Chapter 4  

It was a beautiful night.

The Qiao family’s mansion was brightly lit, and people were walking in and out of the mansion holding gifts.

A lot of rich and powerful people were invited to Yu Tingyun’s birthday party, and it was a grandiose affair.

Qiao Mu was standing at the balcony of her room. She was bored as she watched the people walking in and out of the mansion.

Every time there was a celebration like this, she merely showed her face for a short while when she was supposed to. She knew where she stood, and she never saw herself as a lady of the Qiao family. She always tried her best to give the spotlight to Qiao Ya.

This was when a maid knocked on the door. “Second young mistress, all the guests are here, and the master asked you to head downstairs.”

Qiao Mu hummed in acknowledgement and smoothed out the creases of her clothes. Only her father would remember her at a time like this. Qiao Mu went to the main hall, where the birthday dinner was held. She saw Qiao Jiannan and Yu Tingyun the moment she entered the main hall. They were holding hands and surrounded by a group of guests. They looked like they enjoyed a harmonious and loving relationship.

“Mu Mu is here.” Qiao Jiannan looked at Qiao Mu and said in an accusatory tone, “You never liked crowds since you were young, and you always hide in your room every time there’s a celebration. It’s Aunt Yun’s birthday today. You shouldn’t do this.”

“Dad, I’m here now, aren’t I?” Qiao Mu looked at Yu Tingyun with a smile on her face. “Aunt Yun, happy birthday.”

Yu Tingyun was an elegant woman. She smiled. “Jiannan, since Mu Mu doesn’t like this kind of celebration, you don’t have to force her to come.”

Yu Tingyun’s gaze fell upon Qiao Mu’s face. Qiao Mu had an innocent smile, and she radiated a pure aura. She was wearing a white, knee-length dress. Even though it was not a grand dinner dress, she looked child-like and innocent.

Everyone who saw her would think that she was a pure and simple young woman. Afterall, she was only eighteen years old.

But the more innocent Qiao Mu looked, the more Yu Tingyun disliked the sight of her.

Qiao Mu’s attire was simple and tasteful, and together with her natural beauty, she attracted plenty of attraction. Standing beside Yu Tingyun, Qiao Ya was wearing a long, elegant dress. She saw that Qiao Mu was not holding anything and said with a smile, “Mu Mu, didn’t you prepare a birthday present?”

“Big sister, you must be curious about what gift I have prepared. But it’s not the time for that yet. I’ll bring the gift out in a while.” Qiao Mu blinked mischievously.

Qiao Jiannan chuckled. “Go ahead and greet the guests.”

They looked like a “harmonious” family.

Qiao Mu knew that Yu Tingyun and Qiao Ya did not like her. Why would they like her? Her existence was proof that her father had cheated on his wife. Of course her stepmother and stepsister would dislike the sight of her.

But Yu Tingyun was a “forgiving” woman. As the wife of a rich and powerful man, she had to pretend to be a caring mother to her step-daughter even though she disliked Qiao Mu. Hence, Qiao Jiannan thought that Qiao Mu enjoyed a good relationship with her stepmother.

Yu Tingyun was a very good actress, and she was able to uphold her image of a caring woman. Qiao Mu did not mind, and she had always played along.

Qiao Mu looked around, and she sneaked out of the main hall when she saw that no one was looking at her.

There was a cab outside the mansion. The moment Qiao Mu walked out of the door, someone got out of the car.

“Xia Xia, I love you so much!” Qiao Mu dashed over and tried to give Chi Xia a hug, but Chi Xia shoved her away.

“Cut it out. Why are you so troublesome? I can’t believe that you forgot your stepmother’s birthday gift in the dorm. The cleaner almost threw it away because she thought that it was trash!”

“Hey, lower your voice. It’s not thrash. Other people would think that I’m being insincere if they were to hear this.”