For all the weight Qingxue carried on her shoulders, there were moments when Jiang Yuixen reminded her she was still just a girl.
And today was one of those days.
It started with a simple message.
"Xue'er, clear your afternoon. We're going out."
Qingxue barely had time to respond before her mother's assistant was at the estate, waiting with an itinerary already prepared. By the time she processed what was happening, she was in a luxury car, being driven into the heart of the city.
Beside her, Jiang Yuixen sat in perfect elegance, dressed in a flowing silk ensemble that made heads turn effortlessly. She was a vision of poise and refinement—the kind of woman who commanded admiration without a word.
"You've been working too much," her mother said casually, as if they weren't about to take over half the luxury stores in the district. "It's about time you indulged yourself."
Qingxue arched a brow. "And this has nothing to do with Father saying I need a break?"
Her mother only smiled.
She took that as confirmation.
The first stop was a private fitting in a high-end boutique. Designers swarmed them the moment they stepped inside, eagerly presenting their latest collections. Qingxue allowed herself to be swept into the experience, knowing better than to resist.
Jiang Yuixen personally selected each piece, a mix of timeless classics and breathtaking modern designs. "A lady must always have options," she mused, adjusting the collar of a fitted white dress against Qingxue's frame. "Power isn't only in words, my love—it's in the way you walk into a room."
From there, it was jewelry, shoes, accessories—each selection deliberate, each choice enhancing her already stunning presence.
At one point, Qingxue caught sight of their reflection in the mirror—mother and daughter, standing side by side, both exquisite, both untouchable.
"You look beautiful, Xue'er," Jiang Yuixen murmured, watching her daughter through the glass.
Qingxue met her gaze. "I take after you."
A soft chuckle. "Flattery suits you."
The afternoon continued with an exclusive invitation to a high-society gathering—one Qingxue hadn't planned on attending, but her mother insisted. "You should remind them who you are," she said, leading her inside with an effortless grace that made even the most powerful figures in the city pause.
And so, Qingxue did.
She walked through the venue with the same quiet authority she was known for. She exchanged pleasantries, accepted subtle challenges with a smirk, and left whispers in her wake.
By the time they returned home, Jiang Yuixen looked pleased.
"You handled today well," she remarked as their car pulled into the estate.
Qingxue glanced at the shopping bags, the silent victories, the unspoken lessons wrapped within the day's events.
She smiled. "I had a good teacher."
Her mother's gaze softened.
Perhaps today wasn't just about indulgence.
Perhaps it was Jiang Yuixen's way of reminding her—no matter how ruthless the world became, she would always have a place where she was cherished.