84: A Perfect Fit

Last time, Zhang Wenzhi had dispatched his thugs to 'discipline' Shen Yifei and stage a little spectacle. The spectacle, however, turned into a self-inflicted humiliation, with Zhang Wenzhi himself getting a taste of his own medicine.

Seeing Su Muqing, Zhang Wenzhi couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye. He felt utterly disgraced, as if his humiliation had spread to every corner of the earth.

"Zhang Wenzhi, we meet again," Shen Yifei’s eyebrow arched.

Zhang Wenzhi’s face was a storm cloud of fury. A virulent hatred for Shen Yifei had consumed him to a dangerous degree. He longed to plunge a blade into the young man, but alas, he lacked the skill.

The power Shen Yifei had displayed last time had made Zhang Wenzhi wary; he knew this brat was not to be trifled with.

"Zhang Wenzhi, you know him?" the blonde woman asked curiously.

Zhang Wenzhi scoffed, "No!"

Shen Yifei let out a dry chuckle. "Zhang Wenzhi, enough chatter. Make that woman beside you apologize, now!"

The veins on Zhang Wenzhi’s forehead pulsed. *Who are you, a mere bumpkin, to command me?* he thought.

"I didn't do it on purpose," the blonde woman whispered defensively, retreating to Zhang Wenzhi’s side.

"You clearly pushed your way in first! And you say it wasn't on purpose?" Liu Xiaoxiao’s brow furrowed, a distinct irritation bubbling within her.

"Alright, alright, that's enough from all of you. Shen Yifei, you need to rein it in. You can’t just pick a fight at every turn," Su Muqing said to Shen Yifei.

"Fine. I can't be bothered arguing with certain pieces of trash anyway," Shen Yifei shrugged, giving Su Muqing a casual, almost dismissive, nod.

Zhang Wenzhi, of course, knew Shen Yifei was insulting him. His fury instantly boiled over, yet he dared not unleash it. He knew Shen Yifei’s combat prowess was formidable, and being alone without his bodyguards, he would surely be at a disadvantage.

However, facing Shen Yifei once more, Zhang Wenzhi refused to back down and cower again.

"Shen Yifei, let's go," Su Muqing urged.

"Weren't we going to buy a pendant?" Shen Yifei asked.

"Never mind. This pendant is too expensive. We won't buy it," Su Muqing shook her head.

His eyes flickered between Shen Yifei and the two stunning women, Su Muqing and Liu Xiaoxiao, beside him. Zhang Wenzhi's irritation flared. He couldn’t fathom what twisted stroke of fate had allowed this brat to snag two such exceptionally beautiful women.

Zhang Wenzhi cast a disdainful glance at Shen Yifei before turning to the blonde by his side. "Darling, pick out whatever you like. I'll buy it for you. *I*, Zhang Wenzhi, am not like certain penniless wretches who dare to parade around a jewelry store with women when they have no money to their name..."

The biting sarcasm, thick and palpable, reignited the embers of fury that had just begun to settle within Shen Yifei.

"I like this pendant! Zhang Wenzhi, buy it for me!" The blonde woman’s eyes lit up, and she spoke eagerly.

Shen Yifei frowned. "We saw this pendant first. What’s the rush to snatch it?"

The blonde woman cast a dismissive glance at Shen Yifei, a hint of disdain twisting her lips. "Didn't you say you couldn't afford it? Sir, why bother arguing over such trivial matters with my boyfriend? If you don't have the money, don't pretend to be a big shot!"

Zhang Wenzhi beamed. The woman’s words had struck precisely the right chord with him; he’d been racking his brain for a way to belittle this bumpkin.

Su Muqing felt a surge of anger. She knew she had to stand up for Shen Yifei. She scoffed, "Some people love to regard themselves as superior beings, oblivious to the fact that their inner selves are as easily stripped away as the makeup on their faces."

"You... you dare call me simple-minded?" Xia Yan glared at Su Muqing, trembling with rage.

"It seems you've already admitted it yourself," Liu Xiaoxiao scoffed.

Zhang Wenzhi ignored them, turning directly to the sales assistant. "How much is this pendant?"

"This exquisite aquamarine pendant is priced at five hundred thousand yuan (the local currency)," the sales assistant replied, her expression respectful. She clearly saw another wealthy patron before her.

"Hmph, a mere five hundred thousand," Zhang Wenzhi scoffed, his eyes glinting with derision as he looked at Shen Yifei. "'Manager Su,' he sneered, 'I truly pity you. You're out shopping with a man who can't even afford five hundred thousand. How pathetic.'"

Shen Yifei’s face clouded over before Su Muqing could speak. He let out a dry chuckle. "Who said I couldn’t afford it?"

"No need to pretend. No one’s going to debate a pauper like you," Zhang Wenzhi said, pulling out a bank card and handing it to the sales assistant. "I'll take this pendant."

"Zhang Wenzhi, are you *begging* for another beating? Do you want to spend another month or so in the hospital?" Shen Yifei dropped all pretense, his dry chuckle turning cold.

Seeing the raw, thuggish defiance in Shen Yifei’s expression, a shiver of fear ran down Zhang Wenzhi’s spine. Yet, he refused to back down; he wouldn't be intimidated by this brat again.

"What? You can't afford it yourself, so you resort to violence?" Zhang Wenzhi sneered.

Without another word, Shen Yifei wound up and slapped him.

"SMACK!"

The crisp crack echoed through the store. Zhang Wenzhi spun several times on the spot, before collapsing to the ground, howling like a banshee and seeing stars.

The entire jewelry store fell into stunned silence, all eyes turning towards Shen Yifei in disbelief.

The blonde woman was utterly bewildered, unable to believe that Shen Yifei had dared to lay a hand on Zhang Wenzhi!

Su Muqing felt a headache coming on. She'd told Shen Yifei to behave himself, but he just wouldn't listen, always causing a scene.

Liu Xiaoxiao clapped a hand over her mouth. Shen Yifei's temper truly was explosive; he'd resort to violence at the slightest provocation. But then again, it was that spoiled young master, Zhang Wenzhi. Watching Zhang Wenzhi howl in misery, a mischievous pleasure bubbled up within Liu Xiaoxiao.

Though Shen Yifei was a troublemaker, his domineering demeanor, however, earned Liu Xiaoxiao's admiration.

"You! You dare hit me!" Zhang Wenzhi roared, clutching his swollen face.

"It's precisely *you* I'm hitting! This belongs to me! What gives you the right to snatch it? Get lost!" Shen Yifei sneered.

A shiver of fear ran through Zhang Wenzhi. He was terrified that if he provoked this man again, he'd be beaten even worse. The last incident had, after all, taught him a bitter lesson.

"Zhang Wenzhi, are you alright?" The blonde woman rushed to help him to his feet.

"Alright, my ass! Can’t you see I just got beaten?" Zhang Wenzhi was seething. He cursed himself for his idiocy; arguing with this brute was clearly an exercise in self-inflicted pain.

"He dared to hit you again, Zhang Wenzhi! Call someone! Quick!" The blonde woman demanded, enraged.

His face a mask of venomous resentment, Zhang Wenzhi retreated to a corner.

Shen Yifei took the box containing the aquamarine pendant from the sales assistant, handing it to Su Muqing with a grin. "Go on, try it on."

Su Muqing was speechless. This time, however, she readily took the box. Though the five hundred thousand yuan was steep, as a CEO, she could certainly afford it. She decided to buy it, even if it was just to save Shen Yifei's face.

She intended to buy it herself; Shen Yifei certainly didn't have that much money on him, and besides, she didn't need him to buy it for her.

"Xiao Xue, let me help you put it on," Liu Xiaoxiao chimed in, taking the box from Su Muqing's hand. She removed the gem pendant and helped Su Muqing fasten it around her neck.

"It's stunning, Xiao Xue! Look in the mirror quickly," Liu Xiaoxiao exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

Undeniably, the pendant perfectly suited Su Muqing, complementing her refined aura. Adorned with the gem pendant, a chorus of admiring and envious glances from the other women in the jewelry store fell upon Su Muqing.

Su Muqing herself adored it, despite the rather hefty price tag.

"Well?" Su Muqing couldn't help but look at Shen Yifei.

"It's a perfect fit for you," Shen Yifei nodded with a smile.

"Thank you," Su Muqing replied, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.

It was the first time Shen Yifei had seen a woman display such an expression, and it stirred something within him.

He pulled out his bank card and handed it directly to the sales assistant. "I'll take *both* pendants in your store."