Shen Cong felt increasingly aggrieved the more he thought about it.

She couldn't help but complain, "I already explained it to you before, but you didn't believe me at all. You even thought I was being insincere and made sarcastic remarks about me, calling me a toad."

"I didn't want to argue with you at the time, but you even tried to have your men attack me. Luckily, I ran fast, or I might have been beaten by your guards."

"So much time has passed, I had almost forgotten about it. What was Miss Zhao thinking that she would dare to bring this up again? This matter almost made me furious back then."

Shen Cong recounted his grievances with indignation.

"Who would have thought that Miss Zhao would be so unruly? I found the jade pendant and wanted to return it, and it was wrong of me?"

Qu Jingyun felt helpless and looked up at the two people in front of her with embarrassed expressions.

But that wasn't all. Shen Cong continued to complain, "I saw Miss Zhao at a banquet later, and I even heard her and her girlfriends talking about me behind my back."

"What do you mean I'm a useless piece of trash, even though I'm General Shen's son? How could I be worthy of her?"

"They didn't seem to care about me at all when they said those things back then. How can Miss Zhao have the nerve to say such things now? Don't you find it ridiculous?"

Upon hearing this, Qu Jingyun's expression changed from initially watching with amusement to becoming furious.

He snorted coldly and said, "Is this how the Zhao family humiliates my son? I've really learned something new."

"This..." Madam Zhao was stumped by the question.

Zhao Xiangxue had never said such a thing to her before, and glared at the other person with dissatisfaction.

If she had known beforehand that the other party had done such a thing, she would never have had the audacity to make a scene in front of the Shen family.

When Shen Cong exposed her past actions in front of everyone, Zhao Xiangxue felt utterly humiliated.

She glared at Chen Cong with dissatisfaction and muttered in a low voice, "I already know I was wrong. I shouldn't have trampled on your sincerity before. I will change in the future, okay?"

"Stop." Shen Cong hurriedly said, "I'll remind you again, there has never been any sincerity between us, only your own delusion."

"Even when I was considered a good-for-nothing by everyone, I never had any feelings for you. You're overthinking it."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiangxue looked on in disbelief.

He couldn't wait to reach out and pull on Chen Cong's sleeve.

"I really know I was wrong. I know I hurt you. After we get married, I will definitely make it up to you and won't let your true feelings go to waste."

Shen Cong hastily dodged her hand, his expression full of disgust.

She quickly hid behind Qu Jingyun and said directly, "Don't talk nonsense and damage my reputation, or don't blame me for being impolite."

After being rejected several times, Zhao Xiangxue looked very unhappy.

He roared, "Chen Cong, this is the last face I'm giving you, don't go too far."

"Don't you dare try to save face for me. I don't need it. How could I possibly like such a vicious and shallow woman like you?" Shen Cong said without the slightest hesitation.

Hearing her daughter being so belittled, Madam Zhao's face also turned sour.

He angrily rebuked, "Is this the manners of a top scholar? To humiliate a woman like this in broad daylight?"

"You were the ones who insulted me first," Shen Cong retorted impatiently.

"Are you the only ones allowed to tarnish my innocence, and I'm not allowed to resist?"

He glared at the two people in front of him with dissatisfaction, secretly lamenting his misfortune.

Once he became the top scholar, all sorts of strange and monstrous things came rushing in.

At this point, Qu Jingyun fully understood what had happened.

He snorted coldly and said, "I understand now."

“My son found Miss Zhao’s jade pendant and intended to return it, but Miss Zhao misunderstood him as a toad who fantasized about becoming a swan and repeatedly humiliated him.”

"Now that my son has become the top scholar, you all think his future is limitless, so you've all come running to him again. Such behavior has truly opened my eyes."

Although the Zhao mother and daughter did indeed think that way, they still blushed and felt a bit embarrassed and annoyed when Qu Jingyun said it so bluntly.

Zhao Xiangxue couldn't help but glare at Shen Cong, and said with dissatisfaction, "You're supposed to be the top scholar, how can you humiliate a woman like this in front of her?"

"Am I being humiliated? I was just telling the truth." Shen Cong couldn't help but speak up, "Should I just swallow this injustice and let you accuse me at will?"

"My reputation is also very important."

“The matter has been made clear. Madam Zhao should understand that my son and your daughter have no relation. Please do not say such strange things in the future.”

Qu Jingyun stepped forward again, her tone carrying a faint warning.

"If any rumors spread in the capital that could damage my son's reputation, don't blame me for being ruthless."

"Xue'er is deeply in love with Young Master Shen, must Young Master Shen be so heartless?" Madam Zhao hardened her heart and questioned him again.

"Such deep-rooted affection is best avoided; my son cannot bear it," Qu Jingyun snorted coldly.

His gaze swept over Zhao Xiangxue indifferently before he said, "We have other things to do, so we won't waste any more time with you."

After saying this, Qu Jingyun led her group away.

He completely ignored the Zhao family mother and daughter behind him.

"You're so useless! Why didn't you tell me these things before? If I had known you would make an enemy of her, I wouldn't have come here with you to embarrass myself." Madam Zhao couldn't help but reach out and pinch Zhao Xiangxue hard a few times.

Zhao Xiangxue felt wronged and muttered softly, "It's not my fault. He always seemed to be deeply in love with me."

"And he even chased me for several blocks, which terrified me. Plus, his reputation wasn't good at the time, so it's understandable that I would misunderstand. Who knew..."

She herself felt somewhat embarrassed and annoyed after hearing Shen Cong's words.

However, he harbored more resentment towards Shen Cong.

Even if he becomes the top scholar, so what? What's so great about that?

How could anyone embarrass her like that in the street? It's really too much.

"Don't say such embarrassing things again. Luckily, no one else heard you today, or your reputation would be ruined. When you get back, you'd better obediently marry into the Qian family and stop coveting what doesn't belong to you."

After giving Zhao Xiangxue a resentful glare, Madam Zhao ignored her and turned to leave.

Behind her, Zhao Xiangxue's face was deathly pale, and her body was trembling uncontrollably.

She absolutely cannot marry into the Qian family; the Qian family is no good place.

Her gaze involuntarily fell on Shen Cong's departing figure, and she bit her lower lip hard.

Since Shen Cong wasn't buying it, she had to come up with another way.