Breaking down a young girl’s defenses was child’s play for a middle-aged man like Cai Youlun.
As the saying goes: “If she’s yet to be seasoned by the ways of the world, show her its dazzling splendor. If her heart is already weathered, take her to ride a carousel.”
Cai Youlun didn’t know this maxim, but his actions aligned with it perfectly.
A girl like Shu Lu, who’d seen little of the world, was easily swayed by material vanity. Watching her sit in the car, stiff in her new dress, her eyes drifting—intentionally or not—to the luxury handbag beside her, Cai Youlun smirked knowingly.
Shu Lu’s reaction was textbook.
Adults struggled to resist material temptations; what chance did a high schooler have?
A clear-headed girl like Wen Ying, who could outwit Zhao Dong, was a rare exception. If every girl were as sharp as Wen Ying, what edge would seasoned adults have in this cutthroat world?
“Uncle Cai, where are we going?” Shu Lu’s voice was soft, hesitant, timid.
Her father, Shu Guobing, was still detained. Without him, she and her mother should’ve been useless to Boss Cai. Yet here he was, driving a luxury car, taking her on a lavish shopping spree.
The dress and shoes were one thing, but a simple bracelet with a few clear beads cost over a thousand yuan. The bag Cai Youlun bought her? Five figures. The money spent on her today equaled two or three years of her mother Wen Hongyan’s factory wages.
Among her peers, Shu Lu was precocious. Before transferring to Rong City, she knew some classmates were secretly dating.
Junior high romances were clandestine—boys buying breakfast or milk tea for girls, saving pocket money to gift a stuffed toy for a girlfriend’s birthday.
A few girls dated older, working-class guys, receiving pricier gifts than toys. Shu Lu, who’d crafted an image of a father in government and a mother in banking, scorned those girls.
Such cheap trinkets could sway them? Their standards were too low.
Now, experiencing it herself, Shu Lu realized how hard it was to refuse such gifts.
Boss Cai was far wealthier than any street tough. The items he bought her were exorbitant.
She couldn’t help wondering: Did Cai Youlun have a crush on her? If so, what should she do? He was old enough to be her father, and she recoiled at the thought. Yet she coveted the gifts. If only there were a way to have both.
Her question was a probe, but Cai Youlun played coy, not exposing her. “You’ll see when we get there.”
He drove her to Jinjiang Hotel.
Not to book a room—Cai Youlun had no interest in young girls. He wasn’t a good man, but he wasn’t a creep.
Seeing Jinjiang Hotel, Shu Lu froze, barely able to walk.
She didn’t want to seem intimidated, but this was *Jinjiang Hotel*!
Post-2000, Rong City saw new upscale hotels, and by 2019, it was a hub of trendy luxury. But for old Rong City locals, Jinjiang Hotel remained the gold standard.
Opened in 1960 and renovated in 2004, it was Southwest China’s first five-star luxury hotel, hosting countless Chinese and foreign dignitaries.
Even students from nearby counties, like Shu Lu, knew its name.
A local jab at wealth was, “Have you eaten at Jinjiang?” The food’s taste wasn’t the point—dining there was a status symbol.
For working-class families, Jinjiang was unthinkable. A meal there, though affordable with gritted teeth, was a luxury they couldn’t justify. That money could cover school fees, medicine, rent, utilities, or New Year’s clothes. Ordinary lives were hemmed in by such mundane expenses, leaving no room for extravagance.
Standing at the entrance, Shu Lu’s first thought was: *Wen Ying’s never been here!*
Her second uncle’s wealth was small-town wealth, insignificant in Rong City.
To maintain his reputation, he’d never visit such a high-end place—too risky if seen.
Convinced Wen Ying hadn’t set foot in Jinjiang Hotel, Shu Lu felt a small victory.
With this mindset, she followed Cai Youlun into the restaurant, where he pointed to a seated young man. “Shu Lu, this is who wants to meet you.”
It was Zhao Dong.
Cai Youlun exuded nouveau riche tackiness, but Zhao Dong, in a tailored suit, radiated the polished aura of a returned overseas Chinese businessman.
Zhao Dong wasn’t strikingly handsome, but he knew how to dress. Combined with today’s orchestrated buildup and the restaurant’s ambient lighting and music, Shu Lu felt like a drama’s Cinderella. Approaching Zhao Dong, her heart raced—only to realize he wasn’t a gentle prince but a cold-blooded merchant.
As she neared, Zhao Dong scrutinized her with a critical eye.
She was prettier than Wen Ying.
But that was it.
Her small-town air and poorly veiled vanity betrayed her thoughts instantly.
Comparison clarified things. Zhao Dong realized why, among the many vying for the Xie family, only Wen Ying quickly befriended Xie Qian. Her caliber far surpassed her peers.
The pampered Zhao Qian couldn’t compare.
Nor could Shu Lu, raised in a struggling family, brimming with schemes.
But shallowness had its uses—shallow people were easy to control.
“You must have questions. No rush. We have plenty of time tonight. First, let me be clear: your father is a worthless failure. Cai Youlun funded his business with my money, but I’m hesitating whether to continue supporting him. A useless wretch like him, rotting in the mud, is someone others avoid.”
Zhao Dong spoke, calmly cutting his steak with knife and fork.
Shu Lu’s identical steak sat untouched. She didn’t know how to use the utensils, fearing ridicule.
His words shredded her heart. How could she eat?
She glanced at Cai Youlun for confirmation, but he’d vanished, leaving her alone with Zhao Dong.
She wanted to defend her father, to say he wasn’t mud. But recalling Shu Guobing—drunkard, idler, braggart—she opened her mouth, voiceless. He was exactly as Zhao Dong described. She’d borrowed Wen Ying’s family background at school because she was ashamed of him.
If this man spoke the truth, what could she do?
If support stopped, her father would go to jail. Her mother couldn’t afford her education in Rong City. She’d be sent back to her old life.
No, worse than that.
Before, she had her second uncle’s aid and her mother’s factory job. Now, no one supported them.
Cai Youlun had shown her a taste of opulence. Now, she faced a grim future—dropping out, washing dishes, or working as a maid. Compared to this lavish life, she’d abandon any principles.
“You… what do you want me to do?”
Cai Youlun brought her to meet this man. There had to be a reason.
Zhao Dong set down his utensils, wiping his mouth.
“Compared to your father, you’re not entirely foolish.”
