Chapter 70: The Chosen Daughter

Feeling the entire room's gaze fixed on her "spontaneous" remark, Li Sishi looked up, tears welling in her eyes, adopting a pitiful posture as if she had discovered a family crisis and was cautiously trying to comfort an adult: "Uncle..."

"Hey..." Zhou Jiayun responded subconsciously, then glared at Li Jinhao with annoyance.

Li Jinhao is really lucky; his sister and niece are both on his side!

But it makes sense, Li Jinhao has been performing really well lately. Not to mention Li Sishi, even the siblings Zhou Huichang and Zhou Huiguang like him.

What's more, the most crucial point is that Li Jinhuai's actions over the years were truly appalling, breaking the hearts of Li Sishi and her mother. Now that they know that this scumbag Li Jinhuai is not their biological father—anyway, as long as he's not some heinous villain who commits murder and arson, Li Sishi will definitely accept her new "biological father" more.

Apart from the escape incident back then, Li Jinhao is perfect in every way, from appearance to personality to family background. It's obvious who to choose!

Unaware of the turmoil in Zhou Jiayun's heart at that moment, Zhou Jiaxian, having recovered her composure, looked with difficulty at Li Sishi, who was on the verge of tears, and then at Li Jinhao, whose face showed shock but also deep relief. She then let out a long sigh and nodded silently.

After receiving Zhou Jiaxian's "acknowledgment," the atmosphere seemed to become much more relaxed.

First, Liang Shao'e, along with Zhou Huichang and Zhou Huiguang, pulled Zhou Jiayun aside. Then, Madam Li held Li Sishi's hand with a loving expression. Finally, Li Jinhao took Zhou Jiaxian's hand. The atmosphere changed from tense to peaceful, and everyone found a place to sit down.

Upon learning that Li Sishi was indeed her long-awaited granddaughter, Old Madam Li loved her more and more, holding her hand and asking her questions incessantly. However, whenever she heard that Li Sishi had been treated sarcastically by Li Jinhuai in Annam, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her granddaughter while cursing the scumbag, appearing as if she were personally sympathizing with him and wishing she could take his place.

"It's alright, Madam Li, it's all in the past. Now that I know that scoundrel isn't my biological father, I'm already very content." As soon as Li Sishi finished speaking, she saw Madam Li wipe away her tears again.

It's all Li Jinhuai's fault, that scoundrel who stole his brother's girlfriend! If it weren't for his interference, would her only granddaughter have suffered for so many years?!

Furthermore, it has caused her granddaughter to be unable to call out to her biological father and grandmother when they see them!

Resentment and guilt intertwined, forming an endless sense of apology. That gaze made Zhou Jiaxian feel somewhat uncomfortable: "Old Li..."

"Madam?"

"It's nothing, I'm just too happy..." Madam Li wiped her eyes, then winked at Sister He standing next to her. Sister He, understanding, immediately brought over a large stack of things, including almanacs and restaurant lists.

Taking this opportunity, Li Jinhao formally expressed his desire to marry Zhou Jiaxian in front of both families. He even took out the diamond ring he had prepared for a long time, and knelt down on the spot, holding the ring, waiting for Zhou Jiaxian to nod.

Zhou Jiaxian subconsciously looked towards Li Sishi, only to see her immediately respond with an encouraging and blessing look.

So Zhou Jiaxian looked at the four members of the Zhou family: Zhou Jiayun snorted, indicating that she couldn't care less about that, while Liang Shao'e, Zhou Huichang, and Zhou Huiguang exchanged glances with Li Sishi, clearly indicating that she should accept the proposal.

"Zhou Xiao... Jiaxian, I sincerely hope that you and Sishi can become a member of our Li family," Old Madam Li added at the opportune moment.

Hearing this recognition that came nearly twenty years late, Zhou Jiaxian's eyes welled up with tears, and as she closed them...

He nodded quickly and slightly.

"Yeah!" Seeing Zhou Jiaxian, who was smiling through her tears, finally put on the ring set with a dazzling diamond, Li Sishi and the two siblings, Zhou Huichang and Zhou Huiguang, who were watching from the sidelines, immediately gave each other a high five excitedly, "Congratulations!"

Once it was confirmed that both parties intended to get married, the large stack of things that Sister He brought immediately came in handy.

Seeing how eagerly Madam Li wanted to get Li Jinhao and Zhou Jiaxian married as soon as possible, Zhou Jiayun's face was not good - until Liang Shao'e secretly pinched his arm, he managed to force a rather forced smile.

When it comes to handling wedding arrangements, it's naturally the time for housewives like Liang Shao'e to step in.

Logically, since Li Sishi is indeed the biological daughter of Li Jinhao and Zhou Jiaxian, the wedding should be held as soon as possible, as Madam Li wishes, so that Zhou Jiaxian and Li Sishi can officially move into the Li family, obtain the rightful title of "Li family member," and gain protection and inheritance rights...

However, considering the hardships Zhou Jiaxian and Li Sishi had endured over the years, and that their family didn't care about money or fame, and given the current societal view that the more effort and time spent on a wedding, the more "important" it was, Liang Shao'e used the excuse that Li Sishi's upcoming university entrance exams might negatively impact her mood to repeatedly postpone the wedding date—a suggestion that Zhou, still seething with anger...

Jia Yun expressed his full support.

Zhou Jiaxian had many doubts in her mind, so she didn't care about the topic. She simply sat quietly to the side, waiting for the time when Li Jinhao would explain to her after the event.

Li Sishi held Zhou Jiaxian's hand with one hand, while the other hand was held by Old Madam Li. Her eyes were also busy checking the almanac to see if the date was auspicious or inauspicious.

The two sides exchanged almanacs for a long time, finally settling on a few dates this summer. They were just waiting to have someone calculate the auspicious dates based on the birth charts of both parties, and then decide on the wedding day...

As for other details, we will discuss them in detail after the wedding date is calculated by the master.

Seeing that Li Sishi and her daughter were about to leave with the Zhou family, Madam Li was reluctant, but she knew that now was not the time to force them to stay. So she called out to Li Jinhao and asked him to drive Li Sishi and her daughter home. She saw them off to the door and watched them leave from afar.

Li Sishi and her daughter rode in one car with Li Jinhao, while the four members of the Zhou family rode in the nanny van driven by Zuo Lili.

After saying goodbye to the beaming Mrs. Li, on the way home driven by Li Jinhao, Zhou Jiaxian finally couldn't help but ask, "What... exactly happened?"

Li Jinhao took a deep breath, organized his thoughts, and then revealed the truth: he had discovered that Madam Li had misunderstood Li Sishi's appearance, and he couldn't bear to see his mother's hopes dashed, so he had someone tamper with the paternity test.

"How could you lie to her like that?" Although Madam Li had once separated them, Zhou Jiaxian felt that deceiving an elderly person was inappropriate.

After saying that unconsciously, Zhou Jiaxian suddenly snapped out of her daze and looked at Li Sishi with an apologetic expression.

Recalling her uncle Zhou Jiayun's rather forced smile that evening, Li Sishi immediately replicated an even more forced, tearful, and awkward smile for Zhou Jiaxian, which made Zhou Jiaxian's heart clench.

“I’m sorry, Sishi…” Zhou Jiaxian reached out and took Li Sishi’s hand reassuringly.

Li Sishi remained silent for a moment.

She gently shook her head: "Forget it, so many years have passed, there's no need to think about whether it's true or false. Anyway, I'll have this new daddy in the future..."

Zhou Jiaxian looked at Li Jinhao shyly, while Li Jinhao seemed completely at ease: "After we get married, Sishi..."

She's also my daughter, so don't worry. I will do my best to make up for the fatherly love she's missed all these years.

“But…” Zhou Jiaxian was still worried about the falsified paternity test.

“My mother isn’t the kind of person who can’t distinguish between good and bad. At first, you didn’t have the opportunity to get to know each other, which is why some people with ulterior motives interfered and sowed discord. Now, there’s such a good opportunity for you to get to know each other peacefully through getting to know each other. I believe you will definitely accept each other.” Li Jinhao first gave some advice, and then he talked about how, because he had no children, all those distant relatives who were only slightly related to him had been eyeing his family’s property with envy.

“If neither you nor Sishi are willing to join the Li family, then my mother will continue to be misled and deceived by those people…” Li Jinhao’s voice was almost pleading at this moment. “This is just a white lie. I know that you and the Zhou family don’t care about these material things, but you are the only ones I can trust now…”

Seeing Zhou Jiaxian's still troubled yet visibly softened expression, Li Sishi gained a new understanding of Li Jinhao, her future stepfather: with just a few words, he could subtly belittle Li Jinhuai, this "scheming person," and use a show of weakness to evoke her mother Zhou Jiaxian's sympathy. It seemed her mother would soon be completely under Li Jinhao's thumb...

However, if the two are truly in love, then there's no need to worry too much about who can dominate whom.

In any case, marriage is a give-and-take affair. When facing his mother, Li Jinhao's intelligence is mostly offline—only when it comes to their future and external affairs does he regain the shrewdness and cunning expected of a top lawyer.

Li Sishi, who had no idea that she was also developing into a little sesame dumpling, thought to herself as she sat in the back seat of the car.

After passing this hurdle, the news that the Li family branch, represented by Madam Li, was about to be married to the commoner Zhou family of the Liao Street tea restaurant spread throughout the entire port city amidst the astonished expressions of many.

It's unbelievable that Li Sishi, a double beauty pageant winner who is perfect in every way except for her humble background, was able to leapfrog her social class by marrying into a wealthy family. Everyone who sees the gossip magazine reports can't help but sigh that she has finally "gotten her comeuppance." Speaking of which, with the sales of Li Sishi's single from last year, she should at least win a newcomer award at the upcoming annual Jade Solid Gold Awards ceremony.

A woman who has achieved success in both her career and family life—what a blessed woman!

Sighing as I flipped through

Turning the page, seeing the huge diamond ring on Zhou Jiaxian's hand that reporters had photographed in close-up, the netizens couldn't help but think of the news from a few days ago: the "Jade Girl" leader, Wen Huihui, was recently proposed to by her boyfriend, Li Zhen.

But Li Zhen, that stingy bastard, gave the Jade Maiden a ring that was called a "diamond ring" but was actually just a plain silver ring without any diamonds. He even proudly said that it was a small gift but a big sentiment... Bah! How could he give such a gift and say such a thing!

Comparing the treatment of Zhou Jiaxian and Li Sishi, mother and daughter, one has to say that people's choices may indeed determine their future outcomes from the very beginning. Putting aside the question of whether true love is based on the heart or money, we are not in a world where we are so poor that we cannot afford to eat. Under these circumstances, if a partner is unwilling to spend money on something as important as marriage, how much "heart" can they truly have?

Even the mindset of Hong Kong people

In the past, "talented men" were always more popular than "artists".

As an artist, Wen Huihui's marriage into a wealthy and famous scholarly family like Li Zhen's was definitely a step up for her. However, Li Zhen's stingy and self-justifying actions were truly baffling. In addition, Wen Huihui has always had a good reputation and audience appeal in recent years, so it makes people think that Wen Huihui must have been blinded by greed to agree to his marriage.

Moreover, Li Zhen, this particularly chauvinistic guy, while promoting Wen Huihui, also caused a lot of trouble for her career. Now that Wen Huihui has accepted his marriage proposal, she will probably end up like those seniors who, after getting married, had no choice but to gradually fade out of the entertainment industry due to family pressure.

As people read and discussed, the news about celebrities, wealthy families, talented men and beautiful women recorded in black and white was sometimes perplexing, sometimes frustrating, and sometimes enviable, leaving onlookers sighing with emotion.

It seems that the Hong Kong entertainment industry, a place teeming with talent and bustling with activity, is about to usher in a new landscape for its rising stars.