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

Saturday, at the Li family mansion.

In the elegant and spacious dining room, a long table is laden with exquisite dishes, and the family is enjoying a quiet meal in a harmonious and warm atmosphere.

During the meal, Li Beichen suddenly remembered something, turned to look at Shen Jingshu beside him, and spoke with a hint of annoyance and regret.

"It's such a pity we didn't get to know you sooner." He sighed softly, his eyes filled with regret. "We even missed your eighteenth birthday celebration. Jing Shu, tell me, how was your celebration last year?"

The moment these words were spoken, the dining room fell silent.

Shen Jingshu paused slightly with her fingers holding the chopsticks, raised her eyes with a calm and indifferent expression, and said in a tone as light as a breeze: "I have never had a coming-of-age ceremony."

Six simple words, falling lightly.

"Never done it before?"

Li Beichen was stunned.

At the entire dining table, Li Hanting, Li Beichen, and Li Wenqian, who was sitting to the side, all stopped eating and their eyes fell on Shen Jingshu. Then, without prior arrangement, they all turned to Lin Wanqing across the table.

The atmosphere froze instantly.

Lin Wanqing froze, startled by the sudden focus of everyone's gaze. Her heart skipped a beat, and her mind raced as she frantically tried to recall what she was seeing.

She vaguely remembered that on Shen Jingshu's eighteenth birthday last year, the place was indeed empty, with no banquet or celebration.

Even more so... the whole family completely forgot about their eldest daughter's coming-of-age day.

A wave of guilt and embarrassment washed over her instantly. She subconsciously looked up at Shen Jingshu, her eyes filled with panic, apology, and even a secret plea for help, hoping her daughter could help her get through this awkward situation.

Shen Jingshu merely glanced back at her, her expression calm and undisturbed, showing no resentment or hatred, and softly added, "I don't like crowds, so I didn't do it."

It seemed like he was helping her out of a difficult situation.

The three men present were all high-ranking officials with extensive experience in dealing with people; they were all shrewd and perceptive individuals.

The panic, guilt, and evasiveness in Lin Wanqing's eyes, and the indifference and lack of expectation in Shen Jingshu's tone, had already revealed the truth to the fullest extent.

It's not that they don't like crowds.

It's clear that no one has ever taken it to heart.

Li Beichen's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his gaze toward Lin Wanqing softened slightly.

He only knew that Lin Wanqing favored his youngest daughter, Shen Xinyi, and neglected Shen Jingshu, but he never imagined that the favoritism could be so extreme.

She began preparing well in advance for Shen Xinyi's eighteenth birthday celebration, spending a lot of money to customize a complete set of diamond jewelry, dress, and banquet, sparing no effort and showing the utmost pampering.

But when it came to his eldest daughter's most important coming-of-age ceremony, he completely forgot about it and had nothing to show for it.

Lin Wanqing felt uncomfortable under the silent scrutiny of everyone, and could only hurriedly try to smooth things over by going along with Shen Jingshu's words, her tone stiff and forced: "Yes, yes, Jingshu is quiet by nature and doesn't like noise and commotion. Her father and I were afraid she wouldn't be able to adapt, so we didn't have a big celebration. The family just had a simple meal and that was it."

This statement was full of loopholes, and everyone present knew it, but no one deliberately exposed it; they simply remained silent.

The more deliberately it is concealed, the more absurd and glaring it seems.

Lin Wanqing lowered her eyes to hide her guilt, and the scene from that day last year uncontrollably flashed through her mind, causing an indescribable bitterness and remorse to well up in her heart.

She remembered.

On Shen Jingshu's eighteenth birthday last year, the whole family's focus was entirely on Shen Xinyi.

That day happened to be the day Shen Xinyi won the silver medal in the National Youth Piano Competition. The whole family was filled with pride and joy for their youngest daughter. They booked a high-end restaurant in advance and went out to celebrate Shen Xinyi's award. It was a lively and joyful occasion.

From beginning to end, none of them remembered that it was Shen Jingshu's eighteenth birthday that day.

When the family returned home late at night after a fun-filled day, the entryway light was dim.

Under the bright lights of the living room, the young woman, barely an adult, sat alone in the large, empty house.

She personally prepared a table full of hot food, with a simple, small cream cake placed neatly in the center, and waited quietly for the entire night.

The dishes on the table gradually cooled down, and the cake gradually lost its warmth.

It wasn't until they pushed open the door and saw the lonely table of food and the lonely cake that they suddenly realized what was happening—

They forgot their eldest daughter's coming-of-age ceremony, forgot her eighteenth birthday.

That was a girl's only coming-of-age day, a day that only happens once in her life.

But they were all absent, all forgotten.

Memories surged, and Lin Wanqing felt a slight tightness in her throat, a dense sense of guilt welling up in her heart.

But now, no amount of apology is too late.

That year, there was no banquet, no blessings, no gifts, and no family members by my side for my birthday.

Shen Jingshu was all alone, with only a table of cold dishes and a cold cake, as she endured her lonely coming-of-age night.

Everyone had their own thoughts while eating the meal.

The table was laden with exquisite dishes, yet no one engaged in lively conversation. The members of the Li family had already grasped the whole truth, and their gazes towards Lin Wanqing held a hint of barely perceptible disappointment and alienation.

This silent cover-up was merely a way of saving face for her.

After the meal, everyone dispersed, and Li Hanting and Li Beichen went about their own business, leaving the courtyard quiet. Lin Wanqing deliberately slowed her pace, intentionally falling behind, and took the initiative to call out to Shen Jingshu, who was about to return to her room.

"Jing Shu, wait a moment."

She stood beneath the corridor, the evening breeze ruffling her clothes, her face betraying an undisguised unease and guilt. The embarrassment of being publicly scrutinized at the dinner table, coupled with the surging memories in her heart, made it impossible for her to deceive herself any longer.

That year's neglect was never simply a matter of "not liking crowds"; it was a complete dereliction of duty and favoritism on her part as a mother.

Shen Jingshu stopped at the sound, turned her head slightly, her expression calm and indifferent, without joy or sorrow: "Mom, what's wrong?"

Looking at her daughter's completely indifferent, humble, and utterly uncomplaining yet affectionate demeanor, Lin Wanqing felt a strange tightness in her chest.

The Shen Jingshu of the past would feel wronged, sad, and secretly hope for even the slightest bit of favoritism from her. But now, she's too lazy to even feel sad.

Lin Wanqing took a deep breath, softened her tone, and said with a belated apology, "What happened at the dinner table just now... was my fault."

Last year, for your coming-of-age ceremony, your mother neglected to do so. She was so busy with Xinyi's competition that she completely forgot your birthday, leaving you to spend your eighteenth birthday alone.

Her tone was somewhat hasty, an attempt to make amends for past shortcomings: "Jingshu, I'm so sorry. I'll definitely make it up to you for Xinyi's coming-of-age ceremony. After the weekend banquet, I'll throw you a separate birthday party. Whatever gift you want, no matter how expensive, I'll buy it for you, okay?"