Chapter 6: Such a Nice Father-Daughter Pair, Yet Both Are Seriously Ill

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Such a Nice Father-Daughter Pair, Yet Both Are Seriously Ill

Her ex-husband, Lin Yaodong, only ever complained about her, and he showed nothing but undisguised disgust for their daughter.

’That man only cares about his own reputation!’

A surge of anger flared within Shu Xin. A hint of displeasure colored her refined and elegant features.

Her good Shu Family upbringing kept her from lashing out at Lin Yaodong right then and there.

Still, she couldn’t resist saying a few sharp words:

"Lin Yaodong, let me make something clear. I divorced you over ten years ago. And Yaoyao is legally registered under my name now!"

"She is my daughter, Shu Xin’s daughter! The lady of the Shu Family! She and I have nothing to do with you or the Lin Family!"

"But the Shu Family brought her back from Zone 9!" Lin Yaodong’s face was filled with disgust. "Do you have any idea what Zone 9 is? It’s the entire Federation’s garbage dump!"

Shu Xin insisted adamantly, "I don’t care what she’s been through. She is my daughter! That’s a fact no one can change! Not even you, Lin Yaodong!"

Lin Yaodong was incredulous.

’The Shu Family is actually treating some piece of trash they picked out of a garbage dump like a treasure!’

’Even if Shu Yao was once his daughter, she’s been tainted by the filth and stench of Zone 9.’

’He had no desire to acknowledge this filthy, smelly thing! And he certainly didn’t want anyone to know that he, Lin Yaodong, had a daughter like that!’

"Did you even ask my opinion before taking it upon yourself to bring her to such an important event?!"

Lin Yaodong rebuked Shu Xin, his tone harsh.

"Lin Yaodong, you think a little too much of yourself! Do I need to report to you before I do anything now!?"

Shu Xin’s anger was swelling, and just as she was about to erupt, a slender, fair arm slipped through hers.

Shu Yao stepped forward. With graceful composure, she pulled up the electronic invitation she had received the day before on her Light Brain.

"This is an invitation from the Imperial Family." Shu Yao offered a polite, faint smile, though it carried a sense of detachment. "Sir, if you have any further objections, I suggest you take them up with His Majesty."

Lin Yaodong looked utterly thwarted.

He never imagined that His Majesty of the Federation himself would personally send an invitation to this woman from a garbage dump!

His eyes widened as he checked again and again, but the invitee’s name on the invitation hadn’t changed.

’Shu Yao. It was still Shu Yao!’

Shu Xin was absolutely delighted. She sneered, "Lin Yaodong, does His Majesty need to report to you before he does anything, too?"

’Since when did Lin Yaodong have that much clout!’

The Lin Family barely counted as aristocracy in the Upper Star District. To them, the Imperial Family was an untouchable, unattainable entity!

Seeing the look on Lin Yaodong’s face grow increasingly foul, Shu Xin’s mood soared.

Just then, Lin Yaodong turned his sights on Shu Yao.

"Lin Shuyao, if you really cared about your father and mother, you wouldn’t have come from a place like that to disgrace us!"

"Pardon me, sir. If you didn’t see the name on the invitation clearly, allow me to correct you," Shu Yao said unhurriedly. "My name is Shu Yao."

Her speech and demeanor were poised and polite, her aura bright and pleasant, putting others at ease. The form-fitting, champagne-colored gown traced the delicate curves of her graceful figure, creating a breathtakingly beautiful silhouette.

It was clear she had inherited all of her mother’s best genes when it came to looks.

If one didn’t know the truth, it would be impossible to imagine such a lovely young woman had lived for so many years in the filth of the Lower Star District!

Steadying himself, Lin Yaodong cursed himself internally. ’I was almost fooled by her looks!’

’What’s the use of dressing up? Underneath it all, she’s still just a bedbug that crawled out of a trash heap!’

Lin Yaodong said disdainfully, "I don’t care what your surname is now. I’m warning you—stay away from the Lin Family!"

Shu Yao feigned innocence. "Weren’t you the one who came to bother me in the first place?"

Shu Xin warned Lin Yaodong, "You’re the one who needs to stay away from us!"

"You could clearly see we were displeased, yet you still came over looking for trouble." Shu Yao mocked with composure. "Sir, I suspect you have masochistic tendencies. That’s a sickness, you know. I suggest chemotherapy."

’Chemotherapy? Just how serious must this illness be!’

Shu Xin couldn’t stifle a laugh.

Lin Yaodong’s face turned ashen with rage. He could only watch as the mother and daughter, arm-in-arm, laughed and chatted as they walked around him and moved on.

At that moment, he saw a very familiar figure approaching them.

"Sister, your gown is so beautiful!"

A young woman in a starry, poofy tulle gown and blue stilettos walked over, her eyes burning with admiration for Shu Yao’s champagne-colored mermaid gown.

The countless sequins dotting her gown flickered as she moved, like twinkling stars. Of course, that was only under the lights. Away from the light, the gown would lose its luster.

Shu Yao’s champagne gown, on the other hand, was crafted from tribute silk from an off-world planet and a special-grade material. It seemed to glow on its own, emitting a soft, misty radiance even in the dark.

"Thank you," Shu Yao replied politely to the young woman. "Your gown is nice as well."

"It’s nothing compared to yours. The gown is lovely, but you..." The young woman suddenly clapped a hand over her nose and recoiled. Words of disgust escaped from behind her hand. "What is that smell? It stinks!"

’So she’s here to start trouble.’

"Sister, can’t you smell it yourself? Perhaps you’ve gotten used to the stench of the garbage dumps in the Lower Star District!" The young woman waved her hand, fanning the air around her. Her look of disgust didn’t falter, but her tone took on a note of pity. "I suggest you stay away from events like this in the future. They really aren’t for you! Ai, what a waste of such a beautiful gown!"

Shu Yao sized up the other woman as if she were a complete stranger.

"Mother, who is this?"

Shu Xin gave a cold smile. "That’s Lin Yaodong’s daughter, Lin Zhenxiang."

Not long after her divorce from Lin Yaodong, the Lin Family welcomed Lin Zhenxiang and her mother into their home. After joining the Lin Family, the newcomer Lin Zhenxiang quickly surpassed her predecessor, not only taking Lin Shuyao’s place but becoming far more doted upon.

After that, Shu Xin had suspected Lin Yaodong of cheating on her during their marriage, believing Lin Zhenxiang to be his biological daughter. To confirm this wild theory, she secretly looked into the gene banks, only to discover that Lin Zhenxiang had undergone genetic modification, and there was no record of her biological father.

"Sister, you really don’t recognize me?" Lin Zhenxiang feigned surprise, then immediately switched to an understanding, pitying tone. "Oh, that’s right. Of course you wouldn’t. You were living in the garbage dumps of the Lower Star District. There’s no Star Network there. You’ve probably never even been online, have you?"

Shu Xin was about to retort, but she saw her daughter simply give a faint, detached smile.

"Someone seems to think she’s famous in every corner of the Federation. Apparently, that’s not quite the case."

Shu Yao had heard that the other daughter of the Lin Family was a hugely popular internet celebrity.

Lin Zhenxiang’s smile froze.

Shu Yao continued her polite rebuttal:

"You really should change how you address me. Don’t be so familiar; it might give people the wrong impression that I’m still a lady of the Lin Family. If you don’t know my name, you can go home and ask your esteemed father."

"Oh, and a friendly reminder: I suspect there’s something wrong with your sense of smell. I suggest you get it treated. You could even accompany your esteemed father to his chemotherapy. Such a lovely father-daughter pair, both so seriously ill. How pitiful!"