Before coming, Shen Xi had planned that if Jing Yi felt uncomfortable at the Jing family home, she would invite Jing Yi to stay with her instead. Although Shen Xi's family wasn't among the top-tier wealthy families, they were comfortably well-off and wouldn't make Jing Yi feel out of place. Plus, they could occasionally leverage the "North River Shen Family" name for some borrowed prestige.
However, hearing that Jing Yi was getting along well with Jing Zejun, Shen Xi felt half her worries dissipate.
"What have you been up to since returning to China?" After addressing all of Shen Xi's concerns, Jing Yi finally had time to inquire about her friend's life back home.
Surely she hadn't actually started taking over the family business?
Jing Yi remembered that Shen Xi wasn't particularly interested in financial management; otherwise, they wouldn't have met on the way to a makeup exam.
Shen Xi shrugged nonchalantly, "Same old, same old. My brother keeps an eye on things at home, and I just show up at the company occasionally. My parents don't expect me to earn money or make a name for myself, so life's pretty average, I guess."
Jing Yi gave her a look. This was considered average? If she hadn't also become a "freeloader" in the Jing family, she would have been green with envy at Shen Xi's situation.
"Though things haven't been so peaceful at home lately, and my parents have even less time to keep tabs on me," Shen Xi added. Recently, everyone in her family except her had been incredibly busy.
Even her mother, who usually spent her time at home, was now rushed off her feet, with no time for tea with her old friends or shopping trips with Shen Xi.
Jing Yi placed a bowl of almond tofu next to Shen Xi, curiosity piqued. "What's going on?"
Shen Xi sighed, recalling her father's ominous words.
"Have you heard of the Shen family in North River?"
North River had three prominent families: the Jing family, the Shen family, and the Wang family.
Each family owned a leading company in North River, all of which were top-tier conglomerates.
Jing Yi thought for a moment. She remembered that in the original novel, the Wang family was constantly at odds with the Jing family.
But the Shen family? Jing Yi didn't know much about them. She frowned slightly, looking up expectantly at Shen Xi for an explanation.
"The Huarui Group, under the Shen family, has been undergoing a major shake-up recently. The top executives in the group have all been replaced over the past month and a half. My parents have been busy dealing with all of this," Shen Xi explained.
Although Shen Xi didn't know exactly what they were busy with – after all, they were only distantly related to the Shen family, barely even considered relatives – why were they so invested in this?
"Xixi, are you one of those legendary rich heiresses?" Jing Yi asked. It seemed that Shen Xi must have some connection to this Shen family.
Shen Xi rolled her eyes. "If I were a rich heiress, would I still be asking my parents for an allowance every month? That would be one down-to-earth heiress! My family just has a slight connection to them. The real Shen family doesn't have any heiresses."
Mentioning this, Shen Xi leaned closer to Jing Yi and began sharing some gossip about the Shen family.
"The Shen family only has one son, named Shen Huaichu. He's the one who came back to take over all of the Shen family's businesses, which is why the group started this major overhaul."
Shen Xi wasn't actually very familiar with the name Shen Huaichu and only learned about him from hearing her family members talk about him recently.
When her brother told her about this, he also shared a bit of insider information. "My brother said his parents apparently died in a car accident. But the key point is, after he grew up, he came back to reclaim everything that belonged to him and became the person in charge of the Shen family!"
As Shen Xi spoke, her expression grew increasingly excited. Jing Yi found it amusing – who had taught her to introduce people like this?
"Are you telling a story or sharing gossip?" Jing Yi teased.
Shen Xi waved her hand dismissively. "Anyway, it's because Shen Huaichu got his shares and became the big boss of Huarui and the Shen family that my parents have become so busy lately, though I don't really know what they're busy with exactly."
Jing Yi, on the other hand, tried to recall the original novel. After all, so much time had passed that she couldn't remember the detailed plot anymore.
Shen Huaichu? She had no impression of him at all.
Oh well! Who cares who he is.
Jing Yi decided to stop taxing her brain and picked up her chopsticks to continue eating with Shen Xi.
After the meal, Shen Xi was ready to drag Jing Yi out shopping, but since the journey was quite far, Jing Yi suggested driving there.
She had specifically brought out her "Black Night" today – it would be a shame not to get more practice with it!
"Alright then! Let's go shopping in your car!" Shen Xi linked arms with her as they walked out of the courtyard house.
When they reached the parking lot, Shen Xi immediately spotted the "black car" Jing Yi had mentioned.
It was impossible to miss. Although surrounded by luxury vehicles, this car still managed to outshine them all.
When they arrived, there were even a few people gathered around discussing the car.
"Yi Yi, is that black car the one you were talking about?" Shen Xi asked incredulously, staring at the vehicle.
Using such simple words to describe this car – don't you think it might feel slighted?
Jing Yi nodded, not seeing anything wrong. "It is black, isn't it? Come on, let me take you for a spin. This car is an absolute joy to drive!"
Jing Yi pulled Shen Xi along, smiling as she asked the people in front to make way. However, two of them seemed particularly annoyed.
It was a couple, and the woman appeared very displeased with Jing Yi's request to move. She looked Jing Yi and Shen Xi up and down with disdain.
"Move? Why should we? Even if you want to gawk at luxury cars, you don't have to be so pushy about it! Haven't you seen a nice car in ages?"
Jing Yi's almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly as she held back Shen Xi, who was ready to start an argument.
The woman's voice was quite loud, drawing curious glances from those around. Seemingly not satisfied, she turned to the man beside her and whined.
"Honey, don't you think girls these days are so materialistic? It's really annoying."
The man beside her wore a superior expression, his gaze equally scornful.
"You think she just wants to look at the car? She's probably after the car's owner." The man snorted coldly, giving Jing Yi a meaningful look.
She's quite pretty, he thought.
A flash of disgust crossed Jing Yi's eyes.
"That's right. Even my husband's car is worth five million, let alone this one," the woman added.
Seeing that the couple was now using this opportunity to show off their own car, Jing Yi pressed the car key. The scissor doors opened smoothly.
Her dimples appeared as she smiled, but there was no warmth in her eyes. "Now, can you please move aside?"
The atmosphere around them suddenly became quiet, and the couple's expressions turned sour.
Shen Xi's face showed equal disdain as she stepped forward, shouldering past the two.
"You two, just because you can't afford a nice car yourselves, you assume others can't either?"
"You...!" The woman tried to say something more, but the man quickly pulled her back, not daring to make a sound. People who could afford cars like this weren't the type they could afford to offend.
After Shen Xi was seated, Jing Yi, sitting in the driver's seat, leaned against the window and looked at the couple.
"A five-million-yuan car? I've never seen one of those before."
She tilted her head and smiled, her eyes full of mockery. As the window slowly rolled up, the car's engine roared to life.
The people around started pointing and whispering, while the man, his face dark, pulled the woman away.
