Page 39

Seeing Du Shaoren's photo on the wall, Li Huiwen was surprised. "Your adoptive father is Du Shaoren?"

"Yes, isn't Father very famous?" Du Miao smiled slightly. "Since I was young, many of my classmates knew him."

Aunt Qiu brought over coffee, and Li Huiwen took it with a thank you. Her gaze remained on the wall. "I've heard that Du Shaoren started from the smuggled goods business. People who did business with him said he was kind and generous, even helping the poor from time to time."

"As a journalist, I naturally know quite a bit about Hong Kong's prominent figures."

If not for witnessing Master Chu's impeccable planning.

She wouldn't have believed that Du Shaoren would do anything wicked, given his reputation as a successful and good-natured person.

At that moment,

Aunt Qiu interrupted. "Miss Miao Miao, it's almost five. Mr. Du instructed us yesterday to finish early today. The food has already been cooked and kept warm in the kitchen, so I'll be leaving now."

Du Miao was puzzled. "Are all the workers leaving early today?"

"Yes," Aunt Qiu clasped her hands together, her face beaming. "Mr. Du dotes on you the most. Today is your coming-of-age day, so he must have prepared a big surprise for you. It wouldn't be appropriate for us to stay."

Du Miao couldn't comprehend why not even the servants were allowed to stay during the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

However, after hearing Aunty Qiu's words, she suppressed her puzzlement.

She still didn't fully believe in fortunes, especially since her foster father treated her like his own daughter. On the way back, she tried to recall any strange behavior from him but found none.

All the servants had left for the day.

Du Miao opened the cabinet in the living room and gazed at the dark, cramped space. She apologized inwardly, "I'm afraid you'll have to endure here for half the night."

"Never mind, we investigative journalists have experienced much worse environments."

Li Huiwen was completely unfazed. She silenced her pager, put it back in her jeans pocket, and, holding her camera, crouched down to slip into the wine cabinet that stood as tall as a person.

Back in her room, Du Miao began grooming herself. After applying her makeup, she took out a pinkish-black damask gown, tailored especially by Du Shaoren, from her wardrobe. From a drawer in her dressing table, she retrieved a pair of black satin gloves that reached halfway up her forearm. Gathering her shoulder-length hair, she piled it on top of her head and donned the pearl earrings Du Shaoren had gifted her on her last birthday.

The more she dressed up, the more uneasy she felt.

She twisted the lipstick cap back on, turned around, and dug a yellow amulet out of the pocket of the clothes she had taken off on the bed. Clutching it tightly, she thought for a moment before tucking the talisman inside her glove.

With everything completed.

Du Miao's furrowed brow gradually eased as she gently patted her collarbone with her silk-gloved hand, comforting herself, "Don't worry, everything will be fine."

Just then.

The sound of a car horn echoed outside the villa, followed by Du Shaoren's laughter as he entered the living room.

"MiMi, you're eighteen today. Come downstairs and let Daddy have a good look at you."

Du Shaoren suppressed his cunning smile, settling onto a leather sofa. Beside it stood a towering cake, while several large gift boxes were arranged on the table.

Then, he spotted the graceful young maiden descending from upstairs, her slender neck and tall, slender figure. She glided down the spiral staircase, her silk-gloved hand caressing the railing.

Du Shaoren suppressed his infatuated gaze, patting the seat beside him. He effortlessly donned the role of a doting father, "Come sit here."

Unnoticed by all, in the kitchen not far from the sofa, a wine cabinet slowly creaked open.

A dark lens peeked out.

"Daddy," Du Miao called out, her fair complexion looking toward the seat beside him. After a moment's hesitation, she chose not to sit there but instead took a seat across from Du Shaoren.

Seeing that she didn't come over, the lines etched on Du Shaoren's face revealed his displeasure. His tone was stern: "Not even past your coming-of-age ceremony, and you already have wings to defy your father?"

"I'm already a grown woman. It wouldn't make sense for me to sit so close to my father, would it?" Du Miao rationalized, trying to hide her discomfort. "My friends would laugh at me if they knew."

Du Shaoren's mood improved slightly, and he waved for Du Miao to come closer, saying with a smile, "I see, I almost thought you were rebelling. Come here, let's look at the birthday gift your father brought back from France."

Du Miao had never dared to defy her foster father since she was young, so she reluctantly complied and sat down. The moment she did, Du Shaoren wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

Du Miao glanced away instinctively, suppressing her unease.

She tried to convince herself that her discomfort stemmed from the fortune-telling incident, and she focused her gaze on the gift, forcing a smile. "Thank you, Daddy."

There were eight gift boxes in total.

Du Shaoren opened seven of them one by one. Each contained luxury items—a Chanel dress, a pearl necklace, and perfume...

All were undoubtedly expensive.

Du Miao exhaled in relief. At least her adoptive father genuinely cared for her.

When there was only one gift box left, Du Shaoren paused. He wheeled the cake cart in front of Du Miao, lit the candles, sang "Happy Birthday," and then cut a slice to offer her.

"Daddy's little princess, hurry and have your cake."

Du Miao met Du Shaoren's cunning smile, feeling a chill creeping up her spine. Instinctively pushing the cake away, she forced a smile. "Daddy, can I not eat the cake today? My stomach isn't feeling well."

"Absolutely not." Du Shaoren insisted, bringing the cake closer and even lifting a fork with a small piece towards her mouth. "Who doesn't eat a birthday cake on their birthday? It was specially made with love. If you don't eat it, won't our friends laugh at me?"

For some reason, the sight of the cake stirred nausea in Du Miao's stomach, and the yellow talisman against her arm began to heat up. Scanning urgently, she noticed an unopened gift on the table and quickly said, "I want to see what's inside that gift."

Du Shaoren followed her gaze. "No rush, you can open that gift after you finish your cake."