Jiang Huai's voice successfully snapped Bai Shuqin back to her senses. Her heated temper felt as if it had been doused with a bucket of cold water, bringing all her movements to an abrupt halt.
At the same time, the commotion finally drew the attention of those inside the villa. Jiang Yucheng walked over from the interior.
"What is going on here?"
As the current head of the Jianghai Group, Jiang Yucheng was a figure who frequently appeared in various media outlets and financial reports. Bai Shuqin recognized him almost instantly. Dropping her struggle with Guan Xuxu, her expression shifted into a fawning smile as she hurried to greet him.
"CEO Jiang, I am the wife of Guan Baocheng, the president of Guan's Building Materials. I didn't expect you to be home; this is truly wonderful."
Jiang Yucheng's gaze swept over Bai Shuqin, Guan Xuxu, and Jiang Huai. His expression remained unreadable as he asked calmly, "Mrs. Guan, hello. Have you come here to discuss something?"
Given Jiang Yucheng's status, there was no need for him to be so polite, and he was never one for idle chatter. However, knowing that the people before him were the Guans the family that had raised Xuxu he showed a few extra degrees of patience and courtesy. He assumed she had come to provide details regarding Xuxu's daily habits or needs.
Bai Shuqin, oblivious to his true thoughts, felt her vanity swell the moment she heard him humbly ask if she had instructions for him.
This was the head of the Jianghai Group! He was actually asking her for instructions!
It was clear to her now just how much importance her family's company held in the eyes of the Jianghai Group's president.
The irritation Jiang Huai had caused her finally smoothed over. She even subconsciously puffed out her chest. "Indeed, there are a few matters to address."
Bai Shuqin cast a triumphant, condescending glance at Guan Xuxu before quickly pulling Guan Ruirui forward. "CEO Jiang, this is my daughter, Guan Ruirui."
Guan Ruirui hurriedly offered a polite greeting. "Hello, Uncle Jiang."
"It's like this," Bai Shuqin continued. "I know that with the Landmark Project in Haishi being finalized, the government plans to select eight students from the Four Major Universities to serve as City Image Representatives for the promotional video. The final list of names is to be handed over to the Jianghai Group."
Bai Shuqin added, "Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the spot that originally belonged to my daughter was taken by someone else. I've come here hoping the Jianghai Group could help out by switching the names back. It should be a simple matter for someone like you."
Jiang Yucheng frowned slightly.
He was aware of the project, but his third brother was the one in charge of it; he hadn't personally looked into the details.
By nature, he despised using public resources for private interests. However, because these were the Guans who had raised Xuxu, he felt inclined to give it some thought.
Very well, he thought. Consider it a way to repay them for the kindness of raising Xuxu.
With that thought, Jiang Yucheng relented. "I will look into this matter. Tell me, who is the person who took your daughter's spot? I'll have my secretary check."
"Guan Xuxu," Bai Shuqin blurted out, her voice filled with impatience.
Jiang Yucheng's hand paused as he reached for his phone. He looked up at Bai Shuqin, visibly stunned. "Who did you say?"
"Guan Xuxu," Bai Shuqin repeated. Thinking he hadn't heard her correctly, she pointed directly at Guan Xuxu.
"It's her. This child was actually a foster child our family took in previously, but she turned out to be nothing but an ungrateful wretch. Not only does she have a foul temper, but she's also a compulsive liar.
I never expected her biological parents to be mere laborers for the Jiang family. It's not that I want to speak ill of a child, but a person's character is set at birth. No matter how much effort I put into raising her, some people are simply incapable of learning..."
Bai Shuqin was relentless in her sabotage. Beside her, Jiang Huai's face turned deathly pale with rage. He finally understood what Xuxu meant when she said the woman was trying to make her life difficult.
The butler and the maid standing nearby were completely dumbfounded.
This... this woman... She actually dared to count the First Young Miss's "sins" right in front of CEO Jiang?
Had she completely lost her mind?
Guan Xuxu had long since grown accustomed to Bai Shuqin's slander; even when the woman had been complaining to the butler earlier, she hadn't cared.
But now, standing before Jiang Huai and her newly met biological father, Bai Shuqin's words sparked a sudden, sharp anger within her.
This was the family that had only just recognized her. She had only just begun to feel a flicker of hope for a real family. So why? Why did this woman refuse to let her have anything good?
Did Bai Shuqin not realize how these words would make others perceive her? Of course she did.
But she didn't care. She simply wanted the whole world to hate Xuxu.
Ever since Xuxu was small, whenever a teacher showed interest or praised her, Bai Shuqin would find any way possible to malign her, convincing the teachers she was a "bad child."
Most teachers couldn't fathom a mother slandering her own child, so they believed her. They believed Xuxu was a problem.
The more Xuxu was disliked, the more Guan Ruirui could outshine her.
Eventually, Bai Shuqin's dislike and slander became a habit one that manifested even now.
Xuxu's hands clenched at her sides. Hearing the woman's incessant vitriol, she finally couldn't hold it back anymore.
"Shut up!"
"Shut up!" Two voices rang out in unison. Guan Xuxu subconsciously turned her head toward the owner of the other voice.
It was Jiang Yucheng, his face now covered in a layer of frost.
He was already the cold and stern type, but as his expression darkened, his presence became truly terrifying.
Bai Shuqin was instantly silenced by the sheer weight of his anger.
Jiang Yucheng stared at her with a heavy, oppressive gaze. "The daughter of my Jiang family is not for an outsider like you to judge. Butler, show them out!"
Bai Shuqin was stunned by his sudden change in attitude. She hadn't quite processed the phrase "daughter of my Jiang family" and was about to argue when the butler moved forward with practiced efficiency to escort them away.
Jiang Yucheng watched coldly as the mother and daughter were unceremoniously removed. He then turned to Guan Xuxu, his voice softening slightly as he asked, "Did the Guans always treat you like this in the past?"
The moment the question left his lips, his mouth tightened. He realized he was asking the obvious. If she dared to slander Xuxu like this to his face, there was no telling how they had bullied her when she lived under their roof.
He had assumed that being raised by the Guans meant she had at least lived a life of comfort. He never expected... that the Guans were this kind of trash!
The more Jiang Yucheng thought about it, the angrier he became. He turned to Jiang Huai and barked an order.
"Call your Third Brother. Tell him to retract the cooperation project with Guan's Building Materials immediately!"
That project had been specially commissioned as a reward to the Guans for taking care of Xuxu. The terms were exceptionally favorable, not only yielding hundreds of millions in profit for the Guans but also intended to help their company reach the next level. Now that he knew how they had treated Xuxu behind closed doors, he wouldn't lift a finger to support them.
They didn't deserve it!
Only now did Jiang Huai regain his earlier smile. He whipped out his phone with a crisp, "You got it."
Guan Xuxu stared blankly as Jiang Yucheng vented his fury. As she lowered her eyes, a faint, unconscious curve touched the corners of her lips. Her new brother and new father were nothing like the Guans.
...It was wonderful.
At the main gate.
Bai Shuqin and Guan Ruirui were unceremoniously shoved out of the Jiang family's entrance.
Neither of them understood. Why had CEO Jiang suddenly flown into a rage?
And what did his words mean?
Jiang family's daughter?
Who?
The butler saw that the two women still hadn't figured it out and thought to himself: How can the Guans be this stupid?
They had raised the First Young Miss; based on that debt alone, the Jiang family would have showered them with benefits for years to come. Yet, the Guans clearly had no idea whose child that "ungrateful foster daughter" actually was.
As a butler, he took great pride in his professional conduct. He wouldn't resort to shouting or petty insults.
Instead, he decided to offer a polite reminder.
"Our CEO Jiang lost a daughter eighteen years ago. Today is the day our First Young Miss returns home. Naturally, CEO Jiang cannot bear to hear such slander against her. We will not be entertaining guests today. Please leave."
With that, he turned and ordered the heavy villa gates to be shut.
Bai Shuqin and Guan Ruirui were left standing outside the gate, both paralyzed with shock.
Bai Shuqin grabbed her daughter's arm, her voice trembling as she whispered, "Rui... Ruirui, what did he just say? What First Young Miss? Who?"
Guan Ruirui couldn't believe what she had heard. Or rather, she refused to believe it.
"Impossible... I must have misheard."
The "Jiang family's daughter" they spoke of couldn't be Guan Xuxu. It couldn't be her!
Bai Shuqin turned slowly to look at her daughter. After a long silence, her legs suddenly gave way, and she collapsed toward the ground.
"It's over! We're finished!"
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