"Big sister, why is your car so ugly?"

Lin Rui was in a foul mood today. She stomped into the café without a second thought and slumped into a random seat, conveniently landing right next to Shu Nian and Qiao Jiaoyun.

She was irritable because Yun Yang’s heart hadn’t been on her lately.

Zhang Hong scurried after her, calling out, "Rui Rui! Rui Rui! Wait for me!"

Lin Rui halted, her footsteps coming to an abrupt stop.

Zhang Hong looked aggrieved. "I haven't even eaten yet, why did you just storm out like that?"

Lin Rui remained sullen, keeping her mouth shut. The two had been childhood friends, growing up in equally ordinary circumstances. But ever since Lin Rui had set her sights on Yun Yang, she had grown increasingly disdainful of Zhang Hong, feeling that her friend lowered her social standing.

Zhang Hong, for her part, was a bit dim-witted. She had followed Lin Rui around since they were children, lacking any real intuition. She did whatever the "big sister" told her to do, and once the task was finished, she would step aside, and Lin Rui would ignore her again.

"Rui Rui," Zhang Hong pleaded, sounding hurt. "I really didn't mean to covet Yun Yang. It was truly an accident that we were alone in that room."

Lin Rui scoffed. "Is that so? Well, that was certainly quite an 'accident'!"

Lin Rui did believe her; after all, besides Shu Nian, Zhang Hong was the most brainless person she knew. Besides, she had felt that Shu Nian had been acting differently lately, and since Zhang Hong was still so gullible, she still needed to use her to successfully secure her position as the mistress of the Yun family.

Zhang Hong nodded. "It’s so good that you believe me, Rui Rui."

Lin Rui reached out and gripped her hands, her eyes glistening with feigned tears. "Zhang Hong, you don’t blame me, do you? I wronged you just now."

Hearing this, Zhang Hong waved her hands in a panic. "How could I? Rui Rui, you’re my best friend. How could I ever blame you?"

A flicker of imperceptible mockery crossed Lin Rui’s eyes. She really was just as stupid as ever, falling for a few rehearsed words.

"Actually, it’s not my fault. It’s because of Shu Nian lately. She’s always hovering around Yun Yang and me, craving attention. She even belittles me, insults me, calls me a 'green tea bitch,' and says I’m a homewrecker."

Zhang Hong was indignant. "How could she? She’s supposed to be a young lady from a prominent family; she has absolutely no manners!"

Shu Nian and Qiao Jiaoyun were sitting right next to them. At first, they hadn't paid much attention, figuring it was just someone else’s business, but things took a turn when they heard the insults. When had Shu Nian ever hovered around her and Yun Yang? Or sought attention?

Qiao Jiaoyun, hearing her best friend being slandered, couldn't sit still any longer.

"You two are actually a perfect match. It seems the Matchmaker’s trash sorting is quite efficient," Qiao Jiaoyun interjected. "You must be great at chess, the way you’re so good at 'hindsight' criticism. Let me tell you, my friend has money, she has looks, and she has a husband—she doesn't covet your pathetic treasure. Unlike you two, plotting and scheming over a man all day; you might as well summon Cao Cao and Qin Shi Huang to debate your petty tactics with you."

After venting her anger, Qiao Jiaoyun realized she hadn't been very ladylike, but she felt it was worth it to stand up for her friend.

Zhang Hong and Lin Rui were stunned by the outburst, taking a long moment to process it.

"What? You two eavesdropping creeps, lurking in the corner," Zhang Hong snapped, resorting to personal attacks once she regained her composure. In her previous life, she had framed Shu Nian many times under Lin Rui’s instructions, but whenever things were exposed, she had always been the one to take the fall.

Shu Nian found this logic absurd. "What? You two are the ones whispering your secrets so loudly, and now you’re acting like you’re trying to cover your ears while stealing a bell? Don't blame others for 'eavesdropping' when you two are the ones acting like loudspeakers."

Lin Rui’s focus was different from Zhang Hong’s. She had caught the part about Shu Nian being married.

With a sneer, she said, "Congratulations, Shu Nian! Why didn't you tell me sooner? Otherwise, I would have sent you my blessings! By the way, when was the wedding? Why hasn't anyone heard a whisper about it?"

Shu Nian replied calmly, "He just doesn't want me to be too flashy in public. I don't feel the need to let everyone know I’m married, and a woman should have her own career. After all, when you like a man, you don't need to make a grand spectacle of it so the whole world knows."

Lin Rui concluded that Shu Nian must have married some pot-bellied, bald, wealthy old man, which explained why she couldn't be too flashy. If she were seen with a man like that, wouldn't she be ruined? Thinking of this, she felt much better and pulled Zhang Hong away. "Alright, bye-bye, Shu Nian, Jiaoyun!"

Shu Nian and Qiao Jiaoyun both felt goosebumps at the tone of her voice.

"Since you didn't tell me before, I know now—I wish you two a hundred years of harmony, growing old together, and may you have children soon. May you two be locked together forever!"

Qiao Jiaoyun looked confused. "What’s wrong with her? Why is she so happy that you’re married?"

"It’s not that she’s happy I’m married; it’s that she thinks I won’t compete with her for that man anymore."

Qiao Jiaoyun nodded, half-understanding, and waved at Shu Nian. "I’ll head off then, my mother is waiting for me at home."

"Alright, bye. We’ll meet in three days for the audition—it’s on the same day for both of us."

"Right, bye!"

...

With nothing else to do and fearing that her Aunt Ren would criticize her for being "lovestruck" if she went home early, and still needing to attend to matters regarding Ji Youmu, she drove her Maybach to the parking lot near his home.

Suddenly, a little girl who looked like a doll, wearing a pink princess dress and a matching headband, wandered into her line of sight.

The doll-like girl said in a soft, sweet voice, "Big sister, why is your car so ugly?"

Shu Nian was speechless.

*So much for politeness,* she thought. *Commenting on someone else’s car the moment you meet them.* If anyone else had said her car was ugly, she would have given them a lesson in life—teaching them that there is always someone better, and that the world doesn't indulge strangers.

But who was standing in front of her?

The child was not only as cute as a doll but had a voice so sweet it tugged at her heartstrings. She crouched down and held the little girl's hand. "Pretty little sister, my car isn't ugly. It’s a Maybach."

The little girl looked at her, skeptical. "It’s clearly ugly. It looks just like the taxis outside."

Shu Nian patiently guided her. "Pretty little sister, do you know what 'high emotional intelligence' is?"

As soon as the term was mentioned, the little girl answered, "I know! High emotional intelligence means looking after other people's feelings, having boundaries, giving people face, and offering sincere compliments."

Shu Nian nodded, praising her, "Well done, pretty girl! So, to look after my feelings, you shouldn't say my car is ugly. You should call it 'low-profile,' understand?"

The little girl tilted her head, her sweet voice ringing out. "But pretty sister, Daddy taught me never to lie."

"Well, high emotional intelligence and honesty don't have to conflict. When you grow up, you'll understand what it means to navigate the world."

The little girl nodded, looking as if she understood, but added, "I know, thank you, pretty sister. But I also know what navigating the world means."

"Oh?"

The girl said proudly, "Daddy says girls should understand the ways of the world without becoming worldly, and be sophisticated yet remain innocent. My daddy is amazing; he knows everything."

Shu Nian patted her head. "Very polite and very smart. But where is your daddy?"

Only then did it occur to Shu Nian to ask about the little girl's family. In her heart, she cursed the girl's father ten thousand times. *How irresponsible,* she thought. *He can't even keep an eye on his own daughter. If she gets snatched away by someone else, he'll regret it for the rest of his life.*