Chapter – 29
The Curtain Rises
When Lu Xuxue learned that Guan Xuxu had chosen a black voluminous dress, she unhesitatingly picked up a white gown adorned with ostrich feathers in the style of a famous opera singer. Her originally soft and pure features were further accentuated by the pure white attire, making her appear even more refined and elegant.
Just moments before, the Jiang brothers, including Jiang Su, had been momentarily captivated by Guan Xuxu’s appearance. However, fearing that any words of praise might make her conceited, none of them dared to speak up. With Xuxue, there were no such reservations. The moment she appeared, the brothers vied to compliment and praise her extravagantly.
Treated as if she were the true princess of the Jiang family, Lu Xuxue cast a fleeting glance towards Guan Xuxu, her eyes betraying an unconcealable sense of superiority and pride. Yet, Guan Xuxu paid them no mind, engrossed in discussing with the stylist how to style her hair simply.
“…” Xuxue slightly lowered her gaze, a smile playing on her lips, though it lacked the joy from moments before.
“Xuxue-jie, what’s wrong?” Jiang Su asked anxiously.
“Nothing,” Xuxue shook her head and replied softly. “But don’t praise me too much. Today’s protagonist is Xuxu; she might feel upset.”
“Who cares about her mood?” Jiang Han frowned. “You’re the real younger sister, the one who grew up with us.”
Jiang Su also nodded. “Right. She’s just ‘newly returned,’ that’s why Uncle and Grandfather are doting on her.”
Though their words were bold, they didn’t say anything more explicit, only muttering their grievances under their breaths.
Narrowing her eyes, Xuxue probed further, asking the brothers about the details of when they went to pick up Guan Xuxu. From what she knew, someone with Xuxu’s personality shouldn’t have yielded and returned so easily. On the contrary, she had thought that if Xuxu didn’t return home tonight, it would damage the Jiang family’s reputation and everyone would blame Xuxu.
But reality was different.
When Jiang Su relayed Uncle Jiang Yucheng’s words without holding back, Xuxue was speechless.
—So Uncle would go that far to protect Xuxu?
Indeed, the “real daughter” was in a league of her own.
While sneering inwardly, she kept her expression neutral and said, “But we absolutely mustn’t tell Grandfather about this. If he finds out Uncle is willing to sacrifice us for Xuxu’s sake, imagine how heartbroken he would be…”
Sighing, she murmured suggestively, “Things used to be so peaceful at home… I wonder when all this turmoil started.”
Her words, subtly implying that “everything started after Guan Xuxu returned,” resonated with the brothers. Since her appearance, the household had indeed been unsettled—this thought caused any budding fondness or interest in Xuxu to rapidly cool.
Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Xuxue added fuel to the fire, whispering, “I just hope this incident helps Xuxu gain a little more sense.”
However, Jiang Su wore a complicated expression. After a moment of silence, he muttered, “But… it seems she didn’t have a very good life with the Guan family… As long as she doesn’t do anything too extreme, maybe we could try to be a little more tolerant.”
The image of Xuxu living in that shabby apartment flashed through his mind.
Xuxue: “……?”
The evening banquet was scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM.
The Jiang family garden was illuminated early on. As the sky darkened, the entire mansion was bathed in a dazzling glow. Ribbons of light adorned every corner of the garden; from a distance, it looked as if a magnificent, radiant castle had appeared.
Before 7 PM, luxury cars had already begun arriving one after another at the mansion’s entrance. Young ladies and gentlemen from various prominent families emerged, dressed in their finest attire. The invited guests were all distinguished families with close ties to the Jiang family, influential figures well-known not just in Haishi but throughout the country.
While most of the younger generation arrived accompanied by their parents, some came alone, bearing gifts as representatives of their families. The splendor of the scene left the invited guests utterly awestruck.
Guan Ruirui got out of the car with her parents, her eyes widening at the dazzling array of faces. Among them were people her father had tried in vain to meet before, and top-tier young ladies and heirs she had only ever admired on social media.
“Our Ruirui is truly remarkable. Managing to get an invitation from the Jiang family, she’s like our lucky star,” Guan Baocheng gazed proudly at his daughter, his voice brimming with excitement.
The Jiang family’s sudden termination of business dealings with the Guan family had shattered his plans. But, unable to let go of this connection, he was determined to re-establish ties. Tonight was his chance for a comeback.
Meanwhile, Bai Shuqin, feeling uneasy about her husband’s high spirits, took her daughter’s arm and whispered, “Ruirui… are you sure this is okay? What if that ‘real Jiang family young lady’… If your father finds out we knew nothing…”
She had suspected Xuxu might be the Jiang family’s daughter when the business was terminated recently, but she hadn’t told her husband, afraid of being blamed. Guan Baocheng’s purpose for coming tonight was solely to mend relations with the Jiang family.
The person who came to greet them was a young man dressed in a well-tailored suit—Pei Yuancheng. He had recently started dating Guan Ruirui.
The Pei family was a prominent clan based in Jingshi, but Yuancheng was from a branch family. He had been entrusted with managing business in Haishi from a young age and had only solidified his position there in the last few years. Being from a branch family, he shouldn’t have held much sway in Haishi originally. However, out of respect for the main family, no one treated him disrespectfully. This was his advantage.
The Pei family had long hoped for Yuancheng to form a marriage alliance with a local wealthy family. He had initially set his sights on Guan Xuxu. He had feelings for her and thought she wouldn’t be a bad marriage prospect.
But the moment he discovered she was merely a Guan family adopted daughter, and that her biological parents were impoverished farmers from a remote mountain area, those thoughts vanished without a trace.
The one he chose instead was—Guan Ruirui.
The invitation for tonight was also something he managed to arrange at Ruirui’s request. Initially, it seemed difficult, but coincidentally, his uncle’s family couldn’t attend due to a sudden matter, freeing up seats.
He had yet to learn that this uncle was none other than the head of the Pei family branch that had been utterly defeated by the Song family the previous night.
Soon, the curtain of light extending from within the mansion enveloped the guests, and everyone began to move forward in unison.
—The dinner banquet to welcome the true young lady of the Jiang family had finally raised its curtain…
