CHAPTER 143: CHAPTER 143 WHERE HAS ALL THE MONEY GONE (4)_1

Shangguan Rou pursed her lips. She had only wanted to see Shangguan You get scolded. How could she have known that the trouble would ultimately land on her own head?

"What?" Li Wanying’s voice involuntarily rose, her face etched with disbelief as she looked at Shangguan Rou. Only out for an afternoon, and she made several hundred million US Dollars, plus acquired a twenty percent stake in Jade Pavilion? The disbelief on her face then vanished, slowly replaced by elation. She was Shangguan You’s stepmother; naturally, this huge sum of money should be handed over to her. Ultimately, this money would be hers.

"Youyou, next time, you should tell us everything at once. You had Aunt Li worried just now, you silly girl," Li Wanying said, sitting down beside Shangguan You and affectionately patting her cheek. She wore the expression of a doting mother. But in her heart, she was already scheming how to openly get her hands on this money and make it her own.

"Youyou, stone gambling is very risky. You should do it less in the future—better yet, not at all. You won’t be this lucky every time," Old Madam Shangguan said to Shangguan You after taking a few deep breaths, her face regaining its benevolent smile.

"Youyou, listen to your grandma. Your Aunt Liu also thinks it’s very risky, you know? You might become a rich woman today, but you could easily lose it all tomorrow," Liu Ruoling chimed in, agreeing with Old Madam Shangguan.

"I understand, Aunt Liu, Grandma. I won’t gamble anymore," Shangguan You nodded and spoke softly.

Li Wanying shot Shangguan Rou a meaningful look. Shangguan Rou, in turn, affectionately took Old Madam Shangguan’s hand. "Grandma, Sister is only sixteen. To have so much money at her age, isn’t it..." Shangguan Rou trailed off meaningfully, steering the conversation back to Shangguan You’s fortune. This was a sum that would make anyone green with envy; of course, it should be handed over to Mommy for safekeeping. Then, wouldn’t it eventually be hers?

"Rourou is right," Old Madam Shangguan nodded. "Youyou, you should hand all the money over to Wanying. When you graduate from university, it will be returned to you, and you can decide how to manage it then." She’s too young to carry so much money. Rourou has a point.

"Mom, isn’t that a bit inappropriate?" Li Wanying began, feigning reluctance. "After all, I’m not Youyou’s biological mother. I’m afraid people will gossip." Inwardly, however, she was ecstatic. Two hundred million US Dollars! What a fortune!

"Who would dare gossip?" Old Madam Shangguan’s face hardened. "You are Youyou’s stepmother, and for over a decade, you’ve treated her better than your own daughter! Besides, if not to you, who else could we entrust it to?"

"Grandma’s right!" Shangguan Rou quickly added. "Sister’s money is naturally the Shangguan Family’s money. If it’s not given to Mommy, who else could it be given to?"

A cold sneer touched Shangguan You’s lips as she watched the trio—old, middle-aged, and young—decide the fate of her finances without even consulting her. So this was her ’doting’ grandma, her stepmother who supposedly loved her ’more than her own daughter,’ and her ’ever-so-protective’ sister. A chill flashed through her dark, profound eyes.

"Mom, Wanying," Liu Ruoling’s voice interjected. "Youyou is already sixteen. Legally, at sixteen, she’s considered independent. She earned this money herself, without using a single cent from the Shangguan Family. I believe Youyou has her own plans for it. Let her handle it herself. The girl has to grow up sooner or later; she should learn to manage her own affairs." She knew very well what kind of grasping pair Li Wanying and her daughter were. If Youyou’s money fell into their hands, it would be gone for good.

"Aunt Liu, that’s where you’re mistaken," Shangguan Rou retorted. "For sixteen years, Sister has lived off the Shangguan Family, been clothed and fed by the Shangguan Family. So, any money she has naturally belongs to the Shangguan Family too! Without the Shangguan Family’s reputation, how could she have won so much? This money absolutely should be given to Mommy."

"The girl is too young; it’s not appropriate for her to have so much money," Old Madam Shangguan declared. "A student should act like a student."

"Mom, perhaps we should let Youyou keep it," Li Wanying said, still playing the reluctant party. "It’s two hundred million US Dollars. If she doesn’t say anything, no one will know she has that much. Besides, Youyou can buy whatever she likes with it."

Throughout the discussion, Li Wanying maintained an appearance of unwillingness to accept the money, putting on a troubled and worried expression. Meanwhile, Shangguan Rou relentlessly urged Old Madam Shangguan to entrust the money to her mother. Naturally, Old Madam Shangguan was also unwilling to let Shangguan You possess hundreds of millions.

Although Liu Ruoling objected, faced with the united front of Old Madam Shangguan, Li Wanying, and Shangguan Rou, and Old Madam Shangguan’s domineering stance, she felt rather powerless.

"Alright, it’s settled then," Old Madam Shangguan finally decreed, announcing her decision. "Youyou, hand over all the money to Wanying. When you graduate from university, it will all be returned to you."

"Sister, give the card to Mommy. Mommy will keep it safe for you," Shangguan Rou urged.

"Youyou, give it to Aunt Li. You can rest assured, Aunt Li will definitely keep it very safe for you," Li Wanying cooed.

Li Wanying’s smile was gentle and seemingly loving as she softly patted Shangguan You’s hand. Her gaze, however, burned with an intense fervor as she looked at Shangguan You.

"Grandma, you don’t seem to have asked for my opinion, have you?" Shangguan You let out a light laugh, her eyes, holding a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, swept over these three priceless women. Just moments ago, they were accusing her actions of disgracing the Shangguan Family and damaging its reputation. And now, no sooner had the words left their mouths, they were already scheming to divide her money. Did they truly take her for a fool?

"Sister, the money is yours, of course. It’s just to be temporarily kept by Mommy for safekeeping. What? Are you unwilling?" Shangguan Rou’s voice turned sharp.

"Let Youyou keep it herself then," Li Wanying said, her expression stiffening for a heartbeat before a smile quickly replaced it. "After all, she won it fair and square. As long as she doesn’t go stone gambling again, it’s safe in her hands." However, the underlying meaning in her words made Old Madam Shangguan’s face darken.

If she goes stone gambling again someday, forget two hundred million—even tens of billions would be lost by her! This money absolutely cannot remain in her hands!

"Youyou, this money must be handed over to Wanying," Old Madam Shangguan stated firmly, reiterating her decision.

"But Mom, the child Youyou wants to keep it herself. Don’t make things difficult for her," Li Wanying interjected, still feigning difficulty.

"Keep it herself?" Old Madam Shangguan roared. "She’s only sixteen! How can she possibly manage such a huge sum on her own? If she won’t even listen to me, her own grandmother, has she grown wings and thinks she can fly? Rourou, go upstairs and fetch your grandfather and eldest uncle! Let them decide!"

Shangguan Rou grinned and headed upstairs to call for her grandfather and eldest uncle.