My Secret Identity Can't Stay Hidden

Chapter 5 Family Lunch

What is a true beauty? Compared to her, all those socialites wouldn't even dare to lift their heads in front of our sister! That white knee-length dress wasn't particularly special, yet when Bai Kexin wore it, there was just something extraordinary about her. Xiao Qing'er was beside herself with excitement - her daughter was so beautiful, even more stunning than she had been in her youth!

The five brothers immediately swarmed around her. "Wow, little sister, you're absolutely gorgeous! Even award-winning actresses would pale in comparison before you!" Shen Xiaojie exclaimed. He'd already been amazed by her beauty when they first met, but seeing her in a dress now made her even more radiant and elegant. She carried herself like a born princess, her noble aura impossible to conceal no matter where she went.

"Thank you," Bai Kexin said, tilting her head up slightly to look at Shen Xiaojie. Not that she had much choice - all the men in this family were ridiculously tall. Even the "shortest" brother, the fourth one, was about 185cm. Such were the unfair differences in the world. Bai Hanyu, at only 182cm, had been treated like royalty by the Bai family.

Shen Xiaojie was overjoyed - his little sister had spoken to him!!!

"Let's sit down to eat first. There's nothing particularly special about our family, but now that you're back, everything feels complete," Xiao Qing'er said, tears starting to fall as she thought about how her daughter had suffered outside.

"Yes, let's eat," Bai Kexin agreed. She was truly starving. When she left the hotel that morning, her plan had been to eat first before going to the hospital, but then this family had whisked her away to the Shen residence without even letting her drink a drop of water. Now it was already noon, and she was famished.

Hearing her daughter speak, Xiao Qing'er became so excited that her hands trembled uncontrollably, resulting in her accidentally slapping Shen Xiaoming. "Your sister is hungry! Hurry up and bring out the food!"

Receiving this sudden blow, Shen Xiaoming felt completely bewildered. "Mom, that hurt!" he complained pitifully.

Before Xiao Qing'er could respond, Shen Yanting shot him a sharp glare. Okay then, it didn't hurt at all! Mom didn't use any strength! Resigned to his fate, Shen Xiaoming went into the kitchen to help the butler and servants bring out lunch.

When the maid Aunt Liang saw the stranger, she froze for a moment - this girl looked just like Madam when she was young... Could it be...? Aunt Liang quietly placed the dishes on the table and asked obsequiously, "May I ask who this guest is...?"

The chopsticks in Xiao Qing'er's hand clattered to the table as her expression darkened. "She's not a guest - she's the mistress of this house! She's my biological daughter!"

Aunt Liang's face stiffened. So it really was Madam's daughter... How had they found her? What about Miss Qingqing?! That was... "Madam, please don't be angry. I was blind not to recognize her. I know I was wrong," Aunt Liang fawned, though inwardly she was panicking. Turning to Bai Kexin with forced cheer, she said, "Welcome home, Miss."

Bai Kexin didn't respond, merely nodding slightly. She'd already sensed this woman's hostility, so there was no need to be polite.

"You may leave now," Xiao Qing'er said, her good mood suddenly ruined. This Aunt Liang - sooner or later, she would kick her out, send her back to the Xiao family's old residence!

Reluctant but helpless, Aunt Liang retreated silently. Now she could only go back and call the old madam. The Shen family matriarch would surely be happy, but she was from the Xiao family - if the Xiao matriarch learned Madam's child had returned, she definitely wouldn't be pleased.

After this little interruption, Xiao Qing'er put on her signature smile again and placed a piece of beef in Bai Kexin's bowl. "Try this quickly. In our family, the third brother's cooking is the best."

Bai Kexin put the meat in her mouth, her eyes lighting up with surprise. There was no denying it - this beef was truly delicious, far better than anything from restaurants.

"It's good."

Shen Xiaoming had been waiting for Bai Kexin's praise, and her simple "It's good" made him practically float with joy! Little sister said my beef is delicious! Little sister likes my cooking! From now on I'll make even more delicious food for her, so no other scoundrels can trick her away!

"If it's good, eat more," Xiao Qing'er said, happily adding more to Bai Kexin's plate, making the other brothers green with envy! While Bai Kexin wasn't paying attention, they had already piled many dishes onto her plate.

Bai Kexin: "..." So enthusiastic... a bit overwhelming! They were letting her experience what family felt like - though there were many people, it was very warm. Truly enviable. But she couldn't let herself indulge in this familial affection yet - she still hadn't confirmed whether it was real.

Just as they were eating, a girl walked in from outside, looking about the same age as Bai Kexin, very lively and cute. But the five Shen brothers immediately frowned. D*mn it, why had she come back?

"Mom, Dad, brothers, why didn't you call me for dinner? I missed you all so much! If not for..." The speaker was the Shen family's adopted daughter, Shen Qingqing.

"Why are you back? Weren't you supposed to stay at school?" Shen Xiaojie was the first to change expression, and the others also put down their chopsticks, the previous relaxed and joyful atmosphere gone.

"I heard Mom found her biological daughter, so I came back to see," Shen Qingqing said, deliberately ignoring the changes in their expressions. She was used to it, wasn't she? Mom, Dad and the five brothers didn't really want her to come back. If not for Grandma's sake, they would have made her live outside long ago.

Shen Zefan's expression turned stern: "Only we knew about this. How did you find out?" Only then did Shen Qingqing realize her mistake, but it was too late to fix it...

"I heard it from someone," Shen Qingqing said, not betraying Aunt Liang or Grandma.

"Since you're back, sit down and eat," Shen Yanting said. After all, he couldn't really take it out on a child. Back then, it had been his mother-in-law who forced them to adopt Shen Qingqing - it wasn't the girl's fault, as she'd only been three at the time.

Shen Qingqing smiled lightly: "Thank you, Dad." After washing her hands, she sat directly on the other side of the table, looking at the sumptuous dishes. "Third brother made this, right? What a treat today."

Bai Kexin glanced at Shen Qingqing appraisingly. She didn't sense hostility, just something a bit... fake? Maybe it was her imagination - perhaps this was just how the girl naturally was!

Shen Qingqing looked at Bai Kexin and began chattering familiarly: "You must be Mom's real daughter! Mom and Dad have searched everywhere for you all these years. It's such a relief you're back - otherwise they would have died from guilt!"

Bai Kexin: "......"

"It's good you're back - now the family can be reunited," Shen Qingqing continued on her own.

"Shen Qingqing, no talking during meals," Shen Zefan reprimanded sharply. This girl talked too much!