Group Pet Eldest Lady, She Just Wants To Be A Salted Fish

Chapter 7 – “Let me teach you how to shop.”

In order to talk to Ruan Yōu, Gu Youqian took good care of his appearance today. He originally intended to call Gu Fuchen first to feel out the situation, but unexpectedly, as soon as the call was connected, Gu Fuchen made a very strange request.

In the video, Gu Youqian was lying on the sofa chair, looking much better than usual. When he heard Gu Fuchen’s request, his eyebrows furrowed slightly, “Teach Yōuyōu to spend money?”

Ruan Liuyu’s eyebrows tightened with a hint of anxiety on her well-maintained face, “What’s wrong with Yōuyōu? Did you bully her?”

“How could I bear to bully Ruanruan?” Gu Fuchen sighed, “It’s just…”

Hesitation set in and the phone went quiet.

“What is it? Hurry up and tell us,” Ruan Liuyu urged anxiously.

“She really doesn’t like money.”

Gu Fuchen finally said after confirming several times with Ruan Liuyu and Gu Youqian that he was referring to “money” and not “me”.

Gu Fuchen let out a long sigh. “Dad, I think choosing to go into business was a huge mistake.”

“If Ruanruan doesn’t like money, it’s useless for our family business to flourish. We can’t give her the right guidance and satisfy her values and direction in life,” he added.

“If both of you had become an artist and a musician, perhaps our elegant and refined sister would have liked our family. The family atmosphere is important, Mom and Dad.”

Gu Fuchen said with a heavy expression.

Ruan Liuyu sensed that something was wrong and took on an elder’s posture, lecturing, “Fuchen, did you go into business just to make some money and let Yōuyōu live a life of luxury and extravagance?”

Gu Fuchen, who had been the heir for three years, should know what true value was.

Both Gu Fuchen and Gu Youqian were stunned for a moment, then they looked up and seriously asked their mother/wife, “What other reason could there be?”

Ruan Liuyu : ….

As the only normal person in the family, she chose not to speak.

Gu Fuchen summed up seriously, “Anyway, you chose the wrong career path back then, which led me to follow in your footsteps. Please reflect on your actions seriously. Now, I’m going to pay for your mistakes.”

Gu Youqian replied, “Okay.”

Ruan Liuyu : ….

“What are you going to do?” Gu Youqian asked.

If her husband hadn’t had another round of chemotherapy to go through, Ruan Liuyu would have wanted to return to China immediately and take Yōuyōu with her. She felt that her proud son had been hit on the head by a donkey and she couldn’t let his intelligence influence Yōuyōu.

“Take Ruanruan to experience the joy of shopping and spending, and let her sink into the materialistic life.”

Gu Youqian gave a simple comment: “Not bad.”

Ruan Liuyu’s head was buzzing with pain: “Gu Youqian, shut up!”

Gu Fuchen walked towards the seventh floor of the shopping mall and said, “Mom, I’m going to find Ruanruan now. If you want to teach Dad a lesson, I suggest you mute the TV and educate him in silence. We can’t let Ruanruan see an unhappy family.”

Just now, he had asked Wei Wen about Ruanruan’s location, and when he heard that she had returned to the seventh floor for shopping, Gu Fuchen felt relieved, but at the same time realized a serious problem:

He doesn’t have his sister’s WeChat.

Even the little butler has it, but he doesn’t!

He will resign as soon as his father comes back and his health improves a little.

He can’t stand being in the position of CEO for a single day.

These days are unbearable, even dogs wouldn’t want to live like this.

After finishing her egg waffles, Ruan Yōu returned to the seventh floor to continue her search for the store that Lu Ming likes.

The exterior of the shopping mall looks like a continuous range of mountains, while the interior is made up of five or six medium-sized shopping centers. Ruan Yōu walked around the entire seventh floor for half an hour and finally found Lu Ming’s favorite store on the other side.

The Cole store is very large, with expensive brand prices and few customers, totaling only about nine people.

As soon as Ruan Yōu entered the store, the salesperson greeted her warmly, “Welcome to Cole.”

The customer near the store entrance looked over subconsciously.

It’s Duan Dai.

Ruan You’s gaze coincidentally met hers, and she pursed her lips and looked away, turning her head to chat briefly with the salesperson.

Lu Ming had seen this brand’s autumn and winter fashion show online a week ago. The brand’s main theme for the season was retro youth, with a concept that combined romance and anticipation. Lu Ming particularly liked several looks, but liking them was one thing, and he could only screenshot and save them before quietly buying clothes on a certain online shopping platform.

The three jackets that Lu Ming had saved were all in the display window on the left side of the store near the entrance, belonging to the main push of the season.

The salesperson smiled, “The one you mentioned, we still have the last set in the store.”

As she spoke, she put on her white gloves and walked towards the glass wardrobe by the store entrance. She was about to take out the clothes in the middle when Duan Dai, who had been silently observing Ruan You, spoke up first: “I want this one, wrap it up.”

“The size of this one may not be suitable for you,” the salesperson accompanying Duan Dai suggested. “There is another style here that might be more suitable for you…”

“I want this one!” Duan Dai handed her card to the salesperson accompanying her, and glanced indifferently at Ruan You. “Sorry, the outfit you like is mine now.”

The rising tone at the end of her sentence declared her triumph.

The invisible flames of war spread everywhere, and the atmosphere became somewhat eerie.

The salesperson smiled forcefully and said to Ruan Yōu, “Miss, if you want this model, we can transfer it from City A1. It will take about one day to arrive.”

Ruan Yōu replied in a light tone, “No, I’m not interested in this one.”

Duan Dai : ???

She had just bought a set of clothes that she couldn’t wear just to anger Ruan Yōu, but now she said she didn’t like it?

Duan Dai felt a sense of powerlessness and resentment, as if punching cotton.

Ruan Yōu continued, “The first and fourth model on the left, the second, seventh, and tenth sets on the third column on the right.”

The salesperson smiled and picked out clothes for her.

Duan Dai looked at Ruan Yōu condescendingly.

After all, Ruan Yōu wasn’t a top celebrity. How dare she act so recklessly, especially since she had no work after leaving the industry?

Most of the time, Ruan Yōu was too lazy to get involved in conflicts. When others tried to start something, she usually responded with a few words or ignored them, watching them act stupidly.

However, unexpected things happen in life.

She didn’t like Duan Dai.

She saw no need to be generous to her.

Ruan Yōu took the initiative to walk up to Duan Dai, hands in her pockets, and calmly stated, “You called me from Xiao Lu’s phone.”

Duan Dai looked away and raised her chin, saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Ruan Yōu replied, “You call yourself a Bai Fu Mei, but your methods are too low and shameful.”

Duan Dai’s expression froze for a moment, and then she angrily said, “Don’t slander people.”

She had never liked Ruan Yōu.

Back in their freshman year, Duan Dai felt Ruan Yōu was desperate to steal the limelight and make everyone focus on her. Later, when Ruan Yōu entered the entertainment industry, Ruan Yōu bullied her idol and tried to seduce his lover, Yu Chi. Everyone knew that Yu Chi and Cheng Guyuan were in love, but Ruan Yōu shamelessly pursued Cheng Guyuan, even doing a live stream to explain herself.

Looking at a brooch? She didn’t feel embarassed, how unsophisticated.

“Mind your own business. A brooch can keep you staring at it for so long, are you short of money?” Duan Dai sneered, calling the salesperson over and buying six sets of clothes, one more than Ruan Yōu’s order. “If you’re short on money, you should be more frugal. You’re not the same as my family.”

Ruan Yōu originally wanted to add two more sets of clothes, it’s not about fighting for bread, but about fighting for dignity.

Upon hearing the last sentence, her heart suddenly calmed down, and she nodded in agreement, “Our two families are indeed different.”

“What are you saying again…” Duan Dai was speaking when she saw someone walking outside, and all the frustration she was feeling was instantly swallowed down as she quickly composed her expression and demeanor.

Who could resist the charm of a wealthy young master like him!

Seeing Duan Dai’s rapid change of expression, Ruan Yōu turned around in suspicion.

Gu Fuchen walked slowly, with a calm and powerful step. His perfect facial features alternated between light and shadow in the faint light. With just a few simple steps, he exuded a movie-like quality that made Ruan Yōu want to suggest he pursue an acting career.

With a face like his, it’s a waste not to act in a few roles and benefit the masses of girls.

Mother Goddess gave him such a perfect face, not for him to make money hiding in an office!

Oh wait.

If her elder brother entered the entertainment industry, would the family’s responsibility fall on her shoulders?

Then let him continue working in the office and leave his face for Mother Goddess to admire alone.

Gu Fuchen noticed the shopping bag in Ruan Yōu’s hand and paused briefly before quickly reacting. He took the shopping bag from Ruan Yōu’s hand and asked sternly, “Did you buy this with your own card?”

Ruan Yōu nodded.

It was a gift for Lu Ming, so of course she used her own money.

All of this, in the eyes of Gu Fuchen and the parents in the video, became the weight and sadness of a younger sister/daughter who dared not use the Gu family’s money.

“Yōuyōu, buy some more.” A gentle woman’s voice came from the phone.

Gu Fuchen introduced, “This is our mother.”

Ruan Yōu was about to greet their mother, but he stopped her, saying, “Chatting is not important. You go buy first.”

Ruan Yōu replied, “I’ve already bought enough.”

And no matter how you look at it, greeting your family should be more important than buying things.

Gu Fuchen lowered his head and tightly grasped the shopping bag in his hand, letting out a long sigh in his heart.

Looking up, he stared at Ruan Yōu and said, “Let me teach you how to shop.”

Ruan Yōu: ?

Under Ruan Yōu’s puzzled gaze, Gu Fuchen said lightly, “Wrap up all the styles and colors of the latest season collection in the store.”

Duan Dai : ??

Shop assistants : ?!!!

Gu Fuchen calmly turned his head and looked at Ruan Yōu seriously, “That’s how you shop.”

Ruan Yōu : …

Leaving the stunned shop assistants to pack up the clothes, Gu Fuchen and Ruan Yōu left the Cole store.

All the clothes are to be delivered to the doorstep.

However, the delivery address provided to the store was not the mansion. Few members of the family shop at shopping malls, but there is always the possibility.

To avoid exposing their identity and the address of the mansion, there is a small villa located five kilometers away from the mansion where all deliveries are placed, a “Cainiao Station2 – Luxury Version.”

Ruan Yōu’s identity cannot be revealed for the time being.

Her parents instructed that when they return, they will hold a grand welcome-back banquet and introduce Ruan Yōu’s identity to all the top wealthy families.

Gu Fuchen had no objection.

After leaving, Gu Fuchen remembered his parents’ matter, and held up his phone to let Ruan Yōu greet to them. Before they could begin to have a deep conversation, a segment of foreign language suddenly came from the other end of the video, causing Ruan Liuyu to panic and hang up the phone.

[Yōuyōu, Mom and Dad are about to have a video conference. Let’s talk next time.] She sent such a message.

Ruan You didn’t think much of it.

She could feel that her parents were hiding something from her, but the gentle conversation during their first meeting had already made her realize that her biological parents were indeed different from her previous foster parents.

At least, their attitude towards her was very different.

That was enough.

After hanging up the phone, Gu Fuchen took Ruan Yōu to several shoes and bag stores. As the salespeople looked at her enviously, Ruan Yōu’s expression became more and more numb.

How should I put it?

She felt like she was forced to attend a practical lesson on “how the wealthy spend their money.” The lesson had only just begun at the Cole store, but it became more and more exaggerated and bizarre as they went on.

“Don’t buy it,” Ruan Yōu looked embarassed.

Gu Fuchen couldn’t see Ruan Yōu’s expression under the mask, but he could tell she was tired from her voice. During the shopping process, he never forgot his domineering persona. Every time he spent money or spoke, he was concise and indifferent.

Gu Fuchen was satisfied with his teaching and turned his head to ask Ruan Yōu, “Do you know how to spend money now?”

Ruan Yōu nodded obediently.

The scene felt like a principal lecturing a student.

Gu Fuchen looked at the jumping elevator numbers and said lightly, “Spend 100 million yuan within tomorrow and let me see.”

As they stepped off the elevator, a numb Ruan You was forced to internalize one sentence:

‘Today’s homework: Spend 100 million yuan and turn it in tomorrow.’

1 the usual concept, though I’m not sure what city it might refer to.

2 Cainiao is a logistics company launched by Alibaba Group (kind of Amazon/eBay in China). It seems that they have places called “Cainiao Stations” all over the country, so they deliver packages to the station closest to the recipient’s address, and the recipient picks up their packages on their own in that station.