24: Chapter 24 The Real and Fake Heiress

Qin Yi held Lin Wanqing's hand, carrying the gift box containing the dress they had just bought, and walked slowly out of the women's clothing store. The light from the mall spilled over them, and the atmosphere remained sweet.

Lin Wanqing caught a glimpse of a luxuriously decorated jewelry store not far away, a flash of curiosity in her eyes. Seeing this, Qin Yi followed her wishes and led her toward that jewelry store.

The decor of this jewelry store was top-tier throughout Hai City. Inside, the crystal chandelier shimmered brilliantly, and the jewelry in the display cases sparkled under the lights. The air seemed to be permeated with an aura of luxury.

The sales associate in the store, just like the one at the clothing store, saw at a glance that Qin Yi and Lin Wanqing possessed an extraordinary air and must be wealthy or noble. She immediately approached them with a fawning, enthusiastic expression, led them to the main display case, and introduced with a smile:

"Two guests, the jewelry in our store is all of the finest quality. We have necklaces inlaid with pigeon-blood rubies, bracelets carved from ice-type jadeite, as well as diamond earrings and pearl sets. Our styles are complete."

Qin Yi and Lin Wanqing were listening quietly to the sales associate's introduction when, suddenly, a shrill and mean-spirited sarcastic voice came from a corner, instantly shattering the peace in the store.

People around also cast their gazes over. They saw a woman wearing a high-end Chanel-style suit, with vibrant makeup but an arrogant face, standing with her hands on her hips and speaking with disdain to the sales associate beside her.

This woman making the sarcastic remarks was Second Miss Zhou of the Hai City Zhou Family. She was decked out in designer brands, and though her makeup was exquisite, it could not hide the overbearing look in her eyes and brows.

The sales associate she was mocking was named Zhou Xueyao. She was wearing a simple work uniform and was bare-faced, yet she had beautiful features and a gentle, clean temperament. Her appearance and the innate clarity of her character were actually superior to the designer-clad Second Miss Zhou.

Facing Second Miss Zhou's sarcasm, Zhou Xueyao's expression was calm, her gaze indifferent. She showed no anger, as if she had long been accustomed to such verbal abuse.

This calmness completely infuriated the already arrogant Second Miss Zhou. She took a step forward, raised her voice, and sternly rebuked: "Zhou Xueyao, who are you pretending to be aloof for! People like you from the bottom of society only deserve to do this kind of menial work, and will be looked down upon for your whole life!"

Zhou Xueyao lifted her eyes and looked coldly at Second Miss Zhou, without the slightest fear. She retorted, word for word, with resonance: "Second Miss Zhou, besides relying on your family background to bully others, what else can you do? You are nothing more than a thief who stole my life, and you are utterly useless."

This remark seemed to strike a sore spot for Second Miss Zhou. Her face instantly flushed red, and she roared in angry embarrassment: "You have already left the Zhou Family, yet you still dare to speak to me like this? See if I don't teach you a lesson!"

Before her words had even faded, Second Miss Zhou raised her right hand. The nail art on her nails glinted coldly as she swung heavily toward Zhou Xueyao's cheek with full force, clearly intending to humiliate Zhou Xueyao in public.

Zhou Xueyao's eyes sharpened. She did not let herself be bullied, instinctively raising her hand to steadily block the slap. Immediately, she swung her hand back; this strike was powerful and heavy, as if she wanted to return all the grievances she had suffered to the person in front of her.

"Slap!" The crisp sound of the slap was exceptionally loud in the quiet jewelry store.

Second Miss Zhou clutched her burning, stinging cheek, staring at Zhou Xueyao in disbelief. A clear slap mark instantly appeared on her face. She was both shocked and furious, her voice so shrill it almost cracked: "You dare to hit me? Zhou Xueyao, you lowly bottom-feeder, you actually dare to hit me!"

Zhou Xueyao laughed in extreme anger, her eyes full of disdain and resentment, and spoke coldly: "You are allowed to hit me, but I am not allowed to fight back? Second Miss Zhou, you thief who stole my life and usurped my identity for over twenty years, what qualifications do you have to clamor in front of me?"

This secret of the wealthy family was now exposed in public by Zhou Xueyao, causing those around to sigh with emotion. However, what was even more shocking was that Zhou Xueyao was actually the true heiress of the Zhou Family.

It turned out that Zhou Xueyao was the true eldest young lady of the Zhou Family, while the arrogant and overbearing Second Miss Zhou before them was nothing more than an imposter who had usurped the nest.

Twenty-two years ago, the two were born in the same hospital. Second Miss Zhou's mother was a nanny for the Zhou Family at the time and happened to give birth on the same day as Mrs. Zhou. Second Miss Zhou was born half a day earlier than Zhou Xueyao.

The nanny happened to see the newly born Zhou Xueyao, who was as cute as carved jade and born at the pinnacle. She thought to herself, how wonderful it would be if she could have been born into such a family. Suddenly, she thought again.

"I cannot do it, but my daughter can." Thus, she conceived a malicious idea. She secretly bribed a nurse at the hospital and, taking advantage of the confusion in the night, quietly swapped the two newborn babies.

After the swap, the nanny was afraid the matter would be exposed. After being discharged from the hospital, she secretly sold the true Zhou Family heiress, that is, Zhou Xueyao, to an ordinary family.

Coincidentally, this family was also surnamed Zhou. Zhou Xueyao's adoptive parents had lost their child early in life and were heartbroken. After buying Zhou Xueyao, they treated her as their own and poured all their love into her.

Although her adoptive parents' family background was ordinary and they could not provide Zhou Xueyao with a life of luxury, they gave her all the tenderness and care they could. They let her grow up in an environment full of love, making her gentle and resilient. Her life was happy and fulfilling, and before learning about her true background, she never felt that her life had any regrets.

As for Second Miss Zhou, who was swapped into the Zhou Family by the nanny, she transformed from a nanny's daughter into the star-studded Second Miss Zhou. In the twenty-two years she grew up in the Zhou Family, she was spoiled by the Zhou Family to the point of lawlessness. She was arrogant, domineering, and looked down on others. She would order the household staff around and lacked any of the dignity or cultivation of a young lady from a prestigious family, acting in an overbearing and reckless manner.

Yet the Zhou Family indulged her in every way, feeling there was nothing wrong with it, and continued to dote on her endlessly, fearing she would break if held in their palms or melt if kept in their mouths.

This stability lasted for a full twenty-two years, only to be broken three months ago.

During a routine physical examination for Second Miss Zhou, the housekeeper accidentally discovered that her blood type did not match the Zhou father and mother at all. Suspicious, he immediately informed the Zhou father and mother.

While shocked, the Zhou Family hurriedly conducted a secret paternity test, and the results showed that Second Miss Zhou was indeed not their biological daughter.

The anxious Zhou Family immediately utilized all their connections and power to search for their biological daughter everywhere. After a week of investigation and verification, they finally found Zhou Xueyao, who had just graduated from university and was looking for a job.

After the reunion, Zhou Xueyao's background was completely exposed. However, even though the Zhou Family had found their biological daughter, because of their twenty-plus years of feelings for Second Miss Zhou, they continued to favor Second Miss Zhou. They even felt that Zhou Xueyao's appearance had broken the original peace and were very cold toward this biological daughter. Second Miss Zhou, relying on the Zhou Family's favoritism, made things difficult for Zhou Xueyao at every turn. Later, unable to stand the Zhou Family's double standards, Zhou Xueyao moved out of the Zhou Family on her own.

Qin Yi stood to the side with calm eyes. His gaze swept indifferently over the unruly Second Miss Zhou, then looked at the stubborn-eyed Zhou Xueyao. His expression did not have much fluctuation, but he had already taken in this scene, and had some thoughts in his heart.