"Ah, I'm alive again." A girl with a sun-kissed complexion and an athletic build stuck out her tongue and gave the ice cream a fierce lick, then contentedly squinted her eyes and took a deep breath as she spoke.

No one present expected someone to suddenly jump out and snatch the ice cream they had bought, so no one reacted until the sigh was heard, and time, as if frozen, began to slowly flow once more.

"This ice cream is ours. How can you just take it?" Yu Xia had witnessed Lin Mengyao's anticipation for the ice cream, and seeing the last one taken by a stranger left her very unhappy. The intense emotion from this discontent caused a subtle, pervasive ache in her heart.

The woman glanced at the ice cream in her hand, then at Yu Xia, and, with an innocent expression, replied, "I didn't know it was yours. Did you already pay for it?"

"Of course. If we didn't pay, why would the owner give us the ice cream?" Yu Xia responded angrily, noticing the woman's feigned ignorance.

"I was overheated and didn't notice. But since I've eaten your ice cream, I won't let it go unpaid. I'll buy you three one each. Owner, make three ice creams and give them to her when they're ready," the woman said as she licked her ice cream.

"The one you're holding was the last one; I don't have any more," the owner looked at the woman, then withdrew his gaze and said.

"Oh, I'm really sorry. I didn't know it was the last one. What should we do? But I've already eaten it and can't give it back. Why don't I just pay you back for it?" The woman displayed a pitiable look, but in Yu Xia's eyes, it was nothing but provocative arrogance.

"Do you think we care about the money for your ice cream? Was it yours to begin with for you to just grab it? I don't believe you've never bought anything before and don't know you pay before receiving goods. If you do know, then everything you're doing is intentional. If you don't know, then may I ask, have you never been out alone before? If it's your first time out, where are your parents?"

Yu Xia's gaze was sharp like nails, seeming to want to pierce the woman into a sieve.

The woman's expression went blank briefly due to Yu Xia's piercing gaze.

"You look like such a gentle girl, why do you speak so harshly? It's so hot outside today, I got flustered and made a mistake. Isn't that normal? Who can guarantee they'll never make a mistake in life? Besides, I've already apologized. Is it necessary to be so aggressive over an ice cream? It doesn't cost much, and it's not like I'm not reimbursing you. Is it worth being so petty?"

The woman rolled her eyes at Yu Xia, continuing to speak while eating her ice cream, her apologies lacked any sincerity.

Yu Xia was enraged by the woman's attitude, but her expression became eerily calm when angered intensely, and her misty eyes appeared clear as if washed by a downpour, unsettling those who saw them.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Are you sick?" The woman, unnerved by Yu Xia's gaze, couldn't help but frown deeply and glared back at her.

"If you can't say anything nice, just keep your mouth shut. How can you curse people like that?"

Yu Xia's illness was a burden on Lin Mengyao's heart, and the woman's careless comment struck a nerve. Lin Mengyao's anger flared, and she quickly strode over to stand beside Yu Xia.

"What? Are you guys ganging up on me because I'm outnumbered? How shameless," the woman was startled by Lin Mengyao's actions, instinctively taking half a step back. But when Lin Mengyao stopped by Yu Xia's side, she steadied her expression, stuck her neck out, and said defiantly.

Xu Ke, standing behind the two women, smiled and, seemingly having appeared beside the woman without notice, said, "The ice cream issue is actually easy to solve."

Just as Xu Ke finished speaking, amidst the woman's exclamation, he snatched the ice cream from her and tossed it into the trash, "See, problem solved." Xu Ke spread his hands and shrugged.

"Ah! My ice cream! Are you guys crazy?" Seeing the empty cone in her hand, the woman jumped up in anger, her screeches like the cicadas in midsummer, adding to the irritation.

"You really are clever, brother-in-law." Watching the woman hopping mad, Yu Xia felt as if the fire in her heart was doused with a bucket of ice water, cooling her down instantly.

"Both of you arguing only gets you nowhere, and isn't it exhausting in this summer heat? Next time just act directly." Xu Ke patted Yu Xia's head, then Lin Mengyao's and said.

"Alright, our lemonades are ready. Let's grab them and head somewhere else." Xu Ke gestured towards the back of the store where the owner had packed three lemonades, waiting to be picked up.

The three of them turned to the owner's direction, but Xu Ke was abruptly shoved. However, his steady stance saved him from the embarrassment of being pushed by a woman.

Xu Ke stopped and turned back; the woman's hand was still suspended mid-air.

She hadn't expected to use so much force without knocking him over.

"You... me." She felt a delayed fear from Xu Ke's gaze but quickly regained her composure and, even somewhat self-righteously, declared, "Don't blame me; you threw my ice cream away, so I got mad and pushed you. Now we're even." She withdrew her hand.

"Heh." Xu Ke let out an ambiguous laugh, not wanting to argue further, finding it beneath him.

But some things don't just go away by ignoring them.

A pudgy man caught up from behind the woman.

Wearing a white shirt, navy blue suit pants, and adorned with flashy gold accessories, he looked every bit a nouveau riche without class.

Indeed, he was a nouveau riche.

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