Chapter 195


    Li Juekai had been unwell ever since the traffic ident. Also, he was slightly depressed for failing


    to achieve his ambitions. So despite his wless features, he gave off a gloomy aura and felt a lot


    older than he actually was. And since he was sitting in a wheelchair, he looked a lot shorter than


    average and seemed unprepossessing.


    No one would have guessed that he was the mighty heir of the Li family and a celebrated award-


    winning actor.


    Ou Qingqing was busy taking care of Li Juekai. Even though she was an elegant woman, no one


    remembered she used to be the respectable and well-loved eldest daughter from the Gu family.


    They were wearing ubeled handmade garments. Shi Xuexin had worn the same ones when she


    lived in the Li residence. No one was able to identify their brands and prices, but in reality, they were


    shockingly expensive.


    Despite the family''s decline, some habits from back in the day when they were elites stayed around,


    but they simply kept a low profile.


    Since everyone at the banquet was well dressed, Li Juekai and Gu Qingqing came off looking


    unremarkable. They genuinely resembled ordinary people from the countryside only with slightly


    better appearances.


    Shi Xuexin smiled and greeted them, "Hi, Uncle Juekai and Auntie Qingqing."


    Li Juekai and Gu Qingqing nodded in acknowledgment. They had learned that Shi Xuexin treated


    Shi Jin poorly and kept making things hard for her.


    In the past, they used to treat Shi Xuexin like their biological daughter, but they gradually grew


    distant over time.


    If Shi Jin did not insist on attending Shi Qing''s birthday, Li Juekai and Gu Qingqing would not have


    come.


    The moment Shi Xuexin greeted them, everyone turned to look their way. They acted nonchntly


    when they saw Li Juekai and Gu Qingqing. However, they were surprised to see Shi Jin.


    "Isn''t that Shi Jin?"


    "Is it really her?"


    Everyone kept asking.


    Although everyone had already seen her on the television, it was different to see her in person.


    Also, it wasmon knowledge that makeup artists and hairstylists were capable of doing wonders


    to an artist. With the right skills and tools, they were able to change a woman''s facepletely.


    However, Shi Jin looked exactly like she did on television. At a close look, people realized she was


    not wearing makeup and her skin was as wless as that of a newborn.


    Didn''t she use to be meek? Was she not in the habit of wearing thick makeup? Now they were


    unable to find even the slightest w on her face.


    The more they looked at her, the more she seemed vastly different from her biological parents.


    People could not help wondering if the Li family had picked her up from the roadside or something.


    Shi Xuexin clenched her fists slightly when everyone was blown away by Shi Jin''s appearance.


    Shi Xuexin had started to get ready for the party at 5:00 am so as not to be outdone by Shi Jin, but


    Shi Jin ended up winning. Everyone kept singing praises for Shi Xuexin''s achievements, but no one


    commended her for being pretty.


    Also, the scar on Shi Jin''s face hadpletely disappeared. How did she pull this off? It was such a


    serious scar. How did she remove it?


    Shi Xuexin bit her lip slightly when she noticed the look of awe in Chu Ling''s eyes when Shi Jin


    showed up.


    Yu Xiuhua quickly caught on to her daughter''s concerns and smiled courteously as she said, "Shi


    Jin, have you brought your parents here? Make yourselffortable."


    The moment the other guests realized Shi Jin had brought her biological parents along, everyone


    secretly rolled their eyes at them. Her biological parents were terrible for dumping her at the Shi


    family all these years to begin with. How could they have the cheek to show up and rub shoulders


    with them? Had they no shame?


    "Shi Jin, why don''t you sit at the main table with your parents?" asked Yu Xiuhua.


    Shi Jin confidently led her parents to the main table and sat down. It was perfect since she had


    something to say today.


    Li Juekai and Gu Qingqing were ustomed to sitting at the best tables everywhere they went in


    the past. Even though they were at the main table, they remainedpletely calm and unflustered.


    Someone secretly thought, "They must just be


    pretending to be calm. Deep down inside, I am sure they are terribly nervous."


    The Chus simply nced at them briefly before veering their eyes.


    Chu Ling found Li Juekai particrly familiar. Since Chu Ling could not put his finger on it, he did


    not go on thinking about it.


    "Since everyone is here, let''s start the banquet." Shi Xuexin yed a good host. "Dad, why don''t


    you say a few words since it''s your birthday?"


    Shi Qing did not object and calmly made a small speech.


    Everyone came over with their gifts for him.


    Since the Chu and Shi families were bonded by marriage, they were the first to present their gift.


    Shi Qing happily epted the gift and opened it in front of the guests.


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    It was a jade coral tree.


    Even though it was called a coral tree, it was in fact carved out of jade entirely. It had a translucent


    quality to it and it was clearly top-grade jade.


    Shi Xuexin quickly said, "Inparison to gold and silver, jade has far more character. It''s easy for


    gold and silver to bee by, but high-quality jade is much rarer. If I am not mistaken, this looks


    like warm jade. It is warm to the touch even in winter and long-term use is really good for health. Mr


    and Mrs Chu and Ling, you were so thoughtful with your gift."


    Everyone said nice things about the gift. Shi Qing and Yu Xiuhua were pleased by how seriously the


    Chu family treated them.


    Mr and Mrs Chu liked Shi Xuexin even more when they saw her poise and learned how


    knowledgeable she was.


    Since Shi Xuexin had embarrassed herself at the school anniversary celebrations, she was eager to


    show off and redeem herself.


    She took out a Chinese brush painting and gave it to Shi Qing. "Dad, I drew this for you. I hope you


    will stay young forever."


    She opened the painting to reveal a pine Chinese brush painting. The brushstrokes were exquisite


    and had a lot of character. It was clear that she was well-versed in the art.


    Chu Ling promptly said, "Xuexin, all your practice has paid off. I can see that your painting has


    be even better. No wonder Master Liu keeps saying such nice things about your work."


    Everyone naturally praised Shi Xuexin.


    "It is so impressive that Master Liu likes your work."


    "Xuexin is a talented and diligent young woman, so she deserves this sess."


    "I''m so envious of Mr Shi."


    Shi Xuexin smiled graciously.


    In reality, she had prepared a solo performance for her father''s birthday. It was the perfect way to


    show off her talent.


    However, since Shi Jin had outdone Shi Xuexin at the school anniversary celebrations, a solo


    performance would only serve to remind people of her little setback with Shi Jin.


    What if people asked Shi Jin to perform as well? It would be such a nightmare!


    Shi Xuexin decided to y it safe and chose to give her father a Chinese painting.