Chapter Seventy-Nine: Lady Chen

With these thoughts, Pei Susu could only rise to her feet.
"Very well, I'll go greet Madam," she said.

Pei Susu turned and walked toward the woman. Seated beside her was a plump boy, just as she had imagined—his figure bloated, his face radiating smugness and arrogance.

He matched Mo Qingyu's description perfectly; there was no need for further words to know that both mother and son were domineering and insolent by nature.

"This must be Miss Pei, am I right?"

Pei Susu recognized her because Mo Qingyu had messaged her beforehand, but for them to recognize her meant... that in this short span, they had already investigated her.

A flicker of unease crossed Pei Susu's heart, but she soon recalled that she had never offended this mother and son. After some thought, she could find no reason they would target her, so she drew a deep breath.

"That's right, Madam. May I ask what you need from me?"

A hint of disdain curled the woman's lips. "You may call me Mrs. Chen. I don't really have anything to discuss with you, but my son has taken a fancy to you—he thinks you're pretty."

Mrs. Chen's critical gaze swept over Pei Susu's features, her disdain plain to see. "Although you're a divorced woman and more than ten years older than my son, what does it matter if he likes you?"

"You should be grateful, really. I'll give you thirty thousand yuan a month, and you just have to keep my son company until he tires of your face. How about it?"

Pei Susu hadn't expected to be summoned for something like this. She found it both absurd and laughable—

Did they think themselves emperors? Pei Susu didn't even care for thirty thousand yuan. On ordinary days, Fu Zhichen would give her gifts worth far more just to make her happy. Even her monthly salary and bonuses far exceeded that amount.

How desperate would she have to be to agree to such a demand?

"I'm sorry, I have no such intention. Mrs. Chen, if you have nothing else to discuss, I think I'll be on my way."

Pei Susu no longer cared about her business partners; she only wanted to leave this auction as quickly as possible. Perhaps luck was not on her side today—everything she had hoped to accomplish had come to nothing, and instead she'd run into a band of lunatics, each intent on making trouble for her.

At this thought, Pei Susu felt a surge of irritation.

But no matter what she felt inside, she couldn't let it show. She remained polite. "Actually, I already have a boyfriend. I'm really not a match for your son."

Hearing this, Mrs. Chen looked even more displeased and turned to her son.

"She's not only divorced, she has a new boyfriend now. She's not worthy of you—can't you forget about her?"

For a moment, Pei Susu felt like a cabbage for sale in the marketplace, free for anyone to pick over, and apparently the one nobody wanted.

She glanced at Mrs. Chen's son. Pei Susu wasn't one to judge by appearances, but in this relationship, it was all too obvious who was the pig and who the cabbage.

"No, I want her!"

The pig—no, Mrs. Chen's son—shrieked hysterically, "I want her! So what if she has a boyfriend? She can just break up. What does that have to do with me? Mom, I want her!"

They truly never ceased to astonish her. Pei Susu's eyes had turned icy, but Mrs. Chen hurried to placate her overgrown, willful son.

"All right, all right, whatever you want," Mrs. Chen soothed, and then turned to Pei Susu, her expression dark.

"Did you hear that? Send your pauper boyfriend a message right now—tell him you've found someone new and break up with him!"

"If it's such a big deal, I'll give him ten thousand yuan a month. A windfall from the heavens—he'll be satisfied for sure."

Mrs. Chen sounded so matter-of-fact that Pei Susu could only laugh inwardly.

Ten thousand a month? Did she really think that would buy off Fu Zhichen?

Mrs. Chen was less generous than herself. If she wanted to keep a woman, shouldn't she be willing to spend a little money? Instead, she acted stingy and pompous—Pei Susu found it both ridiculous and exasperating.

"I advise you to be sensible. You're a woman who's been passed around who knows how many times, and now someone is willing to pay for you—it's your good fortune. I can buy you an apartment—just for you to stay in, of course. You don't have to do anything. When my son misses you, you just wait for him to visit."

She spoke as if all of this was perfectly natural. Pei Susu, both helpless and weary, saw no point in arguing and turned to leave.

But Mrs. Chen, seeing her lack of cooperation, immediately stood up and pointed to the people nearby.

"Hold her down! Do you really think you can get away today?"

At once, several people became restless. The crowd nearby seemed to notice the commotion, but since they all knew Mrs. Chen and were aware she wasn't someone to cross, no one wanted to step in.

Only then did Pei Susu notice that Mrs. Chen was pregnant, her belly already quite pronounced—likely six or seven months along.

Pei Susu had planned to walk away, but now she hesitated—if, in the chaos, she accidentally struck Mrs. Chen's belly, it would surely bring trouble...

That moment's hesitation was seen by Mrs. Chen as fear—a sign that she finally knew her place. Satisfied, she stepped forward and tapped Pei Susu on the shoulder.

"Isn't knowing your place better than anything?"

Pei Susu frowned but forced herself to speak calmly.

"I think I should make myself clear, Mrs. Chen. I have no intention of being your son's kept woman. Besides, my monthly income is already in the six figures—your offer doesn't move me."

Her gaze was cold.

"Not everyone wishes to live such a muddled life. Please let me leave now, or I'll call the police."

Pei Susu's steely response drew admiration from those around, though in their hearts, they offered her a silent prayer.

If she were dealing with reasonable people, they would surely back off at her words. But Mrs. Chen was anything but reasonable. She and her overgrown son were both lunatics—worse, they were influential, and no one dared provoke them.

"You!"

Mrs. Chen sneered. "So you think my offer is too low? Name your price then. But women like you are never going to be good enough for our family. I hope you know your place..."

Before she could finish, Pei Susu turned and walked away, not giving her any face at all. Mrs. Chen's expression darkened instantly.

"Stop right there!"