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

Shen Jingshu originally thought that after experiencing a series of changes yesterday, she would definitely be unable to sleep tonight, her mind filled with unsettled thoughts.

Unexpectedly, as soon as her head touched the soft bed, she was enveloped by a strong sense of drowsiness and fell into a deep sleep.

I slept soundly and peacefully, free from the nightmares of my past life and the torment of betrayal and scheming. When I opened my eyes again, it was already bright outside, and sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains, filling it with warmth.

"Knock knock knock—"

A gentle knock sounded at the door, and a maid's respectful and gentle voice came from outside: "Miss Jing Shu, are you up? Madam and Master are already waiting downstairs, and breakfast is ready."

Shen Jingshu instantly snapped out of her daze, quickly sat up, and replied loudly, "Okay, I'm already up, I'll be downstairs right away."

Upon hearing the response, the maid tiptoed away from the doorway and went downstairs.

Shen Jingshu quickly got out of bed, went to the dressing room, opened the wardrobe and rummaged through her clothes.

Inside were all the clothes she brought back from the Shen family. Not a single one was bought specifically for her. They were all old clothes that Shen Xinyi had grown tired of or disliked and discarded. The styles were all light pink, off-white, and other delicate white floral patterns, soft and lifeless.

She has always preferred bright and flamboyant colors, especially red, which is passionate and vibrant, exuding a vigorous vitality and making people feel happy and cheerful just by looking at it.

For more than a decade in the Shen family, she never had the right to choose; what Shen Xinyi didn't want were her clothes.

Shen Jingshu casually picked up a piece of clothing and put it on, only to find that the clothes were extremely ill-fitting, tight around the waist, and the sleeves were too short, barely covering her wrists.

She was already a head taller than Shen Xinyi and had a more graceful figure, so these clothes made her look cramped in every way.

But looking back on her past life, in all those years in the Shen family, not a single person noticed that her clothes didn't fit, and no one asked her if she was cold or uncomfortable.

"That's enough," Shen Jingshu gently tugged at the hem of her dress, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes.

Having been reborn and having cultivated with her master for decades, she has long seen through the truth that cultivation is essentially about cultivating the mind, and the most important thing to do is to follow one's heart and never wrong oneself.

When she had free time, she would go out and buy a few new outfits that suited her taste, and she would never pick up discarded old things again, nor would she ever compromise herself in the slightest.

She quickly tidied herself up, tying her long, black hair into a neat high ponytail. Without any extra decorations, she looked sharp and energetic, then turned and went downstairs.

As soon as she reached the top of the stairs, she saw Li Wenqian and Lin Wanqing sitting at the dining table in the restaurant, waiting for her. The table was filled with an exquisite and sumptuous breakfast, steaming hot and full of warmth.

Upon seeing the two, Shen Jingshu walked over briskly and greeted them politely and obediently, "Uncle Li, Mom, good morning."

"Good morning, Jing Shu," Lin Wanqing replied immediately with a smile, her tone full of gentleness.

Li Wenqian, who was standing to the side, looked up at her and with just a glance, he could tell that the clothes she was wearing were too small, clinging tightly to her body and not fitting her at all.

He frowned almost imperceptibly, but didn't say anything on the spot; only a hint of understanding appeared in his eyes.

Lin Wanqing then moved closer to examine her daughter closely, only to realize something was wrong. She quickly said, "Jing Shu, have you grown taller again? These clothes look so small; they must be so uncomfortable to wear."

Shen Jingshu smiled faintly, her tone calm and even: "Mom, these aren't my clothes, they're all hand-me-downs from my sister."

One sentence made Lin Wanqing freeze instantly, the smile on her face vanished completely, and a wave of guilt surged into her heart.

Only then did she belatedly realize that the last time her eldest daughter bought new clothes was a year ago.

At home, Shen Xinyi would only give Jing Shu clothes that she couldn't wear or didn't like. Jing Shu was busy with household chores all day and never paid attention to them or felt sorry for them.

Even though Jing Shu is the older sister, she has to accommodate her in every way, wearing her younger sister's old clothes, and doesn't even have a single piece of clothing that fits her.

She, as a mother, has been terribly negligent.

Lin Wanqing's eyes reddened slightly. She took Shen Jingshu's hand, her voice full of self-reproach and heartache: "It's my fault, I didn't notice. After breakfast, I'll take you to the mall and buy you several new outfits that fit. We'll buy whatever you want."

Shen Jingshu gently shook her head and patted her mother's hand reassuringly: "No need, Mom. Aren't you going to the Civil Affairs Bureau with Uncle Li to get your marriage certificate today? It's an important matter and can't be delayed. I can go out and buy it myself after I finish breakfast. It's very convenient."

Lin Wanqing then remembered the marriage certificate. After hesitating for a moment, she was still worried: "Do you have any money on you? Mom will get it for you right away."

"Yes, Mom." Shen Jingshu said softly, a faint smile curving her eyes. "You forgot, Uncle Li already gave me a card yesterday."

Lin Wanqing then suddenly slapped her forehead, realizing that she had forgotten about it in her haste.

Li Wenqian smiled and spoke at the right moment, his eyes full of affection as he looked at Shen Jingshu, with the gentleness one would show to a biological daughter: "A girl should dress up beautifully. When we go out later, I'll have the driver take you. Go to the mall and pick out a few outfits you like, don't worry about the money. My biggest regret in this life is not having a daughter. Jingshu, you are well-behaved and sensible, and so outstanding. You are exactly the kind of daughter I've always longed for."

"Okay, thank you, Uncle Li." Shen Jingshu obediently replied, her attitude both polite and friendly.

Soon, the three finished breakfast. Li Wenqian took Lin Wanqing's hand, gently gave Shen Jingshu a few words of advice, and then left to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get their marriage certificate.

Shen Jingshu slowly finished the last mouthful of porridge, elegantly wiped the corner of her mouth, and walked straight to the door without lingering upstairs.

As soon as she reached the entrance, the butler was already waiting respectfully at the door. Upon seeing her come out, he quickly stepped forward and said, "Miss Jing Shu, the driver and car are already prepared outside. If you need anything after you leave, just give the driver your instructions."

"Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Butler." Shen Jingshu said humbly, nodded slightly, and then slowly walked out of the villa.

The driver was already waiting by the car. When he saw her come out, he immediately stepped forward and respectfully opened the car door. After she was seated, he gently closed the door, returned to the driver's seat, and started the car.

The car slowly drove away, and the butler stood at the door, watching the tail of the car disappear at the end of the road, and couldn't help but ponder to himself.

This Miss Jing Shu is truly outstanding. She is very well-mannered, polite, and has a bright and elegant appearance.

Although her clothes didn't fit well and were a bit worn, her overall demeanor was calm and composed, unlike that of a teenage girl. On the contrary, she was more outstanding than many young ladies carefully cultivated by wealthy families.

The butler immediately shook his head, chuckling at himself for overthinking.

Miss Jing Shu may have suffered some grievances in the Shen family before, but now that she has come to the Li family with Madam, she is the rightful Miss Li. From now on, she will naturally soar to great heights and will never have to suffer any more grievances.

Inside the car, the driver glanced at Shen Jingshu, who remained calm and composed in the back seat, through the rearview mirror, and respectfully asked, "Miss Jingshu, which shopping mall should we go to first?"

"Let's just find a large shopping mall nearby, I'll go buy a few outfits." Shen Jingshu's voice was calm as she looked at the street scene passing by outside the window.

"Okay!" the driver replied, skillfully turning the car around and heading towards the largest and most upscale shopping mall in Beijing.

In just twenty minutes, the car came to a smooth stop in the mall's underground parking garage.

Shen Jingshu looked at the driver: "You can wait here. I'm going upstairs to go shopping, which might take a while. You can find a place to rest; you don't need to wait."

"Thank you, Miss Jing Shu. I'll be waiting in the garage. Please feel free to call me anytime," the driver replied respectfully.

Shen Jingshu nodded slightly, pushed open the car door, got out, and walked straight into the mall.

Looking at the familiar luxurious decor, she paused slightly as memories of her past life quietly surfaced in her mind.

She had been here countless times in her past life, but each time, she followed behind Shen's three older brothers and Shen Xinyi like a servant, responsible for carrying bags and running errands. Shen Xinyi's new clothes were piled up like mountains, but she didn't even have the right to take a second look, let alone buy herself a piece of clothing that fit.

But this time, my state of mind was completely different.

After her death, she wandered as a lonely soul for several years, and then followed her master to cultivate for decades in another world. Having experienced life and death and seen through the coldness and warmth of human relationships, her mind was far beyond that of her peers. She was calm, composed, and unperturbed by honor or disgrace.

For her, apart from her mother's safety and the resolution of past grievances, nothing that involved life and death could stir her emotions.

She is no longer the Shen Jingshu who revolves around Shen Xinyi and humbly tries to please her family. Now, she has her mother's love, the Li family's support, and a set of mystical arts and spatial abilities. She lives only for herself.

Shen Jingshu pulled herself out of her thoughts, her gaze sweeping calmly over the shops on the street. She walked straight toward a high-end women's clothing store that featured a bright and colorful style. Standing at the store entrance, looking at the vibrant and flamboyant dresses in the window, a faint warmth finally appeared in her eyes.