Chapter 1: The Destitute Biological Family

In the evening, a sliver of the setting sun spilled onto the balcony.

The clamorous chirping of cicadas drifted over.

Jiang Zhe stood on the balcony, her slender, snow-white fingers flying rapidly across an old-style cell phone.

The afterglow plated her in a layer of warm yellow, rendering her skin even more translucent.

Thick, black long hair fell loosely, cascading down like a waterfall all the way to her slender waist.

The girl wore a very common style of school uniform—an extremely ordinary white blouse and a black pleated skirt. The pair of legs exposed beneath the short skirt were tall, slender, and blindingly white, making one inexplicably feel that the texture of this ordinary uniform seemed custom-made.

She leaned lazily against the railing, her pair of eyes—both ethereal and bewitching, like a fox's—slightly lowered, enjoying the sunlight at this moment with casual indifference.

Jiang Fanyue’s gaze, carrying jealousy, lingered on her for a few moments before she spoke: "Sister, I heard our biological grandfather is coming over today. Have you decided if you want to go back with him?"

"What I think has nothing to do with you, does it?" Jiang Zhe’s tone was flat. She didn't even lift her head, chewing gum with a roguish air.

Jiang Fanyue pinched her fingers. How could it have nothing to do with her?

The two of them had been adopted by the Jiang family when they were two or three years old. In a blink, they were now sixteen or seventeen.

The Jiang family was a prominent wealthy clan in Jincheng. Although these two young ladies were adopted, they attracted much attention. Countless young talents and powerful families had their eyes on them.

Especially the famous Gu family in Jincheng, which had long intended a marriage alliance with the Jiang family. The fiancée of the Gu family's eldest son, Gu Jiaheng, was destined to be one of these two young ladies.

It was just that because the sisters were still young, the Gu family hadn't explicitly stated which young lady they favored.

This biological family coming to fetch them—Jiang Fanyue had heard they were ordinary commoners, without power or influence, unpresentable in high society.

Obviously, whoever stayed in the Jiang family would have the chance to achieve the marriage with Gu Jiaheng.

"Sister, I'm doing this for your own good too. I want to discuss it with you." Jiang Fanyue bit her lip slightly.

Only then did Jiang Zhe raise her head: "Discuss what? You stay, and I leave?"

Her words hit the nail on the head, piercing the hidden scheme deep in Jiang Fanyue's heart, turning her face pale instantly.

This Jiang Zhe was truly detestable!

"Jiang Zhe! How do you talk to Fanyue?" Madam Jiang, Liang Jinlan, walked over, frowning at Jiang Zhe's strikingly eye-catching legs.

Her brows furrowed. This skirt is way too short! Absolutely improper!

Jiang Zhe ignored her, continuing to type on her phone.

This attitude of treating everyone as air made Liang Jinlan choke with anger. What kind of attitude is this!

"Mom, calm down. Sister must be busy with something." Jiang Fanyue gently linked arms with Liang Jinlan. "Don't ruin your health over anger."

Liang Jinlan looked at Jiang Fanyue with satisfaction. This daughter was the good one. Not only were her grades excellent, but she was also proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She had brought glory to the Jiang family for years.

Her looks were also the affable, girl-next-door type, pleasing to the eye.

Especially this filial personality—though not biological, she was better than a real daughter.

Unlike Jiang Zhe, beautiful to the point of seduction. She looked like a bad kid at first glance. Her personality had been poor since childhood; bad grades aside, she lied, fought, and dated early. Now she was even worse.

"Madam, that old man named Jiang Yaowang is here." Aunt Zhang from the house walked over, hesitating. "Should we let him in?"

"Let him in then." Liang Jinlan said impatiently.

Jiang Yaowang was the sisters' biological grandfather.

Jiang Fanyue couldn't help but look out the window. She saw an old man with white hair walk in, dressed in very simple clothes, carrying an old-fashioned cloth bag, looking timid and shrinking, forming a stark contrast with the extravagant Jiang family.

Her eyes quickly dimmed. No wonder Aunt Zhang hesitated about letting him in.

Following such a person back, she could foresee her future fate.

As if sensing her unease, Liang Jinlan patted the back of her hand.

Jiang Fanyue looked up, meeting her mother's eyes, understanding the tacit secret in them.

Downstairs, when Jiang Zhe was called down, there were already quite a few people sitting in the living room.

Jiang Fanyue and Liang Jinlan sat together. The young and handsome Gu Jiaheng and his mother, Han Jiayan, were also present as today's heavyweight guests.

That old man named Jiang Yaowang sat awkwardly opposite Liang Jinlan, rubbing his hands together, looking completely out of place.

Jiang Zhe picked a spot in the corner and sat down, still typing on her phone with casual indifference. This attitude made Gu Jiaheng frown involuntarily, and Han Jiayan secretly shook her head.

Mother and son exchanged a glance. No wonder Liang Jinlan let Jiang Yaowang into the Jiang house. It looked like she had already made up her mind.

But the mother and son had their own plans too. Coming today was also to confirm the candidate for the future young madam of the Gu family.

Jiang Yaowang spoke uneasily: "Madam Jiang, thank you for raising the two sisters. This time I'm here... because I want to take them..."

Liang Jinlan's expression was bland. She interrupted him unhurriedly: "Both daughters were raised by us. Back then, we went through formal legal procedures for the adoption. Now, they can't just leave casually."

"I will try my best to scrape together the money for the upbringing fees owed to the Jiang family..."

"It's not about the upbringing fees. My own raised daughters—I'm not willing to let them go?" Liang Jinlan deeply disliked Jiang Yaowang's habit of talking about money the moment he opened his mouth.

Besides, what could he scrape together? Looking at him carrying that sack, his penniless appearance—he might not earn in a year what a single piece of clothing on Jiang Fanyue cost.

"Then what does Madam Jiang mean?" Jiang Yaowang asked cautiously.

Liang Jinlan looked at Jiang Fanyue. "Fanyue, what do you think?"

A complex hesitation flashed across Jiang Fanyue's face, but in the end, she placed her hand into Liang Jinlan's palm.

"Mom, I want to stay and be filial to you and Dad. It wasn't easy for you to raise me." Jiang Fanyue had long since made up her mind.

Liang Jinlan smiled with satisfaction: "Mom knew it. You're the most sensible."

She addressed Jiang Yaowang: "You see, it's not that I deliberately refuse to let her go. Fanyue and I have a deep bond; she can't bear to leave, and I certainly can't give her up either."

"This... this..." Jiang Yaowang rubbed his hands, still wanting to fight for it.

Jiang Fanyue nervously pinched her fingers. It was impossible for her to leave here and go back with Jiang Yaowang.

She leaned closer to Liang Jinlan's side, and glanced at Gu Jiaheng and Han Jiayan.

The elegant and noble Han Jiayan spoke a fair word: "Jinlan, look, she is still the old man's granddaughter after all. We can't make the old man too sad, right?"

Liang Jinlan slowly set down her teacup, then said to the old man: "That makes sense. We naturally can't be too overbearing and keep both children. Putting ourselves in his shoes, it's indeed unfair."

Jiang Yaowang's cloudy eyes looked at Liang Jinlan, full of hope.

Liang Jinlan remained unhurried. "How about this: you take Xiao Zhe, and Fanyue stays."

(End of Chapter)