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"Gurgle--" Xiang Lu let out a burp. She and Qin Shiyue were like a badger in a melon patch, they couldn't finish eating, they simply couldn't finish!

The three of them chatted and laughed, creating a very harmonious and beautiful scene. Even Qi Yang and the others behind them couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

Chen Jiashu shook his head helplessly. "Shi Yue was still having a problem with someone, but now she's sitting together and chatting so happily. Is she so easily bought off? She's so gullible."

If Qin Shiyue could hear this, she would definitely argue with him. Girls' friendships are that simple; being able to gossip together makes you best friends! Unfortunately, Qin Shiyue couldn't hear him.

Human joys and sorrows are not shared; some are happy while others are not.

Standing not far behind them, Shen Anya watched the three of them chatting and laughing angrily, clenching her fists so tightly that she didn't even notice her nails digging into her flesh.

A month ago, she was the one sitting there surrounded and fawned over by everyone, but today it's Shen Luoluo! And she has to hide in this dark little place, afraid to be seen, surrounded by the whispers and pointing fingers of others.

"So Shen Anya is an adopted daughter. She was so arrogant and looked down on others at school, but now she's nothing!"

"Of course! She probably never dreamed that after being the Shen Family's heiress for over a decade, she would wake up one day to find herself nothing!"

"It's only because Shen Luoluo is a good person that she doesn't hold it against her. If I were the real heiress, I would have kicked her out of the house long ago! How could I possibly keep her around to compete with me for affection!"

"Don't even mention kicking them out; anyone with any sense would have packed up and left already!"

"You're overthinking it. How could she possibly have that kind of self-awareness? I heard she knew she was an adopted daughter a long time ago, but the Shen Family didn't make it public, so she just kept occupying the title of their real daughter!"

"Forget titles, she even stole her best friend's fiancé! It's terrifying!"

"That's right!"

She didn't steal him! She didn't steal him! Shen Anya's eyes reddened with anger, and she bit her lip tightly. She didn't steal Xiang Lu's fiancé. She and Lu Yanshi liked each other. Xiang Lu had already canceled the Marriage Alliance. Lu Yanshi was not her fiancé!

Moreover, she looked up in the direction of Lu Yanshi and suddenly laughed. It doesn't matter, let these nobody be smug for a while. Soon, she will be able to be with Lu Yanshi legitimately!

As long as the Shen and Lu families Marriage Alliance, their influence in Jing City will definitely rise to another level. Then she'll see who laughs at whom!

However, she was destined to be disappointed.

At this moment, in the center of the banquet hall, Lu Li's expression darkened, and the atmosphere was no longer as harmonious as it had been at the beginning.

"Director Shen, some things shouldn't be said so soon. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"

Shen Ting'an remained calm. "Director Lu, no matter how many times you ask, my answer will remain the same: cooperation is possible, following the normal investment procedures. If it's suitable, that's best, and we can achieve a win-win situation! As for the Marriage Alliance, I'm sorry, you overestimate the Shen Family. Anya isn't as good as you say."

His meaning was clear: rejection. Lu Li understood, of course. He never expected that he, Lu Li, would be rejected when he took the initiative to speak!

Lu Li's expression changed several times as she tried her best to suppress her anger. "Director Shen, this is a win-win situation. The children happen to like each other. There's no such thing as a perfect coincidence in the world! Are you sure you want to refuse now!"

Shen Ting'an remained neither humble nor arrogant. "I'll say it again. If Director Lu asks me a few more times, I'll still give the same answer. Just think of me as someone who's timid and afraid of trouble, not daring to offend the Xiang Family, and not wanting to be gossiped about!"

Shen Ting'an's attitude was very firm: no Marriage Alliance, no Marriage Alliance, no matter what Lu Li said! Shen Ting'an wasn't stupid. If the Marriage Alliance were to take place, only the Lu Family would benefit. What would the Shen Family gain? Not only would they offend the Xiang Family, but they would also become the subject of gossip. Everyone would think that Shen Anya stole Xiang Lu's boyfriend and forced the Xiang Family to cancel the Marriage Alliance, and that it was the adults who taught them to do that!

The Shen Family will stop at nothing to cooperate with the Lu Family! They're even willing to sacrifice their daughter. Shen Ting'an has never raised his daughter like that!

In the end, the Lu Family will reap the benefits without lifting a finger, gaining both fame and fortune! Yes, cooperation could indeed elevate the Shen Family Lu Family a higher level, but he would never risk the Shen Family's reputation for it! Marriage Alliance is out of the question!

"Shen Ting'an, you..." Lu Li was so angry that her face turned black. Before she could speak, Lu Yanshi spoke up first.

"Why? Why can't we have Marriage Alliance!" Lu Yanshi was truly panicked, blurting out, "Do you just think that because Anya isn't your biological daughter, you don't care about her happiness or anything! That she's not worth the Shen Corporation to arrange Marriage Alliance for her!"

"Shut up!" Lu Li slapped him across the face right then and there.

For a moment, all was silent.

Even Zhao Huizhen was shocked that such words would come from the mouth of someone who had received a privileged upbringing!

She found it utterly ridiculous! If he liked Shen Anya so much, why didn't he try to create happiness for her himself? Instead, he tied Shen Anya's happiness to the Shen Corporation. She even doubted whether this person truly loved Shen Anya, otherwise why would he use the mere Shen Corporation to measure her happiness?! He was clearly still too naive!

Lu Yanshi was really angry. He spoke without thinking and immediately regretted it! What was he even saying? But there was nothing he could do; the words were already out.

Shen Ting'an looked at him, his face expressionless. "Since you're so eager to know, I can answer you. You yourself said Shen Anya isn't my biological daughter," he said, looking at Lu Yanshi, "My answer is..."

Shen Anya dared not eavesdrop any longer and ran out crying.

"Anya!" Lu Yanshi spotted her and quickly chased after her.

Having said all that, Lu Li knew that continuing the conversation would be pointless, so he made an excuse and said goodbye.

Zhao Huizhen frowned as she looked at the entrance to the banquet hall, where people were coming and going.

"If you're really worried, let Xi Che go and check on her. She can listen to Xi Che's advice." Zhao Huizhen frowned, and Shen Ting'an knew what she was thinking.