Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Rich Kids’ Game? I’m Not Playing Anymore (Part 9)

“No need to cancel, it was impulsive of me,” Meng Sheng immediately said.

There was a hint of surprise in his eyes, and he couldn’t help but feel a touch of delight. Could it be that she really had returned to how she used to be?

No, it’s only been a few days, he needed to observe a bit longer.

What if this was just an act?

Yes, he had vivid memories of her demeanor over the past few years. How could she possibly revert to her original innocent self so suddenly? Impossible. She had long been tainted by Xiao Su with the decay of money, accustomed to that lifestyle, and couldn’t possibly return to her former self.

Li Chen sensed the shift in Meng Sheng’s emotions and just thought that the guy had some serious issues.

Meng Sheng left his address and phone number, paid, and turned to leave.

Facing her colleagues’ envy, Li Chen smiled and said, “I’ll treat you all to bubble tea later.”

Though slightly envious, her colleagues kept up appearances and responded sweetly with smiles.

Li Chen didn’t mind. Such are the myriad facets of life.

Everyone got busy, and Lang Liqing came up to her and asked, “Is this from their circle?”

“Yes.”

“A dark and timid observer,” Li Chen added a comment.

She felt the description was apt.

Meng Sheng had known the commissioner early on; they even had a brief interaction. At that time, Meng Sheng had taken a liking to her, finding her clean and simple, different from the girls he usually encountered.

He was also from the same school as the commissioner, two years her senior.

When he met her, he was still in college.

After taking a liking to her, he never took any action, just observed her from the sidelines.

But then Xiao Su appeared. He was a bit annoyed by Xiao Su’s emergence, yet he didn’t stop it or express his feelings, just watched her fall into Xiao Su’s gentle trap.

Finally, he concluded with an evaluation: A clean girl corrupted by money, unworthy of his protection.

So, he had always been indifferent and resentful towards the commissioner; no one knew he had once liked her.

Lang Liqing was stunned, surprised that Li Chen’s evaluation of this one was even worse than the previous one.

“Then don’t let them deceive you,” she said.

Li Chen laughed, “Of course not.”

Soon after, someone came with flowers, specifically meant for Li Chen, with a card bearing Meng Sheng’s name.

“Can they be returned?” Li Chen asked.

The flower delivery person said they couldn’t be returned, so she said, “Okay.”

“Then please help throw them away.”

Flowers were beautiful, but the person wasn’t.

She didn’t like them and didn’t want to accept them; naturally, she didn’t share the flowers with the people at the store.

The flower delivery person was momentarily stunned but agreed, taking the flowers away.

She didn’t care how he dealt with them, as long as they were taken away.

Shortly afterward, another person came with flowers, this time sent by Han Fangli, and she dealt with it the same way.

Her colleagues, who had initially felt envious, were now somewhat bewildered by her attitude.

Han Fangli and Meng Sheng seemed to have engaged in a competition, sending flowers to Li Chen every day.

Seeing the flower delivery person, Li Chen just looked up and said, “Throw them away.”

The flower delivery person hesitated for a moment, but then turned and left with the flowers. It seemed like the girl’s heart was made of iron, showing no hesitation at all.

Han Fangli gathered with others, and Wei Hui started mocking him and Meng Sheng.

“Mr. Han, Mr. Meng, it seems you’re hitting a wall this time; the lady is quite reserved.” It seemed like a compliment but was actually sarcastic, as he felt it was Li Chen’s ruse.

“I’m telling you two, don’t get too caught up because of her.”

Han Fangli said, “She is indeed interesting, isn’t she?”

Meng Sheng, leaning back on the sofa and swirling his wineglass, said, “I hope she can hold out a little longer.”

If she could truly go back to the way she was before, he would look forward to it more.

Soon, Li Chen had been working at the perfume shop for a month.

Han Fangli and Meng Sheng each made only one purchase at the shop. Finding that this didn’t sway her, they stopped buying from there. However, they continued sending flowers daily and occasionally invited her to dinner.

But she refused all of them.

Today was her last day as a shop assistant at the perfume shop. With her salary and commission, Li Chen bid farewell to Lang Liqing.

“If possible, I really wanted to keep you in the shop,” Lang Liqing said regretfully. Even without those two men’s orders, with Li Chen’s abilities, any customer who came in would leave satisfied with a purchase.

Frankly, having her work as a small shop’s assistant was beneath her talents.

With her capability, she could do anything.

Yet, she planned to set up a stall to sell fried mushrooms and mushroom soup?

“Once your stall is up and running, remember to let me know. I must come and support you.”

Li Chen said, “Sure.”

Soon after Li Chen left, two employees from flower shops came in with large bouquets, only to find she was gone. Hearing that Li Chen had resigned, they could only carry the flowers back and inform the customers who ordered them that Miss Li was no longer working at the perfume shop.

“Where could she have gone?” Han Fangli asked, a bit stunned, feeling a bit anxious. She was doing well selling perfumes; she had many returning customers. With the current trend, she could soon become the store manager.

Though it didn’t seem like much to him, life was getting better.

Never expecting her to leave, he now had no idea where she had gone.

Meng Sheng, lounging on the sofa, also appeared restless.

Where would she have gone?

Xiao Su rarely attended gatherings and entered with Qin Zhiyao, immediately sensing the tense atmosphere. He asked, “What’s going on with you guys?”

Wei Hui said, “Li Chen disappeared; they’re worried.” After saying that, he noticed Qin Zhiyao following Xiao Su and laughed, “Zhiyao is here too? They’re both pursuing Li Chen recently but haven’t succeeded, it seems.”

Xiao Su instinctively asked, “How can a living person just disappear?”

With this, everyone turned their attention to him.

Wei Hui understood the misunderstanding and explained, “It’s not that she’s missing; she simply no longer works at the perfume shop. She’s resigned and left, and now no one knows where she went.”

“Oh, I see.” Xiao Su’s demeanor grew indifferent, realizing his earlier reaction was off. He sat down with a casual tone, unconcerned, “We’re all adults here; she can go anywhere she wants. Her legs are her own.”

“Hey, you all enjoy; I’m heading out,” Han Fangli suddenly stood up. “I’m not at ease until I find her, so I’ll ask around.”

With that, he walked out of the room without waiting for anyone’s approval.

After a moment, Wei Hui chuckled, “Why does he seem smitten? Is Li Chen really that special?”

“I’m leaving too,” Meng Sheng stood up. “I need to know where she’s gone.”

Where would she go after leaving the perfume shop?

She didn’t leave any information for them. Did she intend to completely break away from this circle?

He left the room, feeling a bit hopeful.

If she returned to her former self, he would protect her well this time.

Watching Meng Sheng’s somewhat hurried silhouette, the room fell silent again.

Wei Hui was stunned, “What kind of spell has Li Chen cast on them?”

He couldn’t believe it.

Why did these two seem so genuine now?

Wasn’t Han Fangli notorious for being a playboy, changing partners frequently and never really caring?

Wasn’t Meng Sheng the one who despised Li Chen the most among them?

Xiao Su frowned, pondering what was going on.

Qin Zhiyao was a bit surprised. She glanced at Xiao Su and noticed that he seemed a bit uneasy as well, which made her heart tighten slightly.

She smiled and asked, “What kind of person is this Miss Li? She seems quite popular?”

“Perhaps it’s just a fleeting interest,” Xiao Su returned to his senses, speaking casually, “Even though they appear serious now, once the novelty wears off, they’ll be the same as before.”

“Li Chen is just an ordinary person, nothing special.”

“Zhiyao, don’t misunderstand. I have no feelings for her. I just felt hopeless at the time and suddenly saw someone very similar to you. I thought of you through her. I never intended to have anything with her. Thinking back now, I shouldn’t have done that; it wasn’t fair to you.”

Qin Zhiyao smiled, “You indeed handled that poorly, but I understand. Just don’t do it again in the future.”

Li Chen rented a top-floor apartment in a cheaper, older residential area.

She was on the rooftop garden growing mushrooms.

[Host, you really have a knack for growing mushrooms; they look great,] 997 praised, also glancing at the bamboo that Li Chen had transplanted into the pots, which were also thriving.

A few days later, Li Chen had all the tools and paperwork ready for her stall.

That afternoon, she rode her vending cart out of the community to the spot she had long set her eyes on and began frying mushrooms.

The mushroom soup had been prepared earlier and kept warm.

As soon as she lifted the lid, a delicious aroma wafted out, immediately causing passersby to stop and look in her direction. Humans cannot resist deliciousness, and they walked over honestly.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep