The hushed murmurs from the guests halted immediately as they took in Lixue’s appearance. She was stunning, her elegant dress fitting her perfectly, a reflection of her poise and quiet confidence. The room seemed to momentarily freeze as every eye turned toward her.
"Who is that?" one of the relatives whispered, clearly surprised. "She’s beautiful."
"She’s... Lixue, right? The illegitimate daughter?" another voice added, but this time, there was a tinge of disbelief. It wasn’t every day that someone like Lixue could command attention with such grace.
Lixue could feel their gazes upon her, some impressed, others appraising. Yu Jia quickly took control of the situation, shooting her a knowing smile before turning to greet the guests. "Lixue, don’t worry about them. They’re just fascinated by how gorgeous you are."
Lixue kept her composure, walking with measured steps as she approached the table where most of the family had gathered. Her dress shimmered slightly under the chandelier light, and the soft fabric flowed as she moved, but she remained silent, allowing them to take in the sight of her. Despite the whispers of admiration, she couldn’t escape the undercurrent of tension. After all, she wasn’t truly part of this family.
The chatter slowly picked up again, but this time, the comments were less admiring and more guarded.
"Is she really this stunning?" Aunt He asked with a frown, her tone sharp. "I didn’t expect... this."
"She cleans up well," Mrs. Tan muttered, though her eyes lingered on Lixue with a critical gaze. "It’s a shame she’s still nothing more than an illegitimate child."
Others nodded, subtly whispering amongst themselves.
"What’s her place here, really?" one of the older men questioned in a low voice. "She’s nothing like the rest of us. The audacity of her showing up here, looking like she belongs."
Lixue’s fingers tightened around the strap of her bag, but she refused to let their words shake her. She focused on keeping her posture straight, her face calm, even as the cruel whispers continued around her.
"I bet the dress is from her rich husband, she could never afford it.."
The mention of Mo Ran’s name made Lixue’s chest tighten, but she held her head high, her heart refusing to falter in the face of their mockery.
Yu Jia caught her eye, her smile almost imperceptible, but she continued to walk forward with her usual air of superiority. "Don’t mind them, Lixue," she murmured, leaning closer as she placed a hand lightly on Lixue’s arm. "They’re just jealous of how you’re outshining them tonight."
The closer they got to the head of the table, where Yu Guangshan, the patriarch of the Yu family and their grandfather, he sat with the rest of the main family, and more did the whispers intensify.
Yu Jia, sensing the discomfort in the air, stepped forward, leading Lixue to the Yu Guangshan.
Lixue paused for a moment, her breath steadying as she took in the sight of her grandfather. His sharp gaze met hers immediately, appraising and criticizing , as though weighing her every move.
Yu Jia nudged her. "Come on, Lixue. Don’t keep Grandpa waiting."
Lixue gave a respectful nod, moving forward to stand before Yu Guangshan, her back straight and her expression neutral despite the growing tension in the room.
Yu Guangshan, his stern face unmoving, studied her with cold eyes. For a moment, there was silence, only the faint clinking of cutlery in the background was heard. His gaze was sharp, and his disappointment palpable.
"Well, well, Lixue," he said, his voice low but laced with disdain. "So this is how you choose to present yourself. You cleaned up well, I’ll give you that. But tell me, what are you really doing here?"
Lixue didn’t flinch at his cold tone, her voice steady as she spoke. "I came to spend time with family as requested, Grandfather."
At her response, the room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for Yu Guangshan’s verdict.
He gave a harsh, humorless laugh. "Family?" he repeated, as though the word itself was foreign coming from her lips. "You may carry the Yu name, but you don’t belong here. You never will."
Aunt He leaned forward with an eager expression, her voice dripping with condescension. "Lixue, dear, perhaps you should be more mindful of where you stand. You may have the appearance, but it doesn’t change your place in this family."
Lixue’s gaze didn’t waver as she met Aunt He’s eye. "I’m well aware of my place, you all have made it clear" she said quietly, though the words carried a quiet power that made several people pause. "So i don’t need to prove anything to anyone here."
The words hung in the air, and for a moment, a tense silence fell. Then, Yu Guangshan broke it with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Prove something?" he scoffed. "What could you possibly have to prove, Lixue? You’ve done nothing to earn your place. A true Yu would have made something of themselves by now. But you? You’re nothing but an embarrassment."
The sting of his words hit harder than she’d expected, but Lixue remained calm. Her eyes flickered only briefly toward the side, where Yu Jia was watching the scene unfold with an almost smug look.
Yu Guangshan’s eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward slightly. "You, Lixue, have never been a part of this family. You are a disgrace."
Lixue bit her lip but held her ground. There was no point in defending herself here. They wouldn’t listen.
Another relative, a cousin, spoke up from the side with an almost mocking smile. "I wonder how she lives with herself, with no real accomplishments. Do you even have a career, Lixue? Or are you just here because you think wearing a fancy dress is enough to earn your place?"
The whispers started again, louder this time. The mockery was thick in the air.
Yu Jia smiled sweetly, she tapped lixue’s shoulder and said softly. "Lixue’s just been... taking her time. But I’m sure she’ll find something soon."
Lixue’s face remained composed, though her heart was heavy. It seemed that no matter how hard she tried, there would always be those who would try to put her in her place.