{We don’t need to have any further contact in this lifetime. 4}

Qian Xu returned to the warm room indoors, untouched by the cold outside. Mrs. Li was hosting a tea party, with ladies and young women gathered around the hearth, brewing tea. Meanwhile, Mr. Li and his friends were by the fireplace, discussing “practical philosophy” and enjoying the scent of woodsy cigars.

The atmosphere in the Li household was charming, and everyone present seemed to be included in some way. Mrs. Li had thoughtfully introduced Qian Xu to several new friends.

People in high society were often intrigued by drama, but there were exceptions. One of them was Miss Xu, rumored to be Cheng Shuangyi’s close friend since high school, with whom she shared a strong bond. Miss Xu was known for defending her friends, and although she hadn’t yet told her about Qian Xu’s return, she lowered her usual air to make some rather impolite remarks. “Miss Qian, do you have a habit of liking things that belong to others?”

“I can understand, I suppose. Stepmom stories are all the rage these days,” Xu Jun initially planned to criticize Qian Xu’s supposed material lack. But she had to admit that this woman clearly took care of herself—her attire and appearance didn’t hint at any poverty, and she seemed even more suited to the extravagant setting than the others. “Lots of young women don’t want to have kids nowadays; they think that by becoming a stepmother, they can ‘win effortlessly.’”

“Oh, right, I assume they must be very skilled at taking things without effort.”

“However, I believe in ‘no pain, no gain,’” Xu Jun raised her eyebrows with a hint of challenge. “Wouldn’t you agree, Miss Qian?”

Qian Xu realized that some people took advantage the more you accommodated them. She wasn’t afraid of making enemies and didn’t mind opposing a few petty people who clung together for support. Most of them held nominal positions in their family businesses but lacked real authority. “I think you’re simply older than most of the people here. I don’t know everyone’s age, but they all look younger than you. I understand if your hearing isn’t what it used to be.”

Before Miss Xu could respond, Qian Xu continued, “I made it very clear to Miss Cheng’s children that they should look for their biological parents.”

“After all, I can’t provide a complete family’s love.”

She then turned to Miss Xu with a direct, piercing look at her overly decorated yet aged brow. “But I’m curious about something—after everything I went through, why has Miss Cheng not acknowledged it in any way?”

Miss Xu grew furious. “How dare you ask for money?”

“Apologies, but I’m new to this field, and my attitude towards money is like that of any regular young person,” Qian Xu abandoned any restraint or decorum. “You said ‘no pain, no gain,’ and I just realized I’ve gained nothing from it, so I may as well be upfront about my price.”

She leaned close to the pale-faced Miss Xu and added, “By the way, my annual salary is nearly seven figures.”

“I’m sure Miss Cheng asked you to greet me warmly as a clear show of good faith and to compensate me for three years of hard work.”

She didn’t hesitate to drag both Miss Xu and her friend into this mess.

Birds of a feather.

If they were all dealt with together, wouldn’t that settle things?

…

After finishing, Qian Xu returned to sit by Mr. Li. The case they discussed hadn’t faced any significant obstacles, and Mr. and Mrs. Li were reasonable people. Mrs. Li had even stepped forward earlier, standing in front of Qian Xu and questioning Shen Qiyue and her guardian directly. With that level of support, they certainly wouldn’t suddenly side with Miss Xu. Having heard of Qian Xu’s hardships over the past few years, they couldn’t ignore her plight.

In contrast, Miss Xu had only stirred up trouble. It was obvious to everyone who had been wronged, yet she had the nerve to accuse Qian Xu of scheming to gain things without effort.

Wasn’t she the one trying to take things without effort?

She was a leech at home, coming into others’ homes to pass judgment. How could she be so shameless?

Miss Xu may have had enough sense to pick up on the disapproval around her, so she quickly made up an excuse to leave early. Along the way, she didn’t forget to report back to her close friend, lamenting how “difficult” Qian Xu was to deal with.

—

Qian Xu encountered almost no resistance in the Li household. Mr. and Mrs. Li looked at her with a certain appreciation, as one might regard a junior they admired. They didn’t force their business partners to drink, especially on a peaceful evening like this. However, perhaps out of curiosity, Qian Xu noticed an excellent bottle of brandy nearby and was tempted to take a sip.

But just as she reached for the decanter, someone strode in from the estate’s grounds and immediately spotted the bottle in her hand.

Without hesitation, Zhao Buhui’s first words were, “Don’t make things difficult for her. I’ll drink it for her.”