Chapter 244: The Best Sisters in the World
Chapter 244: Chapter 244: The Best Sisters in the World
Lin Yurou never expected Shen Lu to actually dare to talk back. ’Where did this low-class scum who usurped someone else’s place get the nerve to challenge me?’
Before, Lin Yurou wouldn’t have dared to confront Shen Lu directly. After all, the Shen Family’s status was higher than the Lin Family’s.
But things were different now. Lin Yurou raised her hand without hesitation.
With old grudges and new hatreds combined, she wouldn’t be satisfied if she didn’t slap Shen Lu across the face today.
Shen Lu shot her a cold glance, showing no intention of cowering or dodging.
Just as Lin Yurou’s hand was about to hit Shen Lu, Bai Wanwan pushed through the crowd and grabbed her.
"Lin Yurou, what are you doing?"
Lin Yurou’s entire demeanor changed in an instant. "Wanwan, I’m teaching Shen Lu a lesson for you. She’s just some low-class scum. I have no idea how she snuck in here. I’ll kick her out right now so she doesn’t ruin your birthday party."
Bai Wanwan’s expression suddenly turned cold. Lin Yurou tilted her chin up. ’I performed so well just now. Bai Wanwan will surely praise me, maybe even give me a gift to thank me.’
"Get out," Bai Wanwan said coldly.
Lin Yurou nodded eagerly and snapped at Shen Lu, "Did you hear that? Wanwan told you to get out!"
Shen Lu raised an eyebrow, showing no sign of moving.
Seeing this, Lin Yurou reached out to push her. Bai Wanwan turned her head and said curtly, "I was talking to you. Get out. You don’t need to attend my birthday party anymore."
Lin Yurou froze. She was so shocked she started to stutter. "Wan-Wanwan, you’re telling me to leave?"
’Shouldn’t Shen Lu be the one getting kicked out? How did it end up being me?’
As the undisputed star of the day, Bai Wanwan’s every word and action were under scrutiny, so everyone’s attention was now focused on them.
Most of the people here recognized Shen Lu and knew about the Shen Family’s "true and false young miss" affair.
They had thought that after Shen Lu was sent to the Lower City District, they would never see her or cross paths with her again. Who could have expected to run into her at Bai Wanwan’s birthday party?
And what’s more, was Bai Wanwan, her supposed arch-nemesis, actually stepping up to defend Shen Lu?
’No, we must be seeing things.’
"Are you deaf?" Bai Wanwan had never been the gentle, sweet type. "How many times do I have to say it?"
"But why?" Lin Yurou felt that even if she had to leave, she deserved to know why.
Bai Wanwan rolled her eyes at her and jutted her chin toward a household servant. A servant quickly came over to "escort" Lin Yurou away.
Lin Yurou had never been so humiliated. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she covered her mouth as she ran away, heartbroken.
The crowd was dumbfounded, not quite comprehending the situation.
"Shen Lu, you’re finally here!" Bai Wanwan’s previously cold and arrogant demeanor vanished. She pouted and said, "I’ve been waiting for you forever. I even sent you a message, but you didn’t reply."
"Something came up on the way and I got delayed," Shen Lu explained simply.
"Oh well, I forgive you," Bai Wanwan said, linking her arm with Shen Lu’s. "If I’d known, I would have had my driver pick you up."
Bai Wanwan led Shen Lu toward the center of the living room, chattering away nonstop. They didn’t look like arch-nemeses at all; they looked like the best of friends.
"Is that really Shen Lu? When did Bai Wanwan get so close to her?"
"It’s supposed to be a harmonious scene, so why is it sending a chill down my spine?"
"Do I sense Bai Wanwan trying to suck up to Shen Lu? No, no, I must be mistaken. How could that be?"
Seeing a scene that so thoroughly defied their understanding, it was hard for the crowd not to start gossiping.
They got so caught up in their discussion that they forgot to control their volume, and Shen Lu and Bai Wanwan heard everything.
Shen Lu: "I get the feeling you’re doing this on purpose."
Bai Wanwan looked away evasively. "On purpose? I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"We used to be arch-nemeses, you know."
"You said it yourself—’used to be.’ The past is the past. What’s the point of bringing it up?"
"Don’t you think being friends with me is embarrassing?"
"Shen Lu, don’t you dare look down on me," Bai Wanwan glared at her. "Am I that sort of vain, materialistic person? If I thought it was embarrassing, I wouldn’t have invited you today!"
Shen Lu gave her a deep look. Although Bai Wanwan’s motives for approaching her weren’t entirely pure, she couldn’t deny that her desire to be friends was genuine.
For a fleeting moment, Shen Lu was actually touched.
But that sliver of emotion vanished just as quickly.
’After all, exposing certain things would be suicide. For the sake of my own life, I won’t tell a single soul until I’m absolutely certain of my own safety.’
Bai Wanwan was like a proud little peacock, shamelessly flaunting how close and friendly her relationship with Shen Lu was now.
The guests murmured among themselves for a while before falling silent, as if by unspoken agreement.
’Ahem, we’re still at the Bai Family’s home, after all. It’s too impolite to gossip right in front of the people involved.’
’If we’re going to gossip, we should at least wait until we’ve left the Bai residence.’
Today was Bai Wanwan’s eighteenth birthday and also her coming-of-age ceremony. The event wasn’t overly extravagant, but it was clear the Bai Family had arranged it with great care.
The attendees included Bai Wanwan’s friends and classmates, as well as many relatives.
Before the ceremony began, Bai Wanwan went to change her outfit. When she reappeared, she was a little princess wearing a crown, descending gracefully down the spiral staircase under everyone’s gaze.
Bai Wanwan’s birthday party was warm yet grand, and every part of it proceeded smoothly and seamlessly.
But when she saw the massive five-layer cake, Shen Lu’s heart skipped a beat. ’Oh no,’ she thought, ’was it a bad idea for me to make a cake as a gift?’
Then again, it wasn’t like she had anything else presentable to give.
Fortunately, there was no segment for opening gifts in public at Bai Wanwan’s party. The lively celebration continued until ten-thirty at night, when the banquet finally drew to a close.
Bai Wanwan clung to Shen Lu, begging her to stay the night.
Shen Lu’s head was spinning from her pestering, and she reluctantly agreed.
At Bai Wanwan’s insistence, Shen Lu was forced to sleep in her bedroom.
After they both showered, they sat on the small sofa in the bedroom, chatting in their comfy loungewear.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. Someone was at the door.
"It’s me," Bai Lei said.
Bai Wanwan: "Come in."
Bai Lei tiptoed in, holding the very cake Shen Lu had made.
Shen Lu: ...’What are you two siblings up to?’
"My dress was too tight, I barely ate a thing," Bai Wanwan said, rubbing her hands together. "I just knew your gift would be food-related! Bai Lei, hurry and cut me a slice!"
Since it was Bai Wanwan’s birthday, Bai Lei was quite obliging to his sister. He immediately unwrapped the cake, cut a large slice, and handed it to her.
"Shen Lu, do you want some?" Bai Lei asked her.
"No thanks, I’m quite full from dinner."
"Alright." Bai Lei cut a large slice for himself. He took a bite of the sponge and cream together first, but after noticing something, he mostly stopped eating the sponge, focusing instead on the cream and fruit.
A flicker of understanding flashed in Shen Lu’s eyes. Bai Lei was a Superpower User; he could easily distinguish between local ingredients and those from the marketplace.
But Bai Wanwan wasn’t one, so she wouldn’t pick and choose what she ate like Bai Lei.
"Your cake is still the best," Bai Wanwan said with great satisfaction after finishing her slice. "That five-layer cake today cost nearly ten thousand Star Coins, but it tasted way worse than yours."