Chapter 342: Refusal Is Not an Option

Gu Fei was taken aback. ‘What kind of strange request is this?’

She smiled and said, “Miss Shen, I manage several shops and am simply too busy. How about I have Manager Zhang deliver it to you instead?”

Shen Qingluan’s expression changed. “Miss Gu, I’ve already shown you great courtesy by allowing you to alter this phoenix hairpin. And now you won’t even agree to this one small request? It seems Miss Gu has no sincerity at all!”

Gu Fei frowned. It seemed she had no choice but to agree. ‘I have to get rid of this pest as soon as possible.’

She nodded. “Very well. I will deliver it to Luan Garden the day after tomorrow.”

Shen Qingluan gave her a faint, mocking smile. “I wonder if Miss Gu has an invitation to Luan Garden. If not, I suppose I could give you one, to prevent you from being unable to enter.”

Gu Fei lowered her head. “Then I must ask you to grant me an invitation, Miss.”

Shen Qingluan raised her hand, and the maid beside her took out an invitation card for Gu Fei, saying proudly, “This isn’t just any ordinary invitation. It’s a VIP card, different from the others. Only with this card can you enter the courtyard where the poetry society is held.”

Gu Fei put on a look of being overwhelmed by the honor. “Is that so? Then I must truly thank you, Miss Shen.”

Only then did Shen Qingluan stand up. “Qing’er, let’s go. We’ve wasted half the day here, and I’m tired.” After speaking, she hmphed. “I will never set foot in this silver building again.”

Xiao Qing gave Gu Fei an apologetic smile, and the two of them left with their maids.

Gu Fei stood by the door, smiling as she saw them off. “Commandery Princess, Miss Shen, please take care.”

Once the group had gone downstairs, Gu Fei let out a long sigh of relief and sat down in a chair.

Manager Zhang returned from seeing the guests out. Gu Fei watched him coldly.

Manager Zhang flinched. Gu Fei spoke in a slow, deliberate voice, “Manager Zhang, you’ve been a manager for many years, haven’t you? And yet for a small matter like this, you still had to come running to me, the owner, to handle it. What, then, did I hire you for?”

Sweat dripped from Manager Zhang’s forehead. “I was wrong. I just thought that since the owner has the Young Master Heir’s backing, it would be a simple matter for you to resolve.”

Gu Fei sneered. “Does the Young Master Heir have nothing better to do than meddle in such trivial matters all day?”

“If you’re in business, then focus on how to do business. Even if I do have a connection to the Young Master Heir, what does that have to do with how you run this shop?”

Manager Zhang lowered his head. “I was wrong. It won’t happen again.”

Gu Fei stood up. “This is the first and last time. Don’t let it happen again!”

“As for that phoenix hairpin, have the craftsmen alter it immediately. Once it’s done, inspect it carefully. There can be no more mistakes, not even the slightest one.”

Manager Zhang replied, “Yes,” and Gu Fei strode away with Fang Fang.

‘Honestly! These people wasted so much of my time. I was supposed to go check on the shipyard!’

Meanwhile, Shen Qingluan boarded her carriage, her expression displeased. She ordered the maid beside her, “In a little while, send Wang’er to go out and investigate what’s going on between this Miss Gu and the Young Master Heir. Find out how they know each other. Get all the details and report back to me.”

The maid acknowledged the order, and the carriage moved forward.

Gu Fei waited in the shop until the afternoon, when Gu Zhang and the others finally returned.

Gu Zhang hadn’t even eaten lunch. Gu Fei quickly had the kitchen bring out a soup and a dish of steamed pork ribs with rice flour—both of which were ready-made—and asked Sister Hua to stir-fry a few more dishes.

After making the arrangements, Gu Fei came out and sat beside her father. “Dad, did you buy the ship?”

Gu Zhang nodded as he ate. “We bought it. If Stone hadn’t come with us today, we wouldn’t have been able to buy it at all.”

“How so?” Gu Fei asked.