Chapter 15: My name is Sang Ye, and I am the true daughter of the Bai family.

One hour later, at the Hyatt Hotel.

The Bai family had booked the entire hotel to celebrate the return of Bai Yirou. They had invited countless prestigious figures, and even those of lower status had sent generous gifts in hopes of currying favor with the family.

On the stage stood the Bai couple, Bai Yirou, and her two older brothers. Dressed in high-fashion couture and exquisitely styled, Bai Yirou looked like an entirely different person. It was true that clothes make the woman; with this transformation, coupled with her decent natural features, she truly possessed the air of a socialite.

As she gazed at her own image projected onto the giant screen—refined, beautiful, and poised—she held her head high with a radiant smile. She, Bai Yirou, was born for a life of luxury! She was nothing like that brainless Sang Ye, who spent her days wallowing in the company of cats and dogs. She was destined to be among the elite! And today, she was finally realizing her lifelong dream.

At that moment, Bai Zhen spoke with a booming, confident voice: "Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this banquet held for my daughter..."

Suddenly, a swarm of stray cats rushed into the venue. The banquet hall erupted into chaos, filled with piercing screams. Several cats seized the opportunity to dash straight for the stage, targeting Bai Yirou.

"Ah!"

Two cats climbed onto the hem of her dress, shredding the fabric to pieces. A small white cat took advantage of the commotion to land a few solid blows on her, avenging Sang Ye.

"Quick! Someone! Get these beasts off me right now!"

"Ah! My hair!"

"You little pests from the gutter, don't let me catch you! I'll skin you all alive!"

"Ahhh! My face!"

"Get off, you beasts! I'll kill you! Ahhhhh!"

Although the scene was utter bedlam, Bai Yirou’s voice was loud and piercing. This was because the small white cat had deliberately pushed the microphone toward her, broadcasting her every word throughout the entire hotel. Her pathetic, wretched state was projected onto the giant screen for everyone to witness.

*Click, click, click.*

In an instant, the reporters whipped out their cameras and began snapping photos frantically. Seeing their newly reclaimed sister in such a state, her two brothers moved quickly to fend off the cats. While shielding Bai Yirou, they shouted at the reporters, "Don't shoot! Stop taking pictures!"

Bai Zhen protected his wife and said in a low, stern voice to the press, "Grant the Bai family a favor. Do not publish what happened today, and you shall be rewarded. Otherwise, feel free to test us."

Bai Zhen’s blatant threat caused the reporters to silently lower their cameras. The Bai family held a high status in the capital; though not quite on the level of the Pei or Xing families, they were still a top-tier, established powerhouse. Unless a story was worth more than the risk of offending the Bai family, it wasn't worth the gamble. Thus, nearly every reporter put their cameras away.

After a few successful strikes, the small white cat was tossed aside, though it had prepared well and landed safely. Having turned the venue into a wreck, it let out a meow to the other cats: "Retreat!"

With that, all the cats vanished quickly and in an orderly fashion. Silence suddenly descended upon the hotel.

Only Bai Yirou remained—disheveled, covered in filth, her dress in tatters. Furthermore, her earlier outburst had incited the ire of many animal lovers in the crowd. One might not like cats, but one should never harm innocent creatures. Could someone who called innocent strays "beasts" and immediately threatened to skin them alive ever be a good person?

Many guests felt a deep sense of distaste. Though they were people of status and would not show their annoyance on their faces, they had all mentally blacklisted this newly recognized daughter of the Bai family. They even planned to warn their own children never to associate with such a person.

The Bai couple’s expressions were grim. Firstly, because these stray cats had ruined their meticulously planned banquet; and secondly, because they had seen and heard Bai Yirou’s true colors up close. Having finally found the daughter they lost so many years ago, they had felt guilty and indulgent toward her, never expecting her to be so utterly lacking in decorum.

But the situation had reached a point of no return. With guests from various families and the business world waiting for an explanation, they had no choice but to push forward. One of Bai Yirou’s brothers took off his suit jacket and draped it over her, while the other went to find hotel staff to clean up the mess.

As the chaos settled, Bai Yirou began to recall the words she had screamed and the scene she had caused. Her face drained of color, turning a sickly pale. She knew she was finished. To be so humiliated in front of such influential people, and to have said things that should never have been uttered—she could have killed herself for what she had done just moments ago. She had exposed her true nature; not only the guests, but the Bai family themselves must surely be repulsed by her now.

She had fought so hard to reach this position; she didn't want to go back to that tiny hundred-square-foot apartment, which was smaller than her current walk-in closet.

Just as she was spiraling in confusion, uncertain of what to do, the main doors were pushed open from the outside.

At the sound, every eye in the room turned toward the entrance.

Sang Ye walked in, silhouetted against the light. Bai Yirou didn't recognize her at first, but when she realized it was Sang Ye, she couldn't suppress a shrill scream: "Sang Ye!"

Her expression darkened instantly, then turned deathly pale. A deep, ominous dread took root in her heart, and her body began to tremble.

Sang Ye stood tall, her expression calm and composed. She scanned the room before fixing her gaze on Bai Yirou on the stage. Her voice was steady, unhurried, and carried an air of undeniable authority: "Good evening, everyone. My name is Sang Ye, and I am the true daughter of the Bai family."