Reclaimed by Fate: Real Daughter’s Revenge

The success of Qingxue's quarterly presentation sent ripples through the Xu Corporation. Whispers in the office grew louder, and employees who once dismissed her as a temporary novelty began to see her as someone with real potential.

However, not everyone welcomed her rising star.

Yanran, seated in her spacious office on the executive floor, stared at her reflection in the mirrored wall behind her desk. Her carefully composed expression masked the frustration brewing beneath. Qingxue's progress had been faster than she anticipated, and it wasn't sitting well.

Her assistant, Zhou Rui, entered the room with a soft knock, interrupting her thoughts. "Miss Yanran, I've gathered the information you requested."

"Good." Yanran leaned back, her fingers steepled in thought. "Anything useful?"

Zhou Rui hesitated for a moment before answering. "Nothing concrete. Miss Qingxue has been working late and hasn't made any major mistakes. If anything, she's been more diligent than expected."

Yanran's lips tightened. "Then dig deeper. Everyone has weaknesses, Zhou Rui. I want hers on my desk by the end of the week."

"Yes, Miss Yanran."

Meanwhile, Qingxue found herself in an unusual position. With her newfound recognition at the company, colleagues began approaching her for input, and some even sought her out for advice. While she appreciated the shift, it also brought its own challenges.

One afternoon, as she was reviewing documents in her cubicle, Chen An appeared again, this time carrying a folder.

"Miss Xu," he said, his tone polite but still tinged with condescension, "I've been asked to forward you these contracts for review. I trust you'll handle them appropriately."

Qingxue took the folder, her eyes scanning the documents briefly. "Of course. I'll have them ready by tomorrow."

Chen An raised an eyebrow. "Tomorrow? These are complex agreements. Are you sure you don't need… guidance?"

"I appreciate your concern, but I'll manage," Qingxue replied firmly, meeting his gaze.

Chen An smirked faintly. "Very well. I look forward to seeing your results."

As he walked away, Lin Yi peeked over the edge of Qingxue's cubicle. "What's his problem? He's clearly underestimating you."

Qingxue sighed, closing the folder. "It doesn't matter. I'll just let my work speak for itself."

That evening, Qingxue stayed late at the office, determined to finish the contract review. The building was quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by the occasional rustle of papers and the distant sound of cleaning staff.

As she worked, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Yuhao:

Yuhao: "Still working late? You're making me feel lazy."

Qingxue smiled faintly, typing back:

Qingxue: "Just trying to keep up with expectations. No rest for the inexperienced."

His reply came almost immediately.

Yuhao: "Don't sell yourself short. You're doing well, even if some people might not want to admit it."

The message warmed her slightly, though she reminded herself to stay cautious. Yuhao had been kind and helpful, but she wasn't naive enough to think everyone around her was without ulterior motives.

By the time she finished, it was nearly midnight. As she stepped out of the building, the cool night air hit her, refreshing after hours spent under fluorescent lights.

"Working late again?" a familiar voice called out.

Turning, Qingxue saw Yuhao leaning casually against a sleek black car parked near the entrance.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised.

"I had a dinner meeting nearby and saw the lights on in your office," he said, pushing off the car. "Figured I'd check in."

Qingxue hesitated for a moment. "You didn't have to."

"I know," he said with a faint smile. "But I wanted to."

He opened the car door and gestured toward it. "Let me give you a ride home. It's late, and it's not safe for you to be out alone."

Qingxue hesitated. Her instincts told her to refuse, to maintain a professional distance, but the exhaustion from the long day made the offer tempting.

"Alright," she said finally. "Thank you."

As the car pulled away from the Xu Corporation building, Qingxue found herself relaxing slightly in Yuhao's presence. Despite the complexity of their families' connections, he seemed genuine in his concern for her well-being.

"You don't have to push yourself so hard," Yuhao said after a while, his voice quiet but firm.

Qingxue glanced at him. "It's not just about proving myself to others. It's about proving to myself that I belong here."

Yuhao's expression softened. "You already do, Qingxue. You just need to realize it."

Her heart skipped a beat at his words, but she quickly composed herself. "Thank you. That means a lot."

From a corner window in the Xu estate, Yanran watched as the black car pulled into the driveway. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Yuhao step out to open the door for Qingxue.

"So," she murmured to herself, a sharp smile tugging at her lips, "you're getting closer to Yuhao, are you?"

Her nails tapped against the windowsill rhythmically as she watched the pair disappear into the house.

"It's time to remind her where she stands."