Volume One, Chapter 11: Pay Back Every Penny Spent Today

Naturally, the two also saw Jiang Chenyu.

“Chenyu?” Jiang Xue’er waved her hand eagerly, her face lighting up with surprise. “Why did you follow us here?”

Jiang Chenyu frowned. “Is this your place? Do I have to follow you to get in?”

Jiang Xue’er stiffened, not expecting Jiang Chenyu to be so aloof. In the past, Jiang Chenyu always maintained a false peace to win the favor of the Jiang family, often enduring losses silently.

Chen Ping, who hated to see Jiang Xue’er bullied, furrowed her brows fiercely. Before she could say anything, the attendant who was serving Jiang Chenyu hurried over.

“Miss, is this the bag you want?” The attendant’s eyes widened. Seeing Jiang Chenyu nod, she immediately praised, “You have great taste, madam. This is our store’s masterpiece, handcrafted by our designer. There’s only one of its kind in the world, so you’ll never run into anyone else with the same item.”

No need to exaggerate so much—any handcrafted item is unique by nature.

Jiang Chenyu smiled gently. “I’m giving this as a gift to an elder. Please wrap it in a gift box for me.”

“Of course, madam, you’re such a good daughter. Your mother is truly lucky,” the attendant gushed, treating Jiang Chenyu like a “gold mine.”

This didn’t particularly please Jiang Chenyu but left Chen Ping stunned.

She had wanted to stand up for Jiang Xue’er, but seeing Jiang Chenyu buy such an expensive gift for herself left her at a loss for words.

Jiang Xue’er noticed this and clenched her palms, hiding her envy behind a composed expression. “Chenyu is so rich. I gave all my allowance to my older brother for his business. Now, even buying a bag makes me hesitate—it’s really embarrassing.”

“Don’t say that. How could someone as sensible as you be embarrassing? The real shame lies with selfish ingrates,” Chen Ping retorted sharply, shooting a fierce glare at Jiang Chenyu. It was clear who she was condemning.

Jiang Chenyu had no interest in arguing with Chen Ping and simply said to the attendant, “Please wrap it quickly; I’m in a hurry.”

Sensing the tension, the attendant nodded promptly and took the bag to the cashier for wrapping.

Another attendant quickly approached Chen Ping and Jiang Xue’er. “Ladies, the mirrors are this way. Let me show you to try them on.”

Chen Ping snorted coldly, pulling Jiang Xue’er backward, though her eyes couldn’t help but glance at the counter where Jiang Chenyu’s chosen bag was displayed.

Good heavens—the price tag had six zeros.

Meanwhile, her precious Xue’er was still hesitating over two discounted bags.

Why should the ungrateful one spend the Jiang family’s money so lavishly while the sensible child suffers?

Determined, Chen Ping grasped Jiang Xue’er’s hand and stopped her from moving forward.

“Mom, what’s wrong?” Jiang Xue’er looked at Chen Ping in confusion, though a flicker of pride shone in her eyes.

After all the hints she had dropped, Chen Ping finally understood—how foolish she had been!

“We’re not choosing. We’ll take both,” Chen Ping declared angrily.

Jiang Xue’er lowered her gaze. “But the money…”

Before she could finish, Chen Ping snatched the two bags and tossed them onto the counter.

“Wrap these two as well,” she instructed the attendant.

The attendant was speechless, wondering what was so impressive about buying two discounted bags.

But as a customer, she nodded politely. “Alright, please wait a moment.”

Turning back to Jiang Chenyu, she said, “Madam, the total is 3,770,000 RMB. After an internal discount, it’s 3,700,000. How would you like to pay?”

Jiang Chenyu took out her bank card but hadn’t spoken when Chen Ping interrupted, “Add the payment for these two bags as well.”

The attendant’s eyes widened in surprise and glanced at Jiang Chenyu for her response.

“I don’t know them,” Jiang Chenyu replied coldly.

Chen Ping immediately raised her voice threateningly, “You’re buying me bags and still pretending not to know me?”

“If you don’t pay for these two bags today, I swear I won’t accept any gifts you buy me ever again,” Chen Ping threatened fiercely. “I mean it!”

The attendant standing nearby was stunned. Such threats? Who was buying gifts for whom here?

“Swipe the card,” Jiang Chenyu said to the attendant.

Chen Ping straightened her chest proudly.

Every time Jiang Chenyu returned home before, she would buy many things for her and begged her to accept them, just so she could think of Jiang Chenyu when seeing the gifts.

Chen Ping knew Jiang Chenyu well and could easily manipulate her.

But then Jiang Chenyu added coldly, “Only count the brooch and the bag I’m buying.”

“Okay, please swipe the card,” the attendant replied hurriedly, taking the card and swiftly processing the payment.

But she pressed her lips tightly; they rarely mocked customers unless they couldn’t help it.

Chen Ping noticed this and snapped, “Jiang Chenyu! Did you even hear what I said?”

“I thought anyone would understand that shouting in public is basic etiquette,” Jiang Chenyu retorted, casting a glance at the fierce-looking woman before her.

Looking at this fierce, rough-faced woman, Jiang Chenyu couldn’t recall what her “gentle” mother had ever looked like.

Without another word, she turned and left with her things.

The attendant shook off her shoulders and quickly regained composure. “Madam, the two bags total 810,000. Would you like gift bags?”

“Gift bags? I told you to charge it to that card just now. Why are you dawdling?” Chen Ping glared at the attendant.

The attendant was momentarily confused.

Chen Ping snapped again, “What kind of rubbish is this? You say it’s designed by a famous designer? Ugh! It’s hideous!”

“Xue’er, let’s go!” she said, looking at Jiang Xue’er.

Jiang Xue’er cursed Chen Ping’s lack of manners inwardly but had no choice but to nod.

Unexpectedly, the attendant’s face darkened. “Madam, you just threw and slammed our bags around. You have to buy them.”

“Dare you force me to buy? Want to see if I’ll sue you?” Chen Ping frowned.

The attendant remained calm. “If you don’t buy, we won’t wait for a lawsuit—we’ll call the police.”

Chen Ping was speechless.

Despite the Jiang family’s newfound wealth, neither Chen Ping nor Jiang Xue’er earned an income; their money came from a fixed monthly allowance.

It was the end of the month. They were out of cash.

But hearing the attendant’s firm threat to call the police scared Chen Ping. She knew the Jiang family was at a critical moment now. If they got caught over a small amount, the rumors that would spread would be unbearable.

Calculating in her mind, Chen Ping looked at Jiang Xue’er. “Xue’er, maybe you should pay first.”

Jiang Xue’er was also out of money but, surrounded by onlookers, had no choice but to pull out two credit cards to pay.

As they left, the door was left open, and they overheard two other attendants whispering behind them.

“I envy you, to have such straightforward good customers. Unlike the two I just served—they come several times, only look and never buy, and their attitude is terrible. So annoying…”

Chen Ping and Jiang Xue’er exchanged glances.

They heard it but pretended not to.

After all, if this escalated, it would be their embarrassment.

“Mom, my older brother said a few days ago he wanted to use my credit card to get a loan. Now that we’ve spent the money on bags, how do I explain this to him?” Jiang Xue’er hinted at her concerns.

She certainly wouldn’t lend money to Jiang Chao, but she hadn’t intended to buy two bags. Now that Chen Ping was footing the bill, she definitely expected her to repay.

Chen Ping didn’t know Jiang Xue’er’s true intentions and thought she was genuinely worried about their family.

She immediately patted her chest and promised, “Don’t worry, darling. I’ll make Jiang Chenyu return all the money she spent today.”

“And that bag, Mom will give it to you too,” Chen Ping added generously.

Jiang Xue’er pretended to object, “But that’s a gift Xue’er bought for you. Isn’t that improper…”

“What’s improper? You’re Mom’s treasure. What’s mine is yours,” Chen Ping said, watching Jiang Xue’er act coy in her arms, stroking her face. Her hatred for that unloving daughter only grew stronger.

In that moment, she thought of countless ways to humiliate and trouble Jiang Chenyu.