Chapter 39: Is This a Grand Performance?

Chu Song could hardly believe his eyes—the one stepping out of the car was actually his nephew, Chu Lin.

The other villagers were just as astonished, their faces full of disbelief.

“How could this be?” muttered Chu Heng.

“This has to be a joke, right?” echoed Chu Fei.

Father and son both looked as if their jaws might hit the ground. With nothing but that rundown seafood shop of his, how could Chu Lin possibly afford such a luxury car?

Compared to them, Xiao Wen couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at Chu Lin. She hadn’t expected to meet such a handsome man when visiting her boyfriend’s hometown. Most importantly, wasn’t this the very Chu Lin whom her boyfriend and his father had been talking about?

They’d spent all that time mocking him, only for him to show up as a dashing man driving a Panamera?

For some reason, she suddenly felt a pang of discomfort toward her own boyfriend. Did he really not realize how ridiculous he sounded, mocking someone when he himself had nothing to brag about? Making a show of his 20,000 yuan salary as if he were some big shot—how provincial could he be?

Things that had seemed perfectly normal before now left her feeling embarrassed by comparison.

As Chu Lin got out of the car, he immediately saw the two village dogs bounding toward him and grinned, reaching down to rub their heads. “Big Yellow, Little Yellow!”

The two dogs, hearing his greeting, wagged their tails and circled him excitedly, nudging him with their heads.

Sometimes, he thought, dogs were more sentimental than people. He’d only brought them home as a child, and he’d spent most of his years since then away from the village. Yet every time he returned, Big Yellow and Little Yellow would race out to welcome him.

Li Qian followed Chu Lin out of the car. But when she saw so many people gathered around, she grew nervous and clung to his arm. “Chu Lin, there are so many people.”

Her appearance immediately drew everyone’s attention—beautiful things always do. And she, in particular, was strikingly beautiful.

“Chu Lin’s brought his girlfriend home this time, and she really is gorgeous.”

“He’s a lucky man.”

“Indeed, his girlfriend is much prettier than Chu Fei’s.”

Even Chu Fei had to admit it. The moment Li Qian stepped out of the car, he felt his own girlfriend paled in comparison—in both looks and figure.

His own girlfriend suddenly didn’t seem as appealing.

But Xiao Wen was hardly pleased. It was bad enough seeing a handsome man; now she had to be outshone by a prettier woman in front of everyone. And worst of all, people were openly comparing her to Li Qian—and telling the truth, at that.

Her resentment toward her boyfriend and his father only grew. They’d been far too ostentatious earlier; now, of course, everyone would seize the chance to hit back with sarcasm.

“It’s not just the girlfriend—look at the car! It’s worth at least 1.5 million. Chu Fei was just showing off his Audi, and now look!” another villager teased.

Chu Fei bristled at the villagers’ remarks. “Must be rented, right? How could he afford a Panamera?” He simply couldn’t believe Chu Lin was capable of buying such a car.

But Xiao Wen shot back coldly, “His outfit alone costs nearly 20,000, and that LV bag the woman has is thirty-five thousand, all clearly the latest models and brand new.”

“Must be rented too,” Chu Heng added quickly.

Xiao Wen stared at him in disbelief. “Luxury goods like these, especially the newest models, require a full deposit if you rent them. If someone can pay the full deposit, why would they bother renting?”

Of course, the main thing was the air of confidence that Chu Lin and his companion exuded. You could always tell when someone truly had confidence—there was no faking it.

“He’s just putting on a show,” Chu Heng insisted, making no effort to hide his disdain. “Xiao Wen, you’re still young; there’s a lot you don’t understand. If he actually had money, would his ancestral house still be in disrepair? And what job could possibly let him buy a car worth over a million in such a short time? Of course it’s rented.”

Xiao Wen had to admit that sounded reasonable. But she couldn’t stand being told she was young and naive, as if he were the only one with any wisdom. That patronizing attitude was infuriating.

And the more she thought about how his bluster had made her look like a stepping stone, the more resentment welled up inside her. If it weren’t for their showing off, no one would be using her as a foil to praise another woman’s beauty so pointedly.

She’d thought Chu Fei might make a decent stand-in as a father for her child, but now she realized she needed to find someone else quickly. She still didn’t know which bastard at that company executive party had left his mark on her. It was bad enough they’d gotten her drunk, but not one of them would own up to it afterward.

The more she dwelled on it, the angrier she became—and then she did something that left both Chu Fei and Chu Heng stunned.

She strode straight over to Chu Lin and, in front of everyone, demanded, “Sir, Chu Fei and his father just said your car is rented. Could we see your registration?”

Chu Lin looked at her, completely at a loss. What was going on? And who was this woman?

The villagers were equally bewildered. What was Chu Fei’s girlfriend playing at? Even if you did think the car was rented, wasn’t this a bit much?

Chu Fei and his father were utterly dumbfounded—they never expected such a scene.

Chu Lin, still confused, nevertheless harbored no goodwill toward Chu Fei or Chu Heng. Most of the village gossip about him could be traced back to them. Now, what business was it of theirs what car he drove? Even if it was rented, what did it have to do with them?

But seeing that this woman seemed intent on teaching Chu Fei and his father a lesson, he smiled, took the registration from the car, and handed it to her.

Xiao Wen examined the document and, sure enough, it wasn’t a rental.

She turned to Chu Fei. “Look—he’s the owner. Now do you believe it’s not rented?”

Chu Fei was utterly speechless. What was his girlfriend doing? What was wrong with her? Or rather, was the car really Chu Lin’s? How could he possibly afford such a thing?

Chu Heng’s face was no better. The news was like an itch he could neither scratch nor ignore, gnawing at him.

“Uncle, what’s going on?” Chu Lin whispered as Chu Song approached.

“I have no idea. She’s Chu Fei’s girlfriend,” Chu Song replied softly.

“Huh?” Chu Lin was baffled. Chu Fei’s girlfriend? Why did she seem intent on humiliating Chu Fei?

“Here’s your registration, handsome,” Xiao Wen said, handing it back to Chu Lin without another glance, then walked straight out of the village.

Seeing this, Chu Fei panicked, forgetting his embarrassment and quickly running after her. “Xiao Wen, what’s wrong?”

“Are you stupid?” Xiao Wen shot back. “Can’t you see I’m breaking up with you?”

“What? Why?” Chu Fei was even more flustered. He had no idea what he’d done wrong.

“Why? Are you joking, Chu Fei?” Xiao Wen said without a trace of mercy. “You don’t even know how much you make? Do you really not know what you paid for that secondhand Audi? Or who begged your boss to get you promoted? Do you have any self-awareness at all? You strut around like you’re somebody, when you’re just a small-town nobody. And your father, always putting on airs, as if everyone couldn’t see he’s petty and vindictive. Stay away from me!”

Chu Fei was struck dumb by her tirade, staring at Xiao Wen as if seeing her for the first time.

Chu Lin was still completely in the dark. What on earth? He’d only just come home, and already he’d been thrust into the middle of this drama.

But Chu Heng was the most stunned of all. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect his son’s girlfriend to turn on them like this. He’d always thought she was gentle and easy-going. After that tongue-lashing, he wished he could crawl into a hole.

Feeling the judgmental stares of his fellow villagers, he could no longer bring himself to linger. He hurriedly left, his mind elsewhere, nearly stumbling as he went.

…

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