CHAPTER 380: CHAPTER 380: REALLY SHAMELESS

Xu Jingjing and Wei Jiaqiang returned to Z City earlier than others, arriving on the tenth day of the first lunar month. Having just married, Xu Jingjing felt it inconvenient to live at Xu Xiuxiu’s place, so the couple considered renting their own place, planning to save up for a couple of years to buy a home in Z City.

But when Xu Jingjing discussed it with Xu Xiuxiu, she was quickly persuaded to drop the idea.

Although the apartment in Hai Chao Garden belonged to Xu Xiuxiu, she and Song Yuanhuan would be staying in the Imperial City for another year or two. With Song Yuanhuan’s military college graduation pending, it was uncertain whether he would return to the Tiger Wolf Military Region in Z City to resume his old post or be assigned elsewhere. Xu Xiuxiu was unsure of the future, but she knew that for the next year or two, they would all mostly be in the Imperial City. Thus, leaving their Z City apartment empty seemed wasteful; it made more sense for Xu Jingjing and her husband to live there, injecting some life into the place rather than letting it fall into disuse.

They could move out once they were capable of buying their own apartment—an arrangement that could also save them a significant sum in rent. Xu Jingjing agreed with Xu Xiuxiu, and so she and Wei Jiaqiang continued living in Hai Chao Garden.

Once back in Z City, Xu Xiuxiu first sorted out Song Yuanhuan’s schooling. A simple phone call and a pulled string secured a spot for him at Z City’s top high school. Although the school was boarding-only, its proximity to their Hai Chao Garden residence allowed Song Yuanming and Xu Jingjing to live at home, a far better alternative to the school’s dormitory and cafeteria meals. Xu Jingjing and Song Yuanming had a sibling-like relationship, and they had no objections to this arrangement.

...

After resolving Song Yuanming’s schooling, Xu Xiuxiu began preparations for the entrepreneurs’ annual meeting.

By nine in the morning, the exterior of the Z City Convention Center was buzzing with activity; representatives from various companies arrived in their luxury cars. Xu Xiuxiu, dressed in a dignified and elegant manner, was accompanied by Ye Hua.

"Mr. Ye, to run into you right at the entrance must be fate. Let’s go in together!" Xu Xiuxiu and Ye Hua had just shown their invitations at the entrance and were about to walk in when a polite greeting came from behind.

Zhou Ling was a socialite in high society, her father the founder of Zhou Dasheng Jewelry. She had a distinguished presence and an impressive education, making her a coveted prospect for marriage amongst the elite. Sadly, women with status, beauty, and standards often look down upon others, and Zhou Ling was no exception. Yet after an unexpected encounter with Ye Hua, the usually aloof woman found herself taking a liking to him.

"Mr. Zhou, it’s been a long time," Ye Hua responded with a polite greeting, decidedly indifferent towards this woman who obviously took an interest in him.

"Long time no see! Mr. Ye, I wonder who is this classy lady by your side? Could you please introduce her to us?" Zhou Ling, who had set her sights on Ye Hua, had looked into his background. Young and virtuous, he had built a top-notch resort village in F Province with his own abilities. The man before her definitely had the sort of capital others would pursue. Men like him usually had no shortage of women around them. However, her investigation showed that he typically only had one or two casual companions, and at more serious events, he usually appeared alone. Yet today, at this Z city business entrepreneurs’ annual meeting, he unexpectedly brought a woman with him, which made her apprehensive. Her woman’s intuition told her the lady beside him posed a significant threat.

"This is..." Ye Hua was about to introduce Xu Xiuxiu.

"Xu Xiuxiu."

A sudden shout came, interrupting Ye Hua’s introduction, and as the group stood still in surprise, they turned to see a woman in a red dress walking up behind Zhou Ling. The woman approached in her high heels, looking at Xu Xiuxiu with a disbelieving expression.

Seeing the newcomer, Xu Xiuxiu raised her eyebrows in slight surprise. She hadn’t expected to encounter Lu Xiangxiang, a bizarre woman she had long put out of her mind upon returning to Z city. As it turned out, supporting female characters are indeed like indestructible cockroaches, yet Xu Xiuxiu really disliked their inevitable comebacks.

"Xu Xiuxiu, how do you have the audacity to come here, with just that little diner of yours? Don’t tell me you’ve clung on to the man by your side! Xu Xiuxiu, you’re still as shameless as ever!" Lu Xiangxiang said with a coy and mocking smile, her eyes, adorned with delicate makeup, fixed on Xu Xiuxiu with contempt.

"What? Xiangxiang, you know her?" Zhou Ling asked in astonishment. "What did you mean by what you just said? Did this lady do something?" Zhou Ling seemed somewhat surprised by the turn of events but was also pleased to follow along with what Lu Xiangxiang was saying.

She didn’t like the woman beside Ye Hua, particularly the palpable threat she seemed to pose. Lu Xiangxiang, with her typically airheaded demeanor and idiocy in handling matters, now appeared to know the other party and even showed the disdain one would reserve for a mortal enemy. So, Zhou Ling didn’t mind playing the role of an instigator at this moment.

"Know her? How could I not know her," Lu Xiangxiang snorted coldly and placed her hand on Zhou Ling’s arm. "Sister Zhou Ling, let me tell you, this is the very bitch that caused my resignation from the military! You know why I left the Military District, don’t you!" Lu Xiangxiang spoke through clenched teeth. "Xu Xiuxiu, if I had known you were such a shameless woman back then, I would never have given up on Song Yuanhuan. And now, here you are, betraying Song Yuanhuan and flirting with other men. Just because Song Yuanhuan went to Imperial Capital School for further studies, you think he won’t find out about your disgraceful actions, so you’re brazenly misbehaving. Xu Xiuxiu, you truly are shameless. Believe me, I could let Song Yuanhuan know about your filthy deeds right this instant!" Lu Xiangxiang said angrily, presuming her own definitions, convinced that what she saw and thought was the so-called truth.

To her, it was as though she had caught Xu Xiuxiu in a shameful act, appearing triumphant and above others. Little did she know that in Xu Xiuxiu’s eyes, she was nothing more than a pitiful, buffoonish troublemaker.

However, the fact that she knew about Song Yuanhuan attending Imperial Capital School for further training indicated that she hadn’t given up on him and was still keeping tabs on him. This realization only added to Xu Xiuxiu’s irritation.

"Oh!" Zhou Ling furrowed her brows upon hearing Lu Xiangxiang’s words and looked at Xu Xiuxiu with disdain. "Mr. Ye, I always thought you were a man of integrity, but it seems even you can be mistaken. I am not acquainted with this lady, but hearing what Xiangxiang just said, I know that this person doesn’t have good character. Mr. Ye is a businessman and knows the importance of integrity, so I hope that in the future, you’ll be more careful when judging people." Zhou Ling offered her advice with an air of sincere concern.