"Heh…" Shu Lanzhou let out a cold laugh.
"If someone confesses their feelings and gets rejected—no, humiliated—and then suddenly wakes up and realizes they were in love with the wrong person, only to be pursued by a senior who's secretly loved them for years… And after a long time, they fall for each other and confirm their relationship!"
"Then, the person who once humiliated them suddenly goes crazy and starts pursuing them again. After being rejected multiple times, that same person turns around and accuses them of being loose and two-timing!"
"All I can say is, people who say things like that are either being lied to, or their own moral compass is what's truly broken. Don't you think so, Miss Guo?"
"You're lying!" Guo Xiaona was stunned by Shu Lanzhou's words. "There's no way my brother had a crush on her! She clearly kept things ambiguous with him while also trying to seduce Luo Jialin!"
"You don't know the full story! You're just listening to this scheming woman's one-sided nonsense and helping her twist the truth! You seem naïve, so don't be fooled by someone like her."
"She's no good!"
Shu Lanzhou held back the furious Zhang He with one hand while shielding Dong Anlan with the other. Her eyes were sharp as blades as she glared at Guo Xiaona:
"Dong Anlan's confession to Luo Jialin happened years ago. There were plenty of witnesses there who heard him humiliate her. You can ask anyone at the school."
"There was another time in the cafeteria. I was there too—I saw and heard him insult her. That was the moment she gave up on him for good."
"Later, Dong Anlan became acquainted with Senior Ke—your brother, who had admired her for years. When he started his business, he invited her to join him."
"Over time, their feelings developed naturally and they started dating. Luo Jialin, meanwhile, got into a relationship with Lin Muyao. Then for some reason, they broke up. After returning to the Luo family business, he suddenly began chasing after Dong Anlan."
"Dong Anlan has rejected him in public. She clearly stated she doesn't like him anymore. Once, it was at school—plenty of classmates witnessed it."
"Another time was a few months ago at a business gala. I was there, Senior Mu Sida was there, and so were many other attendees. If you don't believe me, go ask around."
"Dong Anlan made her feelings crystal clear—she doesn't like Luo Jialin and never will again. All of this is just his own delusional fantasy!"
"If you still think this is one-sided after everything I personally witnessed, then I have nothing more to say."
Shu Lanzhou shot a glance at Lin Muyao behind Guo Xiaona. "Miss Guo, some people are so used to pretending to be innocent little flowers that they don't even realize they're manipulating others. Don't be used as someone's pawn without even knowing it."
"Some people treat Luo Jialin like he's some golden prize and are desperate to marry into the Luo family. But Dong Anlan? She's not interested. So Miss Guo, please stop slandering her."
"If Senior Ke overheard you saying these things about Dong Anlan, I worry it might hurt your relationship with your brother."
Guo Xiaona still wouldn't accept it. "If she wasn't trying to seduce Luo Jialin, then why did she go to the business gala when my brother wasn't even in Shen City? Wasn't it to see Luo Jialin?"
"…You're really something," Shu Lanzhou muttered, a little exasperated.
"First, Dong Anlan went to that gala to accompany her father. Second, she was there to seek sponsors and suppliers for her and your brother's company."
"She told your brother in advance. He was worried she might be harassed, which is why he asked Senior Mu to keep an eye on her. That's why I went too."
"I think I've explained everything clearly. If you still have doubts, why don't you just ask your brother directly? He's not stupid—he knows right from wrong."
"That's enough," Dong Anlan finally spoke up, having calmed down. She gently pulled on Shu Lanzhou's arm.
"There's no need to keep explaining. Those who trust me already believe me, and those who don't never will, no matter how much I say."
"I was just young and foolish, and fell for the wrong person. We never dated, and nothing irreversible ever happened. I don't see why I deserve all this backlash."
"All I can say is, Luo Jialin is toxic. From now on, I'll steer clear whenever I hear his name."
Zhang He snorted. "You hear that, Miss Guo? Dong Anlan hasn't done anything wrong. Don't go throwing filth at her like she's some easy target. She's not alone—she has people backing her, and we won't let you bully her."
Ding Yuejiao glanced at Guo Xiaona as well.
"I hope you never fall for the wrong person. I hope you never meet a scumbag. I hope you always find genuine friends and live in a world that's pure and simple."
Before the group could leave—
Smack!
Guo Xiaona turned and slapped Lin Muyao across the face.
"Weren't you the one who said Dong Anlan was still hung up on Luo Jialin? That she was stringing along my brother while seducing him?"
"Didn't you say you saw her at school shamelessly throwing herself at Luo Jialin, pestering him over and over again?"
"Then explain everything Shu Lanzhou just said! Explain it!" Guo Xiaona was livid and swung her hand again.
"And didn't you call Shu Lanzhou a country bumpkin? Said she was petty and unreasonable? That speech she gave just now—sounded pretty reasonable to me! She even brought witnesses! What about you?"
Guo Xiaona had always been blunt, never one to hide her emotions.
"Now that I think about it, from the moment we met, you've always played the fragile little thing. I thought that was just your personality and always tried to protect you."
"But now, I'm not so sure. Lin Muyao, tell me—how much have you used me for your own ends? If it weren't for Shu Lanzhou, would I have just kept being your puppet?"
Her fury boiled over—smack! Another slap.
Lin Muyao backed away, trembling, not daring to utter a word.
First, the Ke family's status was far above the Lin family's. Second, Guo Xiaona hit harder than Shu Lanzhou—more wild and ruthless. She wasn't a match at all.
Just as Guo Xiaona was about to slap her again—
"Enough!" A stern voice rang out from the store's entrance.
Ke Ling walked in with a dark expression. "What kind of behavior is this in public? Stop this at once!"
"But Mom, she lied to me! She almost made me into a villain! If I don't hit her, I can't get this anger out of my chest!"
Guo Xiaona's eyes welled up with tears. Every time she thought about how her brother had been ignoring her recently all because of Dong Anlan, her anger burned even hotter. And it was all because of Lin Muyao.
She had been deceived—completely.
"You don't even realize how my brother's been avoiding me lately!"
"If you're stupid, don't blame others for it." Ke Ling tapped her daughter's forehead. "It's your own fault your brother's ignoring you. Sit down and stay put—I'll deal with you later."
She signaled to Shu Lanzhou and the others to wait a moment and stepped forward to help Lin Muyao up.
"The Ke and Lin families never had any real ties. You only met Nana by chance. Your future paths are entirely different. Lin Muyao, from now on, I suggest you stop focusing your energy on her."
"She doesn't need you as a friend. In fact, she's better off without you."
Ke Ling reached behind her, and one of the store clerks handed her a bag.
"This dress was thrown on the floor. We can't sell it anymore. I checked—it's priced at two thousand. Here's also a check for fifty-eight thousand."
"My daughter slapped you three times. This is your compensation." Ke Ling shoved the bag into Lin Muyao's hands.
"Take it. If your mother isn't satisfied with our compensation, she's welcome to come find me. Some things are better settled between adults."
Ke Ling pulled open the store door. "Shu Lanzhou and Dong Anlan are two juniors I deeply admire. And here you are, in my store, stirring up trouble and manipulating my daughter against them. That makes me very unhappy."
"So, I won't be seeing you out. But from this moment on, the Ke Department Stores no longer welcome Miss Lin. Good day."
"…"