Chapter 9

Shen Wan noticed this and subtly curved her lips.

With her head held high and a defiant expression, Shen Yan remained completely unaware. Instead, she scornfully gazed at the items on the ground, treating them as if they were repugnant objects not fit to be observed.

The brands of shampoo were unheard of.

The sanitary napkins were packaged for both day and night use, resembling a bag of baby diapers.

And there was even soap?! In the Shen household, only the servants would touch such things.

Not to mention the miscellaneous items like toilet paper, toothpaste…

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A sense of cheapness filled the air, contrasting starkly with the extravagant and fancy design of the Shen house.

“Tsk, so you went out early to go grocery shopping. Looks like you’ve found quite a few bargains, huh? Did all these items add up to over a hundred yuan?”

Shen Wan looked at her coldly.

“With your shabby appearance, you still want to be the Third Lady of the Shen family? Even the servants at home dress more decently than you.” It was a pretty and rosy mouth, yet the words it spoke were venomous.

A spark of anger flickered in Shen Wan’s eyes.

“Oh, did what I said hurt your self-esteem? What should we do about that?” She covered her mouth in mock surprise.

Holding back the desire to roll her eyes, Shen Wan observed the person in front of her as they exaggerated their gestures and movements. Did she really believe she was performing in a TV show?

Suddenly, her gaze shifted slightly, and she silently counted the seconds.

All of a sudden, the young lady broke into a smile, infusing a spark into her otherwise pale complexion. She signaled Shen Yan with a finger, a hint of disdain in her gesture.

Like calling a dog.

Shen Yan’s anger flared uncontrollably.

The young lady’s smile remained unchanged, and she even sweetly addressed her as “sister”. She took a half step forward, her voice meant only for the ears –

She uttered, “Do you realize your current appearance? A contorted and envious woman, a wretched being fearing rejection. Can you fathom the unsightliness of your anger? Similar to decaying minced meat, a reeking pit of filth.”

“Shen Wan, you shut up!”

In response to her beckoning hand, the young lady tumbled to the ground.

Just as Shen Chunjiang stepped inside the house, a muffled thud sounded, followed by the resounding laughter of his second daughter.

“Hahaha – that’s a good fall! You deserve it! Born with a cheap life!” With those words, she pounced, clutching Shen Wan’s throat and squeezing with all her might.

“Shen Yan! Let go of her –”

“Dad?!”

Shen Chunjiang pushed her away and helped his younger daughter to her feet. “Wan Wan? Wan Wan?”

The young girl gasped for breath, tears falling down her cheeks like rain. “Dad, am I going to die?”

A slight pang of worry shot through the man’s heart. “No, you won’t…”

At a certain chess and card club.

Yang Lan had a fortunate day, winning a hundred thousand yuan in just the morning. She was in high spirits, with a smile adorning her face.

“Eight of clubs.”

“Wait! All in the same suit, no caps, five times the stakes!”

“It seems that Mrs. Shen is determined to play us to her heart’s content today, making us lose terribly and empty our pockets. Fine, let’s unite and give her a taste of her own medicine!”

Yang Lan chuckled. “Mrs. Qi, you’re short on money? Let me go easy on you.”

Suddenly, a ringing tone interrupted them.

“Whose phone is ringing?”

Yang Lan picked up her bag. “Sorry, I need to take this call.”

Everyone paused, waiting for her.

“Chunjiang, what’s going on? I’m in the middle of something… Why is it so urgent that you need me to come back now?”

The other three ladies exchanged glances.

After hearing something from the other end, Yang Lan struggled to keep her composure. “Alright, I understand.”

After ending the call, she smiled apologetically at the three women. “I’m really sorry for today, something came up at home, so I need to leave early. I’ll treat you all to dinner another day to make up for it.”

“That’s fine, you go ahead if you have something to attend to.”

After Yang Lan left, with one player short, they decided to call it quits.

“Did you hear that Shen Chunjiang brought back an illegitimate daughter? What’s going on?”

“Oh, I really hadn’t heard about it.”

“What’s the story behind this?”

“Let’s wait and see. Mrs. Shen is going to face difficulties. Can anything positive really come from those sluts raised outside?”

“Well, we can’t put it that way. We need to observe the Shen family’s stance.”

“What stance?”

The woman revealed a subtle smile. “Families like ours are destined for success, but only a handful truly excel. Why? It’s all about the recognition and support of the family’s leaders. Otherwise, how could they make such significant waves?”

“They’ve brought the person home, doesn’t that count as acknowledgment?”

“It’s just an additional pair of chopsticks, an additional person to feed. Do you suppose the Shen family lacks that bit of money?”

“So, what do you mean…”

“Just wait and see. If within three months, this illegitimate daughter still doesn’t appear in public, it will only show that the Shen family is keeping her like a pet, just a toy for amusement. She shouldn’t even think about having any thoughts about the inheritance.”

…

Yang Lan rushed back home and as soon as she entered the door, she was met with a cold chuckle from Shen Chunjiang.

“Ha… You actually bothered to come back?”

After decades of marriage, Yang Lan could clearly sense that something was off with her husband’s mood.

She didn’t dare to delay and quickly changed into her indoor slippers, making her way to the living room.

“Xiao Yan?”

“Mom…”

Her daughter’s eyes, swollen and red, seemed to throb against her temples like a repetitive drumbeat.

“What’s going on?”

The young girl kept her head down, remaining silent, as if she had committed an unforgivable crime.

Turning her gaze to Shen Chunjiang, Yang Lan saw him sitting on the sofa, his face brimming with unrestrained anger. And right beside him, seated closely, was that illegitimate daughter!

At this moment, she lowered her gaze submissively.