Volume One, Chapter 13: Sister, You Deserve to Eat Well
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Lin Jie quickly replied with an “OK” emoji.
After a short while, Lin Jie came back carrying two cups of milk tea.
Just as they were about to enjoy the show, Lu Xiaorou suddenly turned and ran off.
“Yan Chuan, I’m sorry.”
The girl on Lu Xiaorou’s left stomped her foot. “Young Master Huo, why aren’t you chasing after her? Xiaorou has been feeling down lately. The doctor said she has mild depression!”
They had come out to eat today hoping to help Lu Xiaorou relax and cheer up.
But unexpectedly...
Had they known they would run into Tang Ruan and Huo Yan Chuan, they wouldn’t have come here to eat for anything!
Huo Yan Chuan didn’t have time to overthink and quickly strode after her. “Xiaorou, let me explain—”
Lin Jie, who missed all the drama, sat back down with her milk tea. “Sigh, I’m late.”
Tang Ruan took the milk tea from her, inserted the straw, and handed it back. “Thanks for the trouble.”
Lin Jie’s mood immediately lifted. “Hehe, it’s no trouble.”
Although she hadn’t witnessed Huo Yan Chuan’s embarrassment firsthand, just thinking about it made her happy.
“Hey.”
Tang Ruan turned toward the voice.
It was the girl who had been sitting to Lu Xiaorou’s left earlier.
Judging by her outfit, she was probably a classmate of Lu Xiaorou’s.
“Miss Tang, since you’ve already broken off your engagement with Young Master Huo, don’t keep pestering him. He loves Xiaorou very much; she’s the only one in his heart.”
Tang Ruan raised an eyebrow, exchanged a glance with Lin Jie, and tacitly pretended not to hear.
At their age, there was no need to bother with children.
They had graduated years ago, and in their eyes, girls of Lu Xiaorou and her classmate’s age were just kids.
Tang Ruan and Lin Jie chose not to engage, but that didn’t mean the other side would let it go easily.
Seeing Tang Ruan ignore her, the girl’s face blazed with anger, and she blurted out, “Miss Tang, you come from a wealthy family—you should be more decent!”
A hush fell instantly; even the neighboring table paused mid-bite.
Tang Ruan’s expression turned cold. After sizing up the girl for a moment, she asked, “Are you a student at A University?”
Lu Xiaorou’s file was already on her desk.
Lu Xiaorou was indeed a student at A University.
The girl’s face paled. “Wh-what do you want?”
She suddenly remembered Tang Ruan’s identity—the eldest daughter of the Tang family, powerful and influential. For someone like her, destroying a mere ant would be effortless.
She was instantly filled with endless regret.
She shouldn’t have provoked Tang Ruan in the first place!
“I don’t want anything.”
“I remember the Tang family sponsors scholarships at A University every year.”
The girl’s heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition rising.
“Have you applied for a Tang family scholarship?”
The Tang family sponsored scholarships at A University, and student recipients’ information was submitted to the Tang family.
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She thought she had seen that face in the brochure.
After a long pause, the girl finally found her voice. “M-Miss Tang...”
Tang Ruan understood.
She ignored the flustered girl and announced, “You do not meet the requirements for the Tang family scholarship.”
The girl’s legs weakened, barely able to stand.
“Qingqing,” another girl quickly steadied her.
Zhou Qing bit her lip, her eyes flashing panic, surprise, and fear, before settling into resentment. “This is personal vendetta!”
Regardless of family background or academic performance, she met all the scholarship criteria. Just because she was Xiaorou’s friend and spoke a word against Tang Ruan, Tang Ruan had decided she wasn’t eligible?
Despicable!
Tang Ruan put down her chopsticks and stood up. “The primary requirement for the Tang family scholarship is excellent character as well as academic achievement.”
“You may have good grades, but your character...”
She left the rest unsaid.
Some things are better left implied.
Zhou Qing: “But I’m clearly on the list.”
The list had already been publicized, and they were just waiting for the funds.
“That’s easy to fix.”
Tang Ruan took out her phone and dialed a number. “Cancel one student from the A University scholarship list.”
Hearing this, Zhou Qing staggered.
The scholarship she had already secured was just gone? That was her entire tuition for the next year!
Without this money, how would she pay her tuition next year?!
She gritted her teeth. “This is rigged! You’re targeting me!”
Lin Jie couldn’t help but retort, “Targeting you? You were the one who spoke rudely first.”
If it had been her, given Tang Ruan’s temper, she might not even have been able to continue studying here.
Tang Ruan stopped Lin Jie and stared at Zhou Qing, saying deliberately, “You’re right. I am targeting you.”
Zhou Qing: !
Finally, an admission.
She glanced around, searching the onlookers’ faces for help.
Tang Ruan sneered. “Why would I sponsor someone who publicly insults me?”
Someone quietly agreed, “Miss Tang has a point. The Tang family pays the money; why would they sponsor someone who insults them?”
Who pays money just to get insulted?
“But she fits the scholarship criteria, and her family must be struggling. If she loses this scholarship, life will be hard... Miss Tang, you’re kind and beautiful—why not forgive her this once?”
Zhou Qing lowered her head, eyes shining with hope.
The Tang family was so devoted to charity, and Tang Ruan was known for her good temper. Surely she would forgive her?
Lin Jie looked directly at the boy who was speaking up for Zhou Qing. “Forgive her? Should I buy you a ticket to Chuan City, and you can sit on the Great Buddha statue when it comes down?”
The boy blushed and lowered his head, no longer daring to speak.
After this unpleasant incident, Tang Ruan and Lin Jie had no appetite left. They paid the bill and asked the staff to pack the food they had ordered.
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When Tang Ruan was eighteen, Tang Zhenguo bought her a spacious flat nearby.
She occasionally stayed there.
They planned to eat there.
Just the two of them, which was more relaxing.
Half an hour later,
The two sat on a soft carpet, the table in front of them piled with food, and a popular variety show played on the wall-mounted TV.
Lin Jie sucked on a shrimp tail and gossipingly asked, “Tell me, how much does the TG CEO resemble Huo Yan Chuan?”
Tang Ruan recalled for a moment and honestly said, “He always wore a mask, so I didn’t see his whole face, but those eyes—they were very similar.”
“Always wearing a mask? Is his face so ugly that only his eyes are visible?”
Tang Ruan shrugged; she didn’t know.
“Is he tall?”
Tang Ruan thought for a moment. “Pretty tall.”
By visual estimate, over 185 cm.
“How about his build?”
Tang Ruan remembered the strong arms when Gu Yu had lifted her and nodded seriously, “Good.”
Nice eyes, tall height, good build... even if his face was plain, he wouldn’t be called ugly.
“Then he’s probably not an ugly guy.”
Tang Ruan nodded in agreement.
Lin Jie suddenly laughed and teased, “Ruan Ruan, have you noticed something?”
Tang Ruan looked inquisitive.
“Before you went to Y Country, TG wouldn’t agree to cooperate. You go, and suddenly the cooperation succeeds.”
“And the key is! TG even voluntarily cut their profit margin by ten percent!”
Ten percent! Just thinking about it made her drool with envy.
Lin Jie concluded, “The TG CEO has ulterior motives toward you.”
Tang Ruan: “We just met for the first time.”
First meeting and he already has ulterior motives? She wasn’t that confident.
“Then he fell in love with you at first sight?”
“...”
“Wow! He wouldn’t be just attracted to your looks, would he?”
“First build a relationship through cooperation with the Tang family, then slowly win your favor, and finally capture your heart.”
“Tall, good build, hopefully a handsome face too—sister, you deserve the best.”
“Being with him...”
Tang Ruan, unable to bear Lin Jie’s endless chatter, grabbed a skewer of grilled gluten and stuffed it in Lin Jie’s mouth. “Eat up.”