Chapter 230
Inside the daily grocery store, it was chaos.
The discounted items were limited—scarcely anything left—and now a battle was about to erupt as everyone in the store fought over them.
“This cabbage is mine! Who dares try to take it?” Lai Bingxuan held a cabbage tightly, glaring fiercely at everyone around her.
Xu Shuangrong looked troubled. “But Miss Lai, you don’t have money. If you can’t buy it, why not let us have it?”
Xiao Jingxi furrowed his brows and nodded in agreement.
Lai Bingxuan grew even angrier. “Xu Shuangrong, don’t you still have ten thousand in your allowance? And you’re trying to snatch a cabbage worth two yuan? Why care if I have money or not? I won’t let you!”
“I may have ten thousand, but Jingxi’s allowance is negative 9,500. I can’t bear to see him hungry, so I decided to help him.”
At this, Xu Shuangrong sighed lightly. “Miss Lai, it’s my fault my money isn’t enough, otherwise I would gladly help you too. It’s just… I only have ten thousand, not fifty or sixty thousand…”
Now that was interesting.
Anyone could see that after the room auction, Xie Mi still had a whopping 65,000 yuan in allowance.
Xu Shuangrong was subtly implying that she, with only ten thousand, was willing to help Xiao Jingxi, whereas Xie Mi, with sixty-five thousand, hadn’t helped Lai Bingxuan.
Unfortunately, her words fell on deaf ears with the oblivious and straightforward Lai Bingxuan.
“Who said I need your help? Just don’t snatch from me, that’s enough. Don’t have fifty or sixty thousand? Then go earn it! Can’t earn it, whose fault is that?” Lai Bingxuan crossed her arms, grumbling angrily.
Xu Shuangrong twitched the corner of her mouth, feeling the frustration of “casting pearls before swine” for the first time.
She decided to be even more direct.
“Miss Lai, that’s not what I meant. I wouldn’t bear to see you hungry either. I just really can’t help you. I remember Teacher Xie has the most money, right? If Teacher Xie could help you, I’d be very happy. I just don’t know…”
“Xu Shuangrong, you’re very skilled at moral coercion.” A leisurely voice suddenly came from the doorway.
Xu Shuangrong’s brow twitched as she instinctively looked toward the voice.
There was Xie Mi, arms crossed, watching the scene as if enjoying a show, standing there for who knows how long. To her left was Shen Moqing, his smile as gentle as a breeze, and to her right was Liu Woxing, frowning slightly.
The three of them stood there with a domineering presence, and Xie Mi in the middle wore a windbreaker, giving off a strong “big sister and her trusted aides” vibe.
That voice had belonged to Shen Moqing.
“Ah, no, that’s not right,” he said, pretending to correct himself, “It’s less moral coercion and more… sowing discord.”
At this moment, the viewers in the live comments seemed to wake up.
[Whoa, that really is it! No wonder I felt uneasy listening to her.]
[If Old Shen hadn’t said it, I wouldn’t have realized — that’s classic moral coercion! Just like those haters always watching celebrities donate money.]
[Maybe overthinking? Shuangshuang’s just being kind, right?]
[Kind my foot! If you’re so kind, why bring someone else into it? Poor Xie hasn’t done anything.]
[Why didn’t I notice Xu Shuangrong was this… emmm…]
“Shuangrong, what you said was inappropriate.” Even Liu Woxing looked disappointed at Xu Shuangrong.
“No, it’s not like that.” Xu Shuangrong’s voice trembled, a mix of grievance and indignation. “I was just worried about Miss Lai. If my words were improper, it wasn’t intentional. Teacher Xie, if I’ve made you uncomfortable, I apologize.”
She looked pitiful, like she’d been bullied.
But Liu Woxing stepped forward, cutting off her line of sight to Xie Mi.
“Shuangrong, if you keep talking like that, Teacher Xie will be misunderstood again. We’re on camera; every word and action gets magnified. You may not mean it, but viewers will blame Teacher Xie because of your words. You should understand that.”
“I…” Xu Shuangrong’s brow twitched again.
According to the system, in the original story, this kind of tactic always worked on people.
But now, with Xie Mi nearby, it seemed everyone had wised up — her usual tricks had no effect.
“Maybe I was too relaxed being around everyone and forgot… it was my oversight. I’m sorry.” She lowered her gaze, full of apology.
“Ah, no need to apologize!” Xie Mi waved her hand generously, smiling broadly. “As long as you’re not whispering behind my back, I’m happy.”
Xu Shuangrong’s mouth twitched slightly and she said no more. She knew that arguing further would only make things worse.
Especially with Liu Woxing present, suspicious of her motives, anything she said could backfire. She had to swallow her frustration.
“Xie Mi, why are you here?”
Seeing Xie Mi, Lai Bingxuan’s eyes lit up. She ran over immediately. “I was about to call you to borrow money. Perfect timing! Lend me two yuan, I want to buy this cabbage!”
Though spoiled, Miss Lai still followed the rules when needed. Without money, she could even borrow two yuan to buy a cabbage to cook.
But Xie Mi decided to show off today.
“This is my lucky day. Miss Lai, tonight’s dinner is on me!”
She flipped her hand, pulled out sunglasses, and put them on. “I’m inviting you—to! The! Restaurant!”
Shen Moqing dutifully began fanning her coat again.
Liu Woxing hadn’t processed it yet. Seeing Shen Moqing’s action, she followed suit, though puzzled.
Xu Shuangrong and Xiao Jingxi looked on, speechless.
“What kind of crazy team-building is this?”
Lai Bingxuan was also stunned.
“You’re taking me to the restaurant? How generous!”
Having never managed money before, she used to eat six-figure meals without a second thought. But now, with a debt of over a thousand yuan, even a two-yuan cabbage felt precious.
“In my dictionary, rich means no such thing as expensive! Let’s go, it’s my treat!” Xie Mi said, turning to walk, her posture perfectly confident.
Xiao Jingxi’s eyes reddened watching her.
“Xie Mi, aren’t you inviting me?”
Xie Mi didn’t turn her head but raised a hand to her ear. “Hmm? Is that a dog barking?”
Xiao Jingxi: “???”
The group moved farther away, their cheerful voices echoing back.
Lai Bingxuan: “If it’s a treat, I want steak!”
Xie Mi: “Eat!”
Shen Moqing: “Teacher Xie is treating!”
Liu Woxing softly laughed: “Wow~”
Xie Mi suddenly coughed twice. “Cough cough, you two should A-share. You guys aren’t rich or what…”
Shen Moqing: “Teacher Xie, you’re stingy.”
Xie Mi: “What? Stingy? I call it being economical — spending money where it matters!”
Lai Bingxuan: “Right!”
Liu Woxing’s laughter grew louder: “Hahaha…”
[So heartwarming, feels like back when I wasn’t a scheming woman yet.]
[Xiao Jingxi: Keep it down, your happiness is disturbing me.]
