Shen Luoluo's eyes narrowed as the glass doors of the luxury boutique slid open. Out stepped Su Ning, calm and elegant, followed by Chen Anya, who carried herself with an unusual air of confidence. Behind them trailed Mu Suying!—her arms full of shopping bags, like a servant instead of the wealthy heiress she was.
Luoluo's lips twisted in disbelief. "Mixi… are you seeing what I'm seeing?"
Mixi leaned forward from the back seat, her face pressed almost to the window. "It can't be. Suying… carrying their bags?"
A hot wave of jealousy and humiliation washed over them both. Mu Suying was supposed to be above them—her family wealth far eclipsed theirs. Yet here she was, following Su Ning like an attendant.
"I knew it," Luoluo muttered, her voice sharp with spite. "Su Ning must be using her somehow. There's no way she could afford that store on her own."
Mixi forced a laugh, though her unease was obvious. "Exactly. Suying probably paid for everything. Look at her—loaded with bags. Su Ning and Chen Anya are just greedy parasites."
Their driver glanced at them through the rear-view mirror, but wisely said nothing.
Moments later, Su Ning and her companions entered a sleek car, with Mu Suying slipping into another that followed closely behind. Luoluo's eyes flashed. "Follow them," she ordered coldly.
The Shen family car pulled into traffic, keeping a safe distance. Neither cousin spoke much as they trailed the two vehicles, tension thick in the air.
When the cars finally slowed in front of Fengshang Estate, both girls leaned forward instinctively. The gated community was infamous for its exclusivity; even their own family only just qualified to live in one of its higher streets.
"No… way," Mixi whispered, her heart thudding.
At the gate, they could only watch. The guards approached Su Ning's car with their usual professional stance, but what happened next made Luoluo's stomach twist. The men suddenly straightened, their faces respectful, and bowed slightly toward the vehicle.
"Did you see that?" Mixi's voice trembled. "They're bowing. To her."
Though they couldn't hear the exchange, the body language spoke volumes.
"Welcome back, Miss Su"
"Esteemed Miss" they greeted Chen Anya as well.
Anya flushed in embarrassment, unused to such deference.
Then Su Ning's voice carried calmly through her open window, clear enough to reach the guards.
"Let the car behind me in."
She didn't mention a name. She didn't need to. The guards obeyed instantly, waving Mu Suying's car through as though her identity were irrelevant—the permission from Su Ning alone was enough.
Luoluo's fingernails dug crescents into her palm.
Her world tilted uncomfortably.
But the true blow came when Su Ning's car glided deeper inside the estate, not toward the common streets where ordinary wealthy families lived—but straight toward Street One.
Luoluo's chest tightened, anger and jealousy burning her throat. "No. No, this isn't possible."
Beside her, Mixi's face had gone pale. Her fingers trembled as she gripped her seatbelt. "Street One… only the most powerful families live there. If Su Ning belongs there…" Her voice broke, dread curling in her gut. "Luoluo, what if we've already offended someone far beyond us?"
Luoluo, however, could only stare ahead, her hatred twisting sharper with every breath. Watching Su Ning disappear beyond gates she herself could never cross, she felt her pride collapse into a pit of poisonous envy.
'She really dares rise above me...' Luoluo thought, her fingers shaking. 'No, I'll never allow it, she should be beneath me where she has always being'