Lin Nianxi didn’t move, leaning back in her chair and calmly watching her reflection in the mirror.
“Getting my hair done.”
“Where did you get the money?” Lin Xuewei’s gaze was fixed on her dress—a brand she recognized, the latest style, starting at five figures.
Lin Nianxi didn’t answer.
Lin Xuewei’s expression shifted repeatedly.
That night, she and her mother had drugged Lin Nianxi, stuffed her into a car, and sent her to Mr. Wang. But that very night, Mr. Wang had been attacked—his lower half hacked off—his company was shut down, and he was thrown straight into jail.
And Lin Nianxi—had vanished into thin air.
She hadn’t returned to the Lin family, and her phone was unreachable.
Even more bizarre, the old woman lying in the ICU had also been transferred from the city center hospital by someone unknown. Where she was taken? No information could be found.
Everything about this was strange.
Lin Xuewei stared at Lin Nianxi’s face, which looked noticeably fairer and more radiant than before, and suddenly curled her lips into a mocking smile.
“I get it now.” She crossed her arms, her chin held high. “Lin Nianxi, have you latched onto some old man?”
The hairstylist and nearby staff paused what they were doing, their eyes turning toward them.
Lin Xuewei’s voice was just loud enough for those around to hear.
The shop instantly fell silent, all eyes fixed on Lin Nianxi. Whispers broke out, and several sales associates exchanged meaningful glances.
“Lin Nianxi, you really have no shame.” Lin Xuewei’s voice was loud, as if afraid others wouldn’t hear. “Using an old man’s money to act like a big spender in a place like this! How disgraceful!”
Lin Xuewei’s friend beside her covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes sweeping over Lin Nianxi as she added fuel to the fire with a sarcastic tone: “Tsk tsk, so young and already selling herself. How shameless. Who knows which bed that card rolled out of.”
“Well, it’s a kind of skill, isn’t it? Trading her body for wealth—what a bargain.” The two of them chimed in together, their laughter grating.
The other customers in the shop didn’t join in, but their gazes—filled with disdain, curiosity, or schadenfreude—pierced Lin Nianxi like countless fine needles.
The young sales associate who had been about to ring up the purchase quietly took half a step back, whispering to her colleague: “See? Someone so young with a black card—it’s definitely not from a legitimate source. I’ve seen plenty of gold diggers like her.”
Lin Nianxi clenched her hands tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms until her knuckles turned white.
In the past, faced with Lin Xuewei’s humiliation, she would only lower her head and endure it, her eyes reddening as she silently walked away. Because she had no confidence, no way out.
But this time, Huo Jingmo’s deep, steady voice echoed clearly in her mind.
—“If someone insults you, hit back.”
—“Don’t be afraid of causing trouble. If the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you.”
Lin Nianxi took a deep breath. The cold air filled her lungs, forcibly suppressing the surging feelings of grievance and timidity in her heart.
She raised her head.
Those once-moist, timid dark almond eyes now stared coldly at Lin Xuewei. No evasion, no tears.
Lin Nianxi’s voice was clear and cold, each word distinct. “Stop spouting nonsense and slandering me. I can sue you.”
Lin Xuewei was momentarily stunned by her sudden change in demeanor. She was used to Lin Nianxi’s submissive nature and never expected this soft, easily bullied pushover to dare look at her with such eyes, let alone talk back.
After a brief moment of shock, Lin Xuewei sneered even more arrogantly.
“What? Did I hit a nerve? Are you angry now?” Lin Xuewei took a step forward, her finger nearly poking Lin Nianxi’s nose. “Who do you think you are to give me attitude? Don’t forget who you are! You’re nothing but a dog raised by our Lin family—”
Slap!
An exceptionally crisp and loud slap suddenly echoed through the luxurious jewelry store.
Lin Xuewei’s head snapped to the side, and five distinct red finger marks instantly appeared on her cheek.
The entire store fell into a deathly silence.
Clutching her rapidly swelling cheek, Lin Xuewei stared wide-eyed at Lin Nianxi in disbelief.
Her best friend was equally shocked by the scene.
Wasn’t Lin Nianxi a pushover? How could she hit someone?!
The surrounding customers and sales assistants gasped in astonishment.
Lin Nianxi shook her slightly numb right hand.
So this was what it felt like to hit someone.
It felt good. Very satisfying.
“Who are you to talk about me?” Lin Nianxi’s dark, cold eyes fixed on Lin Xuewei. “You and your mother drugged me, knocked me out, and sent me to an old man in exchange for investment. You two shamelessly did such a thing for money, and you still have the nerve to bark like a dog in front of me?!”
Truthfully, she had wanted to fight back for a long time, but before, she lacked the confidence and ability to do so.
Now, she dared.
As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding crowd erupted in murmurs.
“Drugging and sending someone away? That’s too vicious!”
“That’s illegal!”
“Exactly, I never thought she and her mother could do something like this…”
The onlookers’ expressions instantly changed, their gazes toward Lin Xuewei filled with disdain and disgust.
Lin Xuewei’s best friend was also shocked. “Xuewei… is… is what she said true?”
“Shut up! She’s lying!” Lin Xuewei shrieked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, pointing at Lin Nianxi and cursing. “You’re slandering me!”
Lin Nianxi looked at her flustered and furious expression, a cold smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
“I’m lying?” Lin Nianxi turned her gaze to the best friend beside Lin Xuewei, her tone calm. “You’re still following her around like a little sidekick? Don’t you know the Lin family’s construction materials company’s funding chain has completely broken, and they’re about to go bankrupt and liquidate?”
“If they weren’t desperate, why would they sell their own niece for money?”
The best friend froze, looking utterly surprised. “Bankrupt? Xuewei’s family is so rich, how could they possibly go bankrupt?!”
Lin Nianxi smiled faintly. “If you don’t believe me, take out your phone and search online. See if Lin Jiancheng’s company is already being denied loans by banks.”
Half-doubting, Lin Xuewei’s best friend pulled out her phone and quickly typed in the name of the Lin family’s company.
A few seconds later, her expression changed.
“Xuewei… is your family really going bankrupt?” The best friend’s voice rose an octave, and her gaze toward Lin Xuewei instantly shifted.
In their social circle, bankruptcy meant falling from grace and losing all value for association.
Lin Xuewei panicked completely. She had only come out shopping today and had no idea her family’s situation had turned upside down.
“You bitch! I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
Enraged and humiliated, Lin Xuewei lunged at Lin Nianxi like a madwoman, raising her hand to claw at her face.
This time, Lin Nianxi did not dodge.
The moment Lin Xuewei’s hand swung toward her, Nianxi precisely seized her wrist.
“I won’t be bullied and pushed around by your entire family like before,” Nianxi stared at Lin Xuewei’s twisted face, her lips curving as she spoke each word deliberately.
With that, she twisted her wrist and forcefully shoved Lin Xuewei away.
Lin Xuewei, already unsteady on her ten-centimeter stilettos, was sent stumbling backward by the push.
With a thud, she landed awkwardly on the marble floor. Her expensive dress rode up, leaving her in an utterly undignified pose.
Furious, she glared at Nianxi, her chest heaving with disbelief. How dare that spineless pushover from before treat her like this today!
Nianxi looked down at her, a cold smile playing on her lips. “If it weren’t for Grandma, I would’ve already called the police to have you and your mother arrested.”
Just then, the frosted glass door at the back of the store swung open.
A middle-aged woman in a tailored professional suit, elegant and poised, strode out briskly. A metal nameplate reading “Store Manager” adorned her chest, her expression serious and her steps hurried.
The manager had already seen Nianxi’s black card through the store’s surveillance system moments earlier.
It was a custom-made family supplementary card exclusive to the Huo Group, embossed with the Huo family’s unique emblem.
Nationwide, only two existed.
One was held by Huo Jingmo, the head of the Huo Group. The other, a family supplementary card personally authorized by Huo Jingmo, represented the absolute status of the Huo family’s mistress.
The manager nearly jogged over. Without even glancing at Lin Xuewei sprawled on the floor, she bypassed her and approached Nianxi.
Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, the manager—who usually only offered a slight nod to top-tier VIPs—bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle to Nianxi.
“My sincerest apologies, Ms. Lin! We’ve let you suffer this indignity!” The manager’s voice was filled with utmost respect, even carrying a faint, barely perceptible tremor.
The entire store fell into dead silence.
Lin Xuewei’s face had turned from pale to ashen. Sitting on the floor, she stared blankly at the scene, her mind buzzing.
Who on earth was that old man?! How could he make the manager of the most exclusive luxury jewelry store in Henglong Plaza bow to Lin Nianxi with such reverence?!