CHAPTER 495: CHAPTER 21: THE INTERWEAVING OF FATE

As the New Year approached, the gift shop became busier, but the Charitable Foundation slowed down. Shen Chi was so busy that he barely had time to touch the ground, leaving early and returning late every day, while Lin Xiaoguai had arranged to go shopping for New Year’s goods with Zheng Cuicui and Han Shouzhen.

Shen Yinian had also returned. Naturally, this laborious time was not to be missed.

Aside from that, Xu Ji had been summoned back by his mother. Only Han Xinyu got out of it due to her pregnancy. However, it probably couldn’t be said that way because if she hadn’t been pregnant, she would have been more active than anyone when faced with such a situation.

They had originally planned to go to the supermarket, but upon seeing the crowd inside, they backed out and instead took a detour to the department store, where new clothes and jewelry were essential during the New Year.

Despite the crowd, the department store was still a lot better than the supermarket.

"Little Niangao, didn’t you say your watch strap was broken? Let’s buy you a new watch this time," Lin Xiaoguai suggested.

"No need," Shen Yinian shook his head. "Just changing the strap is fine. That watch works quite well." The watch had been a coming-of-age gift from his mother.

"Then as you wish," Lin Xiaoguai said upon hearing this, not pressing further.

"Let’s go look at clothes," Han Shouzhen suggested as she sized up Shen Yinian. "Little Niangao seems to have grown taller; last year’s clothes probably won’t fit anymore."

Lin Xiaoguai took a look herself, and indeed, last year she could reach up to her son’s chin, but now she just reached his neck.

"Let’s go over there. I remember the men’s clothing is all in that direction," Zheng Cuicui directed, pointing out a way.

After buying clothes in the men’s section, Lin Xiaoguai was about to ask where to go next when someone suddenly popped out.

"Chairman Lin, are you also here to buy New Year’s goods?"

Hearing this voice, Lin Xiaoguai felt like facepalming. After several months, how could Xu Meimei still appear wherever they went?

Zheng Cuicui and Han Shouzhen both frowned. It seemed not just Lin Xiaoguai, even their relatives were getting familiar with Xu Meimei. She was utterly pervasive. If not for Shen Chi’s insistence on keeping his distance from her, who knows what people outside would be saying? Even so, there would still be those who gossiped.

"Xu Meimei," Lin Xiaoguai said coldly, "Could you please stop disturbing my family and me?"

She was genuinely upset. Even if Xu Meimei didn’t covet her husband, dealing with such a persistent nuisance would not bring joy to anyone.

"What..."

"You don’t need to explain," Lin Xiaoguai interrupted her, "Your frequent ’coincidental meetings’ with us, what they’re for, it’s clear to everyone outside. You might have no shame, but could you please show some respect for others?"

"I..." Xu Meimei spoke, her face reddening, and her hands and feet at a loss.

Lin Xiaoguai didn’t want to hear her explanations and simply stated, "Let’s go."

Apart from Shen Yinian, who had just returned and was unclear about the situation, the other three understood the scene unfolding before them, hence they remained silent and followed Lin Xiaoguai out.

"Mom, what’s the situation with that woman just now?" Shen Yinian inquired once they were some distance away.

"She’s a romantic debt your dad incurred!" Lin Xiaoguai replied irritably.

She had been genuinely distressed lately; wherever she went, she would encounter Xu Meimei, carrying the same ostensibly cordial yet inherently hostile face, which was absolutely disgusting.

Throughout the return trip, Lin Xiaoguai remained moody. It took Shen Yinian quite some time to coax a smile from her.

Seeing her begin to watch TV, Shen Yinian went to find Mrs. Zhang in the courtyard. "Mrs. Zhang, what’s the deal with Xu Meimei?"

"Did you encounter her today?" Mrs. Zhang said, her face showing distaste, "She’s an unprincipled woman who knows full well that the gentleman is married yet keeps coming around every few days. I even run into her when I’m out buying groceries, and she tries to engage me in conversation to find out the gentleman’s preferences."

"Isn’t she Dong Fei’s niece? She even used Liu Shouyi’s name once to sneak into our compound, chasing right up to our doorstep."

Pausing, she frowned and continued, "That time, she emphatically claimed to be the lady’s friend, and I let her in. But the lady was taking a nap, and the gentleman was exercising in the yard. There she was, a so-called virtuous unmarried woman, blatantly ogling the gentleman, her face becoming flushed, a clear sign of burgeoning infatuation, which utterly disgusted me."

Shen Yinian frowned. "Didn’t dad take any measures to deal with it?"

"She has thick skin and is shameless with audacity. How is the gentleman supposed to deal with that?" Mrs. Zhang sighed, "I was so stunned by her behavior at that time, I didn’t react immediately, and she went on her own to fetch a towel to ingratiate herself. The gentleman was furious when he discovered it was her, he even called the police right away. Eventually, Xu Meimei was detained by the police for half a day before she was released. Even after that, she continued the same way. Fortunately, the guards have been notified, and dare not let her in anymore."