Ch 9: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

“Qin Jie? You… you’ve lost so much weight! Your hair’s gone gray too! What happened?”

“What else? That wretched Shen Yunrui framed me, accused me of stealing, and ruined my reputation so badly I can’t find a job. I’ve racked up a mountain of debt trying to support my two kids. I can’t eat or sleep. It’s all because of her! Why should she get to ruin me and still live so well?”

Shen Yunrui’s face turned pale. She urgently called out, “Waiter! Manager! What’s this sound? Turn it off now!”

Shen Guobang and Madam Shen leapt to their feet, frantically signaling the staff to resolve the issue, but the recording continued, as the source couldn’t be located right away.

“I believe you, Qin Jie. You’ve served the Shen family for so many years and always doted on the second miss. How could you steal from her? But why would she set you up? Then again, she’s not doing well herself. She insisted on swapping wedding arrangements with the eldest miss to marry that poor boy from the Lin family, claiming it was ‘fate.’ I bet she’ll regret it later.”

“Fate? She had her eye on that boy for ages! Then she tried to act noble and pretended to sacrifice herself for the eldest miss. But the eldest miss has always been too accommodating and refused to let her sister make that sacrifice. That’s when her relationship with that poor boy was exposed.

As for being ‘rescued’? She’s perfectly healthy. Who faints in the middle of a crosswalk from low blood sugar? It’s all an act! You can test it—people feel symptoms before fainting. Who’d wander into the road in that state?”

“Wow, so the second miss fell for that guy ages ago? Maybe he charmed her? But the family didn’t even give her a dowry. That’s probably because they don’t trust the Lin family, huh?”

“Or maybe the family’s just broke and using it as an excuse to hold onto the dowry. Shen Yunrui’s quite the schemer. A clueless poor boy charming her? Please. There’s more to it. Why is she so determined to marry into the Lin family? What’s there to gain? Lin family’s ancestors might’ve been well-off once, but are there any family heirlooms left?

Honestly, it’s clear she’s selfish, malicious, and cold at her core. Just like her parents. Those two are so blatantly biased, it’s like the eldest miss isn’t even their child. The old master’s no better—so heartless. That family only has one decent person, and it’s the eldest miss. Too bad she’s desperate for family affection, always so submissive and spineless…”

“Turn it off!” Shen Yunrui shouted, forcing a strained smile. “Everyone, don’t believe this nonsense. It’s slander from a fired servant trying to get back at me. None of it is true.”

The staff finally found the hidden speaker, turned it off, and removed it. The banquet hall descended into awkward silence.

Madam Huo’s face darkened. She knew the bride had been switched, but Madam Shen had repeatedly insisted they had always intended for Shen Yunxuan to marry into the Huo family. Now, this recording revealed the truth: Shen Yunrui had refused the match and forced the swap. Did this mean Shen Yunrui looked down on the Huo family? Or worse, despised them? Was the Huo family merely something to pick and choose from at the Shen family’s whim?

Publicly confronting this now would be disgraceful, and with the marriage already formalized, Madam Huo decided to hold her tongue until the banquet ended. Divorce shortly after marriage wasn’t unheard of, and she decided to bide her time. The Huo family wasn’t the most embarrassed party at the moment.

The first to react was Grandma Lin. Her son-in-law had died saving Old Master Shen, and her son later passed from cancer, leaving her with her grandson Lin Huaizhi, granddaughter Lin Jiaojiao, and daughter-in-law. They had all come to the wedding with a dozen relatives.

The recording called Lin Huaizhi a “poor boy” repeatedly and implied the Lin family was greedy and manipulative. It humiliated their family in front of their friends and relatives. Grandma Lin was livid.

She stood abruptly and shouted, “Who’s the scoundrel spewing such vile nonsense? Bring that servant here to confront me! How did my Huaizhi trick your daughter? So what if my family is poor? We might be poor, but we have dignity!”

Pointing at Old Master Shen, she added, “You tell me—has my family ever taken a cent from you? You were the one who kept bringing up repaying your debt! I only agreed to this marriage because of that. For years, we’ve kept our distance, never asking you for anything. And now you treat us like thieves?”

Old Master Shen, red-faced with shame, stammered, “Sister-in-law, please calm down. We absolutely didn’t mean that…”

Lin Jiaojiao scoffed, “Didn’t mean it? Then why are you withholding Shen Yunrui’s dowry? Without this recording, we’d still be in the dark. Clearly, you look down on us and think we’re thieves! It’s Shen Yunrui who pursued my brother! If anyone’s lying, it’s her!”

Lin Huaizhi’s mother added, “Exactly. Who faints right in the middle of a crosswalk? We’ve all felt dizzy before, but who walks straight into traffic like that? Huaizhi, come down here. This wedding is off! If they don’t respect us, who cares about this marriage? Maybe that servant’s right—Shen Yunrui’s the one scheming to take something from us.”

Lin Huaizhi’s smile vanished. Being so openly disrespected by his future in-laws in front of everyone was deeply humiliating. He couldn’t make sense of it either. “We only met that day when I saved you. Why did you insist on marrying me, giving up the much better match with the Huo family? What’s really going on?”

Lin Jiaojiao sneered, “You may have just met her, but she didn’t just meet you. Who knows what schemes she’s cooked up? Didn’t you hear? She even framed the servant who cared for her the most!”

At that moment, the Lin family’s impression of Shen Yunrui plummeted to rock bottom. Their initial joy turned to intense anger. What grand wedding? This was nothing short of humiliation for them!

Shen Yunrui panicked, waving her hands in explanation. “I didn’t frame anyone! She really stole something and was kicked out by Grandpa. Don’t believe what she said. I proposed marrying into the Lin family to repay Grandpa’s kindness, and later, after meeting Huaizhi and falling in love with him, I insisted on it. Please trust me. Why would I lie to you?”

Shen Guobang and Madam Shen chimed in, trying to placate the Lin family. But internally, they resented the Lin family for causing such a scene in front of so many important guests. Couldn’t they resolve this privately? Their annoyance leaked into their demeanor, which further provoked Grandma Lin.

She slammed the table, pointing a finger at them. “Oh, I see! Since it’s not your family being insulted, you’re not bothered, huh? With all these people watching, are you just going to let this go? Bring that person here to confront us! Otherwise, are we just supposed to swallow the insult? Fine, I get it now—your Shen family has no sincerity at all. This wedding is off! Huaizhi, let’s go!”

Lin Huaizhi hesitated for a moment, glanced at Shen Yunrui, and then stepped off the stage, ready to leave with his family.

Shen Yunrui panicked. Turning desperately to Shen Yunxuan, she pleaded, “Sister, please help explain! Say something!”

She believed that since Shen Yunxuan had taken so much money from the family, it was only right for her to help out now.

But this entire situation was orchestrated by Shen Yunxuan. There was no way she would step in to resolve it. She replied coldly, “I promised not to mention anything about this matter again, and I haven’t. The mess you’ve made is your own to clean up. Don’t drag it into my wedding.”

Shen Yunrui exclaimed, “How can you be like this? You’re the one who told me to kick Qin Jie out!”

Shen Yunxuan corrected her, “All I ever said was that our parents gave you so much while neglecting me, that the staff catered to you while treating me with disdain, and that everyone cared about your reputation while trampling on mine. I only told you to prove your intentions by correcting these injustices if you truly couldn’t marry anyone but Lin Huaizhi. When did I ever tell you to kick Qin Jie out?”

Shen Yunrui was fuming, but Madam Shen scolded, “Enough! Stop talking nonsense. Aren’t things messy enough already?”

Shen Yunxuan spoke calmly. “The matter between your two families is indeed a mess. Why not take it outside and settle it there? Don’t disrupt my wedding with Siheng or waste everyone’s time.”

Huo Siheng, hearing her say his name so naturally despite their brief acquaintance, found it surprisingly comfortable. Since they were now a couple, he decided to step in, especially after seeing how composed she remained amidst the chaos. His impression of her improved. He said, “The wedding must go on. Any other issues can be addressed in the meeting room downstairs.”

Madam Shen was stunned. She was now technically Huo Siheng’s mother-in-law, yet he didn’t even bother to address her as “Mom.” Leaving like this would undoubtedly cement the rumors. But how could they clear up the mess without making things worse?

Just then, a woman dressed as a server suddenly rushed out and dumped a bucket of water over Shen Yunrui’s head. It was none other than Qin Jie! Laughing triumphantly, she fled as a few real servers chased after her.

“Aahhh—!” Shen Yunrui let out a piercing, despairing scream.

This was supposed to be her grand wedding! The turning point of her life, the moment she stood above Shen Yunxuan and basked in everyone’s admiration! How had it all turned into this?

Her carefully styled hair was ruined, her meticulously applied makeup destroyed, and her stunning haute couture wedding dress now a sopping mess. She didn’t even need a mirror to know how pathetic she looked. Worst of all, she saw people struggling to hold back their laughter.

The joyous celebration she’d envisioned, filled with blessings, was now nothing but humiliation and ridicule.

Unable to bear it, Shen Yunrui fled the banquet hall in tears.

Madam Shen hurried after her, while Shen Guobang frowned and quietly tried to coax the Lin family into taking the matter to the meeting room. The Lin relatives and friends surrounded them, demanding an explanation.

What was meant to be a grand gesture of gratitude had devolved into utter chaos. Old Master Shen clutched his chest, wheezing as Shen Guobang helped him up and led him out.

Before they left, they heard Shen Yunxuan’s calm voice. “Waiters, clean up the water on the floor. Emcee, the wedding continues.” Then, smiling at the guests, she said, “A small hiccup, but I hope you’ll all excuse it. Rest assured, the Shen-Lin family drama won’t affect my wedding with Siheng. Right, Siheng?”

She deliberately mentioned his name to test his stance on the situation. Though she was blameless in all this, the Huo family had been deceived by Madam Shen, and their response could be telling.

Huo Siheng nodded slightly, signaling his agreement. “Of course, it won’t affect our wedding.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled. “Then let’s proceed with just our wedding from here on.”

With the troublemakers gone, it truly became their own wedding. A fresh start, just as she’d planned.

As the banquet hall doors slowly closed, Shen Guobang and Old Master Shen turned back to glance at Shen Yunxuan on the stage. The sight of her felt distant, almost foreign. It was as though she were stepping into a world completely separate from theirs, never to intersect again.

The two men frowned, shaking their heads to dismiss the absurd thought, and headed together toward the conference room. Although Shen and Huo families were now officially linked by marriage, a Shen family representative should have stayed in the banquet hall. However, Madam Shen had gone after Shen Yunrui, Shen Guobang had to appease the Lin family, and Old Master Shen, feeling both humiliated and unwell, naturally couldn’t remain.

In the banquet hall, the wedding resumed with a simplified program. The officiant recited the vows, asked if they were willing, and then instructed the couple to exchange rings and kiss the bride.

Huo Siheng leaned down and mimed the kiss, completing the ceremony. Applause erupted from the audience, and the festive mood of the wedding finally returned.

Afterward, Shen Yunxuan served tea to Madam Huo, addressing her as “Mom.” Madam Huo smiled and handed her a red envelope. “Good. Calm and composed in the face of adversity—you’re a good child. And, I’d say, you’ve got a bit of backbone.”

This was clearly a subtle response to the recording. The Huo family’s wedding had turned into such a farce. While the recording didn’t say anything directly negative about Shen Yunxuan, it did mention her as being overly compliant and lacking backbone. Madam Huo, unfamiliar with her new daughter-in-law, had little to praise and had to make do with this comment to save face.

Shen Yunxuan seized the opportunity and joked lightly, “After going through something like this, I’d better have some backbone. Otherwise, people might think I’m an easy target.”

Her phrase “something like this” left room for interpretation. What exactly did she mean? Was she hinting that the content of the recording was true? Shen Yunxuan seemed to reveal nothing while subtly implying a lot.

Afterward, she went to change into her dress for the toast. Meanwhile, Madam Huo and Huo Siheng began entertaining guests, and the atmosphere grew lively once more. Quiet murmurs about the earlier commotion circulated among the guests.

Among them, Shen Yunrui’s group of close friends finally realized what had happened. “So, she used us as pawns?!?” one exclaimed.

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆