A pampered young lady from a prestigious family, pampered by her childhood sweetheart, a CEO.

His voice was utterly indifferent, devoid of any emotion.

Xu Shuli has always been like this; she can always be indifferent to, or even ignore, people who are not important to her.

What Wu Lina hated most was her attitude—always aloof and looking down on everyone. When they were in school, even if she didn't say a word, all the good things and good people would revolve around her. Why should she?

"I don't want to argue with you. If we made a mistake, we made a mistake. There's nothing more to say."

Xu Shuli was well aware of Wu Lina's ulterior motives. Today was the trial opening ceremony of Linran Manor, and she didn't want to disrupt the event.

"Xu Shuli!"

Wu Lina hated her attitude to the extreme. Just as she turned to leave, she grabbed her hand and pulled hard, causing her back to hit the door.

With a muffled groan, Xu Shuli's brows furrowed in pain.

Two other girls were with Wu Lina. When they saw Wu Lina make a move, their faces turned pale with fright. "Nana, she's Xu Shuli! You're hitting her! Aren't you afraid of the Xu family?"

"Yeah, yeah, I heard she's on good terms with those people from the Luo and Lin families. Aren't you afraid something will happen if you lay a hand on her?"

People always pay the price for their foolish actions. Xu Shuli shook her numb arm. Wu Lina had really used force in that blow, and her back was still aching slightly.

Hearing what her two companions said, Wu Lina's heart skipped a beat. She glanced at Xu Shuli's face and felt uneasy.

She acted impulsively, and now she…

“Xu Shuli…I’ll tell you…ah…”

With a sharp "slap," the crisp sound of a slap rang out, and Wu Lina's words were completely stuck in her throat. She stared at Xu Shuli in disbelief until a burning pain shot through her cheek, and only then did she dare to believe that Xu Shuli had really hit her!

Her two companions instinctively took a step back, covering their mouths in disbelief.

At the entrance to the separate hot spring baths for men and women, only they were present.

After changing his clothes, Luo Yunqi, unable to find anyone, suddenly turned pale, pulled his bathrobe tighter, and hurriedly went out to look for him.

As soon as I got downstairs, I heard Xu Shuli's soft yet powerful voice.

“Wu Lina, this slap is me returning the favor. If you have no brains, donate them to those who need them.” She moved her hand, which she had used too much force, her gaze icy, her pale face taut. “I don’t usually say hurtful things, but I did to embarrass you, Wu Lina. Use your brain.”

"Don't just blindly rush forward because of a few words from someone."

After saying that, Xu Shuli, fearing she wouldn't have enough time, prepared to leave. Perhaps still reeling from the mockery of her words, Wu Lina glared at her retreating figure, covered her face, and shouted:

"What are you being so arrogant about? You were dumped too, weren't you? So what if you're the eldest daughter of the Xu family? So what if you have a high social status? So what if you're a role model in high society? You were jilted three years ago, and now you've been jilted again. If I were you, I'd be hiding at home crying my eyes out..."

The room fell silent. Wu Lina's two friends were terrified. How could she say something like that?

Standing on the stairs, Luo Yunqi felt a sudden pang of pain in his heart. His departure three years ago had become the reason that hurt her the most. Even just mentioning it to anyone felt like a knife being slashed across his heart.

Xu Shuli turned around slowly and met Wu Lina's anxious and hopping appearance. She put her hands in her pockets and acted casually, but her cold, dark eyes were full of icy intent. Every word she spoke carried an imposing aura.

"I've only ever seen bound feet before, never bound head. I have to thank you for showing me... But, Wu Lina..."

Xu Shuli's expression turned cold. Beautiful girls always easily attract everyone's attention in an instant.

Her few words immediately drew everyone's attention to her. "I wouldn't cry over a man like that. No one is indispensable. Even a weaned baby has formula... What? You're still breastfeeding? I bet you're quite the comedian..."

Wu Lina's eyes held a venomous glint, staring intently at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Tsk, I forgot we're different races. I'm really sorry you don't understand me! What do you mean? I mean if Auntie wasn't humorous, she wouldn't have given birth to such a funny person like you."

"Xu Shuli!"

Wu Lina felt a pang of heartache from Xu Shuli's few words. At school, she was a popular figure. Even if she couldn't compare to Xu Shuli in terms of brilliance, she was always the center of attention wherever she went.

"I'm here."

Xu Shuli's lips curled into a mocking smile. "People always have to pay the price for their foolish actions. Wu Lina, I'm looking forward to seeing you come to apologize in person tomorrow or the day after."

"Forget about it, I will never apologize to you."

Despite her panic, Wu Lina had no intention of compromising or apologizing at that moment.

"If he doesn't apologize, Wu Zhenyu, the vice mayor, can forget about getting a promotion and a raise."

Their commotion was a bit loud, but the doors to the bathhouses on both the men's and women's sides were tightly held shut by Wu Lina's two friends, who locked the doors.

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Xu Shuli lowered her head slightly, her throat feeling dry.

"Luo...Luo Yunqi..."

The boy she had liked for so long suddenly appeared in front of her. After three years apart, he had grown even more handsome. Luo Yunqi stood next to Xu Shuli with his back straight. His long, narrow eyes were deep and distant, his sculpted brows and clear features made him handsome and aloof. In particular, the noble and arrogant air etched into his bones made him look like a king on the battlefield in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse.

Every move they make is subtly intriguing.

"You're back? You're really back? I thought the news was all fake..."

Wu Lina's eyes reddened with excitement, and even her previously arrogant voice softened when she saw him.

Luo Yunqi could even feel Xu Shuli's soft laughter. "Young Master Luo really does have admirers everywhere, but she still has to bow her head in apology."

Upon hearing this, Luo Yunqi looked down at her, only able to see her fair profile and drooping eyelids. Did Yao Yao not intend to have him?

For a moment, Luo Yunqi's eyes seemed to darken as if a few drops of ink had fallen into water, quickly spreading into a deep hue. "Yaoyao..."

Seeing that Luo Yunqi didn't even spare her a glance, Wu Lina's face immediately fell. It was always like this; as long as Xu Shuli was around, she was always the one being ignored!

"Isn't that the case? Luo Yunqi, your departure three years ago proves that you never liked her at all, and you were only being nice to her because of the relationship between your two families!"

"you shut up!"

His hoarse voice suppressed the surging heat within him, and his angry words seemed to restrain a wild beast.

Wu Lina's two friends were almost in tears. They were no match for the Xu family at all; a single word from them could ruin their family's business.

But Wu Lina acted like a madwoman, constantly provoking the two of them to their limits.

The relationships within Xu Jialuo's family have long been a closely guarded secret within their circle, a potential flashpoint for conflict.

"Are you finished talking? If you are, I'll be leaving now."

Xu Shuli was indeed tired and had no desire to linger with them for so long. After soaking in the hot spring, she just wanted to go back and paint properly to prepare for the competition.