The next day, early in the morning, Xu Xinchen dressed up, grabbed her bag, and headed to school. Passing by the house on the west side, she saw that the door was tightly closed and guessed that Lu Shuangshuang probably hadn't gotten up yet.

Regarding yesterday's argument, Lu Shuangshuang must have used some means to persuade Zhao Lanzhi, otherwise Zhao Lanzhi wouldn't have kept a straight face all this time.

The school in town was located at the southernmost part of the town. It had only two classrooms and a total of about thirty students. When Xu Xinchen arrived, Chen Baifei was already preparing lessons. When he heard footsteps, he subconsciously looked up and his eyes widened.

Xu Xinchen didn't tie her hair up today. Her shoulder-length hair was smoothly draped over her shoulders and secured with small white hair clips. She looked both gentle and stylish. Having gotten used to Lu Minshi's unkempt appearance, this version of Lu Minshi was so dazzling that he couldn't take his eyes off her.

Xu Xinchen ignored him and went straight to the desk opposite him, where she sat down.

"Min Shi," Chen Baifei greeted her, picking up the fried dough sticks and soy milk from the table and handing them to her, "This is breakfast I bought for you."

Xu Xinchen took out her bag, laid the books out on the table, and waved her hand, "No need, I've already eaten."

Hearing that cold tone again, Chen Baifei felt a pang of unease. He wasn't sure if what she said yesterday, telling him to stop bothering her, was just said in anger. But lately, Lu Minshi felt very unfamiliar to him, as if she had become a different person. She was no longer timid and cowardly as before, and instead exuded a cold and aloof aura that kept people at a distance. Surprisingly, he didn't dislike her; on the contrary, he felt a little inclined to get closer to her.

When Xu Xinchen returned from teaching a class, she took a sip of water and noticed that there was another person in the office.

Lu Shuangshuang suddenly appeared out of nowhere and clung to Chen Baifei, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her cheek against the back of his neck, the two of them in an extremely intimate posture.

When Lu Shuangshuang saw her, she smiled and called out, "Sister."

Hearing Lu Shuangshuang call out, Chen Baifei finally saw it was her. For some reason, he hurriedly removed Lu Shuangshuang's hand from his neck.

Lu Shuangshuang suddenly tumbled onto a chair. She sat up, bewildered, and asked in a coquettish tone, "Brother Baifei, what are you doing?"

Chen Baifei didn't know what was wrong with him at the moment, he just didn't want to do these things in front of Lu Minshi, so he said, "Shuangshuang, you go back first, I have class later."

Lu Shuangshuang was unhappy. "What do you mean? Someone got up early to see you, and you're going to kick them out?"

Chen Baifei sighed, "I really have class. Can I spend time with you after class?"

Lu Shuangshuang's eyes darted around, and she saw Lu Minshi on the opposite desk. She smiled and went over to give Chen Baifei a quick kiss on the cheek.

The sound was so loud that Xu Xinchen looked up, but looked away without pausing for a second.

Chen Baifei was caught off guard by her move and paused for a moment. When he saw the way Xu Xinchen was looking at them, he suddenly flew into a rage and scolded in a low voice, "What are you doing in public?"

Lu Shuangshuang didn't expect Chen Baifei to not only be unhappy, but also so angry with her. Her face fell. "Chen Baifei, do you find me annoying? Am I disturbing your time alone with her?"

Chen Baifei frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Lu Shuangshuang stomped her foot, glared angrily at Xu Xinchen, grabbed her bag, and ran out of the office.

When Chen Baifei saw her suddenly run away, he paused, his pen twitching. But remembering he had to go to class, he ultimately didn't chase after her.

Lu Shuangshuang ran for more than ten meters, almost to the school gate, and looked back to see that there was still no movement in the office. Chen Baifei hadn't chased after her. She bit her lip in resentment and stomped her foot.

Xu Xinchen listened to their argument without saying a word, focusing on preparing her lesson. She noticed that Chen Baifei glanced at her several times, but she didn't look up to respond.

In fact, she didn't care about their affairs at all. Lu Shuangshuang must have regarded her as a rival. Xu Xinchen had lived for 28 years and worked her way up in the entertainment industry. She could see through Lu Shuangshuang's tricks at a glance.

But she was too lazy to expose her; she was a little girl and didn't bother arguing with her.

But Xu Xinchen was lucky today. On her first day of work, she received her salary. Holding the fifty-yuan bill in her hand, her palms felt hot, and her mood for the whole day became wonderful.

Having just arrived in this world, she didn't know much about the prices of goods in this era, but having grown accustomed to a life of wearing luxury goods, she wouldn't be frugal in this world either.

As soon as she got off work, she rushed to a clothing store in town on her way to work. The store was spacious and had an impressive signboard, making it look like the most upscale clothing store in town.

As soon as she entered, Sister Xie came to greet her. When she saw that it was Lu Minshi, she paused for a moment before walking over to her side and saying warmly, "Minshi, what brings you here today?"

It's no wonder she was suspicious; Lu Minshi never bought clothes, always wearing that worn-out blue shirt, while her younger sister, Lu Shuangshuang, was a frequent customer.

They buy several items at a time.

Xu Xinchen greeted her with a smile.

She then began to browse carefully, but in just a few seconds, she spotted the dress hanging at the very back. "Sister Xie, please take that down and let me take a look."

She pointed to the clothes.

Sister Xie looked in the direction she was looking and her heart skipped a beat. This dress was brought back to her from abroad by her younger sister in the city. She said it was a good thing, but the skirt was too short, above the knee. When she got the dress, she was worried that the girls in the small town dressed very conservatively and that she would be stuck with it.

But I never expected that I would be chosen by Lu Minshi at first glance.

"Wait a moment, Sister Xie will get it for you right away," she replied hastily.

Xu Xinchen took her clothes and went to the dressing room, which was separated by only a curtain, to change. As soon as she came out, she saw that Sister Xie's eyes were fixed on her, and she kept sighing.

"It looks so good, it suits you so well. Min Shi, this is practically made for you."

Xu Xinchen walked to the slanted dressing mirror and looked at herself from left to right. She was indeed beautiful. After so many years in the entertainment industry, she had developed her own taste in fashion. This dress accentuated her curvaceous figure and slender waist, making her skin look as white as snow and her appearance as fresh as a lotus emerging from water.

She was very satisfied. "I'll take this one."

"Hey," Sister Xie hurriedly took out a packaging bag, ready to help her wrap it up, but suddenly remembered something, stopped her hand, and looked at her hesitantly, "Min Shi, this dress is not cheap."

"How many?'

"30," Sister Xie said with difficulty. She observed her expression and was about to offer her a discount when a banknote suddenly appeared in front of her.

Is that enough?

"Mmm." Sister Xie hesitated for a moment, then quickly replied and put the money in her pocket.

Xu Xinchen didn't have many classes today and came home early. She had just entered the yard with the clothes she bought when she bumped into Zhao Lanzhi, who was returning from playing mahjong.

Zhao Lanzhi looked at the things in her hands with a smile, "Min Shi, what did you buy?"

"It's nothing." Xu Xinchen didn't want to say more to her and planned to go inside.

But Zhao Lanzhi stood in front of her, her eyes constantly glancing into the bag, and asked, "Min Shi, if I remember correctly, your wages are paid today, right?"

“Hmm.” Xu Xinchen glanced at her, not understanding what she meant.

"Where's the money?"

"It cost money," Xu Xinchen said calmly.

Zhao Lanzhi's smile suddenly froze. She seemed unable to believe her ears, staring wide-eyed at her incredulously, and asked, "Paid?"

"Okay." Xu Xinchen nodded and walked around her to go inside.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my arm and was unexpectedly thrown against a wall. The brand-new clothes in the bag were thrown out and landed on the ground.

Zhao Lanzhi picked up the clothes, looked at them, and said angrily, "Lu Minshi, you bought this thing with your salary? Which man are you going to seduce with this?"

Xu Xinchen was sitting on the ground. Upon hearing this, he looked up at her.

The look in his eyes was so sharp that Zhao Lanzhi's heart skipped a beat, and she swallowed back the curse that was about to escape her lips.

Xu Xinchen quickly stood up from the ground, snatched the clothes from her hands, and was about to leave.

Zhao Lanzhi realized what was happening and quickly ran over to block her. "Lu Minshi, hand over the money, or you're not getting in today."

"The money is all gone," Xu Xinchen repeated.

Zhao Lanzhi looked at the clothes in her hand, "Go and return them."

"impossible!"

Zhao Lanzhi was so angry upon hearing this that her eyes nearly rolled back, and she raised her hand to slap her.

But her hand was suddenly gripped, and she couldn't move at all. Zhao Lanzhi looked at the hand that was holding her and couldn't understand where the weak Lu Minshi suddenly got such strength.

Xu Xinchen pushed Zhao Lanzhi backward forcefully, releasing her grip, and Zhao Lanzhi fell backward to the ground.

"My salary is my own, and how I spend it is my own business. No one else has the right to interfere."

Zhao Lanzhi lay on the ground, her face flushed with anger upon hearing this, and she burst into a tirade, "Lu Minshi, you unfilial daughter, you little slut, you..."

All she knows is buying clothes to seduce men; she completely disregards the well-being of her family…

With a twang, the door opened, and Lu Shuangshuang came in. Seeing Zhao Lanzhi lying on the ground, she was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly ran over to help her up. "Mom, what happened?"

Zhao Lanzhi was still muttering, "You unfilial daughter! How much money did the family spend on your education, and you're so ungrateful! You heartless wretch..."

Lu Shuangshuang looked at Xu Xinchen and said in a sharp tone, "Lu Minshi, why did you bully my mom?"

Xu Xinchen glanced at them, then went back inside and closed the door.

Outside the door, Zhao Lanzhi was still crying and cursing, interspersed with Lu Shuangshuang's comforting words. After a while, Lu Shuangshuang pounded on the door, shouting, "Lu Minshi, hand over your wages!"

Xu Xinchen completely ignored them, took out a book from her bag, took off her shoes, lay on the bed, and quietly began to read.

After a while, the noise outside the door gradually subsided, and Lu Shuangshuang's angry voice could be faintly heard, "Come on, Mom, tell Dad. I don't believe she can't come up with this money."

Chen Baifei and Lu Shuangshuang arranged to meet at the southernmost bridge in town. After dinner, a cool summer breeze blew by, making it the perfect time for a date. But for some reason, Chen Baifei seemed a little absent-minded today.

He walked slowly across the bridge with his hands behind his back, gazing at the babbling stream by the river, but his heart remained restless.

Suddenly, he felt a warmth behind him, and a soft body pressed against him. He paused, turned around, and saw Lu Shuangshuang hugging him from behind. Her eyes were red like a rabbit's, and she was pouting with a wronged expression, as if she was about to cry.

"What's wrong?" He gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and asked tenderly.

Upon hearing his voice, Lu Shuangshuang couldn't hold back her grievances any longer. She buried her face in his chest and poured out her heart, recounting the events of the afternoon. Between sobs, she continued, "My dad only favors her. He says his salary is enough for both of us, but you know his salary! My mom plays mahjong, and I don't even have enough for my monthly clothes. If this continues, I really can't live like this..."

Lu Shuangshuang buried her face in his chest and poured out her grievances, her tears smearing onto his clothes.

After a moment of silence, Lu Shuangshuang looked up at her and asked, "Brother Baifei, why aren't you saying anything?"

Chen Baifei lowered his head, his eyelashes obscuring his eyelids and casting a shadow, making it impossible to see what he was thinking. After a while, he raised his head and looked at her with a calm and indifferent gaze. "Shuangshuang, haven't you considered going to work?"

Lu Shuangshuang's heart skipped a beat. She looked at him with surprise in her eyes. "What do you mean? You know I'm uneducated. What kind of job can I find? Besides, I'm about to marry you. Wouldn't it be better for me to stay at home and be a good wife and mother?"

Turning her head, she seemed to remember something and looked quite disdainful. "Besides, my mother said that a good woman is one who is content with her home. A good woman only needs to take good care of the man at home. Only women who can't find a man will go out and flirt with other women."

She then looked at him, her eyes flashing, "Brother Baifei, you mustn't be bewitched by these women."

Upon hearing her words, Chen Baifei's heart sank. He sighed almost imperceptibly, turned his face away from her, and gave a vague reply.

"By the way, Brother Baifei, have you talked to your aunt? Did she agree to our relationship?"

"Um..." Chen Baifei looked away and said deflecting, "I haven't had time yet..."

"What do you mean you haven't had time yet?" Lu Shuangshuang was immediately annoyed upon hearing this, and said with dissatisfaction, "I've already talked to my mom, and she agreed. It's just a matter of you getting on with it. Why are you dragging your feet like this?"

"Your parents agreed?" Chen Baifei's eyes widened when he heard this, and he looked at her in disbelief.