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

At the Xu family banquet tonight, where guests were gathered, everyone's attention was focused on the various wealthy guests, but the appearance of one figure instantly stole the spotlight.

Shen Xinyi did not enter the banquet hall with the Shen family tonight. Instead, she took Lu Ze's arm in a close and gentle manner and walked into the banquet hall side by side.

She wore an exquisite and dazzling pink dress, her makeup was meticulously done, and her figure was slender. She deliberately dressed up to be bright and eye-catching, looking every bit the elegant lady. She nestled close to Lu Ze in an intimate manner.

As soon as the two entered, the surrounding noise subconsciously subsided, and all the guests turned to look, with countless inquisitive, envious, and curious gazes falling upon them.

Many people present did not recognize Shen Xinyi and whispered among themselves, trying to find out the identity of the girl who was by Lu Ze's side.

When someone revealed the answer—that she was Lu Ze's girlfriend and the daughter of the Shen family—a subtle commotion instantly erupted throughout the room.

Everyone's eyes immediately scanned the scene, searching for the Shen family members. Their eyes were filled with a mixture of sudden realization and calculated attempts to curry favor.

Those present were all seasoned business veterans, adept at assessing situations and weighing pros and cons.

Everyone knows that the Lu family in Beijing is a top-tier wealthy family at the very top of the pyramid, and ordinary families don't even have the right to associate with them.

Now that the Shen family's daughter has hooked up with Lu Ze, a member of a collateral branch of the Lu family, it's like she's risen to the top in one step, allowing the Shen family to climb onto the towering tree of the Lu family.

Although Lu Ze is currently only a member of a collateral branch of the Lu family and cannot compare to the immense power of the main family, everyone in Beijing knows this perfectly well.

If Shen Xinying can really marry into the Lu family and secure the position of Mrs. Lu, the Shen family will be able to rise rapidly with the help of the Lu family's power, and their value, status, and resources will all double.

In an instant, countless guests became restless, and their gazes toward the Shen family members were filled with a mixture of awe and deliberate attempts to curry favor.

As the compliments from others fell into her ears, Shen Xinyi couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.

Today, she specially chose a pink dress that complemented her skin tone, and her jewelry was perfectly matched. Every move she made was deliberately done to maintain the gentle demeanor of a wealthy socialite, completely immersed in the envious glances from others.

The upper class had long assumed that Lu Jingxing's health was failing and he wouldn't last much longer, and that Lu Ze, as the most outstanding junior in the collateral branch, was the undisputed frontrunner to become the next head of the family.

She seized the opportunity to cling to Lu Ze early on, which, in the eyes of outsiders, meant that she had firmly grasped the glory and wealth for the next few decades, and that the entire Shen family would also rise in status.

She and Lu Manman accompanied Lu Ze to the banquet. As soon as they entered the banquet hall, Lu Ze turned away to socialize with the male guests, leaving the two girls behind.

Lu Manman was well-versed in the ways of social circles and had connections among many young ladies in Beijing. She immediately took Shen Xinyi's arm affectionately and led her among the young women.

"Come on, let me introduce you to some friends I often see. It'll be easier to get along with them when we meet in our circle."

Shen Xinyi nestled against her, a flawless, gentle smile on her face, and politely greeted everyone she met.

Listening to the whispers around her about her conversation with Lu Ze, she felt a sense of pride and satisfaction, thinking that she had finally made it through after careful planning.

She glanced at the second-floor stairwell from afar and vaguely caught sight of four elegant figures, one of whom, with her aloof and otherworldly demeanor, stood out particularly—it was Shen Jingshu.

Shen Xinyi knew that today was Xu Zhixia's birthday party, and Shen Jingshu would definitely be there. The two were already very close roommates, and given that Shen Jingshu was now known as the Li family's stepdaughter, there was no reason for her to be absent.

She had long been mentally prepared to meet this older sister, and far from being intimidated, she even felt a hint of anticipation. She couldn't wait for Shen Jingshu to see her current glory, so she could take advantage of this banquet to show off.

Everyone said that Lu Jingxing was weak and short-lived and wouldn't last more than a few years. As the most promising candidate to succeed Lu Ze, she only needed to stick with Lu Ze and one day she would rightfully become the young mistress of the Lu family.

In Shen Xinyi's view, the status of a mere stepdaughter of the Li family could never compare to the future matriarch of the Lu family. Shen Jingshu's little bit of confidence was utterly insignificant in front of her.

As she was pondering this, Lu Ze, who had finished entertaining a group of male guests not far away, glanced in her direction seemingly out of the blue.

The auspicious time for the banquet is approaching.

Accompanied by three friends, Xu Zhixia gracefully and slowly descended the stairs from the second floor.

As the absolute protagonist of the evening, he attracted the attention of countless guests, and many elders and family friends politely stepped forward to offer their greetings and congratulations.

Xu Zhixia has always disliked the insincerity and politeness of business social interactions, but she also knows how to be tactful and considerate. Facing a group of scions of prominent families and socialites of the same age, she still patiently stepped forward to greet and exchange pleasantries.

Before leaving, she specifically asked Shen Jingshu to take good care of Song Ran and Lin Miaomiao.

Shen Jingshu nodded gently in agreement and led the two girls to a quiet sofa lounge area in the banquet hall to sit down.

Looking at the lavish scene of bright lights, elegant attire, and graceful figures before them, Song Ran and Lin Miaomiao felt a hint of restraint and awkwardness in their eyes.

This was their first time truly stepping into such a top-tier high-society banquet. Surrounded by unfamiliar scions of wealthy families and socialites, and surrounded by sophisticated and respectable figures, they couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

Shen Jingshu immediately noticed their awkwardness and was exceptionally considerate, letting them sit down and rest. She then beckoned to a waiter to bring them refreshing drinks and exquisite desserts.

"You can just sit here and have something to eat. There's no need to socialize or be nervous."

She gently comforted them. They didn't know anyone here, and forcing themselves to fit in would only make them feel awkward; it was better to relax comfortably.

Shen Jingshu herself had no interest in socializing.

She was once an unloved daughter of the Shen family and rarely attended such banquets; now, although she carries the title of the Li family's stepdaughter, her status is ultimately illegitimate, and many established families in the industry still secretly look down on her and disregard her.

She has never bothered with such superficial and insincere social interactions.

The three of them quietly settled into the rest area, enjoying their food and chatting idly. Away from the hustle and bustle of the main venue, they felt exceptionally relaxed and at ease.

After sitting and chatting for a long time, and having drunk quite a bit of beverage, Shen Jingshu got up to go to the restroom.

After walking through the corridor, I arrived at the sink. In the empty and quiet wash area, there was only one unfamiliar girl tidying up her appearance.

Shen Jingshu's gaze swept over them indifferently, her eyes pausing almost imperceptibly.

The girl was surrounded by a faint, gloomy, and stagnant black aura, which clung to her shoulders and neck, making her look extremely strange and not at all like a normal person.

I subconsciously took a second look.

The girl opposite did not recognize Shen Jingshu.

Feeling stared at for so long, she subconsciously frowned, secretly feeling that the other person was being somewhat rude. But when she looked up and saw Shen Jingshu's face clearly, a flash of intense jealousy instantly crossed her eyes.

The woman's skin was as white as snow, with a translucent and delicate texture. Her eyebrows and eyes were clear and beautiful, and there was not a trace of artificial sculpting from head to toe. She was a naturally exquisite beauty.

At the same banquet, she meticulously applied makeup and dressed up, barely managing to hold her own. But the woman before her, with her simple and elegant demeanor, effortlessly overwhelmed the entire room, her beauty dazzling and infuriating.