Yu Wantang came out neither too early nor too late, just in time to hear the last few sentences.

"Wonderful."

In the time it took her to change her clothes, someone actually had the audacity to bully her daughter-in-law.

Song Mingzhu was taken aback.

She naturally recognized Yu Wantang.

In the past, Yu Wantang hadn't liked Su Yao, and she had been fairly polite to juniors like them who knew how to say nice things.

Song Mingzhu never expected that her very first sentence would be this.

"Mrs. Fu, I am Song Mingzhu."

"Oh, the Song family's."

Just as Song Mingzhu was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she heard Yu Wantang continue, "I thought some ill-bred girl from who-knows-what family had run up to my face to meddle in the Fu Family's private affairs."

The smile on Song Mingzhu's face could no longer hold.

"Mrs. Fu, that's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?"

Yu Wantang walked over to Su Yao, raised her hand to tidy a stray lock of hair on her shoulder, "I went in to try on a dress, and the moment I came out, I heard you talking about my daughter-in-law and saying my son doesn't have her in his heart."

She raised her eyes to look over.

"What, did you issue the Fu Family's marriage certificate? Do you manage the Fu Family's genealogy?"

Song Mingzhu was choked into silence.

Someone nearby wanted to smooth things over, "Mrs. Fu, Mingzhu was just joking."

Yu Wantang looked over.

"A joke?"

"Why do all of you people have the same bad habit? You call harsh words a joke, and bad intentions frankness. If I were to say you're ill-bred right now, would you have to smile and listen too?"

Song Mingzhu's expression instantly turned ugly.

Su Yao looked up at Yu Wantang; were these words really spoken by her own mother-in-law?

Yu Wantang looked back at her as well, "Why aren't you calling me?"

Su Yao paused, "I could handle it."

"I know you could handle it," Yu Wantang said, "but since I'm right here, how could I let you handle it all by yourself."

Yu Wantang turned her head to ask Su Yao, "Yaoyao, was it funny?"

Su Yao looked at Song Mingzhu.

"Not funny."

Yu Wantang nodded.

"Did you hear that? Not funny."

Song Mingzhu's face flushed red, "Mrs. Fu, you're an elder, there's no need to be so aggressive, right?"

"Is this considered aggressive?"

Yu Wantang let out a laugh, "When you were joking just now, why didn't you feel like your mouth was foul?"

Song Mingzhu clutched her clutch tightly.

She was unwilling to accept this.

It was one thing for Su Yao to snap back at her, but now even Mrs. Fu was standing on Su Yao's side; this made her feel even worse than being scolded.

What she wanted to see was Su Yao being unloved and unwelcome in the Fu Family.

But now Yu Wantang was protecting Su Yao in front of so many people, which was equivalent to personally tearing apart her little fantasy.

Song Mingzhu's follower couldn't help but speak up, "Mrs. Fu, Mingzhu didn't say anything excessive. It's not a secret that Su Yao and President Fu don't have a good relationship."

Yu Wantang looked over.

That girl immediately shut her mouth, but it was already too late.

Yu Wantang asked the store manager, "Which family's young lady is this?"

The store manager hesitated for a moment, "She's the second young miss of the Zhao family."

Yu Wantang nodded, "Make a note of it. From now on, all private clubs under the Fu Family's name will not receive Miss Song and Miss Zhao."

Song Mingzhu's expression changed drastically, "Mrs. Fu, please don't."

Private clubs in Beijing weren't just places for eating, drinking, and merry-making; a lot of connections, collaborations, and resources flowed there.

The threshold for those clubs under the Fu Family was high, and simply being able to enter was a status symbol in itself.

With a single sentence, Yu Wantang was equivalent to kicking them out of the core arena of half the circle.

Miss Zhao panicked as well, "Mrs. Fu, you can't just do this over a few words, right?"

"Why can't I?"

Yu Wantang looked at her, "You used a few words to disgust my daughter-in-law, and now I'm making you learn your lesson. It's very fair."

Song Mingzhu suppressed her anger, "Mrs. Fu, the Song Family and the Fu Family still have cooperation."

"That's even better."

Yu Wantang took out her phone and made a call to the housekeeper, "Check what recent collaborations Fu Corporation has with the Song family, and tell Yanzhi to re-evaluate the risks. Miss Song speaks far too imprudently outside; I suspect the Song family's risk control isn't very good either."

Song Mingzhu's expression changed completely.

She never expected that Yu Wantang would actually go this far for Su Yao.

Su Yao was also a bit surprised, but she quickly reacted and picked up where Yu Wantang left off.

"Miss Song, the Song family just submitted the joint development proposal for Fu Corporation's East City project last month, right?"

"I've looked at that project. The Song family's capital chain is stretched too tight, and the repayment cycle is calculated far too ideally. If Fu Corporation really re-evaluates it, your family's chances of winning aren't high."

Song Mingzhu looked ugly, "Su Yao, stop trying to scare me."

"Whether I'm scaring you or not, go back and ask President Song and you'll know," Su Yao said nonchalantly.

"Right, a friendly reminder: in the version of the proposal you submitted, there are issues with the calculations for land cost and subsequent commercial ancillary returns. Fu Corporation's legal and investment research teams aren't stupid; they just haven't slammed the door shut yet."

Yu Wantang's eyes lit up as she listened.

Good grief.

This was what Su Yao called a real face-slapping.

Instead of bickering with you, she directly hit your family's lifeline.

Song Mingzhu clenched the strap of her clutch, her nails digging into the leather surface, her knuckles turning white.

Arrogant as she was, she knew how important that project was to her family.

The Song family's funds had indeed been tight lately; if the East City project couldn't be secured, several subsequent plans would be affected.

Yu Wantang added another sentence, "From now on, clothes that Miss Song has looked at don't need to be sent to the Fu Family, nor to the Su Family. Both of our families are picky and afraid of bad luck."

As soon as these words came out, the store fell completely silent.

Song Mingzhu's face turned green and white in turns.

This wasn't a matter of a few pieces of clothing; this was Yu Wantang publicly telling everyone that Su Yao wasn't just the young mistress of the Fu Family—she also had the Su Family behind her.

Whoever wanted to step on her had better first weigh whether their own family had enough weight.

The people around Song Mingzhu were already starting to regret it.

They usually buttered up Song Mingzhu because the Song family was rich and hanging out with her allowed them to mix in circles and build connections.

But to offend the Fu Family and the Su Family over a few idle words? No one was willing to do that.

Song Mingzhu also realized this point.

She gritted her teeth, looked at Su Yao, and said, "What I said just now wasn't appropriate."

"Song Mingzhu, the circle is only this big. Before you speak, you'd better first think about whether your family can handle the consequences."

Song Mingzhu couldn't stay any longer and hurriedly left with her people.

The store quieted down.

The store manager, knowing how to read the room, immediately stepped forward with a smile, "Mrs. Fu, this dress suits you very well."

Yu Wantang glanced at herself in the mirror, her mood turning good again.

"Wrap it up."

She pointed at a few other new sets nearby, "I want these pieces too."

After speaking, she turned to look at Su Yao, "You pick a few more pieces too."

Just as Su Yao was about to speak, Yu Wantang cut her off first.

"You're not allowed to say you don't need them. You fought that battle brilliantly just now, and Mom is giving you a reward."

Su Yao paused.

"Mom, I don't lack clothes."

"I know you don't lack them," Yu Wantang looked at her with a beaming smile, "but I want to buy them."

Su Yao couldn't help it and laughed out loud.

Yu Wantang felt that this smile of hers was much more pleasing to the eye.

Previously, there had always been a sense of detachment about Su Yao, as if she were ready to withdraw and leave at any moment; today, she finally had a bit more of a living human warmth to her.