Chapter 24: Forcing Lin Xiaodou to Take the Fall for the Fake Heiress

Second floor, inside the room.

Wu Ya was sitting on the bed, her face full of dissatisfaction as she spoke, “Min, what exactly are you thinking? How could you let a strange, ugly girl move into our home? If Xuefei comes back later and gets frightened, what then!”

“My dear, that girl really is our biological daughter. Years ago, Xuefei was switched at birth with her,” Lin Zhengmin replied bluntly.

“What?!” Wu Ya shot up from the bed, her eyes wide in disbelief. “Min, don’t joke about these things. How could that ugly girl possibly be our child? She doesn’t look anything like us!”

“It’s true,” Lin Zhengmin said, walking over to the bedside table and pulling out the investigation documents. He handed them to her. “Take a look for yourself.”

While his wife went through the information, Lin Zhengmin explained how he had discovered the truth.

Wu Ya’s complexion grew worse as she listened. She simply couldn’t believe that the daughter she’d loved for seventeen years was not her own flesh and blood. Yet, even without a blood connection, the affection she’d felt all those years was real. Compared to a biological daughter she had never raised, she was far more partial to her foster daughter, Lin Xuefei.

Thinking of this, Wu Ya asked, “You let that girl stay here, but what about Xuefei? Won’t her family come looking for her?”

The documents Lin Zhengmin had investigated detailed the hardships Lin Xiaodou had suffered in the Lin family over the years, but Wu Ya didn’t bother reading closely—perhaps she simply didn’t care. Even now, her mind was occupied only with Lin Xuefei; she had no wish to mention her biological daughter at all.

“Xuefei is our daughter, of course she’ll live here. As for Lin Xiaodou, just treat her as a guest,” Lin Zhengmin said, pleased that his wife was of the same mind. He continued, “As for that family, I’ll visit them tomorrow, offer them some benefits. I’m sure they won’t object.”

That family was greedy, so a bit of money would suffice to send them away. It wasn’t a real problem.

“That’s good,” Wu Ya breathed a sigh of relief, then asked curiously, “But how did Lin Xiaodou find out about her true identity?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Lin Zhengmin said, unwilling to spend more energy investigating. “She came to us on her own, so let her stay. We have more than enough to feed her.”

“If you ask me, you shouldn’t have acknowledged her at all,” Wu Ya said, pursing her lips in exasperation. “If Xuefei finds out about her origins, she’ll likely make a scene and be heartbroken for a long time. And that girl’s scarred face is frightening—I wouldn’t dare take her out anywhere.”

Wu Ya truly loved Xuefei and didn’t want her to suffer.

She also valued appearances greatly; among her old friends, she was always the glamorous one. If people learned she had a biological daughter whose face was ruined, it would be a huge embarrassment.

Lin Zhengmin understood his wife’s temperament well. He could only remind her, “Have you forgotten about Xuefei’s accident?”

Wu Ya was no fool—she understood immediately. “You mean… let that girl take the blame?”

“Exactly,” Lin Zhengmin nodded, instructing her, “Tomorrow, take a leave from the hospital. For the next few days, don’t go anywhere. Spend time with that girl, let her grow attached to you, so we can discuss the matter of her taking the blame.”

“I see what you mean. It’s not difficult at all,” Wu Ya sneered. “That girl grew up in a shabby tenement; she’s never seen anything good. Give her a little benefit, and she’ll be overwhelmed with gratitude. Won’t she be completely under our control then…”

...

“A little benefit is enough to control me?” hearing Tiao Tiao’s description, Lin Xiaodou couldn’t help but laugh.

Since that’s the case, how could she let them off without a hefty price? It would be a shame to let Wu Ya’s confidence go unchallenged.

---

That night, Lin Xiaodou locked the door and entered her space.

Today was not only the fake heiress Lin Xuefei’s seventeenth birthday—it was her own birthday as well.

Lin Xiaodou chose a small, exquisite cream cake. Lighting the candles, she closed her eyes and made a wish.

“May the original Xiaodou, in her next life, have parents who love her, and live safely and carefree.”

As for herself, she had no need for wishes. Whatever she desired, she would obtain by her own hand—no need to rely on the gods.

To be truthful, fate had favored her quite well: she had wealth, a space, she was five years younger, and got to live again in another world—few could dream of such blessings.

Sometimes Lin Xiaodou wondered: perhaps fate saw the original as too miserable, and sent her to save her, granting her so many golden opportunities?

She had to admit, Lin Xiaodou had realized the truth.

Yet, she could not fully comprehend it now; only in the future, when she met those destined people, would she slowly come to understand.

A birthday required not only cake, but a feast!

Lin Xiaodou prepared a huge pot of seafood: Australian lobsters, king crab, tiger prawns, gigantic premium oysters, and scallops. Seafood so expensive that she’d never dared imagine it in her previous modern life now sat before her like a street vendor’s spread.

The ingredients were all fresh, simply steamed, ready to eat with spicy sauce.

Lin Xiaodou picked up an Australian lobster first—it was thicker than her arm. The tender white meat was delicious and springy; dipped in the spicy sauce, it was divine.

“Mmm~~” Lin Xiaodou squinted her eyes in delight, devouring three huge lobster tails in one go before stopping.

After finishing the lobster, she tackled king crab and oysters.

In her whirlwind consumption, the giant pot of seafood was gone within half an hour.

She even finished an entire durian before she was satisfied.

Having eaten so much, Lin Xiaodou had no desire to exercise. After all, it was her birthday—she deserved to relax.

She found a large lounge chair, lay down, swaying gently. Her delicate hands patted her full belly as pleasant music played in her ears.

Lin Xiaodou closed her eyes, savoring the peacefulness and beauty of the moment.

...

While Lin Xiaodou basked in tranquility, Lin Xuefei was caught in upheaval.

After being dropped off by Zhang Tianjun, she hadn’t even rested before her parents entered her room and told her something utterly shocking.

“What?! I’m not your biological daughter?!”