Chapter 7: Jealous of the Two of Us? 

What Shengmei said was the truth. But when it fell into Wang Baichuan’s ears, it sounded completely different.

To him, her words meant she looked down on him, that she didn’t want much to do with him anymore. It felt like a veiled rejection.

Frustration mixed with gloom welled up in his chest.

In his view, Shengmei’s lie about owning the 2202 apartment had already been exposed. Yet she still carried herself with pride, holding on to her aloof posture, as though she were too good for anyone. To him, it was no longer “fun.”

His own secret about renting the car hadn’t been exposed, so in his mind, he still had the upper hand. He could at least maintain the façade of a successful man in front of her.

Wasn’t this the moment she should change her attitude? Did she still think she was the untouchable goddess back in college?

Of course, he only dared think these things—he didn’t dare say them aloud.

Facing Shengmei, he still put on the mask of politeness.

“Xiao Mei, did I… do something wrong? We used to get along so well. Why have you suddenly stopped contacting me? Tell me, and I’ll change!” he asked, his expression serious.

Shengmei frowned at his words. What did he mean by this?

That submissive tone of his made her feel deeply uncomfortable.

She answered patiently.

“You didn’t do anything wrong. Everyone has their own work and life. I just have a lot on my plate right now, that’s why I turned you down. It’s not that you’re not good enough—it’s simply that I’m busy. I think I explained myself pretty clearly, didn’t I?”

“But why do I feel like you’ve misunderstood me?” She tilted her head, puzzled.

Wang Baichuan sobered up then, smoothing his expression, forcing a polite, apologetic smile.

“Xiao Mei, I’m sorry. I’ve just been exhausted these past few days. That’s why I blurted out the wrong words. I didn’t mean for you to misunderstand. It’s my fault—I was too anxious.”

Shengmei smiled lightly, shaking her head.

“It’s fine, I understand. Everyone’s busy. Your company just started—you must be busier than anyone. Go home early, get some rest. You’ll work better when you’re rested.”

She spoke in polite platitudes, then turned and walked into the apartment complex.

Just then, she ran into Guan Ju’er and Andy returning, and the three went upstairs together.

While waiting for the elevator, Qu Xiaoxiao sauntered over, swaying her hips, chewing gum, and staring intently at Shengmei.

When she got no response, she lost interest in silence and instead started teasing.

“Sister Fan, I just saw Handsome Wang. You two aren’t finished yet, huh? When you came in, he was still staring at your back, looking all reluctant to leave. So? Did he pour out his feelings to you?”

Her grin widened as she piled it on.

“Sure, his car’s rented, but your place is rented too. If he really likes you, what’s there to be afraid of?”

Shengmei turned her head and looked at her quietly. Her dark eyes were clear and steady, her silence carrying an inexplicable weight.

Qu Xiaoxiao faltered for a moment, suddenly guilty under that gaze. She twirled her keychain nervously, then quickly regained her swagger.

“Come on, you’re not getting any younger. And Handsome Wang isn’t bad at all.”

Her cropped hair fell lightly across her forehead, her mischievous eyes glinting with sharpness, her whole demeanor brimming with cheeky confidence.

Watching her, Shengmei suddenly recalled something she’d once heard: If you want to know if someone has money, look at their hair and their shoes.

When you have money, your hair is always well-kept—sleek, glossy, cared for.

That’s the kind of detail the poor, busy with survival, rarely bother about.

Looking at Qu Xiaoxiao now, she realized it was true.

Her fearless arrogance came from one thing—she had money.

Fan Shengmei tilted her head, her eyes carrying the faint smoke of battle.

“Qu Xiaoxiao, if you enjoy watching drama so much, you should go to an opera stage—or the vegetable market. Why waste your time watching the so-called ‘good show’ of someone as insignificant as me?”

“Or is your life so empty and dull that even the smallest bit of gossip excites you?”

Ding.

The elevator arrived.

Ignoring Qu Xiaoxiao’s angry splutter, Shengmei stepped inside.

Guan Ju’er’s eyes shone with admiration. She often thought Qu Xiaoxiao went too far, but she herself never dared to argue, fearing it would make her look petty. Watching Shengmei turn every barb aside with such grace—like using four ounces of strength to move a thousand—made Guan Ju’er’s eyes sparkle.

Qu Xiaoxiao stormed into the elevator after them, her small figure tilting her head back to glare at Shengmei.

“Sister Fan, what are you saying? Who are you calling boring and empty? It was just a joke. It’s been so long already—do you really have to stay bitter? At your age, how can you be so petty?”

See? In her mouth, both good words and bad words became her weapon.

Shengmei took a small step forward, arms crossed, standing tall. Her height gave her an instant advantage, her shadow falling over Qu Xiaoxiao completely.

Feeling the pressure, Qu Xiaoxiao’s throat bobbed in a nervous swallow, her lashes fluttering as she instinctively stepped back.

Realizing what she had done, she quickly puffed herself back up, tilting her chin in defiance.

“What? Sister Fan, are you going to hit me now?”

She was certain Shengmei wouldn’t dare. Fan Shengmei was always so cautious, so afraid of consequences—she wouldn’t risk it.

But Shengmei’s face didn’t show the panic Qu Xiaoxiao expected. Instead, her gaze was calm, steady, and almost cold.

“Is that why you’re so worried—because it’s what you would do yourself?”

“Qu Xiaoxiao, your life must be really empty if all you can do is fixate on me. Why do you always watch me so closely? If not targeting Andy, it’s me. Could it be… that you’re jealous of the two of us?”

And honestly, Shengmei couldn’t be blamed for thinking that way.

Both she and Andy were stunning—beauties who turned heads wherever they went. Compared to that, Qu Xiaoxiao’s looks were ordinary at best.

The most primitive kind of jealousy often comes from appearance.

In the animal world, the one with shinier, smoother fur always drew more attention. Humans, being even more advanced, were no different. Otherwise, why was Qu Xiaoxiao always fixated on Andy and Shengmei?

Andy, after all, was rumored to be someone’s mistress.
And Shengmei? She was branded a gold-digger.

When Andy drove a car more expensive than hers, Qu Xiaoxiao had targeted her at first. But once Andy’s true background emerged, she didn’t dare offend her anymore and quickly switched to cozying up.

As for Guan Ju’er and Qiu Yingying?

They were still children in her eyes—not even worth her notice.

So now, all her barbs were aimed at Fan Shengmei.

For Qu Xiaoxiao, her very first reaction to Shengmei had been jealousy—raw, animal, instinctive jealousy.