Chapter 57: Tearing the Dress, Severing Ties!

A commotion erupted beneath the stairs.

Voices discussing her echoed everywhere.

"This eldest daughter of the Jiang family is utterly obstinate. With such obvious steps, she still refuses to descend."

"It's clear she's been spoiled by the Jiang family. She really thinks she's their true bloodline."

"She’s utterly unruly. President Jiang is supposed to be a respectable man—how did he raise such a thankless daughter?"

These words drifted into Jiang Jinhui’s ears.

His expression had already darkened.

One after another, none of them let him rest easy.

Could they not preserve the family's dignity first? Must they let so many witness this farce?

Jiang Jinhui, seldom stern, spoke to Jiang Zhi You in a low voice: "Zhi You, I order you to apologize to Xia Ling."

"I will not apologize," Jiang Zhi You's voice remained resolute.

Jiang Jinhui grew agitated.

For the first time, someone dared defy him in public—an outright slap in the face.

Others whispered about his failure to raise his daughter properly; he had no authority in front of his child.

Jiang Jinhui's voice was heavy, laced with oppression and threat: "Zhi You, if you don't apologize today, I will consider you no longer my daughter."

With such words, things had become grave.

The auditorium fell silent; everyone watched, marveling that today's drama unfolded scene after scene—truly spectacular.

Jiang Xiaoxiao rejoiced inwardly.

She knew, even if she didn’t pursue matters, Jiang Zhi You’s character would not allow compromise.

She would certainly escalate things.

In the end, Jiang Zhi You would not only lose her reputation but be utterly abandoned by her father.

Standing above, Jiang Zhi You looked calmly at Jiang Jinhui.

Since childhood, her feelings for this father had never been particularly close—certainly not compared to Yao Shulan.

In this house, he was both the head and a hands-off manager.

Father was always busy with business, always out socializing.

He bought her lavish gifts, but rarely spent time with her.

Yet in her heart, she respected and loved him.

Especially when Jiang Xiaoxiao returned, and Yao Shulan wanted to sever ties, Jiang Jinhui intervened.

He declared that Jiang Zhi You would always be the eldest daughter of the Jiang family.

She was moved.

But until that night, when she overheard Jiang Jinhui and Yao Shulan speaking in the study.

Jiang Jinhui said, if they truly expelled her, it would only make the Jiang family a public laughingstock.

It was better to let her keep the title of eldest daughter. To them, she was merely another pair of chopsticks at the table.

That night, Jiang Jinhui also made his will.

All Jiang family assets and company shares would ultimately be inherited by Jiang Xiaoxiao.

At that moment, Jiang Zhi You understood that Jiang Jinhui kept her not out of affection, but for the family's reputation.

This was why, for three years, she stayed with the Yan family, rarely returning.

She thought she had forgotten that night.

She convinced herself: they’d done as much as possible, why care about the rest?

But tonight was just like that night.

Everything was for the Jiang family's dignity.

Her feelings did not matter; whether she was their daughter did not matter—only preserving the Jiang family’s honor mattered.

But Jiang Zhi You was no longer the person she had been three years ago.

She would no longer wrong herself.

Jiang Zhi You slowly descended the stairs.

Step by step, she walked to Jiang Jinhui.

He thought she had finally relented and was going to apologize to Xia Ling.

His gaze softened.

But Jiang Zhi You approached him instead.

Her expression was calm, yet it radiated an intense pressure.

Jiang Jinhui felt a chill sweep across his back.

"Father, this is the last time I call you that. In ancient times, they cut their robes to sever bonds; today, I will follow suit."

Jiang Zhi You turned to the crowd.

"A father who does not know his daughter, a daughter who does not know her father. From today onward, I, Jiang Zhi You, have nothing more to do with the Jiang family of Rongcheng. I am no longer the eldest daughter; whoever covets the position may have it! It no longer concerns me."

"Today, I, Jiang Zhi You, tear my skirt and sever all ties—please bear witness!"

With those words, Jiang Zhi You seized the hem of her dress and tore off a strip of fabric.

She tossed the cloth to the ground before Jiang Jinhui.

Jiang Jinhui was so furious his face turned pale.

Yao Shulan, uncharacteristically, did not scold or curse—her eyes reddened.

The surrounding guests whispered among themselves.

"She actually tore her skirt to sever ties—Jiang Zhi You really did it."

"Honestly, she has backbone. The Jiang family is one of Rongcheng’s top clans, and she’s truly willing to give up the life of a wealthy heiress?"

"Perhaps she’s watched too many dramas, thinking herself the heroine—just an empty gesture. She’ll probably be begging to return tomorrow."

Jiang Jinhui never imagined Jiang Zhi You would go so far.

His expression was ugly—severing ties by tearing her skirt, and the adopted daughter breaking with the family.

If word spread, it would be the greatest joke in the city.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was delighted beyond measure.

Everything had unfolded as she wished, even more spectacularly than she imagined.

Jiang Jinhui, furious, pointed at Jiang Zhi You: "Jiang Zhi You, mark my words, don’t regret this. Don’t come crying back tomorrow!"

Suddenly, Jiang Zhi You knelt, her expression still cold and determined.

Seeing her kneel, Jiang Jinhui assumed she regretted her actions.

But Jiang Zhi You knocked her head to the floor three times.

"Mr. Jiang, these three bows repay the kindness you and Mrs. Jiang showed in raising me. From today, we owe each other nothing."

After bowing, Jiang Zhi You stood and strode toward the door.

Jiang Jinhui’s face alternated between red and white.

After all, he’d raised her for twenty years; to sever ties so cleanly hurt him.

Yet now anger prevailed—he was furious that Jiang Zhi You, before so many, gave him no dignity.

She had barely taken a few steps when someone blocked her path.

Jiang Zhi You looked up to see a strikingly handsome face.

It was Bo Jin Xiu.

Dressed in a suit, tall and slender, one hand in his pocket, he radiated casual indifference.

Yet his face possessed an innate, icy aloofness unbefitting mere mortals.

At this moment, he was like a celestial being, drifting through the mortal world, surveying its trivial flames from on high, indifferent to everything.

Everyone noticed him.

Especially Jiang Xiaoxiao.

At the sight of Bo Jin Xiu, her eyes filled with joy and excitement.

The banquet was already halfway through, and Bo Jin Xiu had not appeared.

She had thought he wouldn’t come.

But he had not missed his appointment—surely something important had delayed him.

The thought that Bo Jin Xiu might have postponed crucial business just to attend her birthday made her heart flutter like a lark.

She seemed to grow wings and rushed to Bo Jin Xiu’s side.

Her voice took on an almost coquettish tone: "Your Highness, why are you so late? I’ve been waiting for you so long."