Chapter 19

With Shang Jinyue’s agreement, the blockage in the foyer was resolved.

Cen Yuan went cheerfully toward the kitchen, and Shi Wendong also breathed a sigh of relief, inviting Shang Jinyue to sit back down in the living room.

Only Shi Xiu, who had just entered, and Cen Anning, who was carrying large and small bags, were left in the foyer.

Shang Jinyue quietly watched Shi Xiu and Cen Anning change shoes, and the scene from just now could not help surfacing in her mind.

Shi Xiu’s waist was very slender. Her loose hoodie had been held from behind by someone, making the contrast especially clear.

And Cen Anning’s hand had rested just like that against Shi Xiu’s waist, her bones distinct, pressed closely against her.

Had what happened just now been… an accident?

“All handled?”

Shi Xiu was changing her shoes when she heard Cen Anning’s lowered voice come from behind her ear.

Clearly, this person had also just come back from outside, yet her body carried heat.

Her warm breath landed perfectly behind Shi Xiu’s ear, making Shi Xiu feel itchy there.

Shi Xiu unnaturally tilted her head and, facing Cen Anning’s low concern, nodded. “Thank you.”

This person’s face carried a smile, reflected in Cen Anning’s eyes.

She watched Shi Xiu silently and continued in a lowered voice, “Just don’t forget to treat me to a meal.”

“I remember.” As Shi Xiu spoke, she lifted her head and smiled even more obviously at Cen Anning.

So Shang Jinyue, in the living room, saw it clearly too.

Shi Xiu and Cen Anning were standing very close. The foyer light overlapped their two shadows.

Shang Jinyue could not hear what they were saying. She could only see the smile slowly appearing on Shi Xiu’s face.

The light cast a layer of beautiful gold over the young girl’s face.

When Shi Xiu smiled, she always carried a kind of vitality that made even the person watching her unable to help being infected by it.

Only this time, Shi Xiu’s smile was no longer directed at her.

Shang Jinyue watched quietly, her brows slowly drawing together.

She did not remember these two having such a good relationship in the previous life.

Just then, Shi Xiu finished changing her shoes and prepared to return to her room.

Seeing her walk over, Shi Wendong raised his hand and called out, “Shi Xiu, go get me a copy of that acknowledgment form of yours. I agree to the matter of you going to the studio.”

This was Shang Jinyue’s purpose in coming here. She looked at Shi Xiu expectantly, looking forward to the expression that would appear on Shi Xiu’s face.

She thought Shi Xiu would definitely be happy about this news.

She would thank her.

Her distant relationship with Shi Xiu would move slightly closer.

…

Shang Jinyue used another’s power to intimidate, as if everything were within her expectations.

Unexpectedly, Shi Xiu stood far away and gave Shi Wendong a cold “oh.” “No need. Anning already helped me get Auntie’s signature. I’ve already handled it.”

Anning.

Shi Xiu’s words exploded beside Shang Jinyue’s ear.

She did not know whether it was because of that extremely natural “Anning,” or because she realized she had wasted all this effort for nothing.

“Handled it?” Shi Wendong was also surprised.

He glanced at Cen Yuan, who was busy in the kitchen, and did not dare provoke her. He could only lower his voice and ask Shi Xiu, “Where did you get the money? Your aunt gave it to you?”

“My mom left it.” Shi Xiu was direct, her volume not lowering.

Hearing Shi Xiu mention his early-deceased ex-wife, Shi Wendong had nothing left to say.

Only, when he thought of how this matter of Shi Xiu’s, one recognized by the Shang family and apparently full of prospects, had not involved him at all, he still felt somewhat unwilling.

So, in order to save face, Shi Wendong began “lovingly” instructing Shi Xiu. “Since it’s all handled, you must study properly when you go to the studio this time. Cherish this opportunity. Don’t touch the money your mother left you anymore. I’ll transfer money to your card every month.”

Hearing this, Shi Xiu could not help raising a brow and glancing at Shi Wendong.

She did not think Shi Wendong would suddenly change his nature. Toward the way this person was acting so unusually human at this moment, she was filled with vigilance and suspicion.

“Don’t disappoint me, don’t disappoint your mother, your aunt, and the Shang family’s expectations, understand?”

The Shang family…

As expected.

Shi Xiu had already found it strange that delivering an invitation would require Shang Jinyue to personally make a trip. Her heart filled with mocking laughter. “What is the Shang family so expectant about me going to the studio for?”

“Don’t keep saying the Shang family this, the Shang family that. We’re all bailiantales.comone family.” Shi Wendong emphasized this in front of Shang Jinyue.

“Shi Xiu, the Old Madam has quite a lot of expectations for you. You absolutely must live up to her.”

As Shi Wendong said this, he earnestly patted Shi Xiu’s shoulder, as if telling Shi Xiu to know what was good for her.

But Shi Xiu just had to refuse to know what was good for her.

She shifted her shoulder and avoided Shi Wendong’s touch, frowning as she asked in return, “What counts as living up to her?”

She looked at Shang Jinyue sitting on the sofa and sneered in front of Shi Wendong. “Do I need to bring the Shang family a certain amount of profit in the future?”

She was a hedgehog with her spikes raised, filled with hostility toward people.

Had she not earned enough money for the Shang family in her previous life?

Did she have to compensate the Shang family in this life too?

“What kind of thing is that to say?” Shi Wendong immediately could not keep his expression up. “Aren’t galleries and painters supposed to complement each other? Such a good platform like the Shang family, countless people rush to curry favor with them. Don’t be ungrateful!”

Listening to this, Shi Xiu only wanted to sneer.

Of course she would not be ungrateful. How could she not know how valuable a gallery was?

Of course galleries and painters complemented each [unauthorized copy]other, and they had done so under her management.

As for how many people rushed to curry favor, she knew even better than Shi Wendong.

No wonder Shang Jinyue was so concerned about her going to the studio.

Besides seeing the profit in her, what else could possibly move Shang Jinyue?

Could it be love?

What a joke.

In the past ten years, she had never once seen Shang Jinyue put her heart into Shi Xiu.

Thinking this, Shi Xiu laughed. “Then I really must thank Miss Shang for bringing me such a rare and valuable opportunity.”

This smile was completely different from the one Shi Xiu had given Cen Anning in the foyer just now.

Disappointment pressed down in the young girl’s pupils. The darker they were, the sharper they became, making Shang Jinyue’s heart drop.

Shi Xiu had misunderstood her.

She had come today only to let Shi Xiu have her wish.

There were absolutely none of those profit entanglements Shi Wendong had mentioned.

“Shi Xiu, you’ve misunderstood.” Shang Jinyue stood, appearing calm, wanting to explain to Shi Xiu.

But Shi Xiu interrupted her first. “What have I misunderstood?”

This place was not a very good location for a conversation. Hearing Shi Xiu’s words, Shi Wendong immediately rose and angrily scolded her. “Shi Xiu, is that the tone you use to speak to Miss Shang?”

Like clear oil poured into a hot pan, flames shot up with a whoosh.

Shi Xiu glanced at Shi Wendong, who was standing in the same direction as Shang Jinyue, and naturally classified them together.

Merchants chased profit. They were people who held feelings in the cheapest regard.

The young girl’s eyes were covered in mockery, and then she opened her mouth. “I’m sorry, Miss Shang. I shouldn’t speak to you like this. From now on, I will certainly be completely respectful toward you, deferential and obedient.”

Shi Xiu said these words while looking at Shang Jinyue.

Her pronunciation was clear, each word distinct, so very humble.

Yet her raised head was prouder than everyone else present. Her back was straight, and no one could make her truly lower her head.

In an instant, Shang Jinyue felt as if her entire person had been pushed far away by Shi Xiu.

She was drenched in cold water inside and out.

Anyone could hear that there was meaning behind Shi Xiu’s words, and the atmosphere in the living room dropped to freezing point.

But Shi Xiu had no intention of easing this atmosphere. She simply froze it to the very end. “Miss Shang, excuse me. I’ll go pack my luggage now and report to the studio tomorrow, so I won’t disappoint the Shang family’s expectations.”

Every sentence was barbed. Every line was a knife.

Shi Wendong kept apologizing beside Shang Jinyue, but Shang Jinyue no longer had any interest in listening to what he was saying.

She thought she should know better than anyone that Shi Xiu did not like her father.

It was she who had been eager for quick success and chosen this shortcut.

She should have planned this matter more carefully, like making a large-scale project proposal, detailed down to every step and every detail.

She did not even need to appear herself.

That was right. If she truly wanted Shi Xiu to accept her help, she should not have appeared.

After all, Shi Xiu rejected her so much now.

As Shang Jinyue thought this, a terrified realization emerged in her mind.

She had never thought this way for Shi Xiu in the past.

No wonder Shi Xiu no longer loved her.

She had never been a qualified lover.

Shang Jinyue was abruptly dragged into the deep sea by her own discovery, her chest squeezed until it was difficult to breathe.

It was also at this moment that a figure fell over Shang Jinyue’s shoulder.

Cen Anning, who had not said a word just now, came over and said to her in a voice that seemed to summarize the ending of the story, “Perhaps, without that acknowledgment form my mother signed, A-Xiu would have thanked you today.”

“But Miss Shang, you came too late.”

Shang Jinyue abruptly turned her head to look at Cen Anning.

Under the light, that person looked at her with an open and dignified attitude. Their silent eye contact was the declaration of a victor.

Shang Jinyue’s five fingers suddenly clenched tightly together. In Cen Anning’s eyes, she realized something.