Chapter 34: If You Really Do That, I’ll Cut All Ties with You as My Mother!

Dazed and bewildered, Jiang Wan emerged from Old Master Shang’s study. Seeing Shang Feifei bathed in tears, she found herself unable to utter a single word.

"Mother... Father died because of Uncle! Are you still planning to save him?!"

Shang Feifei roared in a state of collapse, "If you truly do that, I will sever our relationship as mother and daughter!"

With that, Shang Feifei turned and ran off without a backward glance.

...

Jiang Wan leaned against the wall, fighting to keep herself from collapsing to the floor. She had yet to fully process the situation, but her daughter’s words had awakened her. It was true—her husband, the ten-plus years of happiness she should have enjoyed, had all been destroyed because of her brother. Did she really still want to go to such lengths to save Jiang Zihu?

Jiang Wan remained silent for a long time. Once she had finally cleared her mind, she closed her eyes, and two tears of regret traced paths down her cheeks.

Soon after, Lin Xianxian learned that Jiang Zihu had been arrested. Due to a multitude of charges, he was sentenced to thirty years in prison. These charges included, but were not limited to, rape, murder, corporate embezzlement, illegal acquisition of trade secrets, sex trafficking, and bribery of government officials. The list of dozens of crimes left Lin Xianxian stunned.

"Holy crap, this Jiang Zihu is quite the piece of work. To have committed so many crimes... thirty years is getting off light!"

[Wait a minute, come to think of it, in the original plot, he was completely unscathed. After the male lead inherited the Shang family’s business and all of Shang Yang’s assets, he even partnered with Jiang Zihu, leading to a second spring for his career. So, the male lead really was shielding him in the original story. How could the male lead be so morally ambiguous? Then again, raised by a mother like Madam Shang, how could his values be anything but twisted?]

[Still, it’s strange. How did Jiang Zihu’s affairs suddenly come to light? It’s as if someone was targeting him.]

Lin Xianxian felt a flicker of confusion, but it didn't last long, as the Old Master had fresh pastries sent over from the kitchen. In an instant, her focus shifted entirely to the food.

[Well, it’s a good thing Jiang Zihu is behind bars. Now no one will try to harm Shang Yang. Hehe, that saves me the trouble! Besides, he didn't affect the main plot anyway; in the original story, he was just a burden dragging the male lead down.]

As she ate, Lin Xianxian mused, [I didn't expect Madam Shang not to help her brother this time... but then again, even if she wanted to, she has no influence left and could only beg the Old Master. The Old Master was a soldier back in the day; how could he possibly let such a beast go free? He truly is the character I admire most in this entire book!]

Old Master Shang, who had been struggling with depression over the past few days upon learning the true cause of his eldest son's death, felt his mood brighten instantly upon hearing these thoughts.

[Madam Shang seems to have gone abroad. I heard the environment in New Zealand is quite nice. She bought a house there right after arriving and seems to intend to settle down. It seems the male lead pushed for this too; he was so afraid that as long as his mother stayed in the country, she would continue to clash with Qin Xinxia, so he was more than eager to have her move far away. Once he knew she planned to stay in New Zealand for a while, he couldn't wait to have her stay there permanently.]

[Still, it’s quite strange. I thought Madam Shang would stay and keep causing trouble...]

Lin Xianxian was puzzled, but upon reflection, in the original plot, after the male and female leads married, the male lead's mother had also chosen to settle overseas long-term, choosing to keep the female lead out of sight and out of mind. Perhaps the plot had simply accelerated; it didn't count as a collapse of the narrative. With that, she stopped dwelling on it.

However, the exposure of her secret identity did have some impact on Lin Xianxian's life. For instance, many of the socialites and young ladies who had previously looked down on her for her sycophantic behavior suddenly became quite enthusiastic. Others wanted to commission exclusive, custom-made garments from her.

Since LINXIAN had become an international brand, while these socialites could easily purchase limited-edition items, exclusive bespoke pieces were rare and reserved for those with connections. Most of her bespoke clients were celebrities she found intriguing or extremely wealthy socialites whose fortunes were too vast for her, as the owner behind the scenes, to refuse. Of course, most of these wealthy clients didn't know Lin Xianxian’s true identity, as she always sent assistants to take measurements, designing the pieces based on the client's height, appearance, and temperament.

Each bespoke commission required a significant investment of time. Even though a single piece could fetch a six or seven-figure sum, Lin Xianxian only accepted work based on her availability and whether the client appealed to her. For celebrities, there was an additional condition: they had to have a clean reputation and be able to bring positive publicity to her brand.

These were merely Lin Xianxian’s personal standards. Between her university studies and the exhausting role of playing a cannon-fodder supporting character, she simply didn't have much spare time. This made her seem "high-profile" within the circle. Fortunately, renowned designers in the fashion world were often like this, each possessing their own quirks. Lin Xianxian was not considered particularly eccentric.

Instead, because of the principle that "rarity creates value," people became even more desperate for her designs. Many noblewomen were no longer satisfied with limited-edition clothes; they wanted something uniquely their own. Most importantly, this mysterious designer, LIN, always used her designs to bring out a distinct, hidden temperament in those who wore them.

For example, a famous actress who had always been perceived as merely sultry and provocative once wore a custom piece designed by Lin Xianxian. The design brought out a bone-deep purity, a "pure desire" aesthetic that added a layer of mysterious allure. Foreign reporters at the scene were captivated, seeing her as the goddess from the mysterious East they had always imagined. That dress allowed the actress to exude a unique presence; even after seeing hundreds of other celebrities, everyone’s most vivid memory was of that actress. Her career subsequently reached new heights.

The same happened for others who wore LIN’s bespoke creations. A Mrs. Zhang in Shanghai, over forty and married for more than a decade, had a husband who had long lost his passion for her. But after wearing a piece designed by Lin Xianxian, she seemed to shed ten years, appearing vibrant and alluring—so much so that she began attracting younger men. Her husband was suddenly on high alert, and their marital life was reinvigorated.

A piece of custom clothing could help a person discover a different side of themselves. Most importantly, it helped them rediscover their confidence. The legends surrounding Lin Xianxian’s bespoke clothing were many, and these ladies had long heard the tales.