As she spoke, Su Peizhen threw the shop assistant a look. âDidnât you hear me? Get your boss out here.â
âMiss Su?â That shop assistant had a whole new attitude towards Su Peizhen. She bowed slightly and said, a little embarrassed, âIâll get him right now.â
She could afford to offend Xiang Caiping, who seemed to be unable to afford the item in question. However, she couldnât allow herself to slight Su Peizhen
âThatâs right. A harmonious approach always brings wealth. We must have the right attitude even towards those who are unreasonable and unable to afford things. Am I right?â
Su Peizhen looked as if she was talking to the shop assistant, but she was actually looking at Xiang Caiping.
The meaning within her words was very obvious â donât buy it if you canât afford it. Donât even bother looking at it.
Xiang Caipingâs brows were knitted tightly together. The dislike towards Su Peizhen was very apparent.
It wasnât just plain dislike. When she thought about how much Su Peizhen had bullied Su Qingsang in the dark over the years, she really despised this girl.
âMiss Su, it seems like this is none of your business.â
âItâs really none of my business, but Qingsang and I, after all, are like sisters. I should be looking out for her mother too, donât you think so?â
Looking out for me? More like entertaining yourself with the drama, right? Xiang Caiping refused to believe that Su Peizhen would be so generous.
âAuntie. Actually, itâs totally fine if you canât afford it. Iâll buy it for you. After all, I wonât mind spending a few hundred thousand at all.â
Su Peizhen said this in an extremely casual manner as if a few hundred thousand was a mere trifle.
Xiang Caiping detested Su Peizhenâs behavior. Truthfully, she never understood how a gentleman like Su Chenghui managed to bring up a daughter like that.
âNo thanks. I can afford it.â
âIs that so?â Su Peizhen didnât believe that. From how she saw it, although Huo Jinyao must be rich, he wouldnât just let Xiang Caiping dip her hand into his money.
It was rumored that Xiang Caiping came from an ordinary background â it was impossible that she was loaded.
Now she claimed she can afford a jade pendant priced at a few hundred thousand? What kind of joke was this?
âAuntie. Are you sure about that? Itâs better to stay humble than to keep up a facade.â
Su Peizhen turned around and glanced at the jade Buddha. This woman had a pretty exquisite taste. She lifted her gaze and fixed them upon the shop assistant. âHow much did you say this piece of jade was?â
âMiss Su, the original price of that jade piece is 550,000. As we are currently having a New Year promotion, thereâs a 20% off all jade accessories. After the discount, itâll be 440,000.â
â440,000?â Su Peizhen nodded approvingly at the jade Buddha. âThatâs not expensive at all. Auntie, let me buy it for you as a gift.â
âThereâs no need to. I donât want it anymore.â
Xiang Caipingâs initial enthusiasm at getting her daughter a gift had now completely dissipated.
She turned to leave. However, Su Peizhen took a step forward and blocked her off. âWhy, donât be hasty, Auntie. Iâve already told you, Iâll buy it for you. Whyâre you leaving already?â
âOut of my way!â Xiang Caiping glared at Su Peizhen, her expression turning sour.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âWould you ladies look at that â how ungrateful.â Su Peizhen stole a glance at Madam Luo and Madam Song. âI was just being nice. Look, I wanted to get it for her as a gift, but my kindness isnât appreciated â isnât this weird?â
Madam Luo and Madam Song would be an absolute waste of space if they still failed to make out the animosity between Su Peizhen and Xiang Caiping.
Thinking quickly, Madam Luo stepped forward and stood beside Xiang Caiping. âMadam, Peizhen is being a good girl. Since she said sheâll get it for you as a gift, just accept it.â
âThatâs right.â Madam Song also stepped forward and occupied the space on Xiang Caipingâs other side. âIt must be truly rare for you to see a jade of such quality in your lifetime.â
Those words were difficult to stomach. Trapped on either side by the two of them, Xiang Caiping had an ill expression on her face.
âSu Peizhen. Whatâre you playing at?â
âAuntie, now, what are you being so impatient for? Iâve already told you â if you canât afford this jade pendant, Iâll buy it for you. Take it as a filial act fulfilled on behalf on Qingsang.â
When Su Peizhen reached this point, she suddenly locked eyes with Xiang Caiping. âOh right, why didnât Qingsang accompany you to shop today? Wonât you miss her very much? I really must tell her off for this.â
âDonât you dare look for her!â The way Xiang Caiping looked at it, her own daughter was, of course, the best in her eyes. âStay away from her.â
The expression on Su Peizhenâs face was a horrible one. She stood and glared at Xiang Caiping with immense hatred, thinking that this woman was horribly despicable.
âAww, now look, Auntie. Itâs wrong of you to say that. Iâm Qingsangâs elder sister, how can I stay away from her?â
Was there anything else that Madam Luo and Madam Song didnât understand when they heard that? The two exchanged looks, watching the doubt vanishing within each otherâs eyes.
In that fateful year, Li Qianxue had married a penniless brat regardless of her status. That had become the most-gossiped topic in the affluent community.
The even more laughable thing was that this penniless brat had a childhood sweetheart, with whom he had an illegitimate daughter.
This story had reached all corners of the social scene of Lin Cityâs affluent community. Judging by how Su Peizhen was acting, this woman must be the homewrecker who had been colluding with Su Chenghui back then, right?
Madam Luo and Madam Song seemed to understand the situation unfolding before them.
It was a pretty common thing for the legal family and the homewrecker to find each other disagreeable. This homewrecker mustâve done something that provoked the heiress of the Su family.
Madam Luo and Madam Song were socialites. They might not have dabbled in the business scene, but they were well aware of the people their husbands had connections with. In addition, they were very familiar with the social scene in Lin City.
If Su Peizhen wanted to get even, they would definitely help her out.
When Xiang Caiping heard what Su Peizhen had said, she didnât relax at all. Instead, the displeasure etched deeper into her face. âQingsang doesnât have an elder sister. Donât you dare establish relations like that.â
Of course, Su Peizhen would never want to acknowledge a younger sister like Su Qingsang. However, what she said to Xiang Caiping was a completely different matter.
âAuntie, you donât seem to have the right to help Qingsang decide whether or not she wants to acknowledge my presence, do you? After all, my relationship with Qingsang isnât something that can be denied even if you wanted it to be.â
Xiang Caiping remained where she was and stared at both Madam Luo and Madam Song, her brows furrowing slightly. âStep aside, the two of you.â
âThe boss isnât here yet. Donât be hasty, auntie.â
Su Peizhen gave that shop assistant a look. âWhat? How much more arrogant can your boss get? He canât be bothered to tend to us even if Iâm here with Aunt Luo and Aunt Song?â
âThat simply isnât the case, Miss Su. Our boss will be here in a moment.â
As she spoke, a lean, middle-aged man emerged from the back.
âNow, who else could it be? Miss Su has graced us with her presence, as well as Madam Luo and Madam Song! Just let me know what you want, Iâll have it sent to your residences personally.â
The shopkeeper had been conducting the jade business in Lin City for quite some time already. He was pretty close to Su Chenghui, and he was more than eager to please Old Master Li.
Moreover, who in Lin City wasnât aware of the newly established relationship between the Li Corporation and the Tianyu Group? Their influence now was unrivaled, and that was enough to keep the shopkeeperâs attitude in check.