When Dong Qin was in third grade, Zuo Shaoxin suddenly appeared at her school, acknowledged her as her daughter, and from then on, they frequently met in private. Zuo Shaoxin would give her a lot of pocket money. To be honest, Zuo Shaoxin didn’t act much like a mother; she seemed entirely unaware of her maternal duties, treating her more like a long-time friend or sister, regardless of her young age, talking about anything. Through these conversations, Dong Qin learned about her current situation and discovered she had a half-brother, Lu Tuo. Lu Tuo was favored by Lu Jinghao and was taken to Italy from a young age. It was said he planned to come back to China for high school and would temporarily live with his parents, as they were soon to hold a wedding to officially come back into the light.
“Oh, right. Tuo was always pestering me with questions about you; he really wants to meet his sister. So tomorrow, make sure you look your best, don’t disappoint him. Most importantly, my daughter should be the most beautiful princess, don’t embarrass me.” Zuo Shaoxin finished her last piece of steak, and the chef behind her immediately brought over a dessert, a small piece of cherry jelly, vividly colored. Dong Qin remained silent.
A princess…? She laughed wildly in her heart. She was never a princess, Zuo Shaoxin, you don’t understand. Your daughter, since three years ago… no, since you left Zuo Shaoan, has become a lonely supporting character. Now, she’s just a wayward supporting character, never fit to be the main princess.
The next morning, Zuo Shaoxin sent over a box containing a pink summer dress, a halter top with dotted flowers, fitting perfectly at the waist, making the skirt flutter like a colorful butterfly when worn. Dong Qin looked at herself in the mirror, her long black hair, thick bangs, and deep yet charming eyes like a cat’s. She remembered Zuo Shaoan describing her like this. Her petite nose and mouth, along with eyes that often unconsciously squinted, indeed made her look like a cat. Her figure was small, about 162 cm tall, with good proportions; her legs were long, her waist high, and her shoulders slender, likely evoking a sense of pity in onlookers. She didn’t resemble Zuo Shaoxin’s overpowering allure but rather took after Zuo Shaoan’s sweet charm, with a lazy tranquility between her brows, leaning more towards sweetness.
There was a knock at the door, and when it opened, two fashionably dressed strangers entered. Xiaoya introduced with a smile, “Miss, these two are the most famous makeup artists. Madam sent them to help you get ready.” She nodded casually, ignoring the young men’s admiration in their eyes, and quietly sat at the vanity, letting them work their magic. Her plain hair was gradually layered and styled, bangs swept aside to reveal her beautiful eyes. The other artist delicately applied makeup—powder, blush, eyebrow pencil, eyeshadow, mascara, lipstick… transforming her into a charming young woman, losing much of her childishness. After about an hour and a half, the stylists left.
Zuo Shaoxin, in high spirits, came to see the results herself, seeming very pleased. She even gave Dong Qin a wide-brimmed hat to wear. Lu Jinghao’s plane was due at 2 PM, but Zuo Shaoxin, impatient, arrived half an hour early. They sat in the VIP lounge, the staff around them anxious. Such treatment was something Dong Qin had never experienced before. Only when with Zuo Shaoxin could she feel what it meant to be above others. This was a realistic society where high-status people naturally suppressed those of lower status, and no one dared to say otherwise. Wealth and power were everything; everything else was nonsense.
The plane seemed to be delayed; by 2:20 PM, there was still no news. Zuo Shaoxin grew impatient, demanding tea one moment and juice the next, making the staff even more flustered, unsure of how to handle this beautiful noblewoman.
Dong Qin watched her assert her dominance with a cold eye. Suddenly, she realized that a woman’s desires were so simple: a fancy dress, an elegant dinner, or a chance to show off could completely satisfy them. Zuo Shaocin was essentially such a simple woman; her desires were straightforward. Lu Jinghao probably appreciated this simplicity, finding it convenient, which might be why he kept her by his side. Perhaps there was no so-called love between them at all, just convenience.
At 2:40, Zuo Shaocin’s phone rang with a melodious serenade. She immediately beamed and answered with an incredibly sweet and gentle voice, “Darling, have you finally arrived? I was so anxious waiting for you! How’s Tuo? … Yes, I’ve brought Dong Qin over… Yes, okay, we’ll head over right now.” She hung up the phone and stood up gracefully.
“They’re here, in the lobby,” she said, suddenly gripping Dong Qin’s arm with force, making her wince in pain but she remained silent, just watching her. “A stepfather is a stepfather, understand? If you have any messy ideas, don’t blame me for not giving you any face! Even if you’re my daughter, I’d still kick you out!”
Dong Qin gave a mocking smile, “I’m not interested in old men. Is it surprising that he can’t even satisfy you?”
Zuo Shaocin stared at her for a long moment, then released her grip and walked out.
The lobby was crowded with people just off the plane, waiting for their luggage. From afar, Dong Qin saw a head of light coffee-colored hair, strikingly visible amidst the sea of black hair. The person was tall, wearing a red T-shirt, with a sports bag on his back, facing away from her, so she couldn’t see his face. He seemed to be talking to someone with his head slightly turned, the row of diamond earrings on his ear glittering, exceptionally eye-catching. From the back, he looked like a handsome young man. Dong Qin, who always followed her desires, never feigned shyness when looking at beauty. She stared openly, hoping he would turn his head a bit more so she could see his true face.
Suddenly, she heard Zuo Shaocin call out cheerfully, “Tuo! Jinghao! We’re here!”
Dong Qin was startled; the boy quickly turned around, and she met a pair of deep-set eyes, inexplicably startled. As she had thought, he was a very handsome young man, with a straight nose, deep features, bearing an eighty percent resemblance to Zuo Shaocin, with a kind of innocent smile.
The boy stared at her, his gaze suddenly becoming profound. In that instant, Dong Qin felt as if she was confronting some dangerous animal, sending a shiver down her spine. His eyes were too deep, impossible to see what thoughts lay hidden within. Although he smiled innocently, there was an unmistakable air of menace and gloom. Her heart pounded, and she quickly averted her gaze, not daring to look further. Could this person be her brother?
The boy quickly ran over and lifted Zuo Shaocin up, spinning her around. “Mom! I’ve been thinking of you! The plane was so slow; I was almost dying of impatience!” His voice was sweet yet deep, like all the spoiled young boys in the world.
Without looking at him, Dong Qin suddenly felt someone examining her. She looked up to see a middle-aged man in a suit, quite handsome, from whom Lu Tuo had inherited most of his good looks. And, unusually, he wasn’t overweight like many middle-aged men, his physique robust, even through the suit, one could vaguely see the outline of muscles, indicating he exercised regularly.
There was no mistake, this must be Lu Jinghao and Lu Tuo.
She took off her hat, revealing a sweet smile, and said innocently, “Hello, Mr. Lu. I’m Zuo Dong Qin; it’s nice to meet you. Thank you for letting me move in to keep my mom company. I hope I won’t cause you any trouble.”
