When Shen Nanchu walked out of Lei Zhenhua's room, she headed downstairs.
Her objective had been achieved—time to retreat.
Just as she reached the bottom of the stairs, she ran into the three Lei brothers returning home: the eldest, Lei Mingyuan; the second, Lei Mingguo; and the youngest, Lei Mingquan.
It had to be said—when the three stood together, Lei Mingyuan truly stood out like a crane among chickens, his excellence far too conspicuous.
Shen Nanchu paused on the stairs, looking down at the three brothers with an air of superiority.
The Lei brothers stared back at her.
They knew exactly who Shen Nanchu was.
Lei Mingyuan only glanced at her briefly before averting his gaze, while Lei Mingguo and Lei Mingquan openly scrutinized her, their eyes lingering far too long.
Shen Nanchu felt a flicker of irritation.
If she remembered correctly, these two brothers had forced themselves on the original owner in the novel’s early chapters.
Definitely not good men.
"Xiao Hong, so this is your good friend, Pei Zhengwei’s wife, Shen Nanchu?"
"No wonder she’s called the belle of the cultural troupe!"
Lei Mingguo’s gaze shamelessly roamed over Shen Nanchu’s figure.
"Second Brother, you’re wrong about that. Even the title of 'Belle of the Capital' would suit Miss Shen just fine."
Lei Mingquan’s stare was slightly more restrained, but his intentions were just as obvious.
Shen Hong knew exactly what her husband was thinking.
She didn’t dare show her anger at him, so she redirected it all toward Shen Nanchu.
It was all this vixen’s fault for seducing her man.
From her perch on the stairs, Shen Nanchu took in everyone’s ugly expressions with disdain.
Disgusting!
An eyesore!
She couldn’t tolerate it for another second.
"Did your parents forget to read the instruction manual when they made you?"
Lei Mingguo and Lei Mingquan blinked in confusion.
Even Lei Mingyuan turned to look at her, intrigued.
Shen Hong was equally puzzled.
"Nanchu, what do you mean by that?"
Shen Nanchu couldn’t help rolling her eyes.
"A face like mine is meant to be admired—not ogled by toads."
"I have things to do. I’m leaving."
With that, she strode past them without another word.
A second later, Lei Mingyuan, the only one who immediately grasped her insult, couldn’t suppress a chuckle.
Lei Mingguo and Lei Mingquan were slower on the uptake, and by the time they realized they’d been insulted, Shen Nanchu was already at the door.
The two brothers flushed with fury.
"That bitch!"
"Just you wait!"
Shen Hong still didn’t understand why her husband and brother-in-law were so angry. Shen Nanchu hadn’t even said anything that bad!
"I’m heading to the office," Lei Mingyuan announced before walking out after her.
...
[Disgust Points +2]
[Disgust Points +2]
It took the two Lei brothers several steps outside the house before they fully processed the insult.
Pathetic.
Shen Nanchu’s eyes flashed with contempt.
Beep! Beep!
A horn sounded behind her. She moved aside as a military-green jeep pulled up beside her.
Lei Mingyuan sat in the driver’s seat.
"I’m going to the office."
"Hop in. I can give you a ride."
Only an idiot would choose a crowded bus over a private car.
Without hesitation, Shen Nanchu opened the back door and climbed in.
For the entire ride, she kept her face turned toward the window, showing no intention of making conversation.
Lei Mingyuan, meanwhile, stole glances at her through the rearview mirror.
Earlier that afternoon, Lei Zhenhua had instructed him to feign interest in Shen Nanchu as part of their plan.
Though reluctant, Lei Mingyuan had no choice but to obey his father.
At first, he had intended to just go through the motions.
But after witnessing Shen Nanchu’s sharp tongue, his curiosity was piqued—hence why he’d chased after her.
...
This was the fifth time Lei Mingyuan had secretly looked at her.
Even a block of wood would’ve noticed by now, let alone Shen Nanchu.
When he glanced at her a sixth time, she shot him a glare.
Since he wasn’t part of the Pei family, she saw no reason to play nice.
Caught red-handed, Lei Mingyuan cleared his throat, pretending nothing had happened.
"Ahem. So, Miss Shen, I heard you once performed in Rong City?"
"Nope."
The original owner might have gone to Rong City, but not her.
Lei Mingyuan was taken aback by her blatant lie.
At noon, Lei Zhenhua had sent him a dossier on Shen Nanchu—he knew she’d been there.
Clearly, she had no interest in talking to him.
He touched his face. Had he gotten uglier?
After checking his reflection in the rearview mirror, he concluded he was still as handsome as ever.
If anything, Shen Nanchu’s indifference only made him more intrigued.
"Where do you usually like to go, Miss Shen?"
"Home."
With everything at stake right now, who had time for leisure outings?
"And what do you enjoy doing in your free time?"
"Insulting people."
Earning disgust points while watching others seethe silently? Shen Nanchu loved it.
Lei Mingyuan was speechless.
He’d never met someone who could kill a conversation so efficiently.
After that, he gave up on small talk, leaving Shen Nanchu to enjoy the scenery in peace.
Admittedly, the streets had a distinct 1970s charm—gray walls, black-tiled roofs, revolutionary slogans everywhere, and the simple, bustling energy of daily life.
If only the ride were smoother and faster.
Lei Mingyuan’s driving skills were so poor, he’d probably get kicked out of a bumper car arena.
Thankfully, the long road soon ended, and the military compound came into view.
The moment the car stopped, Shen Nanchu flung the door open and jumped out before Lei Mingyuan could play the gentleman.
He awkwardly retracted his outstretched hand.
"Thanks," she said, her tone perfunctory.
"If you really want to thank me, how about treating me to a meal next time?"
Lei Mingyuan shamelessly seized the opportunity.
Shen Nanchu looked up at him, her eyes glinting with something unreadable.
This man was sick.
She’d been nothing but rude to him, yet he hadn’t given her a single disgust point.
That wasn’t normal.
He must have a masochistic streak.
And she had no interest in indulging it.
"Are you interested in me?"
Her bluntness caught Lei Mingyuan off guard.
"Tell me—what part of me interests you?" she pressed, deadly serious.
"Point it out, and I’ll change it."
Lei Mingyuan: "..."
After a few stunned seconds, he finally found his voice.
"No need. I’ve already changed—into someone even more interested in you."
Shen Nanchu arched a brow, her lips curling into a cold smirk.
"Fine."
"Chatting costs 250 per sentence. Invitations are 438. Cash upfront."
Their verbal sparring, observed from a distance, looked like a lively exchange to prying eyes.
Pei Zhengnian, just returning from work, happened to see Shen Nanchu and that Lei boy laughing together.
Disgusting. What were they standing so close for?
[Disgust Points +20]
...
