Chapter 4: Here's 1 Million
Shen Xi responded with a simple "Okay."
As she stood up, a sharp pain shot through her stomach. She had already eaten way more than usual, and for a moment, she almost lost her balance.
Before she could fall, a warm, strong hand caught her by the waist. Only to let go the moment she steadied herself.
She looked up to see Gu Hanling, his brows slightly furrowed, his gaze carrying a hint of displeasure. If it had been someone else, he might have suspected it was just another spoiled socialite trying to get close to him with some bad acting.
"Thank you."
Shen Xi placed a hand on her stomach to soothe the discomfort and thanked him.
"In a few days, come with me to the Gu family’s ancestral home. My grandmother wants to see you. I’ll pick you up then."
Here we go, the top boss has given me a mission.
A wealthy family's grandmother was practically like an empress dowager in ancient times. Shen Xi had no idea if she would be easy to deal with.
She hadn't expected that becoming a rich man's wife would come with a full-time job, playing the role of Mrs. Gu.
But then again, considering this “job” paid over a billion a year, she immediately had no complaints and nodded obediently.
"Don’t worry, boss! Mission accepted!"
Gu Hanling's brows furrowed even deeper.
He was starting to wonder if this woman had water in her brain that hadn’t been drained out properly.
On the way to the villa’s entrance, it was just Shen Xi and the butler.
Unlike Gu Hanling, the kind-faced Butler Wang was much easier to talk to, so Shen Xi felt more relaxed and started chatting casually.
"Honestly, I think Mr. Gu is actually pretty approachable."
Butler Wang merely smiled at her words, nodding in agreement.
"Mr. Gu is usually very busy, Madam. If you ever need anything, you can contact me."
"Got it. Also, tell him to take care of himself. He shouldn’t overwork and ruin his health."
At this moment, Shen Xi was genuinely concerned about the top boss’s well-being.
Because if he drops dead, who’s gonna pay me my 200 million?
Butler Wang’s polite smile nearly cracked. He glanced at Shen Xi, his gaze turning a little more scrutinizing.
From what he remembered, this Madam never cared about Mr. Gu’s health before.
Right then, a cheerful voice called out.
"Sister!"
At the villa’s entrance stood a plain-looking young woman waving at her from beside a red sports car. Her eyes sparkled with joy, but whether it was genuine or not was another question.
Shen Xi recognized her immediately.
In the novel, there was a brief mention of this younger sister. Shen Wanru, the biological daughter of her stepfather and mother.
Technically speaking, she was the real Shen family heiress.
Originally, she was the one meant to marry Gu Hanling.
But Gu Hanling disliked her for being a lovestruck fool whenever she saw him. She also looked too average and couldn’t shut up the elders in the family. She wasn’t fit for the role.
While greeting Shen Xi, Shen Wanru’s gaze drifted toward Gu Hanling, who stood outside the house.
The rumors said that Shen Xi and Gu Hanling didn’t have a good relationship.
But today… he actually stood there watching her leave?
Was he reluctant to let her go?
Shen Wanru’s eyes darkened with resentment.
A man like Gu Hanling, powerful, rare, and exceptional, should have been her husband.
But now…
"I’ll leave Madam in your care, Second Miss Shen," Butler Wang said politely, snapping Shen Wanru out of her thoughts.
"Huh? Oh, oh! Of course, it’s no trouble at all!" she quickly responded, forcing a bright smile.
"Sister has always been lazy at home, so I’m used to taking care of her. Just leave her to me!"
Shen Xi’s brows furrowed slightly.
She didn’t have the original owner’s memories, but based on the novel’s brief descriptions, she was pretty sure that the reality was the exact opposite.
"Oh? That must’ve been really tough for you, huh?"
Shen Xi’s tone carried a hint of sarcasm. Anyone could hear it. Yet Shen Wanru acted as if she didn’t notice, still smiling brightly.
"What are you saying, Sister? There’s no need to be so polite between us."
As she spoke, she affectionately linked arms with Shen Xi, but Shen Xi subtly pulled away and headed straight for the passenger seat.
Back when she read the original novel, she had already disliked this so-called Second Miss Shen.
Shen Wanru’s face darkened for a split second, but she quickly recovered, still smiling as she got into the driver’s seat.
The engine roared like a ten-cylinder beast, and the car sped away from the Gu family’s villa.
Meanwhile, Butler Wang returned to Gu Hanling’s side, handing over a phone.
"Sir, a call from Assistant Liu. It’s about the Ocean Star."
Gu Hanling’s gaze lingered on the direction where the car had disappeared before he took the phone.
"It’s me."
"Mr. Gu, last month we acquired that $800 million gemstone. The European royal family has reserved it, but they specifically requested that a designer named Susie handle it. She’s very mysterious, rumor has it she recently returned to the country. We’ve sent an email requesting a collaboration, but there’s been no response yet."
"Mm. Handle it personally."
Assistant Liu was Gu Hanling’s most trusted right-hand man. He only assigned him to tasks of utmost importance.
This collaboration with the European royal family was a key step for the Gu family’s entry into the high-end international jewelry market.
Once Gu Hanling ended the call, Butler Wang stepped forward slightly and said in a low voice.
"Sir, the manager from Yunding Hotel just reported that the person who called the police… was Madam."
"Oh?"
A flicker of amusement crossed Gu Hanling’s eyes.
"Interesting."
"Then, sir… about this matter?"
Gu Hanling’s sharp brows lifted slightly, the corners of his lips curving into a smirk of intrigue.
………………………………
Inside the car, Shen Xi suddenly sneezed.
For some reason, she felt a sudden chill down her spine.
Shen Wanru, still driving, took the opportunity to size her up.
"Brother-in-law treats you so well. That shirt you're wearing. It's a custom piece from a famous European designer, right? I heard the starting price is 200,000 yuan."
Shen Xi glanced down at the shirt she was wearing, speechless.
This thing costs 200,000?!
Ever since she arrived in this world, the numbers she heard were either in the millions or billions.
If someone didn’t know better, they’d think the smallest currency unit here was ten thousand.
"No idea. I just borrowed it to wear."
Her casual tone made Shen Wanru seethe with jealousy, but she forced herself to stay composed.
As they stopped at a long red light, she hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"My friends have all upgraded to the latest limited-edition designer bags from Europe. Since Brother-in-law is so generous with you, I’m sure he gives you plenty of spending money, right?"
"So… could you lend me some? I’ll pay you back next month."
Shen Xi laughed coldly in her heart.
Here we go.
This woman really has no shame.
In the original novel, after the Shen family fell into decline, Shen Wanru had constantly borrowed money from the original host to maintain her lavish socialite lifestyle.
Of course, she never paid it back.
Whenever the original host brought it up to their stepfather and mother, she’d only get scolded for not loving her sister enough.
"How much?"
Shen Wanru’s eyes lit up.
"Not much, not much! Just a million!"
Shen Xi casually reached into her pocket.
Shen Wanru thought she was taking out her phone to transfer the money, and her heart leaped with excitement.
But a moment later, Shen Xi pulled out a crumpled red 100-yuan bill and handed it to her.
"Here, this is 100. As for the rest of the million, figure it out yourself."
After all, she and Gu Hanling weren’t really a couple.
There was no such thing as ‘spending money’ for her.
Besides, she had no memory of the original host. She had no idea where the original's savings were kept, but even if she did, she wouldn’t give a single cent to this leech of a family.
Shen Wanru’s expression instantly soured.
She had never expected Shen Xi to humiliate her like this.
"Sister, how could you be like this? If it weren’t for Dad taking care of you, an outsider, you would’ve starved to death! Yet you’re so ungrateful? I’m telling Mom and Dad when we get home!"