After alighting from the high-speed train, Su Yunmo looked at the bustling street and towering buildings. She lowered her head to examine her own attire and clenched her fists tightly, feeling out of place among these people.
The unfamiliar environment made her a little scared. She silently encouraged herself, determined to establish herself in this city.
Glancing at the route and bus instructions sent by her mother on her phone, she impatiently hailed a taxi. She spent five hundred yuan to convince the driver to go to North Mountain Villa District.
The driver helped her load her luggage into the trunk. Once inside the taxi, Su Yunmo's expression soured. The taxi fare alone cost her half a month's living expenses.
Were the people in City A really this unfriendly, preying on outsiders like her?
If the taxi driver knew her thoughts, he would have been furious. Traveling to North Mountain Villa District and back would take six hours, not to mention the fuel cost. Returning would certainly be an empty run, as people in the villa district all had their own cars.
If it weren't for the pity he felt for the lonely young girl with her suitcase, and her persistent pleas, he would never have accepted the fare. He could easily earn five hundred yuan by picking up jobs at the station for six hours.
After Su Yunmo got into the car, she casually inquired about the Yin family. The driver knew very little, only sharing common knowledge. This caused Su Yunmo, seated in the back, to roll her eyes repeatedly.
"Little girl, are you going to the Yin family?"
"Yes."
"What are you going there for? You don't look like you live there."
Su Yunmo's face instantly flushed with anger. She retorted indignantly, "I'm going to find my mother."
"Oh~" The driver let out a meaningful "oh," assuming he had stumbled upon some juicy gossip from a wealthy family.
Seeing his misunderstanding, Su Yunmo didn't explain. She haughtily turned her head away, looking out the window in silence.
They drove in silence for three hours. Upon alighting from the car, Su Yunmo couldn't help but heave. She vomited by the roadside.
The driver helped her with her suitcase and kindly offered her a bottle of water, coming forward to pat her back. Su Yunmo dodged him with slight annoyance.
The driver touched his nose, not overthinking it. "Little girl, I've left your things here."
Just then, a red Ferrari pulled up in front of the taxi. Both turned to look, and a small foot clad in black stiletto heels emerged first. Looking up, they saw a fair, slender, and elegant leg.
As the person stepped out, she wore a simple black slip dress that accentuated her perfect curves. Her exposed collarbones were exceptionally alluring.
The necklace around her neck was a new, expensive design from a certain brand this year, complementing her makeup flawlessly.
The plain black shoulder bag she carried was also a new limited edition from a renowned brand, currently highly sought after.
The woman's entire ensemble was worth well over ten million yuan. Looking at her exquisite face, Su Yunmo felt immense jealousy and envy, though she showed no outward signs.
Jun Jiuli, noticing the protagonist's envious gaze, nodded in satisfaction. It was worth showing off her wealth today.
At this moment, the villa district's gate opened. Aunt Chen emerged with a smile, saying,
"Miss, Miss is back."
Jun Jiuli nodded and smiled at her. Seeing Qin Huan seated inside, Aunt Chen also politely greeted Qin Huan.
She then bent down to retrieve the jewelry bag Jun Jiuli had purchased from the trunk. Taking the items, she followed Jun Jiuli and said,
"Miss, the clothes and bags you bought at noon have been delivered home. I've had them placed in your room."
"Alright, thank you, Aunt Chen."
Jun Jiuli finished speaking, bid farewell to Qin Huan, and waved from the roadside. The Ferrari then drove out of sight.
Only then did Aunt Chen notice Su Yunmo standing a few meters ahead. She exclaimed, "Oh my, Mo Mo, why are you here so early? Shouldn't you be arriving a bit later?"
Su Yunmo awkwardly got up, tucking her small purse behind her. She then said, "Mom, I took a taxi."
"Why didn't you listen to me and take the subway, then a taxi from the bottom of the hill? It would have been more cost-effective. How much did the taxi cost?"
Su Yunmo felt her cheeks burning. Her mother was so annoying, making her lose face in front of others. Impatiently, she replied, "It wasn't much, just five hundred yuan."
Aunt Chen, unaware of her daughter's thoughts, said with a pained expression, "Silly child, five hundred yuan isn't a small amount. It's enough for half your monthly living expenses. Why are you so thoughtless? Do you know how hard I work to earn money?"
"Mom, please don't say anything more, let's go inside quickly." She then glanced back to see if the driver was still nearby.
To her surprise, she met the driver's knowing gaze. Su Yunmo instantly felt as though he had seen through her inner vanity.
Hearing her words, the driver mistook her for an illegitimate daughter of the Yin family who had been living outside. However, it was none of his business. He subtly urged Su Yunmo to pay so he could leave.
It was then that Su Yunmo realized. She opened WeChat and scanned the five hundred yuan to the driver.
Jun Jiuli entered the gate first. Su Yunmo walked along the cobblestone path, admiring the exquisitely manicured greenery. The thought of living here for a while filled her with excitement.
Looking at the stunningly beautiful Jun Jiuli, she knew she was the young lady of the Yin family. If she could win Jun Jiuli's favor, she could stay here as long as she pleased.
Thus, she began to engage Jun Jiuli in conversation: "Sister Yin, where did you buy your dress? It's so beautiful." Flattery was her tried-and-true method for gaining favor.
However, before Jun Jiuli could reply, Aunt Chen interjected, "Miss, Mo Mo is a bit disrespectful. Please don't mind her."
Then, frowning sternly at Su Yunmo, she added, "Mo Mo, you must address her as Miss."
Su Yunmo playfully stuck out her tongue, her face showing a disarmingly innocent expression. "Sister Yin and I are the same age and got into the same university. I think we have a strong connection, so calling her 'Miss' would be too formal, wouldn't it?"
Jun Jiuli smiled, her lips curving upwards, and said, "Since we are the same age, how do you know who is older? It's better to call me Miss Yin; I don't have a sister."
Su Yunmo's smile instantly fell. She pouted, looking as if she had suffered a great injustice, and said, "I-I'm sorry. It's my fault for not knowing my place and presuming to be friends with Miss Yin." Two crystal tears then flowed from the corners of her eyes.
Jun Jiuli found it peculiar. A thousand-year-old fox was putting on a performance like a ghost story. She was not one to pity a damsel in distress.
Just then, a man's gentle voice called out from not far from Jun Jiuli, "Yue Bai, what are you doing here?"
Jun Jiuli responded exasperatedly, "This is the only road to my house. Is it strange that I'm here?"
Jiang Li was momentarily speechless. He had merely intended to strike up a conversation, but he hadn't expected Yin Yue Bai to be so tactless. He hadn't noticed before that Yin Yue Bai could be so argumentative.
He awkwardly changed the subject, asking, "And who is the lady beside you?"
Suddenly addressed, Su Yunmo looked up. Seeing the man's expensive attire, she immediately straightened her posture, displaying her best side.
"Oh, her? She's the daughter of our housekeeper, Aunt Chen. School is starting soon, so she's come to stay with us for a while."
Su Yunmo's expression stiffened, her face turning as black as the bottom of a pot.
Hearing her introduction, Jiang Li immediately lost interest in Su Yunmo. He had thought she was a relative of the Yin family. And indeed, how could a relative of the Yin family be dressed so shabbily?
With that thought, he moved a little further away from Su Yunmo and continued to engage Jun Jiuli obsequiously.
"Yue Bai, our Jiang family has recently mined several pink diamonds in Country M, about one carat each. They have a vibrant color and would be perfect for you," Jiang Li said enthusiastically.
"Are you planning to give them to me?"
Jun Jiuli's direct question caused Jiang Li to pause. Shouldn't the young lady of the Yin family politely refuse him? Those pink diamonds were valued quite highly.
Meanwhile, Su Yunmo, listening from the side, cursed Jun Jiuli for being shameless, while simultaneously envying her for having such a handsome and wealthy fiancé.
If it were the original host, she would have gracefully and elegantly refused, while secretly appreciating Jiang Li's earnest devotion.
However, Jiang Li, without expending any effort beyond his words, had won the original host's favor. Jun Jiuli decided that freebies offered were not to be refused.
Jiang Li quickly regained his composure and said with a resigned expression, "Of course, I intend to give them to you, Yue Bai. I'll have them delivered tomorrow."
Jun Jiuli beamed and said, "Thank you, Brother Jiang Li."
Jiang Li was instantly captivated by her smile. He grinned foolishly, a surge of immense pride welling up within him. Such a beautiful woman with an excellent family background was to be his future wife.
In that instant, he felt that giving away a few pink diamonds was not such a painful sacrifice.