Free Web NovelChapter 471: Chapter 471: Aftermath
Shao Meijuan looked at Xu Ancheng, who was peeling shrimp, pouring soda, and picking dishes for Yi Roujing with all kinds of attentiveness. Her left hand, which wasn’t holding chopsticks, was nearly scarred from her pinching.
She had heard from Zheng Zhongyi about the identities of Xu Ancheng and Yi Roujing. Like her, Yi Roujing came from a humble background. Why could she marry Xu Ancheng, who was lucky enough to be the son of the head of the Xu Family in Jing City, and the only son at that, inheriting everything in the Xu Family in the future.
If Xu Ancheng’s background hadn’t been revealed or he hadn’t been recognized by the Xu Family earlier, Yi Roujing wouldn’t have had the good life she has today. Why is the difference between people so vast?
Yi Roujing, of course, noticed the burning gaze Shao Meijuan cast at her, as well as the jealousy and hidden resentment in her eyes, and she understood it well. She didn’t mind and was fine with her looking as much as she wanted.
The reform wave had already begun, and Xu Ancheng had his own connections to establish at the banquet. Xu Zongyin led him to meet many who came to greet them. Yi Roujing was tired of dealing with this; after the important greetings, she found a place to rest a bit and eat some desserts.
"I didn’t expect you to be the Xu family’s daughter-in-law. No wonder during that autumn outing, you didn’t give anyone a second look." Shao Meijuan realized after knowing Yi Roujing’s identity that she was truly uninterested in everyone then, rather than putting on airs.
"Does that matter?" Yi Roujing looked at Shao Meijuan, who sat beside her, with a slight, helpless smile. "I just have my own positioning, follow the principles of a married woman, and maintain the necessary distance, unlike you, spreading the net wide and starting from a point of interest."
"Humph, it’s easy to talk when you don’t feel the pinch. You’re only saying this because you’re the daughter-in-law of the Xu Family." Shao Meijuan said with a face full of envy and hatred.
"When I married Ancheng, he wasn’t the Xu family’s son." Yi Roujing laughed, "You could say I was lucky, but you can’t say I’m materialistic."
Shao Meijuan was choked by the retort.
"Ah, when luck is on someone’s side, it’s truly unstoppable, and of course, enviable and jealousy-inducing." Yi Roujing clicked her tongue. "I don’t bother myself with it, so I advise you to speak less. Otherwise, you’ll only end up feeling upset, don’t self-torment."
"You..." Shao Meijuan’s face twisted.
"Watch your expression and demeanor. You’re someone who relies on your looks for a living now. Such a grim face is not aesthetically pleasing and will age you prematurely."
"I know you look down on me." Shao Meijuan scoffed. "If I had your luck and met a benefactor early on, who would look down on whom is uncertain."
"Life is lived by people. You’re not unlucky; you’re just ambitious and greedy. I’ve seen many like you. Don’t blame your life’s misfortunes on such things."
"People seek happiness through effort, and only by walking their own path do they understand it." Yi Roujing said calmly to Shao Meijuan, "The situation you’re in now is of your own making."
"You..."
Yi Roujing didn’t want to sit with her any longer and left without another glance.
However, some people just won’t go away. As soon as Yi Roujing found a secluded spot to sit, Shao Meijuan appeared again, holding two glasses of wine.
"I’m sorry. I shouldn’t vent my misfortune on you. I apologize." Shao Meijuan sighed deeply, a self-mocking smile on her face, and then handed a glass of wine to Yi Roujing. "I toast to you. Please don’t bother with someone like me."
Yi Roujing really didn’t know whether to praise this person’s adaptability.
"I’m not bothered with you, rest assured, but don’t make too much of yourself." Yi Roujing declined with gratitude, "I didn’t drink at the table, do you think I would drink with you?"
"Are you refusing to give me face?"
"You don’t have any face to give, so why should I give it to you?" Yi Roujing replied coldly, impatient.
"Is this how you really are? I wonder if the Xu family son has seen this side of you."
Yi Roujing was getting annoyed, as if an annoying fly kept buzzing around her.
As Yi Roujing walked past Shao Meijuan, Shao Meijuan tilted the glass in her hand, spilling the wine on herself.
"Ah, Roujing classmate, you, even if you don’t drink, you can’t just knock it over on me." Shao Meijuan appeared on the verge of tears like a pitiful damsel.
Well, being able to switch between a green tea and white lotus persona is indeed a talent.
"Jing."
Just then, Xu Ancheng appeared at the right moment, and Shao Meijuan’s expression became even more pitiable.
"I told you not to self-torment." Yi Roujing took the untouched wine glass from Xu Ancheng’s hand, turned around, and stared straight at Shao Meijuan, then poured the wine directly over her head.
"I poured it. What are you going to do about it?" Yi Roujing’s attitude could be described as arrogant. Shao Meijuan was struck dumb and forgot what to say, not expecting Yi Roujing to actually do something like this.
Yi Roujing leaned even closer to Shao Meijuan, whispering in her ear, "You’re already like this. I didn’t want to do anything more to you, but why couldn’t you just let it go and still provoke me? Not sure if you saw the explicit photos or not, how do they look? If you want them, I have more."
Shao Meijuan’s eyes widened in disbelief as she took a step back, looking at Yi Roujing. "It was you..."
"A little help to the Liang Family. Those people and the photos were spread by them and made you lose face, but it was me who sent the photos to them." Yi Roujing said, "So tell me, why did you have people follow me?"
"Aren’t you afraid your husband will find out what you’ve done?"
"You should be thankful I handled you myself, otherwise if Cheng intervened, do you think you’d still be here causing me trouble?" Yi Roujing clicked her tongue and stepped back a few steps.
"Ancheng, handle this for me, will you?" Yi Roujing walked over to Xu Ancheng’s side, motioning towards Shao Meijuan with her mouth.
"Come to me if there’s a problem next time, don’t handle it yourself. Aren’t you afraid of getting hurt?" Xu Ancheng patted Yi Roujing’s head.
Shao Meijuan felt as though she couldn’t understand human language and sensed danger. Yi Roujing’s gaze she could withstand, but when faced with Xu Ancheng’s cold stare, she felt like a dead person.
"Ancheng, give me a little face, she’s someone I brought." Chen Pengyuan stepped forward with a smile.
"As long as Third Young Master Chen isn’t upset that we got your beauty wet." Yi Roujing replied on his behalf, her exquisite face looking even more radiant with her smile.
"No blame, no blame, she was just unsteady with her hand." Chen Pengyuan laughed, then looked at Shao Meijuan with a darkened expression, "What are you standing there for, get out of here quickly."
Shao Meijuan walked away in a daze, finally understanding that these were not people she could deal with.
