At noon, the tea house was bustling with people eating lunch. Some went into private rooms to play mahjong, while others stayed outside to play cards. It was an orderly and relaxed scene.
In a corner, four well-maintained middle-aged women were sitting together. One of them, Yao Nan's aunt, asked, "Sister Yu, are you sure you don't want any? The fried rice here is quite good."
Shen Ruyu, feeling a bit on edge, replied, "No, thanks. My son-in-law is bringing me lunch."
"Your son-in-law? The one working at New Horizon Real Estate? What does he do there?"
"I'm not sure. I don't interfere with the young people's business."
"Haha, I'll ask my son to buy a house from him and see if he can get a discount."
Another woman chimed in, "Sister Yan, you got that bracelet too? I told you, this style is trendy now."
"I didn't want it, but my daughter insisted. I feel silly wearing something so flashy at my age, but if I don't, it feels like a waste."
Shen Ruyu listened to their conversation, feeling a mix of envy and resentment. Almost everyone had this bracelet, and not having one made her feel inferior.
She thought about buying one herself and claiming it was a gift from her elder son-in-law.
At 12 pm, Xu Bin arrived at the tea house, carrying a large bag of food. He greeted the women politely and placed the food on the table.
"Yan Auntie, how are you?" Xu Bin said cheerfully.
One of the women, Yanzi, who was a regular at the mahjong table, commented, "So, you're the son-in-law. What did you bring for lunch?"
Xu Bin pulled out a gift bag and handed it to Shen Ruyu, "Mom, I got you something. Do you like it?"
Shen Ruyu was confused, but the other women were curious and leaned in to see the logo on the bag.
Xu Bin opened the jewelry box, revealing the expensive bracelet. Shen Ruyu was stunned, and Yanzi, trying to hide her envy, said, "This is the most expensive model. Are you sure it's not a fake?"
"It's genuine," Xu Bin replied, ignoring their comments. He took Shen Ruyu's hand and put the bracelet on her, "Mom, I've been meaning to get this for you. I finally had the time today."
Shen Ruyu tried to hide her excitement, acting nonchalant, "You shouldn't have spent so much. I told you I don't need it."
Xu Bin had deliberately dropped the receipt in the bag. Yanzi quickly picked it up, and the others crowded around to see. It was indeed the most expensive model.
Shen Ruyu saw the receipt and her eyes softened. She playfully scolded, "You're so naughty. I told you not to buy this."
Xu Bin smiled, "Mom, you deserve it. And don't worry about the money. I want you to have the best."
The other women were clearly envious, but Shen Ruyu was enjoying the attention. She had never felt so proud and satisfied.
Yanzi, trying to hide her displeasure, said, "Sister Yu, that bracelet is quite heavy. Won't it be uncomfortable while playing mahjong?"
"It's fine," Shen Ruyu replied, showing off her new accessory. "I'll just take it off if it bothers me."
Xu Bin then said, "Mom, if you don't like it, I can exchange it for a lighter one."
"No need," Shen Ruyu replied, acting modest. "I'll just keep it at home if it's too heavy."
Yanzi's fried rice arrived, and she impatiently said, "Alright, let's eat and get started with the game. You two can chat later."
Shen Ruyu watched Xu Bin leave, feeling a sense of superiority. She opened the bag and took out the elegant boxes, one by one, revealing the high-end meal from the seafood restaurant.
"Look at this, seafood restaurant's packaging," she said, holding up the bag. "And look at these dishes—Thai fragrant rice, scallion-braised abalone, a high-end roast meat platter, and fish maw soup. This kid spent over 500 yuan on this!"
Yanzi, trying to hide her jealousy, said, "Eat quickly, we have a game to get to."
Shen Ruyu, acting concerned, said, "I'll have to talk to him about spending so much money. He's so careless with his finances."
She then offered the food to the others, "Yanzi, try the scallion-braised abalone. It's delicious."
"Axia Sister, try the crispy pork skin. It's the signature dish of Ocean Hotel."
Shen Ruyu was in her element, enjoying the envy and admiration of the other women. She felt a sense of power and satisfaction that she had never experienced before.
"Hey, I really have to say something to my son-in-law. He wears tattered clothes and can't bear to buy new ones, so why does he spend money so lavishly?!"