Soon, Jiang Zhao discovered that Jiang Youli truly knew how to dance ballroom.
Not only did she know, but she danced with remarkable skill and effortless grace, her movements as fluid as Jiang Yonghe's.
No—perhaps even more exquisite and light-footed.
She looked as though she had frequented such high-society banquets before.
Jiang Zhao was stunned. At this moment, Jiang Youli seemed as noble as a swan.
Was this really the same Jiang Youli he knew?
Right now, she was so close to him.
She had been brought back to the Jiang family for many days, and tonight was the first time he truly took a careful look at his "biological sister."
Her skin wasn’t as fair and delicate as Yonghe’s, but aside from its slightly sun-kissed tone, it was just as smooth and flawless.
Her eyes were bright—shining like stars twinkling in the night sky.
Earlier, during that one-minute blackout to prove whose evening gown was the authentic one, Jiang Zhao had already been slightly awed by Jiang Youli.
Yes, he admitted he was impressed—but only a little!
Yet now, he found himself astonished again. What was going on?
The laughter from the sidelines soon faded, replaced by gasps of admiration, as the sight before them was simply too breathtaking.
Jiang Youli’s evening gown was already the most dazzling at the banquet, and now, paired with her elegant dance moves, it was impossible to look away.
"Alright, I admit she just showed off!"
"From this moment on, I’ll never dare look down on her again!"
"Jiang Zhao looks completely dumbfounded! He probably never expected that all those times she stepped on his feet earlier were just her toying with him!"
Jiang Yonghe clenched her fists. How could a country bumpkin like Jiang Youli dance ballroom so well?!
Distracted, she accidentally stepped on Qi Yue’s foot.
She snapped back to reality. "Sorry, Brother Qi Yue."
What was even more infuriating was that no one noticed her mistake—not even Qi Yue, whose gaze remained fixed on Jiang Youli, indifferent to her apology.
Jiang Yonghe bit her lip in frustration but could only swallow her resentment.
Jiang Yehan’s eyes were filled with disbelief. "Susu, did you teach Youli how to dance?"
Zhang Susu shook her head, her expression both surprised and proud. "I did teach her basic etiquette and ballroom dancing, but I thought there wasn’t enough time for her to master it. I didn’t focus on it."
Jiang Yehan understood. "So she already knew how to dance."
At this moment, Grandpa Qi praised, "Your daughter is truly full of surprises."
Jiang Yehan and Zhang Susu couldn’t have been prouder.
Jiang Yehan replied, "Thank you for your kind words, Grandpa Qi. Youli has endured many hardships outside, yet she’s still this outstanding. It’s something her mother and I never expected."
Watching the radiant Jiang Youli, Zhang Susu’s eyes brimmed with happy tears. "Youli must have worked incredibly hard to shine like this. She deserves it."
Meanwhile, Qin Yulian, seated at another table, felt a sour pang in her heart.
This was the daughter she had carried for ten months and given birth to—yet now, everyone was praising Jiang Yehan and Zhang Susu while looking at her with pity!
"Hmph." Qin Yulian snorted angrily, picking up a few melon seeds from the table and cracking them. "What’s so impressive? It’s just ballroom dancing. Yonghe’s been dancing it for years."
Zhang Susu turned her gaze to Qin Yulian’s resentful face and didn’t hold back. "Is it really that hard for you to admit that Youli is exceptional?"
She paused before adding, "Then again, admitting she’s exceptional would mean admitting you were wrong, wouldn’t it?"
Qin Yulian slammed the cracked seed shells onto the table. "What nonsense are you spouting, Sister-in-law? What did I do wrong? I never once refused to acknowledge Youli—it’s her who’s too stubborn, insisting on driving Yonghe out of the Jiang family!"
Zhang Susu couldn’t be bothered with Qin Yulian’s excuses.
She could already foresee that the more outstanding Jiang Youli proved to be, the more Qin Yulian would regret her choices.
If Qin Yulian’s family ever came crawling back, begging for Jiang Youli’s forgiveness—would she relent?
"Susu, what’s on your mind?" Jiang Yehan’s gentle voice pulled her back.
Zhang Susu smiled bitterly. "Ah, Yehan… Am I being too selfish? As a mother, I can’t help but fear that one day, Youli might leave me…"
Jiang Yehan chuckled. "You’re just overthinking because you care. Trust Youli—she didn’t choose us on a whim. She knows how much you love and cherish her."
Zhang Susu slowly let go of her worries.
Yes, what she needed to do was give Jiang Youli all the love and care she had missed for twenty years—not cling to her out of fear.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yangxu felt a creeping sense of unease.
Could Jiang Youli’s earlier threat to ruin their family’s business have been more than just empty words?
And—
"What happened to Jiang Xing’s right foot?"
He had been busy with the pharmaceutical company and hadn’t been home. Only now, seeing Jiang Xing at the banquet, did he notice his limping.
Qin Yulian spat out a seed shell. "Who knows? No matter how much we ask, he won’t say."
Jiang Yangxu frowned.
Ever since Jiang Youli refused to acknowledge them and instead chose Jiang Yehan and Zhang Susu as her parents, their plans to inherit the entire Jiang family fortune had become uncertain.
At this critical moment, Jiang Yangxu couldn’t afford any mishaps. Tonight, he needed to have a serious talk with his eldest son about the current state of their entertainment business, Starlight Media!
……
Dance after dance, Jiang Zhao nearly stumbled trying to keep up with Jiang Youli’s steps.
Jiang Youli immediately teased, "Hey, Jiang Zhao, can you handle this? I’m dancing seriously, and you still can’t keep up?"
Jiang Zhao’s face burned with humiliation.
He scoffed defiantly. "Don’t get too cocky!"
Jiang Youli smirked. "I’m not cocky. I just think you’re a bit weak."
Jiang Zhao: "…"
"Alright, I’ve made my grand entrance. You’re useless now—I’m done dancing. Boring." With that, Jiang Youli released his hand and walked away, leaving Jiang Zhao standing there, dumbfounded.
What?! Jiang Zhao watched Jiang Youli’s retreating figure, feeling like he might cough up blood.
That wild girl had just used him to steal the spotlight!
Fuming, he stormed back to Jiang Xing’s side and complained, "Brother, do you know what Jiang Youli just said to me? She called me weak! She actually looked down on me!"
Jiang Xing’s gaze followed Jiang Youli as she walked toward Qi Huan. For some reason, he could vividly imagine Jiang Youli’s tone when she called Jiang Zhao weak—and he couldn’t help but laugh.
In fact, he did laugh out loud.
By the time he realized it, Jiang Zhao was already staring at him in disbelief.
"Brother, I just got insulted by Jiang Youli, and you’re laughing?!"
