Chapter Five: The Fox in Silk

The next morning, the Bai estate buzzed with excitement. Invitations from elite families poured in, congratulating the Bai family for finding their true heiress. Socialites, media, and business partners were all eager to meet the once-hidden daughter.

Bai Lianhua stood by her window, gazing at the white magnolia trees outside. The morning breeze played with the hem of her silk robe, but her mind was far from tranquil.

Mo Chen's words echoed like a curse: "Trust no one—not even me."

She didn't want to admit it, but something inside her had shifted. A curiosity that bordered on obsession. Who exactly was Mo Chen in her past life? Why had he stayed silent all those years? And what debt did he owe her?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Madam Li's knock.

"Miss Lianhua," the servant said, her eyes shining with a hint of excitement. "The Yu family sent an invitation. The eldest daughter, Yu Shulan, will be hosting a tea party to formally welcome you into high society. She specifically asked for you to attend."

Lianhua's lips curled into a wry smile. "Yu Shulan? I remember her."

In her past life, Yu Shulan was a refined heiress known for her perfect manners and flawless face. But underneath that porcelain smile was a venomous serpent.

She was the first to call me a counterfeit in front of the media… the first to humiliate me after the engagement party…

Lianhua's eyes narrowed.

"This time," she whispered, "let's see how the fox handles fire."

At the Tea Party

The Yu family mansion was a palace of white marble and glass, crawling with nobles and influential young elites. The moment Bai Lianhua stepped in—dressed in a custom-made cream and gold cheongsam—every conversation halted.

She was ethereal. Elegant. Untouchable.

Yu Shulan approached, her smile warm, her eyes glinting. Dressed in pale blue silk, she looked every bit the perfect hostess.

"Miss Bai," she greeted, extending a delicate hand. "It's such an honor to finally meet the true daughter of the Bai family."

Lianhua accepted the handshake, her expression calm. "The pleasure is mine."

But under the surface, sparks flew.

They sat under a cherry blossom tree, sipping tea and nibbling on pastries. Other heiresses tried to engage Lianhua, but Shulan dominated the conversation, subtly testing her with barbed compliments.

"I heard you were raised outside the family," she said, voice sweet. "It must have been hard adjusting to luxury."

"Not at all," Lianhua replied smoothly. "I've always belonged to the Bai family. Some things—like blood—can't be denied."

Yu Shulan's smile twitched.

Then came the final blow.

"Tell me," she asked, loud enough for others to hear, "Is it true that President Mo Chen is personally interested in you? I find that hard to believe. He's… selective."

Whispers rose like wildfire.

Lianhua didn't flinch. She simply set her teacup down, her voice like silk and steel.

"Oh? I wouldn't know. But I do remember something interesting—he once rejected someone at a banquet years ago for being too shallow. Said she reminded him of a fox in silk."

Gasps rippled through the guests. Yu Shulan paled.

Back at the Estate

Later that night, Bai Ziyu called her into his study. Her cold, handsome eldest brother stared at her with stormy eyes.

"Did you provoke Yu Shulan?" he asked.

"She provoked me first," Lianhua replied. "I handled it."

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Shulan isn't just some brat. She's the goddaughter of the Minister of Finance. If she feels slighted, she'll retaliate."

Lianhua's eyes gleamed. "Then let her. I don't fear foxes. I hunt them."

Ziyu looked at her for a long moment. Then, to her surprise, he smirked. "You've changed."

"No," she said. "I've remembered who I am."

A Shadow in the Hall

That night, a shadow entered the Bai estate silently. A hidden figure climbed over the wall and made it past the guards.

But it wasn't an assassin. It was a woman.

A whisper reached Lianhua's window before dawn.

"She's back. The woman who switched you at birth… she's returned."

Lianhua froze.

Her mother's enemy… the woman who stole her identity.

The real game had just begun.