Ch 8: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

The Huo family moved quickly. Shen Yunxuan felt as though she had only just tried on her wedding dress before the big day arrived. On this day, she returned to the Shen family home to prepare for her departure, not embarrassing them in the process, much to their relief.

Despite this, the Shen family gave her cold faces. After all, she had been obedient for over twenty years, and her sudden defiance had forced them into a corner. They couldn’t accept it. Their long-standing impression of her as a pushover was too deeply ingrained to change overnight. They were still waiting for her to bow her head and admit she was wrong.

Shen Yunxuan and Shen Yunrui got dressed and had their makeup done in their respective rooms. When the grooms arrived to pick them up, Shen Yunrui finally saw Shen Yunxuan’s appearance, and her smile froze on her face. How could the same wedding dress look so much better on Shen Yunxuan?

She had insisted on matching everything with Shen Yunxuan because she knew that as the Huo family’s young mistress, Shen Yunxuan would naturally have the best of everything. When Shen Yunrui had tried on this couture dress, she thought it was stunning and had been thrilled. But now, standing next to Shen Yunxuan, she looked like an inferior imitation.

It was clear that the dress had been designed specifically for Shen Yunxuan’s figure and demeanor, making her look perfect. Shen Yunrui, with her entirely different aura, fell far short in comparison.

The grooms ushered them into the cars, and with no time to change the dress, Shen Yunrui could only force a smile, swallowing her dissatisfaction to avoid drawing attention.

The wedding procession bustled as it delivered the brides to the hotel. The two sisters entered their respective waiting rooms to prepare for their appearances.

In Shen Yunxuan’s room, a few of her friends were already waiting. As soon as they saw her, they surrounded her excitedly.

“You’ve finally shown up! What’s going on? How did you suddenly end up getting married? You never mentioned anything!”

“Exactly! We haven’t seen you in over a month, and now it’s your wedding day? Tell us how you landed the Huo family. And what’s this about your sister marrying into the Lin family? Is it really to repay a debt?”

Among them, only Shu Yue was genuinely sincere. The rest, in her previous life, had turned their backs on her after she married into the Lin family and was abandoned by the Shen family. Some had even taken advantage of her situation, teaching her a bitter lesson about human nature.

Without revealing her emotions, Shen Yunxuan took Shu Yue’s hand and replied with a smile, “The family always planned to arrange marriages for us after graduation. Both matches were settled a long time ago. You know how my family barely pays attention to me; they don’t really understand me. They were so busy handling all the arrangements that I had no time to mention it.”

One of them scoffed, “I don’t know what they’re thinking, playing favorites like this!”

Another chimed in, “Yunxuan, marrying into the Huo family is like escaping hell. Forget about the Shen family—just rely on us. We’ll be your family now!”

Shen Yunxuan’s lips curved into a faint smile. If she hadn’t been reborn, she might have been deeply moved by such words. But knowing their true nature, she could only marvel at their acting skills. They sure knew how to sound warm and caring while scheming to leech off the Huo family.

Shu Yue frowned and interjected, “Alright, let’s not dwell on that. Focus on Yunxuan’s makeup. We need to make sure she’s the most beautiful bride today!”

While there was laughter in Shen Yunxuan’s room, the atmosphere in Shen Yunrui’s was markedly different. Her friends were voicing their indignation.

“Why are you marrying into the Lin family? What right does your sister have to marry into the Huo family? Did she bully you?”

“You’ve been wronged, Yunrui. Let us confront her for you!”

Shen Yunrui quickly stopped them, her smile sweet and radiant. “You’re mistaken. I genuinely like Huaizhi. You’ll see—he’s an amazing person. I don’t lack anything, and my family doesn’t need me to marry for alliances. Marrying for love is the best choice, isn’t it?”

Her friends exchanged skeptical glances. “But Shen Yunxuan is about to become the young mistress of the richest family. You and she don’t get along—how can you be okay with her marrying so much better?”

Shen Yunrui reiterated, “I chose love. To me, this is the best marriage. I don’t feel inferior to her at all. Besides, she’s my sister. I’m happy if she’s happy. My only worry is that a business marriage might make Huo Siheng indifferent toward her. Everyone knows he’s a workaholic who only has eyes for his job.”

“Well, you don’t need to worry about her. With wealth and status, I’d be thrilled if I were her. But you? Falling for some poor guy and insisting on marrying for love? You’ll regret it someday.”

Shen Yunrui shook her head with a smile. “I won’t. I’ve never been as ambitious as my sister. I just want a peaceful, modest life, and that makes me happy.”

“Ambition? So she deliberately aimed higher and stole the Huo family match? You’re too kind to be covering for her!”

Feigning a slip of the tongue, Shen Yunrui appeared flustered. “I didn’t mean it like that! I just meant my sister is career-minded. She even invested a billion in a plot of land recently. I think she’s trying to match the Huo family and prove her capability. It’s a shame it turned out to be a worthless lot, and the investment failed. But it’s okay—she’ll never lack money. She can learn slowly.”

“A billion? That’s a fortune! What land was it?”

“I don’t know,” Shen Yunrui replied, shaking her head. “She just mentioned it casually. Anyway, today is my wedding day, so let’s not talk about anything upsetting, okay?”

The group quieted down but was secretly jealous and incredulous. How could Shen Yunxuan, once unable to afford even a small luxury bag, now casually lose a billion and still have the Huo family backing her? It was maddeningly unfair!

It was only because Shen Yunrui insisted on marrying for love that the marriage with the Huo family landed on Shen Yunxuan’s lap. It was as if a golden opportunity had fallen from the sky, and Shen Yunxuan was the one to catch it.

Someone who had always been inferior to them, someone they used to look down on and mock, was now standing above them all. How could they accept that? Their jealousy boiled over, almost tangible, and when they returned to the banquet hall, they wasted no time spreading the latest gossip.

As the saying goes, “Good news doesn’t travel far, but bad news spreads like wildfire.” Soon, half the guests at the wedding had heard the story of Shen Yunxuan losing a billion yuan by investing in a worthless piece of land.

Someone who had attended the auction wondered aloud, “A worthless piece of land? Could it be the plot from the pesticide factory? Wasn’t that the one the eldest Miss Shen bought?”

“Sounds likely. The one-billion price matches. What other land could be that cheap?”

“Heh, I remember thinking, who would be stupid enough to buy that? Turns out it was some clueless rich young lady. Honestly, someone like her should just stick to shopping and beauty treatments. Business investments clearly aren’t her thing.”

“It’s hilarious. The richest family’s daughter-in-law can’t even handle investments. I bet the Huo family has no idea about this. If they did, would they even keep her? Divorce is probably on the horizon.”

“I don’t know about divorce, but there’s definitely drama ahead. If her first investment was such a flop, she’s bound to squander more money in the future. The Huo family’s going to have a real show.”

“She should have just kept her head down like other women. Trying to prove herself to match the Huo family? She’s just a laughingstock!”

Among the guests, there were those who felt sorry for Shen Yunxuan, those who were indifferent, and, of course, those who relished the drama—who far outnumbered the others. The wedding had already taken on a sour note, with some even dubbing her the “Spendthrift Daughter-in-Law of the Richest Family.” Thankfully, everyone agreed not to let the gossip reach the ears of the newlyweds’ families.

When the auspicious hour approached, Shen Yunxuan and Shen Yunrui stepped out of their respective waiting rooms, ready to walk down the aisle with their father, Shen Guobang. For the first time in a while, the two sisters were alone together. Shen Yunrui’s smugness was evident in her eyes as she smiled and said, “Sister, from today on, we’re embarking on new lives.”

Lives they had exchanged. All your blessings now belong to me, and you can enjoy the miserable life I had in my previous lifetime. Shen Yunrui silently added in her heart.

Shen Yunxuan smiled back. “Yes, the path I was supposed to take, you insisted on taking instead. I hope you get what you wanted. After all, if you regret it later, you’ll only have yourself to blame.”

You handed me your winning hand, taking the fire pit of the Lin family for yourself. Enjoy the agony of being burned alive.

Both sisters harbored their own thoughts but displayed identical smiles, satisfied with the outcome. This might have been the only moment in two lifetimes when they were truly in sync.

Shen Guobang walked over, gesturing for his daughters to take his arms on either side. A rare wave of sentiment washed over him. After today, both his daughters would be married.

“Let’s go. Everyone’s waiting.”

Shen Yunxuan nodded. As they approached the banquet hall doors, she glanced at Shen Yunrui. They were twins, but as fraternal twins, they didn’t look alike. Shen Yunxuan had a more elegant and aloof appearance, often mistaken as cold when she wasn’t smiling. Shen Yunrui, on the other hand, was soft and charming, with naturally smiling eyes that made her effortlessly lovable.

Their parents’ attitudes reflected this disparity—one was habitually overlooked, while the other was cherished and doted upon. Even in arranging their marriages, the favoritism was glaring: Shen Yunrui got the winning hand, while Shen Yunxuan was dealt the losing one.

But that didn’t matter to Shen Yunxuan anymore. In this lifetime, Shen Yunrui had stubbornly insisted on trading her winning hand for Shen Yunxuan’s losing one. Shen Yunxuan found it almost touching. Once she stepped through those doors, their lives would truly be exchanged.

The grand doors of the banquet hall slowly opened, and the wedding march began to play. With a smile, Shen Guobang escorted his daughters down the aisle toward their waiting grooms.

Shen Yunrui’s gaze first fell on Huo Siheng. It was her first time seeing him in this lifetime—still as cold and detached as ever, his eyes devoid of emotion. It made her feel a mix of longing and hatred. She couldn’t forget the humiliation of their previous life’s wedding night, when all her excitement and anticipation were met with a divorce agreement.

But it didn’t matter. She knew he wouldn’t be around for long; soon, he would become a vegetative patient. Shen Yunxuan would be left widowed, and the Huo family would spiral into misfortune. The thought of these two people she despised suffering a miserable fate filled her with joy.

Then she looked at Lin Huaizhi. He seemed nervous and out of place in such a grand setting, his demeanor lacking polish. Standing next to Huo Siheng, he was utterly outclassed, and Shen Yunrui felt a fleeting surge of disgust.

Still, she reminded herself of Lin Huaizhi’s promising future and convinced herself she could overlook his shortcomings. In her eyes, she was the only one in the room who knew his true potential. This sense of superiority made her happiness overflow.

Shen Yunrui curved her lips into a smile. What did it matter if Shen Yunxuan looked better in her dress? What did it matter if the grand wedding was orchestrated by the Huo family for Shen Yunxuan? She could already tell from the looks people gave Shen Yunxuan that her carefully spread rumors had taken root.

Starting today, everyone would know that Shen Yunxuan was clueless about investments and squandered money recklessly, losing a billion yuan right after her wedding—a harbinger of bad luck, a veritable jinx. If anything happened to the Huo family in the future, people would surely blame her.

Meanwhile, Shen Yunrui was kind-hearted and married for love, completely uninterested in wealth. Her love story with Lin Huaizhi would become a romantic legend. When Lin Huaizhi eventually climbed onto the billionaire rankings, everyone would marvel at her foresight. Their story of love and her happiness would stand in stark contrast to Shen Yunxuan’s misfortune.

Shen Yunrui nearly laughed out loud. Though she tried to restrain herself, it was obvious to everyone that she was brimming with joy—so much so that Lin Huaizhi, seeing her happiness, grinned along in a simple, unpretentious way. The two of them truly exuded a sweetness that was almost palpable.

In contrast, Shen Yunxuan and Huo Siheng stood like a picture of cold formality—one with a polite smile, the other expressionless. It was the epitome of a commercial marriage. The comparison was stark.

Adding to that, the rumors that had just spread had already prompted some guests to praise Shen Yunrui’s purity while mocking Shen Yunxuan’s greed.

Shen Guobang handed his two daughters over to their respective grooms. The four newlyweds stood together on stage, receiving blessings from the guests.

A lady close to Madam Shen asked her quietly, “Are you really willing to let your beloved younger daughter marry to repay an old favor?”

Madam Shen smiled naturally. “It’s not just about repaying a favor; it’s fate. Yunrui fainted from low blood sugar and Huaizhi saved her. That’s how they met. Later, we found out that Huaizhi’s family elder was the one who helped my father. And since the two of them are fond of each other, how could I not treasure such predestined fortune?”

“What a rare twist of fate. It’s truly remarkable.”

Madam Shen nodded. “As they say, ‘Blessings come effortlessly.’ Children have their own destinies, and things always work out. Families like ours don’t lack for money, so what could be more important than their happiness? All I hope for now is for them to live harmoniously and bless me with grandchildren soon.”

“You’re absolutely right. I’m sure your wish will come true. Look at how affectionate the couple is.”

While this conversation unfolded below, the emotional vows segment began on stage. Shen Yunrui eagerly spoke first, smiling warmly as she recounted her and Lin Huaizhi’s journey from meeting to falling in love. Photos of their story together played on the big screen, painting an overwhelmingly sweet picture.

Shen Yunrui wanted to make sure everyone knew she married for love and that she and Lin Huaizhi’s union was nothing short of fate. Once she finished her emotional story, she was sure the guests would turn their eyes to Shen Yunxuan and Huo Siheng, making their contrast even more glaring—cold and indifferent, with no trace of genuine affection.

She had noticed earlier how detached Huo Siheng was, treating Shen Yunxuan with the same indifference he’d shown her in her past life. That comparison alone would surely make Shen Yunxuan jealous and furious, allowing Shen Yunrui to vent the grievances she had accumulated over the past few weeks of being threatened by her sister. She wanted this wedding to be an unforgettable humiliation for Shen Yunxuan.

With this thought, Shen Yunrui spoke even more enthusiastically, and the guests responded just as she’d hoped. They believed her claims that her marriage wasn’t about repaying a debt but was instead a genuinely happy union built on love.

True love deserved blessings, and the guests’ eyes were full of goodwill as they looked at Shen Yunrui. By contrast, Shen Yunxuan and Huo Siheng seemed like mere decorations standing on the stage.

But just as the atmosphere in the banquet hall reached its warmest and most sentimental moment, the background music suddenly stopped.

A moment later, a clear voice conversation began playing over the speakers.

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆