Reclaimed by Fate: Real Daughter’s Revenge

The rumors about Qingxue and Yuhao spread quickly through the Xu Corporation. Whispers followed her in the hallways, and curious glances greeted her in every meeting. Though no one dared to confront her outright, the tension was palpable.

Qingxue chose to ignore it, focusing on her work. She knew that confronting gossip directly would only add fuel to the fire, but deep down, she understood this wasn't just idle chatter—it was Yanran's doing.

Late one morning, Lin Yi stormed into her cubicle, her face red with frustration.

"This is ridiculous!" Lin Yi exclaimed, slamming a magazine onto Qingxue's desk.

Qingxue glanced at the glossy cover and her heart sank. A gossip column featured a blurry photo of her and Yuhao outside the Xu estate, with the headline: "Xu Corporation's Real Daughter or Opportunist? Newcomer Seen Cozying Up to Zhang Heir!"

"This has gone too far," Lin Yi fumed. "Everyone in the office is reading this trash. You have to do something!"

Qingxue stared at the article, her mind racing. The photo must have been taken the night Yuhao gave her a ride home, but the way the article spun the story was infuriating.

"I'll handle it," Qingxue said finally, her voice calm but firm.

"How?" Lin Yi asked, skeptical.

"By staying focused. If I start reacting to every provocation, I'll never get anything done. Let them talk—it won't change the truth."

Lin Yi sighed, her frustration giving way to reluctant admiration. "You're stronger than I am. I'd be throwing that magazine in someone's face by now."

Qingxue smiled faintly. "Thanks, Lin Yi. I'll be fine."

Later that afternoon, as Qingxue worked in the quiet of her office, Yanran appeared at her door. She was dressed impeccably, her expression one of carefully feigned concern.

"Qingxue," Yanran said, stepping inside uninvited. "I heard about the article. It's so unfortunate when the media takes things out of context, isn't it?"

Qingxue glanced up, her eyes meeting Yanran's. "It is. Especially when the context is deliberately twisted."

Yanran's smile faltered for a split second before recovering. "I just wanted to check on you. I can't imagine how stressful this must be for you, being so new to all of this."

"I appreciate your concern, Yanran," Qingxue replied, her tone neutral. "But I'm perfectly capable of handling it."

"Of course you are," Yanran said sweetly. "Still, if you ever need advice, you know where to find me. After all, we're family."

Qingxue's lips curved into a polite smile. "Yes, family. How lucky I am to have such support."

Yanran's eyes flickered with something unreadable before she turned and left, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.

The following week, Qingxue faced another challenge—a joint project with Yuhao. Their families were collaborating on a new venture, and she was assigned to work closely with him to develop the preliminary framework.

When Qingxue entered the sleek meeting room where Yuhao was waiting, he greeted her with his usual calm demeanor. "Ready to get started?"

"Of course," Qingxue replied, setting her materials on the table.

As they worked through the details, Yuhao's sharp intellect and strategic thinking impressed her. He wasn't just the heir to the Zhang family fortune—he was deeply involved in the business and took his responsibilities seriously.

"You're quieter than usual," Yuhao remarked after a while, glancing at her.

Qingxue hesitated before replying. "I've been dealing with… distractions."

Yuhao leaned back, his gaze steady. "The article?"

She nodded. "It's frustrating, but I can't let it affect my work."

"You shouldn't," Yuhao said firmly. "People will always talk, but actions speak louder than words. As long as you stay true to yourself, they'll have nothing to hold against you."

His words struck a chord with Qingxue, and for a moment, she felt a flicker of gratitude.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Yuhao's lips curved into a faint smile. "Anytime."

As the days passed, Qingxue threw herself into the project, determined to prove her worth. Yuhao's presence was both a challenge and a comfort—his high expectations pushed her to excel, but his occasional words of encouragement reminded her that she wasn't alone.

Meanwhile, Yanran was not idle. Her carefully planted rumors had failed to shake Qingxue, but she wasn't about to give up.

One evening, as she sat in her lavish bedroom, Yanran made a call.

"Zhou Rui," she said, her voice cold and precise. "I need you to dig deeper. Find something on her—anything that can't be ignored. It's time we showed Father who the real threat is."