Chapter 27 Part 1

A pleasant instrumental melody played in the Flower Shop, its piano notes healing the soul. Yet, because of that, Ah Man’s sarcasm sounded especially grating.

Cao Wensheng paused mid-scan of the payment code. She dug at her ear with an unrefined gesture, as if what she’d just heard was a figment of her imagination.

Born into a prominent family as the Only Daughter, she was a pampered Eldest Miss who’d grown up with a silver spoon.

People only ever fawned over and flattered her. This was the first time someone had dared to mock her to her face.

Cao Wensheng fixed her gaze on Ah Man, anger twisting into a laugh. Her plain features sharpened with cold light. She glanced around and raised her voice. “Insulting a customer right in front of them? Is this how you treat your patrons, Boss?”

Her words drew the attention of other customers. Aside from regulars familiar with Ah Man, the rest paused their browsing of dried flower stems because of Cao Wensheng’s accusation.

Ah Man held the Post-it note Cao Wensheng had just written high, out of Cao Wensheng’s reach. She remained unmoved by the attempt to sow discord. Cold-faced, she stated flatly, “You think you count as a customer? Coming into my shop to buy flowers to give to my girlfriend? You’re here to deliberately provoke me, aren’t you? Right? Right? Ms. Cao, you should feel lucky I didn’t just hurl flowers at your head.”

That sickeningly sweet message Cao Wensheng had just scribbled on the note was so cringeworthy Ah Man was embarrassed to even read it aloud. Who knew that underneath that serious, prim exterior lurked such a flowery romantic. No wonder the original Cao Wensheng was keen on finding a substitute lover.

The more Ah Man looked at Cao Wensheng, the less she seemed like a good person. All fierce and grim—utterly hideous.

She let out a smug humph, her bright eyes shifting to the ornate mirror on the counter shelf. She couldn’t help but smile. In terms of looks, she completely crushed this woman. Even if Cao Wensheng could spout love poems, so what?

Cao Wensheng’s expression completely shattered, her earlier composure gone. She sized up the raven-haired, stunningly beautiful woman before her, wariness creeping into her eyes. This woman was breathtakingly gorgeous; no wonder she could bewitch Xiao Xu with that face. But a woman who looked like this was clearly trouble. She must be clinging to Xiao Xu for her money.

Grinding her molars, Cao Wensheng’s voice lost its gentleness, gaining a mocking edge. “So you’re the woman Xiao Xu mentioned. What a coincidence. I just left Xiao Xu’s school and thought to buy her some flowers. Seems like fate.”

She expected Ah Man to fly into a rage and argue, certain that Ah Man was just a pretty face with no substance. Perhaps Cao Wensheng overestimated her own judgment, believing she hadn’t misread the situation.

In her view, excessive beauty was almost certainly used for shady dealings.

She’d seen too many women like that in wealthy, powerful families.

Even though Cao Wensheng looked down on women like that, she couldn’t deny this one’s beauty.

An enchantingly seductive face. Especially when those upturned eyes curved in a soft smile—the flirtatious charm she exuded made anyone’s heart itch.

She even thought it was utterly normal that Xiao Xu had been fooled by her.

Ah Man’s earlier words had cleared up the other customers’ discomfort, so they now shot disapproving looks at Cao Wensheng.

What a piece of work! Coming here to flaunt in front of the actual girlfriend, then trying to play the victim. Obviously just someone who couldn’t win the girl over.

Cao Wensheng heard the whispers about her, her gaze growing even colder. Her good upbringing prevented her from stooping to argue with strangers. Besides, she had a more important matter to handle.

She needed to deal with Ah Man first before anything else.

The way she kept saying “Xiao Xu” with such familiarity—how could the petty Ah Man stand it?

Ah Man knew the plot of this novel well. Cao Wensheng had secretly loved Sixu for years and had never succeeded in winning her over. So she wasn’t about to misunderstand their relationship based on Cao Wensheng’s deliberately ambiguous words.

She swayed her hips as she sat back down on the high stool. Flicking her long, wavy hair, her peach blossom eyes glowed with happiness. Her lips curved upwards. “And what about this woman, me? Did wifey brag about me to someone again? Geez, I told her to keep a low profile and not constantly flaunt our relationship to outsiders. The sweet moments between us, we know them well enough ourselves. But does wifey listen to me? No, if I tell her not to show off, she insists on showing off. Ms. Cao, I’m really curious, how exactly did wifey describe me to you? Could you tell me?”

She cupped her delicate face in both hands, elbows resting on the counter, her smile radiant. Every frown, every smile tugged at the heartstrings.

Facing such an exquisite, superior face, anyone watching would feel that making her smile was worth gouging out their own heart as an offering.

And so, Cao Wensheng was stunned speechless by that smile.

Ah Man puffed her cheeks and rapped her knuckles on the counter. What was wrong with this woman? In the middle of talking, and she spaces out?

Cao Wensheng snapped out of it, realizing her lapse. She immediately blamed Ah Man, pointing a finger. “You really have no shame at all! Tell me, with a face like that, why target Xiao Xu? Why not ruin someone else?”

Ah Man swatted her pointing hand away, raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean ‘ruin’? I treat wifey wonderfully. I’m completely devoted to her. Whatever she says goes. I even cook delicious food for wifey. Can you do that, Ms. Cao? If you can’t, then shut your trap.”

Cao Wensheng was taken aback by her words. She scolded disapprovingly, “Don’t think that just because you’re playing the devoted lapdog, you can fool Xiao Xu.”

Ah Man couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Her red lips parted. She stated bluntly, “Screw off.”

You failed to win over Sixu, so you come accusing me of being a fraud? No wonder she never chose you.

Ah Man waved her away dismissively. “Just go, just go. Seeing you irritates me. If you don’t leave now, I’m calling the cops!”

Cao Wensheng thought she’d struck a nerve. She spoke with a serious, lecturing tone. “It’s never too late to turn back from the cliff’s edge!”

Ah Man: “……”

What was wrong with this person? Now she finally understood how this female lead could endure a torturous, drawn-out drama with a substitute lover. Who the hell could stand this?

Ah Man simply turned her back on Cao Wensheng and continued trimming stems.

Talking to her was exhausting. What’s wrong with being a devoted lapdog? By sticking to it to the very end, I win everything!

Tch.

Cao Wensheng let out a long sigh. After thinking for a moment, she finally wrote a contact number on the note. “This person is also wealthy, just inherited the family business. She loves good-looking people the most. If you have any interest in her, just call this number. Just say you’re my friend, and she’ll definitely come see you. You love money, don’t you? She should meet your standards. So, let Xiao Xu go. She’s still young and innocent.”

Ah Man’s hand holding the shears trembled. Was Cao Wensheng an idiot? Which eye of hers saw that I was a gold-digging woman who despises the poor and loves the rich?

“Are you quite finished? You’ve been babbling a load of nonsense for ages. Do you think you’re the richest person in the whole world, in all of Flower City? I have money, too. Want me to smack your face swollen with my property deeds, you believe that?”

Seeing Ah Man’s stubborn, unrepentant attitude, Cao Wensheng’s last shred of patience evaporated. Her face cold and arrogant, she declared, “Fine. I hope you never regret the words you said today.”

Ah Man silently raised her middle finger, her lips curving in a cold, devastatingly beautiful sneer.

Cao Wensheng gave her a deep, complicated look, then turned and left.

Finally, Ah Man slammed the shears onto the table, crossing her arms in anger. Her good mood was completely ruined by that woman, Cao Wensheng.

“Boss, who was that woman?”

Ah Man grumbled, “A suitor of my girlfriend. Came here to provoke me.”

The customer glanced at Ah Man’s face, then recalled Cao Wensheng’s appearance. Pushing up her glasses, she said, “Boss, I don’t think your girlfriend is going to be won over by her.”

Ah Man smiled, letting out a light snort. “Even without me, she wouldn’t stand a chance!”

Thinking about it that way, didn’t it mean she and Sixu were simply made for each other? In the novel, Sixu hadn’t shown interest in anyone!

The frustration in Ah Man’s heart eased considerably. Sixu was her girlfriend now. No matter who came along, no one was taking her away.

Back in her car, Cao Wensheng made a phone call. Looking up at the name of the Flower Shop, she said calmly, “Yes, that’s the store.”

The determination in her eyes sharpened her features with a hint of ruthlessness.

She was going to buy this shop and drive out that woman with ill intentions toward Sixu.

Cao Wensheng tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, waiting for the results of the inquiry.

But when she heard the response from the other end of the line, she was utterly shocked. Her jaw dropped. “What did you say? This shop, along with this entire building, is the private property of a woman named Tao Man? I can’t buy it?”

Shouldn’t this building belong to that tech company she remembered?

“Who is this Tao Man? I need her complete dossier immediately.”

“Fine, send it to my phone. Thanks. I owe you a meal. Okay, bye.”

Cao Wensheng opened her phone, tapped the file her friend sent, and immediately enlarged the personal information for Tao Man.

One look at the face, and she could no longer maintain her composure.

Because that stunning face was the very same one she’d just seen.

The Flower Shop owner she’d dismissed as a gold digger was actually the owner of this entire high-rise building.

Cao Wensheng’s face instantly turned ashen.

Since Siqing and her family had severed ties with Si Linsheng’s family, her treatment within her social circle had plummeted.

This circle wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t small either. The fair-weather friends all knew each other’s family businesses.

People like Siqing, whose parents had little ability and relied on an uncle as a backer, suffered when that uncle was gone.

Siqing had always offended quite a few people while using Si Linsheng’s name. So today, she’d specially organized a dinner and drinks gathering, hoping to mend those relationships.

She’d drunk quite a bit, her face showing an unnatural red flush. While fawning over these people, inwardly she was cursing them all.

She had to endure. Once she formed a bond with a demon, these people would all come crawling back, begging to lick her boots!

Demons were powerful, wealthy, and influential. They were the top-tier aristocratic families. These people were merely second-rate families—what was there to be so arrogant about!

If it weren’t for her dad’s business, she wouldn’t have come at all.

It was just a shame that Sixu had escaped that time.