Sure enough, the sales assistant’s face had darkened. “I’m sorry, none of these credit cards are working.”

Nie Weiru prided herself on saving face, and this situation was utterly humiliating for her. To make matters worse, the store was already filled with several other customers.

Now, those very customers were watching her like an audience at a play, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. Their gazes only fueled her frustration and anger.

Turning to Ye Fan, Nie Weiru snapped irritably. “These credit cards are yours! How could they suddenly stop working without you knowing?”

In her heart, Nie Weiru was already blaming Ye Fan. Ye Fan wasn’t even her biological daughter, yet she had raised her for so many years.

And now, because of Ye Fan, she found herself in this embarrassing situation.

Nie Weiru gestured for Ye Fan to cover the cost of the clothes.

Ye Fan smirked inwardly but maintained a calm exterior.

“Mom, I’ve never used any of these credit cards. They’ve always been with you, so I have no idea why they were suspended.” Ye Fan replied evenly.

She added, “Besides, any money I earn is immediately transferred to your and my brother’s accounts. I don’t have that kind of cash on me right now.”

Nie Weiru felt a lump stuck in her throat. Faced with the pointing fingers and whispering of onlookers, she couldn’t even refute Ye Fan, because everything Ye Fan said was true.

She realized the situation had spiraled completely out of her control.

Earlier, while trying on clothes, Nie Weiru had accidentally smudged some foundation onto several garments. She hadn’t thought much of it at the time, assuming she would purchase them anyway. Now, however, she found herself stuck in an awkward predicament.

Left with no choice, Nie Weiru pulled out her own credit card. She had always relied on Ye Fan’s money, and this card—though issued long ago—had never been used.

Ye Fan’s lips curled into a mocking smile. So she finally has to spend her own money, Ye Fan thought. When she was exploiting the original owner, did she ever imagine this day would come?

“Use this one,” Nie Weiru said darkly, handing over her card with a sour expression.

The sales assistant, quick on her feet, immediately took the card. Having overheard the earlier conversation between Ye Fan and Nie Weiru, she had pieced together the dynamic between the two.

Before Nie Weiru could change her mind, the assistant had already rung up the bill and swiped the card.

Staring at the receipt in her hand, Nie Weiru felt a sharp pang in her chest. She shot a glance at Ye Fan, her face turning even darker. To her, Ye Fan was nothing short of a jinx.

But Ye Fan didn’t pay the slightest attention to Nie Weiru’s reaction.

Nie Weiru had never liked her, so why should Ye Fan bother trying to please her?

After spending so much money in vain, Nie Weiru was fuming and didn’t say a word to Ye Fan the entire way home.

She assumed Ye Fan, who had craved familial affection since childhood would eventually come crawling back if given the cold shoulder.

If Ye Fan could hear Nie Weiru’s thoughts, she would only mock her with three words: you think too much.

She was no longer the original Ye Fan and had no intention of playing along with Nie Weiru’s games.

Without hesitation, Ye Fan simply told Nie Weiru she had something to do, flagged down a taxi, and left.

This left Nie Weiru standing on the roadside, seething with anger, clutching the shopping bags in her hands.

….

A few days ago, the assistant director of Undercover on the Bund had called Ye Fan to confirm her casting as a nightclub dancer.

Today, Ye Fan went to the company to sign the contract. She received part of her payment upfront, with the rest to be paid after she completed filming.

Seeing the increased balance in her bank account lifted Ye Fan’s spirits. At the moment, she hadn’t found any other avenues for earning money.

Now that the money was in her hands, it wasn’t much, but it was enough to get by for a while.

Leaving the company, Ye Fan wore a faint smile. Her usually cool and distant demeanor softened, her eyebrows and eyes exuding a newfound warmth.

Several people turned their heads repeatedly to look at her. Seeing Ye Fan walking out of an entertainment company, they assumed she was a small but recognizable celebrity.

Ye Fan, unaware of their attention, headed straight to the mall. Before signing the contract, she had already decided to buy a tricycle for the baby so she could take him out for a stroll.

She rarely had time to spend with him, but whenever she did, she wanted to teach him how to ride.

The mall’s air conditioning greeted her as she stepped inside, dispelling much of the lingering heat.

Ye Fan made her way directly to the children’s section, browsing for a tricycle suitable for a two- or three-year-old.

“Miss, are you looking for a specific type?” a sales assistant asked, noticing Ye Fan studying the tricycles with focused attention.

There were so many options that Ye Fan wasn’t sure which one to choose.

“Where are the ones for two- to three-year-olds?” Ye Fan asked.

The sales assistant, noticing how young Ye Fan looked, didn’t believe for a moment that she was buying the tricycle for her own child. In fact, the thought never even crossed her mind.

She simply assumed Ye Fan was purchasing it either for a relative or as a gift.

Ye Fan selected a blue pedal tricycle, a color perfect for a little boy. After paying, she provided her home address, and the tricycle was scheduled for delivery the next day.

With this task checked off her list, Ye Fan felt a sense of relief. Her steps were noticeably lighter—she couldn’t wait to surprise the baby.

Just as she turned a corner in the mall, she almost collided with someone coming from the opposite direction. “Sorry about that.”

The woman nodded in response, but her movements were sluggish.

From Ye Fan’s angle, she could clearly see the woman’s face—it was alarmingly pale.

Frowning, Ye Fan stopped in her tracks. “Are you okay?” she asked.

The woman’s complexion looked worse the longer Ye Fan observed her.

Concerned, Ye Fan stepped forward to steady her. “You should sit down for a moment,” she urged.

Ye Fan helped the woman over to a nearby bench. Noticing that she was clutching her stomach, Ye Fan asked gently, “Is it a stomachache?”

The woman, Cheng Ping, nodded weakly. The combination of the heat, mild heatstroke, and stomach pain had left her drenched in cold sweat.

Ye Fan took some stomach medicine out of her bag and went to a nearby store to get a cup of water.

The original Ye Fan often skipped meals or ate irregularly, which had led to a serious case of gastritis. As a result, Ye Fan always kept stomach medicine on hand for emergencies.

After taking the stomach medicine, Cheng Ping felt much better. She thanked Ye Fan, saying. “Thank you so much.”

Ye Fan smiled lightly. “I should be the one apologizing—I accidentally bumped into you.”

Seeing that Cheng Ping was gradually recovering, Ye Fan added, “If you’re still feeling unwell, you should call a family member to come pick you up.”

Cheng Ping nodded. “I’m much better now. My nephew will come to get me in a bit.”

Ye Fan sat down beside her, intending to stay until Cheng Ping’s nephew arrived.

Grateful for Ye Fan’s help, Cheng Ping suggested exchanging contact information. Ye Fan agreed readily, though she repeatedly insisted it was no trouble at all—just a small act of kindness.

Besides, she had been the one to bump into Cheng Ping in the first place.

Cheng Ping studied Ye Fan for a moment, her gaze growing increasingly approving. “How old are you?” she asked.

“Twenty-five,” Ye Fan replied.

The age was perfect, Cheng Ping thought to herself, feeling more and more satisfied. However, she kept her thoughts to herself, not revealing anything on her face.

“You seem like a really nice person. Do you have a boyfriend?”

Ye Fan was taken aback for a moment. She could guess Cheng Ping’s intention—perhaps she wanted to introduce someone to her. Feeling a bit amused, she replied. “No, I don’t.”

Cheng Ping’s eyes lit up with delight, and she was about to ask more when her phone rang from inside her bag.

“It’s my nephew calling. He must be here,” Cheng Ping said.

Relieved, Ye Fan took the opportunity to excuse herself. “Then I’ll get going. I’ve got something to take care of at home.”

Cheng Ping was just about to answer her phone but paused, a hint of regret flashing across her face.

It wouldn’t hurt for Ye Fan to stay a little longer—meeting her nephew wouldn’t take much time.

However, Cheng Ping knew better than to insist, and she could only watch as Ye Fan walked away.

A moment later, a man stepped through the entrance of the mall.

He was young and handsome, with striking features. Dressed simply in a shirt, his presence still drew plenty of attention.

“He Han,” Cheng Ping called out, her eyes lighting up as she spotted him.

“A very nice young woman helped me earlier.”

Cheng Ping couldn’t help but think that the woman, with her beauty and kind heart, seemed like a good match for her nephew.

=^_^=