3: Arrogant young villain, frugal school beauty

Yanjing City, Slum District.

The sky was hazy, and a fine rain drizzled.

On the narrow, crowded street, a luxurious motorcade, severely out of place with the slum's atmosphere, rolled over the bumpy puddles and sped away.

The motorcade consisted of six vehicles: three in front, two behind, and a flamboyantly styled sports car in the middle, acting with extreme arrogance.

Even with pedestrians nearby, it didn't slow down, letting the muddy water under its wheels splash everywhere, causing passersby to discuss it animatedly.

"Whose motorcade is that? Why are they so arrogant?"

"Shh, keep your voice down. That's the Lu family's motorcade!"

"The Lu family!? Could it be that arrogant young master from the Lu family is here?"

"Hiss—Daughter, quick, let's go! If that arrogant young master sees you, your life will be over!"

Everyone looked terrified and quickly dispersed with their wives and daughters.

The motorcade drove on.

It finally stopped in front of a low-rise building complex with only five floors.

The walls of these buildings were peeling, ancient and dilapidated, covered with the marks of time.

At this moment, a middle-aged man stepped out of the first car.

He held an umbrella and jogged to the sports car in the middle.

The sports car had not yet turned off its engine, still emitting a beast-like roar that vibrated the accumulated rainwater on the road into ripples.

"Young Master, the person you're looking for is here."

The man bowed slightly, his face full of deference.

The sports car window slowly lowered, revealing a young, handsome boy.

In the passenger seat sat an exquisitely dressed, stunningly beautiful and alluring woman, secretly wiping the corner of her mouth, her face flushed.

The young man was tall and well-built, dressed in black casual clothes, with sunglasses on his nose and a cynical smile playing on his lips.

"Get out. There's nothing for you here." Lu Chen pushed up his sunglasses and said indifferently to the alluring woman beside him.

The woman was startled but dared not say anything, nor did she dare to show any hint of resentment.

She could only carefully swallow the saliva in her mouth and put the car key she had just managed to pick up aside.

Then she silently opened the car door, moved her long black-stockinged legs clad in Balenciaga, and left the sports car.

The young man picked up a bouquet of pink roses from the back seat, lightly sniffed their fragrance, his eyes under the sunglasses lazy and intoxicated.

"Are you sure she's here?"

Lu Chen placed the flowers on the passenger seat, took off his sunglasses, and asked indifferently.

"Rest assured, Young Master, there's absolutely no mistake."

The man bowed and replied.

"Good, then invite her out for this Young Master. Remember, be polite."

Lu Chen said indifferently, then closed the car window again.

The middle-aged man immediately waved his arms.

The next moment,

The five cars in front and back simultaneously opened their doors, and over twenty fierce, black-clad strong men rushed out.

Each of them had a ferocious and ruthless expression, looking utterly menacing.

"Get out of the way! Who the hell wants to die blocking our Young Master's path?!"

The leading strong man glared and roared at the residents who had gathered around.

These residents had never seen such a display and scattered in terror.

Immediately, over twenty black-clad strong men quickly rushed into the building.

...

In the old kitchen of the attic above the fifth floor,

The kitchen was very old, but it was kept very clean and tidy.

A beautiful, simply dressed girl was busy preparing dinner.

The girl's features were like a painting, her skin as white as snow, and her pair of clear, almond-shaped eyes were nimble and bright.

Especially her fair, jade-like, delicate face, as if sculpted by a craftsman, every part exquisite, every part perfect.

The girl's figure was even more petite and delicate, her posture incredibly slender, making one wonder if she was somewhat malnourished.

She tied her hair into a braid with a white ribbon, letting it hang over her chest, simple and refreshing.

Her faded jeans outlined the graceful curve of her slender thighs, and a pair of delicate, fair feet wore oversized slippers that were clearly too big for her small feet.

These were slippers she bought from a clearance store for discontinued sizes, costing half the price of normal slippers.

Although the girl was dressed very ordinarily, it could not hide her gentle and lovely temperament.

"Sister, let me help you pick vegetables!" A soft, childish voice came from behind the girl.

A little girl, about six or seven years old, stood outside the door, her big, dark eyes staring intently at the messy pile of green vegetables in her sister's hands.

"Xiao Ning, be good. Children can't go into the kitchen. You go play by yourself for a bit, okay? We'll eat soon."

The girl wiped her hands, turned, and squatted down to stroke her sister's soft hair, coaxing her gently.

The little girl named Xiao Ning shook her head: "No, I'm already six years old, not a child anymore. I can help Big Sister cook."

The girl looked at her sister's height, which was far below that of her peers, and a pang of sadness welled up in her heart.

Xiao Ning was over six years old, but due to malnutrition since childhood, her height and physique were particularly small and thin.

"Alright, stop messing around. Be good, go back to the living room and wait for a bit. Big Sister will make you chicken soup later."

The girl suppressed the sadness in her heart, pinched her sister's cheek, and said softly.

Xiao Ning pouted her little mouth, and finally, reluctantly, wiggled her bottom and walked out.

The girl shook her head with a smile, put down the unfinished vegetables, and said softly towards the bedroom.

"Mom, I'm going downstairs to buy some soy sauce, and some meat too, okay?"

A weak, worried voice came from the bedroom.

"Yaoyao, what's happening outside? Why is it so noisy?"

"It's probably someone moving. I'm not sure, but I'll know when I go down to check."

Chen Mengyao untied her apron, comforting her gently, "Don't worry too much, it's nothing serious. Just rest well, and I'll make you chicken soup later, okay?"

The voice in the room fell silent for a moment, then, after a sigh, slowly spoke again:

"Yaoyao, Mom doesn't want to eat meat. Save every penny you can. That way, you won't have to worry so much about university tuition, and Xiao Ning will be starting elementary school soon..."

"How can you not eat meat? You're not even going to the hospital, how can you get better quickly if you don't eat meat?" Chen Mengyao's smile stiffened for a moment, but quickly returned to normal, as she said with a relaxed smile:

"Mom, don't overthink it. I'll be earning a lot of money soon, and I'll definitely cure your illness!"

"You don't need to worry about Xiao Ning either. I'll find a school for her in a few days!"

The voice in the bedroom sighed heavily: "Alas, it's all because of your gambling scoundrel father. If it weren't for him..."

"Mom, we agreed not to mention him again." Chen Mengyao spoke softly, the smile on her lips receding slightly, her pretty face serene.

"Yaoyao..."

The voice in the bedroom paused for a moment, seeming to want to say more, but ultimately couldn't speak it aloud.

After a moment, it continued:

"Oh, you girl, remember to take an umbrella, don't get caught in the rain, it's easy to get sick... Be careful when you go out, the stairs are too slippery... Don't rush when you walk, we're new here and unfamiliar with the area, and the roads outside are bad, so don't fall..."

"Mm-hmm, I know. I'm going now, I'll be back soon."

Listening to her mother's nagging reminders, Chen Mengyao's eyes moistened slightly, shimmering brightly in the dim yellow light.

She smiled and tucked a plastic bag into her jeans pocket.

It would come in handy when buying meat later, saving her two dimes.

Chen Mengyao walked to the door, took off her ill-fitting plastic slippers, revealing a pair of small, delicate, exquisite lotus feet.

The tiny white socks on her lotus feet were clean, but having been washed too many times, they had become very thin, tightly encasing the soles of her feet, revealing a cherry-pink hue that even the most skilled colorist in the world couldn't replicate.

She changed her shoes and, as usual, put a utility knife in her jeans pocket.

Back in her hometown, her father, Chen Zhicai, had incurred many usurious debts from gambling, and she had to carry a utility knife every time she dared to go out.

Chen Mengyao patted her small pocket; the blade was cold, but it gave her what little sense of security she had.

She pushed open the door and carefully locked it from the inside.

Then, holding her umbrella, she prepared to go downstairs.

As soon as she turned around, she was so startled by the scene before her that her delicate body trembled violently!

...

...