Zhao Dong had mentioned Xie Qian to Shu Lu.
Xie Qian was the ultra-wealthy second-generation heir that Wen Ying shamelessly latched onto, and the root cause of why Zhao Dong was targeting Wen Ying.
Shu Lu only knew that Xie Qian’s family was extraordinarily rich—so rich that anyone brazenly approaching him would be seen as having ulterior motives.
Zhao Dong’s task was to act on behalf of the Xie family, clearing out the greedy flies buzzing around Xie Qian. Before meeting Zhao Dong, Shu Lu had heard of Xie Qian’s name but had never seen him. While Shu Guobing was detained, Shu Lu didn’t dare show her face around Wen Ying, always taking detours to avoid her. She certainly wouldn’t have gone out of her way to the first-year experimental class to catch a glimpse of the “Xie Qian” the girls were all talking about.
No matter how good-looking he was, could it fill her stomach?
Apparently, it could.
If Xie Qian spoke to Shu Lu a few more times, she’d happily skip a meal every day!
So, Wen Ying was just too shameless.
Why didn’t she look in the mirror?
Fat, dark-skinned, and utterly provincial, yet she had the gall to cozy up to Xie Qian.
The image of Wen Ying standing next to Xie Qian made Shu Lu feel nauseated. Forcing a smile, she said, “My cousin is really impressive. Whatever she sets her mind to, she accomplishes. I guess guys find it hard to resist a girl who takes the initiative!”
Shu Lu now suspected Wen Ying had been playing dumb all along, which plunged her into deep self-doubt. In the past, when she bullied Wen Ying for being slow and got the upper hand, was it because Wen Ying was deliberately acting clueless, letting her revel in false victories?
The thought that Wen Ying might have been secretly laughing at her stupidity while she was smug made Shu Lu’s flushed cheeks burn even hotter.
Earlier, it was embarrassment; now, it was pure anger!
…
Wen Ying and Xie Qian walked to the classroom door before she remembered, “That girl talking to me at the school gate was my cousin, Shu Lu. She’s great at playing innocent and pitiful. Now she’s mixed up with Zhao Dong, so if you see her, steer clear, and you won’t go wrong!”
Seeing Xie Qian’s thoughtful expression, Wen Ying added, “She’s the one with the fairest skin and the prettiest face among those girls.”
“They all look about the same. Which one are you talking about?”
Xie Qian’s confusion seemed genuine, and his response made Wen Ying laugh.
Shu Lu’s looks stood out among the girls. Teenage girls, with no need for makeup, had skin so soft it seemed you could pinch water from it. Shu Lu, a classic pampered girl from a poor family, hadn’t done chores since leaving the countryside. Her fair, rosy face made her an undeniable little beauty.
Yet Xie Qian could overlook her entirely, so Wen Ying figured she had little to worry about.
She’d underestimated her idol. In her previous life, Li Mengjiao chased Xie Qian relentlessly, and he never wavered. While most guys had negative resistance to pretty girls, Xie Qian’s was positive, with a few plus signs to boot!
What kind of girl could move Xie Qian, deceive him, or toy with his heart? Wen Ying couldn’t imagine.
In her last life, Xie Qian remained unmarried until his accident, and whether he had a girlfriend, Wen Ying never knew.
After Shu Guobing’s release, with Little Cai’s help, he began aggressively competing with Deng Shangwei for business. Whatever price Deng Shangwei set for seafood, Shu Guobing undercut by a few yuan per jin. Most customers, being practical, flocked to Shu Guobing’s stall for the cheaper deals.
Deng Shangwei’s stall at Qingshi Bridge was already struggling, and with Shu Guobing’s pressure, business dwindled further.
Except for crayfish, Deng Shangwei couldn’t sell any other seafood. Even Boss Qin teased him, asking if he needed a subsidy.
Deng Shangwei had been wronged because of Yu Wenhao’s mess.
He simply gave his seafood company’s employees a long vacation, citing operational difficulties and telling everyone to rest at home for a while before returning to work.
Even Sister Fang, whom Deng Shangwei heavily relied on, went home on leave. The employees were uneasy.
Though Deng promised a base salary and continued social security contributions, calling it a paid vacation, the staff worried the company was on the verge of collapse.
Deng Shangwei padlocked the seafood company’s door and stayed at the Qingshi Bridge stall. He and Chen Li resumed running it as a mom-and-pop shop, with only two young workers helping. The couple handled everything else themselves.
This lifestyle reminded them of their early entrepreneurial days. Back then, they weren’t as wealthy, and earning money was tough. Every night after closing, they’d sit at a table reconciling accounts for hours. Sometimes they’d get fake bills, Chen Li would get mad, and Deng Shangwei would have to soothe her. Life was full of petty squabbles, but watching the numbers grow in their bankbook brought immense satisfaction.
As they earned more, buying houses and cars, with millions in the bank, they no longer needed to pinch pennies. Yet, the couple grew less communicative.
Deng Shangwei enjoyed this “pretend poor” life. The poverty was superficial—what mattered was Chen Li rejoining the business, giving them more to talk about. They had endless conversations daily, and their bond naturally deepened.
The couple grew closer.
But when Deng Shangwei shut down the company, Pan Li was stunned.
Apart from the initial tens of thousands from Yu Wenhao, Pan Li had been used and discarded by him. She’d lost a child for him, been expelled from school, and the benefits she gained were nowhere near her sacrifices. Pan Li felt she’d been massively shortchanged.
Yu Wenhao would never compensate her.
Pan Li was now determined to make Deng Shangwei “take responsibility,” but with Deng Shangwei laying off staff and closing the company, and rumors that he was selling property to pay debts—sued by multiple clients for failing to deliver on time—the company was bankrupt and in debt!
Only the Qingshi Bridge stall remained, selling the cheapest seafood.
Pan Li wanted Deng Shangwei to be accountable, but what could a Deng Shangwei like this offer to give her the life she wanted?
When Chen Li went to the Pan family to confront her, Pan Li didn’t back down. With Deng Shangwei’s bankruptcy, Pan Li had to think of a fallback.
She didn’t want to stay in Chengdu anymore. After much thought, she turned to Professor Fang.
Professor Fang had been hired as a regular judge on a talent show. As the contestants gained fame, the judges got a small share of the spotlight.
Pan Li tearfully begged Professor Fang to give her a chance.
Moved by her tears, Professor Fang softened.
A young girl who’d taken a wrong path deserved a chance to make amends. But Pan Li’s scandal was widely known, making a return to school impossible. Without a diploma, she couldn’t work at a TV station either.
Professor Fang let Pan Li stay on as a temporary assistant.
“There are plenty of opportunities in this industry. If you’re willing to learn and observe, work hard for a few years, you can still turn things around.”
As long as she left her old circles, no one would know what Pan Li had done.
Pan Li was immensely grateful to Professor Fang and boarded a flight to Hunan with her.
On the same flight were Xu Mei, the Chengdu division champion, and Li Mengjiao, the runner-up.
Li Mengjiao, chewing gum and looking around, was told by her mother to sit properly. Before the plane took off, Li Mengjiao texted Wang Shuang:
“Professor Fang even brought an assistant. Xu Mei brought Qin Yi and that Fu Jing. I only brought my mom, who’s both my agent and assistant… Oh, Professor Fang’s assistant is kinda pretty, your type.”
