As the CEO of the Xu Group, Xu Youheng regarded the company as more important than his own family. Normally, he treated Zhao Rong with a fair amount of respect. However, when Zhao Rong repeatedly helped Xu Xuero, a criminal, Xu Youheng finally couldn’t bear it anymore.

He looked coldly at Zhao Rong, who was preparing to leave with her bag, his tone tinged with anger, “I remember telling you before not to get involved with Xu Xuero anymore. I didn’t expect you to simply ignore my words. You’ve crossed the line.”

At a loss, Zhao Rong stood in the living room. The thought that her underage son was also present made her cheeks flush with embarrassment. After a moment of hesitation, she finally managed to say, “Old Xu, if there’s something, let’s discuss it in the study.”

“I want to clarify things in front of Ruixi today.” He continued, “Xu Xuero is a criminal. The person she wanted to kill was our own daughter, Ruixi’s own sister. I can’t forgive her for that. If you insist on helping her, let’s separate.”

Zhao Rong held shares of the Xu Group in her hands. Even though Xu Youheng was extremely displeased with her actions, he couldn’t file for a divorce.

“Are you insane?” Zhao Rong shouted sharply.

“I’m not insane, you just can’t see clearly. Right now, you have two choices. Either leave the Xu family to take care of Xu Xuero, or draw a clear boundary with her.”

Taking in the middle-aged man’s cold and serious expression, Zhao Rong finally realized that Xu Youheng wasn’t joking. He truly intended to abandon Xu Xuero.

With red-rimmed eyes, Zhao Rong looked pleadingly at her son, hoping Xu Ruixi could speak up for his sister. After all, siblings who had grown up together for over a decade couldn’t just sever their bond.

Unfortunately, Xu Ruixi also turned her down without hesitation.

“The sister I remember from my childhood was gentle and kind, unable to harm anyone. But Xu Xuero is a criminal who has deceived me for so many years. Mom, I’m also hurt by this. Please stop making things difficult for me.”

Zhao Rong hadn’t expected her son, whom she had raised with her own hands, to be so cold-hearted. Her body staggered momentarily, but she managed to grasp the armrest of the sofa, preventing herself from falling to the ground.

“Y-you……”

“I don’t think I’m at fault, Mom. No parent can take care of their children forever. Xu Xuero is an adult now. She has been with the Xu family for many years and has considerable savings. As long as she doesn’t squander them, she can live well. For my sake, please stop getting entangled with her, okay?”

Compared to Xu Xueruo, Zhao Rong loves Xu Ruixi more. After all, he was her biological child whom she had raised by her side. Zhao Rong couldn’t ignore Xu Ruixi’s feelings.

The color drained from her face, and she remained silent for a full five minutes before finally saying, “I’ll give Xu Xuero some money, and then I won’t bother with her anymore.”

Upon hearing that, Xu Youheng and Xu Ruixi breathed a sigh of relief.

The Xu Group was prominent in the capital, and money was the least of their concerns. If they could resolve the Xu Xuero issue with money, it would already be considered the best possible outcome.

———pr

This translation is by Pocketrobbin at S h a n g h a i f a n t a s y . c o m

Since becoming paralyzed, Xu Xuero’s temper had become particularly volatile. Previously, she had been the pampered young lady of the Xu family, admired as both a top student and a beauty at her school. Now, because of Meng Zhen, she was confined to a wheelchair, unable to stand again.

Every day, Xu Xuero would smash things in her room and frequently burst into loud swearing fits at the slightest inconvenience. A regular caregiver could barely last a month under such conditions.

At first, she didn’t realize that something was wrong. It wasn’t until she did not see Zhao Rong for three days that Xu Xueruo panicked. She took out her mobile phone and dialed Zhao Rong’s number, crying aggrievedly, “Mom, do you not want me anymore? Why haven’t you come to see me?”

Zhao Rong felt deeply distressed, holding back tears as she explained, “Xuero, Mom can’t come to see you anymore. I’ll send you some money to ensure you have everything you need.”

Xu Xuero simply couldn’t accept this outcome. She was filled with fear and panic. She desperately pleaded, but Zhao Rong remained steadfast in her decision, even going so far as to block Xu Xuero’s number.

In despair, Xu Xuero could only seek out Lin Yu.

Lin Yu genuinely cared for her. And in order to be with Xu Xuero, he decisively cut ties with the Lin family. But without the Lin Group’s backing, his resources in the entertainment industry plummeted. Directors and screenwriters who had previously treated him with respect now treated him differently. Lin Yu’s path became increasingly difficult, and within a few short years, he lost his initial shine. Though his face remained handsome, it now carried a noticeable weariness in his eyes and expression.

In times of prosperity, a person could maintain kindness and composure, but once they fell into adversity, they could no longer sustain a calm state of mind. Emotions would also be worn down amidst the struggles of daily life.

Lin Yu looked at Xu Xuero, now bitter and sarcastic due to her paralyzed legs, and couldn’t understand why he had given up his future for such a woman. The couple argued constantly, but unfortunately, Lin Yu couldn’t bring himself to abandon Xu Xuero, knowing that he had sacrificed everything for her.

However, that wasn’t all. Suddenly, one day, the network system of the community where the Xu family’s villa was located crashed, and certain surveillance footage from the garage happened to end up in Gu Ting’s hands.

In it, there were only two people—— Meng Zhen and Xu Xuero.

At that time, Meng Zhen looked younger than she does now. She was bending over, feeding a skinny stray cat. After she finished feeding it and left, Xu Xuero appeared from behind. Expressionless, she picked up the small cat with one hand and held it against her chest.

Her actions weren’t out of pity but had a different motive.

Recalling Meng Zhen’s words during the recording of 《Flavor》, Gu Ting’s expression turned cold. He directly composed a Weibo post, detailing the sequence of events and their implications.

【Back when Meng Zhen faced widespread online criticism, her biological parents kicked her out for a laughable reason. They claimed her feeding of a stray cat caused her sister’s allergies to act up. But I happened to find this video, and I want to present the truth to everyone.】

Gu Ting’s Weibo had long surpassed one hundred million followers. Every time he posted, it drew attention from half of the entertainment industry. Now, his fans and passersby alike clicked on the video and saw Meng Zhen with her now-paralyzed sister.

【My goodness. Movie King Gu stated that the sister was allergic to cats. I thought people with allergies would stay away from allergens, but she actually held the cat in her arms. Why would she do that?】

【To frame Meng Zhen, of course! Meng Zhen is the Xu family’s biological daughter, while she’s an adopted daughter. Even after raising her for over ten years, there’s still no blood relationship. That’s why she resorted to such sinister means to ruin their relationship.】

【That adopted daughter is too frightening. She started plotting against Meng Zhen so long ago. No wonder she dared to commit murder. Xu Youheng raised such a child. Does that mean he’s not a good person either?】

【+1 The importance of family upbringing is surely understood by all. Xu Xuero’s behavior reflects directly on her parents!】

The video sparked intense discussions among netizens, who couldn’t tolerate the Xu family’s utilitarianism and viciousness. Many began selling their shares, causing the Xu Group’s stock price to plummet further and further.

Xu Youheng was almost drowned in regret. He hated Xu Xuero for her deep scheming and blamed himself for being blind to it.

To vent his anger, he directly sold the suburban apartment and froze Xu Xuero’s bank accounts.

Nowadays, Xu Xuero and Lin Yu are no longer the enviable couple they once were. They relied on Zhao Rong’s allowance to maintain a luxurious lifestyle. However, after the surveillance video leaked, Zhao Rong was completely stunned. She couldn’t believe that the child she had raised had been plotting against Meng Zhen from the very beginning.          

Thinking of her estranged biological daughter and the selfish Xu Xuero, Zhao Rong felt deep regret welling up inside her.

She despised herself for waking up too late and cut off the financial support for Xu Xueruo.

Lin Yu, who had been pampered since childhood, and Xu Xuero, a disabled person who couldn’t live independently, were evicted from their apartment by the new owner. They quickly spent their remaining savings and, left with no other choice, Lin Yu prepared to return to his former profession, humbling himself to the people in the entertainment industry. However, due to his association with Xu Xuero, he found himself blacklisted from the entire industry.

Unable to accept this outcome, Lin Yu and Xu Xuero ended up tormenting each other day after day, becoming a bitter couple full of resentment.

However, those people had nothing to do with Meng Zhen. After winning the Best Supporting Actress award, she was nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Sparrow Awards for the film 《Water People》.

Despite its box office performance being far less than 《The Icon’s New Clothes》, the film was highly praised and received numerous awards.

On the night of the Golden Sparrow Awards ceremony, Meng Zhen wore a wine-red silk dress designed personally by Benjamin. As soon as she appeared, she captivated everyone with her stunning presence.

In the film, Meng Zhen portrayed a woman enduring domestic violence. She appeared completely without makeup, and later in the story, to depict the passage of time, she intentionally gained twenty pounds. Although her appearance wasn’t as delicate as before, her dedicated professionalism attracted many admirers in the industry.

At this moment, with Meng Zhen nominated for Best Actress, all of her fans cheered for her. They tuned into the live broadcast of the awards ceremony and couldn’t help but scream when they saw their dazzling idol.

After signing her name on the display board, Meng Zhen turned towards the camera and smiled brightly, her eyes and brows forming a charming and beautiful expression.

【Aaaahhh! Who said our sister’s looks have deteriorated? She’s just dedicated. In the entertainment industry, how many female stars are willing to genuinely gain weight? She did it for the role, and there’s nothing to criticize about that. She’s already slimmed down now, haven’t you seen?】

【The comment above is really stirring up envy. I also want to gain weight just for fun.】

【I wonder if Zhenzhen will win Best Actress. Let me dream for a while.】

【Can Meng Zhen’s fans stop daydreaming? With her overly forced acting, does she still think she can win Best Actress? I think she has no chance even if you wait another ten or twenty years.】

The haters continued to relentlessly trash-talk Meng Zhen, but as the awards ceremony progressed, they started feeling that something wasn’t right. Why was the organizer giving Meng Zhen so much screen time? There were several close-ups of her too. Even though Meng Zhen’s face was considered pretty, the entertainment industry wasn’t lacking in beauties. There’s no need to give her special treatment, right?

Just as the haters were feeling uneasy, the presenter finally announced the winner of the Best Actress award.

“Meng Zhen!”

Fans who couldn’t attend the event cheered and screamed in front of their computer screens. They watched their idol gracefully walk onto the stage, sharing her journey of filming 《Water People》. When Meng Zhen thanked Movie King Gu, the barrage of comments was filled with all kinds of exclamations.

【Sister and Movie King Gu are simply a perfect match.】

【One is a movie king, the other a movie queen, and they’ve even worked together three times. It’s fate, isn’t it?】

Anmei Entertainment has produced Best Actress winners before, but someone like Meng Zhen, who clinched the crown at just twenty, was truly rare and extraordinary.

After the awards ceremony, the entertainment company specially hosted a celebration banquet.

Meng Zhen was pleased to receive recognition from the mainstream circle. She held a glass of red wine, sipping it slowly. She had thought she hadn’t drunk much, but when Gu Ting approached her, her clear apricot eyes were already misted over. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and the impact of her stunning features softened slightly, adding a touch of cuteness to it.

“How did you get so drunk?” Gu Ting murmured softly.

“I’m not drunk.”

Drunk people usually respond like this.

Gu Ting didn’t drink. Worried, he decided to drive Meng Zhen back to her apartment himself. Before they arrived, Meng Zhen’s tipsiness had already worn off. She tilted her head, gazing at Gu Ting’s handsome and profound profile. After hesitating for a while, she couldn’t help but ask, “Teacher Gu, do you like me?”

Gu Ting’s heart skipped a beat, nearly swerving off the road. He struggled to control his emotions. When they reached the apartment building, he closed his eyes briefly and asked in a hoarse voice, “What did you just say? Say it again?”

“Teacher Gu, you’ve been so good to me, even standing up against the Xu Group for my sake. I thought maybe you like me……”

Meng Zhen patted her head. She was sensitive to people’s emotions and had thought she wouldn’t misunderstand, but it seemed she still did.

As the heir of the Gu family, Gu Ting understood the importance of opportunities. Once he missed this chance, he knew it would only become more difficult to speak up in the future.

“Yes, I’ve always liked you.”

Gu Ting’s gaze was unusually intense, but there was a barely perceptible unease hidden in the depths of his eyes. He was a full ten years older than the young woman before him, nearly a generation apart. Meng Zhen’s life had only just begun, and it wouldn’t be fair for him to even speak the words of confession.

But he still couldn’t restrain himself.

Seeing the struggle in the man’s eyes, Meng Zhen pursed her lips and smiled. Suddenly, she grabbed Gu Ting’s hand and softly said, “Then let’s give it a try, okay?”

An unknown amount of time passed, so long that Meng Zhen began to feel embarrassed. Just as she was about to act as if nothing had happened and slowly withdraw her hand, Gu Ting firmly grasped her wrist.

“Okay.”