Rebirth from the Ashes

A minute later.

Su Mushi’s face was grim. In a fit of anger, he smashed his phone.

‘These damned old country bumpkins! They lied to me?! How dare they fool me! They even blocked my number?!’

On the first day of school at No. 4 High School, some were happy while others were sad.

Su Mushi felt humiliated because his number was blocked by Shen Zhangqing and his wife. They did not even answer his calls.

However, he had to turn to them for help, so he was ready to visit them again today to show his sincerity in hopes of getting their help.

Yesterday, Shen Xi probably badmouthed him to them. Otherwise, with their intelligence, they could not have known about his true intentions.

That noon.

Pei Xu led a group of students from the International Class and went to the Su family’s office to have Su Yi pay them what was owed.

The girls in the class did not go along and invited Shen Xi to eat at the cafeteria.

Shen Xi closed the mock papers and got up lazily. At that moment, her phone rang. It was from Situ Zhangyou. When he was done speaking, Shen Xi raised her eyebrows slightly and asked intriguingly, “Why would the Fu family be interested in our small business and want to collaborate with us?”

Situ Zhangyou truly admired Shen Xi’s vision. If cosmetics was a small business, what was a big business to her? He explained, “The Situ family will be able to manage the sales and marketing locally without any issue, but it’ll be a challenge to market overseas. If we partner with the Fu family, it’ll be much easier to do so and we’ll make at least ten times the profit, if not a hundred times.”

Shen Xi asked him, “Who approached you?”

‘Could Brother Fu Qingye have known that I was the one who developed this makeup and wanted to help me make more money?’

Situ Zhangyou laughed. “Do you think that anyone from the Fu family would come out personally to speak of a collaboration? It was their Asia-Pacific Regional Sales Director.”

This did not mean Situ Zhangyou lacked faith in himself or the Situ family, but rather this cosmetics line was only recently launched, so certainly it was not big enough of a deal for someone from the Fu family to reach out personally.

The person in charge of the Fu family business was the Head of the Fu family, Fu Qingli. If someone of that status would deal with everything personally, he must be exhausted.

Shen Xi asked, “Then what do you think?”

She certainly wanted her products to be made available globally so that she could earn more money. Nobody would think that they had too much money.

“Our cosmetics line is just starting out, so I think it’s better if we first focus on the domestic market, then enter the international market when we have a solid reputation.” Situ Zhangyou had his own thoughts and continued, “The current active ingredients in our products are targeted toward East Asian skin types, so I don’t think it’s suitable for global marketing at the moment.”

Shen Xi said, “Then you can let them know that we’re not considering collaboration at the moment.”

Situ Zhangyou asked, “Then when will you finish the improvements for the makeup?”

They would have to market their products globally sooner or later, so the ingredients in the cosmetics should be suitable for all skin types. Shen Xi was researching the latest ingredients to improve the current product.

Shen Xi rubbed her brow with a little headache. She had a full schedule ahead, so she did not have time. “After my college entrance exams. During this period, you can focus on promoting in the domestic market.”

During the summer break, she could ask Fu Qingxuan to rent his laboratory and equipment to her for the next step in her research.

When Shen Xi hung up the phone, the girls in her class were still waiting for her at the classroom door. They had not left.

“Shen Xi, what should we eat later?” The girls asked her with a smile.

“What do you girls wanna eat? My treat!” Shen Xi had just received her first-ever scholarship today. It was 50,000 yuan.

“Steak!”

“Hot pot!”

“Barbecue!”

The girls cheered in with excitement as they argued about what to eat. They were uncompromising, but finally, they voted for a barbecue.

They then went to the barbecue restaurant nearby. Excluding the people who went with Pei Xu to pester Su Yi, there were still more than ten girls left, so they occupied a large table.

Su Ruowan and her friends happened to be eating at the same restaurant when they saw Shen Xi being swarmed by a group of girls from the International Class. She instantly lost her appetite.

All Su Ruowan wanted to do when she saw Shen Xi’s face was to tear it apart.

‘This little b*tch raised suspicions of my identity! Many of them say that I don’t look like anyone from the Su family and that I’m a fake…’

The largest table that could seat more than ten pax was right next to Su Ruowan’s table.

When Shen Xi went over, Su Ruowan gracefully stood up to greet her. “Sister, you’re here for a barbecue too?”

Shen Xi paid her no glance and brushed past her.

The girls in the International Class looked at her while laughing exaggeratedly. “Tsk tsk… She’s making a fool of herself! Shen Xi didn’t even bother to look at her!”

Su Ruowan’s smile froze awkwardly, then she sat back down looking dejected.

Her group of friends, including Chen Bingbing, saw that scene. The more they looked at Shen Xi, the more they thought she looked like Li Jingran.

If the rumors were true, then Shen Xi would be the true heiress of the Su family. Su Ruowan, whom they praised and complimented every day, was just an impostor.

They all had good grades and were all from wealthy families. All of them were smart enough to weigh the pros and cons and were more realistic than others. None of them were there because of real friendships.

At the end of the day, it was just for the sake of their own interests. It was a fake sisterhood, so once they began to doubt Su Ruowan, their attitude changed; no more brainlessly protecting and speaking for Su Ruowan and scolding Shen Xi.

However, they still comforted Su Ruowan and told her not to talk to Shen Xi in the future.

Su Ruowan’s eyes changed. Her hands holding the chopsticks had their knuckles turned white from anger. This huge change in their attitude was too much for her to accept.

‘They are my good friends, yet they sway with the wind. They’ve heard those rumors and suspected that I’m not the Su family’s biological daughter, so I’m being alienated now? I won’t allow anyone to find out about my true identity! There can only be one heiress to the Su family and that’ll be me!’

“Wanwan, your second brother’s releasing his new album on the 18th next month, right? Do we have a chance to get the signed album in advance?” Chen Bingbing changed the topic in order to liven up the atmosphere.

Su Ruowan looked at them and smiled gently. “Sure, I’ll ask Second Brother for the signed album for you.”

“Wanwan, you’re the best!”

“Ah! We can hear Brother Yan’s new song again! Wanwan, have you heard his new song already?”

“Wanwan, you’re so blessed! Your parents are the Film Emperor and Film Empress, your big brother’s a big boss, and your second brother’s a popular idol. His first album already sold 1.2 million copies, right?”

The girls were chatting excitedly as they looked at Su Ruowan with envy.