This newly arrived little fragrant pig is a big eater.
Zongzi, flower cake, durian, steak—it could eat it all and seemed to relish every bite.
Worried he might overfeed it, Huo Chao only gave it a small taste of the steak and flower cake.
He sent a video of the pig eating to Shu Er.
[This pig can eat a lot, definitely not like you.]
Shu Er received the WeChat message just after finishing her meal. To be honest, the pig’s meal in the short video looked far more luxurious than hers. She had just had a cup of instant seafood porridge from a nearby store. Though the instant meal wasn’t bad, watching the pig dine on flower cake, zongzi, steak, and fruit made her feel a bit resentful. The comparison made her own food look like pig slop. Huo Chao was really overdoing it as a new pig owner.
And what did he mean by that message? Of course pigs can eat a lot!
Shu Er rolled her eyes and quickly typed a message, [Xiao Er: Looks like you really like this gift. You actually feed it so well.] She would never admit she was slightly jealous of the pig’s diet.
She is a little worried though, that this pig would end up too fat to walk in the future.
Huo Chao responded promptly, [Brother: Want me to bring you some tomorrow?]
[Xiao Er: It better be fresh! And untouched!]
[Brother: Got it.]
After their exchange of messages, Shu Er prepared to go to bed, knowing she has a big challenge to face the next day.
The following afternoon after school, Shu Er accompanied Huo Chao to Chenger Technology Company.
Huo Chao seemed to have made an appointment in advance, as the receptionist greeted them warmly, “Please follow me to the reception room. General Manager Liu has been expecting you.”
Chenger Technology was founded by Liu Yan, and over the years, it has gained a solid reputation in the industry. Shu Er’s mother had become a well-known figure in the business world, a true powerhouse.
As Shu Er walked through the company, she noticed how prosperous it seemed under her mother’s leadership.
When she arrived at the reception room, she met the original Shu Er’s biological mother for the first time.
Liu Yan looked young for her age. Even though she was in her early forties, she was well-maintained and looked no more than 30 years old. She’s wearing a sharp women’s suit and has short hair, which made her appear neat and energetic.
She had already been informed that Huo Chao was coming, but hadn’t expected him to bring a girl along. What’s more, this girl’s features bore a striking resemblance to her own.
Huo Chao shook hands with Liu Yan, and though his relationship with his own family was complicated, being the second son of the Huo family had its advantages. He had certainly used his family name to his benefit on more than one occasion.
The thought brought him a mix of both gratitude and bitterness.
“Ms. Liu,” Huo Chao greeted.
“Second Young Master Huo.”
Once seated, Huo Chao wasted no time in explaining the purpose of his visit, handing over several documents to Liu Yan.
Initially, Liu Yan assumed Huo Chao was here for business, but as she flipped through the documents, her composed smile faltered.
This… She accelerated the speed of flipping through the documents in her hand.
Huo Chao came prepared. The documents contained personal details about Shu Er’s parents, her birth records, and a comprehensive summary of her life experiences over the years. Among them was a DNA test confirming that Shu Er and her parents weren’t biologically related.
Liu Yan scanned through the reports, her silence stretching as she processed the information.
Displaying the poise expected of someone from the Huo family, Huo Chao broke the silence. “The reason why we investigated this matter is because Shu Er’s younger sister inadvertently overheard part of the truth.”
Liu Yan looked up from the documents, her expression complex. “What truth?”
“Her sister overheard a conversation between her parents, where they discussed that Shu Er might have been switched at birth. For the past seventeen years, Shu Er lived in the countryside. It wasn’t until her grandmother passed away that she returned to her parents’ home.
Liu Yan sighed, “I’ll make sure to look into this matter as soon as possible.”
At this point, their conversation could have ended, but Huo Chao wasn’t finished. He asked bluntly, “Ms. Liu, if it turns out that this switch really happened, how do you plan to handle your Shu Er?”
Liu Yan didn’t answer immediately.
Her hesitation was expected. Huo Chao smiled slightly, maintaining his calm yet subtly pressuring tone. “You might think your Shu Er is innocent in all this, that none of this is her fault. After all, the bond you’ve formed over seventeen years is real, and surely your family’s wealth could support both girls, right?”
Truthfully, Liu Yan hadn’t thought that far ahead yet.
Even though she was a master in the business world, at her core, she was still a mother. The revelation that the daughter she had raised for seventeen years might not be hers by birth was overwhelming. She needed time to process it.
She gestured for him to continue. “What’s your perspective, Mr. Huo?”
Huo Chao had already prepared his argument.
“Seventeen years isn’t a short time, but it’s not long either. If you prolong the situation, it will only lead to more conflicts in the future. Short-term pain for long-term peace—it’s better for them to return to their rightful places now. That would be the most fair and reasonable outcome.”
Huo Chao didn’t sugarcoat his words, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
Liu Yan, however, countered, “What if there’s no conflict within the family? They aren’t enemies. The two girls can coexist in the Shu family.”
Shu Er smiled and said, “It’s impossible that there’s no conflict. She’s occupied my place for seventeen years. I can’t like her, and I can’t live peacefully with her.”
Huo Chao wasn’t very tactful, but Shu Er was even less so.
She didn’t care whether her words would make Shu’s mother think she’s being petty or lacking generosity. After all, she had no intention of winning her unconditional motherly love. She was simply saying what she felt like saying.
Liu Yan, on the other hand, was momentarily at a loss for words.
Although she still wasn’t sure if Shu Er was her biological daughter, she couldn’t help but notice a shadow of her younger self—decisive, vigorous, and clear about what she loved or hated.
Shu Er thought for a moment, then continued with a smile, “According to what my sister told me, my current parents deliberately swapped me out, just so their real daughter could live a good life.
She’s already enjoyed seventeen years of happiness. No one owes her anything. Of course, I’m not shameless enough to say I’ve been terribly wronged, even though, in reality, I have. I believe I have the right to return to my rightful place.
As for your current daughter, Shu Er, her name is well-known. Shortly after arriving in Beijing, I heard plenty about her. I don’t know what kind of image she has in your eyes—perhaps a good daughter, perhaps your little treasure—but that has nothing to do with me. I don’t like her, I don’t want to deal with her, and I won’t. Out of sight, out of mind. The best way for us to get along is not to interact at all. Of course, after you confirm the truth, you may choose to brush it aside and pretend nothing happened. If that’s the case, please understand how I feel. I might take action for myself. I believe that your parents and in-laws would want their biological granddaughter, not an imposter.”
Throughout, Shu Er remained calm, expressing all her thoughts and making it clear that she did not like Shu Er.
In essence, her message was simple: In the Shu family, it’s either Shu Er (her) or Shu Er (the female protagonist), not both.
Her last sentence even carried a hint of a threat.
Whenever she read novels or watched dramas about swapped children, she grew tired of how the weaker girl was always timid.
She didn’t owe anyone anything. On the contrary, others owed her.
What was wrong with fighting for her rightful place?
Why should she pretend to be so magnanimous and indifferent?
She didn’t believe anyone could learn that someone else had taken over their life for more than a decade and not feel any resentment. While others studied piano, ballet, and went abroad for summer camps, she was rolling in the mud, worrying about food. While others lived in luxurious villas, she lived in a shabby little house in the countryside. While others had luxury cars picking them up, she had to squeeze into buses. With such stark contrasts, if someone still claimed it didn’t matter, that person wasn’t being magnanimous—they were just a fool.
A fool who would willingly offer the other cheek after being slapped.
Liu Yan was surprised by Shu Er’s attitude.
Could this bold and strong girl really be her biological daughter?
She indeed saw a bit of her younger self in Shu Er’s assertiveness.
In fact, it wasn’t just Liu Yan. Even Huo Chao was stunned by the way Shu Er handled the situation.
In his mind, Shu Er had always been a little princess who needed to be pampered. But now, here she was, unafraid to confront a well-known businesswoman. She sat upright, a smile on her face, but none in her eyes. She appeared polite, yet her stance was unwavering. She even resorted to a subtle threat.
Liu Yan’s parents had recently settled abroad, but in their youth, they were tough as nails. The younger generation might not care as much about blood ties, preferring to focus on everyday interactions. But to the older generation, bloodlines were of utmost importance.
This sharp and self-controlled version of Shu Er felt unfamiliar to Huo Chao, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was her true self.
Liu Yan weighed her options before finally nodding, “Alright, I understand.”
Huo Chao stood up, ready to leave.
Shu Er followed suit. She maintained her calm demeanor but spoke with a hint of arrogance, “If I truly am the daughter of the Shu family, then you won’t need to worry about my future. I am more than capable—better than Shu Er.”
Huo Chao was taken aback by Shu Er’s bold claim.
Between Shu Er and Shu Er, he had always thought that the one at a disadvantage was Shu Er.
Shu Er had received an elite education from a young age and had many talents. But what did Shu Er have? And yet, her current confidence didn’t seem unfounded.
So where did she find the courage to claim she was good enough, better than Shu Er?
Huo Chao found himself increasingly perplexed by Shu Er. Which version of her is the real one?
