Chapter 9: Steal Chu Zhiyi's Necklace

"I was adopted by a couple who seemed very kind on the surface, but after they took me away, I started to suffer beatings in their home. For many years, I didn't even have a full meal for a long time."

Li Hui was fairly attractive, and now, with her tear-stained face, some of the more tender-hearted people who heard her story were beginning to feel sympathetic.

With blurry eyes full of tears, Li Hui looked at Father Chu and Mother Chu and choked up, "Ever since I was young, I always thought how wonderful it would be if I lived with my biological parents, I at least wouldn't have been abused..."

Father Chu and Mother Chu didn't say anything, just sized up Li Hui.

As for Chu Zuo, he sized her up for a moment, then turned his gaze back to Chu Zhiyi.

If he could use this "sister," whose authenticity was hard to discern, to drive Chu Zhiyi away, he wouldn't object to that.

Chu Zuo spoke in a nonchalant tone, "You say you're the Chu family's daughter, do you have any proof?"

Brushing away tears, Li Hui confidently said, "Of course I do!"

"Let's see the proof, then."

Li Hui took out a jade button from around her neck.

"I've had this since I was little. My foster parents even tried to sell it once, but I hid it. After I came of age, I've been searching for my real parents, and after several investigations, I confirmed that I am the daughter of the Chu family."

"If I am lying to you, you can call the police and have me arrested right away!"

Pointing at Chu Zhiyi, Li Hui said, "Dad, Mom, this daughter you dote on isn't your biological daughter at all!"

Everyone's gaze couldn't help but turn towards Chu Zhiyi, who had remained silent the whole time.

Chu Zhiyi saw the jade button.

Unfortunately, she also had one, which she'd worn since childhood.

However, hers was of high quality, and Grandma Chu had said it was a gift from her.

Twenty-one years ago, the Chu family was far from successful. The Chu ancestors were farmers, so how could they possibly have such a high-quality jade button?

Perhaps that button was the reason she and this woman were mixed up in the past.

Li Hui wanted to return to the Chu family.

After realizing this, Chu Zhiyi couldn't help but laugh to herself.

What a timely pillow for a sleepyhead.

Clasping the gypsophila, Chu Zhiyi spoke calmly, "Since that's been said, let's do a paternity test."

"What's mine will not be taken away, and what's not mine, I will not covet."

Li Hui, hearing her upright words, felt extreme jealousy.

Just you wait, she thought, I will definitely tear off Chu Zhiyi's mask of hypocrisy.

The birthday celebration for Chu Zhiyi turned sour because of Li Hui's disruption.

Chu Zhiyi was unable to announce her engagement as planned, and everyone was speculating whether this modestly dressed woman was truly the Chu family daughter.

Chu Zhiyi's friends were anxiously looking at her.

Chu Zhiyi apologized, "I'm afraid dinner will have to be postponed."

Jinjin waved her hand and said, "It's nothing. If anything comes up on your end, just call."

"Don't worry, it's all right."

Chu Zhiyi saw them off.

Father Zhou and Mother Zhou looked upset and before leaving, Father Zhou looked at Father Chu, "Chu Heng, I hope you can give us a reasonable explanation!"

Father Chu saw everyone off one by one and then gathered all the Chu family members in the living room.

Chu Zhiyi and Li Hui were also there.

Chu Zuo came over, looked at Li Hui carefully, and asked, "What's your name?"

"Li Hui."

Pointing to Li Hui's eyes, Chu Zuo said, "Mom, she does look a bit like me."

Mother Chu had been very unwilling to believe what Li Hui said, but hearing Chu Zuo's words, she also began to size up Li Hui and Chu Zuo.

Indeed, there were some similarities in their eyes and brows.

However, Li Hui had double eyelid surgery, so the degree of resemblance between the two was not very high.

Aside from Chu Zhiyi, the Chu family members all had single eyelids.

Purposely in front of Chu Zhiyi, Chu Zuo said to Li Hui, "You couldn't actually be my real sister, could you?"

"Xiao Zuo, nothing's been decided yet, don't call her that," Grandpa Chu reminded him, then turned to a nearby servant, "Has the doctor come to collect the samples?"

"We're almost there."

Chu Zhiyi kept her head down, not saying a word.

Her thoughts had already moved on from whether or not she was really the Chu family's biological child.

That's because Chu Zhiyi found a card in the bouquet, and on one corner of the card, there was a necklace engraved with a Bird of Paradise.

She slighted raised her eyebrows and took out the card.

"Happy Birthday, Chu Zhiyi."

The handwriting wasn't meticulous, but it was exceptionally bold and elegant; both the necklace and the Gypsophila appealed greatly to Chu Zhiyi's heart.

Chu Zhiyi had never thought the flowers were from Zhou Hen.

She liked flowers, but Zhou Hen did not.

Once when they went out together, someone offered her roses, and Zhou Hen disliked the smell of roses, casually saying, "Giving flowers is so tacky."

Zhou Hen had never given her a bouquet of flowers, so Chu Zhiyi was certain that the flowers came from someone else.

But who could have sent this bouquet…

She toyed with the necklace when Father Chu came back from outside.

"Zhizhi, bring your Jade Button here," Father Chu said to Chu Zhiyi.

Li Hui was somewhat shocked.

Did she have a Jade Button too?

Chu Zhiyi really went to all lengths to get into the Chu family!

Li Hui thought viciously.

Just as Chu Zhiyi stood up to walk away, Li Hui suddenly spoke up, "If she's not the daughter of the Chu family, then the gifts she received shouldn't belong to her either."

"Not even the flowers?"

Li Hui nodded righteously, "Of course."

Chu Zhiyi laughed lightly, put down the flowers and necklace, holding only the birthday card in her hand.

She went upstairs to take down her own Jade Button; both buttons were laid flat on the table.

One was of such poor quality that even under the light, it emitted no brightness at all, while the other radiated a warm and lustrous sheen.

Father Chu's face turned ugly.

Although he didn't want to admit it, the Chu family twenty-one years ago was indeed barely making ends meet.

Grandma Chu wouldn't have been able to afford such a fine Jade Button for Chu Zhiyi.

Father Chu faintly discerned the truth. Despite feeling astonished, he simply couldn't let Chu Zhiyi leave so easily.

This was the excellent woman he had spent a lot of money grooming, capable of exchanging for a great amount of resources.

Father Chu's eyes fell on Chu Zhiyi, his expression turned affectionate, "Zhiyi, whether you're our child or not, you are still daddy's daughter."

When Li Hui heard this, she was on the verge of exploding.

Her own biological daughter had returned, and Father Chu was still pitying this fake heiress?

Before she could burst out, Father Chu turned to her, his voice sorrowful yet tender, "This indeed is the Jade Button your grandma prepared for you, please stay in the house for the time being until a decision is made."

Upon hearing this, Li Hui calmed down.

She naturally did not understand the profound implications of Father Chu's words.

Chu Zhiyi saw through Father Chu's true nature and wanted to scoff in her heart.

Soon, the doctors arrived to collect samples.

"We will expedite the sample comparison, and the results should be available by tomorrow at the latest," said the doctor after drawing blood.

"Zhiyi, you can go upstairs and rest now."

Chu Zhiyi nodded, picked up her Jade Button, and turned to go upstairs.

From below, she faintly heard Mother Chu say in the living room, "I knew there was a reason I never liked Zhiyi, turns out she isn't my daughter."

Chu Zhiyi paused mid-action, then as she moved again, she hid the bitterness in her eyes and ascended the stairs with resolute steps.

Downstairs, Li Hui, seeing the Bird of Paradise necklace, subtly took it and slipped it into her pocket.

Today was her birthday too, and after all, this necklace was supposed to be for her.