"What on earth are you doing!" Shen Ximan couldn't stand it any longer and gave Shen Shiyu a hard shove.
Shen Shiyu staggered a few steps and almost landed on her backside. Fortunately, Yang Wan quickly caught her, or she would have surely made a fool of herself in front of so many people.
If an ordinary person had pushed Shen Shiyu so rudely, she and her mother would surely have made that person pay! But the woman in front of them was the female CEO of Ahairei. They wanted to get angry but didn't know where to start.
"Are you okay?" Shen Ximan looked at the bruise on Xiao He's wrist and asked guiltily.
"I'm fine, Ms. Wen. It's all my fault."
"Ruirui, I... I didn't mean it." Shen Shiyu panicked. Especially after feeling the sense of estrangement, she panicked even more and didn't even care about getting angry.
"How much more do you want to disappoint me?" Her cold eyes pierced through, as if looking at a complete stranger.
"I'm sorry. I was just too impatient just now. I'm really sorry." She grabbed Shen Ximan's arms with both hands and pleaded with a sob.
"Don't look at me with such a cold look. Ruirui, I'm really scared. I know I was wrong! Please forgive me, okay?"
"I originally thought you were just an energetic girl who was a bit too boisterous. I didn't realize your true nature until today." Shen Ximan's voice was calm and unhurried, as if she were simply pronouncing a trivial matter.
"I was wrong. I was really wrong! Wuwuwu, Mom, come and speak up for me!" Shen Shiyu was so anxious that she called for help.
Yang Wan was also flustered.
Although she often played cards and had afternoon tea with other rich ladies, she had never encountered someone of such high status before. She couldn't help but feel a bit scared and intimidated.
"Ms. Wen, Shiyu is still young and inexperienced. She's always been rash and never thinks things through. Please spare her this time. I promise I'll make her reflect on her actions when we get home."
Shen Ximan stared directly at Shen Shiyu, but her words were directed at Yang Wan. "I'm talking to her. When did it become your turn to interrupt?"
Yang Wan held her breath in fear and didn't dare to say a word.
Only then did Shen Shiyu start to feel afraid. The woman in front of her, who was known for her decisiveness and whose mood could change in an instant, was really angry!
She wished she could go back in time and beat herself up!
Why did she rush in to blame others without even understanding the situation? Now she had offended Wen Jinrui, and there would be no good left for her! Money, men, status, and her backer would all crumble.
All because of her momentary impulse.
Shen Shiyu let go of her hands and lowered her head, sobbing.
"Ruirui, I know that no matter what I say now, you won't believe me anymore. But my intention to admit my mistake is sincere! What can I do to make you forgive me? I'll do anything, even if it means going through fire and water!"
The woman who used to beat and scold others was now dejected and humiliated in front of Shen Ximan. Even her arrogance had been completely worn away.
Shen Ximan had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
But it wasn't enough.
If it weren't for Bo Siming bailing out the three members of the Shen family from the detention center, she wouldn't have had to come up with a new plan.
But it was for the best. It meant that God still wanted them to live.
Hatred burned in Shen Ximan's eyes, intertwining into a strong rope, just waiting to be tightened around their necks.
She wanted them to suffer so much that they would wish they were dead, struggling in the dark without any hope of seeing the light.
"We're good friends. How could I bear to let you do such a thing?"
There was a glimmer of hope in Shen Shiyu's eyes, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily twitched upward.
"Ruirui, do you mean... you've forgiven me?"
"Whether I forgive you or not isn't up to me," Shen Ximan stepped aside and motioned with her eyes. "It's up to her."
Xiao He looked flustered and nervous.
When she was an intern shopping guide under the store manager, she had been mistreated by many rich ladies and young misses.
Now, having the fallen young miss of the Shen family apologize to her was simply too nerve - wracking. Or rather, it was like being "flattered".
"You're not someone of great importance anymore. Bowing and apologizing won't attract much attention. This should be an easy thing for you, right?" Shen Ximan stood aside and said with a smile.
These words were like an invisible slap in the face to Shen Shiyu and Yang Wan. Their faces burned with humiliation, and they didn't even dare to express their anger.
"The people who were watching just now won't spread the news. They're all well - behaved and can be trusted."
With that, Shen Ximan took the clothes and went to pay.
Her words were like an indirect insult, implying that they were uneducated.
Shen Shiyu and Yang Wan stared at each other, grinding their teeth in anger.
"Miss, you don't have to apologize. It's actually my fault," Xiao He said with an eerie smile, as if she had expected this.
After nearly two years of experience, she had developed a bit of scheming.
She was still afraid, but having someone to back her up made all the difference.
"You shameless thing. Do you think you can become a phoenix just because you've hooked up with Ruirui? Now I know how you managed to push out the former store manager! You're so scheming. Anyone who meets you is doomed!" Shen Shiyu had nowhere to vent her anger and roared at her.
"Miss, Ms. Wen isn't far away yet. Is it really moral for you to slander me like this? If you want to blame someone, blame the store manager. I told her to watch you, but she disappeared without a trace. If we're talking about scheming, she's probably more experienced than me, right?"
Xiao He smiled playfully, her words sharp and sarcastic.
Before Shen Shiyu could retort, Xiao He cut her off.
"Ms. Wen is coming. Aren't you going to bow and apologize to me?"
Yang Wan wished she could crush her bones. "You little brat!"
Xiao He glanced at her and covered her mouth with a smile. "Auntie, at your age, why are you still buying such gaudy furs? When you have time, come and find me. I'll pick out some decent clothes for you."
"You!"
Seeing the situation deadlocked, Shen Ximan frowned slightly.
"Is it still not settled?"
Shen Shiyu gritted her teeth and glared at Xiao He. "You just wait."
With that, she bowed and apologized reluctantly.
"I'm sorry, little beauty. It was all my fault just now."
Xiao He quickly helped her up. "Miss, you're being too polite. Let's just pretend that this never happened. In the future, when you come to our mall to buy clothes, I'll still serve you whole - heartedly!"
Shen Shiyu wanted to slap her for this pretentious act.
"Since everything is settled, everyone can go."
Having achieved her goal, Shen Ximan turned around and left.
"Ruirui! Ruirui, wait for me... Ah!"
She was eager to explain herself, but unfortunately, her dress was too long. She tripped after running a few steps and fell pitifully to the ground.
Yang Wan rushed over in a panic to help her up, her eyes full of concern.
Shen Ximan glanced at them and left coldly.
Watching her back, Shen Shiyu felt so heart - broken that she could hardly breathe.
She couldn't lose this cash cow. She absolutely couldn't!