The Legend of Cinderella's Counterattack

"Lisa, that's all in the past," I began, but was interrupted by a commotion. Lisa's face paled instantly, and the champagne flute in her hand slipped with a clatter, spilling all over her. Before I could react, the banquet hall door flung open, and a group of uniformed officers rushed in, throwing the place into chaos.

The leading man shouted, "We're the police. We've received a report that someone here is suspected of drug trafficking. Everyone, stand still!" My heart sank. Drug trafficking? How could that be possible? Lawrence Lu shielded me behind him and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I'm here." I clutched his hand tightly, trying to remain calm. My gaze swept across the panicked crowd, and in the corner I saw a familiar figure—my stepsister, Lin Kexin.

How could she be here? Could it be... A terrible thought flashed through my mind. Could it be that she had planned all this? "Where's Chenxi?" I suddenly remembered my daughter. She was here today too! I looked around but didn't see Chenxi. I was extremely anxious. Lawrence Lu also realized that something was wrong. He frowned and said to me, "Wait here for me. I'll go find Chenxi."

Just as he was about to leave, he saw Chenxi squeeze out of the crowd, her little face filled with anxiety. "Mom, what happened? I heard someone yelling for the police, and I was so scared..." I hugged my daughter in my arms and whispered, "It's okay, baby, Mommy's here." Lawrence Lu quickly found out what had happened. It turned out that someone had framed her at the banquet in an attempt to disrupt order. The police didn't find any drugs at the scene, and the farce was quickly put to rest.

Although it was a false alarm, this incident made me realize that even peaceful life can be full of hidden dangers. I cherished my time with my family even more and began to consciously cultivate Chenxi's ability to face challenges independently.

I've always known Chenxi has a keen interest in fashion; it's probably inherited from me. From a young age, I've been taking her to various fashion events, allowing her to experience different design styles and concepts. Gradually, she began experimenting with her own clothing designs, pouring her boundless passion and creativity into every step, from initial graffiti to pattern making.

To encourage Chenxi, I invited several young, well-known fashion designers to my home. They shared their design philosophies and creative processes with Chenxi and offered valuable suggestions. "Chenxi, your designs are truly inspired. I can tell you have a unique understanding of fashion."

“You have to remember that clothing is not just a tool to cover your body, but also a vehicle for self-expression and emotion.”

The designers' words, like seeds, took root and sprouted in Chenxi's heart. Not long after, the school organized a fashion design competition, and Chenxi confidently signed up. On the day of the competition, I sat in the audience, watching my daughter beam on the stage, my heart filled with pride and emotion. Ultimately, Chenxi won first prize with her design, titled "Breaking the Cocoon."

At that moment, I knew that my daughter had found her own stage and that she would lead a more wonderful life on the road of fashion.

I decided to hold a personal fashion show for Chenxi, both to celebrate her award and to give her some practical experience. The venue was the Lu Group's art center, with top-notch lighting and stage design. I wanted to give my daughter the best.

On the day of the show, watching Chenxi confidently stand center stage in her own gown, tears welled up in my eyes. At that moment, she was no longer the little girl in need of my protection, but a shining rising star. The audience erupted in applause, and the media, designers, and buyers from the fashion world raved about Chenxi's designs.

"This child is so talented. Her designs are bold and full of inspiration. Her future is limitless!"

"Yes, she has achieved such success at such a young age. In time, she will definitely set off a new trend in the fashion world."

Hearing these compliments made me happier than if I had achieved success myself. I knew my choice was right; Chenxi had truly found her own path. That night, I hugged my daughter tightly and whispered in her ear, "Chenxi, Mommy is so proud of you."

Chenxi leaned on my shoulder, her voice choked with sobs: "Mom, thank you. It's you who gave me the opportunity to realize my dream."

Watching my daughter make her mark in the fashion world, I am filled with joy and anticipation. I believe my fashion career will be inherited and developed in her hands, and I will continue to accompany her and witness her further and further on the road to her dreams.

Chenxi’s talent in design has given me hope for the future of the fashion industry. It should not just be a place of fame and fortune, but also a place full of creativity and dreams.

"Mom, can we help more people who like design like me?" Chenxi's words woke me up. Yes, I can do my best to support those talented young people.

So, Chenxi and I founded a fashion foundation. I invested heavily in supporting young people who dream of design but lack opportunities. Chenxi also used her influence to invite many well-known designers to join the foundation, providing guidance and support to these young people.

The announcement of the foundation caused a huge stir in the fashion world, with many media outlets praising our charitable act and believing we had injected new vitality into the fashion industry.

However, just as the foundation was preparing for its first recruitment drive, I received a strange phone call. "Ms. Lin, long time no see." A gloomy voice came from the other end of the line, and my heart sank. I would recognize this voice even if it were ash...