Chapter 1
When a group of people dressed in obviously expensive clothes found me, I was wearing a frilly apron, serving cake to customers.
Before I could steady the plate in my hand, I was suddenly embraced tightly, with soft sobbing in my ear: “Daughter! My daughter! You’ve suffered so much! Mom has finally found you…”
In an instant, within a three–meter radius around me, people started “scanning” me with their gazes, their eyes complex, probably imagining me as some poor little runaway from a cliché story.
My expression froze for a moment. I looked down at the socialite who was practically hanging off me, feeling this wasn’t the ideal place for explanations, so I could only lead her to the manager’s office.
Shaking my sore arm, I politely inquired, “Could you please explain?”
Since the woman was crying uncontrollably and couldn’t string together a complete sentence, it fell to the imposing middle–aged man, who looked like a walking financial magazine cover, to answer my various questions.
So I heard a story of a baby swap.
A greedy nanny had switched her own child with her employer’s, and after more. than a decade, by coincidence, the employer’s family found their real daughter. From these people’s series of actions, it wasn’t hard to deduce that I was that
unlucky swapped true daughter.
Since my identity was that of the true heir, the identity of the young lady opposite. me was obvious.
The girl wore a white dress, her figure slender and her face haggard, wiping away tears from the corner of the woman’s eyes with a look of concern. Seeming to notice my gaze, she said in a soft voice, “Sister, please comfort Mom. Her health isn’t good, and if she keeps crying, she’ll fall ill…
Suddenly, the air was thick with the scent of insincerity.
Sister?
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Oh, I see. A manipulative little actress.
Mrs. Shields held my hand, caressing it back and forth, tears continuously falling: “It’s all Mom’s fault. Mom will make it up to you…”
Who would refuse such immense wealth and fortune?
And so, Chen Zhaodi, the money–losing good–for–nothing of the Chen family, transformed into Clara Shields, the heiress of the Shields Group.
The luxury car slowly came to a stop in the Shields family estate. Mrs. Shields. eagerly held my hand, introducing me to the flowers, plants, and trees of the Shields home. Julie stood on Mrs. Shields‘ other side, occasionally chiming in with additional information, subtly showing off her privileged life.
Looking at the fountain with water shooting several meters high, listening to tales. of this other world of extravagance, I was secretly astounded.
No wonder so many true heiresses lose their balance–anyone in this unfortunate
role would feel some resentment,
Even someone as easygoing as me couldn’t help but lose control of my expression, though I quickly adjusted.
It wasn’t until everyone was seated in the living room that Julie, intimately linking arms with Lady Shields, said in a sweet voice, “This is wonderful! I’ve always wanted an older sister to protect me! I can’t believe my wish actually came true. Having a sister is so nice! Oh my! Mom, we left in such a hurry, we didn’t have time to have clothes made for sister! Sister, if you don’t mind, you could wear mine for
now…”
Suddenly, a snort of laughter rang out: “Tch! Putting on royal robes doesn’t make you a princess!”
At this point, I should mention the composition of the Shields family. I have two older brothers and one younger brother. The rebellious teen who just jumped out to make his presence known with that mocking laugh was my little brother. “Little brother! You can’t talk to sister like that! Sister has suffered so much…”
Julie admonished the rebellious teen in her thin, high–pitched voice.
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The radar in my brain immediately sent out a warning: I get it! This is the local’s way of putting me in my place.
According to the usual script, I should roll up my sleeves to reveal scars from abuse, and with tears of grievance in my eyes, recount my years of suffering to gain the Shields family’s sympathy.
But you see, my personality is different from the typical true heiress in these
scenarios.
Since I was young, I’ve had a dream where, after returning to the Shields family, I became their lapdog for the sake of familial love.
In the end, I made a complete fool of myself, ending up despised by everyone and dying miserably on the street.
Such a development, so inconsistent with my true nature, jolted me awake with
anger.
Upon waking, I took it as a warning, deciding that when faced with “family” bullying, I would fight back if I didn’t like it, with one main principle: I absolutely wouldn’t let myself be wronged.
The key points of the dream were blurry, but that didn’t stop me from becoming suspicious about my background. If it weren’t for limited circumstances, I would have run away long ago.
To have grown up safely this far, I must have some skills, right? Did they think I was made of clay?
I raised my hand to interrupt Julie’s chatter: “You be quiet for a moment, let me
speak.”
Then I turned to my little brother, smiling, my tone gentle: “Brother, there’s one error in what you just said, and I need to correct it. I am your biological sister, and I have a blood relationship with everyone here, except Julie. This has been officially confirmed, with a written report. As for her-
Pointing at Julie under my little brother’s shocked gaze, I said emphatically, “She- is a counterfeit, commonly known as a fake, also called a fraud. Think about it,
01
you mentioned”
which one of us is truly the ‘princess‘ My little brother was stunned by my retort, his mouth opening and closing, looking. very flustered.
The atmosphere froze as I had anticipated. I stood up, opened my largest suitcase, and pulled out several books, placing them heavily on the coffee table in a row. The covers read “The Showdown of the True and False Heiress,” “Reborn as the True Heiress,” “The Pampered False Heiress,” and so on.
Everyone:
What… what was this all about?
Mr. Shields, as the head of the house, cleared his throat and spoke on behalf of everyone: “CI–Clara, what is this?”
“Oh! Well, in my spare time, I like to read novels. Don’t you think the situation between me and this cat–oh, I mean Julie–is quite similar to these books?” As soon as I finished speaking, Julie burst into pitiful tears, her body trembling. slightly: “Sister, it’s all my fault! I know I’ve wronged you, but I couldn’t control any of this as a baby back then…”
Having lived in this family for over a decade and being the only daughter,
She had been thoroughly spoiled. Mrs. Shields pulled her into an embrace and spoke on her behalf: “That’s right! Clara, Jules hasn’t been eating or sleeping well these past few days, constantly feeling guilty about wronging you.”
Julie leaned against Mrs. Shields, managing to shoot me a challenging look.
I almost wanted to laugh. I came back for a better education, not to play house or engage in petty domestic squabbles with her.
Mrs. Shields continued as I handed out the novels one by one, “It’s only right that she can’t eat or sleep well. If she could, it would either be due to thick skin or a
genetic issue.”
The novels were distributed perfectly, one for each person. It was perfect timing! “I’ve always believed that reality and fiction can mirror each other. I hope you’ll read and memorize the scheming plots inside. It’ll save us all some precious time.
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“For those hoping to call Julie and me sisters, or expecting a good relationship between us, let me warn you now: don’t dream on. Unless you can switch places. with a homeless person, and after more than a decade of them living in luxury. while you suffer, still maintain a close, friendly relationship like blood relatives, you have no right to judge or advise me.
“Also, everyone here is either first or second–generation wealthy, so I assume your basic values are intact. If I, the real daughter, am treated worse at home than the child of a kidnapper or thief, then I’ll have to reassess my opinion of you. Your labels might change to things like ‘Virgin Mary,‘ ‘Saint,‘ or ‘Reincarnation of a Holy Relic‘…”
Silence…
A silence so deep you could hear a pin drop….
Julie’s provocative spark had been snuffed out before it could even ignite.
I smiled brightly, asking Mrs. Shields without a hint of negativity, “Mom, have you prepared a room for me? Is it smaller than Julie’s?”
“Uh… uh…” Mrs. Shields stammered, her words unclear.
How could she admit they’d actually prepared a room slightly smaller than Julie’s for their biological daughter?
Julie was the pearl Mrs. Shields had cherished since childhood, treating her like she was made of glass.
Even knowing Julie wasn’t her biological child, Mrs. Shields couldn’t bear to part with her, couldn’t stand the thought of making her move out of her well–positioned room with its excellent view.
So they could only prepare a clean, spacious guest room instead.
Faced with my penetrating gaze, Mrs. Shields grew nervous, fearing I might say something like “the Giant Buddha of Leshan should make room for her to sit.” She tugged discreetly at Mr. Shields‘ pants.
“Old man,” she whispered, “say something!”
Mr. Shields‘ composure was infinitely better. He spoke to me gently, his expression
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unchanged, “We’re short on time today, so please make do with the guest room. for now. Tomorrow, Dad will prepare the most beautiful room for our Qinglan.”
O 20
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