The Sickly Fake Daughter, But a Beloved Darling of All - Chapter 118

The banquet began at one o’clock in the afternoon. Xu Chengjin and Si Yu stayed on the second floor, watching the guests socialize below. Chengjin held a small plate with a piece of cake: “Aren’t you going down?”

“No.”

If Si Yu showed her face now, she would inevitably be swarmed by people. She raised an eyebrow at Xu Chengjin: “I can’t help it; being this excellent comes with its share of troubles.”

“That is true.”

Xu Chengjin smiled and shook Si Yu’s hand gently. She whispered, “It’s starting.”

Xu Jing had already been downstairs for a while, engaging in social maneuvers. People were either asking about the previous car accident or trying to discuss business collaborations, but she brushed them all off one by one. She maintained a faint smile as she moved through the crowd until she suddenly stopped and looked toward the figures appearing on the second floor.

Mother Xu appeared before the crowd with Jin Xi. Xu Lihua followed closely behind them, quietly waiting for the matter to be made public.

“Welcome, everyone…”

Mother Xu started with a few pleasantries before saying, “Today, I am here to announce a matter that is both heartbreaking and joyful. Twenty years ago, my youngest daughter was born. However, I never imagined that someone would maliciously switch my daughter at birth. Not long ago, I successfully found her—Jin Xi.”

She took Jin Xi’s hand and declared loudly, “My biological daughter—Jin Xi!”

The crowd below erupted into an immediate uproar. It seemed no one had expected such a thing to happen, and many were curious to see how Xu Chengjin would be handled, especially since they had seen her there just moments ago.

“Xu Chengjin is the daughter I have raised for twenty years. Whether in the past or in the future, she will always be a daughter of the Xu family!”

Mother Xu then took Xu Chengjin’s hand, pulling her before the gaze of the crowd: “Xiaojin.”

“Mom.”

Xu Chengjin’s smile was faint. She looked down at the crowd on the first floor with a calm gaze. She didn’t say much and did not let go of Mother Xu’s hand. Today, she wanted to give Mother Xu full face; otherwise, countless groundless speculations would surely arise. Of course, such rumors were inevitable anyway—terms like “maintaining appearances for the Xu family” or “the real and fake heiress” were likely already spreading across the internet before she even checked her phone.

“Mom.”

Xu Chengjin had been standing for a long time. She opened her mouth to say she wanted to go back to the lounge to rest, as there was still a lot of socializing ahead, and she wasn’t familiar with these people, nor could she handle them.

Mother Xu leaned in to listen: “What is it?”

“I want to…”

“Xiaojin.”

Si Yu suddenly interrupted her. It seemed as though she had been thinking for a long time and had made extensive preparations before stepping forward: “I have something I want to say to you.”

Xu Chengjin turned to face Si Yu, her eyes softening into a smile: “What is it?”

“Are you willing to be with me for a lifetime?”

Si Yu’s voice was not quiet. Combined with the fact that many eyes were already on her, she became the center of attention. But at this moment, her eyes held only Xu Chengjin, focused and intent.

“Whether in sickness or health, in poverty or wealth, to spend a lifetime with a person named Si Yu.” Si Yu took out a ring she had prepared long ago. She walked up to Xu Chengjin and leaned down slightly, placing herself in a posture lower than Chengjin’s. If one looked closely, the hand holding the ring box was trembling. “I want to marry you.”

Speaking to this point, Si Yu smiled. She licked her lips nervously: “Um… I’m supposed to kneel on one knee…”

“What are you doing?”

Xu Chengjin was amused by her. She took Si Yu’s hand, her own eyes shimmering with tears: “Put it on for me.”

“Okay.”

Si Yu took the ring out. It was a deep blue, featuring a perfectly shaped diamond in the center, accented by many smaller diamonds around it. The band was shaped like a sea wave with a nearly oval curve in the middle, and the area near the blue diamond looked as if it were entwined with vines, appearing exceptionally youthful. She whispered, “This is the proposal ring.”

“Where is yours?”

Xu Chengjin looked at Si Yu’s other pocket. No wonder Si Yu had been so nervous in the lounge when Chengjin accidentally touched it earlier.

“It’s here.”

Si Yu handed the ring that belonged to her to Xu Chengjin. After extending her hand, she watched the other woman put it on her finger. The smile on her face was impossible to hide. She didn’t care about the gazes of others; she only cared about Xu Chengjin’s thoughts.

The two of them acted as if no one else were there, exchanging rings amidst the astonishment of the onlookers.

“Today is not only a happy occasion for President Xu to find her biological daughter, but it is also a celebration for Xiaojin and me.”

Si Yu looked down at the crowd, gripping Xu Chengjin’s hand tightly, her expression full of bold confidence.

“Good!”

The first to react was Mother Xu. She reached out and began to clap sincerely: “I didn’t expect you to propose today.”

“No time like the present.”

Si Yu raised an eyebrow. She had chosen this day for another reason: she was afraid Xu Chengjin might suffer through some gossip or rumors. Although Mother Xu still recognized Xu Chengjin’s status, there were bound to be some foolish people who might give her a hard time. Since that was the case, she would make her Xiaojin her lover, choosing her and becoming her partner in front of all these witnesses.

That way, no one would dare to bully Xu Chengjin.

Xu Lihua also smiled and clapped, though it was hard to tell how much sincerity was in that smile: “Congratulations. I hope I can attend your wedding before I leave.”

“We will definitely make sure of it.”

Xu Chengjin responded to Xu Lihua’s comment: “Auntie, you must come when the time comes.”

The scene of the two being so affectionate was fully witnessed by Jin Xi and Xu Jing. Jin Xi was already feeling unwell from a cold, and now she felt as if her head were about to smoke from frustration. She took a deep breath to steady her mind. It didn’t matter; they hadn’t registered the marriage yet, so she still had a chance. Even if they registered, they could still get divorced.

It was just a title; she didn’t care about that at all. She only wanted Xu Chengjin.

“Then we’ll head back first. My legs are really sore from standing so long.”

Xu Chengjin wasn’t just making an excuse. Her waist hurt, and she felt as if her body would fall apart if she stood any longer. “Mom, we’re leaving now. Let’s go out for dinner together tonight.”

“Alright.”

Mother Xu watched the two of them leaning on each other as they left, feeling a bit emotional. she hadn’t expected her most beloved daughter to end up with the person she disliked most. But as long as they were happy, what did the rest matter?

By comparison… Si Yu was indeed more capable and talented.

“Mom.”

Jin Xi’s expression was not good. She looked at Mother Xu, her voice so raspy she could barely speak: “Are they getting married?”

Mother Xu could easily see what was on Jin Xi’s mind. She sighed helplessly, reaching out to take Jin Xi’s hand and patting it gently: “Xiao Xi, love must be mutual. I thought you understood that.”

“I understand.”

Jin Xi watched their retreating figures and turned away, closing her eyes as if she couldn’t bear to look anymore. Her heart still ached with bitterness.

“I just… I’m just not reconciled to this.”