The room went utterly silent.
Color drained from Shen Ruolin's face, though she tried to laugh it off. "You misunderstand, President Gu. I was only being polite."
Shen Linyi folded her arms. "That's a first. You've never known the meaning of being polite."
Shen Ruolin's eyes narrowed, turning sharp.
"Still as arrogant as ever, aren't you? Tell me, cousin, how does it feel to live under a man's shadow again? First Zhou Yuanfeng, now this one. Or maybe it's just your way of surviving, you cling to whoever has more power."
Shen Linyi inhaled deeply, her lips curling into a faint smile. "Funny. I don't remember ever clinging to anyone. Maybe you're just projecting."
Shen Ruolin froze, her nails tightening around her glass. "You—"
Before she could continue, Gu Liansheng spoke up, his voice quiet but cutting like a lethal knife. "That's enough."
Both women turned to him.
