The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 101. Making Trouble

Chapter 101: 101. Making Trouble

"I think I mind," Shen Qinglan said indifferently.

Lady Shen’s smile stiffened, and she looked at Shen Qinglan with a trace of deep resentment. "Sister, I just felt bored at home alone, so I thought... If you don’t like it, sister will leave."

Her expression showed forbearance, as if she had suffered a great injustice, and Shen Qinglan, who refused her over such a trifle, was deemed petty.

She had thought that even if Shen Qinglan disagreed, her friends would persuade her to stay, but from the corner of her eye, she saw Fang Tong and Yu Xiaoxuan either looking up at the sky or down at the ground, thoroughly avoiding her gaze.

Lady Shen felt a silent resentment. ’Birds of a feather flock together,’ she thought, not without reason, considering them friends of Shen Qinglan and just as annoying.

She had never taken Shen Qinglan’s friends seriously, considering them no more than common riffraff she herself looked down upon. But the attitudes of Old Sir Shen and Chu Yunrong towards the two had given Lady Shen a profound sense of crisis.

Old Sir Shen was a given. He always favored Shen Qinglan, and though she resented it, she was used to it. But Chu Yunrong was different; she had always favored her. Yet today, Chu Yunrong had been unusually warm towards Shen Qinglan’s two friends, even neglecting her own presence, which was not a good sign.

If, in this family, she had already lost the affection of Old Sir Shen and Shen Junyu, would she have any place left if she were to lose Chu Yunrong’s favor as well?

"Take your time," Shen Qinglan said coolly, as though eager to further aggravate Lady Shen.

Such malice from Shen Qinglan was rare, causing Fang Tong and Yu Xiaoxuan to visibly struggle to suppress their laughter.

Lady Shen turned pale with fury but strained to maintain her composure, managing to force a strained smile. "Sister, given your infrequent visits, you are less acquainted with this courtyard than I. Allow me to accompany you and your friends on a tour. I’m sure it’s also their first visit here, and there might not be many more opportunities to come, so please take this chance to have a good look around."

A flicker of coldness flashed in Shen Qinglan’s eyes. Lady Shen truly was incorrigible. Glancing at Fang Tong and Yu Xiaoxuan, whose smiles had faded, she spoke, "Lady Shen, what if I were to report to Grandpa exactly what you just said? What do you think he’d do?"

Panic flashed in Lady Shen’s eyes, but she feigned composure. She had spoken rashly out of frustration just now, not expecting Shen Qinglan to keep harping on it.

"Sister, even if you told Grandpa about this matter, he wouldn’t believe it."

"Oh? Is that so? Shall we try, then? Let’s see if Grandpa trusts you or me more."

Lady Shen clenched her teeth. Wasn’t the answer obvious? Not even the incident of her falling down the stairs had convinced Old Sir Shen; there was no doubt about how he’d react now. In fact, that incident was Lady Shen’s greatest regret. Ever since then, she had clearly sensed a decrease in Old Sir Shen’s affection for her, and even Shen Junyu had grown distant.

Indeed, Lady Shen had been blinded by jealousy. Had she behaved herself after Shen Qinglan returned to the Shen Family and not competed for anything, the Shen Family would never have mistreated her. But she had to covet what belonged to Shen Qinglan, though Shen Qinglan herself disdained those things, Old Sir Shen would never allow an outsider to bully his own granddaughter.

Not that Shen Qinglan was guilty of that fall, but even if she were, Old Sir Shen would have made others believe otherwise.

"Lady Shen, just because you are a daughter of the Shen Family, doesn’t give you the right to be arrogant. How many outsiders even know of your existence as the Lady of the Shen Family?" Lady Shen’s face fell, and she could no longer keep up her forced smile.

"It’s better than someone who shamelessly ousts others from their nest," Yu Xiaoxuan snapped first, her face displaying undisguised contempt.

With her mask ripped away, Lady Shen glared viciously at Yu Xiaoxuan. "Nothing but a vagrant from God knows where, and still, you dare to spout nonsense. Lowly people remain lowly because they lack manners."

Shen Qinglan’s face darkened, and her eyes chilled to ice when she looked at Lady Shen. Fang Tong and Yu Xiaoxuan’s faces also turned pale. Their family backgrounds indeed couldn’t compare to the Shens’, but what did Lady Shen really have to boast about?

Shen Qinglan slowly walked up to Shen Xitong. As Shen Xitong met her icy gaze, she subconsciously stepped back twice.

Shen Qinglan leaned close to Shen Xitong’s ear, her red lips parting lightly, "Before you were adopted by the Shen Family, you were nothing but an orphan in the orphanage, fighting with others for food. If people knew that the distinguished and genteel Lady Shen Xitong’s origins were what she herself would call ’lower-class,’ how many would still worship you as a Goddess?"

Her tone was very cold, and although it contained not a trace of anger, it made Shen Xitong’s heart feel cold, her face turning pale, "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Then she hurried away.

"I’m sorry," Shen Qinglan said to Fang Tong and Yu Xiaoxuan.

Fang Tong shook her head, not minding. Shen Xitong was Shen Xitong, and Shen Qinglan was Shen Qinglan.

"Qinglan, no wonder you dislike this woman. Her mouth is truly foul. It’s a shame I used to think she was the top socialite in Beijing. I must have been blind," Yu Xiaoxuan grumbled indignantly.

"Alright, there’s no need to bother with such people," Fang Tong couldn’t be bothered to quibble with Shen Xitong.

Their mood spoiled by Shen Xitong, the trio lost the desire to continue their stroll, and after walking a bit further, they decided to head back.

When they returned, Sister-in-law Song had already prepared dessert, a fragrant dish of fermented glutinous rice balls sprinkled with osmanthus flowers.

"Sister-in-law Song, are you from the Southern?" Fang Tong asked after tasting a bite, as fermented glutinous rice balls were a distinctive Southern dessert.

Sister-in-law Song nodded with a smile, "I am indeed from the Southern, but I’ve been in Beijing for many years. Do you like the fermented glutinous rice balls?"

Yu Xiaoxuan nodded repeatedly, "They’re delicious; it’s the first time I’ve tasted such good fermented glutinous rice balls."

Fang Tong also nodded in agreement, her displeasure caused by Shen Xitong dissipating mostly.

Sister-in-law Song’s smile grew even more joyful, "As long as you like it. Qinglan, I put less sugar in your bowl; is it sweet enough, or would you like a bit more?"

Shen Qinglan shook her head, "No need, it’s just right. You go ahead with your work; I’ll handle things here."

"Okay, let me know if you want to eat anything else, and I’ll make it for you."

"Thank you, Sister-in-law Song," Yu Xiaoxuan smiled sweetly.

After finishing the dessert, Fang Tong and Yu Xiaoxuan wished to take their leave, but having previously promised Grandpa Shen to stay for dinner, leaving now seemed improper, making them feel a bit awkward.

Shen Qinglan’s gaze lingered on Fang Tong, "My grandpa should be awake from his nap by now, probably in the study. Let’s go up and see him."

Fang Tong and Yu Xiaoxuan, at a loss for how to pass the time, followed Shen Qinglan upstairs upon hearing this.

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