"Isn't that Su Qianrou—the fake daughter of the Su family? The one who swapped places with Celia when they were little?"
"Yeah, that's her. She's doing well for herself now. Drives a six-million-yuan sports car, draped in designer clothes, swiping her credit card for hundreds of thousands like it's nothing."
"The Su family really treats her like treasure… even though she's not their real daughter."
Li Chong's ears twitched at the name. Su Qianrou… fake daughter…Wasn't that his biological daughter?
"She's rich now?"
A greedy smile crept across his face. He'd been fretting over where his next meal would come from—now a walking goldmine had fallen into his lap. With Su Qianrou in his grasp, the rest of his life could be easy.
"Excuse me," he asked the gossiping bystanders, "where's this TV station you're talking about?"
"It's just up ahead…"
At the TV station, Su Qianrou, Chairman Su Changrong, and Li Lan arrived in elegant formalwear. Backstage, makeup artists worked under bright lights, brushes sweeping across flawless faces.
Qianrou lifted her phone. "Mom, Dad, let's take a photo together."
Su Changrong and Li Lan leaned in, flashing matching "V" signs.
Snap.
The perfect family of three, immortalized in a photo. Qianrou immediately posted it to Weibo: So happy! I brought Mom and Dad to the TV station for an interview today.
The comments flooded in within seconds:
"Our beautiful, kind-hearted goddess is online!""I heard Qianrou's family was honored as a model family citywide. What a blessed trio!""Noble and refined young lady—please, leave that country girl behind."
Qianrou scrolled through them with a satisfied smile.
The TV host approached. "Qianrou, are you ready? We're starting soon."
"Yes," she replied sweetly.
"Alright, let's head to the studio."
Once inside, the host began with a practiced tone. "I heard Celia—the recent internet sensation—was brought here from the countryside?"
Qianrou nodded demurely. "Yes. My parents felt sorry for her and her stepfather, so they brought her here to work as a maid."
The deputy director and cameraman exchanged approving looks. "Your family is so compassionate—helping people quietly, without asking for recognition."
Su Changrong and Li Lan's eyes gleamed. If they could spin Celia's presence into a good PR story, why not?
Just then, an assistant entered. "Qianrou, someone's looking for you outside."
Her brow furrowed. "Now? The show's about to start. Who is it?"
"They didn't give their name, but they said you'd regret it if you didn't see them."
Annoyed but curious, Qianrou stood. "Fine. I'll be right back."
In a quiet side corridor, she spotted Li Chong.
She knew him—had seen him making a scene outside CC before. Celia's crude, loudmouthed stepfather from the countryside. She wrinkled her nose, covering her mouth as if to block a foul smell.
"Are you Celia's stepfather? Why are you here for me instead of her?" she asked coldly.
Li Chong's gaze swept over her, taking in her custom Chanel, her polished air, the unmistakable wealth she now exuded.
He chuckled. "Su Qianrou… you don't recognize me? I'm your father."
Her mind went blank.
After playing the role of the Su family's real daughter for so long, she'd almost convinced herself it was true… forgetting entirely that the man before her—Celia's stepfather—was her own flesh and blood.