Jiang Shuqin's heart inexplicably tightened.
Grandpa Jiang's affectionate gaze fell upon Lin Li.
"Lin Li!"
"Lin Li is my long-lost grandson, whom I’ve finally found after all these years. Today, I officially welcome him back into the Jiang Family! From now on, he is our rightful and recognized grandson."
Jiang Shuqin's pupils constricted.
The grandson the Jiang Family was acknowledging… was really her son, Li’er.
How could this be?
Butler Wang smirked as he glanced at Jiang Shuqin, thoroughly enjoying the way her face paled and flushed in rapid succession.
With a raised brow, he taunted, "Madam Lin, see for yourself. The one Old Master Jiang is recognizing is indeed Lin Li—your own flesh and blood."
"How does it feel to be betrayed by your own son? Not very pleasant, is it?"
"Shut your mouth!" Jiang Shuqin roared at Butler Wang.
"Very well, very well. I’ll shut up." Butler Wang mimed zipping his lips and leisurely strolled back to the sofa, settling down.
Now that Jiang Shuqin's little drama was over, it was time to watch Lin Li’s downfall unfold.
He picked up a handful of melon seeds and resumed snacking.
Jiang Shuqin remained rooted in place, her mind buzzing.
How could this be?
The Jiang Family was really acknowledging Li’er?
Li’er knew full well that she had been disowned by the Jiang Family, that she and her family had severed all ties. So why would he go crawling back to them?
He had always been the most obedient, the most considerate of her feelings among all her children in the Lin Family…
Yet now, the one she loved and trusted most had betrayed her.
Nearby, guests whispered among themselves about the Jiang Family’s disgraced daughter.
"If the rumors are true, then the Jiangs doted on their daughter, but she repaid them by turning her back on her own parents and the family business for some man. A daughter with no conscience—who’d want her?"
The words struck Jiang Shuqin like a slap.
"You don’t know anything! It wasn’t like that at all!" she snapped.
If they had truly loved her, they would have supported her marriage to Lin Chang unconditionally.
Instead, they had interfered at every turn.
And if her parents hadn’t thrown her out of the Jiang Family over money, she would still have their backing.
Lin Chang would never have dared to cheat on her.
She would have been happy—blissfully happy.
Instead, her company had collapsed, Lin Chang had betrayed her, and her daughters were rarely home.
The vast mansion was often empty, leaving her utterly alone.
The noblewoman she had yelled at sneered. "Why are you so worked up? I was talking about the Jiang Family’s daughter, not you. Unless… you’re that ungrateful daughter?"
"I—I’m not!" Jiang Shuqin nervously adjusted her mask, avoiding eye contact.
"Then what’s it to you? We’re just gossiping about the Jiangs. Mind your own business."
The two women turned away, resuming their hushed conversation.
Their words continued to drift over, each one making Jiang Shuqin’s expression twist further.
Yet she couldn’t lash out—not here.
Meanwhile, Grandpa Jiang beamed. "Li’er, come up here."
"Of course, Grandfather." Lin Li strode onto the stage, basking in the envious stares of the crowd.
Applause erupted from the guests.
"What luck Lin Li has—backed by the Jiang Family right after the Lin Family fell. Some people are just born under a lucky star."
The chorus of admiration filled Lin Li’s ears, and he couldn’t suppress a smug grin.
"Still, no matter what, Lin Li doesn’t hold a candle to Lin Xuan. Sure, Lin Li has the Jiangs, but that’s all he’s got. Lin Xuan built the Tianmu Group from scratch and has both the Su and Jiang Families behind him."
At that, Lin Li’s expression darkened.
But with so many eyes on him, he forced a stiff smile.
Grandpa Jiang continued, "From today onward, Li’er is part of the Jiang Family. We ask for your kindness and guidance. Should he ever offend anyone, please let us know—the Jiang Family will ensure proper amends are made."
His words were a clear declaration: Lin Li now had the Jiangs’ full protection.
Lin Li reveled in the crowd’s admiration.
From now on, he would be untouchable—a Jiang in name and status, revered wherever he went.
Seated at a round table, Lin Xuan watched the scene with an amused glint in his eyes.
Lin Li glanced his way.
Lin Xuan raised his glass in a silent toast, his smile unreadable.
That smile unsettled Lin Li.
What was Lin Xuan so pleased about?
That familiar unease crept in again—the nagging suspicion that Lin Xuan knew everything.
No.
He was overthinking it.
If Lin Xuan knew he was the real Jiang descendant, he would have exposed him already.
Instead, he just sat there, doing nothing…
Grandpa Jiang continued holding the microphone and declared, "Our Jiang Family upholds justice. If it's Lin Li's fault, we will accept the consequences. But we also protect our own. If we find out anyone has bullied my grandson, I, Jiang, will absolutely stand up for him."
His words served as a warning to everyone present.
At that moment, a bespectacled man raised his hand.
"Grandpa Jiang, may I ask who your daughter is?"
Butler Wang adjusted his glasses, looking thoroughly intrigued.
Here it comes—the moment everyone’s been waiting for! The drama is unfolding!
Lin Li clenched his fists.
He couldn’t let anyone find out that the old man’s daughter was Jiang Shuqin. If they did, his deception would be exposed.
Lin Li quickly cut in, "I’m sorry, but my mother had some complicated history with the Jiang Family. My grandfather isn’t ready to talk about her yet. Please don’t ask—it would only upset him."
Grandpa Jiang remained silent. The truth was, he really didn’t want to bring up Jiang Shuqin.
From childhood, Jiang Shuqin had been doted on by the family, cherished like a delicate treasure. They had never wronged her in any way.
Yet for the sake of a man, she turned her back on the Jiang Family—even severed ties with them.
As far as he was concerned, he no longer had a daughter named Jiang Shuqin.
If not for Lin Li’s sudden appearance, he would have preferred never mentioning her existence to anyone.
Unfazed by Lin Li’s explanation, the man pressed further, "Then, aside from Grandpa Jiang, do the two Jiang sisters know what the relationship is between Lin Li and Lin Xuan?"
Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you’re enjoying your day off!
Special thanks to Joyful Summer, I Love Min Yuxin, There’s a Cat in the Fog, Hibiscus Makeup→_→, and other sweethearts for the gifts!
Uu.
close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
