Chapter 81: Just a Man

“Mom, you didn’t see it—the way Shen Chutang acted today was simply outrageous!” Deng Meiru complained bitterly about the injustice she’d suffered. “On such a sweltering day, not only did they leave us standing outside, but they even threw our luggage into the trash, giving us not an ounce of dignity.”

Liu Shuhua immediately chimed in, “Exactly! That wretched girl is getting more and more out of control these days!”

Old Madam Shen’s face was flushed with anger as she listened. “Shen Chutang has gone too far. That woman is utterly unworthy of being a part of our Shen family!”

Deng Meiru grew more anxious by the minute. “The acceptance letter from Petersburg Primary School will probably arrive in a couple of days. We still haven’t sorted out a place to live. Mom, why don’t you chip in so we can buy a place here for now?”

Old Madam Shen frowned at this. “What’s the rush? Stay at the eldest’s place for a while. That woman Shen Chutang’s house—whether she wants to move or not, she’ll have to!”

Liu Shuhua’s expression changed at these words. She had no objection to letting Shen Xueshi’s family stay for a few days, but if they intended to stay long-term, that was something she absolutely couldn’t accept. Yet, with Old Madam Shen still seething, it wasn’t the right time for her to say anything more.

Meanwhile, Shen Duoduo was sprawled on the sofa, playing on her phone and in very good spirits. A few days before, driven by vanity, she’d boasted in her socialite group chat about her imminent move to the Xishan Villas. Now, her friends in the group had tagged her, urging her to send some photos.

But Shen Duoduo hadn’t even set foot past the gates of the Xishan Villas—how could she have any pictures? Fortunately, she had snapped a shot at the entrance, so she sent that along, and as expected, it caused quite a stir.

“Wow, this is the legendary Xishan Villas, where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold. It looks gorgeous!”

“Duoduo, are you really going to live here? So lucky! I heard only the ultra-rich or powerful get to live at Xishan. If you meet a handsome, wealthy heir, you’ll really have hit the jackpot!”

“Wait, who’s that man standing at the gate? He’s so handsome!”

All at once, everyone’s attention shifted to Lu Beiqin, who appeared in the photo. Soon, someone asked who he was.

“Is that man Duoduo’s boyfriend?”

“No way! Someone that good-looking would never go for her.”

“He’s dressed in loungewear, so he must live there, right? There’s no way he’s with Shen Duoduo. The men who live here have beautiful women flocking around them—Duoduo wouldn’t catch his eye.”

A few of the girls who didn’t get along with her suddenly piped up in the chat. Shen Duoduo, stung, fired back a message: “You’re just jealous. Let me introduce him—he’s my boyfriend. I’ll bring him out to meet everyone soon.”

After this, those few girls fell silent, and the rest showered her with exaggerated compliments. Only then did Shen Duoduo feel her mood improve.

It’s just a man, after all.

She refused to believe that with her charm, she couldn’t win him over!

…

The next day, the bruises on Shen Chutang’s injured hand had already faded. She went to the mall, where Shi Hanhan was already waiting.

“Chutang!” Shi Hanhan called out happily, looping her arm through Shen Chutang’s. “I haven’t properly thanked you for what you did before. This time, you must let me treat you to a meal.”

Shen Chutang wasn’t one to fuss. She nodded. “All right.”

Shi Hanhan tugged her toward a clothing store. “Since I got sick, I haven’t gone out shopping for clothes. Chutang, come help me pick a few outfits!”

“Of course.”

Since regaining her health, Shi Hanhan had become quite the little fashionista. She pulled Shen Chutang into the nearest boutique and immediately fell for a purple dress.

“Chutang, wait for me—I’m going to try it on.”

Shen Chutang nodded and began to browse the racks herself.

Suddenly, a voice sneered behind her. “Shen Chutang, this is a high-end boutique. Can you even afford anything here?”

Shen Chutang turned to see Shen Tingting standing behind her, flanked by two women, both dressed to the nines.