s mind.