Chapter 47

He Yi’an had sent a message to her adopted daughter and called her biological daughter. After losing KEVE, Shen Qingfeng had reached out to Xu Ningwei again. Whether she was using her adopted daughter to stir unrest in their family or had other intentions remained uncertain.

“Ningwei won’t affect your dad anymore. I’ve made it clear to her what needs to be said, so there’s no need for further contact. As for Shen Qingfeng’s potential revenge on Professor Shang, with her current unstable emotions, it’s hard to say. Just give Professor Shang a gentle heads-up.”

“I’ve already warned him.” Xu Zhiyi pinched off a piece of pastry and took a small bite. The sea breeze tangled in her hair, refreshing against her skin. She processed her mother’s earlier statement for a few seconds, still struggling to believe it. “Mom, what do you mean by ‘no further contact’?”

He Yi’an chuckled, “Looks like my daughter’s a bit dazed. Is it because meeting Shen Qingfeng today exhausted her? What do you think ‘no contact’ could possibly mean?”

She forwarded the message meant for her adopted daughter to Xu Zhiyi, glancing at her phone. “Did you get it? Take a look for yourself.”

The lengthy message took Xu Zhiyi a moment to digest after finishing her pastry. By the time she reached the end, she lifted her water glass, taking a deep drink to steady herself.

“Well, from now on, you and Dad are all mine,” she said with a hint of finality.

He Yi’an’s heart ached at the words. “It has always been this way for the past six years.”

“I know. I’m talking about how Shen Qingfeng has been stirring things up with Ningwei recently.” Xu Zhiyi finally let her feelings spill out. “At first, we all thought it was Dad’s fault for the swap, and Ningwei’s mindset just crumbled. Even I couldn’t stop her from coming home to visit. Mom, do you know what it feels like to be in that awful position where you can’t change anything? You want to ignore her, but your conscience won’t let you?”

“I understand, dear.”

No one knew how deeply she hated Shen Qingfeng for keeping her forever apart from her parents, but finally, there was a glimmer of hope.

“Maybe I’ve always yearned for my parents’ favoritism, which twisted my feelings. I can’t stand seeing you and Dad share any concern for Ningwei; I just want all your love for myself.”

“Stop that nonsense! It’s not twisted. Your dad is a grown man; he’s jealous of Professor Shang too, not just me.”

Xu Zhiyi reread the long message. “If it were me, I don’t know if I could be that straightforward. Thanks, Mom.”

“What are you thanking me for? You’re so naive!”

“Because I never dared to think like this before. After all, you raised her for twenty years; I could never wish for that. The truth can be painful. It’s not just about my adopted sister; sometimes, it’s hard to be that blunt even with long-time friends.” She had never pushed her parents, knowing she couldn’t bear that weight herself.

He Yi’an opened up as well. “Now it’s easier, but the first time was incredibly hard.”

Xu Zhiyi was curious. “What happened the first time?”

“I told Ningwei directly that being swapped meant she had to go back. I never planned to raise two children. It was difficult because just the day before, she was still my biological child. She intended to treat your dad and me to a meal with her scholarship. When I spoke to her, she had just landed in Manhattan a few hours earlier. Honestly, when I first saw you, we hadn’t even built a bond yet.”

He Yi’an paused for a moment. “I was in the hospital with you for two days, thinking about how to get close to you. Then, when I left, I finally hugged you.”

Xu Zhiyi remembered that embrace vividly. “Mom, what was it like when you found out about the swap?”

“I was stunned. When Qi Zhengchen’s dad called, we were about to eat lunch. Your dad couldn’t believe it, and after seeing your photo, we skipped lunch to rush to the airport. Qi Zhengchen’s dad said you were exceptional and that your family loved you; they had watched you grow up. It comforted us to learn that your adoptive parents were well-off—your adoptive dad is a top-tier professor and a research expert.”

Perhaps to spare them pain, Qi Zhengchen’s dad didn’t mention how biased Xiaomei had been toward her daughter.

“When I told Ningwei about returning home, I intended to discuss things openly with you, but you had a high fever, and your dad and I stayed at the hospital with you. Professor Shang was still uneasy; even after you fell asleep, he couldn’t leave your side, sleeping beside your bed.”

“Seeing how reluctant he was, I thought there was no rush to share this with you while you were still sick. I had already mentioned the paternity test to him, so he knew he would have to bring you back home once the results came in.”

“After your fever broke and you started recovering, unexpectedly, Ningwei fell ill again. On that day during the video call, she cried and asked if she could stay with me a little longer. Twenty years as mother and daughter—I couldn’t refuse and agreed.”

“So the timeline for returning home kept getting pushed back.” He Yi’an paused again, lost in thought. “At that time, I didn’t know your relationship with Xiaomei wasn’t great; you didn’t even have a home.”

Xu Zhiyi paused, confused. “Dad said it was because he couldn’t bear to part with Ningwei and was worried about her, which is why I had to stay longer with my adoptive parents.”

He Yi’an fell silent, glancing at her husband on the couch. After a long moment, she said, “It was me, not your dad. He didn’t say anything wrong that day; no one loves you more than he does, not even me.”

Xu Xiangyi walked over and gently hugged his wife, taking her phone. He spoke into the receiver, “Zhiyi, your mother loves you very much.”

Xu Zhiyi understood her dad’s worries. “Don’t worry; I won’t have any more distance with Mom now.”

Now, her parents loved her wholeheartedly. When she heard He Yi’an’s words, she felt no tremor in her heart, but if she had known this six years ago, it would have hurt deeply.

Because back then, she had cared most about whether He Yi’an loved her.

“Thank you, Dad.”

Xu Xiangyi smiled. “You don’t need to thank me; let’s make sure your mom thanks me later.”

After the call ended, Xu Zhiyi held her phone, staring at the darkening screen for a long time.

Jiang Sixun seemed to guess what the mother-daughter duo had discussed. He reached out to hug her and went to refill her glass.

Xu Zhiyi gently placed her phone on the table, imagining how different her life might have been if Shen Qingfeng had never switched the babies and she had grown up with her real parents. What a happiness that would have been.

Now, all she could do was imagine how He Yi’an held her as a child.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Secretary Cai: “Shen Qingfeng is helping Lu Jianli reclaim his son. In return, Lu Jianli is giving her two hundred million Hong Kong dollars for the project with Shang Yun. Shen Qingfeng’s flight to Beijing is tonight; I wonder what’s got her in such a hurry.”

---

The next morning at 6:30, Xu Ningwei sat in a breakfast shop near her home.

With the holidays over, she had to return to the lab. She considered taking a leave of absence, but if things kept going like this, she wouldn’t be able to support herself, and Xu Zhiyi would probably just laugh at her.

Just as she took a bite of her tofu pudding, a woman in a red dress sat down across from her.

Sharing a table at a breakfast shop was common enough. With her eyes slightly swollen from lack of sleep, Xu Ningwei didn’t want to look up. She focused on her bowl of tofu pudding, unable to discern if it was sweet or savory.

“Is the salty version better or the sweet one?”

It was Shen Qingfeng’s voice.

Xu Ningwei looked up sharply, finding the woman smiling gently. “Is it good? I was thinking of getting a bowl myself. It’s been years since I last had tofu pudding.”

Shen Qingfeng studied the still-shocked girl before her, noting the puffiness around her eyes—it was clear she had cried a lot the night before.

“Your adoptive parents cut ties with you, didn’t they? If I’m not mistaken, it’s because of Xu Zhiyi’s so-called revelation that I swapped you two, fueled by resentment towards Professor Shang.”

“If it were really me, do you think Xu Xiangyi would let me live so freely for six years?”

“But it’s true that I resent Xu Xiangyi. If it weren’t for him, I would have married Lu Jianbo long ago.”

“Honestly, your adoptive parents treated you fairly well, but they have their own biological daughter. If their daughter resents you, do you really think He Yi’an will treat you the same way as before?”

Those words struck Xu Ningwei right in the heart. She didn’t dare to think about the long message He Yi’an had sent last night.

Shen Qingfeng caught a flicker of pain in her eyes. “KEVE now belongs to Xu Zhiyi. You should know I’m here to sincerely invite you to my project’s research center.”

“If you don’t want to be in contact with me, believing I’m trying to stir things up, today is my last visit. After this, let Shang Yun’s team reach out to you.”

She took out a contract and placed it in front of Xu Ningwei. “The benefits are all laid out here, in black and white. A year with me is worth more than ten years anywhere else.”

Xu Ningwei glanced at the cover of the contract but didn’t take it.

Shen Qingfeng slid the document closer. “This isn’t a personal offer. If you agree, just go to HR to sign the contract and complete the process.”

She glanced at Xu Ningwei’s outfit. “That outfit isn’t cheap. If you want to maintain this standard of living, do you really think you can make it work on that salary? Xu Zhiyi can casually spend on clothes that you’d have to work a year to afford.”

Finally, Xu Ningwei spoke up. “Don’t mention her. I’m me; she’s her.”

Shen Qingfeng smiled. “But deep down, you feel wronged, don’t you? I would too. Back in the day, we’d spend millions on a trip; birthdays meant gifts overflowing the room. And now, splurging on an expensive dress makes you wince. Xu Xiangyi is a philanthropist; you know better than anyone how much he donates each year. Does he really need to pinch pennies to support you? No, he doesn’t.”

Xu Ningwei’s fingers turned white as she gripped the porcelain spoon.

For the first time, she pushed back with He Yi’an’s words from the message: “I have parents; I’m not adopted. Besides, I’m not so poor that I need a handout.”

Shen Qingfeng laughed even more. “If you could think like that, why are your eyes still swollen? Look, I’m not here to gloat. I’m worse off than you—right now, I have nothing.”

Xu Ningwei shot back, “Do you really think you’re worse off than me? At least you have family—a father who loves you, an education, and talent. What do I have?”

Xu Ningwei looked steadily at her but said nothing.

Shen Qingfeng continued, “I’ve not been defeated by Xu Zhiyi, so what does this setback mean for you? Only by living better than others will you find satisfaction. Isn’t that right?”

Xu Ningwei remained silent.

Shen Qingfeng smiled to herself. “You joining my research center means you’ll earn a good salary and won’t waste your talents. Your biological father might be a hurdle since he thinks I’m the one who swapped you two.”

She already had a reason ready for Xu Ningwei. “You can tell him you’re pretending to agree with me as a way to get back at me.”

Xu Ningwei stared at her. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll really seek revenge?”

Shen Qingfeng chuckled. “What could you possibly do to me? Even if I really did swap you and Xu Zhiyi, you would be the last person to hate me, wouldn’t you?”

Xu Ningwei took a spoonful of tofu pudding and remained silent.

Shen Qingfeng continued, “I used to want to manipulate you to keep Xu Xiangyi unsettled, but now that he’s cut ties with you, what’s the point?”

The reality of their broken relationship felt painfully sharp, and Xu Ningwei unconsciously bit her lip.

Shen Qingfeng added, “When I came to you before, it was out of respect for Xu Xiangyi. Today, it’s about your talent.”

People love hearing flattering words, and Xu Ningwei’s expression softened slightly.

Shen Qingfeng pressed on, “From now on, you earn your salary, focus on your research, and I’ll run my business. As my business grows, your success will rise with it. One day, when you’re financially free and well-known in your field, you’ll thank me. I honestly can’t see what reason you’d have to seek revenge.”

What needed to be said had been said, so she left it at that.

She stood up, gesturing to the contract. “This is for you. Take your time to review it, and if you decide, just head to HR. The office is at Jinyun Building.”

Xu Ningwei recognized the name; it was Shang Yun’s company.

Exiting the breakfast shop, Shen Qingfeng instructed her driver to head to the airport. This trip to Beijing was specifically to invite Xu Ningwei to the research center. Shen Qingfeng valued Xu Ningwei’s talent but even more the resources she had from Shang Tongxu.

With Xu Xiangyi no longer able to provide unlimited funding for the Shang Tongxu lab, this was an opportunity for her. Once Xu Ningwei joined her team and proved her dedication to the project, it would be much easier for Shang Yun to collaborate with Shang Tongxu.

To turn the tables, she had to work with Shang Tongxu’s team.

Her phone buzzed. It was Lu Jianli: “When are you coming back?”

Shen Qingfeng replied: “Don’t tell me you can’t bear a day without me.”

Lu Jianli scoffed: “There’s a project launch for the Xiao family in Hong Kong on Tuesday night. Are you coming?”

Shen Qingfeng: “I’ll have to rush back overnight.”

The Xiao and Ning families were close friends; their parents had founded the Xiao Ning Group, headquartered in London. To this day, they hadn’t split—truly a miracle in a world where even brothers fought tooth and nail over profits.

Besides their joint ownership of the Xiao Ning Group, each family had its own business empire.

The Xiao family’s projects would certainly garner support from the Ning family, and it wouldn’t be long before the Yu family and Lu Jianbo were involved as well—he was closest to both the Xiao and Ning families.

Shen Qingfeng asked: “Is he going?”

Lu Jianli replied: “He’s already been neutered, and you still can’t forget him.”

Shen Qingfeng chose not to respond.

---

Meanwhile, Jiang Sixun received an invitation around the same time.

The invitation had been sent by his father and was just a single card without specifying who it was for.

Xu Zhiyi opened it, looking it over multiple times. “It can’t possibly be for me, can it?”

The man replied, “It’s not.”

“…I was joking! Why do you have to be so serious?”

Xu Zhiyi examined the invitation again and quietly set it back on the bar.

Jiang Sixun went to his study to find a pen, ready to fill in his name himself.

Xu Zhiyi rested her chin on her hand, leaning over the bar to watch him write. “Someone like you could get in with just your face; the invitation doesn’t even need a name.”

As she spoke, she noticed the first stroke he made wasn’t “Jiang.” She leaned closer. “How are you writing my name?”

Jiang Sixun replied, “Your name on top, mine below.”

Xu Zhiyi blinked at him. “Are you taking me?”

“It’s an invitation for both of us. When have you ever seen your parents get two invitations? It’s always one.”

“That’s different; my parents are a couple.”

As he finished writing the first two characters, he began writing “Yi” and added, “Soon, we’ll be too.”

With that, he pulled her close and handed her the pen. “You write my name.”

Xu Zhiyi found herself encircled by him, the fresh scent of cedarwood surrounding her.

“Who’s attending the wine party? Are there any familiar faces?”

Jiang Sixun replied, “Ning Yun should be there; she’s in Hong Kong right now. You’ve seen the others, but you probably don’t know them well.” He added, “Except for our families.”

Xu Zhiyi thought of Shen Qingfeng, turning in his embrace. As their eyes met, Jiang Sixun seemed to understand her thoughts. “Shen Qingfeng will definitely be there.”

In a gathering like this, it would be impossible for her not to attend. With the scandal having recently died down, she would need to be seen with Lu Jianli to prove their marriage remained strong.

Without KEVE Technologies, Lu Jianli was her only ace in the hole, and she wouldn’t let go easily.

Xu Zhiyi leaned in and kissed his lips before turning back to her task. Just as she wrote the character “Jiang,” she looked back at him. “Ning Yun probably doesn’t know we’re together yet.”

“She knows; I told her.”

Xu Zhiyi felt reassured and turned back to write the character “Si.” Halfway through, she turned back. “Even though you clarified that your relationship with Ning Yun was mutually beneficial, some people won’t believe it. They love to speculate and create drama, so when they see us together, it’ll definitely stir things up.”

Jiang Sixun replied, “Don’t worry about what they say; I’m with you, and it’s as clear as day.”

Xu Zhiyi nearly wanted to ask just how clear it was.

He noticed her hesitation. “What were you about to say?”

“I forgot,” Xu Zhiyi admitted, turning back to write her name. Just as she was about to put pen to paper, she turned again, but this time, Jiang Sixun’s gaze was deep. “You don’t have to keep looking back; just write and talk.”

“I wasn’t trying to keep looking at you.”

Jiang Sixun quipped, “You keep leaning in and out.”

He hadn’t finished his sentence when Xu Zhiyi understood, her cheeks flushing.

“It wasn’t on purpose!”

“I know.”

He replied with a seriousness that made her push him playfully, wanting to return to completing the “Si.” But he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her into his embrace, kissing her passionately.

With the pen still in her hand, she was worried about poking him with the nib, so she held it back, allowing him to kiss her freely.

Meanwhile, her phone on the bar kept buzzing incessantly.

As Jiang Sixun ended the kiss, his phone rang. Holding Xu Zhiyi in one arm, he hit the answer button.

“Did you see the invitation?” Lu Jianbo asked.

He added, “It’s just for you.”

Jiang Sixun glanced at Xu Zhiyi nestled in his embrace and replied, “What do you mean?”

Lu Jianbo explained, “I’m taking Zhi Yi with me.”

Jiang Sixun repeated, “What do you mean?”

This reminded Lu Jianbo of a summer when his son was four and half, crying, “I want to go home,” over and over. Now, he realized each time held a different meaning.

He patiently clarified, “Because you don’t have enough weight to bring her along on your own. Do I need to spell it out?”

Jiang Sixun was left speechless.

Lu Jianbo continued, “Tell Zhi Yi to think of it as a daughter accompanying her father to the banquet. She’ll know how to choose a dress.”

At that moment, Xu Zhiyi was snug against him, hearing every word from the other end of the call.

After hanging up, Jiang Sixun tossed his phone back onto the bar, weighing the decision. He ultimately decided to let his father take Xu Zhiyi to the gala.

In front of the major families in Hong Kong, his voice didn’t carry the same weight as his father’s.

Since Xu Zhiyi had come to Hong Kong without a gown, only packing a few long dresses suitable for family gatherings, she called He Yian to have a formal dress sent over from Shanghai.

Hearing she’d be accompanying Lu Jianbo, her mother chose a stunning haute couture dress from the 3D Floral Fairy collection—layered tulle that wasn’t overly extravagant but had an ethereal, flowing quality.

On the night of the gala, a stylist flew in from Shanghai to ensure everything was perfect.

The dress was so whimsical that her makeup had to be understated—so light it appeared as though she were wearing none at all.

In the evening, Lu Jianbo’s driver arrived to pick her up.

Jiang Sixun accompanied her downstairs. He wore a black shirt, and since he’d stopped wearing bright colors, this had become a common sight every couple of days.

The black shirt made him look restrained, mature, and exuded a strong masculine charm.

Even Xu Zhiyi, who was with him daily, couldn’t help but steal a few glances.

As they entered the elevator, Jiang Sixun instructed her, “Don’t look around too much at the gala.”

Xu Zhiyi laughed, “Shouldn’t that be my line to you?”

Jiang Sixun replied, “I’m self-aware. I won’t be looking at anyone else.”

Xu Zhiyi suddenly realized he was trying to make a point about her.

She asked, “Will you come find me at the gala?”

“During the second half, I’ll be with you,” he assured.

As they stepped out of the elevator, Xu Zhiyi hugged him. “I’ll be waiting for you to come find me.”

Outside the apartment, a sleek black limousine was parked at the entrance. The bodyguard opened the rear door, and upon seeing who was inside, she paused in surprise. “Uncle Lu, you came personally?”

Lu Jianbo replied, “If it were your dad, he’d be waiting at the elevator to press the button for you.”

Xu Zhiyi chuckled softly, “That sounds about right.”

She adjusted her skirt and waved to the outside.

Lu Jianbo hadn’t planned to take his son along; he rolled down the window, letting Jiang Sixun drive separately. After the gala, they would all head home on their own.

If not for his son and Xu Zhiyi, he wouldn’t have bothered attending tonight’s event, knowing Shen Qingfeng would be there, which would certainly stir up controversy.

As the car pulled away, Lu Jianbo turned to Xu Zhiyi, who was still gazing out the window. “Have you seen your Aunt Jiang recently?”

Xu Zhiyi turned to look at him, contemplating her response.

Lu Jianbo genuinely feared the two of them would fall silent at critical moments, making it impossible to pry them open.

“Just say whatever you want. I’ve never heard Si Xun talk about his mother.”

“What do you want to know, Uncle Lu?” she asked.

“I’m not sure,” he admitted.

“You and Aunt Jiang are probably a lost cause, right?”

“It’s not just probably; it’s definite.” He recalled Jiang Yue Ru’s temperament—once she made a decision, there was no going back. Even when he begged for forgiveness years ago, she hadn’t relented.

Let alone all that had transpired since then.

Lu Jianbo added, “So sometimes, I just wonder how she’s doing.”

“Aunt Jiang leads a simple life. She’s always busy with work, no breaks throughout the year. At night, she enjoys watching movies alone in the yard and having dinner by herself. That’s about it.”

All the way to the hotel where the banquet was held, Lu Jianbo remained quiet.

Once they arrived, he reminded her, “Just stay close to me tonight. If you want to eat something, let me know. We’ll go together.”

Xu Zhiyi thought, Father-daughter dining partners at the gala.

“Uncle Lu,” someone called from behind.

Xu Zhiyi and Lu Jianbo turned in unison to see a graceful woman in a light purple dress approaching. She had short hair, subtle makeup, and her Danfeng eyes held a gentle smile.

The dress was simple, with no unnecessary embellishments.

They spoke in Cantonese, which Xu Zhiyi couldn’t understand.

After exchanging pleasantries, the woman glanced at Xu Zhiyi. Lu Jianbo switched to Mandarin, introducing her: “This is Xu Xiangyi, the precious daughter of the Xu family. I didn’t take good care of her when she was born, so now that she’s grown up, I have to look after her properly.”

He turned to her and said, “This is Yu Rui from the Yu family.”

Xu Zhiyi smiled lightly. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Yu Rui returned the smile, his demeanor calm. “I’ve heard much about you.”