Chapter 59: Contempt, the Petty Snob

Faced with the woman's skepticism and scorn, Li Chao was momentarily at a loss for words. Yet almost immediately, an unyielding flame ignited in his gaze.

He looked the woman straight in the eye, his voice firm. "What makes you so sure I’m just talking without proof?"

The woman arched her brow, the contempt in her eyes growing more pronounced as she sized Li Chao up and down, retorting disdainfully, "Judging by your clothes, aren’t you just some country bumpkin? Everything you’re wearing together probably isn’t worth much."

"You’re already this poor, yet you stubbornly insist you’re not bragging?"

"Being poor isn’t a crime, but refusing to face reality—that’s truly pitiful."

Li Chao drew a deep breath, reminding himself to stay calm and not let her words provoke him.

He responded evenly, "How do you know I have no money? I simply keep a low profile."

The woman sneered. "Low profile? You’re just fooling yourself!"

Anger stirred in Li Chao’s heart, but he restrained it, unwilling to quarrel. He merely smiled faintly and said, "You don’t believe me, do you? Fine, I’ll prove it to you."

The woman lifted her brows, scoffing, "Prove it? With what?"

Glancing around, Li Chao's gaze settled on a bank not far away.

He pointed toward the self-service ATM inside, his tone carrying an indomitable confidence. "I hadn’t intended to argue with you, but today, you must witness this truth with your own eyes—never judge a book by its cover!"

With that, Li Chao strode toward the bank, Rain Xin following close behind, and together they approached the ATM.

Li Chao entered the password with practiced ease, and the screen promptly displayed his account balance.

Turning around, he fixed his gaze on the woman, a faint smile playing at his lips. "Whether I’m a millionaire or not, you can see for yourself."

In that instant, time seemed to freeze; all eyes were drawn to that string of numbers.

The woman’s expression became complicated, a mixture of shock and unwillingness.

Li Chao, meanwhile, stood with the air of a victor, embodying the profound meaning of "never judge by appearances."

The woman’s smile stiffened, replaced by curiosity and disbelief. Though she still muttered about pretenses, her gaze was unconsciously fixed on the ATM screen.

"Hmph, let’s see what tricks you have up your sleeve," she thought to herself, edging closer in spite of herself.

Li Chao remained composed, as if everything was proceeding exactly as he expected.

He calmly inserted the card that Liu Zhenhua had gifted him, entered the password, and tapped the screen with practiced movements—each step flowing smoothly.

As the screen refreshed, an astonishing number appeared before them.

The woman’s eyes widened, almost unable to believe what she saw. That string of digits far surpassed anything she could have imagined for a "country bumpkin’s" savings.

"This..." Her words caught in her throat, unable to escape her shock.

Li Chao turned slightly, a serene smile on his lips, speaking softly, "Now, you can see the balance for yourself, can’t you?"

The woman’s face turned ashen; she simply could not believe her eyes.

Li Chao silently laughed to himself, "You underestimated me—now you’re left speechless!"

Rain Xin, too, was taken aback, at a loss for words. She had never imagined Li Chao possessed such wealth.

The woman lamented inwardly, feeling as though she’d made a grave mistake.

In that moment, the air seemed solidified.

Her expression wavered between shock, unwillingness, and an indescribable complexity.

She had never expected that this seemingly ordinary country man would truly possess such a fortune.

Passersby, drawn by the spectacle, cast curious glances their way.

The woman’s cheeks burned, as if scorched by the scrutiny of so many eyes.

"If this is still not proof enough," Li Chao’s voice was gentle but resolute, "then I’m willing to submit to any test you wish."

The woman opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but ended up saying nothing at all. She realized how ridiculous and ignorant her earlier contempt and prejudice had been.

In the face of the undeniable truth—never judge by appearances—she was forced to bow her proud head.

"I... I..." Her voice trembled, panic and unease flickering in her eyes. "I just wanted to confirm..."

Li Chao smiled gently, his gaze full of tolerance and understanding. "It’s alright; I understand your concern. But I hope you realize that everyone deserves to be treated with equality, regardless of their background or appearance."

The woman’s face grew even more awkward as she lowered her head and whispered, "I’m sorry, I... I was wrong."

Li Chao shook his head lightly, his tone still mild. "No need to apologize—it was just a misunderstanding. I believe that in the future, you’ll judge people more objectively."

The woman looked up at Li Chao, her eyes filled with gratitude and admiration.

In that moment, she deeply understood how foolish and immature her behavior had been.

After repeatedly checking the unmistakable three million sum, her pride collapsed, and she bowed her head in shame.

She was stunned, silently berating herself for such a careless misjudgment!

She thought, "This seemingly ordinary country man has such astonishing wealth. I was so foolish to underestimate him because of his appearance and background!"

Li Chao saw the change in her and felt little joy.

He knew that such incidents were not uncommon; people often misjudge others based on superficial factors.

"I hope you remember this lesson," Li Chao told her. "Don’t be quick to judge; everyone has their own worth and abilities."

With a gentle smile, Li Chao turned and left the bank, leaving the woman behind, lost in deep thought.

What puzzled her even more was why someone with such a vast fortune would not simply buy several sets of designer clothes to display his status, but instead persisted in such humble attire.

What kind of strange preference was this?

Nevertheless, she realized she had truly wronged him.

After the scene at the ATM, she bravely stepped forward and bowed deeply to Li Chao before the crowd, her sincerity and respect moving all who saw.

"Sir, I sincerely apologize for my earlier mistake—I misjudged you," she said, her face earnest.

Li Chao nodded calmly, his expression unchanged, showing no emotional reaction to her apology.

"It’s alright; just be mindful next time," he replied evenly.

Rain Xin looked at Li Chao, inwardly admiring his composure. His calm response to misunderstanding and apology revealed a steadfastness deep within him.

In this corner of Ishihara County, anyone with three million in savings must have an impressive background.

Seeing her heartfelt apology, Rain Xin did not wish to stir up further trouble and quietly led Li Chao away.

Their main purpose was to buy clothes, and so the two flagged down a rickshaw and headed straight for the county’s largest Wanlong Department Store.

The mall was vast and well-organized.

The first floor was devoted to daily necessities, the second to affordable clothing, the third to high-end fashion, and the fourth to a dazzling world of gold and jewels.

Rain Xin entered, planning to casually pick a few items from the second floor as the fruits of their trip—practical clothing would be enough for her.

But plans changed quickly. Before she could browse, Chen Shan led her straight to the third floor.

"Haha, times have changed—we’re well-off now," Li Chao said, half-joking, half-serious. "If we’re buying, we should pick the best for my sister-in-law."

The first and second floors bustled with crowds, but the third was unusually quiet, with few customers—clearly, the spending level was not for everyone.

"Wow! The décor here is breathtaking—so luxurious!" Rain Xin exclaimed as she gazed at the splendid shops, her heart filling with awe and a touch of anxiety. Her steps faltered.

This sense of inferiority from deep within made her feel both drawn to and intimidated by such opulence.

It was Li Chao’s first time on the third floor as well, unfamiliar with the store layout. The two wandered the high-end floor, finally choosing a boutique that matched Rain Xin’s temperament.

The moment they entered, Rain Xin’s eyes were drawn to the price tags, and she shivered involuntarily.

"Over three thousand!" she cried, murmuring to herself, "These prices are unbelievable! Are these clothes woven with gold and silver threads?"

She clung tightly to Li Chao’s arm, incredulity in her voice.

Just then, a tall saleswoman approached from the back of the shop, announcing in a somewhat haughty tone, "This is a top-tier boutique. Every piece is crafted by leading domestic designers. In Ishihara County, only a handful can wear our brand."

"So you two might as well save your effort—these prices aren’t something ordinary people can afford."

Rain Xin’s cheeks flushed as she gripped Li Chao’s arm tighter, embarrassment and unease flooding her heart.

Li Chao’s brow furrowed, his gaze darkening with displeasure.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, irritation in his voice. "We’re just looking—can’t we browse without buying?"

The saleswoman’s expression shifted, her eyes sweeping over Li Chao and Rain Xin with contempt.

"Hmph, do you even know where you are? Can you afford anything here?" she mocked.

Her tone dripped with derision.

"These clothes aren’t for people like you."

Li Chao’s face darkened, anger flashing in his eyes.

"What kind of attitude is that?" he demanded, his voice icy. "The customer is king—is this how you treat your clientele?"

The saleswoman’s face changed, her gaze lingering on them with disdain.

"Hmph, what makes you the king? What right do you have to be our customer?" she sneered.

Li Chao thought to himself: How unlucky today, to encounter one snob after another, judging by appearances.

How could a mere store clerk possess such arrogance and look down on others?

"Sir, our clothing is exclusive—not everyone can afford it," the saleswoman said coldly.

Li Chao’s face grew grim, displeasure flickering in his eyes, his anger rising.

"What kind of attitude is this?" Li Chao demanded, suppressing his fury.

"Attitude? I’m just being honest." The saleswoman showed no sign of backing down, her expression filled with disdain.

Li Chao clenched his fists, his gaze blazing with anger.

He took a deep breath, struggling to remain calm.

"You’d best apologize, or I won’t let this go," Li Chao said, his tone threatening.

Just as Li Chao was about to retort, he noticed Rain Xin’s eyes shining with a strange excitement.

In a voice trembling with disbelief and a hint of joy, she asked the saleswoman, "Are you Xiaowei? Haven’t we not seen each other in years?"

The saleswoman was startled, then scrutinized Rain Xin as if searching her memory.

After a moment, realization dawned. "Rain Xin? Is it really you? It’s been so long—you’ve changed so much I almost didn’t recognize you."

Rain Xin’s face lit up with joy, tears glimmering in her eyes. "Xiaowei, I finally found you."

Li Chao watched Rain Xin and the saleswoman in surprise, full of questions.

He couldn’t understand why Rain Xin knew the saleswoman, and it seemed there was a deep bond between them.