All eyes fell on Shen Ying, as if conducting a silent trial.
Yet not a trace of discomfort showed on Shen Ying’s face. When her name was called, she even looked as if she had just had an epiphany.
Quickly composing herself, she adopted a mournful expression and said gravely to Lu's father, "Please don’t be upset."
Lu's father was baffled. "Why would I be upset?"
Shen Ying gave him a look that said, *You don’t have to pretend.* "This world is full of people who make beautiful promises but refuse to spend a single penny—just looking to get something for nothing."
"Let’s be honest, weren’t you all just scheming to take advantage of me too?" She brought up the earlier tea-serving incident. "If you’re all so calculating, don’t be surprised when others return the favor."
Lu's father was furious. "What nonsense are you spouting? At a time like this, you’re still playing dumb? Do you really think rambling about unrelated things will make us forget that you put a price on my son?"
Shen Ying raised a placating hand. "Relax, I didn’t set a low price."
"In fact, I did my best to drive it up. After all, opportunities like this don’t come every day. Honestly, Lu Linwei isn’t usually this generous."
Lu's father said darkly, "Miss Shen, do you find yourself amusing?"
Only then did Shen Ying seem to notice the tense atmosphere. She glanced around the room.
With an incredulous tone, she asked, "Wait, Uncle, are you saying that after hearing the recording, you’re actually here to hold *me* accountable?"
Aunt Lu sneered. "Is there anyone else involved in this?"
Shen Ying gasped in exaggerated shock. "*Why me?* Miss Qiao was the one who swore up and down she’d live and die for Lu Linwei, that she’d sacrifice anything for him. The Qiao family was the one dangling the benefits of their competing project in front of everyone."
"But when it actually came time to prove their devotion—what a joke!—they weren’t even willing to pay up. If the Qiao family’s actions don’t match their so-called sincerity, how is this *my* fault?"
"…"
Her shameless logic left the entire room momentarily speechless.
The silence stretched for several seconds before Lu's father finally broke it.
Staring at Shen Ying, he said, "So, by your reasoning, I should *thank* you for exposing them as frauds?"
Shen Ying waved a hand magnanimously. "You’re welcome."
Lu's father: "…"
The old man took a deep breath to suppress his fury. "Miss Shen, have you considered that perhaps the Qiao family *was* willing to pay for Linwei—just not *your* absurd price?"
Shen Ying sighed and shook her head, adopting a patient, lecturing tone. "Uncle, don’t let them fool you."
"Anyone who sets conditions *after the fact* was never truly committed in the first place."
"Whether I’m ‘worth’ the price or not isn’t about *me*—it’s about Lu Linwei’s choice."
"Lu Linwei chose me, which gave me the leverage to name a price. If they want him, the issue isn’t *my* value—it’s the cost of changing *his* mind."
"And as the head of the Lu family, his decisions are worth far more than that."
She looped her arm through Lu Linwei’s and patted his bicep reassuringly.
"Yet the Qiao family tried to use *my* status to lowball their own goals. No, scratch that—they weren’t even lowballing. They wanted to freeload, to manipulate Lu Linwei’s decisions *without spending a cent!*"
She scoffed. "*Ugh.* How shameless can you get?"
Then she turned to Lu Linwei. "Right?"
Lu Linwei had initially looked grim upon hearing the recording, but now he just seemed exasperated.
Still, he nodded in agreement. "Right."
"A bunch of outsiders who want to control my marriage but aren’t even willing to pay the price—I don’t see any sincerity in the Qiao family’s words either."
By now, most of the Lu family was stunned. Watching Shen Ying, they suddenly understood why this woman had Lu Linwei wrapped around her finger.
With her airtight logic, self-contained reasoning, and unparalleled ability to twist facts—even when faced with damning evidence—she could turn any situation to her advantage.
If she weren’t the eldest son’s girlfriend, Lu Corporation’s sales, claims, and business negotiation departments would *gladly* offer her a high salary.
Fortunately, Lu's father hadn’t lost sight of his original point. Even if he now doubted the Qiao family’s sincerity, he pressed on.
"Regardless of the Qiao family’s hypocrisy, that doesn’t justify *you* putting a price on Linwei."
"As his woman, the fact that you wavered when someone else showed interest—even *negotiating a deal*—is a betrayal in itself."
Shen Ying fell silent at that.
Lu's father thought he’d finally found a weak point and prepared to press his advantage—
Until Shen Ying said, "But I never *wanted* to be with Lu Linwei in the first place."
"When he stayed at my place, he showed all his worst traits—obsessive cleanliness, arrogance, a sharp tongue, zero self-awareness. I’m not a masochist; why would I want a boyfriend like that? But Lu Linwei just *pays too well!*"
"If someone offered me more money *and* spared me his bad habits, of course I’d take it. Lu Linwei knows this."
She turned to him. "*Right,* Lu Linwei?"
Lu Linwei took a deep breath, his jaw tightening. "*Right.*"
Several people in the room sucked in a sharp breath. Lu's father, however, exploded in rage.
He never imagined that *this*—*this* woman—was someone his son had *chased after.*
Trembling, he pointed at Lu Linwei. "You—you *groveled* after a woman who doesn’t even love you? Have you forgotten who you *are?*"
Lu Linwei might not be able to outmaneuver Shen Ying, but his father was fair game.
He retorted mockingly, "Oh, like any of *your* women ever loved *you.*"
"Was it your wrinkles they adored? Or your dentures burning their lips?"
"You—!"
Not done, Lu Linwei added, "Oh, and Mom didn’t love you either. She told me so."
Lu's father saw black. He nearly spat blood, grabbing a nearby ornament to hurl at his son.
Normally, he might’ve struck or scolded a younger family member without hesitation—but Lu Linwei was now the head of the family.
Everyone scrambled to intervene, some holding Lu's father back, others trying to calm him down.
Lu's father couldn’t bear to look at his unfilial son another second. "*Get out!* GET OUT!"
Lu Linwei left without a second thought. Shen Ying, however, looked deeply disappointed—
"Wait, we haven’t even eaten yet! Isn’t the Chinese chef here supposed to be amazing?"
As Lu Linwei dragged her away, she muttered, "*Honestly.* For a man of his stature, you’d think he could tolerate a little verbal sparring. Who kicks guests out *before dinner?*"
Lu's father felt that unshed blood rise in his throat again.
Watching the two leave, Lu Linqi—hiding in a corner—quietly dialed Qiao Mingfei’s number.
On the way home, Lu Linwei remained silent, his expression unreadable. Shen Ying, oblivious or indifferent, spent the entire ride playing mobile mahjong.
In the half-hour drive, she lost another few hundred. By the time they got out, she vowed once more to *never gamble again.*
Then, suddenly, Lu Linwei grabbed her arm.
"If Qiao Mingyue *had* paid that price… would you have left without looking back?"
Shen Ying turned to him. Seeing his face, she could only think—*Ah, the classic tortured male lead.*
In just a short while, he was teetering on the edge of a dark mood again, even though he’d seemed perfectly happy moments ago while provoking his own father.
She asked Lu Linwei, “If I take the money, will you let me go?”
Lu Linwei’s gaze darkened further. “Dream on.”
“But what if I do let you go?”
Shen Ying smiled. “Then I still wouldn’t leave.”
Those five words seemed to instantly soothe something unspoken. The gloom surrounding Lu Linwei visibly dissipated by half.
He snorted, about to say, “At least you know what’s good for you.”
But then Shen Ying added, “Do I look stupid? With that much money, without you shielding me, the Qiao family could snatch it right back—or worse, tack on a twenty-year prison sentence as a bonus.”
Lu Linwei: “……”
At this point, his expectations for her had sunk to rock bottom. Whether to console himself or mock her, he said, “Well, thanks for at least not being dumb enough to take money for selling me out.”
Shen Ying quickly replied, “Oh, I’d take it if Miss Qiao offered! No hesitation.”
“What did you say?”
“Then I’d split it with you, as a sign of respect. Of course, someone as generous as you wouldn’t stoop to claiming it, but you could use it as leverage to punish the Qiao family for overstepping.”
Lu Linwei smirked. “Who says I wouldn’t want it? Next time, remember to hand over my half.”
Shen Ying: “……”
Seeing her momentarily speechless, Lu Linwei’s mood improved dramatically. He even had the kitchen prepare the traditional dishes she’d been craving.
As Shen Ying sipped her tea, waiting for the food, she mused to the system, “Even though you keep denying it, I’m convinced you recruited me just to spoil me.”
“He’s so easy to placate, it’s almost embarrassing.”
System: 【……】
Don’t ask. It’s fighting the urge to swear.
*
The next day, shortly after Lu Linwei left, the estate received a visitor.
Qiao Mingyue stormed in like a hurricane—sky-high stilettos, a body-hugging dress, and an aura that could crush mortals.
Absolutely stunning.
The moment Shen Ying saw her, her eyes lit up. She eagerly pulled Qiao Mingyue over, sat her down, poured her a glass of water, and handed it to her.
Then she brought over a plate of freshly sliced imported fruit and delicate pastries, setting them before Qiao Mingyue with a smile.
“Here, have some water first, then a bite of fruit. You must be thirsty after your trip, Miss Qiao?”
The overwhelming hospitality left Qiao Mingyue momentarily speechless. But she quickly decided this woman must be flaunting her “mistress of the house” status.
With a cold laugh, she said, “I’ve been coming here freely since I was three. Aunt Lu herself said I could visit anytime. I know this place better than you ever will.”
Shen Ying waved it off. “That’s all trivial.”
“I’m glad you’ve come to your senses. So—did you bring the money?”
Qiao Mingyue exploded. “In your dreams! I’m here to settle scores today.”
“Was it you who told the Lu family my feelings for Linwei are fake? How dare you spread such vicious—”
Before she could finish, the fruit was yanked away.
Realizing she wasn’t here to deliver cash, Shen Ying’s warmth vanished instantly. She reclaimed the fruit plate and even snatched back the glass from Qiao Mingyue’s hand.
Her tone turned icy. “Not here to make a deal?”
“Get out.”
“Excuse me?” Qiao Mingyue was stunned. “Who the hell do you think you are, kicking me out of here?”
Shen Ying couldn’t be bothered to look at her. A sheep that couldn’t be sheared didn’t deserve kindness.
She turned to the butler. “Are you not escorting Miss Qiao out? Or does Lu Linwei need to call and order it himself?”
The butler knew full well how thoroughly his boss was wrapped around this woman’s finger. The late madam’s promises no longer held weight.
Politely, he said, “Miss Qiao, Mr. Lu isn’t home, and it’s not convenient to host guests. Perhaps another time.”
It hit Qiao Mingyue then—this woman was eroding her reality. She was being thrown out of the Lu estate.
Furious, she lunged to slap Shen Ying, but this was the Lu family.
The staff couldn’t risk either woman getting hurt. Several rushed in, restraining Qiao Mingyue and gently ushering her out.
As she left, Qiao Mingyue shrieked, “Just you wait! I won’t let this slide!”
Shen Ying nibbled on fruit, nodding absently. “Yeah, yeah. Do better next time.”
Two attempts, zero profit. Her patience was wearing thin.
But the fallout arrived swiftly. The very next afternoon, Shen Ying got a call from her less-than-esteemed parents.
Both had been fired from their factory jobs. When they confronted their supervisor, he simply said their daughter had pissed off the wrong people.
Then came her idiot younger brother’s call, his voice shaky with tears.
“Sis, I got beat up.”
“Those school bullies cornered me in the bathroom. Said you messed with someone and then just… wailed on me.”
“Ugh—my eye’s all black now. It hurts so bad, sis.”
Shen Ying perked up. “Oh? This is fantastic news!”
Shen Yao: “??? Sis?”
“Ah—I mean!” She switched to a grief-stricken tone. “My poor baby brother! What kind of heartless monster would do this?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make it right. I’ll send someone to pick you up immediately. Let’s first (have Lu Linwei) check your injuries.”
Shen Yao was so moved he nearly sobbed. “Okay!”
