Beranda / Rebirth Cerita Pendek / I Embraced Being Trash, and the Fake Heiress Fell Apart / Bab 1 - Bab 9

Semua Bab I Embraced Being Trash, and the Fake Heiress Fell Apart: Bab 1 - Bab 9

9 Bab

Chapter 1

"Jules, why do you look so pale?"Laura White's gentle voice pulled me back from my thoughts. I jerked my head up. Her face was as innocent and harmless as ever, but I felt a wave of coldness.I drew in a slow breath, forcing down the surge of killing intent inside me. "Nothing. Probably just a little nervous."I glanced around. We were in the tea-tasting room of the White residence, all antique wood and quiet elegance.The rich aroma of Golden Crest Black Tea filled the air, curling into my nose like a perfectly brewed tea. Everything felt so familiar. I knew this scene.This was one month after I was reclaimed into the White family, the very day Laura first showed off her tea-tasting talent in front of the family, as well as the beginning of the nightmare that was my previous life."What do you think, Laura?" Mom asked, her voice soft with affection.Laura's gaze flickered before she broke into a shy smile. "I'm not sure I can explain it well, but it feels like these tea leave

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Chapter 2

Before long, three tea samples, coded and unmarked, were brought in.I didn't rush to taste. Instead, I turned to Laura. "To ensure fairness, let's each write down our notes. No talking, so we don't throw each other off. Deal?"A flicker of panic crossed her eyes, but she smoothed it over with a gentle smile. "I'll do as you say, Jules."I picked up my pen and started with the first sample.The liquid hit my palate, and I knew at once this was Mistveil Tea, an extremely rare rock tea that grew on shaded cliff faces, seldom seeing direct sun.Its profile was unmistakable—a cool, mineral spring clarity and a distinct mossy note, like damp stone after rain.I jotted down my impressions quickly, but deliberately left out the most telling note, the moss aroma. Then, I moved on to the second sample, then the third.For each one, I wrote 70% of the profile, keeping the remaining most crucial points to myself. Once I was done, I folded the paper and handed it to Dad.Almost at the same

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Chapter 3

The Crimson Wyrm Tasting, an event that would decide the heir to the White family legacy, was set for three days later. The moment the news spread, a restless tension settled over the entire clan.This was the Whites' highest-stakes gathering. In my previous life, it was the day I was nailed to the pillar of shame, with no way to wash it clean.The Crimson Wyrm was said to be a rare variant of the Scarlet Mantle trees. There was only a single tin of it across the world. The White family guarded it like their greatest treasure.Whoever could truly read its hidden notes would earn the right to become the next heir and take control of the entire tea association.For those three days, I shut myself inside the tasting room and cut off every distraction.I dug through rare, almost-forgotten texts on the Scarlet Mantle, steeping myself in them until I tuned my palate and nose to their sharpest edge.Yet trouble always found a way in.The night before the tasting, Laura came to my door

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Chapter 4

"The Crimson Wyrm, an extraordinary tea," Laura began, her voice clear and ringing."Its aroma unfolds in nine layers—the first hints of orchid, then osmanthus, then peach… The texture glides down impossibly smoothly. Its spirit, at the opening, is commanding like a king; mid-palate, gentle like a knight; and in the end, ethereal like an angel."With every word, my chest sank a little deeper. These were exactly the tasting notes I had just formed in my mind, my perfect conclusion. Every word and nuance was identical.Then, she paused. "And within it, I detected a faint, almost imperceptible trace of iron-like bloodiness. This may be the true origin of the name 'Crimson Wyrm'."It doesn't refer to color, but to that thread of ruthlessness in its spirit. You could say it's the aura of a massacre."The venue went silent. Then, like a kettle finally boiling over, applause crashed through the room."A genius! A true genius!""This is unprecedented. This level of tasting is beyond mas

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Chapter 5

Amid the stunned silence, I suddenly burst into deep, unrestrained laughter, even shedding tears. Everyone went quiet, staring at me in shock.Liam, on the other hand, frowned. "What are you laughing at? Can't accept losing, you psycho?"I ignored him. Slowly, I stood, smoothing the folds of my clothes that he had ruffled. Then, I stepped onto the stage and took the microphone from Dad."First of all, congratulations, Laura," I said calmly, betraying no emotion.A flicker of unease crossed Laura's face, but she still forced a gentle, fragile smile. "Thanks, Jules."I continued, "Secondly, my thanks to Mr. Ford for making a decision I've long wanted to make myself."I glanced at Liam, whose face had turned ashen. My gaze swept across the hall, resting on my parents' disappointed faces before settling on the cameras."And finally, I hereby announce that from now on, I voluntarily renounce all rights to inherit the White family's estate. I'll withdraw from the White Tea Association

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Chapter 6

Since I left, the White family hadn't been doing so well.At first, Laura's reputation as the tea prodigy brought immense prestige and profit to the family. With her engagement to Liam, the Whites and Fords joined forces and basked in glory.However, the good times didn't last long. Soon, rumors began circulating in the tea world."Strange… That so-called tea prodigy from the White family has been delivering vague tastings lately.""I know, right? Previously, with Golden Goddess Tea, she couldn't even detect its basic sweet, mellow taste.""Without Juliana as a reference, her so-called talent seems… pretty thin."Sure enough, without me as the signal source, Laura's attempt at the Art of Sensory Theft completely failed. The all-knowing tea prodigy reverted to the bumbling novice she secretly was.And so, the White Tea Association's reputation plummeted. The final straw that broke the camel's back was a commission from Florenne.Their largest luxury conglomerate planned to launc

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Chapter 7

On the day of the tasting, all eyes were on us."Did the Tea Prodigy Fall From Grace? Can the Banished True Heiress Turn the Tide?"Even before it began, the live stream had already shot to the top of trending charts across every platform.I walked into the White residence's tasting room in a simple black dress. Everything there looked the same as before.Mr. and Mrs. White stood at the entrance, forced smiles plastered on their faces. "Juliana, you're here."I nodded once, but said nothing as I strode straight to the main seat. Laura sat across from me, pale and evasive, like a frightened rabbit.Liam stood behind her, guarding her, his gaze full of undisguised resentment as it rested on me.The live stream began.Mr. White spoke first, reading a heartfelt apology to the camera, admitting his past misjudgment and pleading with me to forgive him. The comments section erupted."Damn. I didn't know rich people could apologize. I've actually lived long enough to witness it.""Fe

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Chapter 8

Laura's gaze sharpened. She stared at the box as if it were a living thing, her body trembling uncontrollably.She vividly felt it—the connection she had relied on, the perception that had let her copy everything I sensed, was suddenly severed."No… I…" she stammered."Try it again," I said with a faint smile, pushing a fresh cup of tea toward her. "Let everyone see what the true prodigy of the White family can do."Laura looked at the cup as if it were something terrifying. Her mind went blank. She couldn't smell anything or taste a single nuance. To her, they all tasted the same.Under the gaze of the entire online audience, she was exposed like a clown stripped bare, with nowhere to hide. She used the last bit of strength to force out a weak excuse. "I-I don't feel so well…""Really?"I took out a lozenge I had been keeping under my tongue, rinsed my mouth leisurely, and lifted the cup again. I sipped gently, then raised my voice, clearly announcing the correct tasting notes

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Chapter 9

The live stream sparked the biggest online discussion of the year. Keywords like "Art of Sensory Theft", "Fake Heiress", and "Live Stream Exposé" dominated the trending searches for a full week.Laura had fallen from the pedestal straight into the mud, becoming the laughingstock of the entire internet. When she woke up, her mind was shattered.She would cry, then laugh, muttering repeatedly, "I didn't do it." Eventually, the White family quietly had her committed to a psychiatric hospital.As for Liam, he became the biggest joke of them off. The prodigy he had adored and protected so fiercely turned out to be a petty liar relying on sorcery.To cut ties, the Fords immediately severed all connections with the Whites and publicly announced that Liam's engagement to Laura was null and void.Not giving up just yet, Liam came to me. He stood outside my adoptive parents', looking disheveled, his eyes bloodshot and pleading."I was wrong, Juliana. I was blind to let that wretched bitch

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