Xu Daiyu turns bright red and glares at the girl who covered up her laugh, her companions sitting beside her also giggle to themselves as they compare the two girls. What Hua Fan said was not exactly false or entirely true but it was really malicious. When comparing the two girls it was obvious Xu Daiyu stood no chance if the Zhou flower really wanted to compete with her in terms of looks. Though the Xu and Shen families were united in an arranged marriage, the path to the future was still long and rocky. Who knew for sure these two families uniting would even last till they were old enough to get married?
Now that so much has changed in the last half-year they were sure the Shen family's only son was regretting greatly choosing the Xu girl over the Zhou flower. Look and see! Back then Hua Fan would stomp her feet and order people to slap her offenders silly in a vulgar manner, but now she was capable of slapping with her words instead like a little queen! How entertaining and beautiful! Many were tempted to clap and shout bravo but seeing Xu Daiyu's followers who were seated across from Hua Fan's group frown and get up angrily they shrank back and quietly watched the show again. No matter how lovely Hua Fan looked and how courageous she was this was still the Shen family territory.
And one person, in particular, made them bite their lip and pretend not to see Xu Daiyu's embarrassment. Before Xu Daiyu could blurt out curses an older-looking teen with short black hair and bright chocolate-colored eyes with a bright lively-looking face went to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder with concern. "Yuyu what's going on? Are you alright?" This girl was the same age as Xing Qiu Shen and rather popular in her class like Hua Fan was in hers since she was the oldest daughter of the Shen family and known to be a kind and gentle Jie Jie.
She was known to be rather close to Xu Daiyu after Daiyu had gone to the trouble of sucking up to this "Jie Jie" to get closer to Shen Haoyu in the past. It was a dirty trick, but it worked in the end so no one could say much about it out loud. Having her backer show up just in time Xu Daiyu looks up at her with a pout, her bottom lip trembles, and her eyes water giving off a bullied expression. "Jie.." Seeing the girl's face showing she had suffered grievances made Shen Jinjing's heartache for the younger girl, her eyes softened and she brought the girl into her embrace to comfort her.
"What's wrong? Did she bully you? Don't cry. Jie will teach them a lesson for you." Xu Daiyu buries her face in Shen Jinjing's embrace acting like a proper child who was "afraid" while smiling victoriously in her heart. As long as Shen Jinjing was on her side there was no way Hua Fan would get her way now. Want to steal Haoyu back with such cheap tricks? Hmph! Keep dreaming! Seeing them painting Hua Fan as the villain Chen Ai scoffs out loud and Li Wei seems to be judging the older girl heavily for her bias.
It was obvious that Xu Daiyu came to pick a fight with Hua Fan first, as rich people grow a bit older do they become dumber too? Seeing this older sister glaring at her Hua Fan grins at her as well as ice enters her gaze. Where was this two-faced snake hiding? No wonder that stupid brat came to provoke me, it turns out she had backup this time so she was feeling brave. If this was back then when she knew less and was stupid Hua Fan also would have also tried to win the older girl's favor to be considerate of their future as potential inlaws.
Yet no matter how hard she tried or no matter how much effort she put in to be nice to the older girl, Hua Fan was treated coldly, and only after she grew older and found out about Xu Daiyu pulling the strings in the background did she understand why. Turns out Xu Daiyu had purposely provoked Hua Fan in the past to show off her bad temper in front of Shen Jinjing so Hua Fan would seem like a tricky fox. It made sense why she was treated with indifference by the siblings now, Xu Daiyu had long planned it out. After all, Hua Fan was pretty and had a good background but that was all she had. And although Xu Daiyu was not as beautiful nor powerful of a chesspiece she made up for it with a humble and sweet outside appearance, unlike Hua Fan who did as she pleased.
She pretended to be obedient and harmless while showing off her "loveable" temperament warming her way into the siblings' hearts. While Hua Fan only knew how to be angry and spend money while making ridiculously violent requests. Since the bucket was already kicked over and the water was spilled, why would she still give this older "Jie" face? Unlike these two, she had no nice words to give nor fancy roundabout insults to weave. She drawls out her words making her voice stretch out and envelope all those who could hear her shiver and strain to hear her every syllable.
As alluring as a siren and lovely as a nightingale, Hua Fan was blessed with a beautiful body and voice. "If it isn't the oldest miss of the Shen family! Tell me, how have you and Shen Haoyu been? I haven't had time to visit in awhile since I have been so busy shadowing my grandfather these days, miss Shen won't blame me right?" Seeing the younger girl still dares to be arrogant the warm atmosphere that came from Shen Jinjing fades away and she frowns at Hua Fan like a disappointed elder.
"Zhou Hua Fan is this how you treat people who say things for your own good? Why must you be so difficult? Can't you tell Yuyu is uncomfortable with how shameless you are acting?" Hua Fan gave a charming laugh, her eyes twinkling with mischief and humor as if she took her words as a joke. "Miss Shen must be crazy! To think you would dare to say my full name out loud, you must have lost your mind or hidden under a rock for too long. Haha!"
Hearing this Xu Daiyu and Shen Jinjing frown simultaneously and their eyes blaze while their friends who were also stumped by the situation anxiously pull at their arms. Don't tell us that, Jinjing and Xu Daiyu really didn't know?! But lost in their fury, Xu Daiyu ignores them and pokes out of Shen Jinjing's "protective" embrace to spit in her direction. "Who are you calling crazy?! Zhou Hua Fan you are nothing more than a powerless arrogant brat and you think you can talk down to us like this?!"
Powerless brat? The audience all shift their gazes away none too obviously as if holding their breath. Or, more like holding in their laughter and fear. They did not know whether they should laugh or pretend to be deaf. Because Hua Fan's words start ringing true after what Xu Daiyu said just then. If Zhou Hua Fan was still a powerless girl like she was before who only had a violent temper and nasty attitude. Would people be flocking to her side still after the whole "adopted brother" incident? Xu Daiyu remembered recently hearing that the Zhou family took in a mistress's son and had gloated about it for days while she had prepared to go on vacation with Shen Haoyu and Shen Jinjing in America.
After leaving for a month or two who knew so much would change? And the rumor of Chairman Zhou changing his will also hadn't made it to the two's ears yet so they still assumed Hua Fan would be hiding in her grandfather's home unwilling to show her face to the public out of shame. They thought she had gotten what she deserved and she was officially blocked from the road of success by this "adopted" child. The only one who was aware was Shen Haoyu but he was not here nor did he think it was important enough to tell them since it would only mean he did not have to deal with Hua Fan in the future. It was safe to say, these two who came back happy as clams were out of the loop.
Hua Fan giggles having guessed the situation she teased them a bit more not feeling the need to clarify the situation to them. "If I am powerless then you two mind as well be nonexistent." This time everyone did laugh and snicker under their breath unable to hold it in anymore. Shen Jinjing bristled, this was the first time anyone had shown her such disrespect and she was infuriated. Although she was a girl she had her little brother to support her and everyone gave her face since she was not on bad terms with anyone. Even this smirking brat had to bow her head in front of her back then because she liked her younger brother.
But what was this situation now? Don't tell me she lost her mind out of jealousy and was sprouting nonsense? "Zhou Hua Fan you've gone too far this time!" "Ahh~" Hua Fan gave an exaggerated sigh and held out a hand for Zhong Zemin to take she fluttered her lashes in a pretty manner in their direction seeming unbothered by their dislike. "To think the one day I get a break I wasted it on vases like you two. Brother Liang let's go home, I still have homework to do."
He stood with a smirk and took her hand to help her up and assist her in putting on her jacket. He dismissed the two girls and only spoke to her after watching all this time. "Ok. Do you still want to shop for a present?" Shen Jinjing finally looks over to glower at the rude person and jerks back a bit startled at the sight of Zhong Zemin's face. This... Seeing her dazed expression Xu Daiyu tugged her sleeve with hints of concern, though deep down she started sweating a bit.
"Jie?" The four pay them no mind as Hua Fan tilts her head in Chen Ai's direction who had also stood up to follow her. "When can you get me my ring?" The girl hugs her pad to her chest and answers her question with confidence. "The manager told me it can be ready for you tomorrow." "So she says." Li Wei also stood up with them and spoke after being quiet for so long to ask her a bit worriedly after being reminded of what they had been discussing today. "Does Miss Zhou have any birthda-" Hua Fan waves his words away dismissively her tone uncaring even though this was the time of year all girls would usually be bragging and asking for more expensive gifts.
"That sort of thing is unnecessary, if you wish to gift something just gift it if not then don't bother. Ye Ye's assistant sent your family invitations for next month already. Just show up in whatever you want." Having said what needed to be said Hua Fan left the cafe along with a few admirers who also quietly exited since Hua Fan had left. Without Hua Fan, they would also suffer since some of them had family working for the Zhou company or they were related to a few high-positioned people who had good relations with Zhou Jian Kong.
They only dared to show up and watch the show because Hua Fan was there to back them with just her presence alone. A few of the closer ones heard their conversation clearly and excitedly started talking about the next big party instead of the will with sparkling eyes. "Do you think she will like my gift? I had my Ge Ge buy it all the way from Europe its a limited edition handbag from Wendy! They only made five of these and four are being sold while Wendy has the original!"
"A purse? Don't you know that her tastes changed since then? I was told by my dad that she likes jade better, not this flashy stuff. Don't you remember the dresses she wore to the party last week?" "Aiya! I forgot I got so excited that I forgot her tastes have changed so much! Her cheongsam dress was especially pretty that day~"
Being ignored by these people made them feel even more embarrassed and before they could do more to bring shame onto themselves one of Shen Jinjing's friends quickly pulled them back to their seats. She murmurs under her breath a bit worried, "Jinjing are you alright?" Jinjing couldn't fake a smile even if she wanted to but she still did her best and gave her friend a trembling raise of the lips. "Luli what did she mean by those words earlier?" Lee Luli gave her furious and troubled friend a once over and filled her in on the most recent events under her breath while Jinjing's face grew a dark red due to embarrassment.
Seeing her not-so-good expression Lee Luli felt a sense of guilt, she did not say anything because though it was true Shen Jinjing was skipped over as oldest. Her relationship with her younger brother was rather good so she thought her brother would have told her all the details. "I assumed you two knew-" "Of course I didn't know! Do you think I would have talked so big if I knew she actually holds a position now?!" Shen Jinjing snaps at her with a blaming glare completely forgetting her calm and warm facade.
Being cut off abruptly and reprimanded sharply by the "gentle" girl Lee Lilu flinches back with hints of shock and hurt. Not just Lee Lilu but even Xu Daiyu and the rest of her close friends gave her surprised looks after hearing her outburst. Seeing she had lost her temper Shen Jinjing hides her panic and quickly fixes her expression into an apologetic one while taking Lee Lilu's hand to apologize. Her eyes show regret and she seems to sincerely regret her actions. "Lilu I am not blaming you. I was just frustrated by that Zhou girl's disrespectful attitude, I did not mean to yell."
All traces of that aggressive behavior were gone and the warm-hearted Shen Jinjing was back like how she remembered. Although she saw no traces of deceit for some reason something in the back of her mind felt a bit uncomfortable. But hiding her wariness and suspicions Lee Lilu returns her friendly smile with a strained one. "I know. It's alright." Shen Jinjing smiles wider and her eyes grow warmer, "Lilu as an apology let me give you a gift I bought from overseas."
"-It's a lipstick brand that's exclusive only in America and with your pretty flawless skin, it will match you perfectly! I saw it when I was shopping and immediately thought of you when I spotted it!" Hearing this the mood starts lightening a bit more and Lee Lilu's heart finally eases, her smile was more sincere and relaxed. Her eyes even shining eagerly, "Really?" Shen Jinjing pats her hand gently and nods her head with a lovely smile. "Of course! You're one of my closest friends!" Forgetting the strange outburst a few seconds ago Lee Lilu only felt touched and embarrassed after being coaxed by her. "Jinjing you're too nice..."