In the winding, narrow alleyways of the old town, a group of young men and women stood outside a door, surrounding a young girl like stars around the moon.
The girl had a cascade of long, wavy hair draped lazily over her shoulders. Her skin was porcelain-fair, her features stunning, and her eyes held a natural, icy indifference that radiated refinement and aristocracy.
Hearing the door open, the group, who had been grumbling about the ground dirtying their shoes, immediately turned their gazes toward the entrance.
A torrent of vicious insults was instantly hurled at Lu Wensheng.
"Lu Wensheng, are you looking to die?! How dare you hide needles in Erya’s piano and cause her to injure her fingers!"
Lu Wensheng looked straight at Lu Erya, her cold, dark eyes fixed ahead. Her face was stern as she enunciated each word, "I did not!"
Yet, the group ignored her completely, continuing to berate her in a cacophony of accusations.
"Erya’s piano was in the performance room. People saw you go in there, and then her piano started acting up. If it wasn't you, who else could it be?!"
"It was you! Everyone knows how jealous and hateful you are because Erya took your place as the eldest daughter of the Lu Family, and you’ve been doing everything in your power to sabotage her! Knowing that Young Master Xu was coming to the recital, you intentionally hurt her fingers to humiliate her, hoping to steal Young Master Xu’s attention... You wicked, filthy-hearted woman!"
"No way! Is this woman still dreaming, thinking Young Master Xu could ever fancy her?"
"Hilarious! The Xu family and the Lu family have a marriage agreement, but the bride is definitely going to be Erya. What are you even supposed to be, Lu Wensheng?!"
"Erya becoming the Lu Family's eldest daughter is a stroke of good fortune. You were switched at birth and spent your childhood in the slums—you can only blame your own bad luck! You were born a low-class degenerate!"
"Exactly! Any person with eyes can see that the Lu family only recognizes Erya, the golden daughter they raised from childhood. Madame Lu only has eyes for her excellent, obedient daughter, and there is simply no place for you, Lu Wensheng. Knowing full well that not a soul in the Lu family likes you, you still cling to them like a parasite. You are truly shameless!"
"Lu Wensheng, if I were you, I’d smash my head against the wall and end it once and for all, rather than living just to be an eyesore!"
"This trash is still trying to talk her way out of it?! Erya, you must not be soft-hearted this time. You have to teach her a lesson she’ll never forget!"
***
Inside the room, Lu Qingtang’s eyes turned icy, her expression becoming incredibly dangerous.
She kicked off the quilt, stepped out of bed, and opened the wardrobe. She found a white dress similar to the one Lu Wensheng was wearing and changed into it. Then, she picked up a crowbar from the floor and said to the little stray dog yapping anxiously beside her, "Hold your owner back. Don't let her come out."
Xingxing let out a low "woof," indicating it understood.
Lu Qingtang patted the dog’s head, gripped the crowbar, and stepped outside.
***
Outside the door, Lu Erya looked at Lu Wensheng with icy eyes, as if viewing a speck of dust. "Lu Wensheng, I could overlook other things, but you shouldn't have humiliated me in front of Young Master Xu!"
Lu Wensheng clenched her fists, her slender frame trembling uncontrollably. "I told you... it wasn't me!"
Lu Erya merely glanced at her from her position of superiority, then curled her lips in a haughty smirk and turned her gaze away, as if she were beneath even being confronted.
Lu Wensheng’s eyes flushed red. Just as she was about to speak, a sullen-faced young man behind Lu Erya stepped forward, grabbed Lu Wensheng by the throat, and slammed her against the wall. "Why waste breath on her? A vicious woman like this just needs to be taught a lesson!"
Lu Wensheng’s face turned purple, her breathing ragged; she was choked to the point of being unable to speak.
The young man watched her struggle, a flicker of sadistic pleasure in his eyes. He sneered, grinding his teeth. "You caused Erya’s fingers to be injured and humiliated her at the recital—so you don't get to keep your own fingers anymore!"
A ferocious look crossed his face. He raised a spring-loaded knife and, under Lu Wensheng’s terrified gaze, swung it toward her fingers. "I'll cut off your fingers and see if you ever dare to harm Erya again!"
Lu Erya watched coldly and haughtily, her lips curled into a mocking arc.
The others cheered.
"Well done, Young Master Jiang! Lu Wensheng deserves this lesson!"
"Break her hand! See if she dares to stir up trouble again!"
Just as the sharp blade was about to sever Lu Wensheng’s fingers, a crowbar descended from above, slamming heavily into the back of Jiang Shang’s head.
*Thwack.*
Jiang Shang’s vision went black. Overcome by blinding pain, his grip loosened, and he collapsed, clutching his head and groaning in agony.
The others were stunned to see Jiang Shang struck and instinctively looked down.
In that split second of chaos, Lu Qingtang yanked the newly freed Lu Wensheng inside the room and stepped out herself.
Jiang Shang, clutching his bloodied head, looked up with a ferocious expression, opening his mouth to roar in rage, but the moment his eyes met a pair of cold, pitch-black eyes, the insults died in his throat.
The others, reeling from the shock of seeing Jiang Shang injured, also looked up, ready to accuse "Lu Wensheng," but as their eyes met hers, they were inexplicably struck dumb.
"Lu Wensheng" stood there, her gaze chillingly cold. It was the same face, but somehow... something was different.
The atmosphere hung heavy for a moment.
But soon, the group regained their composure, growing indignant and embarrassed.
Though they couldn't pinpoint the source of their unease, abusing and humiliating Lu Wensheng had long since become their instinct.
"How dare you hit Young Master Jiang! Lu Wensheng, I don't think you want to live anymore!"
"Erya, you see this? Lu Wensheng is a wicked, foul woman! You absolutely cannot be soft-hearted and let her off today!"
Lu Erya frowned, looking at the "Lu Wensheng" before her.
For some reason, she felt that "Lu Wensheng" was different from the one she had seen just moments ago.
But that face—it was undeniably Lu Wensheng’s!
It must be her imagination.
Lu Erya reverted to her usual cold, haughty demeanor. She looked at Lu Qingtang and sneered, "Lu Wensheng, I originally only intended to teach you a 'little lesson' to demand justice for myself."
"But since you’ve injured Young Master Jiang’s head... whatever retaliation he chooses to inflict on you now is entirely of your own making."
"The Jiang family and the Lu family have business ties, and Young Master Jiang has always been favored and valued by my mother. Knowing that you were the aggressor, I’m sure Mom and Dad will only be angry that you were raised without proper discipline..."
The implication was clear: no matter how Jiang Shang chose to retaliate, the Lu family would not lift a finger for Lu Wensheng.
Jiang Shang lost all hesitation, his expression turning even more violent and savage. He lunged at Lu Qingtang with the spring-loaded knife, screaming, "Lu Wensheng, I’m going to kill you!"
Lu Erya watched the murderous rage on Jiang Shang’s face, a satisfied curve forming on her lips.
As the glinting blade was about to pierce Lu Qingtang’s face, Lu Qingtang, who had been expressionless until now, suddenly smiled.
The next second—