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Chapter 16
A pair of straight legs stopped before the glass, the tall silhouette complementing the exquisite collection perfectly.
The man smiled lazily, his gaze falling on the text beneath the collection:
“Ru Kiln Sky-Blue Glazed Tea Set (Donated by Ms. Shen You)”
This shouldn’t exist in the modern world.
Shen You came out from the cultural creative store with a paper bag. And through the glass reflection amid passing visitors, she locked eyes with deep black ones for a moment.
The moment passed instantly, and when she looked again, only reflected lights remained beside a retreating dark figure.
Those long-legged, broad-shouldered proportions stood out distinctly as they walked through the exhibition hall.
Shen You looked away, finished her visit, messaged Xu Jiayan on her phone, then left through the exit.
In front of the museum stretched a street with traditional-style architecture selling various specialty foods, where many people parked their cars.
Not only were there no empty spaces, she couldn’t even reach her car!
Standing before her car, Shen You took a deep breath. The car beside hers was parked so tightly against her door that she couldn’t open it at all.
Such precise parking was a skill in itself.
Looking across at a flamboyant sports car, she noticed other cars keeping a respectful distance, as if avoiding the plague.
Shen You climbed into the driver’s seat from the other side, started the car, then treated herself to a long-desired seafood buffet costing several hundred before heading home.
The moment she parked, her home phone rang.
Shen You turned off the car music, answered, and called out, “Mom.”
“Xiao You, how are you lately? Any difficulties with the store?” Asked the familiar voice through her earphones.
“The store is doing well.” Shen You replied softly.
When she first learned about her inheritance, she called home to ask about that distant relative she barely remembered.
The person had had no contact with their family for over ten years and was childless, but confirmation of their existence verified that it wasn’t a scam, which caused her to sign the paperwork.
“That’s good.” Zou Yujing smiled with relief. “By the way, your cousin’s wife’s family says they’re coming to Jiangcheng and wondered if they could stay with you for a while.”
Shen You answered hurriedly, “No, that’s inconvenient!”
“Mom, you know, I don’t like strangers staying in my house. You didn’t already agree, did you?”
Hearing the slight silence on the other end, she knew what had happened.
“We’re all relatives, how can you call them strangers?” Zou Yujing objected in a lowered voice. “We can’t disregard family entirely.”
Shen You’s expression cooled slightly.
“Those words should be directed at those who fled after you guaranteed their loans. We honor relationships, but do they?”
“Besides, I’m renovating, but even if I weren’t, it still wouldn’t work! I restore antiques, it’s delicate work. If something goes wrong, I can’t afford compensation.”
The latter explanation was a prepared excuse for her mother. She understood her parents too well.
They had lived honest lives yet seemed unable to refuse relatives’ requests.
“All right then, take care of yourself in the city.”
Zou Yujing added a few more instructions before hanging up.
In the courtyard awaiting an answer, her cousin-in-law An Lifeng’s smile transformed the moment she heard the refusal.
And although subtle, her following words stung:
“I was just thinking that Xiao You living alone as a young woman might not be entirely safe.
If we stayed for a few days, her aunt could help watch the store and cook meals. Who knew this would upset her instead?”
Shen You’s aunt (her cousin’s mother-in-law) and family wanted to buy property in Jiangcheng for better educational opportunities for their child than the county offered.
However, during house hunting and the subsequent period from obtaining the property to renovation, they needed accommodation.
Renting would cost more money, so they had initially planned to stay at Shen You’s place temporarily.
Since Shen You lived alone in a three-story house, they thought it would suffice.
Who knew that girl would refuse even her own mother’s request, showing no consideration for relatives. Too inappropriate!
“Xiao You didn’t mean it that way.” Zou Yujing explained awkwardly. “With her renovations and ongoing projects, it really isn’t convenient.”
“Xiao You is renovating? Is her store business doing well?” An Lifeng asked with surprise.
She exchanged glances with her mother-in-law Shen Cuiping, their interest rekindled.
Renovations were expensive these days, costing at least 100,000-200,000 yuan.
If that girl had earned so much money, perhaps she could lend them some to ease their housing budget constraints.
Zou Yujing smiled, “I’m not sure. Living alone in the city involves substantial expenses. It’s good if she earns enough for herself.”
An Lifeng continued eagerly, “Will Xiao You return for the Mid-Autumn Festival?”
“Yes.” Zou Yujing answered.
Shen Cuiping smiled and said, “That’s wonderful. We’ll all have dinner together at home then.”
Although Mid-Autumn Festival was still some time away, An Lifeng had already begun calculating as she left Shen You’s home.
Still in her car, Shen You stared at her illuminated phone screen while leaning back.
She recalled the events from three years ago.
Back then, she was still a naive yet foolish university student who couldn’t return home except during holidays.
So, she knew nothing when the incident occurred.
Her second uncle visited her home three consecutive days, showing concern and presenting a reliable attitude. Using supposed blood ties, he persuaded her parents to sign as guarantors and borrowed all the money from their recently sold house without leaving a cent.
He had promised solemnly to repay immediately after resolving his cash flow issues.
Her parents valued family relations too much to request a written IOU, so they simply transferred the money.
However the moment he received the funds, her second uncle stopped visiting, perpetually delaying repayment.
When she learned about this and urged her parents to inquire, they received just two words: “No money.”
Her parents explained that the second uncle had planned a major business partnership but faced financial difficulties for two years, which made repayment impossible. And that since they were family, they couldn’t press too hard.
Then another year passed, during which they discovered her second uncle had borrowed from every relative, including distant countryside relations who had trusted him.
Amounts ranged from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, none repaid.
Her second uncle’s pattern of borrowing from one source to repay another finally collapsed. He transferred assets and fled.
Bank collection messages and court summons arrived at their home.
Inevitably, as signatories they became responsible when her uncle disappeared, leaving this portion of debt on their shoulders.
Within just two weeks, they experienced bank representatives knocking at their door while the court froze her parents’ life savings.
In the end, her family was left destitute with only a small property rights house in poor condition and 300,000 yuan in debt requiring monthly payments.
Her parents regretted their decision, but it was too late. Even if he was found, her uncle’s insolvency prevented repayment.
Given these circumstances, she couldn’t possibly continue pursuing graduate studies.
During that period, Shen You frequently suffered from anger-induced insomnia.
In childhood, her second uncle had treated her well, with close relations between both families.
Yet the year before fleeing, claiming inability to repay, his son who lived extravagantly fell victim to a honey trap.
And it cost several thousand to resolve, the second such incident.
Additionally, after drunk driving and privately settling with victims for over 100,000 yuan, he still managed international vacations with his wife and children while claiming inability to repay debts.
Having witnessed such extreme selfishness, Shen You trusted only herself.
She would support her parents’ retirement expenses but had long drawn clear boundaries with those plastic relatives.