Nan Residence.
Nan Yu had just entered.
Her foster mother, Sheng Ruomei, couldn't wait to ask, "Xiao Yu, how have you considered the marriage proposal with the young master of the Huo Family?"
Even though she knew her foster mother had called her back only to marry her off, Nan Yu still felt somewhat dejected.
She was picked up by Sheng Ruomei.
When Sheng Ruomei was giving birth, a fire broke out in the hospital, and her newborn child went missing.
In the process of searching, Sheng Ruomei rescued Nan Yu from the fire and raised her as her own daughter.
Initially, the Nan Family treated her well.
But when Nan Yu was thirteen, Sheng Ruomei's biological daughter—Nan Qingqing—came to acknowledge her roots, and from then on, her life was turned upside down.
She was sent to the countryside, and even because of Nan Qingqing's jealousy, fearing her presence would provoke Nan Qingqing, they explicitly forbade her from returning to the Nan Family.
The reason she was asked to come back now was simply because the young master of the Huo Family was disabled, and Nan Qingqing didn't want to marry!
Nan Yu forced a smile and said, "Mom, I'm just a foster daughter, how could I be worthy of the Huo Family?"
"Sister, what are you talking about?"
Suddenly, a soft, melodious voice like the song of an oriole came from upstairs.
Nan Yu looked up to see Nan Qingqing, who bore a strong resemblance to her, descending in a Chanel haute couture, looking like a celestial maiden.
"Sister, a foster daughter matches a cripple, the two of you are a match made in heaven!"
Nan Qingqing, holding Sheng Ruomei's hand, affectionately sat next to her.
Nan Yu watched this scene, a sour feeling rising in her heart.
She couldn't help but ask softly, "Mom, do you think so too?"
Caught off guard by the question, Sheng Ruomei awkwardly smiled and then earnestly said, "Xiao Yu, don't look down on the young master of the Huo Family for being disabled. He is the only son of the Huo Family, and someday all of that vast Huo estate will be his. By marrying him, you'll be going there to enjoy wealth and honor."
Her foster father, Nan Luzhi, also chimed in with a laugh, "Xiao Yu, once you marry him, you'll be a wealthy lady; you won't have to go back to the countryside and live those rough days. Isn't that a good thing?"
A good thing?
How foolish was she to let them deceive and humiliate her like this?
Nan Yu could not help but refuse, "Dad, since this marriage is so good, then let Qingqing marry into their wealth and blessings instead."
As expected, Nan Luzhi's expression changed instantly.
"Nan Yu, as the older sister, how can you be so malicious? Wanting to push Qingqing into a fire pit?"
Nan Yu feigned surprise, "A fire pit?"
Realizing he had misspoken, Nan Luzhi immediately sterned his face and said, "Xiao Yu, Dad won't hide it from you any longer, that young master of the Huo Family is cruel and ruthless. Qingqing has been frail since she was young; sending her there would be like sending her to her death!"
Nan Yu, as if she had heard a huge joke, said, "So you're asking me to die in her place?"
Nan Qingqing innocently said, "Sister, you've been beaten up at uncle's house over the years, but surely you'll be fine if you go to the Huo Family."
Sheng Ruomei nodded, "Xiao Yu, I saved you from the fire and raised you as my own daughter for thirteen years. After Qingqing returned, we still provided for you in the countryside until now. Aren't the life-saving kindness and the nurturing grace enough for you to repay by standing in for her in this marriage?"
Nan Yu's face turned pale instantly, the pain in her heart spreading to her limbs, blurring her vision from the pain.
She lifted her pale little face, and with a bitter smile, said, "When I was beaten to near death in the countryside by my uncle, you said you hoped I would die soon; how can you have the nerve to ask me to repay kindness now?"
Smack!
Nan Luzhi slapped Nan Yu's face outright.
"Damned ingrate, you're given face but you don't want it! Let me tell you, this marriage, you're definitely getting married!"
With her left face swelling, Nan Yu forced a smile and coldly said, "Dad, Mom, does the Huo Family know you're planning to send a fake daughter to marry in deceit."
For a moment, the situation was tense as drawn swords.
Suddenly, the family's butler ran in from outside, gasping for breath, and said, "Master, Madam, the head of the family has suddenly sent someone here, saying they've come to take the young lady back home!"
Sheng Ruomei, who was furious a second ago, instantly changed her expression, breaking into a joyful smile and said, "Qingqing, your biological parents have sent someone to take you back."
With that, she paid no more attention to Nan Yu in the living room and turned around to send Nan Qingqing out the door.
Nan Yu was startled!
The head of the Nan Family?
The Nan surname was prominent in this city; Nan Luzhi's branch could only be considered a collateral branch, the main branch's most famous member being the current head of the Nan Group.
"Qingqing is the darling daughter of the head family, lost for over twenty years?"
Nan Yu could not help but ask, "When she was brought back all those years ago, didn't you do a paternity test to confirm she was your biological daughter?"
Sheng Ruomei glanced at her and said, "Nan Yu, there's no need to hide it from you now. The paternity test was wrong back then."
"Actually, you are our biological daughter!"
"Nan Yu, this marriage was originally yours; there's no such thing as standing in for anyone."
Those few light words fell on Nan Yu like a heavy hammer.
Nan Yu stood there stunned, as if struck by lightning, emitting a burnt smell from her entire body.
"How is this possible?"
When Nan Qingqing came to recognize them as relatives years ago, she couldn't accept the fact that she was adopted by the Nan Family and secretly went for a paternity test, which confirmed she was not their biological daughter!
It was because of this result that she despondently went to the countryside.
And now, they were saying the paternity test was wrong?