Chapter 1028: The Naive Sweetie and the Overbearing Woman

Nightfall descends.

Wuzhou's premier jewelry club, Pearl Jade Pavilion, glittered with lights inside and out; crystal chandeliers scattered myriad beams, making the jewelry on the counter shine even more brilliantly.

Today Chu Lingxi wore a cool ice-silk long dress, her hair simply tied in a bun, no makeup on her face, yet her gentle temperament shone through.

Her fingertip lightly brushed the glass counter, full of anticipation for the jewelry and jade on display.

Today marks the fifteenth wedding anniversary of her and Lin Dongfan.

Lin Dongfan had promised her; today he would cancel all engagements to accompany her for a candlelit dinner. Just now he called, asking her to come pick a favorite piece of jewelry first, and he would settle the bill later.

"Miss, how do you like this emperor-green jadeite bracelet?"

Seeing her pause, the attendant eagerly introduced: "This is our store's unique piece, with rich texture, pure color, so translucent it reflects a person's silhouette—it especially complements your demeanor."

Speaking of temperament, Chu Lingxi's eyes lit up, quite proud.

The ancients said, "A modest gentleman is like warm, smooth jade."

Although she is not a gentleman but a young lady, she also likes warm, smooth jade.

The attendant's recommended jadeite bracelet is rich yet understated, like verdant hills after rain, faintly exuding a spiritual aura—quite to her taste.

"Could you take it out so I can try it on?"

"Of course."

The attendant carefully took the jadeite bracelet from the display case, daring not to mishandle it; if it were accidentally broken, she couldn't afford to pay even with several months' wages.

"Jade does not pass directly hand to hand"—that is the traditional rule of the jade industry, to avoid accidents and unclear responsibility.

The attendant placed the jadeite bracelet on a tray lined with yellow silk.

Respectfully gesturing to Chu Lingxi, he said: "This bracelet matches your temperament well, and the size looks suitable—please try it on."

"Hmm."

Chu Lingxi had just reached out to take the bracelet.

A hand painted with bright red nail polish suddenly lunged from nowhere, domineeringly snatching the bracelet from the tray: "I'm taking this bracelet."

"……???"

Chu Lingxi froze for a moment, then turned to look.

She saw a woman with elaborate makeup standing beside her, wearing a well-tailored red velvet long dress, obviously custom-made, its hem adorned with tiny rhinestones.

In every gesture, she exuded an overbearing sense of superiority.

The Patek Philippe watch on her wrist flashed cold light, forming a glaring contrast with the warm, smooth emperor-green jade bracelet.

This woman was Bai Qian Shuang.

However……

As a professor, Chu Lingxi had long been immersed in university campuses; she certainly did not know this figure Bai Qian Shuang.

Bai Qian Shuang, who disliked studying since childhood, had only a middle-school education, relying on her looks to get by.

"Shouldn't there be a first-come, first-served rule? I saw this bracelet first—how can you just snatch someone else's thing?" Chu Lingxi frowned slightly, her tone gentle.

Bai Qian Shuang glanced contemptuously at Chu Lingxi: "Whose stuff did I snatch? Is this bracelet yours? Did you pay for it?"

"……???"

Chu Lingxi was stunned by the question; yeah, I haven't paid yet… After thinking more, I felt confused—wait, that's not right, I asked the attendant to bring it out; if I like it, I'll pay…

Thinking this,

Chu Lingxi said: "I was about to pay, when out of nowhere a Cheng Yaojin appeared."

"You were about to pay?"

Bai Qian Shuang looked Chu Lingxi up and down, estimating that her ice-silk dress was nothing more than a nine‑yuan‑plus‑shipping stall good from Pinduoduo.

She couldn't help but sneer: "Do you even know how much this bracelet costs?"

"No need for your reminder—I can afford it." Chu Lingxi pointed to the tray on the counter: "Please put it back."

"What's wrong with society? Poor wretches these days act so arrogant, daring to show off in a jewelry store!" She snorted, shaking her wrist; the bracelet gleamed oily in the light: "A bracelet of this grade, moreover a one‑of‑a‑kind independent design, costs at least several hundred thousand—what do you have to pay for it?"

This sharp mockery drew the surrounding customers to glance over and watch.

Chu Lingxi's cheeks flushed slightly, not from lack of money but from being angered.

She couldn't understand: such melodramatic plots only happen in brainless novels—why is it occurring in my own world? Could I be the chosen heroine?

Uh……

The naive sweet‑tempered brain's circuitry is always pulsing.

She looked Bai Qian Shuang up and down.

Unable to help feeling sympathy: "Just looking at your quality, I can tell you're a villain. I advise you to put the bracelet down now, or… when the male lead arrives, he will really slap your face—I'm not lying."

"Hey, look at that tone—are you hooking up with a rich guy? Or did you find someone who looks like a mistress?" Bai Qian Shuang snorted coldly.

Not only did she not put the bracelet back on the tray,

she deliberately waved the jade bracelet back and forth in front of Chu Lingxi, wearing a scornful smile: "Mistress, I'm not putting it back—if you've got the ability, call your rich stepdad to hit me."

"Sigh, why won't you listen to advice?"

Chu Lingxi not only wasn't angry, the sympathy on her face deepened a bit.

The calmer she stayed, the angrier Bai Qian Shuang became.

In an instant.

Bai Qian Shuang resembled a Tibetan mastiff whose tail had been stepped on, flushing red with rage as she shouted: "Lowlife, stop showing off in front of me! When I came out to play, you were still playing in the mud in the countryside! Look at yourself—what kind of virtue do you have? Wearing that cheap stall‑goods outfit, you probably can't even afford a fraction of this bracelet! Instead of embarrassing yourself here, you'd better scram! Don't ruin my shopping mood."

This harsh scolding made the nearby attendant's face show embarrassment.

The attendant had wanted to say a few words to help Chu Lingxi.

But couldn't muster the courage.

Bai Qian Shuang was a regular at Pearl Jade Pavilion, famous throughout Wuzhou; not only wealthy and powerful, her methods were notoriously ruthless and domineering—no one dared to offend her lightly.

Based on the idea of settling matters and pacifying people.

The waiter helplessly advised Chu Lingxi: "Sis, why not… just forget it, give this jade bracelet to Chief Bai. I'll let you know when new stock arrives."

"Little sis, this has nothing to do with you, don't get involved."

Chu Lingxi remained calm and unhurried.

Having said that, she turned her gaze to Bai Qian Shuang: "I've never scolded anyone in my life, but you really deserve a dressing‑down, you social scum who looks down on people! Don't say I didn't warn you—you can still get out now."

"You dare scold me? You're asking for death!"

No sooner had the words fallen than Bai Qian Shuang swung a slap, catching Chu Lingxi off guard.

Accompanied by a crisp 'pak' sound.

Chu Lingxi's head jerked to the side from the slap, her cheeks burning, her head buzzing, and she couldn't recover for a moment. Even the waiter beside her was so shocked she covered her mouth.