Page 14

Who wouldn't like a silly, cheerful young girl without a scheming bone in her body?

"Do you think putting on clothes designed by Leyao will turn you into a star?" Song Yurou seemed not to have heard Song Shiwei and went on talking. "Did you find out how badly I needed that dress, so you went to all that trouble to steal it from me? You just can't stand seeing me do better than you."

Song Shiwei let out an inward roar-

[Huh? Is there any justice left? Any law? Can someone curse her out for me? I can't argue without bursting into tears.]

Just then, Mrs. Jiang, who stood beside her, gently took Song Shiwei's hand and calmly rose to her feet. "Miss Song, you should be reflecting on yourself. Leyao found inspiration in Shiwei, but none whatsoever in you. Why do you think that is?"

"The Jiang family's daughter-in-law doesn't need to compare herself to anyone. She only needs to be herself."

[Mother-in-law, I love you so much! I can't even imagine how such a wonderful mother-in-law could meet an end like that!!] Song Shiwei said silently.

Hearing the voice in her head, Mrs. Jiang gave a violent shudder. What sort of end?

She instinctively looked at Song Shiwei, only to hear her say inwardly, [No matter how miserable Mother-in-law's fate is, I'll protect her. As long as I have a bite to eat, she'll have a bowl to wash.]

Mrs. Jiang: ...

Thanks, but no thanks.

Mrs. Jiang's sudden retort left Song Yurou speechless. She could only dig her fingers into her palms as the system prompted her in her ear to hold on to Zhang Lexuan. After all, they couldn't afford to provoke Mrs. Jiang and the others for now.

She struggled to steady herself and turned to Zhang Lexuan. "Lexuan, won't you help me either? Then there really won't be anyone left to help me."

Zhang Lexuan took a deep breath, then said coolly, "Haute couture is definitely out of the question. Would ready-to-wear do?"

Deep down, Zhang Lexuan still retained a shred of trust in Song Yurou. This was also his final test to see whether she would really disparage his sister's designs, just as Song Shiwei had said.

Song Yurou immediately replied, "Yes, of course, but could I have something from the upcoming autumn/winter ready-to-wear collection?"

Zhang Lexuan glanced at his sister. Zhang Leyao closed her eyes without speaking, giving her tacit approval.

Zhang Lexuan really wouldn't shed a tear until he saw the coffin. Fine, then. She would consider it the price of one advance-season ready-to-wear outfit to see someone's true colors.

They would have all their PR preparations in place by then and keep their losses to a minimum. And the publicity Song Shiwei had mentioned really did need to go on the agenda.

If that publicity brought more people into the charitable organization, she would be happy.

Zhang Leyao said coolly, "Miss Song, you can have your team pick up the outfit when the time comes."

Then she turned to Song Shiwei. "Shiwei, I'd like to give you my latest haute couture gown, a new design for next year's fashion week. I'm sure you'll lend it even more splendor when you wear it."

Song Shiwei nodded under Song Yurou's almost murderous gaze while silently saying to herself,

[The big shots fought, and all the benefits landed on the head of a melon-eating spectator like me?]

[You rich families really know how to play. Still, this loser likes getting pretty dresses to wear.]

Seeing that Zhang Lexuan had agreed to her request, Song Yurou turned her attention to Song Shiwei. "Sis, those two ugly rocks you bought are so hideous. Why don't you sell them to me?"

Song Shiwei shook her head and refused outright. "I think they look pretty nice. They're ugly in a distinctive way. I just like this sort of random stuff."

[Sell them to you? No way! I'm waiting to watch Zhang Lexuan wash his hair in a handstand.]

Zhang Lexuan: ...

"Sis, they won't be any use to you anyway. Why not pay to sell them to me?" Song Yurou blurted out anxiously.

Song Shiwei shook her head again. "No. I'm taking them home to play marbles."

[Zhang Lexuan washing his hair in a handstand.]

"They're not even anything good."

"If they're no good, why are you buying them?" Song Shiwei looked perfectly calm. "My mother-in-law bought these for me! I'm taking them home to enshrine them."

[Thank you, Mother-in-law, for the ticket to watch Zhang Lexuan wash his hair in a handstand.]

Mrs. Jiang fought to keep the corners of her mouth from lifting as she stood calmly to one side, enjoying the show. This girl Song Shiwei really was something sometimes.

Zhang Leyao was also nearly laughing herself silly by then. She even cheekily asked a waiter to fetch some water, saying someone was getting ready to wash his hair in a handstand.

Unwilling to give up, Song Yurou was about to say more when a plainly dressed middle-aged man stepped out from the back row.

He took just a glance or two before declaring with certainty, "Well, these aren't just ordinary ugly rocks. Young lady, you've got a good eye."

Song Shiwei went wild with the running joke in her head-

[I know. They're tickets to watch Zhang Lexuan wash his hair in a handstand.]

Boss Liu was startled when Song Shiwei's inner voice suddenly connected to his mind. Good grief, he was finally connected again.

Following along with Song Shiwei and eating melons earlier had practically left him dumbfounded. He wondered whether there would be more melons to eat this time.

He picked up the few ugly rocks in Song Shiwei's hands. "Judging by my years of experience, these should indeed be jadeite rough."

He immediately pulled a UV flashlight from his pocket and began examining the stones.

Within seconds, he said, overjoyed, "Mrs. Jiang, your daughter-in-law has found a treasure. I dare say these stones will yield at least glutinous-ice-grade jadeite."

The moment President Liu spoke, Song Yurou fell apart. Damn it, how was she supposed to trick Song Shiwei into giving her the stones now?

Was something wrong with this President Liu? He had ruined her perfectly good plan for nothing!

Song Shiwei wore a cheerful smile, but inwardly, she was already blooming with delight-

[Oho! This man looks pretty professional. These stones seemed to turn out to be ice-grade jadeite, and imperial green at that. Song Yurou made an absolute killing back then, used the money to rescue the male lead's business, and actually defeated Jiang Xun's □□??]

[This ridiculous world should just be destroyed.]