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

Xu Zhixia added with a smile, "By the way, my birthday party this time wasn't at a hotel; my family specially arranged it at a detached villa."

"My parents felt that the hotel was too commercialized and lacked atmosphere, so they simply decorated and renovated the entire courtyard and main banquet hall of our house to hold this birthday banquet."

Her tone was relaxed, but it couldn't hide the Xu family's wealth and influence.

The Xu family is a prominent and wealthy family in Beijing. Their detached villa covers a vast area and has a huge courtyard, open-air terrace and exclusive banquet hall. Private banquets are far more prestigious and private than hotel banquets.

"Although it was a banquet at home, there were quite a few guests. Most of the family's business associates and long-standing relatives and friends were there, so there was bound to be a lot of socializing and small talk." Xu Zhixia spread her hands helplessly. "To put it bluntly, it was still using my birthday as an excuse to network. I'm used to it."

"But don't worry! The entire second-floor lounge area, movie theater, and terrace on the main building are our private territory. We can stay together, eat desserts, chat, and take photos without having to go downstairs to deal with those adults' formalities."

Xu Zhixia looked at Shen Jingshu, who had just returned, her eyes full of tenderness: "Shushu, you've just come back after a long journey, so don't be shy. Just relax and have fun tonight."

Shen Jingshu nodded slightly, pondering to herself.

She had indeed completely forgotten Xu Zhixia's birthday because she had been dealing with the bizarre case involving the use of a life in Yunnan Province for days.

Originally, I was thinking of giving the gift in public, but then I thought that Song Ran and Lin Miaomiao came from ordinary families. If I brought an expensive gift, it would make the two girls feel inferior and embarrassed, and ruin the harmonious atmosphere between roommates.

So she quietly suppressed her intention to give a belated gift and planned to prepare a special birthday gift for Xu Zhixia privately, so as to both fulfill her feelings and save face for everyone.

"Thank you for preparing dresses for us so kindly," Shen Jingshu said gently.

"Why are you being so polite with me!" Xu Zhixia waved her hand excitedly, "I already brought the dresses back to the dorm. They're all custom-made to our sizes, understated yet elegant, perfect for the atmosphere of a banquet at home. Let's try them on one by one now!"

The dormitory room instantly became lively.

Xu Zhixia deftly opened the exquisite custom-made packaging bag. Four dresses were neatly laid out on the bed. The fabric was delicate and smooth, and the color scheme was gentle and sophisticated. There were no ostentatious sequins commonly seen at high-society banquets. They were all understated and exquisite light luxury styles, with just the right amount of dignified elegance, perfectly matching the girl's temperament.

"I specifically chose these styles; they're flattering for all body types and not too flashy, perfect for us students," Xu Zhixia introduced with a smile. "I kept one champagne gold one for myself, and the remaining three are for the three of you. Come on, try them on!"

The three girls responded in unison, each taking a dress and going to the next booth to try them on.

Song Ran was the first to change. She wore a gentle, misty apricot-colored long dress. The fitted waist accentuated her slender and graceful figure, adding a touch of quiet gentleness. She looked well-behaved and elegant.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Miaomiao walked out of the fitting room, wearing a light mint green dress that was fresh and lively. The skirt was light and fluffy, making her look full of energy. Her eyebrows and eyes were lively and cute, and she was particularly eye-catching.

Xu Zhixia changed into her own champagne gold main dress. The gold fabric shimmered with soft light under the lamp, exuding elegance and poise, with the composed demeanor of a wealthy heiress. Her eyes and brows were bright and captivating.

Lastly, it was Shen Jingshu.

She wore a minimalist raven-blue long gown, its clean lines and simple, elegant silhouette perfectly complementing her figure. The cool, understated color accentuated her ethereal and refined气质 (qi zhi - inherent quality/temperament).

With her black hair flowing over her shoulders, her eyes clear and detached, and her skin as white as snow, she stood there quietly, exuding a unique and aloof beauty that overshadowed the exquisite dress itself, making it impossible to look away at first glance.

The three roommates were instantly stunned.

"My goodness! Shushu, you're so beautiful!"

"This dress would just look like an ordinary formal gown on anyone else, but on you, it exudes a top-tier aura! You look like a cool, aloof young lady!"

Shen Jingshu lowered her eyes slightly and gave a faint smile: "You are all very beautiful too."

Each of the four women has her own unique charm—some are gentle, some are lively, some are bright, and some are aloof. Standing together, they complement each other perfectly, radiating youthful beauty.

After quickly fixing my makeup and hair, the sun was just sinking below the horizon, and the twilight was spreading gently.

The Xu family's personal driver was already waiting at the entrance of Peking University in his black van at the agreed time.

The four of them went downstairs together and got into a private car.

The car drove smoothly away from the campus, heading towards the hillside villa area in the city center where land is extremely valuable.

The closer you get to your destination, the more tranquil and luxurious the surrounding environment becomes. The route is lined with lush and precious greenery, and detached mansions are scattered throughout, offering a high degree of privacy. It is a top-tier community that is difficult for ordinary people to access.

Twenty minutes later, the car slowly came to a stop in front of a very large detached villa.

The imposing, ornate iron gates open on both sides, revealing a brightly lit courtyard. Warm yellow string lights twinkle around the flowers and trees, and the lawn is clean and tidy. In the center stands an exquisite dessert table, a champagne tower, and floral decorations. The main building is brightly lit throughout, with floor lamps casting a clear and magnificent glow, exuding an understated yet luxurious grandeur.

Guests streamed in and out of the villa, with luxury cars parked in an orderly fashion. The visitors were all well-dressed business elites and scions of prominent families.

The driver brought the vehicle to a stop, got out respectfully, and opened the door: "Miss, we've arrived."

Xu Zhixia, familiar with the area, led the three out of the car and whispered, "I'll take you upstairs to put your things away first. We'll rest on the second floor for now and come down for some snacks later. No need to rush to socialize."

The three nodded slightly and followed Xu Zhixia into the brightly lit Xu family villa.

The grand birthday banquet has begun. Elegantly dressed guests gather, and a gentle feast for the young girl has officially commenced.

The Xu family's meticulously planned birthday banquet invited almost half of Beijing's business elites.

Longtime business partners, family friends, and influential collaborators all attended the event. A fleet of top-of-the-line luxury cars lined the villa's entrance, creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere. The city's most prestigious and long-established families, including the Gu and Li families, all sent representatives to offer their congratulations, making for a grand and unparalleled celebration.

Even the Lu family, who are firmly established in the top echelons of Beijing and possess unparalleled power and wealth, specially sent someone to attend the banquet.

However, the person who came this time was only Lu Ze, a collateral descendant of the Lu family.

Everyone knew perfectly well that, given the Xu family's current size and status, receiving a personal visit from a collateral branch of the Lu family was already an immense honor. The main branch of the Lu family was incredibly prestigious and aloof, controlling the entire Lu family's vast business empire, and their status was unattainable.