"Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, I've brought your child back for you." Zhang Susu finished speaking and gently patted Jiang Youli's back. "Youli, go greet your parents and your second brother."
Jiang Youli remained standing in place, only smiling faintly as she asked, "Aunt, are they really my birth parents and my biological brother?"
Zhang Susu froze for a moment before nodding. "Yes, of course. Why do you ask?"
Jiang Youli let out a cold laugh. "I’m supposed to be their real daughter and sister, so why do they look at me like I’m some kind of nuisance?"
The expressions of all four people in the room darkened, taken aback by Jiang Youli’s bluntness.
Zhang Susu hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back.
She knew exactly what her second brother and sister-in-law were thinking.
They didn’t want to acknowledge their real daughter because they already had an outstanding adopted daughter.
They’d rather stay home to comfort their adopted daughter than spare even a moment to fetch their own flesh and blood from the village.
The same went for Jiang Xing and Jiang Zhao—both brothers were far closer to the sister they’d grown up with for twenty years. Neither was willing to upset her by making time to fetch Jiang Youli.
Jiang Xing, the eldest brother, hadn’t even bothered to show up, choosing instead to stay at work.
In the end, Zhang Susu couldn’t bear it and offered to go with her husband to bring Jiang Youli home.
Yet even now, with their real daughter standing before them, her second brother and sister-in-law couldn’t even pretend to care.
Qin Yulian glanced at her husband.
Jiang Yangxu returned her look.
In that silent exchange, they reached an understanding.
Clearly, their real daughter wasn’t as meek and submissive as they’d expected.
This wouldn’t be so easy to brush aside.
If they wanted her to willingly agree to marry the Qi Family’s eldest son in place of their adopted daughter, they’d have to put on an act and coax her properly.
Qin Yulian reluctantly stood up, forcing a pained expression as she approached Jiang Youli. "My child, you’ve suffered so much out there."
Jiang Youli sidestepped, avoiding her touch. "Stop pretending. I don’t see an ounce of concern in your eyes."
Qin Yulian stiffened, embarrassment quickly giving way to anger.
She had lowered herself to offer an olive branch, and yet this girl not only refused it but openly humiliated her.
Truly, a child not raised by her own parents had no manners.
Qin Yulian forced a strained smile. "Silly child, you’re my own flesh and blood. How could I not be heartbroken knowing you suffered?"
Jiang Youli smirked. "Oh? If you were so heartbroken, why didn’t you come get me today? Why send Uncle and Aunt instead?"
Zhang Susu opened her mouth to speak, but Jiang Yehan gently held her back, whispering, "Susu, we’ve already brought the child home. The rest is their family matter. Let them handle it themselves. We should go."
Zhang Susu looked at Jiang Youli, her eyes filled with worry and sympathy.
But her husband was right—this was ultimately between Jiang Youli and her birth parents.
As her aunt, no matter how things unfolded here, it wasn’t her place to interfere.
"Sister-in-law, now that the child is home, do right by her. Don’t break her heart. Susu and I will take our leave," Jiang Yehan said politely.
He could only hope his words would make some difference.
Jiang Yangxu nodded. "Thank you, Elder Brother and Sister-in-law, for your help today."
Zhang Susu spoke gently, "Youli, your uncle and I are leaving now. If you ever need anything, come find us at the villa in the East District."
With that, she turned away helplessly.
Jiang Youli watched her aunt and uncle’s retreating figures before turning back.
With the elder couple gone, Qin Yulian finally relaxed. "It’s my fault. The reason your father and I didn’t fetch you ourselves was because I’m too fragile. I was afraid seeing how you’d lived would be too much for me, so I stayed home to calm my nerves and prepare properly for your return."
Of course, that was a lie.
The truth was, when Jiang Yonghe learned she wasn’t their real daughter, she had spent the whole night distraught. This morning, she’d been listless, unable to eat breakfast.
Qin Yulian’s heart ached for her, so she chose to stay and comfort her instead.
Jiang Youli’s eyes gleamed with mockery. "So, what exactly did you prepare for me?"
Qin Yulian immediately replied, "I’ve already set up your room. Come, let me show you."
She reached for Jiang Youli’s hand again, only for the girl to evade her once more.
Jiang Youli’s tone dripped with sarcasm. "Ah, so tidying a room was more important than fetching me yourself."
Qin Yulian’s patience wore thin.
Enough was enough!
"No need to see the room. I might not even stay." Jiang Youli then pointed at the young woman about her age. "Who’s she?"
The young woman flinched, her eyes instantly welling with tears as she clutched the sleeve of the young man beside her.
The young man squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Yonghe, don’t be afraid."
After soothing her, he turned a cold glare on Jiang Youli. "I’m your brother, Jiang Zhao. This is my sister, Jiang Yonghe."
He emphasized the words my sister.
Jiang Youli let out a drawn-out "Oh," then said, "So, she’s the adopted daughter who was swapped with me?"
Jiang Yonghe trembled, tears spilling down her cheeks.
Jiang Zhao’s expression darkened. "In my heart, Yonghe is my real sister!"
Jiang Youli scoffed. "If you see her as your real sister, then you’re an idiot."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Jiang Zhao looked at her in disbelief. "You’re calling me an idiot?"
Jiang Youli sneered. "Yes, am I wrong? Or do you not know that it was her birth mother who secretly swapped us?"
The fake heiress, Jiang Yonghe, had been switched at birth by her mother, Li Cuiping, who had worked as a customer service agent at the maternity center where Qin Yulian stayed. Li Cuiping, also pregnant at the time, had noticed how wealthy Qin Yulian was and hatched a scheme. She booked the same luxury maternity center and, during their stay, swapped the babies without anyone noticing.
Coincidentally, Jiang Yonghe had developed a rash on her face at the time, so Qin Yulian never realized her real daughter had been replaced. She simply took the fake heiress home after her maternity stay.
Jiang Yonghe bit her lip, tears streaming uncontrollably.
"I’m sorry..."
Jiang Zhao held her icy hand tightly, comforting her. "Yonghe, this isn’t your fault."
Then he turned on Jiang Youli furiously. "Yes, it was Yonghe’s mother who switched you two! But Yonghe is innocent! She had no idea what her mother did!"
Jiang Youli let out a mocking laugh, her eyes brimming with sarcasm as she said, "Oh, how innocent she is~ So innocent that she got to live twenty years of pampered luxury in my place, while I—the real heiress—was dumped into a trash bin by her vicious mother in the dead of winter. If someone hadn’t picked me up, I’d have died the day I was born."
