Jiang Nian had three days off after military training.
She had planned to get some proper rest at home, but after dutifully staying in for two days, she simply couldn't stand it anymore.
Since it was the weekend, she decided to invite Tong Chuhe to go shopping at the mall.
She had been thrown straight into military training at the start of the school year as soon as she transmigrated. All these days had passed, and she still hadn't properly explored the area.
With some time off, she could finally get a taste of life among the wealthy.
She and Tong Chuhe had agreed to meet at the mall entrance that morning. Jiang Nian had just stepped out of her family's car when she spotted Tong Chuhe getting out of a Maybach up ahead.
She went over and affectionately linked arms with her. With two bodyguards each, they entered the mall, which towered dozens of stories high.
Armed with the black card Jiang Mother had given her, Jiang Nian got to experience the extravagance of shopping without even checking the prices.
They had the stores deliver anything cumbersome to their homes, while their bodyguards carried the smaller, more delicate purchases behind them. As they browsed and bought their way through the mall, the two girls got a little carried away.
By the time they entered a high-end luxury boutique, Jiang Nian hadn't even had a chance to admire the merchandise before she heard 88's reminder:
[Host, take a look at the couple standing beside the display case on your right.]
The display case on my right?
Jiang Nian's steps briefly faltered. Puzzled, she turned her head and saw a boy and girl around her age whispering together in front of a display case, apparently discussing which handbag looked better.
At first, she was still confused, unsure what was so special about the two people 88 had asked her to notice.
Then she noticed that the boy's eyes and brows bore some resemblance to Shen Hui's.
Could it be...
[Is he the Shen Family's illegitimate son? Shen Hui's younger half brother, Shen Lei?]
Seeing that Jiang Nian had figured it out, 88 replied unhurriedly:
[Yes. The girl beside him is his girlfriend, Jiang Wenxue.]
At that, Jiang Nian watched the young couple flirt with interest.
According to the original novel, this couple wasn't supposed to make their troublemaking debut until Old Master Shen's birthday banquet ten days later. She hadn't expected to run into them ahead of schedule just because she'd decided on a whim to go shopping today.
She took a closer look at Shen Lei's face. He must have inherited his looks from Shen Father and his mistress mother; he was reasonably handsome.
But the occasional flash of sly calculation in his eyes was decidedly unpleasant.
After giving Shen Lei a couple of curious looks, Jiang Nian was ready to turn away.
Just before she did, however, Shen Lei seemed to sense someone watching him. He looked up, and his gaze met Jiang Nian's.
Both of them paused. Jiang Nian recovered first, gave him a polite smile, and naturally turned her attention elsewhere.
Shen Lei, however, did not.
He kept staring intently in the direction Jiang Nian had gone.
Jiang Nian and Tong Chuhe.
He had heard of these two young ladies: the Jiang Family Heiress and the Tong Family Heiress.
The Jiang family ran a long-established business in the new energy sector, with several research-and-development subsidiaries under its umbrella. It was an industry leader in City A.
The Tong Family was also one of the most prominent established families. In recent years, thanks to Tong Chuhe's mother, it had even branched out into the entertainment industry.
Getting close to either one of them would be far, far better than being with Jiang Wenxue, the daughter of a nouveau riche family standing beside him.
Besides, the Jiang Family Heiress had stared at me for quite a while just now... Could she have fallen for me? Was she interested?
At the thought, Shen Lei's lips curled. He felt a little excited, but also a little contemptuous.
These supposedly well-bred young ladies were nothing special. All I had to do was show my face and play the victim a little, and they'd fall at my feet.
I really was irresistible.
"Lei, what do you think of this ruby one? Lei?"
"Lei?"
After getting no response from Shen Lei for so long, Jiang Wenxue pouted unhappily. She was about to make a fuss when she noticed him staring straight at Jiang Nian.
Looking at the two girls ahead, whose refined bearing was unmistakable, Jiang Wenxue pressed her lips together. She pulled her hand free of Shen Lei's and walked over to them, snatching the diamond bracelet right out of their hands.
"I'll take this bracelet. Wrap it up for me."
One second, the bracelet had been in Jiang Nian's hand; the next, it was in someone else's. Utterly bewildered, she turned to look at Jiang Wenxue, who had snatched it from her.
What the hell was wrong with her?
Only then did Shen Lei snap out of his daze and realize that his girlfriend had actually gone over and snatched something from Miss Jiang.
He hurried forward, took the bracelet back, and offered it to Jiang Nian with both hands. "I'm sorry. Wenxue didn't mean it. Here's your bracelet back."
Before Jiang Nian could respond, Jiang Wenxue began making a scene beside them, staring at Shen Lei in disbelief.
"Lei, what are you doing? That's mine! How could you give it to someone else?"
With that, she reached out to snatch the bracelet back from Shen Lei.
Shen Lei quickly raised his arm and rebuked her under his breath. "Miss Jiang clearly picked it out first. How could you snatch someone else's things?"
Hearing Shen Lei correctly address her by her surname, Jiang Nian narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Do you know me?"
Shen Lei gave her a bashful smile and slipped in a subtle compliment. "Of course. Who hasn't heard of the Jiang family in City A? I greatly admire your father, so naturally, I've heard of his eldest daughter, Jiang Nian."
He paused, then continued, addressing Tong Chuhe, who had raised an eyebrow beside her. "And the Tong Family's eldest daughter, Tong Chuhe. I had the privilege of watching your competition. Your performance was absolutely superb."
"You're too kind," Tong Chuhe replied politely. "May I ask your name?"
A trace of pride colored Shen Lei's otherwise calm voice. "My name is Shen Lei. My father is Shen Qifei."
Jiang Nian sneered inwardly.
What a clever way to put it. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was the Shen Family's eldest young master.
The son of a mistress who drove the lawful wife to her death, a cuckoo trying to steal another bird's nest-Shen Qifei had given him a little recognition, and he really thought that made him a young master of the Shen Family?
So Jiang Nian turned to Tong Chuhe with a deliberately puzzled expression. "Shen Qifei? The Shen Family? Chu He, I remember the Shen Family having only one son, named Shen Hui. Am I remembering wrong?"
Seeing Jiang Nian wink at her, Tong Chuhe smiled and played along. "You're not remembering wrong. The Shen Family's son is named Shen Hui."
Noticing the probing looks from the people around them, Shen Lei cursed inwardly. This Miss Jiang really had no social tact. Wasn't she just embarrassing me?
If she ended up with me, I'd have to take her down a peg or two.
Despite those thoughts, he showed not the slightest sign of anger and answered Jiang Nian with a smile:
"There's something you don't know. Shen Hui is my older half brother. I don't often attend the Shen Family's public social engagements, so it's only natural that you haven't heard of me."
Jiang Nian gave a casual nod to acknowledge his explanation, without dwelling on the boring subject.
But she didn't accept the bracelet from Shen Lei. Instead, she said to him:
"If your girlfriend likes this bracelet, let her have it. I only wanted to try it on anyway. I'll just look at some other designs."
She had meant to give Jiang Wenxue a graceful way out, but Jiang Wenxue refused to appreciate the gesture in the slightest.
After that, every time Jiang Nian took a liking to a design, Jiang Wenxue snatched it away. Whatever she looked at, Jiang Wenxue grabbed, over and over again. Even Shen Lei couldn't stop her.
Jiang Nian was so angry she laughed.
Fine, then. She had only herself to blame for what came next.
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