The Vicious, Vain Stepsister (8)

This was not Jiang Xuefu's first time hosting an evening gala. With her good looks and elegant bearing, she became the center of attention the moment she stepped onstage, even without doing a thing.

Under the lights, the girl wore a custom-made blue mermaid gown patterned with ocean waves, its fitted cut tracing the delicate curve of her slender waist. The off-the-shoulder design made the line of her swanlike neck look all the more graceful and refined, while her gently swaying pearl-tassel earrings paled beside her exquisite face.

The skirt, studded with tiny diamonds, shimmered with a pearly glow in layer upon layer. Whenever she walked, it billowed like waves, as though a mermaid princess had come ashore with a tail woven from moonlight.

Gasps rose and fell through the audience from time to time.

Madam Lu looked at the pretty girl onstage, poised and graceful in every gesture, and a satisfied expression appeared on her face.

Before coming, she had wondered what sort of girl had captivated her son so completely. Now, it seemed the girl was outstanding herself. She had also heard that the girl was Su Jing's stepdaughter, which put her even more at ease.

The proceedings continued onstage, and soon it was time for Su Jiu's performance.

Hearing Su Jiu's name, Madam Lu sat up a little straighter, a flicker of anticipation appearing in her eyes.

It was Su Jiu's first time standing in the spotlight. Wearing the evening gown she had prepared in advance, she briefly met someone's gaze in the audience.

The moment she saw that person, she smiled, and most of her nervousness immediately melted away.

The performance began. Su Jiu closed her eyes halfway, swaying gently to the melody, as though she had become one with the music.

The music was melodious and pleasing to the ear. Its graceful notes flowed slowly like water beneath a little bridge, gentle at times and intense at others, drawing listeners in until they lost themselves in it, unable to pull away for a long while.

Standing at the side of the stage, Jiang Xuefu gripped the microphone tightly. She stared at the utterly transformed Su Jiu beneath the lights, her brows knotted and flames of fury shooting from her eyes.

She actually thinks she can steal the spotlight from me? Not in this lifetime.

Onstage, Su Jiu seemed to sense something. She opened her eyes slightly and looked toward where Jiang Xuefu stood.

In the darkness, she could not make out the girl's full appearance. She could only vaguely see the shape of her moving lips, as though she had said three words.

Just as Su Jiu tried to look again, the music abruptly stopped. With a sharp snap, one of the strings broke.

The girl froze on the spot. The air fell silent for a moment, then the audience below began to clamor.

The spotlight shone down on her, but cold sweat broke out all over Su Jiu's body. It was as if she could no longer see or hear anything, and the confidence she had struggled so hard to gather vanished completely.

She suddenly realized the meaning of the three words Jiang Xuefu had just said: you're finished.

Jiang Xuefu curled her lips in a smug smile. The anger she had held in for two days had finally all but dissipated.

Let's see how you get out of this.

Calm down, Su Jiu. You need to calm down.

Think about what he said. You can't keep trying to solve everything with tears.

Su Jiu took a deep breath and pinched her thigh hard. The sharp pain finally helped her calm down a little.

If she remembered correctly, there was a piano in the corner of the stage. It was a prop for the next performance and had been left there ever since it was brought up.

Since the string had broken, she would play the piano instead.

Everyone watched as the girl, who had stood there in a daze just moments ago, suddenly walked toward the corner. The spotlight followed her steps until its white beam illuminated the piano.

Su Jiu sat down at the piano and recalled the sight of that person playing. Flowing music poured from her fingertips.

She knew how to play the piano too, but that was all. Compared with her exquisite violin performance just now, it was far too bland.

The listeners below were no longer as amazed as they had been, but at least the performance had come to a complete end.

Even if its impact had been greatly diminished compared with the beginning.

Backstage at the gala.

Jiang Xuefu sat in front of a vanity, scrolling through her phone in boredom as she waited for the makeup artist to come and remove her makeup.

She had an entire dressing room to herself. The table was covered in luxury-brand cosmetics, and several alternative gowns and everyday outfits hung on a rack beside it.

In the silence, the dressing-room door opened and closed again.

Thinking the makeup artist had arrived, she said without looking up, "Hurry up and take it off. Then give me an everyday look."

"Jiang Xuefu, was it you?"

At the unexpected sound of an angry voice, the girl lounging in her chair with her legs crossed finally deigned to lift her head.

Their gazes met briefly in the mirror, and Jiang Xuefu's smile was as nasty as ever.

"Yes, so what? Do you have a problem with that?"

Su Jiu was on the verge of breaking down. She did not understand how she had offended the Jiang Family's father and daughter, that they had treated her this way ever since she was little.

"Jiang Xuefu, from the day you came to the Su family, I've never offended you. Why do you have to keep targeting me?"

"Heh, your very existence offends me."

Su Jiu could only feel how absurd it was. "What do I have to do before you'll leave me alone..."

"Die. Go die, and I'll leave you alone once you're dead."

Jiang Xuefu's voice was indifferent, betraying her utter disregard for human life.

As the two argued, neither noticed that the door, which should have been tightly shut, had quietly opened a crack.

Madam Lu stood outside, holding a bouquet of flowers.

She had come to see the girl her son liked, and also to visit Xiao Jiu while she was there. She had not expected to overhear the sisters arguing.

The pretty girl who appeared so outstanding and gracious on the surface was actually so vicious behind the scenes, resorting to such despicable, underhanded tricks.

Madam Lu's brows drew tightly together. The fondness she had just felt for Jiang Xuefu was swept away, replaced by deep disgust.

There was no way the Lu family would ever accept such a scheming woman into the family.

The person at the door came and went, while the argument inside continued.

"Jiang Xuefu, even a rabbit will bite when it's cornered. Just you wait. You won't be so smug forever."

"One day, they'll see you for what you really are: a vicious, brainless woman."

"Everyone will despise you and hate you. When that day comes, it'll be your hell!"

Jiang Xuefu clicked her tongue in annoyance. As Su Jiu finished shouting her last sentence, Jiang Xuefu raised her hand and swung it at her.

That finally felt good.

The air fell silent in an instant. Su Jiu turned her head in disbelief, clutching her cheek, which had swollen badly from the blow. Hatred burst from her eyes as though it had taken solid form.