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“I watched the livestream. Tons of comments said she had plastic surgery, and even copied Xiao Yan’s teardrop mole. The knockoff sitting next to the original, doesn’t Su Ci feel embarrassed?”
“I’m a passerby fan, but am I the only one who feels this post is malicious toward Su Ci? Using someone’s random candid next to Xiao Yan’s retouched studio photo — shameless.”
“Stop comparing. Taking our little princess Yanyan away.”
“Xiao Yan is completely natural. When she put on her teardrop mole, it looked gorgeous. Other people copying Xiao Yan will never copy her charm.”
“Su Ci, this female guest, is so thick-skinned. Is she clinging to Qin Shiyan on purpose? No self-awareness at all, insisting on comparing herself to Xiao Yan? Xiao Yan has family backing. And you? A plastic-surgery face, can you even compare?”
After reading the comments for quite a while, Su Ci’s eyes grew a little cold.
To Su Ci, people could question her about anything — except her extraordinary beauty.
She sent a message to Su Mother: “Mom, do you have photos of me when I was little? Send me a few.”
Su Mother’s phone was full of photos of her children from childhood to now. Even when she changed phones, not a single picture was ever lost.
Receiving her daughter’s message, Su Mother, who had been sipping tea, immediately began selecting photos. Her daughter had been so beautiful since she was small; every single picture was adorable — it was so hard to choose.
After a long moment of struggling, Su Mother finally sent over more than twenty photos in a row. If Su Ci hadn’t said she only needed a few, Su Mother would have sent every photo.
Su Ci then messaged her eldest brother, telling him she wanted to open an account but had no followers.
Su Zhiyuan always fulfilled any request from his little sister. He immediately had someone help her open an account with a large number of followers already purchased for her. And these followers were not fake accounts.
Su Ci changed the account name directly to her own. Then she edited and posted a message:
The teardrop mole is something I’ve had since childhood. If we’re talking about timelines, who exactly is mimicking whom?
I’ve been beautiful since I was little. Who said I had plastic surgery?
The Su family has only one daughter — me. There is no adopted daughter. Please stop trying to latch onto us.
Attached below were Su Ci’s kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and current selfies.
In every photo, regardless of age, there was always that small teardrop mole at the corner of her lower eyelid.
Qin Shiyan was told she and Su Ci had trended again just as she was leaving the recording site. Her first reaction was to tell her agent to take down the trending post. But thinking of what happened last time, Qin Shiyan leaned back in the car seat and simply ignored it.
Either way, whether she removed it or not, the Su family would blame her. Since that was the case, wouldn’t it be better if more people scolded Su Ci?
Beside her, the agent teased with a smile, “Xiao Yan, you’ve been trending so often lately, you might as well move in permanently.”
When the artist kept gaining heat, the agent was of course happy.
Qin Shiyan smiled faintly and didn’t say much.
However, after filming her next advertisement, she came out to see her agent looking conflicted.
“Fang-jie, what’s wrong?” Qin Shiyan accepted the water handed by her assistant, took a few small sips, then leaned back in her chair to rest with her eyes closed.
“You’re trending again.” This time, the agent had no trace of joy.
Qin Shiyan was a little tired. She opened her eyes. “Still the topic from this afternoon?”
The agent handed her the phone, her expression grim. “A new trending topic. Look for yourself.”
Only then did Qin Shiyan realize something was wrong with her agent’s face.
She sat up straight, took the phone, and saw that unlike the previous times when she only ranked among the top few, this time she had reached #1 on the trending list.
The title was: Qin Shiyan debuts for half a year, lies piled one after another
Qin Shiyan’s brows furrowed tightly. Her first reaction was that someone was smearing her.
She clicked into the trending post. Inside were screenshots of Su Ci’s statement.
Her heart thumped violently. Qin Shiyan swallowed and opened the photos — the images showed Su Ci’s clarification.
When she read the contents, Qin Shiyan’s face instantly turned deathly pale. The hand holding the phone trembled uncontrollably.
“Xiao Yan… is Su Ci really the Su family’s legitimate daughter? And what she said about you clinging to the Su family… is that true?” The agent’s voice was sharp with shock. She had never expected that she herself had been deceived by Qin Shiyan.
“Fang-jie.” Qin Shiyan felt cold all over, her lips drained of color. “Su Ci really is the Su family’s legitimate daughter.”
The agent shot her a fierce look. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
If they offended the Su family because of Qin Shiyan, forget work — staying in City B at all would be a problem.
The reason Qin Shiyan hadn’t said anything was because she had selfish intentions. She simply didn’t want anyone else to know Su Ci’s true identity.
“Su Ci said you were clinging to the Su family, is that true?” The agent’s tone was sharp and angry; there was no politeness left.
From the moment she debuted, Qin Shiyan had built her persona as the Su family’s adopted daughter. People in the circle, seeing she had the Su family behind her, didn’t dare offend her. Now that she’d been exposed as faking the connection, anyone she had offended before would likely begin retaliating.
Even their company had been heavily investing in her. With this exploding now, the company would definitely hold her responsible.
She was going to be completely dragged down by Qin Shiyan.
Qin Shiyan hurried to explain, “I wasn’t trying to cling to them. I really do know Uncle Su and Auntie Su, and I did grow up with Su Ci.”
The agent pressed aggressively, “Then are you or are you not the Su family’s adopted daughter?”
Qin Shiyan’s knuckles turned white around her phone. “I’m not.”
She grew up alongside Su Ci, yet the Su family never gave her a title. Instead, Su Ci brought a child home from the orphanage, and Auntie Su adopted that child.
Why?
Her father saved Uncle Su’s life and that still wasn’t enough to earn her the title of adopted daughter?
The agent’s phone rang — it was the company, telling her to bring Qin Shiyan back immediately.
Qin Shiyan lowered her head, her finger unconsciously scrolling the webpage.
The fans who had liked her so much before were now turning on her, questioning everything.
“Major breaking news — Qin Shiyan’s rich family background is fake?”
“Who is this Su Ci? Is she really the Su family’s daughter? Why should we believe her?”
“To the fans above, please go check Su Corporation’s official account. They’ve already reposted her statement, left comments, and liked it. I can practically feel the staff bowing to Su Ci.”
“With Su Corporation verifying it, Su Ci’s identity definitely isn’t fake. It’s your idol’s identity that’s fake. Daring to latch onto the Su family, she’s got guts.”
“Is Qin Shiyan cursed? She built her persona as a rich family’s daughter and portrayed herself as a pampered heiress. Now the real Su family daughter slaps her face. I’m embarrassed for her.”
“Qin Shiyan’s fans, come out. Just earlier you were accusing Su Qianjin1Qianjin (千金): a term referring to an esteemed young lady or heiress of a wealthy or noble family; carries the connotation of high status and being raised with privilege. of plastic surgery and copying your idol’s teardrop mole. Su Qianjin posted her childhood photos — she’s had that mole since she was little. Didn’t your idol get hers done a few months ago?”
“Where did Qin Shiyan get the face to claim Su Qianjin was copying her mole? It’s clearly the other way around!”
“If I were Su Ci, I’d be angry too. She was attacked by Qin Shiyan’s fans and accused of plastic surgery and imitation, when she’s the real heiress and had that mole since childhood. No wonder she couldn’t stand it anymore.”
“No feelings about Qin Shiyan, but she debuted claiming to be a rich family’s daughter and a ‘once-in-a-century beauty.’ Is she worthy? I think Su Ci is the real once-in-a-century beauty. Aaaaah, she’s so gorgeous.”
“Su Ci was already so delicate and beautiful as a child. As expected of the Su family’s daughter. I want to cling to her thigh — I can pour tea, cook, wash clothes, anything.”
“I just want to ask… does Qin Shiyan and her fanbase’s face hurt? Has it swollen yet?”
“Good thing my eyesight is sharp. I never stanned Qin Shiyan. The higher she stood while pretending to be a Su-family heiress, the harder she falls now. Serves her right!”
“Exclusive news, Qin Shiyan isn’t the Su family’s adopted daughter — she’s the daughter of the Su family’s driver.”
“Is the comment above true? Damn, does Qin Shiyan even want her face anymore?”
Soon after, Qin Shiyan’s real identity also hit the trending list, and the comments were nothing but furious netizens tearing into her.
Netizens weren’t angry because her real background was ordinary — they were angry because Qin Shiyan lied from the very beginning, pretending to be a wealthy heiress and deceiving everyone. Now that the truth was exposed, how could they not be furious?
After hiding her identity for so long, and now suddenly being exposed by netizens, Qin Shiyan’s already pale face turned even whiter. Her whole body trembled with cold. She could no longer hear anything the agent was saying.
She was finished.
– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –
Su Ci liked settling scores exactly the way they came. Whoever provoked her, she would return the same blow.
Qin Shiyan loved trending? Fine — Su Ci would send her trending.
Of course, Su Ci hadn’t been the one to expose Qin Shiyan’s real identity. The truth was, many in the industry had disliked Qin Shiyan for a long time. They just hadn’t moved against her because she had the Su family behind her. Now that it had been revealed she was only the driver’s daughter, her rivals wouldn’t hold back anymore. They jumped at the chance to crush her.
Su Ci received a call from Qin Shiyan.
“Cici, about my fans scolding you before, I really didn’t know. Please don’t be mad at me.”
Qin Shiyan had no other choice, she could only beg Su Ci. “I’ve been rushing from one schedule to another. My agent only told me just now, that’s when I found out my fans attacked you.”
“Cici, I’m really sorry.”
She lowered her pride. “But I have five million fans. I can’t control every single one. Fans’ actions don’t represent my thoughts. Cici, they were being immature this time and offended you. I hope for the sake of us growing up together, you won’t be angry at me because of something my fans did.”
Su Ci smiled. “You don’t know the saying? ‘Fans act, idols take responsibility.’ The first time I trended, I already tolerated it.”
Her voice turned cold. “With me, there is no third chance. Qin Shiyan, don’t take me for a fool.”
Su Ci hung up on her directly. Whatever bitterness Qin Shiyan brewed for herself, she could drink it alone.
Last time, Su Ci hadn’t retaliated when Qin Shiyan let her fans attack her for not eating rabbit meat. But this time, Qin Shiyan crossed her bottom line. People could question anything about Su Ci, but never her extraordinary beauty.
And on top of that, not only did Qin Shiyan allow her fans to accuse Su Ci of plastic surgery, she even allowed them to say Su Ci was not as beautiful as her?
That was absolutely unforgivable.
Whatever happened to Qin Shiyan now, she deserved every bit of it.
In the following days, Su Ci had no energy to care about Qin Shiyan’s situation, because she realized she hadn’t seen Lu Zhe for several days.
Lu Zhe had been busy with matters involving the company he was establishing. Although his father, Lu Chen, had assigned some people to help him, Lu Zhe still had a lot to learn.
Only after confirming everything about the company did he finally have time to meet the girl.
The apartment Lu Zhe previously rented had become their go-to dating spot.
Su Ci shoved a pomegranate she’d brought from home into Lu Zhe’s hands and said righteously, “Peel it for me.” Her favorite fruit wasn’t peaches, it was pomegranates.
But pomegranates were troublesome to eat, and Su Ci hated doing it herself.
Lu Zhe didn’t make a sound. He went to the kitchen, fetched a small bowl, washed his hands, cut open the pomegranate, and began removing the seeds into the bowl.
The young man wore a white shirt, the hem neatly tucked into his trousers, every button fastened up to the collar, his waist straight and upright.
Perhaps it was because he had eaten the golden cotton candy last time — Lu Zhe’s face was no longer as stiff as before, and his cheeks no longer sank slightly from the early-stage muscular atrophy.
His deep features carried a touch more refined sharpness, and with all the company matters he had been handling recently, he had shed a bit of youthful immaturity and gained a hint of steadiness.
This boy was in the middle of transforming.
Su Ci very much liked how Lu Zhe looked in a white shirt — clean, elegant, and quietly transcendent.
The ruby-red pomegranate seeds were being skillfully peeled open by his long fingers, falling into the bowl.
Su Ci picked up a seed and placed it in her mouth. With a light bite, the juice burst across her tongue — sweet and bright.
But eating pomegranate with a spoon wasn’t satisfying enough. Eating it scoop after scoop was the best.
“Eat.” In less than a minute, Lu Zhe had peeled a full bowl of pomegranate seeds.
“Lu Zhe, you’re amazing.” Su Ci’s mouth was sweet, and praise came out easily.
Lu Zhe was already used to the girl’s rainbow compliments. “There’s yogurt in the fridge. Should I get you a bottle?”
He had always been attentive.
Even though he didn’t live here, Lu Zhe still restocked the fridge regularly with things Su Ci liked to eat, in case she came over at any time.
The yogurt was a bit cold, so Lu Zhe placed it on the coffee table for a moment. Only after it wasn’t too icy did he hand it to Su Ci.
Su Ci held the white porcelain bowl full of pomegranate seeds, her body bonelessly leaning back against Lu Zhe as she ate.
“Lu Zhe, my family is going on a trip the day after tomorrow.” The vacation resort invested in by the Su family had been completed, and Su Mother suggested they go together to try it out. Su Father naturally agreed.
Lu Zhe held a small dish, catching the pomegranate seeds she spat out. “Where to?”
“My dad’s resort. We’ll probably stay for two or three days.” At that moment, Su Ci tossed aside the spoon in her hand and directly picked up a bright red pomegranate seed with her fingers, holding it against her lips.
She straightened up, kneeling beside Lu Zhe, one hand cupping the side of his face. Her lips redder than pomegranate, kissed him.
The sweet pomegranate crushed into juice between their lips.
Su Ci playfully pushed the pomegranate seed into Lu Zhe’s mouth. Pulling away, she licked the juice from her lips and smiled. “It would be nice if you could come with me.”
Her mouth and teeth were filled with the sweetness of pomegranate.
Lu Zhe lowered his head and spat the seed into the small dish. He looked at the girl deeply. “I’ve been a little busy lately.”
Su Ci nodded. She wasn’t unreasonable, she wouldn’t cling to him to make him accompany her.
– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –
That morning, the sunlight was bright.
The Su family had already finished preparing. Because of company matters, Su Zhiyuan could not leave. He sent Su Father, Su Mother, Su Ci, and the two little ones to the airport before heading off.
In the hall, the three members of the Lu family were there as well. Lu Chen lifted his peach blossom eyes and smiled as he greeted Su Father. “Hey, morning. Where are you all headed?”
Footnotes
1
Qianjin (千金): a term referring to an esteemed young lady or heiress of a wealthy or noble family; carries the connotation of high status and being raised with privilege.
