Chapter 381

It was almost a one-to-one recreation of the scene where Pei Qingyan walked down the stairs just now.

Pei Wangshu was also stunned.

It was still Deng Xiwen who spoke in surprise: "Wangshu is home too?"

And Chen Moru seemed dissatisfied with the tone her daughter used when walking down the stairs, glancing at her slightly before saying: "We are entertaining guests at home today, so naturally we have to wait for the guests to arrive before we can eat."

"Jingjing, this is my daughter Wangshu, Xiwen knows her." Then she turned to introduce her to Shen Jingjing.

Pei Wangshu's gaze wandered over the few for a moment before she spoke to greet "Auntie Gu" first, and then Chen Moru introduced Shen Jingjing and Shen Ci.

Unlike Pei Qingyan, who knew how to talk, Pei Wangshu greeted the few mechanically, and when facing Shen Ci, there was clearly more scrutiny as a peer in her eyes.

Shen Ci's beauty was the kind of beauty that couldn't be ignored or denied by others. Even as a girl herself, she couldn't go against her heart and not admit it.

And Pei Wangshu had the obvious arrogance of a wealthy daughter, just like the playboy vibe on Pei Qingyan—both were typical wealthy children.

You don't even need to delve into it; just standing next to such people, you can smell the scent of money.

Shen Ci naturally had no opinion on these "favorites of heaven" who were born with innate advantages. Being able to be born into a good family was also a person's ability; perhaps they were great philanthropists in their past lives, which is why they had endless wealth in this life.

And if you want to talk about being most favored by heaven, if she claimed second, no one would dare claim first.

So the undisguised arrogance in Pei Wangshu's eyes didn't count for anything in Shen Ci's view.

Because Shen Ci was wild in her bones, but she was relatively introverted and wouldn't show her "wild" side to others at all times.

At this time, the nanny walked over: "Madam, the meal is ready."

Chen Moru enthusiastically invited everyone to take their seats. Pei Wangshu walked straight to the first guest seat on the left and sat down without looking at anyone.

When Chen Moru walked to the main seat and saw her daughter already seated, her face sank immediately: "Wangshu, why are you so impolite?"

Pei Wangshu froze for a moment before realizing she was a junior and shouldn't be sitting in that position.

Wealthy families have many rules. Even if you are pampered and spoiled at home, once there are guests, you must follow the rules.

She pursed her lips, stood up unwillingly, and moved her body to sit in the second seat on the left.

As a result, her mother's gaze still lingered on her relentlessly. Pei Wangshu reacted and stood up silently again.

Deng Xiwen came to the first guest seat on the left and sat down.

Shen Ci and her mother were opposite. Shen Jingjing hesitated for a moment, wanting her daughter to sit in the first guest seat on the right: "A-Ci, you sit here next to your Auntie Moru; she wants to chat with you more."

Hearing this, Shen Ci said obediently and naturally: "Mom, you sit here. There's no reason for me to sit in front of you. It's just one seat apart; I can still talk to Auntie Moru sitting here."

Chen Moru smiled with appreciation and nodded: "A-Ci is right. This child is truly sensible, generous, and likable."

As she spoke, she subconsciously glanced at her own daughter.

Pei Wangshu's face looked ugly as she pouted. She only sat down after everyone else was seated, and immediately cast a hostile and unkind look at Shen Ci.

Shen Ci acted as if she didn't see it, because as soon as Chen Moru sat down, she couldn't wait to look at Shen Ci and ask: "A-Ci, I heard from your mother that you've invested in many projects recently? What industries are you mainly involved in?"

"At the current stage, I mainly invest in the film and television industry. However, the return cycle of the film and television industry is relatively long, and I haven't received any returns yet." Shen Ci told the truth.

Chen Moru nodded knowingly, frowned slightly, and analyzed: "But now is the winter period for the domestic film and television industry. For things like TV dramas, actors' salaries take up the majority, and various themes are very formulaic. Whether it's costume dramas or modern dramas, it's all the same old stuff in new packaging. Film and television companies hatch hundreds or thousands of works a year in pursuit of blockbusters, but only a handful can explode, and many more are unknown."

"Not to mention movies. The domestic film market has regressed by at least twenty years. I am friends with the boss of 'Yingda Film,' and when we ate together during the New Year, I heard him complain about the sluggish film market. His company's cinemas closed more than two hundred locations in the country last year alone."

"A-Ci, you must keep your eyes peeled when investing in this field. The film and television industry is the place where you throw money and hear no sound."

Chen Moru's analysis was not only pertinent but also hit the nail on the head and was very professional.

Especially the analysis of the TV drama field was particularly incisive, because Lu Jinzhao had indeed brought many other dramas to her for investment, but she had rejected them all.

She had no memory of those projects in her hands, which meant they must have flopped silently in her previous life.

So she only invested in the big blockbusters in her memory. If it were someone else without this advantage, it would be very easy to make mistakes in this industry.

"I didn't expect Auntie Moru to be so knowledgeable about the film and television industry. The problems you pointed out are indeed the drawbacks of this industry today."

As soon as Shen Ci finished speaking, Pei Wangshu's arrogant and proud voice rang out suddenly: "Of course. Every year, film and television company bosses who bring projects to my mom for investment almost trample the threshold of 'Heijin.' If my mom didn't understand these things, I'm afraid she wouldn't know how much money she'd be fooled into investing."

It should have been a proud statement because her mother was capable, but coming from her mouth, it was a high-and-mighty tone.

Chen Moru looked at her daughter, then turned to Shen Ci and said: "In the early years, many people in this industry did come to contact me. At first, I didn't understand, but regardless of the size of the investment, I must do a background check on the industry beforehand. This is my principle of doing things."

"Later, after some investigation and talking to some professionals, I finally felt that this industry has too much instability, so I didn't rush into it."

Chen Moru's business philosophy can be summed up in one word—"Stable"!

Although she couldn't ensure that all businesses would make a profit, she could accept business failure due to objective market reasons, but she couldn't accept money being thrown away due to her own negligence.

Shen Ci could also get a glimpse of her personality from her conversation.

"Auntie Moru's reminder is right. I also carefully pick projects with potential to invest in, and I will be more careful in the future." Speaking of this, she smiled slightly and said: "Actually, my original intention for choosing to invest in this industry was because my younger sister is a young actress studying acting. I want to use the identity of an investor to pave the way for her. Auntie Moru, since you know so much about this industry, you must also know that the road in this circle is not easy to walk."

This latter part of her words was calm, but it hit the hearts of the three elders present steadily.

Shen Jingjing looked at her daughter. As the eldest daughter in the family and the most capable child, she didn't forget to think about her younger sister while succeeding herself. As a mother, she felt both proud and incomparably gratified.

Deng Xiwen also had an expression of "So that's how it is, that's really good."

Chen Moru showed undisguised appreciation and nodded lightly: "So that was your original intention. You really are a responsible and loving child."

As she spoke, she looked at Shen Jingjing and sighed: "Jingjing, you have taught your daughter well!"

"Sister Moru, don't say that. These are all A-Ci's own ideas, including her doing business and everything; I haven't helped with any of it."

But the more Shen Jingjing said this, the more it highlighted how excellent her daughter was as an independent individual.

Chen Moru looked at Shen Ci, finding it hard to imagine she was only twenty-one years old.

"Sigh." She suddenly sighed, the originally firm aura on her body unloading more than half: "If my son and daughter had half of A-Ci's ability and sensibility, I would burn incense."

"Mom!"

Suddenly being taken out as a control group, Pei Wangshu immediately protested dissatisfiedly: "You chat if you want to chat, why compare me and Qingyan?"

Finally, she muttered: "And praising others to step on us..."

Her daughter's reaction fell into Chen Moru's eyes, making her shake her head silently in her heart. Clearly several years older than Shen Ci, yet she was like a child.

Not a single one of the generous, calm, and intelligent traits that Shen Ci had!

Instead, she had a bunch of problems and couldn't be brought out in public.

"Can't I even say it?"

Chen Moru said impatiently: "Can either of you let me count on you? Let alone count on you, I'd thank heaven and earth if you could just let me worry less."

"A-Ci." Halfway through, she suddenly looked at Shen Ci and said softly: "Although your sister Wangshu is a few years older than you, there are actually many things about you that are worth her learning. They say 'near vermilion, one gets stained red.' If you peers can often play together, you will influence each other. They can no longer listen to what we elders say. If you have the opportunity, invite Wangshu to play together more often, and Lianxing too. I like Lianxing too."

Who knew that as soon as Chen Moru's words landed, before Shen Ci could respond, they heard Pei Wangshu "slap" the chopsticks in her hand onto the table.

"Mom!"

She stood up, looked at her mother with a face of spoiled anger, and said indignantly: "Is your way of entertaining guests to humiliate your own daughter? I'm your biological daughter, at least! How can you say that about me in front of outsiders? And in front of me, do I have no self-esteem?"

"'Near vermilion, one gets stained red'—what do you take me for?"

"And 'near ink, one gets stained black.' Aren't you afraid that the perfect daughter of others in your eyes will be led astray by me after playing together?"

"Since you like her so much, let her be your daughter. I'm not worthy!"

Pei Wangshu was in tears, and by the end, it turned into a roar of losing her mind, then she turned and ran upstairs without looking back.

"Wangshu!" Deng Xiwen called out subconsciously.

But she heard Chen Moru say: "Don't call her!"

Shen Jingjing was embarrassed for a moment. Having never encountered such a situation, she didn't know how to respond.

Shen Ci patted her mother's arm lightly, signaling that it didn't matter.

Deng Xiwen was closest to Chen Moru, so it should be her who spoke first: "Sister Moru, the child is grown up. You can't disregard her face like this. You can say whatever you want in private, but this occasion today is really inappropriate."

How could Chen Moru not understand this truth?

She lowered her head and was silent for a long while, then sighed again: "In your eyes, I might be a successful person in my career, but I am not successful in everything I do. I admit my failure in being a mother."

As she spoke, she slowly raised her head and looked at Shen Jingjing: "Jingjing, I have to apologize to you first."

Hearing this, Shen Jingjing panicked: "Si—Sister Moru? Why do you want to apologize to me?"

Chen Moru looked at her, then at Shen Ci beside her, and said in a low voice: "When I first met you and learned that your daughter was so excellent, I actually harbored selfishness in my heart."

"Auntie Moru wants me to be friends with your daughter?" Shen Ci took over the conversation.

Chen Moru looked at her and nodded lightly: "She was spoiled, but she wasn't like this at the beginning."

"I have my own philosophy of educating children, and I also want to cultivate my own children into good children who make me proud, but I can't stand the whole family 'being my enemy'!"

Speaking of this, she laughed at herself: "Dad spoils her, grandparents spoil her, maternal grandparents also spoil her. I'm the only one managing and disciplining, I'm the bad guy myself."

"You've seen it too. In their eyes, I am a mother and also an enemy. If I say something too heavy, they give me a cold face directly. When her father comes back, she acts like a spoiled child and complains. She's simply a giant baby!"

"So Jingjing, I really admire you. Raising three children alone and raising them so excellently, I really am not as good as you in this matter."

"Auntie Moru, I understand your love for your daughter as a mother, but you really used the wrong method." Hearing Chen Moru's words, Shen Ci didn't say any polite comforting words, because she could see that this was a real predicament in the other party's life, it was Auntie Moru's heart knot, so she should speak her thoughts truthfully.

Shen Ci continued: "Belittling and suppressing are useless, and even counterproductive. You want me to be friends with your daughter, but you said those things in front of me, which actually put us in two completely opposite camps. If nothing goes wrong, your daughter already regards me as an enemy. We cannot be friends."

"And for two people to be friends, matchmaking is useless. I can be a superficial friend with anyone, but true friends need to exchange hearts. I don't know your daughter at all. Do you expect us to become friends after meeting once today?"

"A-Ci..." Shen Jingjing was afraid her daughter's words were too extreme, so she looked at her and shook her head, reminding her softly.

Chen Moru nodded after calming down: "A-Ci is right. I was at my wit's end and lost my footing, thinking things were too simple, but I really have no other way."

Her helplessness was visible to the naked eye.

Shen Ci could understand. Neither child was a few-year-old toddler. Seedlings still have the possibility of being moved and replanted, but formed rotten wood—cannot be carved.

?? Two chapters combined into one, 4000+ words. Since the scene didn't change, I didn't split the chapters.

? Asking for monthly tickets!

? (End of chapter)