Chapter 80
◎Real or Fake Daughter?◎
The sky was very overcast, and it looked like it would rain soon. Tangtang came out of the Tonghua Bookstore and was about to go to the bus stop to queue up for the bus back to school when she saw an old man faint on the side of the road. The old man was wearing a dark gray tunic suit and looked to be in his sixties.
Tangtang sometimes felt that this world was very big, and sometimes she felt that this world was unexpectedly small. She hadn’t expected that the middle-aged man she had met on the train would be her school’s Teacher Sheng’s husband, nor had she expected that an old man she had helped out of kindness would be Uncle Lu’s father, Teacher Sheng’s father-in-law.
The Lu family lived in a large, detached Western-style house. The interior was simple yet elegant. There was even a piano in the living room on the first floor. Just by looking at it, one could tell that this was not an ordinary family.
Tangtang sat on a very comfortable sofa. Even though she had taken several deep breaths, she still couldn’t help but feel a little reserved.
“Have some coffee.”
A delicate, printed white porcelain cup was filled with fragrant coffee. Tangtang had never had this before. She took a small sip. It was a little bitter, but very rich and mellow. “Thank you, Teacher Sheng.”
“Grandpa Lu… is he okay?”
“The old man has always had a problem with low blood sugar. As long as he gets some sugar in time and rests for a while, he’ll be fine. Thank you so much for today.” Sheng Ruiru had already learned from Lu Junshan about how Tangtang had seen through the human traffickers on the train and had rescued a small baby from them. The admiration in her eyes was almost overflowing.
“Teacher Sheng, you’re too kind. It was just a small effort. I think anyone who passed by would have been willing to help,” Tangtang said, taking a sip of coffee, a little nervous.
“Didn’t I leave my contact information with you at that time? Why haven’t I heard from you and your brother?” Lu Junshan asked.
“After my brother and I arrived in the capital, we successfully took the school bus to the school to register. Everything went smoothly, so I didn’t contact you.” Tangtang remembered something. “Did you help find that little baby’s family later?”
“We found them.”
“That’s good!” Hearing this, a smile appeared on Tangtang’s face. At least there was one family in this world that would not be separated and broken because of human traffickers.
A hearty smile appeared on Lu Junshan’s face. “The scene at that time was really touching. That family kept asking me for your contact information, wanting to thank you in person!”
Hearing this, Tangtang quickly waved her hand. “A face-to-face thank you is not necessary! It’s good enough that everyone is living a good life.”
“I heard from Junshan that he met you on the train from S province to the capital. Where are you from? When Junshan mentioned you to me before, he also said that he felt a sense of familiarity when he saw you.”
“Teacher Sheng, I’m from Yuanlin County, Xiangyang City.”
Sheng Ruiru looked at Lu Junshan, and they both saw surprise in each other’s eyes. “Xiangyang City? That’s such a coincidence! My husband was stationed near Xiangyang City back then. I went to visit him that year, but I had a premature birth due to an accident. My daughter was born in a hospital in the local commune… What do your parents do?”
Tangtang hadn’t expected this connection. “My dad is an education cadre in our local commune, and my mom is a farmer.”
A gentle smile appeared on Sheng Ruiru’s face. “Your parents have raised you well.”
Lu Junshan still had things to deal with in the army. Seeing this, Tangtang also planned to get up and leave, but Sheng Ruiru held her hand affectionately. “The live-in assistant at home is already preparing dinner. You can just stay here and eat. I’ll have someone send you back to school later. Even if you’re not willing to eat, you should at least let the old man see his lifesaver when he wakes up.”
“To be honest, it’s not just Junshan. I also feel a sense of familiarity when I see you. You can just stay and talk with me a little longer.”
It was difficult to refuse such a warm invitation, so Tangtang had to sit back down on the sofa.
“Have some of this cake.”
“Cake? Sponge cake?” Tangtang had only ever had the sponge cake from the supply and marketing cooperative. She looked at the cake in the gold-rimmed porcelain plate in front of her. The cake was cut into regular squares, covered with a thick layer of cream, and topped with two bright red cherries. The sweet and creamy smell of the cream kept wafting into her nose.
“No.” Sheng Ruiru smiled and stuffed a silver fork into her hand. “This is a cream cake. It’s a way of eating that was introduced by foreigners. You’ll know what it tastes like after one bite.”
Hearing this, Tangtang picked up the silver fork, dug out a small piece of cake, and put it in her mouth. The moment she took the first bite, the soft cake immediately melted between her teeth. The texture of the cream was very silky and fine, and her mouth was filled with a rich, milky fragrance. It was so delicious that she couldn’t help but lick her lips and teeth, reluctant to swallow it in one go.
The red cherry was also very delicious, sour and sweet, and very crisp to bite. It perfectly cut through the sweetness of the cream.
Tangtang felt that the most delicious dessert she had ever had was probably the vanilla ice cream that Zhou Shunian had ordered for her last time when her big brother had treated them to a meal at the Western restaurant. But this cream cake was even more delicious than that vanilla ice cream.
“Is it delicious?”
Tangtang’s eyes sparkled. “Mhm, mhm, delicious, really delicious.”
She swallowed the cake in her mouth. “Teacher Sheng, next semester we can choose three to five elective courses. Can I choose your course?”
Sheng Ruiru was very happy to hear her say this. “Of course you can! I would be very happy to have classmate Xintang in my class.”
“Teacher, you can just call me Tangtang. At home, my parents and my brothers all call me that.”
“Tangtang? That’s a nice name. It’s simple, pleasant to hear, and quite catchy. Your parents and family must dote on you very much.”
“Look at you, you’ve got cream on the corner of your mouth…”
“Here?” Tangtang blushed and reached out to wipe it.
“No, bring your face over.” Seeing this, Sheng Ruiru was about to take a handkerchief to wipe it for Tangtang.
When Lu Youxin returned, she saw the scene of Sheng Ruiru wiping Tangtang’s mouth. Her heart instantly sounded an alarm, and a cold sweat broke out on her palms. But she still forced herself to remain calm and squeezed out a sweet expression.
“Mom, I’m back.”
She opened her mouth slightly in surprise. “We have a guest today?”
“Youxin is back. Let me introduce you. This is classmate Su Xintang. Your grandfather fainted from low blood sugar outside today. Fortunately, she passed by and sent your grandfather to the clinic. She’s also from Capital University, a schoolmate of yours.”
“Tangtang, let me introduce you. This is my daughter, Lu Youxin. She’s in the management department of Capital University.”
Tangtang’s gaze fell on the young girl in front of her. She was a little surprised. She hadn’t expected Teacher Sheng’s daughter to be the new student representative who had spoken at the opening ceremony, the talented girl from the management department who was said to be able to dance ballet, play the piano, and had studied abroad in many countries, Lu Youxin.
But on second thought, it was reasonable. With such outstanding talents as Uncle Lu and Teacher Sheng, the child they raised would definitely be a dragon among men, a proud daughter of heaven.
She couldn’t help but glance at Lu Youxin’s clothes. She was wearing a cream-colored knitted suit, a pair of black small leather shoes polished to a shine, and a silver ladies’ watch on her wrist. The watch face was thin and exquisite. She was carrying a small black square bag. This outfit was clearly carefully matched. It looked simple, but it was actually elegant, had a good texture, and was not ostentatious.
Tangtang then looked at herself. She was wearing a pair of square-toed black cloth shoes she had made herself, a white and pink floral dress, and a pair of black polyester trousers. Her long hair was tied into two braids that hung down her chest. Usually, her outfit was fine, but at this moment, standing in front of Lu Youxin, she looked a little shabby.
Lu Youxin stared at Tangtang’s face. After a long while, she finally came back to her senses. She pinched her palm and squeezed out a generous and elegant smile. “Hello.”
Lu Youxin had only found out half a year ago that she had transmigrated into a book. Her grandfather, Old Mr. Lu, was a retired old leader. Her father, Lu Junshan, was a military officer. Her mother, Sheng Ruiru, was a university professor. Her older brother, Lu Mingbai, was studying at a military academy and was young and promising. And she had lived a life of luxury since she was a child, her ten fingers never touching spring water. The education she had received was also the best. Originally, Lu Youxin had felt that even if there was a novel world, with such a prominent family background, she should be the female lead.
But the truth was, fate had played a joke on her. Not only was she not the female lead, but she was also the fake daughter supporting character in this melodramatic historical novel!
The female lead, Su Xintang, should have been the apple of the Lu family’s eye, born with a golden spoon in her mouth. The Lu family’s eldest daughter-in-law had unfortunately had a premature birth when she went to the military base to visit her husband. The daughter she gave birth to was swapped by a crude and vicious village woman. From then on, a phoenix fell into a chicken’s nest, and a wild chicken flew onto a golden branch. Lu Youxin was taken back to the Lu family and grew up being pampered by the whole family.
And Su Xintang, the real daughter, was taken back to a poor family by her vicious adoptive mother. She was abused and beaten since she was a child and had suffered a lot. When she was six, Su Xintang was adopted by her uncle’s family. That Su Laosan’s family was extremely good to her, this adopted daughter. After the family was divided, they worked together and soon built a spacious big house in the village. The whole family lived a good life. Later, they also caught up with the restoration of the college entrance examination policy. Su Xintang also got into Capital University, met her biological parents in the capital, and finally acknowledged them, completely becoming a winner in life!
And she, the fake daughter, had completely become Su Xintang’s stepping stone. Later, because she had repeatedly framed Su Xintang, she was even kicked out of the Lu family and lived a very miserable life.
Lu Youxin forcefully pinched her palm to maintain her composure. The reason why the truth of the swapped children was exposed in the novel was entirely because of the supporting female character’s constant foolishness. As long as she avoided the plot in the book that would lead to Su Xintang and her biological parents acknowledging each other, then her identity would not be revealed. She would still be the Lu family’s daughter, the proud daughter of heaven with a wealthy family background and envied by everyone. Whether it was the Lu family’s parents or the male lead, all of these things could only be hers.
Looking closely, Su Xintang and Sheng Ruiru were indeed a biological mother and daughter. They both had high-bridged noses, bright eyes, and white teeth. They were both rare great beauties. In contrast, although she was better dressed, her face shape and features, because she had inherited them from her biological parents, had no outstanding features. If she didn’t have such good conditions, she would probably blend in with the ordinary people if she were thrown into a crowd.
Tangtang’s eyes sparkled, a hint of envy in them. “Hello, I know you. At last month’s opening ceremony, you spoke on stage as the new student representative.”
Lu Youxin smiled, as if she were already used to such envy and praise from others.
Tangtang put the cake plate in her hand back on the table. “Teacher Sheng, then I’ll go back first.”
“Alright then. I’ll have the driver send you.”
“Thank you, Teacher Sheng.”