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

Bai Zhi felt completely exhausted. She slid down the cold railing, tears streaming down her face, as she finally unleashed the pent-up grievances and despair she had suppressed for years.

From childhood to adulthood, she was obedient, sensible, and submissive, always yielding and making concessions for her family. Even as her health deteriorated and she suffered daily torment, she never dared to complain, only silently gritting her teeth and enduring it.

She thought it was because she was born with a weak constitution and little fortune, but she never imagined that all the suffering in her short life was a conspiracy orchestrated by her closest relatives.

Her so-called family never showed her any affection; they only treated her as a living sacrifice to nourish the family and fulfill her younger brother's wishes.

Seeing her break down, sobbing, and in unbearable pain, Shen Jingshu felt a pang of pity.

Everyone longs for the warmth of family, but the sharpest knife in this world often comes from the closest people.

She stepped forward and gently supported Bai Zhi, who was overwhelmed with emotion. Her voice was clear yet incredibly gentle, carrying a calming power: "Sister Bai Zhi, don't cry. It's too late to despair now."

"They can set up an evil formation to steal your fortune, but I can break the formation myself and take back all your destiny, blessings, and life."

Bai Zhi, who had been at the bottom of despair, suddenly looked up. A faint light ignited in her tear-filled eyes as she trembled and grasped Shen Jing Shu's wrist: "Really... can we still break the formation? Can we get back the luck that was taken from us? Can my body get better?"

"Of course." Shen Jingshu's tone was firm, her words resounding. "Evil cannot prevail over good. The insidious formations of unorthodox methods can never suppress a truly superior destiny."

"You were destined for a life of abundant blessings and good health, but they forcibly stole and altered it using despicable and evil magic. I only need to break the luck-locking formation and let the luck flow back, and everything that belongs to you will be returned to its rightful place."

"Not only that, stealing someone else's destiny and fortune is an evil act against the heavens. The way of heaven is cyclical. All the illnesses, declines, and shortened lifespans they imposed on you will backfire and be multiplied on the Bai family members in the future, especially on your younger brother."

Bai Zhi stared blankly at the composed and confident girl in front of her, and for the first time, the gloom that had accumulated in her heart for many years shone through.

She asked, her voice choked with emotion, "Then... what should I do next?"

"You don't need to do anything special," Shen Jingshu reassured softly. "Just live your life as usual and pretend you know nothing. Don't let your family find out that you know the truth, and especially don't let them discover my intention to help you break this deadlock."

"These people who made their fortune through evil magic are greedy and ruthless. Once they realize their plan has been exposed, they may resort to desperate measures and kill you even more viciously."

Bai Zhi nodded vigorously, wiped away her tears, and forced herself to calm down. Having experienced the truth of today, she had completely seen through her family's true colors, and no longer felt any attachment or soft-heartedness, only a chilling coldness and vigilance.

"I've remembered that. I will definitely hide my emotions well and never let them show."

Shen Jingshu looked at her quick recovery and composure, nodded slightly, and her eyes showed a hint of approval.

Angelica dahurica possesses a resilient and insightful nature. Even after being tormented by her closest relatives for many years, she remains pure of heart and upright in her values, which is truly rare.

"I'll contact you privately after the banquet," Shen Jingshu whispered. "I'll prepare a talisman to break the formation and find a time when the yin energy is weakest and the yang energy is strongest to help you completely break the Fate-Changing and Life-Locking Formation and sever your destiny ties with the Bai family."

Bai Zhi's fortune, her longevity, and her life belong only to herself!

I will never again become a stepping stone for others, and I will never again be wantonly devoured by my closest relatives!

The evening breeze swept across the terrace, dispelling some of the gloom.

Bai Zhi looked at the composed and calm Shen Jingshu beside her, her heart filled with gratitude. Fortunately, she had come to this banquet today; fortunately, she had met Shen Jingshu.

Just as the two were talking in hushed tones and finalizing everything, a deliberately gentle female voice suddenly broke the silence from the top of the terrace stairs.

"Sister? So you've been here! I've been looking for you for so long."

Shen Xinyi, holding a glass of champagne, slowly walked onto the terrace, her eyes revealing a barely perceptible probing and sinister look as she stared directly at the two people standing side by side.

Shen Xinyi slowly walked onto the terrace, holding a glass of champagne, and feigned surprise: "Why are you hiding in a place like this, sister? You're practically a hostess today, why aren't you in the front hall to greet the guests? What are you doing alone on the terrace?"

She paused slightly, as if just realizing something, then covered her lips with feigned regret, her tone adding a touch of deliberate pity: "Oh dear, did I say something I shouldn't have? Could it be that you're not highly regarded in the Li family, and it's inconvenient for you to socialize? It seems that your life in the Li family isn't as glamorous as outsiders imagine."

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhi frowned slightly.

After a moment's thought, she figured out the connection; this must be Jing Shu's younger sister. The two looked somewhat alike, but their personalities were worlds apart. Bai Zhi, being older, had seen many two-faced people and immediately saw through Shen Xinyi's feigned weakness, realizing her intentions were malicious. She instinctively glanced at Shen Jing Shu, a hint of worry in her eyes.

Shen Jingshu noticed Bai Zhi's concerns and turned her head to give her a reassuring look.

She has now been completely transformed and will never again allow Shen Xinyi to manipulate her at will or tolerate her every move, just like in her previous life.

She retorted calmly and unhurriedly, "Whether I'm doing well or not in the Li family is none of your concern. Instead of wasting your time speculating about my situation, you should keep a close eye on your boyfriend. He's someone you went to great lengths to get; if you don't keep a close watch on him, he might be snatched away by someone else someday."

Shen Xinyi's smile froze, and a storm raged in her heart.

Shen Jingshu's words were suggestive; could it be that she knew some secret?

Impossible. She handled what happened that night with utmost secrecy, keeping even Lu Ze in the dark, treating it as an accident. Shen Jingshu had absolutely no reason to know the inside story.

Shen Xinyi was filled with doubt and unease, but she refused to show it on her face.

Shen Jingshu understood. When she first met Shen Xinyi, she had already glimpsed many of the other's secrets from her face. Logically speaking, between blood relatives, physiognomy is often affected by the rules of nature, making it difficult to see through too many details.

Whether it was the opportunity brought by her rebirth or the fact that her own cultivation had already broken free from its shackles, she could see the fortunes and past misdeeds of the Shen family members as clearly as she could see ordinary outsiders, without being bound by any blood ties.

Shen Xinyi quickly composed herself, put on a proud smile, and pretended to be aggrieved: "Why is my sister targeting me like this? Is it because she's jealous that I found such an excellent boyfriend as Brother Aze? Do you know that soon Brother Aze will take over the Lu family and become the next head of the Lu family?"

"Oh? You're so certain that your brother Aze will become the head of the Lu family?"

"Of course!" Shen Xinyi said confidently and firmly. "Everyone in the industry knows that the Lu family's man is frail and won't last more than three years. Once he passes away, the entire Lu family will naturally be handed over to Brother Aze."

Bai Zhi, who was standing to the side, was startled when she heard this and subconsciously looked up at Shen Xinyi.

Such rumors might be discussed privately, but to openly assert that the Lu family's leader is doomed at a gathering of celebrities like the Li family banquet is simply too arrogant and presumptuous.

Shen Jingshu coldly sized up the spirited Shen Xinyi, secretly shaking her head in her heart.

Shen Xinyi only saw the surface opportunities, but she couldn't see the huge variables hidden in the future. She was convinced that Lu Ze was the only choice, but little did she know that many things had slowly deviated from the course of her previous life.