The fake heiress loves to act? The max-level boss isn't interested in playing along.

These words were extremely harsh and offensive, and the entire hotel lobby fell silent for a moment.

All eyes were on them.

Fu Hua paused, but didn't look at Zhou Rong.

Instead, they turned their interested gaze to Fu Chaochao, who was sitting next to Zhou Rong and whose face had turned deathly pale.

That look seemed to say: Oh? A distant relative? A country bumpkin? The actors don't seem to be following your script.

Fu Chaochao felt a chill run down her spine under Fu Hua's all-knowing gaze, feeling both angry and panicked.

I'm so angry that Zhou Rong, that idiot, took it upon himself to say such awful things.

What worries her is that Fu Hua might expose her lie on the spot...

"Zhou Rong, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Fu Chaochao hurriedly tried to stop him.

Zhou Rong, neck stiff, shouted, "Did I say something wrong? She's just a country bumpkin, a haughty country bumpkin, always pretending to be high and mighty. Who's she trying to fool?"

"Spending all day with shady characters, are you afraid of what people will say if you dare to do it?"

Lin Bei, who had already walked towards the door, turned around abruptly upon hearing the sound, his handsome face now covered with a layer of frost.

He strode back, standing in front of Fu Hua, his gaze sharp as a knife as he shot at Zhou Rong, his voice as cold as ice:

"Young man, please show some respect. What do you mean by 'neither fish nor fowl'?"

Academic performance and personal character have absolutely nothing to do with one's place of origin.

Fu Hua's success is based on her own hard work and intelligence, making her far more noble than some people who only know how to spread rumors and spew malicious words! Furthermore,

His gaze swept over Fu Chaochao, who looked embarrassed, and his tone was warning, "You'd better watch your words before you know the truth."

Zhang Wen also bristled and charged over like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

Pointing his finger at Zhou Rong's nose, he cursed, "Zhou Rong, watch your mouth! You snobbish bastard! Huahua is a thousand times, ten thousand times better than you. You're not even worthy to carry her shoes! If you dare spout any more nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Fu Hua was shocked; she hadn't expected Zhang Wen to be so incredibly powerful when she was angry.

Her little mouth smacked and smacked, giving Zhou Rong no chance to retort.

When other diners in the restaurant heard "country bumpkin" or "country bumpkin,"

I couldn't stand it anymore. Everyone here grew up eating food grown by farmers. Without country folk, how could there be city folk?

Everyone started discussing it:

"That girl's words are so rude!"

"Exactly, what era are we living in that we're still talking about family background?"

"Look how well that male and female classmate are talking!"

"Those two troublemaking girls have ulterior motives..."

Fu Chaochao and Zhou Rong were condemned by everyone.

Lin Bei's icy gaze, Zhang Wen's fiery curses, and the disdainful comments from those around them felt like countless needles pricking them.

Their faces flushed red and then turned pale, wishing they could disappear into the ground.

Unable to sit still any longer, he stood up in a panic, wanting to run outside and escape this suffocating environment.

"stop!"

A strong, resonant voice silenced them.

She was a waitress at a state-run restaurant.

She stood with her hands on her hips, blocking the aisle, her face unfriendly: "Ladies, your food is ready, but you haven't paid yet. Trying to dine and dash? Pay for your food and ration coupons before you leave!"

A suppressed snicker immediately rose from the surroundings.

Fu Chaochao and Zhou Rong were frozen in place, unsure whether to leave or stay.

Amidst the mocking gazes of the crowd, he frantically searched for money and food coupons, his face flushed with shame, utterly mortified.

Fu Hua, however, maintained an almost indifferent calm throughout.

It was as if this farce, which she had started, was just a boring performance.

She didn't even glance at the two of them again, and simply said to Lin Bei and Zhang Wen, "Let's go."

He then walked out of the restaurant first, completely leaving behind the embarrassment and awkwardness.

In the evening, the Fu family's dining table was filled with the rich aroma of braised beef brisket and potatoes.

Aunt Liu specially filled an extra large bowl and placed it in front of Fu Hua, giving her a loving look.

This is to fulfill my promise to cook delicious food for her.

Fu Hua, Lin Bei, and Zhang Wen hadn't eaten much, and since they were still hungry, they sat down to eat together.

Fu Chaochao and Fu Youchuan were also at the dinner table.

Everyone ate quietly with their heads down, and the atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious.

Halfway through the meal, Su Yurou looked at Fu Chaochao with an expectant smile.

She asked gently, "Chaochao, how did you feel about the monthly exam? Your homeroom teacher told me you've been working especially hard lately. Are you confident you can improve further?"

Fu Chaochao immediately put down her chopsticks, a familiar, slightly proud smile spreading across her face.

The girl answered in a clear voice, "Mom, I feel like I did pretty well this time! I even solved the last big math problem, and my English and Chinese went quite smoothly too. I should... be able to get into the top three in the class!"

She didn't mention the grade, only the class. In Class A, being in the top three meant being in the top three in the entire school.

That's enough to brag about.

She seized the opportunity to plead, "Mom, if I really get in the top three, you have to reward me! I've had my eye on that new silk scarf from the Friendship Store for ages!"

Upon hearing this, Su Yurou's face lit up with a smile, and she readily agreed, "Okay, okay! As long as you can get into the top three, Mom will buy it for you! Our Xiaoxiao is doing a great job!"

Sitting opposite, Fu Youchuan, with a potato stuffed in his mouth, mumbled in agreement, "That's right, of course my sister is amazing, unlike some people..."

Su Yurou rolled her eyes at Fu Youchuan, and only when he shut up was she satisfied.

Then, their gaze turned to Fu Hua, who had been eating quietly.

His tone became much more casual, carrying a sense of not having much expectation.

A routine inquiry: "Huahua, how about you? How did it go for your first monthly exam? Were you able to keep up? Did you answer all the questions?"

Before Fu Hua could speak, Fu Youchuan interrupted again.

He scoffed and replied sarcastically, "Her? She'd be lucky to guess a few multiple-choice questions correctly!"

"Can a class like Ding Liu keep up with the pace? Mom, please don't make things difficult for her."

Upon seeing this, Fu Chaochao immediately adopted her understanding and considerate demeanor.

She gently tugged at Su Yurou's sleeve and softly "advised" her, "Mom, please don't ask Huahua like that. She just came from the countryside, and she definitely needs time to adjust to her studies."

Even if my older brother invited Brother Xingzhou, it still depends on the individual's ability to accept it. It's normal that she didn't do well on the exam this time, so please don't blame my sister, Dad.

She appeared to be speaking up for Song Wanqing, but every word she said was actually a veiled criticism of her.

"From the countryside," "Poor academic foundation," "Definitely will not do well on the exam"

This serves to highlight one's own "sensible" and "generous" qualities.

Su Yurou was indeed influenced and began to think that Fu Chaochao was very considerate.

She quickly replied to Huahua, "Yes, yes, Chaochao is right. Huahua, it's okay if you didn't do well on this test. Just try harder next time. Don't feel pressured."

Although his tone was gentle, the underlying low expectations were clearly visible.

Fu Hua paused, holding her chopsticks, then looked up, her gaze calmly sweeping over Fu Chaochao.

Her gaze swept past her mother's perfunctory words of comfort, finally settling on Fu Youchuan's disdainful expression.

She didn't say anything, only gave a very faint smile.

It seemed to carry a hint of mockery, yet also seemed to contain nothing at all.

"I know."

After saying that, she lowered her head again, picked up a piece of stewed beef brisket that was tender and flavorful,

Quietly put it in your mouth and chew it slowly.

Delicious food is far more valuable than these pointless verbal exchanges.