[She's like a fire, burning my heart. — Tan Zixi]
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Xunmi sneered. Today was her birthday, yet her father didn't come to take her downstairs himself. Instead, he wanted her to go down by herself. Did he really think she was a fool?
I searched and searched, how come you didn't notice it back then? It was already so obvious!
On the day their children come of age, it is customary in large families for the head of the family to personally accompany them. This serves two purposes: first, to show outsiders that this is someone they cherish and love, and second, to demonstrate that this person will be the future heir.
She changed into high heels; the extreme black paired with the alluring red made her appear even more seductive.
Eighteen years old, the best years of one's life, how can one waste them?
She wore a fiery red evening gown, revealing her snow-white skin, and her hair was adorned with a few small, round pearls, simple and casual.
The moment she appeared, she stunned the entire audience, and countless admiring, appreciative, and subtly jealous glances instantly focused on her.
Instead, the female protagonist, who was brought along by the head of the Qin family and wore a snow-white gauze dress, became the background character.
Xunmi was very satisfied with the situation, and her smile widened.
Her already stunningly beautiful face was amplified by the confidence she exuded in her pursuit of becoming a winner in life.
Coupled with Miss Qin's noble and proud demeanor, she becomes even more elegant and captivating.
Her peach-blossom eyes drooped slightly as she looked at her father, who was standing in the crowd watching her. She descended the stairs with graceful steps, stopping before the head of the Qin family.
I'm always looking for someone who's the kind of person you don't want me to be, and who's the kind of person you want me to be.
She could tell from the text that the head of the Qin family was only raising this daughter as a tool.
The original owner's mother died from severe bleeding during childbirth, and it was Qin Huai Se's mother who caused all of this.
If Qin Huai Se's mother hadn't gone to the original owner's mother to beg for her blessing, she would have gotten pregnant with the Qin family head's child no matter what.
It also wouldn't have upset the original owner's mother, causing her to have a premature birth and ultimately lose her life.
Xunmi could understand the original owner's actions of directly disrupting the banquet. No one would have a good impression of someone who indirectly caused their mother's death.
"My father is so biased; today is my birthday."
"You didn't even come to pick me up. No way. Tell me how you're going to make it up to me."
Xunmi pouted, looking smug and saying, "I'm not happy, come and coax me."
Seeing this, the ladies around her couldn't help but feel a surge of maternal instinct, wishing they could shower her with all their affection.
Perhaps not expecting Xunmi to react this way, Qin Sheng was taken aback, and the words she had prepared were stuck in her throat.
Xunmi had no intention of giving the two a chance to put on an act, and her gaze drifted to the white-clad woman next to Qin Sheng.
A very innocent and pure question: "Father, who is this beautiful young lady?"
"This is the first time I've met her. Could she be my future stepmother?"
I'll make you all sick and disgusted by how you hurt the original owner (Qin Xunmi) so much, hmph ╭(╯^╰)╮
She remembered that the original plot was that the original owner of this body would happily rush over to her father when she saw him.
Before she could even speak, her scumbag father blurted out, "This is your younger sister, Qin Huai Se."
From now on, I must take good care of her, and so on, and I also want the original owner to care for his younger sister.
This immediately infuriated the original owner, who then turned hostile on the spot.
This illegitimate daughter, seizing the opportune moment, feigned weakness and pitifulness, adopting a false image of innocence. This once again pushed the original owner to the brink of explosion, escalating the conflict to a fever pitch.
She wasn't as stupid as the original owner of this body; that subtle look of jealousy she just received came from this kind and good younger sister.
Qin Sheng's face darkened with embarrassment; he didn't know how to explain it to Xun Mi.
Qin Huai Se, standing to the side, lowered her head, her bangs falling down to cover the fleeting resentment and unwillingness in her eyes.
When she looked up again, her face was pitiful, as if someone had bullied her.
Before she could even formulate her expression, Xunmi spoke again.
"Miss, I don't think I've done anything to bully you, so what's with that expression on your face?"
"If I said anything wrong, I apologize." Xunmi's face showed undisguised disgust, and she reacted by taking a step back and moving away.
If someone else had done it, such a direct and undisguised reaction would have made them a target of public criticism.
But if Miss Qin does this, everyone will understand.
Why? Because it must have happened eighteen years ago, as everyone knows.
The mistress feigned pitifulness to gain sympathy and climb the social ladder, causing the original wife to die from premature birth and severe bleeding. Even now, people still bring it up, showing how big of a scandal it was.
Ever since Miss Qin encountered something similar, she has hated it most when people pretend to be pitiful in front of her.
She once said that she hates people who play the victim, regardless of whether they are innocent or not. If you can't stand her, don't associate with her.
Although this might easily attract negative attention, most people still appreciate her straightforwardness.
She'll either like you or hate you; at least she won't play tricks on you behind your back.
Therefore, after hearing what Xunmi said, everyone's first reaction was not to blame Xunmi.
Instead, they wanted to see what kind of person dared to play the victim in front of Miss Qin.
Qin Sheng also noticed that the atmosphere around him was not right. Today was supposed to be Qin Xunmi's coming-of-age ceremony.
This was also intended to announce Huai Se's return and let everyone know that the Qin family had a second young lady.
Qin Huai Se was stunned. She didn't understand why everyone was reacting this way.
"Sister, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, it's all my fault, I shouldn't have come."
"I shouldn't have listened to Father. You really forgive me, sister. I'm sorry, I'll leave now."
It is said that three parts are meant to convey seven parts, and Qin Huai Se has grasped this very precisely over the years.
Her pitiful appearance, coupled with the tears welling up in her eyes, her delicate and pretty face, her gentle temperament, and her white dress gave her the impression of a little white flower fluttering in the wind.
But it must be said that this appearance is very likely to arouse a man's protective instincts.
Sure enough, some people present were already itching to make their move.
However, the ladies instantly understood the gist of what he said and immediately revealed a subtle look of disdain.
So this is the daughter of that mistress from back then. I never would have guessed. She looks just like her mother.
It's common for large families to have affairs, illegitimate children, and so on.
Therefore, these wealthy women also particularly abhor illegitimate children, regardless of whether they have experienced it themselves or not.
Xunmi stood frozen in place, her beautiful peach blossom eyes wide open.
She stared intently at the person who wanted to turn and leave but was stopped by Qin Sheng.
Her voice trembled slightly: "Father, tell me, who is this young lady?"
"Why does she call me sister? I don't remember my noble mother having a second child."
She tried hard to suppress the panic on her face, but she couldn't hide the bitterness in her voice.
The expectation in those moist peach blossom eyes was so obvious, so obvious, that it broke your heart.
The man who had just stepped into the hall saw the little red figure with wounded eyes, yet unyielding in its pride.