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

One by one, the dazzling jewelry gift boxes were opened, and under the warm light, the diamonds, pearls, and colored gemstones shone brightly. Each set was a top-tier haute couture piece from the boutique, luxurious yet understated.

The staff stood respectfully on both sides, patiently waiting for her to make her selection.

Shen Jingshu's gaze swept lightly over the collection of exquisite jewelry. She did not favor the ostentatious and extravagant full-diamond designs, and finally settled on a cool white pearl platinum set.

The necklace is a minimalist single-layer pearl chain, round, white, warm and translucent. Paired with matching delicate pearl earrings and a thin bracelet, it is clean, elegant and exudes a sense of sophistication.

They don't try to steal the spotlight, but they possess an inherent integrity.

The staff immediately stepped forward and carefully helped her put it on.

The pearls accentuated the slender and graceful lines of her neck, her fair and jade-like skin, and her clear and aloof eyes. She seemed to be bathed in gentle moonlight, clean, distant, and extremely noble.

Without heavy makeup, just a simple hair styling is enough to surpass a thousand elaborate and glamorous looks.

Li Beichen sat on the sofa, his eyes filled with genuine pride and affection, nodding repeatedly: "You have excellent taste, this outfit suits you best. It's a hundred times better than those clothes that are covered in rhinestones and deliberately ostentatious."

He knew best that Shen Xinyi was wearing an extravagant diamond-encrusted set that Lin Wanqing had commissioned at great expense tonight. It was dazzling and eye-catching, designed to be stunning and attention-grabbing.

True elegance and sophistication are never about piling up luxury.

Shen Jingshu, with her refined elegance and outstanding temperament, naturally draws attention to herself simply by standing quietly.

"Wrap everything up. This dress and jewelry will be considered Jing Shu's personal belongings." Li Beichen casually waved his hand to pay the bill, his tone nonchalant, as if he had only bought an ordinary little item.

The shop assistant responded quickly, becoming even more respectful.

From beginning to end, Li Beichen didn't even blink at the millions of dollars worth of haute couture gowns and sets of jewelry.

The Shen family was reluctant to give Shen Jingshu any respect, but the Li brothers readily gave her plenty.

After changing their clothes and getting ready, the two got back into the car and headed towards the banquet hall of the hotel that the Shen family had booked.

The atmosphere inside the car was quiet and peaceful.

Shen Jingshu looked at the street scene flashing past the window and said softly, "Second Brother, thank you."

She knew in her heart that this was not a spur-of-the-moment shopping trip to buy gifts, but a gesture of respect from Li Hanting and Li Beichen, who felt sorry for her past shortcomings.

Li Beichen turned to look at her, smiling gently and frankly: "What are you thanking me for? Our Li family's little girl deserves to be pampered. What others don't give you, we will. What others have, you will only have better than them."

A short sentence, yet a profound warmth settled in my heart.

As evening fell, the five-star hotels in the city center were brightly lit.

The entire building was ablaze with neon lights. The panoramic banquet hall on the top floor was booked by the Shen family. The area outside was covered with red carpet and surrounded by flowers. Guests arrived in luxury cars, and many celebrities and dignitaries from Beijing attended the event. The scene was grand and solemn.

Today is Shen Xinyi's eighteenth birthday celebration. The Shen family has invited many people to this banquet to enhance their image and solidify their relationship with the Lu family.

At this moment, inside and outside the banquet hall, everyone's eyes, expectations, and praise were all focused on the birthday girl tonight—Shen Xinyi.

Shen Xinyi wore a pink haute couture tulle gown and a full set of dazzling diamond jewelry made by Lin Wanqing. Her makeup was exquisite and sweet. She stood at the reception desk, arm in arm with Lu Manman, with a sweet and gentle smile, receiving blessings and compliments from the guests.

"Xinyi is getting more and more beautiful. She's the most beautiful girl here today."

"At eighteen, she has come of age and grown into a beautiful young woman. The Shen family is truly blessed."

"Your diamond jewelry is so dazzling; the late Qing dynasty truly doted on you."

As she heard the praises, Shen Xinyi's eyes were filled with pride, and her smile became even more charming and shy.

She would occasionally glance towards the entrance, eagerly anticipating Lu Ze's arrival, while secretly waiting to see Shen Jing Shu's figure.

In her mind, Shen Jingshu had always been simple and plain, and didn't know how to dress up. She always wore plain clothes. Even if she tried to dress up, she would only look ordinary and could never compare to herself when she was dressed up and covered in jewelry.

Tonight, she is the sole protagonist, the most dazzling heiress of the Shen family in the entire venue.

Shen Jingshu?

It's just a supporting role.

But no one knew that at this moment, in the darkness outside the banquet hall, a stunning spectacle that would completely overturn everyone's vision was slowly approaching.

The banquet hall was bustling with noise and laughter.

The crystal chandeliers shimmered, illuminating the elegantly dressed, opulent scene throughout the venue.

Shen Xinyi stood in the most conspicuous welcoming position, wearing a sweet and delicate pink tulle dress. The full set of diamond jewelry around her neck and ears sparkled, dazzling the eyes under the lights.

She responded to every compliment from the guests with a smile, her demeanor elegant and poised, enjoying the treatment of being the center of attention.

Lu Manman stayed by her side, smiling and whispering, "You look really good today. When my brother comes later, he'll definitely take a second look at you."

Shen Xinyi was secretly delighted, but on the surface she pretended to be shy, lowering her eyes and smiling gently.

She was already certain that she was the irreplaceable and sole protagonist tonight.

Just then, the heavy, ornate doors of the banquet hall were slowly pushed open from both sides by the waiters.

The evening breeze carried in the dappled lights.

Two figures slowly stepped in—

Li Beichen stepped in first, his posture noble and upright, exuding an extraordinary aura.

At that moment, Shen Jingshu, standing beside him, instantly stole all the spotlight.

The minimalist moonlight white haute couture gown has a clean cut and cool, smooth lines. The delicate starlight-like tulle pattern sways gently with each step. It is understated and not ostentatious, but it has an atmosphere of supreme nobility.

The warm, cool white pearls around her neck clung to her slender neck, their soft light highlighting her snow-white skin and her clear, ethereal eyes.

She wore no heavy makeup, only lightly outlining her eyebrows and eyes, looking clean and clear, cool and aloof like the moon, with a distant yet noble temperament.

Compared to the socialites in the room who were deliberately glamorous and extravagant, she was like a fairy descended from the moon, clean, composed, and untouched by worldly dust.

For an instant.

The noisy banquet hall suddenly fell silent.

All conversations, praises, and laughter came to an abrupt halt.

All the guests present were immediately drawn to the elegant figure at the door, their eyes filled with unexpected amazement.

All the attention, focus, and praise that was originally focused on Shen Xinyi were instantly drained and completely transferred at this moment.

Shen Xinyi's smile froze instantly.

She turned her head blankly to look at the doorway, her pupils suddenly contracted, and her heart sank.

How could this be...?

How can Shen Jingshu be so beautiful?!

She thought Shen Jingshu would be plain and unremarkable, but the person in front of her was slender and elegant, with a unique temperament. Her simple yet glamorous attire was a hundred times more sophisticated and a thousand times more dazzling than her own diamond-encrusted and deliberately flamboyant outfit!

Her elaborate and extravagant attire, lavishly adorned, instantly appeared vulgar and ostentatious in the face of Shen Jingshu's natural and aloof elegance.

Lu Manman, who was standing to the side, was also slightly stunned, and couldn't help but sigh softly, "So beautiful... her temperament is too good."

After a two-second silence, a series of soft gasps of surprise began to ripple through the room.

"And who is this? Is there another young lady in the Shen family?"

"She's absolutely stunning! Her aura is incredible, and she's so much more attractive than Shen Xinyi!"

"Her white dress was clean and elegant, she was just as stunning as any of Beijing's top socialites!"

"No wonder the second young master of the Li family personally accompanied him into the venue; his appearance and demeanor are truly outstanding."