Illegitimate daughter is a Hidden boss

Chapter Three

The next morning, Inside the Lin family villa, Lin Xinyi stood at the top of the grand staircase, fully dressed in her high school uniform. Her blonde-trimmed cream blazer was immaculately pressed, her sky-blue pleated skirt falling neatly just above her knees, and her blue tie knotted with absolute precision.

Despite the storm she had fought through the night before, her pale skin was flawless, her dark hair cascading down her back in smooth, silken waves. She looked breathtakingly ethereal like a cold, untouchable beauty.

Down in the living room , the rest of the Lin family was gathered around Lin Chenyi, who was preening in front of the full-length mirror.

"Oh, my darling Chenyi, you look absolutely radiant today," Mother Lin gushed, smoothing down the edges of Chenyi's uniform blazer. "Make sure you practice hard for the piano showcase after classes. The principal mentioned that several elite scouts from the capital might be visiting the music department today."

"I know, Mother," Lin Chenyi replied, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness as she applied a layer of glossy pink lip balm. "I won't disappoint you or Father. Unlike some people, I actually care about the family's reputation."

Father Lin smiled warmly at his legitimate daughter, his eyes overflowing with pride before his gaze accidentally drifted up the stairs and landed on Xinyi. Instantly, his expression hardened into a cold, disgusted sneer.

"The driver is waiting outside in the Mercedes," Father Lin announced loudly, deliberately looking away from Xinyi. "Chenyi, go on out. Don't be late."

Lin Chenyi smirked, grabbing her luxury designer backpack. She cast a triumphant, mocking glance up at Xinyi before skipping out the front door.

Mother Lin followed closely behind, entirely ignoring the eldest daughter standing on the stairs.

Xinyi walked down the steps, her expression remaining perfectly serene, a mask of absolute indifference. She knew exactly what was happening. There was only one family car designated for school transport, and by order of her foster parents, it belonged exclusively to Chenyi.

As the sleek black Mercedes purred to life and rolled down the grand driveway, leaving her behind without a second thought, Xinyi didn't even blink. She adjusted the strap of her simple black bag, walked out of the iron gates, and began her twenty-minute trek down the paved suburban roads toward the public transit hub.

The morning air was brisk, but Xinyi’s pace was steady. To the ordinary citizens walking past, she was just a stunningly beautiful high school student walking to the bus stand. Her sharp eyes were constantly scanning the perimeter for any signs of the Gu Empire's elite security.

Reaching the bustling bus stand, she stepped onto the crowded public bus, entirely unbothered by the cramped conditions. She squeezed into a spot near the back window, leaning her head against the glass as the vehicle rumbled toward the elite high school campus. Let them think they were punishing her by withholding a luxury car.

To Xinyi, the public bus was the perfect camouflage. A place where she could blend seamlessly into the background noise of the city.

The elite campus of City A’s top academy was a playground for the children of the wealthy and powerful. Luxury sports cars lined the drop-off lane, and students gathered in bright, sunlit courtyards, their conversations revolving around high-society galas, designer fashion, and family stocks.

Inside the senior classroom, Lin Chenyi was already surrounded by her loyal circle of wealthy friends. They sat perched on the edges of desks, their eyes wide with envy and admiration.

"Chenyi, is it true?" one of her friends, a girl named Mengmeng, squealed. "The Gu family grandparents actually visited your estate over the weekend? The supreme Gu family?!"

Lin Chenyi tossed her curled hair, a proud, boastful smile spreading across her face as she leaned back in her chair. "Of course it's true. The old Master and Mistress Gu absolutely dote on our family. They brought over rare traditional herbs and spent hours talking with my parents. Grandfather Gu even hinted that he's eagerly waiting for the right time to formalize a marriage alliance with our family."

"Oh my god, you are so lucky!" another friend chimed in. "To be betrothed to the Gu family that means you’ll practically be the future matriarch of the supreme empire! But wait, Chenyi, why did you arrive at school alone today? Where is that illegitimate sister of yours?"

Before Chenyi could answer, the heavy wooden door of the classroom slid open.

The chatter in the room died down instantly as Lin Xinyi stepped inside.

Even in a room filled with wealthy heiresses draped in expensive jewelry, Xinyi’s entrance was breathtaking .

Her features were sharp, aristocratic, and utterly striking. She possessed a cold, piercing beauty that automatically commanded attention without her ever saying a word. She was the undisputed cold beauty of the class.

Seeing the immediate shift in the room's attention, a flash of ugly jealousy flared deep within Lin Chenyi’s eyes. She quickly masked it, her face twisting into an expression of deep, sisterly concern.

She stood up from her desk, her movements delicate and fragile, and rushed over to Xinyi in front of the entire class.

"Xinyi! Oh, thank goodness you're finally here!" Chenyi gasped loudly, her voice dripping with theatrical worry as she reached out to grab Xinyi’s sleeve. "I was so worried about you! When I woke up this morning, Mother said you were still sleeping deeply. I wanted the driver to wait for you, but Father said we couldn't be late for the morning assembly."

Xinyi stepped back subtly, smoothly breaking Chenyi’s touch without making it obvious. Her dark eyes looked down at her foster sister, entirely empty of emotion. She didn't say a word, treating Chenyi’s performance like a minor insect buzzing in her vision.

Chenyi turned back to her classmates, her eyes welling with fake pity. "Please don't be mad at Xinyi, everyone. She just... she has a hard time waking up early, and she refuses to use the family schedule. I know taking the public bus must have been so difficult for her, but she's just so stubborn about doing things her own way."

Instantly, the murmurs began. The classmates, who had been temporarily stunned by Xinyi’s beauty, sneered in disgust.

"Ugh, typical illegitimate behavior. No discipline at all."

"Chenyi is way too nice to her. If my half-sister acted that ungrateful, I’d have her kicked out of the house."

"Look at how she treats Chenyi! Chenyi is practically begging for her forgiveness, and she just stands there like a mute statue. How arrogant!"

Xinyi listened to the whispers with a faint, almost invisible curve of her lips. This was Chenyi's favorite weapon. Over the past two years, Chenyi had ruined Xinyi’s reputation within the school, painting her as a lazy, ungrateful, and manipulative parasite who abused the Lin family's kindness. Because of these carefully planted lies, the entire class detested Xinyi, treating her like an absolute social pariah.

But to a legendary underground boss, the opinions of a few spoiled high school children were less than nothing.

Xinyi walked past the whispering crowd, her steps elegant and unbothered, and took her seat at the very back of the classroom by the window.

As Xinyi settled into her seat, a shadow fell over her desk.

She looked up to see Lu Shen standing there. Lu Shen was the school's star athlete,handsome, popular, and the son of a prominent shipping mogul. But unlike the rest of the brainwashed student body, Lu Shen had been secretly harboring an intense, massive crush on Xinyi for months. He was completely captivated by her quiet resilience and that mesmerizing, icy demeanor.

"Hey, Xinyi," Lu Shen said, his voice dropping to a soft, gentle tone as he placed a neatly wrapped breakfast sandwich and a hot carton of milk on her desk. "I noticed you didn't make the family car today. You must have missed breakfast. Here, I bought this from the premium cafe down the street."

Xinyi stared at the food, then looked up into Lu Shen's earnest eyes. Her expression remained entirely neutral. "Take it back, Lu Shen. I don't need it."

"Just take it, please," Lu Shen insisted, his cheeks flushing a faint pink. "You don't have to eat it now. Just keep it for later. If anyone bothers you today... just tell me, okay? I've got your back."

From across the room, Lin Chenyi and her friends were watching the interaction like hawks.

"Look at her, targeting Lu Shen now," Mengmeng hissed loudly enough for the surrounding desks to hear. "Did you guys hear the rumors going around the school forums last night? Someone saw them walking together near the sports complex after hours. They're definitely secretly dating."

"Seriously? Lu Shen is so blind," another girl whispered. "Xinyi is probably just using him to pay for her things because her family cuts her allowance. What a shameless fox."

The rumors spread through the classroom like wildfire, mutating with every whisper. Within minutes, the narrative had shifted from a simple crush to a scandalous affair, with Xinyi being painted as the ultimate seductress tearing through the school's elite bachelor list.

Lu Shen glared back at the whispering students, his fists clenching in anger, wanting to defend her honor. But Xinyi merely reached out, tapped his wrist with a cold finger, and pointed toward his own seat.

"The bell is ringing, Lu Shen. Sit down," she said softly. Her voice held a strange, hypnotic weight that automatically forced him to obey. He sighed, casting one last protective glance at her before retreating to his desk.

Xinyi pushed the breakfast sandwich to the far corner of her desk, entirely unmoved by the rumor going around her name.