The gap between them was too vast; she would only dilute his wealth and lower his social standing.
Without exceptional beauty or talent, how could she possibly feel at ease?
"Ke Teng, I still don't think this is right."
"I chose to be with you simply because I'm comfortable with you. I don't want anything else from you, and you don't need to feel guilty or try to compensate me. We're both willing..."
"You think I've given you too much?"
Too much? Just the cochlear implant for her sister cost over 300,000, not to mention this large shop.
She would never be able to repay this debt, even if she worked her entire life.
Ke Teng saw through her thoughts completely, finding it both amusing and heartbreaking. He couldn't help but pinch her cheek.
"Can't you have a little more ambition, Jian Fei?"
"Many of your university classmates used their youth and beauty to their advantage in college. How can you still be so naive at your age?"
"If we were really in that kind of relationship, I would at least buy you a car, some bags, and jewelry. What do you have?"
"Just a shabby shop, and it's not even in your name. And you feel bad about that? You're truly hopeless."
With his words, Jian Fei felt a sense of logic.
When other women dated rich second-generation heirs, they at least walked away with bags and jewelry. Why was she so embarrassed about this?
Mid-conversation, Ke Teng's phone rang.
He said, "Keep looking at this. I'm going to take a call."
Jian Fei didn't know what there was to look at.
She didn't understand and genuinely didn't want to accept his things, so she followed him out of the shop.
She waited on the steps in front of the mall entrance. Soon, two slender and attractive women approached.
One was young, the other middle-aged.
They chatted and laughed as they walked. When their gazes inadvertently met hers, they slowly stopped.
Jian Fei recognized the younger woman.
Although they hadn't seen each other in years, she quickly recalled that it was her high school classmate, Wang Wanfei, who had always boasted about being a little rich girl in class.
It was clear that Wang Wanfei had also recognized her.
After a moment of surprise, Wang Wanfei smiled and linked arms with the other woman as she approached.
"Are you Jian Fei? Long time no see. I didn't expect to run into you here."
Jian Fei also hadn't expected to see Wang Wanfei walking arm-in-arm with Jiang Chuan's mother into the mall.
Recalling the rumors about Jiang Chuan's impending marriage, she guessed it was likely to Wang Wanfei.
Both came from good families in the county and were attractive; they seemed quite well-matched.
"Hello, yes, long time no see. I didn't expect to meet you here either. Hello, Auntie."
Jiang Chuan's mother glanced Jian Fei up and down and nodded faintly.
"I heard you're working in Tongcheng. If I remember correctly, today is a workday. Why are you here? Is something wrong at home?"
Jian Fei knew very well that Jiang Chuan's mother looked down on her.
But there was no need to be so impolite.
At her age, to wish misfortune upon someone's family?
She and Jiang Chuan had some classmate connection. If it weren't for his mother, perhaps they could have maintained a friendship.
But now, Jian Fei felt it was unnecessary.
"I'm on a business trip. Accompanying a client to look at something."
Jiang's mother seemed slightly taken aback by her response.
"Aren't you in an administrative position at the hospital? Why would you have this kind of business trip?"
"There are many types of clients for a hospital. I just do as my superiors assign."
Jian Fei looked at her calmly, neither subservient nor arrogant.
Jiang's mother smiled meaningfully and turned to Wang Wanfei.
"When she was in school, our Jiang Chuan often praised her, saying she was a good student, always ranking first, and got into a good university, even pursuing postgraduate studies later."
"I thought she would be the most accomplished among her classmates, but after graduation, she just found an ordinary job. And in such an unremarkable hospital."
"Studying doesn't necessarily change a person's destiny. It's actually better to be like you girls, with business acumen and the ability to adapt to circumstances. I don't advocate for children to be bookworms."
Could it be that Wang Wanfei was pregnant? Were the mother and daughter-in-law already considering future children's education?
Wang Wanfei smiled, "You're right, I've always thought so. I used to get scolded by teachers for it back then."
"Look at our school teachers; they teach for a lifetime and still ride those old electric bikes."
"Jian Fei, you might not know this, but the chain milk tea shop at the entrance of this mall is mine. My auntie and I just opened another one on the pedestrian street. If you have time, come back and visit. You're welcome to patronize our shops."
Jian Fei wondered what she had done to offend them for the mother and daughter-in-law to team up and mock her like this.
A bookworm with no ambition? Or were they the ones who knew how to adapt to circumstances?
They just used their parents' old money to open a milk tea shop in a small county, and they really knew how to flatter themselves!
Although Jian Fei wasn't exceptionally capable, she had met many talented people and was unfazed by their ridicule.
"Why isn't Jiang Chuan accompanying you shopping? Is he too busy with work to get away?"
"Their industry is quite tough, dangerous, and the pay isn't high. Actually, a smart person like you, Auntie, shouldn't let him do this kind of work."
"As you said, people should know how to adapt to circumstances. Opening a shop casually can earn you enough for a lifetime. Why endure such hardship?"
She actually said Jiang Chuan's job was dangerous and low-paying?
Jiang's mother was immediately displeased.
"Jiang Chuan's profession is very noble, not something just anyone can do!"
"Are you unhappy because I said your job isn't good despite all your studies? Comparing yourself to Jiang Chuan?"
"Jiang Chuan loves his profession very much. If he knew you were evaluating him like this behind his back, he would be very disappointed."
Who cares if he's disappointed or not!
To have a mother like you, I should be the one disappointed in him!
Jian Fei said, "I didn't say his profession was bad. No profession is inherently superior or inferior; what matters is whether one loves it. Auntie, you've misunderstood."
Jiang's mother pouted and turned her head away in displeasure.
Wang Wanfei seemed determined to defend Jiang's mother, changing the subject.
"In our county, there aren't many people your age who aren't married. Do you have a boyfriend? When are you planning to get married? Will you invite old classmates?"
"Although Jiang Chuan is busy, he usually gives face to classmates. We can go together then."
Jian Fei smiled.
"I don't think so. I don't know when you're getting married, so I won't be attending your wedding. Receiving a wedding gift out of the blue would make it seem like I've never seen money before. I appreciate the thought, thank you."
"Ungrateful. Why are you bothering with her? Do you think you're so great just because you have a master's degree? You want my son to attend her wedding? She's not worthy!"
Seeing Jiang's mother speak so harshly, Jian Fei felt there was no need for further pleasantries.
She wouldn't interact with them again anyway, so why should she swallow this insult?