Xiang Family Villa.
Today, Xiang Shuxue wore a French-style long dress in goose-yellow. Her hair was curled into neat ringlets, making her look like a beautiful peacock standing next to Xiang Xinrong.
Li Jinglan, meanwhile, wore a dark blue embroidered qipao, her hair elegantly pinned up.
Xiang Xinrong had worked hard in Nanshi for many years and had built quite a network. So today, many people had come.
The Ning family had also come.
For every new guest, Xiang Xinrong would introduce Li Jinglan and her daughter to them, acting as though having a wife made everything complete.
Xiang Wanwan stood on the second-floor corridor, watching everything below.
So annoying!
Once most of the guests had arrived, Xiang Xinrong raised his glass and stepped into the center of the crowd.
“Thank you all for coming to my youngest daughter’s birthday party! I am truly delighted to experience the happiness of family reunion at my age.”
“Next, I formally introduce the Xiang family’s second young miss, Xiang Shuxue!”
Under everyone’s gaze, Xiang Shuxue walked to Xiang Xinrong’s side, smiling and greeting everyone.
“And my wife, Ms. Li Jinglan!”
Li Jinglan also smiled as she slowly walked over.
Applause erupted.
Then the butler brought a tray with a box carved from rosewood.
“This is a birthday gift for my youngest daughter.”
Xiang Xinrong opened the box and took out a jade bracelet of deep green.
Xiang Shuxue fell in love with it immediately.
She couldn’t wait to put it on, feeling that it should have been hers all along!
“Wait a minute!”
Xiang Wanwan, wearing a simple floral cotton dress, slowly descended the stairs.
Below, people whispered as she walked down.
“The Xiang family’s eldest daughter dresses so plainly, but compared to this second young miss, she still has the edge!”
“Are you kidding? She’s Huo Qian’s daughter. Huo Qian was the most beautiful among our capitalist circles.”
“I heard this second young miss is the daughter of a nanny. Naturally, her temperament can’t compare.”
…
Listening to the hushed comments, Xiang Shuxue’s smile faltered completely.
How could she not compare to Xiang Wanwan?
These people must be blind!
When Xiang Wanwan saw the bracelet, she immediately knew it had to be the one that opened the space.
She had searched so long yesterday and couldn’t find it!
And now, the scumbag father wanted to give it to Xiang Shuxue?
In her dreams!
Xiang Wanwan stepped forward two steps, standing between him and Xiang Shuxue.
“Dad, this bracelet looks familiar. Isn’t it… my mom’s dowry?”
“Giving the ex-wife’s dowry as a gift to your current daughter—doesn’t that seem a bit inappropriate?”
Everyone present was slightly shocked.
This bracelet was Huo Qian’s dowry?
Those who had known Huo Qian looked closely and indeed remembered seeing her wear it when she was alive.
A wife’s dowry should not be controlled by the husband.
Even though Huo Qian had passed away, she had a daughter, and the inheritance should naturally go to her!
Xiang Xinrong’s actions were indeed disgraceful.
The murmurs of the crowd and Xiang Wanwan’s pointed questions made his face flush.
This damn girl even remembered the bracelet!
“You’re mistaken!”
Xiang Xinrong said sternly.
“Am I? Then I need to take a closer look!” she said, snatching the bracelet from her scumbag father.
“You…” Xiang Xinrong hadn’t expected her to grab it outright.
“This is mine!”
Xiang Shuxue tried to take it from her, but Xiang Wanwan sidestepped and slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, turning to her father with a triumphant look.
“If you’ve got the guts, try to take it from me!”
Xiang Xinrong was furious. “Xiang Wanwan, stop this! This is your sister’s birthday gift. Take it off immediately.”
Xiang Shuxue stomped in anger!
At that moment, a deep, authoritative voice rang out at the door: “Xiang Xinrong, do you have any shame?”
A man in military uniform, wearing a cap, strode quickly inside.
He walked directly to Xiang Wanwan and patted her head. “Wanwan, you’ve been wronged. Uncle is late, but I’m here now!”
It was Huo Zheng, the original host’s uncle.
With thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a square face, he exuded the aura of a soldier.
He turned to Xiang Xinrong, eyes like an eagle.
“Xiang Xinrong, you may take women as you please, but this belongs to my niece. Dare to give it to someone else and see what happens!”
Xiang Xinrong was suddenly in a dilemma.
Why did he come back now?
Huo Zheng had been serving in the military elsewhere all this time.
Why now, of all times?
He was famous for his temper. If he insisted on giving the bracelet to Shuxue today, it wouldn’t be easy.
After thinking for a moment, he withdrew the bracelet, putting on an obsequious smile.
“I was mistaken! The bracelet for Shuxue is another one. I grabbed the wrong one!”
He placed the bracelet back in the wooden box and handed it to Xiang Wanwan.
“This is your mother’s dowry. Naturally, it’s best if you keep it.”
Xiang Wanwan took it, relieved.
Great! Even though she hadn’t found the old man’s treasure vault, her golden finger was now secured!
Xiang Shuxue’s eyes turned red with jealousy.
That was clearly hers! Why should it go to Xiang Wanwan?
In her heart, a voice kept shouting—she had to take back that bracelet!
…
As night fell, the guests gradually left.
Only the Ning family and Huo Zheng remained.
Huo Zheng finally got to see his niece and wanted to ask about her situation.
He needed to know how Xiang Xinrong and the others treated her when he wasn’t in Nanshi.
Facing Huo Zheng’s questions, Xiang Wanwan answered everything.
During the conversation, she could genuinely feel her uncle’s care and love.
It was just that most of the time, he wasn’t in Nanshi and couldn’t watch her grow up!
If she wanted to reclaim her mother’s dowry, this uncle would be her strongest support.
She must make good use of him!
In a pause, she glanced at Ning Feng.
Huo Zheng was her uncle; it was understandable if he lingered a little longer.
But why hadn’t the Ning family left yet?
At that moment, Ning Feng was locking eyes with Xiang Shuxue, as if confirming something.
What scheme were those two plotting now?
Before she could think further, Ning Feng ran to Xiang Xinrong and knelt.
“Uncle Xiang, please allow me to be with Wanwan! We truly love each other. If she goes to follow the army, her life will be ruined!”
Huo Zheng, who was speaking to Xiang Wanwan, suddenly stood up from the sofa and glared at Ning Feng.
“What nonsense are you spouting? Wanwan is already married to Lu Jingnian. How could she possibly… with you?”
Ning Feng slid aside slightly. “Uncle Huo, I’m not lying! Although Wanwan is married to Lu Jingnian, they live apart for years and have no real affection. Now the Lu family wants her to follow the army—doesn’t this ruin her happiness for life?”
Huo Zheng was shocked, staring at his niece with a questioning gaze.
She’s a soldier’s wife!
How could she be involved with another man behind the Lu family’s back…?
If this were true, he would disown this niece.
Xiang Wanwan suddenly stood up.
Slap! A heavy slap landed squarely on Ning Feng’s face.
“Who do you think you are? Even if I weren’t married, I wouldn’t look at you.”
“Defaming a soldier’s wife? I could have you thrown in jail!”
Ning Feng panicked, clenching his fists, then suddenly stood up.
“Wanwan, at a time like this, stop deceiving everyone. We already—”
Bang! Huo Zheng didn’t wait for him to finish, punching him to the ground.
“You brat! Wanwan said no, that means no. If you dare lie again, I’ll beat you to death today.”
Huo Zheng’s fists were clenched tightly with anger.
When his sister passed away, he promised to take care of Wanwan. And yet this bastard dared to bully her.
He trusted Wanwan. If she said no, then it was definitely no!
Seeing this, Xiang Shuxue jumped in to add fuel to the fire: “Uncle Huo, you didn’t know, right? Sister and Young Master Ning have been together for a long time, and she even asked me to keep it a secret. Now that it’s come to this, I really can’t stand it.”
“Sister, how can you be two-timing!”
Ning’s father, seeing his son beaten like this, had endured again and again. But neither the Huo family nor the Xiang family could be provoked.
Now Xiang Shuxue had spoken, so how could he let the misunderstanding continue?
“Xiang Xinrong, your daughter has no discipline, enticing my son. Now you and the Huo family are teaming up to attack my son. Do you think the Ning family has no one to fight back?”
At that moment, a familiar female voice came from the door.
“The Ning family? What small-time people are these?”
Everyone looked and gasped.
The Lu family had arrived…