Lu Chengwen was so angry he could hardly breathe.
He was well aware that, as a person from a prominent family, such gossip was common in the public.
So he didn't care about it; if he reacted to every rumor, he'd probably die from anger before adulthood.
In this city of millions, thousands of people ntioned his na every day. The rumors were always highly imaginative, creative, and sensational!
And before saying anything, there had to be lines like:
"I heard from soone..."
"Soone who knows the inside story told ..."
"You guys probably don't know..."
"I'm privy to the inside info..."
Such opening statents.
The key was transparency in the channel, making it seem credible—dare you not believe it? They'd keep telling you until you did.
But no matter what, even though he knew about it, hearing it firsthand still made him feel suffocated and furious.
Inside the room, an older woman whispered, "When Da Bin and the others co, don't make a sound. I'll try to persuade them and get Jiang Shihan to interact with Da Bin. Although she's involved with Lu Chengwen as a mistress, she really had no choice. The child is filial and has worked hard over the years to pay for her mother's treatnt! It'd be good if she can turn things around!"
"Yeah, Da Bin is steady. If they can live well together, that'd be nice."
"I just don't know if Jiang Shihan can look at Da Bin. The kid's standards must be really high now, right?"
"She doesn't have a reason to look down on him, does she? Is she so pure, virtuous girl? After so many years, she's probably had enough fun, hasn't she? How could she still think Lu Chengwen would marry her as his wife in a wealthy family? She should be glad soone honest like Da Bin would take her! If it weren't for her family's decent condition, I'd feel Da Bin was the one being wronged."
Not long after, the door on the opposite side opened, and Jiang Shihan and her mother walked in. Everyone stood up to greet them warmly.
Zhang Shen'er turned to Lu Chengwen, playfully smiling at him, "Is there really sothing going on between you and the secretary? The way they talk about it, it sounds like the truth."
Lu Chengwen irritably replied, "She's my girlfriend."
...
Inside the private room.
The lively atmosphere didn't last long before the aunts and uncles began introducing a young man nad Da Bin. They said he was a perfect match for Jiang Shihan.
Jiang Shihan tried to explain that she didn't want a boyfriend at the mont, but everyone insisted, even Jiang Shihan's mother:
"Shihan, I think Da Bin is a good kid. You should exchange contact information and get to know each other as friends first!"
Jiang Shihan felt awkward and wanted to run away, but she didn't want to lose face in front of all the relatives and neighbors, so she reluctantly declined.
Until Xiao Juanjuan started making sarcastic comnts, Jiang Shihan's mother's expression grew darker.
She was already rather traditional, and after hearing all the gossip about Jiang Shihan, she felt embarrassed in front of relatives and neighbors.
Now, she felt even more humiliated, constantly giving Jiang Shihan secret signals.
Jiang Shihan had no choice but to add Da Bin to her contacts.
Imdiately, Xiao Juanjuan urged, "Alright, while the adults are chatting here, you two young people should go out for a al. Da Bin, you're paying! Then maybe watch a movie or go shopping!"
Jiang Shihan imdiately said, "I only took half a day off. I still need to go to my boss's house to work tonight."
Xiao Juanjuan laughed, "What work are you going to do at his house? Are you Lu Chengwen's secretary or his wife?"
Jiang Shihan imdiately beca displeased and stood up, "What did you say!?"
Xiao Juanjuan was surprised, "What's with you? Why are you getting upset? I'm your elder. Isn't it okay for to ask you?"
Jiang Shihan endured the humiliation, and her mother kept pulling at her from the side.
Jiang Shihan angrily sat down.
"I don't have ti, I have work."
Xiao Juanjuan disdainfully said, "I've never heard of a secretary going to soone's house to work."
Jiang Shihan was furious, standing up again, "I'm the Chief Life Secretary for Mr. Lu! Everything related to his daily life, including his als and schedule, is managed by my team!"
"I don't just send his dry-cleaned, high-end suits to his house, where else should I send them?!"
"Mr. Lu needs soone to deliver docunts and summarize information for etings when he's catching a midnight flight or attending city council etings. If I don't go to his house, do I call and do it over the phone?"
"I know what you all are saying behind my back! Just say it! I'm his mistress, I've slept with him! Say whatever you want! Between Mr. Lu and , it's love, not a transaction!"
The scene instantly beca awkward.
Jiang Shihan's mother stood up, her voice trembling, "What... what did you just say?"
Xiao Juanjuan sneered, "You lost all your dignity, and now you're invincible. Well, looks like Da Bin won't be interested in you anymore."
Jiang Shihan's mother felt all her face was lost and, in a frenzy, tried to hit Jiang Shihan.
The middle-aged man imdiately stood up to separate them.
"Hey, hey, everyone, calm down, calm down, please... just quiet down!"
Da Bin stood up, "Shihan, hey, don't... don't be upset. It's just... my second aunt didn't an anything bad..."
Jiang Shihan's mother began crying, "How did I give birth to such a daughter!"
"I'm exactly the daughter you gave birth to!" Jiang Shihan said, "Why did I work at the Dasheng Group? Wasn't it to earn money to treat your illness? My boss hasn't touched in all these years; if he wanted to sleep with , he could have done it a long ti ago. Does he need to wait until now?"
"You people, who've never seen the big picture, I don't bla you! But what nonsense are you spreading? My boss is a good person. He's invested so much in the slum areas. Do you all have relatives or friends living in those areas? The first residential complex is about to be completed, and soon the second and third will follow... If he doesn't build the houses, those people will end up sleeping on the streets! Renting low-inco housing!"
"Mr. Lu isn't as decadent as you think. Yes, he has many girlfriends, but every one of them pursued him actively. If he wants won, they line up to go with him!"
"You can't get close to this kind of wealthy family connection, so you try your best to slander others! You think you know everything, but have you ever seen the life of those in wealthy families? Do you know which way their doors open, who they et every day, or what's on their minds?"
"Can't reach the grapes, so they say they're sour! If your family could speak three words to Mr. Lu, maybe they wouldn't be so virtuous!"
The scene beca quiet for a mont.
At that mont, the door opened, and a beautiful woman walked in, looking surprised: "Shihan!?"
Everyone turned to look, and it was Xu Xuejiao.
Xu Xuejiao was wearing a thin windbreaker and long boots, looking fashionable and stunning.
"Mr. Xu?"
Shihan's mother was also excited: "Doctor Xu!?"
The entire room of twenty or so people beca excited.
Xu Xuejiao!
The eldest daughter of the Xu family, a renowned doctor in the entire North Country.
Everyone in Snow City knew the famous na of Xu Xuejiao.
And anyone who knew soone from the Xu family was truly fortunate, probably from several lifetis of good fortune.
If you go to a hospital and want to do surgery, just knowing the departnt director gives you powerful connections. Knowing Xu Xuejiao ans you essentially know a living Bodhisattva!
Xu Xuejiao smiled and said: "What are you doing here!?"
Xu Xuejiao and Shihan were both pulling each other's hands, very happy.
"Why are you crying?"
"No, I'm not," Shihan quickly wiped her tears.
Shihan's mother hurried over: "Doctor Xu, what a coincidence! My life was saved by you! Oh my, Shihan, this child, I asked her to bring you so gifts to visit, but she kept saying no. I said it's just a little gesture from us..."
"Haha, really no need. Aunt, your health has been good lately, right? If you have ti, go to the main hospital and look for the director, just ntion my na, and they will give you another thorough check-up. You need to rest, don't overwork yourself."
"Yes, yes, yes... Doctor Xu, co in and have a bite?"
Xu Xuejiao smiled: "No, no, I have an appointnt with a guest."
Then she turned to Shihan: "Where is Mr. Lu?"
"He... should be in a eting at this ti, but sotis he skips the ones he should attend."
"Haha, that's his style."
Shihan's mother even tried to engage in conversation: "Doctor Xu..."
"Aunt, Shihan and I are like sisters, just call Xuejiao."
"Oh, how could I do that! You saved my life..."
Xu Xuejiao shook her head: "Your life wasn't saved by . Your daughter is outstanding. She's one of the few good girls I've t in the workplace—smart, capable, and very pure."
Da Bin got emotional and yelled: "I said it! Shihan is not that kind of person!"
Xu Xuejiao was stunned, thinking, "What's wrong with this person?!"
Shihan's mother said: "Oh, Shihan is really stubborn, doesn't listen to anyone..."
Xu Xuejiao said: "Aunt, there's soone else you need to thank!"
"Huh? Who?"
"Lu Chengwen!" Xu Xuejiao pointed at Shihan: "Her boss."
"Lu... Lu... Lu Chengwen?"
"Don't you rember? He called that day!"
"Yes, yes, I rember, but you ca first to treat , and then he called..."
Xu Xuejiao laughed: "Aunt, to be frank, back then, with your and Shihan's faces, you couldn't have gotten to co. Also, in the entire North Country, anyone who could treat your illness would have charged at least a million."
"Ah... uh... this..."
"Mr. Lu had already ntioned your illness to , so when I heard Shihan say your condition had worsened, I went straight over. To be honest, I just wanted Lu Chengwen to owe a favor."
"Oh, I see. Well, thank you anyway, you're really kind-hearted..."
Shihan felt a bit embarrassed.
In terms of character, everyone in the world is equal.
But in terms of social status, it is definitely unequal.
In terms of knowledge, vision, ability, mindset... and other dinsions, it's a huge gap.
Everyone! No exceptions!
Even an extrely good person—morally, intellectually, capable, with the best vision... across all aspects, top-tier.
It's the sa.
They would respect a street sweeper and be polite.
That's their deanor.
But when they et a big celebrity or soone of extrely high social status, they will be very warm, very considerate, and very polite!
That's their wisdom.
And when they et soone like a president or a pri minister, soone at the top of the social hierarchy, they would almost be cautious and respectful, walking on eggshells.
That's their clarity.
This is not a moral issue; it's the normal social division of labor and the inherent recognition of class.
At this mont, Shihan felt very embarrassed because her mother was bothering such an important person and constantly talking nonsense, repeating things that didn't even matter, making her feel ashad.
Of course, Shihan wasn't disdainful of her mother's social class; she wasn't the kind of girl who forgot her roots.
It's just that Shihan felt her mother didn't understand what was important. For a person like Xu Xuejiao, just greeting you is already a huge favor. It's very impolite to keep nagging them about unnecessary things.
But most ordinary people don't understand this. They think that by saying more, they will make an impression, and make the relationship deepen quickly.
"Mom! Stop talking so much, Doctor Xu is very busy..."
"Oh, busy with what? Let her eat first, then get busy."
Xu Xuejiao felt embarrassed: "Aunt, I really can't, I have an appointnt with a friend."
At that mont, a voice ca from behind: "Xu Xuejiao? Shihan!?"
Shihan turned around in shock.
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