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

Shen Jingshu didn't want to get involved in other people's disputes, but just now, the Second Young Master Wang repeatedly mentioned "that person from the Lu family," and everyone in the circle knew that he was referring to Lu Jingxing. There were even rumors circulating that Lu Jingxing was going to marry Mo Xi, and she herself was completely unaware of this.

Seeing that Wang Shao was about to reach out and pull Mo Chu, Shen Jing Shu stopped watching. She quickly stepped forward, grabbed the man's arm, and twisted it with her wrist. With a soft "crack," Wang Shao's arm was dislocated.

The man groaned in pain and swung his other fist in an attempt to retaliate. Shen Jingshu showed no mercy, raising her foot and delivering a clean and decisive flying kick, knocking the man to the ground.

Young Master Wang lay curled up on the cold ground, writhing in pain, unable to get up. Shen Jingshu patted non-existent dust off her hands, then pulled out a tissue and carefully wiped her fingertips, her expression full of disgust, as if she had just touched something filthy.

Mo Chu was both surprised and grateful, and quickly stepped forward: "Jing Shu, why did you have to take action for me? What if it causes trouble..."

"He's just blocking the way," Shen Jingshu said calmly. "Let's go, let's get out."

Mo Chu knew that Shen Jingshu's words were meant to comfort her, to spare her psychological pressure. However, she remained uneasy, fearing that things would escalate and she wouldn't be able to explain herself to the old man and her elder brother. Then she thought again: Old Master Mo and Mo Hanzhou had always valued Shen Jingshu, and she was her grandfather's savior; they would surely protect her. But the rest of the Mo family might not be so forgiving, especially her parents. If things really came to a head, she could simply take all the blame herself and say that she was the one who did it.

The two walked out of the restroom together and headed towards the noisy banquet hall.

Shen Jingshu didn't return to the inner hall, but found an empty seat in the outer hall. She had already gleaned some clues from Wang Shao and Mo Chu's expressions. Staying would allow her to see the drama unfold. Banquets were inherently dull; why not watch the excitement?

Mo Chu didn't continue walking with Shen Jingshu, but headed straight towards her parents' location. She planned to find Mo Hanzhou and tell her older brother what had happened in the restroom beforehand, so that he would be prepared.

But before she could find Mo Hanzhou, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.

Mo Xi stood in front of her, her tone deliberately affectionate: "Sister, where are you going?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Mo's parents followed closely behind.

Mother Mo frowned slightly: "Where did you run off to?"

"I just went to the restroom, is that not allowed?" Mo Chu frowned and asked.

Mo's mother was speechless for a moment, and her face darkened.

From the bottom of her heart, Mo's mother disliked her eldest daughter, Mo Chu. She couldn't understand why, despite being twins born of the same mother, both her own flesh and blood, Mo Chu always seemed to defy her wishes, constantly contradicting the family and doing things that displeased her. In contrast, her younger daughter, Mo Xi, was sweet-talking, sensible, and considerate in every way. They say daughters are a mother's little cotton-padded jacket, but in her eyes, Mo Chu was simply rebellious and a headache.

"Just now, many ladies from prominent families came over to ask you about it. As the head of the Mo family, instead of entertaining guests, you're running around everywhere. What kind of behavior is that?" Mother Mo said in a reprimanding tone.

Mo Chu was already used to her parents' biased attitude, so she didn't argue, but just stood there quietly with a cold face. She knew in her heart that her parents only had eyes for Mo Xi from beginning to end.

In her youth, she longed for her parents' love, but as she grew older, she saw through the reality. With fading family ties, she would never again foolishly seek their care as she had in her childhood.

Just then, Mo Xi seemed to suddenly remember something, and feigning curiosity, asked, "By the way, sister, do you have a boyfriend? I just saw the young master of the Wang family looking for you everywhere."

Mo Chu suddenly looked up and stared straight at Mo Xi. Meeting the other's smiling, seemingly curious and inquisitive expression, alarm bells instantly went off in her heart.

She knew Mo Xi's expression all too well. Whenever Mo Xi showed that look, it meant she was about to plot against her again. Connecting the dots with the man blocking her way at the restroom door and that so-called photo, Mo Chu instantly understood everything.

Mo Xi's methods this time were far too extreme. In the past, her petty schemes were at most to incite her parents to despise her and ruin her reputation. But this time, she actually dared to make a move at the grand banquet celebrating the Mo family's return, trying to publicly discredit her.

Isn't she afraid of ruining the banquet and making her grandfather and older brother despise her? She's planning to even make her grandfather, the only one who truly cares for her, despise her; she's truly wicked.

Mo Xi feigned ignorance, tilting her head as she asked, "Sister, why are you looking at me like that? Am I wrong? We're not young anymore, and it's perfectly normal to have boyfriends. But if you have someone, you should tell the family. Just now, Mom and Dad, along with many elders from prominent families, were all planning to introduce you to potential partners. If you already have someone you like, you should tell Mother sooner rather than later, so that she can..."

Upon hearing Mo Xi's words, Mo's mother's expression immediately changed, and she sternly questioned Mo Chu: "Is what Xi'er said true? When did you get a boyfriend? We've only been back in the country for a short time, and you dare to mess around outside? Are you hanging out with some shady men? Can't you learn from your sister? You're supposed to be the eldest daughter of the Mo family, how can you be so depraved, lowering your status by associating with such people? Can't you stand being alone?"

These harsh words still sent a jolt through Mo Chu's heart, even though she was prepared.

This was her biological mother, a lady from a prestigious family, yet she could say such hurtful things to her own daughter. She couldn't help but feel a pang of self-mockery, wondering if she had committed some heinous crime in her past life to be born into such a family. From childhood to adulthood, her parents' favoritism had always belonged solely to Mo Xi, never extending even a fraction to her.

The disappointment and pain in Mo Chu's eyes were too obvious, and Mo's mother realized that she had spoken too harshly and lost face. But she couldn't bring herself to admit her mistake, so she could only forcefully change the subject: "Alright, who exactly is this young master of the Wang family? In high society, I've never heard of any family with the surname Wang. Could it be some insignificant, third-rate family?"

Mo Xi chimed in at just the right moment, feigning regret: "Mom, don't you know? The Wang family is quite well-off, but this young master Wang has always had a philandering lifestyle and a very chaotic love life. I don't know how you, sister, could have fallen for someone like that. Sister, I advise you to break up with him as soon as possible and let Mother find you a suitable match from a prestigious family. We're sisters; we can't have your future marriage be so far removed from mine, don't you think?"

"That's right, Xi'er is absolutely right. You should learn more from your sister." Mother Mo echoed repeatedly, secretly making plans in her heart.

Despite rumors circulating that Lu Jingxing's fate was perilous and his lifespan uncertain, he was ultimately the sole heir of the Lu family. If Mo Xi could successfully marry into the Lu family and conceive as soon as possible, bearing Lu family blood, she would gain status through her child. With the Mo family's blood flowing through the next generation of the Lu family, the Mo family could leverage this connection to seize a large portion of the Lu family's profits—the benefits of which were immeasurable.

After listening to the mother and daughter's back-and-forth banter, Mo Chu felt a chill in her heart and couldn't help but let out a cold, mocking laugh.