"Grandpa, Uncle, you’re back. Are you tired?"
While speaking, Shangguan You took the coats that Shangguan Zhi and his son had removed. Nanny Zhang, arriving just in ti, took them and hung them up.
"Thank you, Nanny Zhang." Shangguan You gave a gentle smile to Nanny Zhang.
"Miss, you’re saying silly things again. This is what I should do." Nanny Zhang spoke affectionately and then went into the kitchen to prepare dinner. Nanny Zhang personally cooked all the food Shangguan You ate in this house. She was especially adamant that Shangguan You not touch a single bite of anything made by Li Wanying, or anyone else for that matter.
"Our girl has grown up, now knowing to be considerate. It seems her half-year trip to B City wasn’t in vain."
"Grandpa, I’ve always been this considerate. Uncle, isn’t that right?"
"Hahaha, yes, yes, whatever our girl says is right."
"Of course." Shangguan You smugly curled her lips upwards and, taking Shangguan Yu’s arm, sat down to one side with him.
"This girl can’t be complinted too much. Just one complint and her tail is up in the sky." Shangguan Zhi laughed out loud as he watched Shangguan You’s endearing antics, his heart filling with inexplicable contentnt.
Shangguan Rou observed how Shangguan You had the grandfather and uncle laughing with just a few words; hate flashed quickly in her eyes. In the midst of the joyful living room, Shangguan Rou’s sowhat shrill voice suddenly rang out—this was also the reason she had made Shangguan You try on those clothes earlier today.
"Grandpa, today Sister bought several outfits in one go. The money she spent on these clothes could feed our family for several years! These clothes, I can only look at them from a distance; even if I really like them, I wouldn’t dare to buy them."
The cheerful atmosphere in the living room chilled because of Shangguan Rou’s words. Fortunately, Shangguan Qing had taken Gui Jun and a few others to the upstairs study; otherwise, this embarrassing scene would have unfolded before them. As it was, Gui Luo and Li isu were still present.
"Yes, the clothes that Cousin You bought, I really like them a lot too. Unfortunately, I don’t have that much money to buy them," Li isu said with a light laugh, aptly stoking the fire.
Gui Luo sat awkwardly next to Old Lady Shangguan, sowhat at a loss. She wondered if she should also kick them while they were down, but rembering Shangguan Qing, she held back.
"Rou, honestly, it’s just a few pieces of clothing. If Youyou likes them, she should buy them. She hasn’t been ho for half a year; they are only clothes, after all. Dad, Mom, Brother, let the child buy what she likes. Our family isn’t short of that little bit of money, right?" Li Wanying again put on the facade of a loving mother, defending Shangguan You at every turn while seemingly chiding her own daughter.
"Mommy, although it’s just a few pieces of clothing, each one costs over a hundred thousand. Sister bought two outfits and also bought a suit for Brother Qing, spending over three hundred thousand in total. And soone even gave Sister a white fur coat that is said to be worth over a million," Shangguan Rou said with a hint of grievance, her voice growing softer as she spoke.
"She spent over three hundred thousand in one go, and soone gifted her sothing worth a million?" Li Wanying’s mouth once again gaped wide. Alright, although she didn’t really care about that amount of money, who could be so generous as to give such an expensive gift?
"Youyou, is this true?" Old Lady Shangguan’s face darkened. This prodigal girl, just like her mother, spent money frivolously without a single thought for their family’s reputation. Even though she knew perfectly well that the money they spent wasn’t from the Shangguan Family, it still made her uncomfortable. That was why she disliked Shangguan You and her mother. Although Li Wanying’s background couldn’t compare to her own, Li Wanying knew how to please her and make her happy. This was unlike that other woman, who only knew how to spend money lavishly, bringing ho luxury goods so expensive that even she hesitated to wear or use them. Her son’s salary wasn’t even enough to buy one bottle of that woman’s perfu. Each ti she rembered how people in the courtyard used to say her son was a kept man, rage surged within her. What mother would want her own son to be scorned for living off a woman? Now, hearing about Shangguan You’s reckless spending, her anger naturally flared up.
Shangguan Rou smugly curled her lips, sitting to the side and watching the drama unfold. Now it was no longer her concern. Li Wanying wore a worried look as she watched Shangguan You, while Shangguan Zhi and Shangguan Yu rely looked at Shangguan You with so disappointnt, the smiles on their faces having vanished.
"Grandma, are you talking about the clothes I bought today?" Shangguan You said with a slight smile, standing up and taking out several bags. She had been waiting for this. She had seen everything Shangguan Rou did today and wanted to see if her cousin had the ability to turn the family against her.
A snow-white fur coat, a pair of white shoes, a goose-yellow dress, and a water-blue, diamond-studded dress were placed on the table one by one.
The other four bags were placed at her feet; she didn’t open them. Li Wanying looked at the flawless fur coat on the table, greed and discontent flickering in her eyes before she quickly suppressed it. Not to ntion the shoes, the coat alone was easily worth a million.
"The dresses might be acceptable, but that fur coat and those shoes look incredibly expensive at a glance. Sister even accepted them in public. If people don’t know any better, they might think Sister is accepting bribes in public. Wouldn’t this tarnish Grandpa’s, Uncle’s, and Dad’s reputations? One day, if the disciplinary departnt invites our family mbers for ’tea,’ they wouldn’t even know why. They would be taking the bla for Sister’s actions," Shangguan Rou spoke softly, yet everyone could discern the underlying aning in her words.
"Youyou, explain clearly. What exactly is going on here?" Shangguan Zhi’s authoritative voice rose, his stern eyes fixated on the unconcerned Shangguan You.
"Girl, I believe you’re well aware of our family’s situation. Tell us what’s going on. Who gifted you these clothes? Your uncle will handle this for you. If you really can’t accept them, we’ll return them," Shangguan Yu said with severity, yet his words carried an undertone of protectiveness.
Shangguan You’s profound gaze swept briefly over Li Wanying, her daughter, and Li isu, who were all watching the spectacle. Then, with a slight, innocent, and pure smile gracing her lips, she spoke words that made Li Wanying and her daughter feel as uncomfortable as if they had swallowed a fly.
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