The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 152. Is it important to be well-matched in social and economic status? (Part 1)

Chapter 152: 152. Is it important to be well-matched in social and economic status? (Part 1)

Shen Qinglan’s expression paused. The other party even knew about this competition, as well as the art exhibition next year; it seemed they knew her affairs very well.

For some reason, Shen Qinglan felt something was amiss, as if something was beyond her control.

Shen Xitong, seeing Shen Qinglan downcast and silent, thought that Qinglan was only envious that she knew Leng Qingqiu, whom Qinglan did not know. The smile in Xitong’s eyes grew even more triumphant.

Actually, Shen Xitong didn’t like Leng Qingqiu’s paintings, but her family did, and in order to please them, she pretended to like them.

**

In an apartment in Beijing, a woman was holding a cell phone and talking to someone.

"Yes, I’ve already found an opportunity to meet with the Shen Family, and she didn’t suspect my identity, confirming that I am indeed Leng Qingqiu... I understand, I will slowly build good relations with their family."

The woman spoke respectfully, seemingly a bit fearful of the person on the other end of the line. A hint of confusion crossed her face, "But I don’t understand why we have to go to such lengths to pretend to be Leng Qingqiu and get close to the Shen Family?"

It was clear that the question of whether she was really Leng Qingqiu could be exposed by a mere word from Daniel, making all their previous efforts futile. If so, what was the point of doing this now? The woman couldn’t understand.

The person on the other end seemed to have no intention of explaining and simply said indifferently, "This matter is not for you to worry about," and then hung up the phone.

The woman, listening to that eerily soft yet chilling voice, couldn’t help but shiver. She stared at the disconnected call, her expression indiscernible.

**

Time swiftly passed, nearly a month had gone by, and Fu Hengyi had been away for almost a month already. Shen Qinglan sat on the balcony, watching the drizzling rain outside, her expression filled with something called longing.

Shen Qinglan held a book in her hands, yet she hadn’t turned a page in a long while.

Suddenly, the phone rang. A trace of joy flashed in Qinglan’s eyes. She quickly picked up the phone, but a subtle shade of disappointment crossed her eyes as she saw the caller ID. Her slim fingers swiped across the screen.

"Hello, Fang Tong."

"Qinglan, what are you doing?" asked Fang Tong, her voice sounding a bit muffled.

Shen Qinglan’s gaze flickered, "At home."

"Can I come over?"

"Sure."

Less than half an hour after hanging up, the doorbell of Shen Qinglan’s home rang. Shen Qinglan got up to open the door, and it was indeed Fang Tong.

Her mood seemed a bit down. Fang Tong followed Shen Qinglan into the house and sat on the sofa without speaking.

Shen Qinglan went to pour her a glass of warm water and handed it to her, but Fang Tong didn’t drink, merely holding it in her hands.

She didn’t speak, and Shen Qinglan also sat quietly on the side, being a very patient person.

"Qinglan, do you think being of equal social status really matters that much?" Fang Tong eventually spoke, her voice still muffled.

Shen Qinglan’s eyes twinkled lightly. "This question is subjective."

"Yesterday my dad came back, and during dinner, I told my parents that I have a boyfriend..." Fang Tong recounted last night’s scene to Shen Qinglan.

Fang Tong’s father, Fang Chengzhi, had received his transfer orders a month ago. He completed the handover work early and returned to his home in Beijing yesterday at noon.

Fang Chengzhi’s return made both Fang Tong and her mother, Fu Fanghua, very happy. Seeing her father return, Fang Tong also remembered that she wanted to bring Ding Minghui home to meet her parents.

She had been looking for the right opportunity, and it came during dinner last night.

The dinner table was full of laughter and joy. Fang Chengzhi, usually busy with work in Lin City, seldom came home. Even though Fu Fanghua often took Fang Tong to Lin City, the family spent more time apart than together. Now that he had been transferred back to Beijing, allowing for family reunions, it would be a lie to say that Fang Chengzhi wasn’t happy.

He had been working in Lin City for five or six years. His daughter had grown from a little girl into a beautiful young woman. Looking at his daughter’s gentle profile, Fang Chengzhi felt deeply moved. Suddenly remembering what an old friend had mentioned a few days ago, he turned with a smile to his wife.

"Fanghua, take Tongtong shopping for some clothes tomorrow. She’s a big girl now and should dress beautifully."

Fang Tong tilted her head, her demeanor playfully girlish. "Daddy, why are you suddenly being so nice to me?"

Fang Chengzhi pretended to be angry. "Am I not usually nice to you?"

Fang Tong smiled ingratiatingly. "Of course not, it’s just that today you’re especially nice, and it makes me feel surprisingly pampered. Daddy, tell me honestly, are you hiding something from me?"

It was just a casual question, but to her surprise, Fang Chengzhi actually nodded.

"There is a little something. The day after tomorrow, your Uncle Li is coming over to our house."

"Which Uncle Li?" asked Fang Tong.

"Your Uncle Li Wei. He and your dad have been old friends since they were sent to the countryside as educated youths. It’s just that Uncle Li went into business and his whole family moved out of Beijing, so we’ve lost touch over the years." Fu Fanghua continued.

With this explanation, Fang Tong remembered. When she was little, this Uncle Li did indeed visit their home often and was very good to her, always bringing lots of gifts and treats.

"If Uncle Li is such a good friend of Dad’s, I’ll just wear what I normally wear the day after tomorrow. Why the need to go out and buy new clothes? It’s not like I’m going on a blind date," Fang Tong joked.

"Your Uncle Li’s son, Bo Ming, just returned from studying abroad and will also come over the day after tomorrow. It’s been many years since you’ve seen each other, and you shouldn’t appear rude when meeting," Fu Fanghua said.

It dawned on Fang Tong what her parents were implying—it really was a setup for an arranged meeting. She felt both amused and frustrated.

"Mom, I haven’t even graduated yet. There’s no rush for this."

Fu Fanghua glared at her daughter. "You just said you’re almost graduating. How can we not hurry? A woman’s prime years are few. Shouldn’t you take advantage while you are young to choose well? Should you wait to become an old maid? Bo Ming is like your childhood sweetheart, and our families are well-acquainted. What could be bad about that?"

What was good about it? Fang Tong rolled her eyes. Remembering the chubby, drooling little fatty from her childhood, she felt a shiver of disgust.

"Mom, I’m just not feeling any spark with that little fatty, and besides, I have a boyfriend," Fang Tong blurted out, seizing the moment she hadn’t even needed to look for.

As soon as Fang Tong finished speaking, Fang Chengzhi and Fu Fanghua’s gazes both fixed on her.

"You have a boyfriend? When did this happen?" Fu Fanghua looked suspiciously at her daughter. Normally her daughter was in boarding school, and she hadn’t mentioned this on weekends when she came home. Fu Fanghua was somewhat incredulous, wondering if this was just an excuse to avoid the arranged meeting.