First, then, love.

On the coffee table.

Lying there was a bank card with a pure black background and gold trim.

Next to it was a kraft paper document bag with the "Prosperous Real Estate" logo in gold foil. The bag was half open, revealing a heavy set of brass keys.

"What is this?" Shu Jianguo was stunned.

Shu Yao sat back down on the sofa, crossed her legs, and looked relaxed and confident.

"That black card is He Zheng's supplementary card, with a credit limit of one million and the PIN is 032417."

Shu Yao stretched out her finger and tapped the card.

"Mom, don't borrow a bag tomorrow. Take this card and go to the boutique. Buy all new bags, clothes, and shoes. Pick the most expensive ones. Use this card to pay for Dad's suit too. Go directly to the haute couture store and pick it up in stock."

Lin Shufen gasped, her face mask almost falling off.

Shu Jianguo stared wide-eyed, pointing at the file folder.

"Then... what about this?"

Shu Yao glanced at the file folder.

"The property certificate and keys for the three-story shop at the very top of the downtown commercial street."

She spoke in a flat tone, as if she were asking how much the vegetables cost per pound tonight.

"The property rights of the shop that Shen Minghua gave me as a gift today have been transferred to my name. From now on, I will collect the rent from this shop."

Dead silence.

A terrifying silence fell over the living room once again.

Shu Jianguo felt his legs go weak. He slowly sat back on the sofa, his eyes fixed on the file folder.

A three-story shop in the city center.

He worked as a civil servant in this city his entire life, and he knew all too well the value of that location.

Every inch of land is precious, and this shop is extremely valuable.

Tens of millions at the very least.

The rent alone is enough for an average person to work for a lifetime.

The He family.

So this is what they gave as a meeting gift?

Lin Shufen's hands were trembling.

She ripped the face mask off her face, threw it into the trash can, rushed to the coffee table, and hesitated to touch it.

"Yaoyao...you're not kidding, are you? You really gave it to me?" Lin Shufen's voice trembled.

Shu Yao rolled her eyes.

"Why would I lie to you? What kind of family is the He family? Do you think they'd be short of money?"

She looked at her parents, who were still trembling with fear despite being overwhelmed by the money.

I suddenly found it kind of funny.

Actually, she was quite unsure and flustered while she was in the private room today.

But now, seeing the tangible assets laid out on the table, she was completely reassured.

The He family gave too much.

There are enough to erase the inferiority complex caused by all class differences.

Shu Yao stood up, picked up the water glass on the table, and glanced down at her extremely nervous parents.

A slight smile curved his lips, carrying a hint of nonchalant arrogance.

"So, buy whatever you want tomorrow, and eat whatever you want."

She turned and walked towards her bedroom.

He left behind a casual remark that landed in the center of the living room.

"What's the panic? Our family is now the creditor."

*

Friday morning.

7:30.

Shu Yao was awakened by the noise in the living room.

As I pushed open the bedroom door, the aroma of congee with preserved egg and lean pork wafted in.

Lin Shufen was wearing floral pajamas and pacing back and forth in front of the coffee table, her plastic slippers making a clattering sound on the wooden floor.

on the coffee table.

The kraft paper bag containing the property certificate and the black and gold supplementary card are still there.

Lin Shufen rubbed her hands together, glanced down at the card, sighed, took a few steps, and then looked back at it again.

My eyes are dark circles, and my eye bags are almost drooping down to my cheekbones.

It's obvious he didn't sleep well all night.

Hearing the door open, Lin Shufen looked up abruptly.

"Yaoyao, why are you up so early? Why don't you sleep a little longer?"

She walked over, lowered her voice, and pointed to the closed door of the master bedroom.

"Your dad is still sleeping. He tossed and turned all night, worried sick and pulling his hair out."

Shu Yao yawned and scratched her messy curly hair.

I walked to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

"What's he worried about? He can just order a suit and have a meal. What's there to worry about?"

She speaks so casually now.

But thinking back to just a day ago... she really was her father's biological daughter.

How could I not worry!

Lin Shufen became anxious and shouted in a low voice.

"That's the provincial party secretary! Your dad usually can't even get a front-row seat at meetings, but now he's going to sit at the same table with him for dinner."

Shu Yao took a hard-boiled egg, tapped it twice on the corner of the table, and slowly peeled it.

"Let him shake. He Zheng's dad isn't going to eat people. Yesterday, his wife scolded him like a grandson at the table. He's just a paper tiger."

Lin Shufen quickly covered Shu Yao's mouth.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?! How dare you say such a thing! The walls have ears!" Lin Shufen was so frightened that her face turned pale.

Shu Yao pried her mother's hand away, stuffed the peeled, white egg into her mouth, and took a big bite.

The egg yolk was a bit dry.

She picked up the warm water on the table and smoothed herself down.

"Hurry up and change your clothes, finish your meal, and head out to Hang Lung Plaza."

Shu Yao pulled out a tissue to wipe her hands.

"Your face is as yellow as cabbage leaves that've been sitting out for three days. You've had a full beauty treatment today. It'll take at least half a day to get out of here. I also need to buy clothes and a bag this afternoon, so I'm short on time."

Lin Shufen glanced at the card on the coffee table and swallowed.

"Really spending his money? That's He Zheng's money! We haven't even had the wedding banquet yet, and he's already spending so much of his money. How will you hold your head up in your in-laws' house in the future?"

Traditional ideas from the older generation are still at play.

He who takes a bribe is beholden to it.

Shu Yao rolled her eyes.

She walked to the coffee table, picked up the black card with two fingers, and stuffed it into her pajama pocket.

"If you don't spend it, Shen Minghua will think you look down on her. The money in the wealthy family is just for show. Hurry up and go change your clothes."

Nine o'clock in the morning.

Shu Yao drove her Porsche 718, with Lin Shufen in tow, out of the residential area.

It's the tail end of the morning rush hour, and the roads are a bit congested.

The air conditioning in the car was on full blast. Lin Shufen sat in the passenger seat, her hands gripping the seatbelt tightly, her eyes fixed on the outside of the windshield.

"Yaoyao, which beauty salon should we go to? I often go to Sister Li's beauty salon on the corner. I got a membership card, and a facial is only 68 yuan. Her technique is pretty good."

Lin Shufen was still carefully calculating.

Shu Yao stepped on the brakes, and the car stopped at the red light.

She turned her head and glanced at Lin Shufen.

"Sister Li, can you iron out all the wrinkles on your face? Can you make sure you don't feel shy sitting next to Shen Minghua the night after tomorrow?"

Lin Shufen fell silent and touched the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes.

"I'm going to La Mer's VIP treatment center today. I had someone make an appointment for me last night."

Shu Yao released the brakes and turned the steering wheel.

ten o'clock.

The car was parked in the underground parking garage of Hang Lung Plaza.

The two took the elevator straight to the fifth floor.

At the entrance of the beauty center, the dark gold signboard exudes understated luxury, and two receptionists in black uniforms stand at the door.

The glass door opens automatically via motion sensor.

A rich, luxurious rose essential oil scent wafted over, mingling with the cool air and creating a truly refreshing atmosphere.

The lobby was so quiet there wasn't a sound, and the carpet was so thick it covered the soles of shoes.

"Ms. Shu, hello. A VIP room for two has been prepared for you and your wife." The receptionist flashed a perfect eight-tooth smile and bowed slightly.

Lin Shufen followed behind Shu Yao, her feet feeling a little unsteady.

This place looks ridiculously expensive; the decorative paintings on the walls, the crystal chandeliers overhead—even the air smells like money being burned.

We entered the private room for two.

The lighting was dim, and soothing instrumental music played, like flowing water.

Two large beauty beds were placed side by side, covered with snow-white silk sheets.

"Mom, take off your clothes, change into a bathrobe, and lie down." Shu Yao threw her bag on the leather sofa next to her and started unbuttoning her clothes.

Lin Shufen slowly changed into her bathrobe and climbed onto the massage bed.

The massage bed is heated to a perfect temperature, and as it rests against my back, a warm sensation spreads throughout my body.

Two beauticians in white coats walked in, washed their hands, and disinfected them.

"Madam, let's start with a neck and shoulder massage. You can adjust the pressure as needed." The beautician's voice was gentle, like coaxing a child.

A hot towel was applied to Lin Shufen's neck, steam rising from it.

Then, warm essential oil was dripped onto the skin.

The beautician's technique was professional; her fingertips pushed down along the meridians, pressing on the nodule on her shoulder that had been aching for years.

"hiss--"

Lin Shufen gasped, feeling a sharp pain.

But after the pain, there is an indescribable sense of relief.

"Your neck and shoulders are too stiff. You worry a lot. You need to relax." The beautician said while massaging you.

Lin Shufen closed her eyes and hummed comfortably.

Shu Yao lay beside her, a cool mud mask on her face.

"Give her the full treatment, from head to toe, anti-aging, lifting, everything," Shu Yao instructed.

Lin Shufen suddenly opened her eyes, turned her head and called out in a low voice.

"Yaoyao. How much does this cost?"

"Don't worry about the money, just close your eyes and enjoy yourself." Shu Yao didn't even lift her eyelids.