CHAPTER 157: CHAPTER 157: ILLUSION OR REALITY (3)_1

"Hmph." Lin Wenjie snorted coldly, not stooping to Shen Jia’s level.

"What’s your name?" Lin Wenjie asked the guard before him, his tone indifferent.

"President Lin, my name is Yang Bao."

"Good. From now on, you’re in charge of the security department. The Lin Family doesn’t need sycophants, but rather those who follow the orders of their superiors. You’ve done well. Keep it up," Lin Wenjie patted Yang Bao’s shoulder.

"Yes, President! I won’t let you down!" Yang Bao looked thrilled. He had thought his month’s work was down the drain, but to his surprise, he’d been promoted. This is fantastic, absolutely fantastic!

"Do a good job," Lin Wenjie nodded.

"Hmph, what’s so great about that? Your little mistress has already hooked up with other men; you’re still being cuckolded by her! No matter how much you do for her, it’s useless. You’re just deluding yourself," Shen Jia said hatefully, her face turning livid.

Wanqian’s expression soured. Having already borne the brunt of Lin Wenjie’s anger, she didn’t try to stop Shen Jia, letting her speak her mind. Duan Mei wanted to intervene, but this daughter of hers simply wouldn’t listen. She had been arrogant and willful since childhood and remained so now, utterly failing to grasp the severity of the situation.

"Loose lips sink ships. It seems you still haven’t grasped that. Show them out. The Lin Family does not need such guests," Lin Wenjie’s voice grew colder. Hearing Lin Wenjie’s command, Yang Bao excitedly rolled up his sleeves, ready to haul them out.

"What gives you the right?! Your little mistress ran off with someone else! What does that have to do with me? Why are you throwing us out?" Shen Jia shouted.

A glint of murderous intent flashed across Lin Wenjie’s face. Shangguan You observed his expression and thought, This is bad. If he deals with Shen Jia’s family or makes a move against them, it will ruin my plans. That absolutely cannot happen. I haven’t achieved my desired outcome yet, so I can’t let anything happen to Shen Jia’s family.

"Brother Jie!" Shangguan You quickly walked up to Lin Wenjie, affectionately linking her arm with his and smiling up at him.

"You mischievous girl, I thought you weren’t going to come out and see me." The coldness on Lin Wenjie’s face subsided, replaced by a gentle warmth as he tousled her hair with his large hand. He had seen Shangguan You there earlier; he simply hadn’t approached her due to his own considerations.

"I’ve missed you so much, Brother Jie! How could I not come out to see you? Brother Qing came with me," Shangguan You said with a smile, then gestured toward Shangguan Qing.

"Second Young Master Lin, long time no see."

"Young Master Qing, likewise, long time no see." The two men extended their hands simultaneously. Shangguan Qing was refined, Lin Wenjie roguish. They shook hands politely, and though their actions seemed natural, Shangguan You sensed an air thick with gunpowder between them, as if they were on the verge of a fight.

Could it be that these two harbor a grudge against each other? Shangguan You speculated silently. It seems I really need to get a better understanding of the matters between the Shangguan Family and the Lin Family. Right now, I’m completely baffled.

Shen Jia’s face turned ashen, her hands clenched together tightly. Wanqian’s expression also grew grim. Today was the third time she had encountered this Shangguan You. Shen Jia detested her, and Wanqian felt no fondness for the girl either; every time they met her, both she and Shen Cheng seemed to suffer misfortune.

I never imagined Shen Jia’s inability to enter this place was actually because of her, Wanqian thought. What exactly is her identity? Is she truly connected to the Shangguan Family?

"Shangguan You, you did this on purpose, didn’t you? You deliberately embarrassed me, deliberately kept me from entering, didn’t you?!" Shen Jia bit out, her voice seething with anger as she glared at Shangguan You.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about," Shangguan You rolled her eyes and replied airily.

"Brother Jie, Shen Jia was my classmate, after all. Even though she has a bit of a nasty mouth, it’s quite pitiful seeing her wanting to come in but being unable to. Why don’t we just let her in? She might not be able to afford the most expensive things, but she can still manage the more ordinary items."

Shangguan You tugged and gently shook Lin Wenjie’s hand. Truthfully, I don’t want Shen Jia neglecting her own business just to come here every day and cause trouble over a few outfits. That could end up affecting my own plans.

"I don’t need your pity!" Shen Jia exploded upon hearing Shangguan You’s words. Pitiful? Me, pitiful? I have a father and a mother! How am I anything like Shangguan You, that shameful mistress who can’t even show her face in public? How dare she call me pitiful?

The torrent of abuse Shen Jia was about to unleash was instantly muffled as Wanqian and Duan Mei simultaneously clapped their hands over her mouth. Shen Jia might not have understood how terrifying it was to be blacklisted by the Lin Family, but Duan Mei certainly did. And Duan Mei definitely didn’t want to be deprived of beautiful clothes in the future.

"Hmph. I was originally going to teach her a lesson for your sake. But since you’ve spoken up, out of consideration for you, we’ll lift the ban. However," Lin Wenjie nodded, then turned and gave a few quiet orders to someone nearby before smiling at Shangguan You. "For this Miss Shen, everything in the Lin Family’s mall will be at full price—no discounts, no special offers."

"Brother Jie, we want to pick out a few outfits. Will you come with us, please? Pretty please?" Shangguan You tugged Lin Wenjie’s hand again, looking up at him with the pleading eyes of an abandoned puppy.

"You silly girl." Lin Wenjie shook his head, a soft chuckle escaping him. "Alright, let’s go. Pick out whatever you like; it’s my treat." This girl has really grown up, he thought, and she’s becoming more beautiful every day.

"Brother Jie’s taste is top-notch! It’s fantastic to have you with us. I’m relying entirely on you today, Brother Jie! Isn’t that right, Brother Qing?" Shangguan You chuckled merrily, walking into the mall flanked by the two handsome men.

"Naturally. We’re in for a treat, little one. Second Young Master Lin’s discernment is truly exceptional," Shangguan Qing said warmly, though his words were laced with an undercurrent of tension, like the smell of gunpowder. He then extended a hand and took her left, while her right hand was already holding Lin Wenjie’s.

Lin Wenjie’s eyes flashed, his cold gaze sweeping over the hand Shangguan Qing was using to hold Shangguan You’s.

Shangguan You looked at the two stunning men flanking her, and the corners of her mouth twitched sharply. What in the world is wrong with these two? One is my paternal cousin, the other my maternal cousin. They’re both relatives! Shouldn’t they get along like family? So why do they seem like sworn enemies now? No wonder Shangguan Qing was so against me seeing Lin Wenjie earlier and tried to stop me. Their current attitudes make everything much clearer. But in my memories, there was never any animosity between them. Could it be that all of that was just an act, and this hostility is the truth?