Xu Xuero could never have imagined that one day she would be surpassed by Meng Zhen. This person who grew up in an orphanage and never even attended high school, how could she possibly play the erhu so well? Could it be that Meng Zhen truly had such innate talent?

At the thought of this possibility, Xu Xuero felt as though a heavy, invisible stone was pressing down on her heart, making it difficult to breathe. She lowered her eyelids, nails digging tightly into her palms. She deliberately avoided Zhao Rong’s tense expression and could only say in a hoarse voice, “Mom, it’s all my fault. I’ve let you down.”

Seeing Xu Xuero’s face pale as paper, Zhao Rong couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache for the child she had raised for over ten years. She walked into the practice room and embraced her frail daughter, gently stroking her trembling back.

Xu Xuero sobbed softly, her arms tightly wrapped around Zhao Rong’s waist. She was acutely aware that Meng Zhen was standing nearby, witnessing her mother’s affection for another child. It must be painful for her, right?

“Everyone has different talents. Zhenzhen is good at playing the erhu, and Xuero, you play the piano very well. Why don’t we stick to our original plan? Practice a piece diligently, and perform at Old Master Lin’s birthday banquet. Let’s aim to impress everyone.”

Upon hearing Zhao Rong’s words, Xu Xuero blushed and withdrew from her mother’s embrace. She shook her head and said, “Mom, I want to give it another try. If I give up without even trying, I won’t be able to forgive myself.”

Xu Xuero’s words were pleasing to the ear, but deep down, her thoughts were far from that. Only heaven knew how much she detested the erhu.

But Lin Yu mentioned that his grandfather was an old-fashioned person who only appreciated their own traditional instruments and had no interest in other countries’ instruments at all. If not for this, why would she have invited Meng Zhen to the Xu family’s home to be a nuisance?

Zhao Rong hadn’t expected her adopted daughter’s determination to be so firm. After hesitating for a moment, she didn’t say anything in the end. After all, Xu Xuero was skilled at playing the piano, so even if she couldn’t play the erhu well by the end of the month, switching to another instrument at the last minute wouldn’t be embarrassing. Letting her try wasn’t a big deal.

Meng Zhen stood by the wooden table, gently stroking the bow of the erhu, pretending not to notice the tender mother-daughter scene.

It was ridiculous. After being lost for so many years, the other Meng Zhen was first sold to the countryside by human traffickers and then abandoned by her foster parents at Hongxin Orphanage. Despite the orphanage being in the capital city, Zhao Rong never sent anyone to find her, instead allowing her adopted daughter to take the other Meng Zhen’s place, pouring her boundless maternal love onto Xu Xuero.

After comforting Xu Xuero, Zhao Rong suddenly remembered that Meng Zhen was nearby. Her well-maintained face showed a hint of embarrassment as she occasionally glanced at Meng Zhen from the corner of her eye, worried that her eldest daughter might harbor resentment.

Fortunately, Meng Zhen wasn’t petty. At this moment, a gentle smile graced her lips, accentuated by faint dimples at the corners of her cheeks. Even with a bare face, her striking appearance remained captivating.

Following Zhao Rong into the dining room, Meng Zhen hadn’t even sat down when he heard someone let out a snort.

Looking up at Xu Ruixi sitting opposite, even though Meng Zhen had a good temper and didn’t like to argue with children, she couldn’t help but feel increasingly annoyed at Xu Ruixi’s repeated provocation.

“Ruixi, your sister finally made a trip home. What’s with your attitude?” Zhao Rong couldn’t help but reprimand him. At this moment, Xu Youheng hadn’t come out of the study yet, but if Xu Ruixi’s behavior was seen by his father, he would definitely get a scolding.

Xu Ruixi didn’t dare to contradict his mother, so he fiercely glared at Meng Zhen instead.

When Xu Youheng came downstairs, the family of four, along with Meng Zhen, sat down at the dining table. Xu Youheng looked at his pale and frail younger daughter and asked, “Xuero, how is your erhu practice going?”

Xu Xuero’s face showed a timely hint of embarrassment. She bit her lip hard, struggling to speak, but eventually Zhao Rong couldn’t bear it and spoke up first, “Although Xuero is diligent, mastering an instrument she’s never touched before within a month seems unrealistic to me. However, she can still give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, we can make other plans later.”

As the CEO of Xu Group, Xu Youheng had immersed himself in the business world for decades. How could he not read between the lines of his wife’s words? He frowned slightly, speaking with certainty, “Do you mean Xuero can’t learn the erhu?”

Upon hearing that, Xu Xuero felt as though she was being publicly humiliated. She had always been the pride of the Xu family, the most outstanding child to both Xu Youheng and Zhao Rong. But with Meng Zhen’s appearance and her mastery of an instrument Xu Xuero deemed less refined, she now found herself compared unfavorably, disappointing her father.

Meng Zhen was sitting on the chair next to Xu Xuero, bowing her head silently while sipping on wild mushroom soup. Seeing her like this, Xu Xuero’s eyes reddened slightly. She pressed the damp corners of her eyes with her fingertips and whispered softly, “Sister plays the erhu exceptionally well, comparable to teachers at the music academy. But I’m not a good student. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t learn it……”

Seeing Xu Xuero in tears, Xu Ruixi immediately exploded. He sneered, “It’s not that Xuero lacks musical talent, but that someone hasn’t taught her properly. Otherwise, why can she learn the piano but struggle with the erhu?”

Once biases take root, they are harder to reverse than reaching the heavens. Ever since Xu Xuero learned of Meng Zhen’s existence, she had been whispering criticisms of Meng Zhen into Xu Ruixi’s ear daily. Her language skills were exceptional. She didn’t directly insult or mock, but rather stirred up Xu Ruixi’s emotions, fueling his suspicions and deepening the child’s intense dislike for his sister whom he had never met.

Meng Zhen was well aware of this, so she wasn’t surprised. Setting down her utensils, she looked calmly at Xu Youheng and Zhao Rong with clear eyes and said, “It’s getting late. I need to go back to my apartment to pack some things. I’ll come back tomorrow to continue teaching Xuero.”

Initially, Zhao Rong had planned to have Meng Zhen stay overnight at the Xu residence. However, after her son’s piercing remarks that unfairly accused Meng Zhen, Zhao Rong felt too embarrassed to ask her to stay.

Feeling uncomfortable, Zhao Rong instructed the driver to send Meng Zhen back. Once the slender young woman was in the car, Zhao Rong suppressed her anger and returned to the living room. She demanded sharply, “Xu Ruixi, what did you just say? How do you know Zhenzhen hasn’t been teaching Xuero seriously?”

Zhao Rong usually had a good temper and Xu Ruixi was her most cherished child, so she rarely got angry at him. Now, facing his mother’s flushed face due to anger, Xu Ruixi hesitated and muttered softly, “I didn’t say anything wrong. Meng Zhen has always felt that Sis took her place and occupied her identity. She resents Sis so much, how can she possibly teach her sincerely?”

Upon hearing his words, Xu Xuero sensed trouble. She reached out and tugged at Xu Ruixi’s sleeve, silently signaling him to stop. However, Xu Ruixi, having grown up in a family where he was often indulged, didn’t understand the subtleties of reading people’s expressions. He continued speaking, “In general, people who haven’t received higher education tend to have lower quality. Meng Zhen grew up in an orphanage, competing for resources with other orphans in such a harsh environment. She must value material things more than she shows, unlike her usual indifferent demeanor. Mom and Dad, you mustn’t be deceived by her!”

Xu Ruixi was probably too worked up, revealing all his true feelings without realizing how gloomy Xu Youheng’s expression had become. His words poured out, and before he could even take a sip of water, the glass on the table was fiercely smashed to the ground by Xu Youheng.

“Dad, what are you doing?” Xu Ruixi was startled, his slightly youthful face showing surprise. He hadn’t expected his father to get so angry.

“Xu Ruixi, I used to think you were young and didn’t understand things. Now I see you’re just extremely foolish. Don’t you know why Meng Zhen grew up in an orphanage? She was abducted by human traffickers. If it had been you taken away instead, and Meng Zhen accused you of being selfish and malicious, how would you feel?”

At first, Xu Youheng did indeed look down on Meng Zhen, concerned that her career in the entertainment industry would affect the Xu family’s reputation. However, such concerns should have been voiced by elders. Xu Ruixi, as Meng Zhen’s own younger brother, shouldn’t have been so disdainful towards his own sister.

“I was just discussing the matter at hand. Meng Zhen was lost before I was born. Why take your anger out on me?”

Xu Ruixi had long been spoiled by his elders and now stubbornly argued with Xu Youheng, all to protect Xu Xuero.

Xu Xuero sensed the situation was turning for the worse. Fearful that her parents might blame her, she urgently grabbed Xu Ruixi’s arm, looking at him with a pleading expression on her face.

Faced with such a gaze, Xu Ruixi felt deeply frustrated. He slumped into the chair like a deflated balloon, lips pressed into a tight line.

“Honey, relationships develop through time spent together. Ruixi is still young, he will understand Meng Zhen’s difficulties in a few years.” Zhao Rong said, standing beside Xu Youheng and gently patting his back. She glanced at Xu Xuero as she spoke, and after the siblings left the dining room, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Youheng had intended to say something more, but seeing Zhao Rong’s calm expression, he held back the words that had risen to his throat. He decided against it. Meng Zhen didn’t live at home anyway, so there was no need to argue over her.

“In my study drawer, there’s a bank card. Tomorrow when Zhenzhen comes over, give it to her. Celebrities in the entertainment industry pay special attention to their food and clothing. She’s my daughter. We can’t let others look down on her.”

Xu Xuero, who had just sent Xu Ruixi back to his room, happened to hear those words. She stood at the corner of the corridor, her slender back pressed against the cold wall, and her eyes filled with intense jealousy and resentment.

In the past, Xu Youheng and Zhao Rong always claimed that Xu Xuero was their most cherished daughter, emphasizing that blood relations didn’t matter as much as emotional connection. But now, at this moment, their true thoughts were finally revealed.

Meng Zhen, being a star, clearly didn’t lack money, yet Xu Youheng was rushing to give her some, fearing she would suffer grievances. But what about her? Her monthly allowance was fixed, and she had to carefully plan even for a bag. Have they ever considered their adopted daughter’s feelings?