Nan Yu was sure that the woman in front of her looked completely unfamiliar.
Nan Yu asked, "Who are you?"
The woman's mockery grew even stronger than before. "You may not know me, but I know you—Nan Yu, the once - noble Nan family's eldest daughter and the prospective fiancée of the Shen family."
She took a step forward, extended her hand, and introduced herself. "Hello, I'm Wen Ying."
Nan Yu shook her hand politely, but Wen Ying immediately withdrew hers, clearly trying to humiliate Nan Yu.
Nan Yu didn't mind and retracted her hand.
She could sense that Wen Ying's aggression was aimed at her. "Ms. Wen, if it's because I stepped on your shoe, I apologize."
Wen Ying looked at the non - confrontational Nan Yu and sneered disdainfully. "You've done more than just step on my shoe. You've clearly snatched something from me."
Nan Yu looked down and then stuffed the children's dress in her hand into Wen Ying's. "Sorry, I didn't know you had your eye on this first."
Wen Ying said, "…Are you crazy? What would I want a children's dress for?"
Wen Ying thought Nan Yu was both dull and stupid. She gritted her teeth and challenged her. "Let me be straightforward. You've snatched my man."
Man?
Could this be Tan Linyuan's new fling?
But Wen Ying's next words dispelled her speculation. "Trying to snatch a man through marriage. Isn't that a bit too stupid, Ms. Nan?"
Nan Yu suddenly realized that this was the mistress Shen Yanche had kept outside, the owner of that lipstick in the car.
She looked up and took a closer look at Wen Ying's lip color. It was a bold and exaggerated blood - red, very similar to the lipstick's shade.
"Poor thing. You can't even hold onto your man with marriage, yet his heart is all on me."
Wen Ying flipped her French curly hair and clicked her tongue. "What a pathetic woman."
Nan Yu stared at Wen Ying expressionlessly, knowing that she had taken her as a rival.
In fact, she didn't dislike Wen Ying. She even had a bold idea that perhaps she could have a chat with her.
However, just as she was about to speak, a familiar voice shouted loudly from behind. "Nan Yu!"
Hearing the voice, Nan Yu turned around.
Qu Jiaran took large strides and quickly ran over. She warily pulled Nan Yu behind her. "Who are you? Why are you bullying our Nan Yu?"
Nan Yu said in a low voice, "I stepped on her shoe first."
Qu Jiaran shrugged it off. "Really?" She glanced at Wen Ying's shoe and scoffed. "It's just a cheap thing worth a few thousand dollars. I can buy her a hundred pairs."
…Nan Yu thought there was no need to be so generous.
Qu Jiaran said grandly, "Nan Yu, step on her shoes as much as you like!"
Seeing Qu Jiaran suddenly appear, Wen Ying quickly exchanged glances with the man walking slowly behind her. Her expression softened a bit.
"Two crazy people." Wen Ying spat out these words and angrily turned away.
After Wen Ying left, Qu Jiaran turned to check on Nan Yu carefully. "Are you hurt? Did she pull your hair? Scratch you?"
Nan Yu said, "…No, you're overthinking it."
Qu Jiaran didn't believe it. She still checked Nan Yu from head to toe before sighing in relief. "It's good that you weren't bullied."
At this time, Tan Linyuan strolled over and stood in front of them.
Having not seen him for a few days, Nan Yu felt a bit dazed.
He still had that gentle aura. His eyes were calm, easily separating himself from the rest of the world.
Just standing there, he was so elegant that a sense of solitude seemed to surround him.
As if just noticing Nan Yu, he lifted his eyes and said casually, "Getting bullied again?"
The word "again" was well - used. To outsiders, it sounded like concern, but Nan Yu knew he was deliberately mocking her.
Nan Yu forced a smile. "Thanks for your concern, Uncle Tan. It's not really being bullied. I was just provoked a bit."
She briefly explained Wen Ying's identity.
She spoke calmly, but Qu Jiaran couldn't sit still. She immediately shouted, "A mistress dares to show off in front of the real wife. I told you you should have stepped on her foot and crushed it!"
While Qu Jiaran was shouting, Nan Yu quietly observed Tan Linyuan.
She noticed that his expression remained unchanged, as if he had known the answer all along.
Did he know from the beginning that Shen Yanche had an affair?
Nan Yu didn't think too much about it. Qu Jiaran hugged Nan Yu's arm and said with a smile, "Since we've met, Nan Yu, come shopping with us!"
Nan Yu wanted to decline, but Qu Jiaran was so enthusiastic that she wouldn't let go of her arm.
Helplessly, Nan Yu had to give in.
Qu Jiaran's shopping style was quite consistent. For the brands she liked, she would simply buy all the latest styles with a swipe of her card, hardly wasting any time.
She didn't need to carry the things she bought herself. Bodyguards would help.
She explained to Nan Yu, "I usually have the brands send the new styles to my home. I'll send back the ones I don't like. I just wanted to come out and shop today, so I have to do it like this."
"Come home with me later. We'll pick together. I'll give you whatever you like," Qu Jiaran said as if trying to please Nan Yu. "To make up for your bad mood today!"
Nan Yu wasn't interested. She asked, "What are you shopping for today? We can go straight for it."
If Qu Jiaran found what she wanted, the shopping trip could end.
Qu Jiaran tilted her head and laughed. "Sure enough, only Nan Yu understands me best." She looked back at Tan Linyuan following behind. "I'm going to buy a pair of couple rings with Linyuan!"
It sounded reasonable, but Nan Yu still paused for a few seconds and unconsciously looked at Tan Linyuan.
It made sense. Qu Jiaran was an impulsive and enthusiastic person. She would probably win Tan Linyuan over in a few days. Buying couple rings was only natural.
So the three of them started shopping specifically, only going to the jewelry counters.
But the result disappointed Qu Jiaran. Either the size was wrong, or the style was too flashy, or there was nothing she liked.
Nan Yu was a bit tired and told Qu Jiaran to just pick a pair. After all, they would buy diamond rings later.
This made Qu Jiaran happy, but she still pouted. "It's the first time I'm wearing couple rings with Linyuan. I don't want to choose casually."
Nan Yu patiently asked, "Then what kind of style do you want?"
When people can't choose the right thing, it's often because they already have the perfect one in mind.
Everything else is just a compromise.
Qu Jiaran nodded, pulled Tan Linyuan over, held his hand, and showed it to Nan Yu. "This kind of style. Have you seen it, Nan Yu?"
The moment Nan Yu saw the ring, she suddenly looked up.
Tan Linyuan's eyes were calm, but Nan Yu still caught a fleeting hint of mockery in them.
It was as if he was asking her, "Now, how are you going to explain this?"