Ch 18: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Shen Yunrui was very familiar with the Huo family’s old residence. She avoided people and walked to the garden, wanting to cool her head and calm herself. Who would have thought that just as she arrived, she would see someone ahead? Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Huo Siming, leaning against a tree with his eyes closed.

His mixed-race features were strikingly attractive, and the moonlight cast a mysterious halo over his face, making him even more charming. Shen Yunrui couldn’t help but show a look of nostalgia. They had shared happy times together, but in the end, he couldn’t give her what she wanted, and she wasn’t willing to follow him abroad. Ultimately, they were fated to part ways. In this life, they were strangers standing opposite each other.

Huo Siming sensed her gaze and found it amusing. He opened his eyes and smiled, “I know you. You’re my sister-in-law’s younger sister.”

A trace of secret delight flickered in Shen Yunrui’s heart. They had never spoken before or formally introduced themselves, yet Huo Siming had noticed her. Did this mean that no matter the lifetime or identity, Huo Siming was destined to fall in love with her?

Shen Yunrui composed herself, adjusted her hair, and smiled, “That’s me. I’m Shen Yunrui. You can call me Angel. Nice to meet you.”

“Then you can call me Kevin!” Huo Siming grinned as he walked over to her and offered, “Are you out here sobering up too? There’s a swing set over there—shall we go sit for a while?”

Shen Yunrui, recalling the passionate days they shared in their past life, felt a sudden heat rise within her. Her cheeks burned uncontrollably as she nodded and walked with him.

The two quickly hit it off, chatting about their lives. Shen Yunrui, trusting her “old flame,” hid nothing, while Huo Siming’s words were a mix of truth and lies.

Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan noticed Huo Siming was no longer in the hall. She found an excuse to head to the lounge and pulled out her phone to check the surveillance cameras. She quickly located Huo Siming and Shen Yunrui. However, knowing they had only just met, Shen Yunxuan wasn’t concerned that their conversation would go too deep. There was no significant information exchanged—only Shen Yunrui dropping vague and misleading comments to make Huo Siming believe Shen Yunxuan wasn’t a good person.

Shen Yunxuan found it both ridiculous and infuriating. She guessed that Shen Yunrui was projecting her own guilt. After having an affair with Huo Siming in their past life, Shen Yunrui must be worried that in this life, the roles might reverse, and Shen Yunxuan might develop a relationship with Huo Siming. So Shen Yunrui was taking preemptive action to tarnish Shen Yunxuan’s image in front of him.

Shen Yunrui was truly skilled at being infuriating, never missing an opportunity to undermine her.

Shen Yunxuan then turned her attention to finding Lin Huaizhi through the surveillance footage. She saw him being bullied and ridiculed in a discreet corner. She promptly got up and went to his aid.

“Mr. Lin,” Shen Yunxuan called out, smiling as she addressed the others, “What are you all talking about?”

These people had mocked Shen Yunxuan in the past, only to regret it when property prices doubled, and she profited immensely instead of losing out. Now, seeing her again, they wished they could disappear. They resented Shen Yunrui for provoking the situation in the first place, but since she wasn’t available, they took out their frustrations on her so-called “true love,” Lin Huaizhi.

Upon Shen Yunxuan’s arrival, they quickly made awkward small talk and left. Lin Huaizhi sighed in relief, clutching his wine glass awkwardly, “Sister… Elder sister-in-law.”

Shen Yunxuan smirked slightly. “Call me Mrs. Huo. I don’t intend to acknowledge Shen Yunrui as my sister. What are you doing here alone? Where’s Shen Yunrui?”

Lin Huaizhi became even more flustered, glancing around anxiously. “I’ve been looking for her for a while but haven’t been able to find her. I don’t know where she went.”

“Did she mention anything important she wanted to do tonight?” Shen Yunxuan asked.

Lin Huaizhi shook his head. “No, Mrs. Huo, please don’t be upset. Yunrui just wanted to bring me here to meet people and prepare for future business dealings. She didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

Shen Yunxuan’s voice turned cold. “If she hadn’t been spreading nonsense, I wouldn’t have been ridiculed by so many people. Doesn’t it feel awful to be mocked? If not for the government’s announcement about relocation, do you think tonight’s gathering would’ve turned into an event where everyone laughed at me?”

Lin Huaizhi, having already heard about the situation while being bullied earlier, was now red-faced with embarrassment. He didn’t know how to respond.

Shen Yunxuan didn’t wait for an answer. After making her point, she added, “Shen Yunrui isn’t in the hall; she’s likely in the garden. Let’s go find her. Once we find her, leave. I don’t want to see her.”

Lin Huaizhi quietly agreed and followed her, still preoccupied with his thoughts. He couldn’t help but recall some comments he’d overheard earlier. Was it true that Shen Yunxuan was initially supposed to marry into the Lin family, claiming she wanted to be a good wife and care for the Lin family? Could someone as commanding and high-ranking as her really have once harbored such humble intentions?

The thought flashed through his mind but quickly passed. Lin Huaizhi didn’t dwell on it, instead worrying about Shen Yunrui’s whereabouts. She had been gone for quite a while. Could she be hiding somewhere crying? After all, if they had targeted him, they certainly wouldn’t have spared her. Though he was upset with her loose tongue, his concern outweighed his anger, as their romance was still in its passionate phase.

This mood only lasted until they walked into the garden. Lin Huaizhi saw Shen Yunrui about to speak, but before she could, she got up from the swing, stumbled, and fell into Huo Siming’s arms. Normally, helping someone who nearly fell wouldn’t be a big deal, but what Lin Huaizhi saw next stunned him: Shen Yunrui raised her head in Huo Siming’s arms, and Huo Siming looked down at her. Neither of them moved away.

The scene looked as if the next moment, they might kiss!

Lin Huaizhi’s face turned dark as he strode forward. “What are you two doing?!”

Shen Yunrui’s expression changed drastically. She quickly pushed Huo Siming away and anxiously explained, “It’s not what you think! My leg went numb, so I just leaned on Kevin for a moment.”

“Kevin? You’re calling him that affectionately? And now you’re standing perfectly fine? All it took was one second?” Lin Huaizhi wasn’t buying it. If her leg was numb, couldn’t she have leaned on the swing frame? Why lean into someone’s arms and gaze up at them? Did she think he was an idiot?

Shen Yunrui, with guilt in her heart, couldn’t muster the confidence to defend herself. Instead, she desperately held onto Lin Huaizhi and repeated over and over, “You have to believe me. I only met him today. How could there be anything between us? Don’t be jealous—it’s really just a misunderstanding.”

Lin Huaizhi shook her off and sneered. “You only met him today? Didn’t you also say the same thing the day you met me, falling for me at first sight and being head over heels the second time?”

Shen Yunrui had said this countless times to emphasize her so-called true love for Lin Huaizhi and brainwash him into loving her more. But hearing those words from Lin Huaizhi’s mouth now felt like the ultimate irony. It was as though even he found her declarations laughable, making her current explanation even less credible.

Huo Siming stepped in to defuse the situation. “Mr. Lin, don’t get upset. Mrs. Lin’s leg went numb, and when she stood up too quickly, she felt a bit dizzy. I just helped steady her. As for the name, I introduced myself as Kevin and asked everyone to call me that—nothing more.”

He raised his hands with a sunny smile. “I’m not some playboy, and I’m especially careful to avoid misunderstandings with married women. It’s fine if you misunderstand me, but please don’t hurt your relationship with your wife over this. Alright, I’ll leave you two to talk.”

His open and cheerful demeanor made Lin Huaizhi pause, momentarily doubting whether he might have misjudged the situation. Foreigners, after all, tend to be more casual and less bound by social norms. If Shen Yunrui’s leg had indeed gone numb and she felt dizzy, her delayed reaction might make sense. Still, the image of their lingering gaze continued to bother him.

Seeing Lin Huaizhi’s softened stance, Shen Yunrui sighed in relief—until she noticed Shen Yunxuan standing nearby. Her tone instantly sharpened. “Why are you two together?!”

Her accusatory tone suggested she suspected something inappropriate, causing Lin Huaizhi to feel both angry and humiliated. This wife of his only seemed capable of making him lose face repeatedly.

Shen Yunxuan smirked faintly. “Mr. Lin was being targeted by a few people, so I helped him out and brought him to find you. That’s all. What were you imagining?”

Realizing she’d overreacted, Shen Yunrui knew she had no justification. In this lifetime, Shen Yunxuan didn’t even know Lin Huaizhi, was married to the wealthiest man, and had just profited handsomely from her investments. There was no way she would be interested in Lin Huaizhi. Yet, instead of reflecting on her actions, Shen Yunrui doubled down with indignation. “This is your banquet, and my husband was bullied here. Don’t you think you owe us an explanation?”

Lin Huaizhi frowned and tugged at her. “Enough. Let’s go home.”

“Go home? We can’t just let this go!” Shen Yunrui, still fuming, glared at Shen Yunxuan, demanding an answer.

Shen Yunxuan chuckled coldly. “You spoke recklessly, offended people, and left them no choice but to take it out on Mr. Lin. Blame yourself for your scheming mind—it always backfires.”

She stepped closer to Shen Yunrui. “Honestly, why would you leave Mr. Lin alone in the banquet hall when it’s his first time attending such an event? Weren’t you supposed to be introducing him to your network? And yet, instead of staying by his side, you were sneaking off to gossip and smear me. You’re married now. It’s time to grow up and stop being so selfish and impulsive. Don’t you agree?”

Shen Yunrui’s heart sank. With those words, she knew this incident wouldn’t blow over easily. She glanced at Lin Huaizhi, whose expression had grown icy, his gaze colder than ever. Just as she opened her mouth to explain, Lin Huaizhi cut her off sharply. “Shut up! If you can’t speak properly, don’t speak at all.”

He turned to Shen Yunxuan and said, “Mrs. Huo, we’ll be leaving now.” Then he grabbed Shen Yunrui’s wrist and stormed off, dragging her behind him.

Though the grip on her wrist hurt, Shen Yunrui didn’t dare protest. It was her first time seeing Lin Huaizhi this assertive and furious. She had initially hoped to use the Huo family’s banquet to boost Lin Huaizhi’s connections, bask in the Huo family’s prestige, and perhaps even step on Shen Yunxuan a little. But now, it was clear her plans had backfired spectacularly. She wished she’d never come. How was she going to explain this?

Shen Yunxuan watched their retreating figures for a while before looking away. She knew Lin Huaizhi well—her earlier words would have sown seeds of doubt in him, ensuring a strain in his relationship with Shen Yunrui. For the foreseeable future, Shen Yunrui would face her own troubles. If Shen Yunrui wanted to use petty tricks to antagonize her, she wouldn’t let her off easily.

With the Huo family facing its own crisis, letting Shen Yunrui deal with her own mess would keep her too busy to cause trouble for others. Shen Yunxuan gazed at the moonlight, gathered her energy, and reminded herself of the tasks ahead. Tonight was crucial—it all depended on what she accomplished before dawn.

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆