HBWMA -Chapter 137 Trying to Please

Halfway through the banquet, Shen Zhuang opened several jars of fine wine. Zhou Guochao and Su Jingliu had already drunk quite a bit, and the atmosphere quickly grew lively.

Su Jingliu seemed to have a particularly good impression of Shen Guiling. He clinked glasses with him several times. Since Shen Guiling was already fifteen or sixteen and a boy, Shen Zhuang didn’t restrain him much. In the latter half of the banquet, all the boys were switched to alcohol, so after a few rounds, Shen Guiling had drunk quite a lot as well.

Noticing the atmosphere at the table starting to shift in the wrong direction, Shen Zhi stepped forward and asked Jiang Huashan, Fu Sui’er, and Shen Mianzhi if they had finished eating. The three immediately understood his meaning and followed him out of the main hall.

Jiang Huashan said, “Steward Shen, we didn’t drink, so no need to see us off. You should go back and keep an eye on Grandpa—don’t let him drink too much.”

Shen Zhi glanced toward the main hall and nodded. “Alright.”

As soon as Shen Zhi left, the three exchanged looks. Fu Sui’er quickly grabbed Jiang Huashan before Shen Mianzhi could speak. “Anyway, we’ve got nothing to do this afternoon. I’ll go hang out at your place.” With that, she pulled Jiang Huashan out of the main courtyard.

Watching their close figures leave, Shen Mianzhi’s gaze dimmed. She turned to head back to Chun Garden, but after taking a step, a wave of unwillingness rose in her chest. Acting on impulse, she chased after them.

“Shanshan, Sui’er—wait a moment!”

Fu Sui’er tugged Jiang Huashan along. “Hurry up, or she’ll just piss us off again.”

Seeing them not only ignore her but speed up, Shen Mianzhi felt even worse. Gritting her teeth, she sprinted forward and cut them off.

“I called you just now. Didn’t you hear me?”

Fu Sui’er was exasperated, her face blank. “We heard you. We just didn’t want to wait. Isn’t that obvious? Who knows what trouble you’re trying to stir up this time?”

Shen Mianzhi’s expression darkened, her eyes reddening slightly. She took out a delicate little card holder from her pocket. After hesitating for a moment, she tossed it into Jiang Huashan’s arms and turned to run off again.

Jiang Huashan: “……”

Fu Sui’er looked awkward. “What do we do? I think I made her cry…”

“……” After a few seconds of hesitation, Jiang Huashan crouched down and picked up the card holder from the ground.

“What is it?” Fu Sui’er leaned in curiously.

Jiang Huashan turned and handed it to her. “A bank card.”

“A bank card?” Fu Sui’er took it in surprise. After checking it carefully, her expression grew even more complicated. “Why would she give you this?”

Jiang Huashan stood up. “No idea. Maybe she thinks I scheme against people because I’m too poor, so she’s giving me money in hopes I won’t do that anymore?”

“……” Fu Sui’er didn’t know what to say.

She suddenly realized something—Shen Mianzhi always tried to fix things in her own way, but every time, she only made things worse.

The Pomeranian incident had been the same.

She had finally begun to recover from the pain and gradually forget about the little dog. But Shen Mianzhi had searched all over Jinggang to find a puppy that looked exactly the same and presented it to her as a birthday surprise.

But to Fu Sui’er, it wasn’t a surprise—it was ripping open an old wound.

So, despite everyone’s criticism, she had driven Shen Mianzhi and the puppy out.

Great. What had started as the grudge of “killing her dog” had now gained an additional charge—ruining the birthday party she had most looked forward to.

It was strange. Even though she understood Shen Mianzhi’s intentions, she still couldn’t help but dislike her.

Fu Sui’er handed the card back to Jiang Huashan. “Was I too harsh just now?”

Jiang Huashan looked at the bank card in her hand. “You weren’t. I was.”

She had personally pushed Shen Mianzhi into a dead end—compared to that, she was the harsher one.

—

When the two returned to Chrysanthemum Garden, they tacitly avoided the topic.

Jiang Huashan opened the call log on her backup phone, while Fu Sui’er pulled up the notes on her phone. The recorded time almost perfectly matched the timing of the third phone call.

That meant one of the diamond members was very likely connected to the Yao family.

“You’re saying it was the Yao family’s steward who went out to take the call?”

Fu Sui’er nodded. “At that time, Uncle Yao was having tea with Grandpa and the others—he didn’t notice the call at all.” She grew curious. “Shanshan, what exactly is going on? Can you tell me?”

Earlier, Jiang Huashan had only asked her to pay attention to everyone in the main hall—especially the Zhou, Su, and Yao families—but hadn’t explained why.

Fu Sui’er vaguely sensed that Jiang Huashan was investigating something. If it involved the Zhou and Su families, it definitely wasn’t a small matter. She couldn’t help but feel worried.

Jiang Huashan shook her head. “Sorry, Sui’er. It’s not the right time yet. You’re still too young.”

This was a decision she had carefully considered. Fu Sui’er wasn’t even fourteen yet—she might not be able to handle the darkness involved.

Right now, all she needed was to grow up well. There were many ways to grow, but suffering and thorns were the worst path.

“It’s okay!”

Fu Sui’er smiled and patted Jiang Huashan’s shoulder seriously. “Why are you apologizing? If anything, I should be the one apologizing. Don’t worry—I’ll grow up properly. And one day, when you need me, we’ll fight side by side. I definitely won’t embarrass you.”

Jiang Huashan laughed. “When did I ever say you’d embarrass me?”

Fu Sui’er grinned it off. “I said it myself.”