Chapter 20 Don't Cry, Your Crown Will Fall

For a moment, Su Rong was deeply moved, her eyes filled with complex emotions. It was Shen Qingtang who had caused her Guan'er to be confined to a wheelchair forever, it was Shen Qingtang who had caused her to be mocked by Lin Yumei at the art exhibition today, yet it was also Shen Qingtang who stood before her, neither humble nor arrogant, saying that she would find fault with her and get back at her!

She carefully examined the other person's expression, trying to find evidence that Shen Qingtang was just being polite and putting on a show, but she only saw a serious expression in her dark eyes and tightly pursed lips, without a trace of joking.

It was as if the other person would immediately follow her back to the art exhibition if she just agreed. The anger and sadness that had been building up in Su Rong's heart deflated like a punctured balloon in the blink of an eye.

Shen Qingtang half-squatted down in front of Su Rong, helped her up, took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away her tears. Then, remembering the comforting quotes she had just searched for, she whispered, "Aunt Su, don't cry, or your crown will fall."

Su Rong: "..." Her lips twitched, and a feeling of wanting to complain welled up inside her. These are all popular phrases from hundreds of years ago, how come they're still using them now?

Despite her complaints, Su Rong felt inexplicably better, but she still tightened her lips to express her dissatisfaction, saying, "How can you cause trouble when you have nothing to do? Do you have any ideas?"

“Of course.” Shen Qingtang had already learned the whole story from Zhang Xining and knew where the key issue lay. She looked directly at Su Rong and said, “I don’t know how delicious Lin Qianyue’s mango crepes are, but I think mine are better.”

Shen Qingtang was naturally emotionally detached, lacking the delicate and sensitive emotional nerves of a normal person. When she spoke these words, her tone was light and airy, without even frowning, as if she were stating a fact. Coupled with her calm and unwavering eyes, she appeared arrogant to others.

"You..." Your mango crepes are better than Lin Qianyue's? Before she could finish her sentence, Su Rong abruptly stopped. She had witnessed Shen Qingtang's culinary skills firsthand; her stir-fries and soups were all delicious, and even her beef jerky was just as good. Miao had specifically texted her, saying that the first day they received them, they were almost all snatched up by her roommates, and she had asked her to send more, as she relied on these spicy beef jerky strips to keep her going all night writing her graduation thesis.

Does that mean the other person's dessert-making skills are far beyond those of ordinary people?

Su Rong pursed her lips, her tone softening slightly, and changed her question: "Are you really that good at making desserts?" Shen Qingtang gave a faint "hmm." She seemed to be a natural chef. She had just searched for mango crepe recipes on her phone, and several similar ancient pastry recipes immediately flashed into her mind.

As the saying goes, "the essence remains the same despite all changes," she quickly drew inspiration from this and improved the recipe tutorial online.

To be fair, making desserts is indeed much easier than stir-frying dishes that are full of wok hei (the smoky aroma imparted by a wok).

Having known Shen Qingtang for so long, Su Rong naturally understood her personality; she wouldn't agree to something she wasn't sure of. Feeling more confident, her previously ashen face brightened instantly. She glanced down at the mermaid watch on her fair wrist and asked, "Shen Qingtang, how long will it take you to make thirty mango crepes?"

Shen Qingtang's eyes darted around as she quickly pondered.

Making mango crepes is not complicated. You only need eggs, milk, low-gluten flour, cornstarch, granulated sugar, melted butter, mango, heavy cream, and granulated sugar. It's just a matter of making a phone call, plus you have all the baking tools in your kitchen.

Making the pastry, preparing the mangoes, whipping the cream, and refrigerating it to set—Shen Qingtang quickly calculated in her mind and finally gave a relatively accurate time: "With Xiao Qing and Xia Xia's help, it can be made in an hour."

Su Rong immediately took a deep breath, wiped away the tears on her face, adjusted her state, and returned to the imposing wealthy lady she had first met Shen Qingtang, saying, "Very well, then we'll set off in an hour and a half to cause trouble."

It's only noon now, and the art exhibition won't end until 4 pm. She arrived at 2 pm, which is neither too early nor too late, and it's precisely when there are the most guests.

She took out her phone and instructed, "Mary, please contact the makeup and styling team and have them come over now. I want a queenly, domineering, courtly style."

Before Su Rong could speak, Shen Qingtang nodded to her and prepared to make the small cakes. As she was leaving, Qin Guanlan suddenly reached out and patted her right hand, saying softly, "Thank you for your hard work."

Shen Qingtang shook her head and replied, "Brother Qin, I'm not tired." Ultimately, if it weren't for the trouble caused by the original owner, Brother Qin wouldn't have broken off the engagement with Lin Qianyue, and Su Rong wouldn't have been subjected to sarcastic remarks today.

In the kitchen, Shen Qingtang was enthusiastically making mango crepes with Xiao Qing and Xiao Xia, while Su Rong was also enthusiastically choosing clothes brought by the styling team in her room.

Qin Guanlan was pushed downstairs by Qi Yi and Qi Er. He sat in the living room, working on a document on his computer, but he could clearly see a busy figure in the kitchen if he turned his head slightly.

What none of them noticed was that Xiaoqian, under Xiaowen's cover, had quietly entered Shen Qingtang's room and didn't come out until some time later.

Among dozens of exquisite and unique masterpieces, Su Rong ultimately chose a scarlet velvet V-neck gown with a fishtail hem, exuding elegance while retaining the natural allure of a mature woman's body. The neckline was adorned with pearls, making it even more dazzling. What was even more eye-catching was the pigeon blood ruby ​​necklace adorning her fair collarbone, with a five-carat main diamond that was practically blinding. Perhaps influenced by Shen Qingtang's earlier remarks, she wore a crown, held a black scepter, and slightly raised her eyes, as if she were a supreme empress returning in triumph.

Su Rong looked at herself in the mirror and became more and more satisfied. Not only did she match the style of today's court painting exhibition perfectly, but she also looked more imposing.

Just then, Shen Qingtang brought over a mango crepe that had already been made. After glancing at Su Rong's outfit, she first praised her for being very pretty, and then said, "Aunt Su, please try it."

If the mango crepe in her hand is inferior, Su Rong's current outfit will not only be a waste of time and she won't be able to find fault with it, but she will also vent her pent-up anger on Shen Qingtang.

This was a fact known to everyone present, which made the atmosphere particularly tense. In contrast, Shen Qingtang, who was at the center of the storm, had a calm expression and even thoughtfully considered the inconvenience of Su Rong having already applied lipstick, so she took out a spoon and calmly fed her a bite.

Although Su Rong believed in Shen Qingtang's cooking skills, she had never tasted her desserts. To be fair, Lin Qianyue's mango crepes were indeed worthy of being a first-prize winner; they were sweet and not cloying, even better than some brand-name master shops.

But Su Rong only took a simple bite, and her uneasy heart instantly settled down. After Mary took the cake away, she glanced at the styling team and pointed at Shen Qingtang, saying, "Let's give her a new look too."

Shen Qingtang frowned slightly, about to retort, but was interrupted by Su Rong: "If you come with me to the art exhibition, you will represent the Qin family's image." Her gaze swept over Shen Qingtang's white long T-shirt and trousers, and she said critically and disdainfully: "Wearing tattered clothes won't do."

Shen Qingtang: "......" Oh well, the cake still needs to be refrigerated for a while anyway.

She remained silent, letting the styling team drag her into the dressing room, where she was dressed up like a puppet.

The moment he appeared, a hint of amazement flashed in Qin Guanlan's eyes.

Qi Yi turned his head and whispered to Qi Er, "Sister Chen looks so good in this outfit. She'll definitely attract a lot of suitors at the art exhibition."

Shen Qingtang emerged in a Baroque-style white silk palace gown. The full crinoline of her skirt resembled a blooming flower, and the design, shorter in the front and longer in the back, perfectly showcased her shapely, straight legs. Her fair skin was perfectly suited to this court dress. Sapphire earrings cast a shadow under the light, accentuating her long, slender collarbones and revealing her aloof and elegant demeanor. Unlike Su Rong, who wore a large diamond around her neck, Shen Qingtang's neck was bare, but she wore an extremely beautiful and rare pink diamond on her wrist.

If Su Rong is an imposing empress, then Shen Qingtang is undoubtedly a cold and aloof saintess.

However, this saintess clearly hadn't mastered the five-centimeter high heels she was wearing. She turned a flat road into a rugged mountain path, swaying and staggering as if she were about to fall at any moment.

Qin Guanlan frowned almost imperceptibly, glanced at Su Rong, and said, "How about we get Qingtang a pair of low-heeled shoes?" This suggestion was immediately rejected by stylist Yu. He pinched his pinky finger and screamed as if he were watching his most perfect work of art being destroyed, "No, no, absolutely not!"

"In this world, only high heels are a woman's weapon. They are sexy and charming, and the long, clean lines of the legs and the fair toes are the source of temptation."

Qin Guanlan listened speechlessly, his brow twitching. Su Rong, however, seemed to have been persuaded by Yu, and nodded, saying, "This court dress is too complicated and cumbersome. High heels are indeed suitable, but she just needs some time to practice."

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Qingtang was clearly walking with less difficulty than before. She straightened her back, picked up her chest, and slightly increased her pace. She stood in front of Qin Guanlan and said, "Brother Qin, I've gotten used to it."

Clearly, she had heard Qin Guanlan's suggestion.

Seeing Qin Guanlan staring intently at her, Su Rong raised an eyebrow and teased, "Guan'er, who do you think looks more beautiful between the two of us right now?"

Qin Guanlan used his usual platitudes to reply, "They're both beautiful, it's hard to say which is better." But the direction his gaze frequently lingered on betrayed his true answer.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps came, followed by Xiao Qing's voice.

"Madam, Sister Chen, we've packed all thirty cakes, and Uncle Wang is here too." This was a reminder that they could set off.

Qin Guanlan paused for a moment, then said, "Qi Yi, you should come too." Faced with a puzzled look, he readily replied, "Someone has to help carry the cake."

Alright, so he was going to be a laborer. But the thought of being able to witness the humiliation up close made Qi Yi less complaining. He quickly put all the cakes into the refrigerator in the car.

Qin Guanlan sat by the second-floor window, watching Shen Qingtang wave goodbye to him, then get into her black Maybach and quickly drive away from his sight. His gaze involuntarily fell on his crippled legs, his eyes darkening.

A sense of defeat welled up inside me.

Being in a wheelchair is really...not good.

Sensing Qin Guanlan's sudden change in mood, Qi Er shrank back and didn't dare to utter a word.

He could only pray in the Siberian cold wind that Shen Qingtang would return soon.

*

Seeing that Su Rong, who had left in anger halfway through, had actually regrouped and returned, even with a completely different makeup and hairstyle, the guests visiting the art exhibition all showed a look of surprise. However, they quickly concealed their surprise, but their eyes quietly fell on the beautiful woman dressed in white court attire, who was holding a cake box that looked like a decoration in her hand.

They exchanged glances silently.

Who is the woman with Mrs. Qin? Could she be her daughter?

[Impossible, Mrs. Qin's daughter is still in the United States.]

[Strange, how come I don't remember such a beautiful woman?]

Should we ask Zhang Xining?

......

Of course, there were also people who disliked Su Rong and directly criticized her, saying, "With such a flamboyant outfit, how can she look like a wealthy lady?" Although they said that, their eyes were full of amazement and envy.

Shen Qingtang was undoubtedly attending such a gathering for the first time. As she watched the others holding champagne, appreciating paintings, admiring them alone, or chatting in groups, a hint of curiosity appeared in her eyes, but her gaze did not cross the line.

Seeing Shen Qingtang's natural and uninhibited demeanor, Su Rong, who had been on tenterhooks, was now completely relieved. Fortunately, Shen Qingtang was no longer the boisterous Shen Qingtang of the past.

In such high-society settings, there is never a shortage of people who dare to speak boldly. Soon, a guest came over after clinking glasses with champagne across the room and asked, "Mrs. Qin, why are you back again?" From the other person's ambiguous smile, it was clear that the other person was deliberately trying to cause trouble.

Perhaps because Shen Qingtang was there, Su Rong was quite confident and didn't unleash her fiery temper. She simply smiled and said, "I just went home and changed my clothes. I think this outfit suits the style of Master's work today better." Indeed, as her gaze wandered, she could see all sorts of portraits of court ladies everywhere, some noble ladies reciting poetry, others saints praying devoutly... and their clothing styles were very consistent.

Of course, some people's eyes fell on the cake in Shen Qingtang's hand and asked with ill intent, "Mrs. Qin, why did you buy dessert again? Isn't the cake here the best?"

Upon hearing this, the others immediately recalled Su Rong's earlier embarrassment and burst into laughter. If it were Su Rong's usual personality, she would have argued heatedly with everyone, but instead, she calmly said, "It's delicious, but it's not the best."

“At least…” she paused, then turned her head slightly to look at Shen Qingtang beside her, and said, “At least it’s not as good as what she did.”

Shen Qingtang received the signal and spoke up, "Aunt Su, you flatter me. My pastry-making skills are actually quite average. But I was just at home with nothing to do, so I thought I'd make some for everyone to try." As she spoke, she unpacked the beautiful cake box.

Those around them stared intently, their expressions becoming complicated.

The small cakes on the table were mango crepes! Everyone present was shrewd enough to exchange glances and immediately understand that this was not a chance for them to taste the cakes, but rather a show of force to challenge Lin's mother, Lin Yumei.

Didn't you say your daughter makes the best mango crepes? I'll get someone to come and ruin your business right now.

For a time, many people assumed that Shen Qingtang was the pastry chef that Su Rong had hired.

The wealthy ladies and upper-class figures exchanged knowing glances, then immediately drew out their words with a meaningful smile: "Oh, it's mango crepes. I wonder which one tastes better."

As one of the organizers of this art exhibition, Lin Yumei naturally invited many of her friends in the industry. Therefore, she quickly learned of Su Rong's return and rushed over with her daughter. Just then, she heard this and immediately said with certainty, "Of course, my daughter's mango crepes are even better."

Her face radiated pride and confidence. Her daughter, Lin Qianyue, had shown extraordinary talent in desserts since childhood. She not only studied diligently at a dessert school for several years, but also became an apprentice of the top pastry chef in the port city. At a young age, she became a senior pastry chef and won the dessert competition with her mango crepe.

Without exaggeration, this is the champion's creation! The mango crepe that best represents the pinnacle of her daughter's dessert-making skills!

Faced with Lin's mother's certainty and confidence, Shen Qingtang stepped in front of Su Rong, shielding her behind her, and said with a calm and composed expression, "Whether it tastes good or not should be judged by others, not by your opinion."

Shen Qingtang looked young, but her voice was firm and resolute. Faced with her calm and composed expression and her pure and beautiful face, Lin's mother suddenly shrank back, a sense of fear rising in her heart. She felt that the person in front of her was not ordinary.

She licked her lips and asked, "May I ask who you are...?"

"My name is Shen Qingtang." These five simple words caused the atmosphere in the room to freeze for a moment.

Lin Yumei was the first to react. She had thought the person in front of her was some wealthy heiress, but it turned out to be the culprit who had crippled Qin Guanlan's legs. Her eyes were full of undisguised mockery, and she sneered at Su Rong: "Mrs. Qin is so magnanimous, actually able to..." She deliberately stopped abruptly, her mocking smile widening: "Since you're not convinced, then let's have a contest."

The expressions of the others present changed, turning to disdain and disgust when they looked at Shen Qingtang, and they whispered among themselves.

"So she's Shen Qingtang?"

"No wonder Mrs. Lin said the other party was generous; this is the person who caused her son to be crippled in both legs."

"What a waste of such a beautiful face."

"It's ridiculous that she thinks she can compete with Lin Qianyue with her dessert-making skills."

"That's right, I really don't know how they managed to fool Mrs. Qin."

......

Lin Qianyue tugged at her mother's sleeve, somewhat helplessly advising, "Mother, let's not compete." It wasn't that she was afraid, but she felt there was absolutely no need for a comparison.

No matter how delicious the other person's mango pancakes were, they couldn't compare to hers. Besides, her fiancé, Yan Yan, was coming soon, and she didn't have time to waste on such trivial matters.

She whispered the matter to Lin's mother, but Lin's mother's eyes lit up. She thought this was a good opportunity for Lin Qianyue to enhance her personal charm in Yan Yan's heart. She persuaded Lin Qianyue in a few words and said with certainty, "Xiaoyue, you will listen to me this time."

In her view, this was a sure-win situation.

*

When Zhang Xining spotted that extremely familiar figure in the crowd, he was stunned, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Was that Shen Qingtang? If it weren't for the identical face, the completely different temperament would have made her unrecognizable. In her memory, Shen Qingtang was a typical impulsive young woman, always rash and impulsive, harboring an inferiority complex deep down, yet trying to intimidate others with bluffing.

Her friend called out, "Xining, let's go see what's going on!"

"Mrs. Qin was embarrassed and is now coming back with her people. They brought thirty mango pancakes and are having people taste them blindfolded. We just happened to not have any of Lin Qianyue's pancakes, so we can get one of them."

"I don't know whose dessert is better."

Before Zhang Xining could say no, her friend pulled her over.

Upon seeing Zhang Xining, Shen Qingtang nodded slightly, her lips moving. Zhang Xining clearly saw that the other woman said "thank you." Her feelings became complicated; she had to admit that the Shen Qingtang before her seemed to be quite different from the Shen Qingtang she remembered.

While the waiter was taking the mango crepes off to plate them, she kindly reminded him, "Shen Qingtang, why don't you take this opportunity to quietly admit defeat to Mrs. Lin?"

She pursed her lips and whispered, "Let me tell you another secret: both Master Hit and Young Master Yan really love mango crepes."

"It was precisely because of this that Lin Qianyue was able to invite Master Hitler to hold an art exhibition in China and become Young Master Yan's fiancée." One can only imagine how delicious her mango crepes must have been.

After listening, Shen Qingtang nodded calmly and said, "Ms. Zhang, thank you for your reminder. Although desserts are not my forte, the ones I make taste pretty good. I hope you will enjoy them later."

Seeing the other party remain unmoved, Zhang Xining couldn't help but twitch his lips, shaking his head as he watched their departing figure. Even if Shen Qingtang did a good job, could she compare to Lin Qianyue? Lin Qianyue possessed a secret recipe and received guidance from a master.

Normally, Mrs. Qin's departure midway through the event would only have been a laughing stock for a couple of days, but this time, because of Shen Qingtang, she would be made a huge fool of herself and become a laughing stock among the upper-class circles for at least the next month.

Ten minutes later, Zhang Xining saw that Shen Qingtang's mango crepes were far ahead in the votes, and only then did he realize that he was very wrong.

Lin Qianyue shook her head, her face full of disbelief, and said, "This is absolutely impossible." She made it according to the ancient secret recipe, a version that her master had passed down and improved over generations. How could she possibly lose?