Chapter 11: What are you doing here?
"What's he doing here?"
Hou Jun couldn't help but mutter, having heard from Zhou Wanting that Shen Yuan's family had gone bankrupt and that he also owed a lot of debt outside.
In theory, without his parents' protection, Shen Yuan would be just a poor student. Why would he dare to spend money at a place like IFC Mall?
When Hou Jun saw the girl next to Shen Yuan paying the parking fee, he suddenly felt uneasy inside.
What kind of crap is this, bankrupt and still spending a woman's money?
Meanwhile, Zhou Wanting, in the passenger seat, watched the two pay the parking fee and walk side by side into IFC Mall, her face gradually darkening.
They had just broken up yesterday, and here he was today, going out on a date with another girl.
Shen Yuan, you really have some nerve!
On the other hand, Shen Yuan hadn't noticed Hou Jun and Zhou Wanting at all. They arrived at the mall's first floor and happened to see a tea drink shop. Each ordered a milk tea, sitting and slowly finishing their drinks before starting to browse.
The first floor of IFC Mall primarily housed clothing, jewelry, and cosmetics, while luxury brands were mostly on the second floor.
Shen Yuan wasn't interested in those items. He led Fang Minhui directly to the second floor, planning to look at bags.
He had already bought an LV last time and this time wanted to check out Prada or Chanel.
However, just as they approached the entrance to Prada, he surprisingly found Zhou Wanting and that sleazy middle-aged man also inside.
It's really such a small world!
Shen Yuan didn't want to encounter them and turned around, saying, "Let's check out some other stores first."
"Hmm."
Fang Minhui didn't mind; actually, just being able to go out and eat top-quality Japanese cuisine with Shen Yuan had already made her quite pleased.
She hadn't had many opportunities to interact with Shen Yuan before, but through tonight, Fang Minhui's impression of Shen Yuan had changed somewhat.
Being with him felt completely different than being with Li Zhanpeng.
Li Zhanpeng always spoke with a boasting tone, as if he could hardly wait to show off every good quality he thought he had.
For instance, things like, "My family paid cash for a flat in Tianjiao Haoting in Star City last year. It's not big, just 120 square meters, but I think it's enough. Too big and it's hard to clean."
Or, "A car is just a mode of transport, it doesn't have to be too good, it just needs to get you around. My mom is always trying to get me a BMW, but I refused. After all, our parents' money isn't easy come, easy go. We need to consider our parents."
And many more remarks like these, which Fang Minhui found quite off-putting.
Shen Yuan was different; he exuded an air of composure and calm throughout the evening.
He didn't flaunt deliberately, nor did he brag about his family's financial status. Their conversation topics were all about fun experiences at school or embarrassing moments from childhood.
Thus, the whole process was enjoyable. Fang Minhui found some joy in it and was already looking forward to their next date.
"Shen Yuan!"
A male voice came from behind Shen Yuan, who frowned. He had guessed who it was but was in a good mood that day and didn't want this couple to ruin it, so he pretended not to hear.
Fang Minhui subconsciously turned back and saw an unfamiliar middle-aged man, but seeing that Shen Yuan was indifferent, she thought he hadn't heard and reminded him, "Shen Yuan, someone is calling you."
"I don't know him, no need to pay him any mind," Shen Yuan quickened his steps.
"Shen Yuan, since we're already at the door, why don't we browse around? It doesn't cost anything just to look."
Hou Jun stepped forward a few paces, watching Shen Yuan's retreating figure with a sense of superiority.
Hou Jun had been outmaneuvered by Shen Yuan yesterday and was worried about not having the chance to regain face, thinking to himself that he had never experienced those projects, all enjoyed by this son of a bitch!
At first, he thought Shen Yuan, being a poor student, would only stroll around the first floor, but to his surprise, Shen dared to come up to the second floor.
You have the audacity to browse the Prada section when you need a woman to cover your transportation costs?
Can you even afford it?
Of course, it was also an opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the beauty beside him.
To show the girl clearly that there's no future in following a poor guy like this, what good is it only to look and not buy?
Zhou Wanting was completely engrossed in looking at bags when she heard Hou Jun's voice. She instinctively glanced in his direction and immediately came over after putting down the bag.
"Shen Yuan, what are you doing here?"
Zhou Wanting's tone was harsh as she stopped Shen Yuan.
Shen Yuan couldn't help but curse inwardly. Now that he thought of leaving, he couldn't, so he turned back and said, "What a coincidence, you guys are here too?"
Fang Minhui turned to look at the two. He didn't recognize the middle-aged man, but he had seen Zhou Wanting before, as she used to hang out with Shen Yuan.
Zhou Wanting was sizing up Fang Minhui, who looked somewhat familiar and was probably from the International campus as well.
She subconsciously compared herself to Minhui, not only was Minhui's facial beauty slightly superior, but even in terms of figure...
Her bust and hips were noticeably fuller than her own.
Zhou Wanting was even more displeased. Yesterday, Shen Yuan had almost laid bare all her secrets, and now he was out shopping with a girl who was better looking than her. What was he implying?
If Shen Yuan had found a girl who was inferior to her in every aspect, she wouldn't have said a thing and might have even felt secretly pleased, but now he had found a pretty girl whose figure was better than hers?
Zhou Wanting suspected that Shen Yuan had shown up at this time on purpose just to infuriate her!
"I came to shop for a gift for my sister."
Shen Yuan replied indifferently.
"Pfft....."
Hou Jun couldn't help it and burst out laughing, "To buy a gift for your sister, you should be at a toy wholesale market or browsing Pinduoduo. What are you doing here?"
The commotion among the four of them was not small, and the salesladies at Prada also thought, "Wow, what a scene."
Mr. Shen was a regular, though he hadn't visited in the past few months, the salesladies remembered him.
They also knew that Ms. Zhou was Mr. Shen's girlfriend.
However, based on the current situation, it seemed that Shen Yuan was shopping with a new love interest whose figure was even better than Ms. Zhou's. At the same time, they happened upon Ms. Zhou with her "new" love—a man at least forty years old.
And considering Ms. Zhou's attitude and tone, it appeared that Mr. Shen had dumped Ms. Zhou?
Since they had just broken up yesterday, setting aside Mr. Shen's faults, why had Ms. Zhou so quickly found an older man to buy her bags?
When Ms. Zhou and the old man entered the store just now, one of the salesladies, Julia, who often served them, thought he was Ms. Zhou's father.
After all, it was generally assumed that Ms. Zhou was still Mr. Shen's girlfriend.
But based on Julia's years of experience selling luxury goods, she noticed something unusual in their looks and decided to switch the nearly spoken "Uncle" to "Big Brother."
Julia was quite relieved with her quick response, especially since such occurrences were no longer unusual nowadays.
After all, the last time, a man in his seventies had brought a woman in her twenties to shop.
This pair with merely a twenty-year age gap was nothing in comparison.
...