Ch 16: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

The mixed-race handsome man removed his sunglasses and smiled at Shen Yunxuan. “So this is my sister-in-law, right? Nice to meet you, Sister-in-law! My Chinese name is Huo Siming, but I prefer my English name. You can just call me Kevin.”

Huo Siheng introduced him, “This is my second uncle’s son. Their family immigrated abroad many years ago. Kevin wanted to come back to explore the country, so he’s traveling with me.”

Shen Yunxuan nodded and greeted him. “Have the accommodations been arranged? Where is Kevin staying?”

“My second uncle said since we’re newlyweds, it wouldn’t be right to disturb us, so Kevin is staying at the family estate,” Huo Siheng said as they walked out. “My second uncle’s family has been overseas for so long that not many people here know Kevin. Let’s host a welcome party for him and introduce him to everyone. If he likes it here, he might even decide to develop his career locally.”

“Sure, I’ll handle the arrangements,” Shen Yunxuan said with a smile, taking charge of the matter.

Based on Shen Yunrui’s implications, it seemed likely that Huo Siheng’s accident would somehow be related to this cousin. In her previous life, after returning to the capital, she had heard that Huo Siming had a good personality and a decent reputation, though he lacked the skills to reverse the Huo family’s decline. But since he never sought power and only stepped in when the family was in trouble, no one blamed him.

If Huo Siming was indeed responsible for Huo Siheng’s downfall and managed to keep it under wraps, then he was a formidable opponent—far better at pretending than Shen Yunrui ever was.

Sure enough, Huo Siming was incredibly charming. His sweet words were pleasant and perfectly natural, without any hint of insincerity. If not for Shen Yunrui’s warning, even she might have believed he was just a sunny, simple young man returning home for fun.

When Huo Siming met Madam Huo, he charmed her immediately. Though they had barely met before, his warmth and their shared bloodline quickly made him feel like part of the family.

As for Shen Yunxuan, she played the role of the perfect sister-in-law, ensuring every detail was impeccably arranged.

Three days later, a lively welcome party for Huo Siming was held at the Huo family estate. Many influential families with business ties to the Huo family were invited, along with almost all of the younger generation. The idea was Shen Yunxuan’s—since Huo Siming claimed he was here to have fun, she created an opportunity for him to socialize with people his age. Whether he connected with the older, business-oriented figures would be his own responsibility.

Madam Huo praised Shen Yunxuan for her thoughtfulness, and Huo Siming naturally had no objections.

Before long, Shen Yunrui arrived with Lin Huaizhi. Both were dressed elegantly, looking presentable enough.

Shen Yunxuan was mingling in the hall, greeting guests warmly. When she saw them, she greeted them just as naturally.

Lin Huaizhi, despite having attended several high-end events recently, still felt out of place in such a luxurious social setting. Awkward and unsure, he whispered to Shen Yunrui, “Maybe we should leave. There are too many people here.”

Shen Yunrui’s expression stiffened, but she quickly regained composure. Internally, she was frustrated. How can Lin Huaizhi be so useless and unable to hold his ground in situations like this? How much more effort will it take to make him ambitious enough to strive for success on his own?

Smiling, she said, “It’s precisely because there are so many people that it’s good for networking. Expanding your connections will be incredibly beneficial for future investments and business opportunities. In circles like this, connections are everything. The wider your network, the more unshakable your position becomes.”

Lin Huaizhi felt uneasy. Isn’t it true that no matter the circle, one’s own value determines the strength of their relationships? How can anyone be truly unshakable? Still, he admitted that broader connections could help in business, so he reluctantly followed Shen Yunrui’s lead.

Looking at Shen Yunxuan, he whispered, “Your sister seems very generous. Inviting us to such a good event means she’s probably moved on from past grievances. In my family, we resolve conflicts directly and don’t hold grudges afterward. You should be more careful with your words in the future to avoid misunderstandings.”

Shen Yunrui’s smile froze, but she didn’t argue with him, merely muttering, “Got it. Let’s go; I’ll introduce you to some people.”

She glanced back at Shen Yunxuan from a distance, her expression cold. Go ahead and laugh while you can. In a few days, you’ll have nothing to smile about. When Huo Siheng becomes a vegetable and Madam Huo falls ill, Huo Siming will take over, and you’ll become a powerless outsider in the Huo family. Maybe I’ll even spread rumors that you’re a curse!

After Shen Yunrui looked away, Shen Yunxuan also glanced at her. She had made a point to invite every young person she knew, including Shen Yunrui. Since Shen Yunrui seemed to know the details of what was to come, and both Huo Siheng and Huo Siming were present today, Shen Yunxuan was watching closely for any unusual reactions.

This estate had recently undergone a major security upgrade. Shen Yunxuan, Madam Huo, and Huo Siheng had used the party as a pretext to reinforce surveillance inside and out, adding a new monitoring system that covered every corner of the property. Only the three of them and the installation workers knew about it. She had framed it as a precautionary measure, even installing an alarm near Madam Huo’s bed that connected directly to her and Huo Siheng’s phones.

Now she didn’t need to follow Shen Yunrui around to monitor her movements, as she could effortlessly track everything through surveillance—a truly convenient arrangement.

As the banquet began, Huo Siheng personally introduced Huo Siming to everyone. Huo Siming enthusiastically waved to the crowd and said, “Hello, everyone! I’ve heard many people calling me ‘Second Young Master Huo’ today. It sounds a bit strange, so please just call me Kevin. I love all kinds of activities—surfing, skiing, horseback riding, yacht parties—you name it! Feel free to invite me, and I’ll cover the bill!”

The crowd burst into laughter, with some even teasing him about having a drinking contest later.

Shen Yunxuan noticed a few young women boldly eyeing Huo Siming. It was clear they were interested. After all, he had the looks, wealth, and status. Whether it turned into a marriage or just a few exciting days, they’d be happy either way. It seemed Huo Siming’s life was about to get very lively.

As Shen Yunxuan turned her gaze, she caught a glimpse of Shen Yunrui’s expression and froze. Shen Yunrui was also looking at Huo Siming, and the look in her eyes was strikingly similar to those other young women—mixed with a hint of grievance. Shen Yunxuan’s first thought was that they might have been involved romantically.

But could that be possible? Shen Yunxuan wracked her brain, recalling events from her previous life. She couldn’t remember any connection between them. After all, both were part of the Huo family, and by that time, she had already severed ties with the Shen family. She had been too busy managing her own business with Lin Huaizhi to focus on the Huo family, and there hadn’t been any scandal involving them.

Later, when the Huo family faced turmoil—Huo Siheng collapsed, and Huo Siming, unable to manage the business, left for his home country within a year—the Huo family faltered. Huo Siming, feeling guilty toward Madam Huo, handed over the company to her, and she barely kept it afloat. Eventually, Madam Huo passed away, and the Huo Group went bankrupt, with Shen Yunrui returning to the Shen family.

During this period, whether Shen Yunrui and Huo Siming had any interactions was hard to determine. However, Shen Yunxuan was certain of one thing: Shen Yunrui’s expression suggested there was definitely something between them.

If Shen Yunrui was so confident Huo Siheng would have issues and wasn’t taking direct action herself, it likely meant that in the previous life, after Huo Siheng collapsed, she and Huo Siming had conspired to take control of the Huo family—one managing the business and the other overseeing the household. This way, they could entirely dominate the Huo family. Perhaps Shen Yunrui chose Lin Huaizhi in this life because she knew Huo Siming’s incompetence from her past life and his decision to abandon the Huo family and return abroad.

Shen Yunxuan took a sip of wine, a sly smile forming on her lips. She knew having Shen Yunrui here would yield some revelations. This unexpected discovery was a delightful bonus, giving her new insights into Huo Siming’s capabilities.

The banquet soon became lively, with most attendees being young people.

Meanwhile, Shen Yunrui picked up a small piece of cake from the buffet and overheard a group of people praising Shen Yunxuan.

“I heard this banquet was entirely organized by Mrs. Huo. Everything is so well-arranged—she’s truly remarkable.”

“Yes, I noticed it at the wedding. She was composed, capable, and handled everything gracefully. It’s impressive—most people wouldn’t manage it so effortlessly. Even Madam Huo has been praising her all night.”

“And what’s with the Shen family? They neglected such an outstanding eldest daughter and doted on the younger one instead.”

Though they didn’t directly criticize Shen Yunrui, the implication was clear: she couldn’t compare to Shen Yunxuan. Shen Yunrui’s face darkened as she interjected, “There’s always a reason behind everything. After all, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, right?”

She glanced at Shen Yunxuan, who was chatting with others, and added with a smile, “Take my sister, for instance. She’s excellent at hosting banquets. She once said she wanted to learn to be a good wife and mother, so it’s natural she excels at managing these things to ensure her husband has no worries. But when it comes to investing, her luck hasn’t been as good. Her first attempt lost a billion yuan.”

The group hadn’t realized Shen Yunrui was nearby and felt awkward for being overheard. Yet, her words made sense—everyone had strengths and weaknesses. Even someone like Shen Yunxuan wasn’t perfect.

Someone casually asked, “Did Mrs. Huo really say she wanted to learn to be a good wife and mother? That’s a rare mindset these days.”

Shen Yunrui smiled, “Yes, she originally planned to marry into the Lin family. Since they lived in a more rural area with stricter family rules, she said she’d learn to be a good wife and mother to take care of the Lin family. But now that she’s in the Huo family, it’s the same.”

Yang An happened to pass by and overheard this, prompting him to ask, “Mrs. Lin, did our Mrs. Huo know Mr. Lin before?”

Shen Yunrui’s smile faltered. She had always promoted the idea that her relationship with Lin Huaizhi was a love match. If people thought Shen Yunxuan had known Lin Huaizhi earlier and had planned to marry him, it might spark scandalous rumors. Besides, Shen Yunxuan hadn’t met Lin Huaizhi at that time, so the lie would be easy to disprove. She quickly replied, “They didn’t know each other then, but…”

Yang An cut her off with a polite smile. “So, Mrs. Huo, as the eldest daughter, selflessly agreed to shoulder the responsibility of repaying your grandfather’s debt and made those remarks to reassure the family. However, later, you and Mr. Lin fell in love at first sight and insisted on swapping marriages. Bringing up these statements now seems irrelevant.

If Mrs. Lin continues making inappropriate remarks, I may have to ask both you and Mr. Lin to leave.”

Shen Yunrui took a deep breath and forced a smile. “I was just casually chatting and wasn’t paying attention. I won’t bring it up again.”

Only then did Yang An leave, but Shen Yunrui was seething with anger. Yang An is just a dog at Huo Siheng’s side. Once Huo Siheng becomes a vegetable, he’ll be the first to be fired. In the past life, I didn’t see Yang An standing up for me, but now he’s so protective of Shen Yunxuan? Infuriating!

However, when Shen Yunrui returned to the crowd, she noticed that her earlier remarks weren’t entirely without effect. After those girls dispersed, the group gradually began whispering about Shen Yunxuan’s investments.

Most of the people present were young, with little real power or financial clout. Their investments were typically small and cautious. None of them had ever heard of someone like Shen Yunxuan, who, as the wife of the richest man, reportedly lost a billion yuan on her first investment. The infamous nickname “the wasteful wife of the richest man” was mentioned again, and many people had already concluded that investing was Shen Yunxuan’s Achilles’ heel.

Shen Yunrui raised her wine glass to hide the smile playing on her lips. Last time in the mall, a few words from Shen Yunxuan had caused a rift between her and Lin Jiaojiao, undoing all the effort and money she had spent trying to win over the Lin family. It had ultimately cost her nearly ten million yuan to placate them and send them back home.

Today, it’s Shen Yunxuan’s turn to taste that same bitterness. Shen Yunrui thought smugly. How about the nickname “wasteful wife of the richest man”? Let’s see Shen Yunxuan try to shake it off in this lifetime!

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆