"Alright."
Old Jiang nodded and walked onto the stage.
Butler Wang found a sofa and sat down.
A hotel staff member passed by.
Butler Wang inquired, "Excuse me, do you have any sunflower seeds?"
The hotel staff couldn't help but glance at Butler Wang.
Cracking sunflower seeds at such a high-class banquet?
But these were VIPs, and the guests here were of high status. He had to ensure they were well taken care of.
"Of course, sir. Please wait a moment," the hotel staff replied respectfully.
Soon, he returned with the sunflower seeds as requested.
Butler Wang began cracking the seeds, thoroughly enjoying himself.
What’s a good show without some snacks?
He crossed his legs, eyes fixed on the stage, wearing an expression of eager anticipation.
Everything was set—now they just had to wait for Young Master Lin to make his move.
On stage, Old Jiang held the microphone and smiled. "Today, we welcome you all to this banquet hosted by the Jiang Family to recognize a long-lost relative."
"My daughter left the Jiang Family due to various circumstances. Now, I wish to bring her son—my own grandson—back into the family."
Hearing this, the guests below murmured among themselves.
"What’s really going on? Why did Old Jiang’s daughter leave the family?"
"I’ve heard rumors that his daughter was obsessed with love. She kept taking money from the family to fund her boyfriend’s business ventures. When his business failed, and the Jiang Corporation was in crisis, she still insisted on draining the family’s resources. Old Jiang was so furious that he cut ties with her."
Of course, this was just hearsay—no one knew if it was true.
"If that’s the case, and Old Jiang’s surname is Jiang, and Lin Li’s mother, Jiang Shuqin, also shares the surname… could Jiang Shuqin actually be the Jiang Family’s daughter?"
"That can’t be right. Every member of the Jiang Family is well-mannered. How could they have a daughter as ill-tempered as Jiang Shuqin?"
Those familiar with Lin Xuan and the Lin Family’s affairs immediately thought of Jiang Shuqin’s lack of upbringing.
Favoring her adopted son while treating her own flesh and blood worse than a stranger—what kind of upbringing did that reflect?
And her shrewish behavior? They had witnessed it firsthand at the Lin Family’s banquet for Lin Li.
"Right, I think it’s more likely that Lin Li’s birth mother is the Jiang Family’s daughter. Speaking of which, if the Lin Family raised Lin Li all these years, why hasn’t a single member of the Lin Family shown up for this recognition ceremony?"
The guests exchanged puzzled looks.
If Jiang Shuqin’s son was truly being recognized, shouldn’t it be Lin Xuan, not Lin Li?
But if it was Lin Li, then why weren’t the Jiang Family members present?
Jiang Shuqin, wearing a mask, entered the banquet hall.
Noticing her, some guests frowned. "Who is that? Why is she wearing a mask?"
"Her eyes look familiar… I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before."
From the moment she stepped inside, Jiang Shuqin’s gaze remained locked on Old Master Su.
It really was her father.
He had aged so much.
Then again, it had been twenty years since they last met—no, just a few months ago, they had briefly crossed paths, but she hadn’t gotten a good look at him then.
Of course he would look older now.
So, this really was a recognition banquet—to acknowledge a grandson, and to mention her, the daughter.
Jiang Shuqin recalled Lin Li preparing a suit for tonight’s banquet, as well as the words Lin Xuan had spoken to her.
Could it be… they were recognizing Lin Li?
No. Impossible.
Jiang Shuqin clenched her fists.
Lin Li knew how strained her relationship with the Jiang Family was. He wouldn’t betray her like this.
Maybe the Jiang Family was recognizing Lin Xuan instead.
Yes, it had to be Lin Xuan!
Only Lin Xuan would disregard her feelings like this, clinging to a powerful family like the Jiangs for personal gain.
Later, she would expose Lin Xuan and make it clear to the Jiang Family that Lin Xuan had severed ties with her.
Lin Xuan was no longer her daughter, and certainly not a member of the Jiang Family!
She would never allow Lin Xuan to exploit her identity for personal gain.
Butler Wang was the first to recognize Jiang Shuqin.
Well, well.
Just as Young Master Lin had predicted—Jiang Shuqin had indeed come.
Butler Wang approached her.
"Madam Lin," he said with a smile. "You’re here for Lin Li, aren’t you?"
"What did you say?" Jiang Shuqin reacted sharply. "Lin Li isn’t even here. Why would I come for him?"
Butler Wang pointed toward Lin Li’s direction. "Look, isn’t that the son you’ve doted on since childhood—Lin Li?"
Jiang Shuqin followed his gesture.
The moment she saw Lin Li, her pupils constricted.
It really was him!
What was going on?
Why was Lin Li attending the Jiang Family’s banquet?
Unless… the person the Jiang Family was recognizing was actually Lin Li?
Jiang Shuqin’s fists trembled.
No. It couldn’t be.
Once again, she denied the thought.
Lin Li was here, and so was Lin Xuan. Lin Xuan must have invited him.
Lin Li had always been kind-hearted. Despite all the terrible things Lin Xuan had done to him—stealing his belongings, framing him for theft, breaking his favorite toys, even pushing him into a lake when he couldn’t swim, nearly drowning him—Lin Li had never held a grudge.
If Lin Xuan had invited him, of course he would come.
Yes, that had to be it.
How despicable of Lin Xuan—using her son’s identity to cozy up to the Jiang Family, then flaunting it in front of Lin Li at the banquet.
Later, she would expose Lin Xuan’s scheme in front of everyone.
Jiang Shuqin scoffed. "I know you’re working with Lin Xuan. So what if Lin Li is here for the Jiang Family’s banquet? Did you really think this would break me? How laughable."
Did Lin Xuan really think such a petty trick could drive a wedge between her and Lin Li? What a joke.
"Then sit back and enjoy the show," Butler Wang said with a raised brow.
He could tell Jiang Shuqin already suspected the truth—she just refused to accept it, clinging to excuses to reassure herself.
"Fine, I will!"
Jiang Shuqin smirked coldly.
She’d see what other tricks Lin Xuan had up her sleeve.
Meanwhile, Lin Li stood below the stage, excitement written all over his face.
Almost there. The old man was about to introduce him to the upper-class elite.
After tonight, he would be a rightful member of the Jiang Family.
From then on, people would flock to curry favor with him.
No one would dare mock him to his face, calling him a eunuch.
Old Jiang continued his introduction on stage.
"Today, the grandson I wish to recognize is—"
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
【Prologue: The Beginning of It All – Use holy water to heal the saintess tainted by demonic energy, then converse with her.】 Shen Nian stared at his older sister sipping yogurt, lost in thought. So you’re telling me my sister is the saintess, and yogurt is the holy water? 【Main Quest 1: Brave Youth, Become an Adventurer! Reward: Rookie Adventurer Title.】 【Side Quest 1: Find the Adorable Kitty! Reward: 1000 Gold Coins.】 Shen Nian: "Wait, I’m a high school senior here—did some guy who got isekai’d accidentally bind his system to me?" Hold on, completing quests gives gold rewards? Titles even boost stats? Is this for real? (A lighthearted, absurd campus comedy—not a revenge power fantasy.)
d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!
+【Epic Battles!】 "Your Highness, they say Linxi Temple is miraculous. Won’t you make a wish?" "A wish? It should be making wishes to me." "That may be so, but since you’re already here..." "..." "Fine. Then grant this princess a consort to play with." "He must be obedient, devoted, and utterly infatuated with my body—so much so that he’d kneel and kiss my feet." "Your Highness, that’s not a consort. That’s a dog." "Then add clever, witty, heroic, ambitious yet pragmatic..." "Hmm, that’s enough for now. I’ll add more later." After tossing out these words half in jest, Princess Anle departed the temple—only to catch a fleeting glimpse of the Bodhisattva statue smiling at her. Meanwhile, Yang An, fresh out of university, was having a very bad day. Good news: He’d transmigrated into another world with a cheat granting tenfold combat power. Bad news: He’d immediately fallen into the clutches of a certain villainess. Good news: Said villainess possessed peerless beauty and royal status. Bad news: She was absolutely monstrous!!! In the frozen wilderness, Yang An knelt beneath Qin Guo’er’s feet, drenched in sweat despite the cold. Desperately clutching her porcelain-perfect foot—the very one poised to crush his throat—he could only think: How do I survive this?! Need answers NOW!
