Shen Qi looked down at herself. Did this girl think she looked really rustic?
No way. The outfit she was wearing was her teacher's design.
It was priced at 200,000 US dollars internationally.
"How ridiculous! Why are there always so many clueless country bumpkins trying to come into the city?" the girl continued sharply. "What a damn mess! Dressed so tacky and still daring to eat Häagen-Dazs?"
Shen Qi sighed, deciding not to argue with the young girl. She picked up her bag and turned to leave.
But the girl wouldn't let it go. "It's because of country bumpkins like you that our city's standards are dragged down! Go back to where you belong and stop lowering our class!"
Shen Qi felt frustrated.
She was completely innocent, wasn't she?
She hadn't said or done anything!
Why was she being targeted like this?
Just then, someone in the crowd whispered to Shen Qi, "Miss, you'd better leave. This girl comes here every day and yells at anyone she thinks isn't dressed fashionably enough."
Shen Qi felt even more wronged.
Sure, she was a half-baked designer, but she had graduated in aesthetics and worked as a stylist for high society. Her teacher was a world-class top design master, okay?
If she wasn't connected to fashion, then who was?
Forget it. She wouldn't stoop to her level.
Shen Qi turned and walked away.
Seeing that Shen Qi ignored her and showed no fear in her eyes, the girl grew annoyed. She suddenly flung her ice cream at Shen Qi.
"Country bumpkin, get out of the city!" the girl snarled.
Shen Qi looked down at the stain on her clothes.
Even the best temper had its limits now!
Shen Qi strode over to the girl and said, "Is this how your parents taught you? Where's your upbringing? Your manners? You claim to be a city person, but where's the city person in your behavior? If every citizen were like you, this city would be doomed!"
The girl stepped back nervously as Shen Qi approached.
The onlookers also began to chime in: "This girl has no manners at all! She's disgracing our city! That young lady didn't provoke her, and she just attacked her for no reason, ruining her clothes. What kind of family raises a child like this? Even we locals can't stand it!"
Seeing everyone criticizing her, the girl burst into tears: "Mommy, Mommy, someone's bullying me!"
Shen Qi was speechless.
This girl was seventeen or eighteen—how could she be so childish?
The next second, a woman stormed out of a nearby shop.
Her voice arrived before she did: "Who? Who dares to bully my precious? I'll tear their skin off!"
Shen Qi turned to see a cylindrical figure, probably weighing over 200 pounds, rolling out of the store.
The crying girl immediately stopped and rushed to the woman, pointing at Shen Qi: "It's her! She bullied me!"
Shen Qi watched as this ball of a woman rolled up to her.
She looked down at her.
Well, the woman was about 146 centimeters tall and seemed to weigh over 200 pounds.
Seeing the round middle-aged woman glaring at her with a fierce expression, Shen Qi took the initiative to explain: "Your daughter threw ice cream on me. I just asked her to apologize."
"Apologize? Why should I apologize to someone like you?" the woman squinted at Shen Qi.
Seeing that Shen Qi was taller, slimmer, more refined, and younger than her, a flash of intense disdain crossed her eyes: "Country bumpkin, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're young and pretty! This place isn't for the likes of you. Get out of here now!"
The crowd erupted: "You're the one who should get out! Are you even from this city? Don't tarnish our image! You don't represent the residents here at all!"
"Exactly! I'm a local. I've never done anything this low! Don't be fooled, everyone. We locals are friendly; we're not this xenophobic. Besides, this isn't some international first-tier metropolis—just a fourth-tier city. How could we act like this?"
"That's right. I'm a local too. Miss, don't listen to her nonsense! People here are all very kind!"
Amid the chatter, the cylindrical woman said arrogantly, "You? How can you represent this city? My husband is a tycoon. Is yours? This city is maintained by us rich folks; it's our taxes that support it. So what if I'm being a bigot? So what if I discriminate against outsiders?"
The crowd grew louder.
Many people pulled out their phones to record videos.
The cylindrical woman struck a defiant pose, as if to say, "I'm not afraid; film all you want."
Just then, a stylishly dressed young woman spoke up: "I don't have a husband, but my dad isn't poor in this city either. Sister, don't listen to her. She's clearly trying to smear our city on purpose."
"Exactly, exactly," the crowd echoed.
Shen Qi shook her head helplessly. Reasoning with someone like this was pointless.
At that moment, Shen Wu approached with the ice cream he'd just bought. Seeing Shen Qi surrounded by so many people, he panicked: "Xiao Qi, what's going on?"
Shen Qi grabbed Shen Wu's arm and shook her head. "Forget it. Don't ask. I won't bother with her. A father's fault is his child's—someone will pay for her ignorance."
Shen Wu wanted to press further, but Shen Qi dragged him away.
She bought a loose top from Zara on the first floor of the mall, put her stained clothes in a bag, and said to Shen Wu, "Little Five, since we're here, let's try some local food?"
"Sure." Shen Wu smiled and agreed. Though he said nothing on the surface, he remembered what had just happened.
Coincidentally, someone who disapproved of the mother-daughter pair had uploaded the video online.
The power of the internet was limitless.
Especially with a topic like this—it hit a nerve for many people instantly.
Within an hour, major news sites were buzzing with the story and video.
Then, someone sharp-eyed recognized the victim: wasn't she the wife of the president of the He Corporation?
Oh my, watching that bizarre mother-daughter duo flaunt their wealth at the He Corporation's president's wife?
The irony was absolutely delicious.
He Yining soon got wind of it.
When he heard the news, he laughed for a long time.
Xiao Chun and the others knew that when the boss laughed like that, someone was about to get into trouble.
"So, a tycoon, huh?" He Yining said meaningfully. "Go find out who this big shot is. I'm new here—shouldn't I pay a visit?"
Xiao Chun's eyes held a hint of a smile. "Yes, I'll look into it right away."
Xiao Chun moved fast.
Even though this wasn't their home turf, there was almost nothing money couldn't solve in this world.
As long as you were willing to spend, you could get any information.
Unless the other party was richer than you.
But clearly, they weren't richer than He Yining.
So the information quickly landed on He Yining's desk.
He read through it swiftly, his phoenix eyes sparkling with amusement: "Interesting, very interesting. So this big spender is one of Feng Sha's underlings?"
Xiao Chun perked up. "Feng Manlun's people? Then, boss, how do you plan to handle it?"
"If it were anyone else, I might let it slide. But since it's Feng Manlun's people, I have to stir things up. Don't think my anger from that one auction is over. If Feng Manlun wants to fight me, I'll see it through to the end." A wicked smile curled at the corner of He Yining's mouth. "Find out what projects this guy is involved in. Snatch every single one he's eyeing. He wants to flaunt wealth? Let him see what real wealth looks like."
Shen Qi and Shen Wu spent the whole afternoon wandering around, picking up various trinkets.
Some were local crafts, a few even intangible cultural heritage items.
Shen Qi loved them.
Shen Wu finally got his fill of spoiling his sister.
Anything Shen Qi liked, Shen Wu bought without hesitation.
So they put the earlier unpleasantness behind them and returned happily.
When they got back, He Yining was already dressed in new clothes, sitting on the sofa with an exquisite invitation card in front of him.
He gave Shen Qi a mysterious smile. "Xiao Qi, hurry up and change. Do your hair and makeup. You're coming to a banquet with me tonight."
Shen Qi looked confused. "A banquet? I didn't bring any evening gowns! Do we have a branch office here?"
"Your evening gown is ready." He Yining chuckled lightly. "We don't have a branch here yet, but we will soon."
Shen Wu seemed to catch on to He Yining's intent and said to Shen Qi, "Go ahead. I have some things to do anyway. Have fun tonight!"
Shen Qi glanced between He Yining and Shen Wu. Why did they both seem to know something while she was left in the dark?
Whatever.
If there was a social event, she'd handle it.
This was her specialty—how could she be nervous?
Shen Qi quickly went to her room, showered, changed, and did her hair and makeup.
When she emerged, she was wearing a custom deep blue mermaid gown that made her look elegant, mysterious, and graceful.
Her eyeliner was perfectly drawn, making her eyes captivating.
He Yining couldn't help but stare at her a little longer. "Xiao Qi, you seem to be getting more beautiful lately."