“What?!”
The vendor, originally preparing another customer’s order, froze when he heard that. He stopped mid-action, tossed down his spatula, and glared at Zhang Lu.
“My stall has been here for four or five years! All my permits are valid! All ingredients are guaranteed fresh every day! On what grounds do you say my pancakes are dirty?!”
The vendor had a loud voice, and with that shout, everyone nearby looked over.
Even the customers in line started speaking up.
They were regulars—definitely qualified to judge the quality of the food.
“Such a young kid, speaking nonsense, not afraid of the owner suing for defamation?”
One person spoke after another, pointing fingers, some even taking out phones to record.
Zhang Lu instantly became the center of attention.
She had only been boasting in the moment, never imagining that Shu Shu would actually drag her right up to the vendor to confront her!
Total social death!
Zhang Lu’s face went pale, standing frozen in place, completely losing her swagger—she looked like she was about to cry.
In the end, Chu Lian stepped forward to help, and Zhang Lu reluctantly bowed to apologize to the vendor. Only then did the incident end.
The other classmates who were with her also felt embarrassed.
Seeing the awkward scene, Chu Lian quickly led her group away.
Once the crowd dispersed, Shu Shu returned to squatting on the sidewalk, finishing her hand-grab pancake. When she threw the wrapper into the trash, her phone buzzed.
A new message.
The new house designer asked, “Miss Shu, have you arrived at Yu Jing Yuan? The workers and I are in your apartment.”
Shu Shu replied, “Almost there~”
Shu Shu looked up at the towering buildings.
Yu Jing Yuan, even after thirteen years, remained as luxurious and grand as ever.
More importantly, the facial recognition at the main entrance still had her information saved—just a swipe of her face and the door opened.
Shu Shu walked toward her building as if she had lived here her whole life.
At the building’s entrance:
The unit door required a key card, not a passcode.
She handed her new house card to the designer to use.
Just as she was about to have the designer open the door upstairs for her—
“How did you get in here—?!”
A sharp female voice came from the side.
Zhang Lu stormed over, her eyes blazing at Shu Shu.
She had never been so embarrassed in her life until just now. Now, she had truly crossed paths with Shu Shu!
“I’m asking you! How did you sneak in?!”
Sneak?
Shu Shu tilted her head slightly.
“Is there any chance… that I have a house here?”
Zhang Lu scoffed, “You’re lying! You were just squatting on the street eating a hand-grab pancake—how could you possibly live in Yu Jing Yuan?”
Shu Shu: “???”
Squatting on the street has what to do with owning a Yu Jing Yuan apartment?
What crime did the pancake commit to be targeted like this?!
“Lu Lu, what’s wrong?”
At that moment, Chu Lian and the other classmates arrived.
They had already reached Yu Jing Yuan, but instead of going up immediately, Chu Lian had brought them to the garden first.
After all, Yu Jing Yuan was a luxury residence; the garden scenery was beautiful, and several students took out their phones to take photos and check in.
“Shu Shu?”
Seeing her, Chu Lian looked surprised. “Why are you here?”
Shu Shu: “I have a house here.”
Chu Lian blinked and looked at the building behind Shu Shu. “You mean… you live in this building? But I’ve never seen you before.”
Shu Shu thought to herself:
Of course not. When you moved into my apartment, I had already “disappeared.” If you were to see me, it would be a ghost sighting.
Chu Lian’s words gave Zhang Lu the perfect opening to attack Shu Shu again.
“Ha! Liar! Got caught! Hilarious! What nerve you have to brag!”
Then Zhang Lu turned to Chu Lian.
“Xiao Lian, when we came in earlier, the door wasn’t properly closed, right?”
“Of course!” Zhang Lu said confidently. “Otherwise, why would she appear here the moment we entered?”
Chu Lian was about to explain that the security at Yu Jing Yuan wasn’t that bad.
But then, she caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of her eye.
Not far ahead, a young man in a white shirt, with handsome and regular features, was passing by.
Chu Lian’s eyes lit up slightly. She sweetly called out, “Class President?”
The boy was Shi Jin.
Shi Jin had transferred from a school in Jing City three months ago. His family was wealthy, and after transferring, he also lived in Yu Jing Yuan, just a few buildings behind.
Chu Lian: “Class President, are you heading out?”
Shi Jin’s voice was calm: “Yes, I have something to do.”
He was about to continue walking, but his gaze unintentionally fell on Shu Shu, and he paused briefly.
At that moment, Zhang Lu pointed at Shu Shu and said, “Xiao Lian, call security! Kick out this lying poor girl! Yu Jing Yuan isn’t a place for just anyone! Don’t ruin the reputation of a luxury residence!”
Chu Lian noticed Shi Jin’s pause when he saw Shu Shu.
Biting her lip, she tucked some hair behind her ear, gently stopping Zhang Lu.
“Lu Lu, don’t be like that.”
Then she walked over to Shu Shu, speaking kindly:
“Shu Shu, if you’re really curious about Yu Jing Yuan, you could’ve just told me. I can take you inside.”
Shu Shu: “?”
Chu Lian glanced at Shi Jin, then continued:
“Otherwise, Shu Shu, why don’t you come with us to my house? You can take a proper look. No need to sneak around like this in the future.”
Shu Shu: “??”
“Xiao Lian!”
Zhang Lu was the first to object: “She was so rude to you on the street, why would you invite her to your home?!”
Chu Lian shook her head, looking magnanimous:
“It’s okay. I don’t mind. After all, we’re classmates.”
Shu Shu had originally come to inspect the renovation of her new house.
But hearing Chu Lian’s suggestion—
Perfect timing.
She also wanted to see how her house had been “messed up” by the Chu mother and daughter, so she said:
“Alright, let’s go see 1701 first.”
Chu Lian was slightly taken aback: “How do you know my house is 1701?”
Zhang Lu clutched at Shu Shu again, as if finally figuring out the conspiracy:
“So your real purpose is here! You knew we were coming to Xiao Lian’s house today, so you deliberately waited on the street to sneak into Yu Jing Yuan—to go to her house! You even checked her door number!”
Shu Shu silently admired Zhang Lu’s thought process:
“Child, if you’re going to use your brain like that, you might as well donate it.”
“You dare call me child! You’re taking advantage of me?!”
Shu Shu thought: I’m not taking advantage. Then she lazily urged, “Let’s go. Aren’t we going upstairs? Hurry up.”
Everyone was stunned.
How could a guest be so boldly commanding the host?!
Chu Lian looked at Shi Jin:
“Class President, you go ahead with your matters. We’ll go upstairs first. See you Monday.”
Shi Jin slightly nodded.
His gaze fell on Shu Shu once more, lingering briefly, then he walked away.