Zhao Dong finished speaking as the meal concluded.
Only he ate and talked. Shu Lu sipped water, nothing more.
Even so, leaving the restaurant, Shu Lu felt no hunger. Her mind replayed Zhao Dong’s words:
“Everything stems from Wen Ying. Because you’re Wen family relatives, I funded your useless father.”
The words crushed Shu Lu’s pride.
Zhao Dong added that if Wen Ying had followed his instructions, he’d have offered her a chance to study abroad. She refused.
“I don’t like stubborn girls. Stubbornness and pride require backing, which girls from your background lack. She rejected a life-changing opportunity. Now it’s before you. Do you want it?”
Shu Lu couldn’t recall her exact response, but she didn’t refuse.
How could she?
She’d pay any price to keep her current life and seize the better one Zhao Dong described.
She wanted to outshine Wen Ying—and everyone else.
Standing outside Jinjiang Hotel, Cai Youlun gone, the wind tugged at Shu Lu’s new dress. Someone offered to call her a taxi.
“Shu Lu?”
Chen Ru, new to her Rong City bank job, had just hosted colleagues for dinner to bond. Slightly tipsy, she sent them off and was clearing her head when she spotted Shu Lu.
The clothes and shoes were notable, but the bag was glaring.
A high schooler with a bag like that?
Chen Ru couldn’t afford luxury goods, but her bank job exposed her to wealthy clients, sharpening her eye. The bag’s leather and hardware screamed authenticity, not a street stall knockoff.
A real one? How much would that cost? With Shu Guobing detained, where did Shu Lu get the money?
Approaching, Chen Ru saw Shu Lu was head-to-toe transformed, fresh from the hotel, unaccompanied by adults, eyes dodging hers. Chen Ru’s mind exploded—Shu Lu was just a kid! Shu Guobing was worthless, and Wen Hongyan was no better as a mother.
“Who were you with? What are you doing here?”
Chen Ru wanted no part of Shu family drama, but Shu Lu was a minor. Ignoring this would haunt her conscience.
Shu Lu mumbled “Auntie,” bristling at Chen Ru’s questions.
Fresh from agreeing to Zhao Dong’s demands, meeting Chen Ru made her guilty.
“…I came with friends.”
“Out late, not home, with what kind of friends? Fine, I’ll wait here to meet them.”
Chen Ru was certain Shu Lu was lying.
Half guilty, half angry, Shu Lu found Chen Ru hypocritical.
Who she befriended was none of Chen Ru’s business.
Zhao Dong had told her Wen Ying was cunning, latching onto a wealthy heir whose family’s scraps could transform the Wen household. Chen Ru was allowing her daughter freedom while condemning Shu Lu.
“Auntie, instead of meddling in my affairs, ask your daughter. She’s so impressive, I could learn from her!”
Shu Lu’s defiance stunned Chen Ru.
This wasn’t her usual tone.
“What about Wen Ying? Explain yourself—”
Chen Ru reached to stop Shu Lu, who shoved back hard. Caught off guard, Chen Ru fell.
A car pulled up. Shu Lu ran to it, hopped in, and it sped off.
The driver’s window lowered, revealing a middle-aged man. Chen Ru’s mind buzzed at Shu Lu’s words.
What did she mean?
Wen Ying was “impressive,” someone to learn from—in what way?
Wen Ying didn’t frequent upscale venues or carry designer bags, but she’d brought home 20,000 yuan, claiming it was her stall earnings. No, impossible—Wen Ying wasn’t that kind of girl!
Chen Ru had grown. She didn’t rush home to confront Wen Ying, instead dismissing Shu Lu’s words as slander.
Shu Lu was the one caught with a strange man at a hotel. How credible were her words?
A passerby helped Chen Ru up, and she felt pain.
Touching her head, her hand came away bloody.
At the hospital, she needed three stitches for a gash on her scalp and had a sprained ankle.
Limping home, Chen Ru found Wen Ying revising her New Concept Essay Contest submission, transcribing it in pen for mailing tomorrow. Seeing Chen Ru bandaged and injured, Wen Ying gasped, “Mom, what happened?”
Chen Ru vented, “Shu Lu’s an ungrateful wretch. My bad luck for meddling!”
She recounted the Jinjiang Hotel incident. Wen Ying fumed.
“Shu Lu pushed you?”
“Who else? Out late with shady men, her mother’s too lax. I’m warning you—if you act like her, I’ll break your legs!”
Chen Ru seized the chance to caution Wen Ying.
Wen Ying muttered, “I’d only buy things with my own money. Taking handouts makes you beholden. I’d never stomach that.”
Taking a man’s money was like taking parents’—unequal finances meant unequal power.
Parents have blood ties; men don’t. Take their money, and you’re at their mercy.
Wen Ying conveniently forgot the laptop in her room.
Xie Qian wasn’t some scheming creep—he was just a straightforward guy.
She’d never accept his gifts without reciprocation, unlike Shu Lu.
But Shu Lu, usually so good at playing sweet and sensible, dropped the act tonight, even shoving Chen Ru. Why?
Wen Ying sensed something off.
The middle-aged man was likely Cai Youlun.
With Shu Guobing detained, why was Cai Youlun taking Shu Lu to Jinjiang Hotel? Surely not to prey on a minor. Was Zhao Dong behind some new scheme?
Wen Ying asked Chen Ru, “Should we tell Dad?”
Chen Ru scoffed, “Why bother? He’d probably think I’m slandering his niece!”
“All the more reason to tell him. Whether he believes it is his problem. If we stay silent, we’re handing the initiative to Shu Lu and Aunt.”
Wen Ying’s anger flared.
Wen Hongyan constantly called Wen Ying ill-bred. Wen Ying did look down on Wen Hongyan and Shu Guobing—having such relatives was embarrassing.
But she’d never laid hands on them.
Shu Lu, always so meek and clever, showed her true colors, striking ruthlessly—a vengeful, ungrateful wretch!
While calling Wen Dongrong, Wen Ying asked Chen Ru, “Mom, with your foot and head like this, no overtime tomorrow, right? Should Aunt come care for you, or should I stay home? Forget it, no need to bother Aunt—I’ll stay.”
The incident was sudden. She’d likely have to cancel on Xie Qian tomorrow.
This fueled Wen Ying’s fury.
Shu Lu’s actions weren’t just wrong—she’d hurt Chen Ru and forced Wen Ying to ditch her plans with her idol!
