HBWMA -Chapter 143 The “Flower-Raising” Approach

The meaning behind these words ran deep—far beyond what appeared on the surface.

Shen Jiao didn’t expect Fu Sui’er to fully understand. She lowered her gaze and gently stroked her face. “This is Shanshan’s—it suits her. And I’ll choose what suits you as well. Fulfilling someone doesn’t mean settling.”

Fu Sui’er fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

“Do you like it?” Shen Jiao quickly adjusted her emotions and looked at Jiang Huashan with a smile.

Jiang Huashan nodded. “I like it very much. Thank you, Godmother.”

“Don’t thank me just yet.” Nanny Feng stepped forward carrying two exquisitely crafted gift boxes, one large and one small. “Shanshan, try them on.”

Jiang Huashan turned to Shen Jiao. “There’s more?”

Shen Jiao replied casually, “Lanxi’s return banquet is a major event for the Shen family. Even if you’re not the main focus that day, you still represent the family’s image. There can’t be the slightest carelessness. Try them—there’s still time to make adjustments if they don’t fit.”

Jiang Huashan’s expression turned a little subtle as Nanny Feng took her hand. “Come, this way.”

She led her into the side room and carefully opened the box. “Go on, try it.”

The dress was an elegant off-white, exquisitely made, with a designer touch.

With just one glance, Jiang Huashan could clearly see the difference between Fang Mei and Shen Jiao.

Seeing her staring silently at the dress, Nanny Feng asked gently, “Shanshan, don’t you like it?”

Jiang Huashan shook her head. “No, I really like it.”

In the main hall, Fu Sui’er circled around the clothing rack, staring wide-eyed at Shen Jiao. “Mom, be honest—Shanshan isn’t your long-lost illegitimate daughter, is she?”

“You brat, what nonsense are you saying?” Shen Jiao almost kicked her.

“I’m joking!” Fu Sui’er quickly laughed it off, hugging her arm. “Mom, thank you—thank you for truly accepting Shanshan.”

Shen Jiao’s expression softened as she lightly patted her daughter’s arm. “Alright, your hair’s all tangled—move aside.”

Just then, Jiang Huashan came out, already changed.

The dress was a knee-length, fitted-waist design with thin straps. At the waist sat a large pink tulle bow. When she walked out, she seemed to glow.

“Wow!”

Fu Sui’er nearly collapsed under the impact of her stunning beauty. She jumped up and circled around her. “I just thought of a business idea—if we make a life-sized Barbie figure of you, it’ll definitely sell out!”

Jiang Huashan glanced at her sideways. “So the target audience is people like you—chuunibyou face-lovers?”

“Pfft—” Fu Sui’er burst out laughing and turned to Shen Jiao. “Mom, your taste is incredible.”

Unexpectedly, Shen Jiao didn’t seem satisfied. She lifted her eyelids and looked Jiang Huashan up and down. “Shanshan, I don’t think this one suits you. Let’s try another.”

Fu Sui’er froze. “What do you mean it doesn’t suit her? It’s perfect!”

Jiang Huashan nodded. “I’m fine with anything—I’ll follow Godmother’s choice.”

Shen Jiao’s brows relaxed slightly. After studying her face and figure for a while, she turned and picked up a silver gradient dress with shoulder straps.

“This one. Try it.”

“Okay.” Jiang Huashan took the dress and went straight to the side room. Soon, she returned.

Compared to the previous one, this dress looked much more youthful. It was a princess-style dress with puff sleeves, a gradient petal-like hem in soft pink, and pink feathers woven into the straps as decoration.

Strangely, though it was the same face, the earlier overwhelming visual impact was gone.

Fu Sui’er wasn’t convinced. “The first one looked better.”

“What do you know?” Shen Jiao smacked her aside and calmly adjusted the feathers on Jiang Huashan’s shoulders.

“Shanshan, I think this one suits you better. Look—the feathers connect like wings. Isn’t that interesting? Do you like it?”

Jiang Huashan understood the gentleness behind her words. “I like it.”

Fu Sui’er grew anxious. Shanshan wasn’t actually a child—how could she like something so childish? Afraid she was just being polite, she quietly moved behind her and whispered, “If you don’t like it, you can just refuse.”

Jiang Huashan shook her head. “It’s not that I don’t like it.” She curved her lips, her eyes carrying a trace of childlike warmth. “I really like pink wings.”

Because pink wings could take her back to the pink castle.

Princess dresses, puff sleeves, petal skirts, pink feathers—these had truly been her dreams at twelve.

Shen Jiao paused, then gently touched her head. “A clever child.”

The first dress, though beautiful, overexposed a kind of beauty that didn’t match her age. That kind of beauty was a form of premature ripening. By not letting her wear it, Shen Jiao was actually protecting her.

Those who would attend Shen Lanxi’s banquet were all wealthy and powerful. People accustomed to worldly pleasures could tell at a glance—who was a one-of-a-kind jewel, meant only for crowns and scepters; and who was cheap crystal, to be held and played with at will.

Shen Jiao treated her like a precious jewel.

Jiang Huashan’s defining trait was her beauty—and Fang Mei had never wasted it. In her previous life, when Jiang Huashan missed Shen Lanxi’s birthday banquet, Fang Mei blamed her endlessly for missing the chance to meet powerful people. After that, whenever there was a social gathering among the elite, Fang Mei would dress her up flamboyantly and use her as a tool for social leverage.

Fang Mei treated her like cheap crystal.

Jiang Huashan lowered her head, looking at the dress she was wearing, and suddenly felt as if she were dreaming.

In the rules of the upper class—true nobility is untouchable.

Shen Jiao truly intended to raise her again… as her own child.