Chapter 38 Oh, she's my husband's girlfriend.
"This is my daughter-in-law, Shen Li. She doesn't usually attend these kinds of events, so you probably haven't seen her much," Zhu Qinghui introduced.
Shen Li greeted them politely.
"They are so beautiful, a perfect match in terms of looks and talent."
What industry are you in?
Shen Li: "I would consider myself an artist."
"An artist? In what field?"
“I do…” Before Shen Li could finish answering, Zhu Qinghui interrupted, “They’re all shady stuff, not serious business. She just works on some projects with the family company.”
In fact, women like them usually don't have their own careers, but in such families, they can always do business, whether they stay at their own home before marriage or at their husband's home after marriage.
In the past, Shen Li would have answered like Zhu Qinghui just now.
Because her marriage to Lu Yanchuan began with a project that the two families were working on together, she would be representing the Shen family.
But now, Shen Li frowned, displeased.
How is it considered beneath us?
Shen Li's lips tightened into a slightly cool line. She glanced at Zhu Qinghui and said in a calm voice, "The family business has been going out of business for a long time."
She answered the person who had just asked the question, "I work in ceramics; I'm a ceramic artist."
The group of ladies noticed the tension between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the Lu family and quickly tried to smooth things over.
"That's great. Ceramic artists are great. I don't know much about this field, except for Zhong Shaoyuan, the old master Zhong."
Upon hearing her mentor's name, Shen Li raised her eyes slightly.
Another woman nearby chimed in, "I only know Zhong Shaoyuan. I think someone brought one of his works to auction tonight, didn't they?"
Shen Li hadn't been interested in tonight's auction, but after hearing this, she finally became somewhat interested.
She blinked. "Really?"
"It should be written in the auction catalog. I don't quite remember what the work was, but I do remember it was by Zhong Shaoyuan."
"Thank you." Shen Li nodded, just about to go downstairs to get a catalog of the auction items.
Zhu Qinghui grabbed her arm, intending to keep her there, saying, "Don't run around causing trouble, sit here."
Shen Li looked down at Zhu Qinghui's hand that was holding her arm. "Lu Yanchuan may not have mentioned it to you."
"...What?" Zhu Qinghui asked in confusion.
Shen Li: "I was originally a judo athlete."
Zhu Qinghui's expression froze.
"I'm not far from the national team," Shen Li said. "I respect you as my elder, but please don't try to force me into anything."
Zhu Qinghui's expression turned ugly, and her voice trembled with anger, "W-what...? Are you going to hit me?"
It wouldn't be difficult to resort to violence, but breaking free wouldn't be hard either.
Before Shen Li could make a move, Song Xiaowan, dressed in a formal gown, walked in from the doorway.
"Hey, isn't that Lu Yanchuan's..."
"They're shameless to come here."
"Isn't this a slap in the face to Mrs. Lu?"
"It's also a slap in the face to the Lu family."
"How could Madam Lu possibly bear it?"
A middle-aged man walked in with Song Xiaowan. The man looked mature and had a gentle expression.
Shen Li recognized the man.
Sha Jinpeng is a fairly well-known designer and painter. He now specializes in interior design, owns his own factory, and his business is quite large.
After breaking up with Lu Yanchuan, Song Xiaowan went abroad to study design.
It's not surprising that she and Sha Jinpeng would be here.
"I heard that he wants to collaborate with Master Zhong. His home decor items aren't quite up to par. If he could collaborate with a master like Zhong Shaoyuan, things would be much simpler."
"It seems he came specifically for Professor Zhong's works."
Shen Li overheard the discussion around her.
Sha Jinpeng wants to collaborate with his mentor? That's more like wishful thinking.
Shen Li knew her mentor's stubborn nature all too well; he was incredibly stubborn and very particular about tradition.
They're the complete opposite of Sha Jinpeng, who's focused on commercial mass production. If Sha Jinpeng were to go to his master about this, he might get kicked out.
Sha Jinpeng came up and greeted the group of ladies with a smile, then pushed Song Xiaowan, who was behind him, forward.
"This is my apprentice, Song Xiaowan, a designer who returned from studying abroad. I hope you will all take good care of her in the future."
The group of ladies chuckled awkwardly, unsure whether to agree or disagree, and simply passed the buck, saying, "Then you should ask Madam Lu and Mrs. Lu for more help."
Sha Jinpeng seemed unaware of the recent gossip, only having heard Song Xiaowan mention that she seemed to have some connection with President Lu of the Lu family.
He also didn't notice the expression on Song Xiaowan's face when she saw Zhu Qinghui and Shen Li.
"I hope Mrs. Lu and Madam Lu will continue to take care of me in the future," Sha Jinpeng said with a smile. "I heard Xiaowan mention that she and President Lu have some connections."
Zhu Qinghui remained silent, probably because she didn't want to waste time talking to him, but she subtly pinched Chen Li.
It seemed as if Shen Li was to deal with the situation.
Shen Li: "...?" She didn't understand why she had to deal with it.
But then I thought about how Song Xiaowan had appeared so brazenly...
Shen Li glanced at them, reached out and shook hands with Sha Jinpeng, answering his question.
"We do have some connection," Shen Li said calmly. "She's my husband's girlfriend."
Sha Jinpeng's smile froze, and Song Xiaowan's face suddenly turned pale.
The crowd fell silent, and the scene became quite awkward.
Song Xiaowan trembled slightly, looking as if she was about to cry. Anyone who didn't know better would think that Shen Li was deliberately bullying her.
Sha Jinpeng looked embarrassed, somewhat regretting bringing Song Xiaowan here.
Zhu Qinghui didn't expect Shen Li to be so direct, and for a moment she didn't even know how to react!
Her eyes widened, and after a long while, she pulled Shen Li aside, her voice low as she whispered in Shen Li's ear, "What...what are you saying!"
Shen Li glanced at her. "Didn't you pinch my arm and ask me to fix it? I told you the truth and you got upset again."
Zhu Qinghui almost spat out a mouthful of blood!
"I asked you to solve this, not to expose it!" Zhu Qinghui shouted in Shen Li's ear.
She just found Song Xiaowan annoying and wanted Shen Li to get rid of her as soon as possible. Exposing this would only bring shame to the Lu family!
"Are you really stupid or just pretending?!"
Song Xiaowan's face flushed red, then turned pale, then bluish-white, making her look exceptionally delicate, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.
She walked up to Shen Li with a pitiful expression, her voice trembling slightly, "Mrs. Lu, I'm sorry, I know we had some unpleasantness before, I apologize to you."
Shen Li realized that this was the beginning of a show of weakness, and that moral blackmail would likely follow soon.
Shen Li twitched the corner of her mouth. "Mrs. Lu? What, is it no longer the time to call me Miss Shen?"
When Song Xiaowan asked her to meet before, she always addressed her as Miss Shen.
Song Xiaowan's face stiffened even more. She bit her pale lips. "I have already been punished and have experienced considerable cyberbullying. Everyone makes mistakes, so... Mrs. Lu, could you please stop targeting me?"
Song Xiaowan's eyes were wet with tears. Looking at Shen Li with such a pitiful appearance, even someone who wasn't heartless should have been moved.
Seeing the gentle smile on Shen Li's face, Song Xiaowan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
You breathed a sigh of relief too soon.
Shen Li smiled gently and said, "No, that's not possible."
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