Jiang Wanxi was warmly welcomed into the living room by her family.
Standing inside was a girl around her age. She looked somewhat uneasy, her fair, delicate face filled with helplessness. Tears glistened in her eyes, and the rims were slightly red, making her look pitiful and vulnerable.
This must be Jiang Yu, the female lead of the original novel, right?
What a perfect picture of a delicate beauty who could make anyone feel sorry for her.
The members of the Jiang family from the Hongsheng Production Brigade were all good-looking. Even the two older brothers and cousin Jiang Wanxi had just met were exceptionally handsome. Naturally, Jiang Yu wasn’t lacking in looks either.
Having lived a pampered life for so many years, her skin was so fair that it practically glowed. Her waist-length hair was styled into two long braids, which were currently fashionable. She wore a pretty one-piece dress and a pair of black leather shoes.
Did she dress like this because she knew I was coming?
Did she think that since I was just some ignorant country girl who had never seen the world, she could intimidate me with her appearance and clothes?
Was she trying to make me feel inferior?
So what if I’m their biological daughter? In her eyes, I’m probably still nothing more than a country bumpkin.
Jiang Wanxi quietly studied her.
Knowing that Jiang Wanxi was coming home, Jiang Yu still looked remarkably energetic. She must have slept quite well last night—there wasn’t even a hint of dark circles beneath her eyes.
She didn’t seem nervous or restless either. She’d even had the leisure to dress herself up carefully.
It seemed she really hadn’t taken Jiang Wanxi seriously at all.
But what was with that expression on her face, as though she wanted to cry but was desperately holding it back, like the entire world had abandoned her?
Wasn’t the female lead supposed to be gentle and kind, beautiful and gracious, considerate and sensible, optimistic and hardworking?
In short, the original novel had practically piled every positive quality imaginable onto her.
So why did she look more and more like a scheming white lotus to Jiang Wanxi?
Still, Jiang Wanxi wasn’t worried.
If Jiang Yu wanted to play innocent, then Jiang Wanxi could play along.
After all, in her previous life in the modern world, she had worked her way up from the bottom in hospitals since she was young. When it came to recognizing and dealing with people like this, she had plenty of experience.
While Jiang Wanxi was observing Jiang Yu, Jiang Yu was doing the same to her.
Jiang Wanxi was nothing like the timid, insecure country girl she had imagined.
Instead, she carried herself naturally and confidently. Even when facing her grandparents, who held considerable status, and her second uncle, she behaved flawlessly.
Even her second aunt, who was usually extremely critical of Jiang Yu, seemed remarkably affectionate toward Jiang Wanxi.
Her clothes were even more surprising.
There was nothing unfashionable about them. In fact, the style looked fresh and novel.
Her shirt was slightly fitted, while her trousers emphasized her long, slender legs. Her hair was tied into a high ponytail with an unusual hair tie. Although her skin had a faint wheat-colored tan, it only made her look more spirited and striking.
Were country girls nowadays all like this?
Jiang Yu had always been proud of having lived in the city for more than ten years, yet now she felt as though she had been completely overshadowed by a mere village girl.
So the tears in her eyes were genuine.
They were tears of anger.
She had been standing here for quite some time. Was nobody going to say anything to her?
The brief awkward silence was finally broken by Shen Menglan.
Smiling warmly, she said to Jiang Wanxi, “Wanwan, this is A-Yu. From now on, I hope the two of you can get along well, all right? You’re still unfamiliar with this place and don’t know many people here. Once Mom goes back to work, it’ll be good for you to have someone to keep you company.”
Shen Menglan saw nothing wrong with what she had said.
Wanwan was her biological daughter. Although they had been separated for sixteen years, this was still her home.
A-Yu might be her adopted daughter, but Shen Menglan had also loved and cared for her for sixteen years.
She sincerely hoped that her two daughters could get along well.
However, those same words sounded completely different to Jiang Yu.
To her, Shen Menglan was telling her to become Jiang Wanxi’s companion and follower.
Sure enough, a biological daughter was different.
Her mother, who had always granted her almost anything she asked for, had barely returned home with Jiang Wanxi before she started putting Jiang Yu in her place.
Jiang Yu struggled to calm herself.
Then, putting on a graceful and composed expression, she turned to Jiang Wanxi.
“Welcome home, Little Sister Wanxi. If there’s anything you need in the future, just let me know.”
Of course, Jiang Wanxi immediately understood the hidden meaning behind her words.
However, she showed no sign of it.
Instead, she put on the innocent expression of a naive young girl and replied sweetly, “Then thank you, Sister Yu. From now on, whenever I have any difficulties, I’ll just come to you for help.”
Jiang Hongtao and Shen Menglan both breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that their daughters’ first meeting hadn’t ended in conflict.
It was good that A-Yu was being sensible.
Wanwan was such an obedient and well-behaved girl. What if someone made her suffer after she had just returned home?
Even Jiang Jin secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness.
It seemed his biological younger sister was very sensible.
No, that wouldn’t do.
His leave was limited, so tomorrow he would take his sister out and buy her some nice things.
Or perhaps he should simply give her some money and ration coupons. That way, she could buy whatever she wanted.
Only Jiang Rui noticed the fleeting displeasure that flashed across Jiang Yu’s face—and the mischievous glint hidden in Jiang Wanxi’s eyes.
It looked like having a cunning little fox in the family was going to make things much more interesting from now on.
What a pity.
He wouldn’t be around to see it.