Stepdaughter of a wealthy family? The little darling of a Beijing tycoon

Shen Jingshu lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment, her mind blank, without any recollection, so she simply remained silent.

When Lin Wanqing heard that she didn't respond, she knew that she had really forgotten, and her tone was somewhat of a reminder: "You're so busy with your studies that you can't remember anything. It's your sister Xinyi's eighteenth birthday. After her birthday, she will officially become an adult."

"Um."

Shen Jingshu responded indifferently, her emotions completely calm, her tone cold and detached, revealing neither joy nor resistance.

This cold attitude left Lin Wanqing speechless on the other end of the phone, unsure of how to respond.

After a few seconds of silence, Lin Wanqing continued, "Xinyi held a coming-of-age banquet and specially invited us. Although your father and I are divorced, Xinyi is still my youngest daughter whom I raised myself, and also your own sister."

The underlying meaning in his words couldn't be clearer.

She wanted Shen Jingshu to attend the banquet and accompany her to Shen Xinyi's coming-of-age ceremony, to give her youngest daughter a grand occasion and prestige.

Shen Jingshu was insightful and instantly saw through her thoughts.

Throughout his past and present lives, Lin Wanqing has always reserved all his gentleness, favoritism, and dignity for Shen Xinyi, and has always been indifferent and distant towards her.

She was already indifferent and unconcerned about it.

After a moment, Shen Jingshu replied calmly, "Okay, I'll go back this weekend and go with you."

Hearing her agree, Lin Wanqing's tone instantly became much lighter: "Then come home early on Saturday, and Mom will take you to pick out a dress and get ready."

"Um."

After a brief reply, the call was calmly ended.

In the spacious and luxurious living room of the Li family, Lin Wanqing sat on a soft and expensive leather sofa, her fingers holding her phone, her expression slightly dazed.

As she gazed at the courtyard scenery outside the window, a strange feeling inexplicably arose in her heart.

Her eldest daughter, Shen Jingshu, seems to have completely changed.

She used to be timid, sensitive, cautious, and longing for family affection. Even when ignored or neglected, she would still try to please her. But now, Shen Jingshu is calm, indifferent, and composed. She is almost cold-hearted when it comes to family affection, and nothing bothers her. She no longer shows any trace of her former humble self.

At first, she thought it was the change in her child's personality caused by the parents' divorce.

But today, this change is far beyond the ordinary, as if the soul inside has been completely replaced.

Lin Wanqing was completely baffled, and sighed softly with a frown.

Forget it, if I can't figure it out, I'll stop thinking about it.

She pulled herself out of her thoughts and focused all her attention back on her youngest daughter's coming-of-age ceremony.

This banquet was grand and solemn, attended by celebrities and dignitaries from Beijing. She was determined to make Xinyi the most dazzling girl in the entire event.

Just as she was pondering, the butler slowly walked into the living room carrying an exquisite custom-made gift box and respectfully presented it: "Madam, your custom-made diamond jewelry set has been delivered."

Lin Wanqing's eyes lit up, and she immediately reached out to take the gift box and gently opened it.

Inside the box, on a black velvet background, a complete set of dazzling and luxurious diamond jewelry is quietly laid out. The necklace, earrings, and bracelet are a matching set, with clusters of smaller diamonds surrounding the main diamond. They are exquisitely cut and sparkle brilliantly. When light falls on them, they refract a dazzling array of light, exuding luxury and an air of nobility.

This set of jewelry is quite valuable; it was specially commissioned by her for Shen Xinyi's coming-of-age ceremony.

Lin Wanqing's eyes were full of doting and expectation, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips.

She could almost picture Shen Xinyi, dressed up meticulously, wearing this set of full-diamond jewelry, stunning everyone at the weekend banquet, radiating elegance and glamour.

As for Shen Jingshu...

She didn't think about it any further.

In her heart, all the favor and glory should have been reserved for her most beloved youngest daughter.

The Shen family was in a precarious situation recently due to the collapse of Shen Yifan's investment, which nearly caused the company's projects to fall apart and the cash flow to be completely cut off.

If Shen Xinyi hadn't secretly approached her birth mother, Lin Wanqing, and persistently begged for a huge sum of money to barely fill the hole and stabilize the situation, the Shen family would probably have faced severe damage and bankruptcy.

After this incident, Shen Yifan toned down his usual arrogance and impetuosity, becoming exceptionally low-key and well-behaved, staying in seclusion to recuperate and quietly lying low for a long time.

Before they knew it, it would be Shen Xinyi's eighteenth birthday celebration.

Inside the study, Shen Yifan and his father, Shen Mobai, sat facing each other, discussing the banquet arrangements in hushed tones.

"Dad, this is Xinyi's coming-of-age ceremony, one of the most important days in her life. Our beloved little sister has come of age, so we must have a grand celebration."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mobai's eyes revealed a rare gentle approval, and he slowly nodded.

In his heart, Shen Xinyi was a well-behaved, sensible, sweet-talking, and considerate daughter since childhood. She was his most beloved youngest daughter and naturally deserved the best of everything.

"That's right, the coming-of-age ceremony for my Shen family's daughter must not be shabby. Go and send out invitations widely, invite relatives and friends in the industry, and make a grand spectacle of it."

Shen Yifan continued, "Mom will also be coming to the banquet."

Shen Mobai remained calm and unconcerned: "She is the mother of the children, so it is only natural for her to attend her daughter's coming-of-age ceremony."

"Okay, I'll arrange it right away." Shen Yifan replied, then added, "Our Shen family villa is not as luxurious and grand as the Li family's, and the space is limited, so it can't support a large banquet. I've already had someone book the panoramic banquet hall of a downtown hotel in advance, which is respectable enough."

"You can arrange all of these." Shen Mobai waved his hand, then, as if suddenly remembering something, looked up and asked, "By the way, Xinyi just mentioned to me that the Lu family will be there?"

Shen Yifan's eyes lit up instantly, and he said solemnly, "That's right, it's the Lu family, one of the top wealthy families in Beijing. Xinyi and Lu Manman, the daughter of the Lu family, are very close friends. Not only will Lu Manman be coming this time, but I heard that the young master of the Lu family, Lu Ze, will also be attending."

"Lu Ze?!"

Shen Mobai's pupils dilated slightly, and his face instantly showed a look of seriousness.

In Beijing's high society circles, everyone knows the Lu family's influence.

The Lu family has deep roots and top-tier power and wealth, making them a truly powerful family at the very top of the pyramid.

Lu Ze is the next generation heir that the Lu family is focusing on cultivating. He is young, promising, and exceptionally capable, making him a top-tier match sought after by the entire socialite circle in Beijing.

Shen Mobai immediately became serious, his tone grave: "Then this banquet must be held even more grandly and elegantly, without the slightest mistake! We absolutely cannot allow Xinyi to lose face or composure in front of the Lu family!"

"I understand, Dad." Shen Yifan nodded emphatically, his eyes filled with calculation and ambition.

When Shen Xinyi first told him that she had befriended the daughter of the Lu family and even had access to Lu Ze, the heir of the Lu family, he was shocked, followed by undisguised elation.

Everyone knows that given the Shen family's current decline and worse situation, they are simply no match for a top-tier wealthy family like the Lu family.

But ironically, their usually delicate and obedient younger sister, Shen Xinyi, quietly made connections with this top-tier network.

If this coming-of-age ceremony could help Lu Ze develop feelings for Shen Xinyi, and if his younger sister could marry into the Lu family in the future…

That would be a true meteoric rise to power!

At that time, not only will Shen Xinyi's net worth increase significantly, but the entire Shen family will also be able to rise rapidly with the help of the Lu family's power and resources, completely escape their current predicament of decline, and leap into the ranks of the top wealthy families in Beijing.

Thinking of this, Shen Yifan's eyes shone with even stronger anticipation and ambition.

For the Shen family, this coming-of-age ceremony was never just a simple celebration of adulthood.