Chapter 21: If You Don’t Want It, Just Throw It Away
Feng Weiwei happened to hear from her cousin that Gu Hanling had gone to the company today, leaving Shen Xi at the old mansion. Without hesitation, she turned around and came straight back.
Shen Xi already knew who it was. Without even looking up, she calmly finished chewing her food, gently placed her chopsticks down, and then raised her eyes to Feng Weiwei with a polite smile.
"Oh, it’s you, Sister Feng. Come sit down and have some breakfast with me."
Feng Weiwei’s face darkened. "Do I look older than you? Why are you calling me 'Sister'?"
Shen Xi tilted her head. "Well, aren’t you almost thirty? If 'Sister' doesn’t work, I could call you 'Aunt Feng' instead. That would be more respectful, don’t you think?"
She knew full well that Feng Weiwei got Botox injections three times a year. After all, Shen Xi had the advantage of knowing everything from an outsider’s perspective.
She could only show some respect to Gu Hanling, since he was the real boss here. But as for this woman in front of her? No way.
"You—!"
Feng Weiwei’s face turned black with anger, her body trembling.
She had always been admired and envied by everyone, standing above others. Yet now, she was somehow being completely suppressed by this girl in her early twenties.
Her chest rose and fell heavily as she struggled to calm herself down.
"My cousin was right. People from small families sure know how to run their mouths. I don’t have time for your nonsense, come with me. My cousin has been waiting for you!"
Shen Xi let out a small chuckle.
Well, I am getting paid for this job, after all. Dealing with the Gu family is part of it.
If she pushed them too far, it wouldn’t be easy to explain things to Gu Hanling later. A little humiliation wasn’t a big deal. It was just part of the plan.
"Fine, let me change first."
She stood up, grabbed the clothes the maid had brought earlier, and went inside to change.
When she came back, she walked to the door and said casually, "Alright, let’s go. I’m curious, what’s so important that the great beauty Feng had to come personally to get me?"
Feng Weiwei scoffed coldly, thinking, ‘Hmph, acting all tough, but in the end, she still follows obediently.’
The two walked in silence. Feng Weiwei strutted ahead like a proud, victorious rooster, while Shen Xi followed at her own leisurely pace.
She was in great spirits today, she had slept exceptionally well last night. If only she hadn’t woken up in such an awkward situation this morning, it would have been perfect.
When they arrived, it was the same grand hall from last time.
As soon as Shen Xi stepped inside, she saw Wu Xiaoman sitting gracefully, sipping a steaming cup of tea.
Wu Xiaoman’s gaze landed on the old jade bracelet around Shen Xi’s wrist, lingering for a moment.
Feng Weiwei, eager to earn favor, rushed to Wu Xiaoman’s side and immediately began snitching.
"Cousin, it took me forever to get her here! She was stalling in her room on purpose!"
Hearing this, Wu Xiaoman’s expression turned slightly displeased, carrying the air of a noblewoman as she looked at Shen Xi.
"What were you dawdling for? Making me wait here for you?"
Shen Xi raised an eyebrow, her polite smile unwavering. She met Wu Xiaoman’s gaze without the slightest hint of fear.
"Am I not allowed to have breakfast?"
Wu Xiaoman let out a cold laugh.
"You talked back to me at the family banquet last night, and now you're still being so rude? Is this how you treat your elders?"
She placed her teacup down with a soft clink.
"Every time I say one thing, you answer back ten. You have no sense of discipline. Since Xiao Han isn’t here today, I’ll teach you a proper lesson myself."
Her gaze turned sharp.
"Do you admit you were wrong?"
Shen Xi’s expression remained calm and indifferent, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.
She knew very well, Wu Xiaoman was determined to humiliate her today.
Next to her, Feng Weiwei smirked and eagerly handed over a thin wooden rod, clearly prepared in advance.
This disciplinary rod had been a part of the Gu family’s history for a hundred years. It was once used to punish female family members who had committed serious offenses. It was said to be painful to the bone but left no visible wounds, a truly mysterious object.
Wu Xiaoman weighed the rod in her hand, her eyes cold. She was already picturing Shen Xi kneeling before her, begging for mercy.
"Let’s see what’s tougher, your mouth or this rod."
With that, she stood up and slowly advanced toward Shen Xi.
Shen Xi narrowed her eyes, preparing herself to snatch the rod and strike them both instead.
She had expected verbal humiliation, but she didn’t think they’d actually lay a hand on her. No way was she putting up with this nonsense. At worst, she’d just get a pay deduction. No big deal.
Just as Wu Xiaoman raised the rod, ready to bring it down, a sudden force pulled Shen Xi backward. Before she could react, she crashed into a solid, broad chest.
A cold male voice sounded near her ear.
"What do you think you’re doing to my Xixi?"
Shen Xi looked up and saw Gu Hanling’s sharp, chiseled features.
Didn’t he say he had an important meeting at the company today? Why was he here?
Wu Xiaoman immediately put the rod down on the table the moment she saw Gu Hanling. Her expression shifted in an instant, and she smiled.
"Xiao Han, didn’t you go to the company? I was just trying to scare her a little, so she’d learn to follow family rules."
Gu Hanling’s voice remained icy.
"Family rules? You mean your made-up family rules? I'm being here is none of your business. I need Xixi’s help with something, so she won’t be staying at the Gu family home anymore."
With that, he took Shen Xi’s hand and walked out without another word.
Back in her room, Shen Xi packed up quickly and got into the luxury car’s passenger seat. She handed Gu Hanling a wooden box.
"Here. This has Grandma’s bracelet and the other jade pieces. I’m returning them to you."
Gu Hanling frowned slightly, his tone as cold as ever.
"I gave them to you. They’re yours now."
Shen Xi sighed. "But I didn’t suffer any hardship, and you still came to get me. I can’t take something so valuable for nothing. It doesn’t feel right."
Gu Hanling opened the box, took only the old jade bracelet, and said flatly,
"The rest is yours. If you don’t want it, just throw it away."
Shen Xi was momentarily stunned. She hadn’t expected him to say that.
Wow… rich people really don’t care about this stuff at all.
She wasn’t the type to be shy about accepting gifts, so she took the jewelry without hesitation.
Her gaze fell on the old jade bracelet in his hand. For some reason, she felt a strange emotion she couldn’t quite explain.
Then, a thought struck her. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Gu Hanling.
"Wait a second! Since I took this jewelry, are you going to deduct my salary?"
She had learned from past experiences and was very suspicious of him.
Who knew? Maybe two years later, her supposed two-hundred-million payment would just turn into a mountain of expensive gifts that she’d be forced to buy.
Gu Hanling ignored her, started the engine, and drove off.
Seeing that he wasn’t answering, Shen Xi pouted and turned away, muttering under her breath.
If he dares deduct my pay, I’m never accepting another gift again! Just give me cold, hard cash!
On the road, Shen Xi thought about how Gu Hanling had left earlier but then suddenly came back to save her.
Maybe she should at least say thank you.
Just as she was about to speak, the car stopped. She looked around, this place seemed unfamiliar. This wasn’t the villa.
Gu Hanling unbuckled his seatbelt and said coolly,
"Get out. Take a taxi. I have a meeting."
"…?"
Shen Xi had been about to say "thank you", but she swallowed the word back down and replaced it with speechless frustration.
"Seriously? Capitalists really are heartless. Fine, I’m going to see my first love."
She got out of the car without hesitation.
As she was closing the door, Gu Hanling’s voice came from inside.
"Little girl, Shi Jingyan isn’t your first love anymore. He has a girlfriend now. Good luck."
Then, he sped off, leaving Shen Xi standing in a cloud of dust. Shen Xi clicked her tongue and pulled out her phone to order a ride.
Fine. Whatever. First, she’d go home and pack up before moving into the villa.
When she arrived at her apartment building, she stepped into the elevator. Just as the doors were closing, a familiar voice called out.
"Xixi."
Shen Xi froze.
Damn it. Not again!
Shi Jingyan. Again. Again. AGAIN?!