Chapter 38

Xin Mengmeng sneered over the phone, disdaining Li Rongxiu's hypocritical words as she cut him off. "Oh, spare me. If you really thought that way, why did you agree to our plan? You just wanted to see Shen Manyao regret it right in front of you. You men are all the same—saying one thing and meaning another. I know you better than anyone."

Listening to Xin Mengmeng's mercilessly sharp accusations, Li Rongxiu could only shake his head with a bitter smile. He thought that even if he repeatedly insisted he was doing this solely to promote the film, Xin Mengmeng would not believe him. They talked for a while longer before Li Rongxiu deliberately hung up amid Xin Mengmeng's shriek of, "How many times have I told you? I don't like that red gemstone necklace. Change it to—"

Half an hour later, Yang Lin, newly dressed up, returned to the first-floor lobby with the store manager. Standing before Li Rongxiu, she gave a charming little twirl and tilted her head. "Well?"

"Very good." Li Rongxiu rose from the sofa and walked over to Yang Lin, bending his arm. Yang Lin smiled faintly and slipped her hand through his arm. Li Rongxiu continued praising her, "You look beautiful tonight."

Yang Lin rather proudly thrust out her chest, her full, firm breasts brushing lightly against Li Rongxiu's arm as she asked flirtatiously, "Only tonight?"

Li Rongxiu curved his lips, subtly drawing his arm back to maintain some distance from Yang Lin's chest before saying, "I hope you understand what it means to keep business and pleasure separate."

Chapter 38

Shen Manyao had always believed herself to be heaven's favored daughter, the object of envy and admiration for every young lady in Wancheng's upper society. She had a beautiful face, noble birth, an illustrious family, a sharp mind, graceful and proper manners, and a fiancé whose family was equally powerful, whose appearance was even more outstanding, and whose character was quite good. To outsiders, Shen Manyao's future should have been brilliant and dazzling. She had been born to stand at the center of the crowd and bask in the admiring, fawning gazes of others.

Because she had been born with wealth and charm that others might spend their entire lives desperately pursuing without ever obtaining, her good fortune was innate and her nobility bestowed by heaven. She did not need to struggle or strive, yet she had effortlessly gained everything others wanted. And so, while she possessed all these things, she had never thought to cherish them. She regarded her family's honor and responsibilities as burdens, madly pursuing what she did not have. Once, she had thought she was pursuing freedom and true love.

Thus, when the dust finally settled, when she fell from her pedestal and bore the disgrace of adultery and pregnancy out of wedlock, she had been frightened, yet still sweetly anticipated a future with Chi Junrui—a future in the sunlight, no longer hidden away.

Unfortunately, reality did not grant her the fairy-tale ending where prince and princess lived happily together forever. After the fairy tale shattered, life continued, and Shen Manyao had no choice but to bear the bitter consequences she deserved after her reckless affair.

Once the halo of the Shen family's eldest legitimate daughter had faded, Shen Manyao was nothing more than an ordinary woman without shame, pregnant before marriage. Once the thrill of her secret romance with Chi Junrui had faded, Shen Manyao suddenly realized that she had given nearly everything she could to this true love, yet Chi Junrui had pulled away when she needed him most, when she was at her weakest.

Although Yao Pingting had ultimately rejected Chi Junrui's advances, and Chi Junrui, indecisive or perhaps still unable to let her go, had eventually returned to Shen Manyao's side through Shen Manyao's schemes, the bloody, cruel truths seemed gradually buried beneath Chi Junrui's gentle attentiveness these days. Yet Shen Manyao still could not forget those days when gossip columns and rumors filled the air.

Amid the overwhelming rumors, Shen Manyao had become a pitiable abandoned woman, falling from her lofty pedestal into the mud. The family and lover she had trusted most had abandoned her one after another. When those girlfriends and hangers-on, whose looks, character, family background, and intelligence were all inferior to hers, called her now, they no longer showered her with concern. Instead, every word, open or veiled, carried contempt and scorn more piercing than a knife...

Still, Shen Manyao was grateful for these people's blunt straightforwardness. If not for their provocation, perhaps she would still be hiding in that villa, weeping as she desperately tried to preserve her false love, without the courage to appear before others with her swollen belly. To rise from the ashes once more.

Noticing the strange look on his companion's face, Chi Junrui frowned with concern and lowered his head to ask gently, "Manyao, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Do you want to go back and rest?"

Shen Manyao came back to herself. Looking at Chi Junrui's concerned expression, she smiled softly. "I'm fine. I just haven't attended an occasion like this in a long time, so I'm a little unused to it."

Standing nearby, Chi Junrui's mother curled her lips disdainfully when she heard Shen Manyao's words. Without even looking at the young couple, she said bluntly, "If you're not used to it, then obediently stay in the villa. I truly don't know what is wrong with the Shen family's upbringing, raising daughters one worse than the next..."

Seeing the helpless look Chi Junrui gave her, Mother Chi forcibly swallowed the words "without shame." Shen Manyao, who was holding Chi Junrui's arm, still maintained an impeccable smile, but her gaze fixed fiercely on Mother Chi.

Mother Chi frowned more uncomfortably and snapped at Shen Manyao, "What are you staring at me for? Was I wrong?"

Shen Manyao sneered. Before she could speak, someone behind her answered, "I don't know whether Madam Chi was right or wrong. But in Wancheng, not every stray cat or dog is qualified to discuss the Shen family's affairs. No matter how flawed Manyao may be, she is still a daughter of the Shen family. Even if her father is angry and unwilling to care about her now, she still has me, her mother, to support her. Even if I alone am outnumbered, the Sun family is still behind us. Madam Chi, do you truly think a fallen phoenix is no better than a chicken?"

Everyone froze at those words and instinctively turned toward the voice. They saw Sun Minqiu, Shen Manyao's mother, abandoning Shen Yingbo, who had been chatting with business partners, and striding over aggressively. Seeing her mother come to defend her, Shen Manyao's eyes reddened uncontrollably. She immediately released Chi Junrui's arm, threw herself into Sun Minqiu's embrace, and began to sob. "Mom, you've forgiven me, haven't you?"

A trace of pity appeared on Sun Minqiu's face. She reached out to stroke Shen Manyao's hair and let out a long sigh without speaking.

When her daughter's scandal had been exposed, causing the Shen family's reputation and business to plummet, it was not as if Sun Minqiu had not been angry. But no matter how angry she was, could she truly remain angry with her own flesh and blood for the rest of her life?

Sun Minqiu looked over her much thinner daughter. Pregnant women were already sensitive, suspicious, and difficult to please, but how had the Chi family treated her daughter? They neglected the pregnant Shen Manyao while urging Chi Junrui to pursue that shrew from the Yao family. Did they think the Shen family's eldest legitimate daughter could not compare to the Yao family's eldest legitimate daughter? Did they think the Shen family's status and reputation could not compare to the Yao family's?

The thought filled Sun Minqiu with fury. Mother Chi and Chi Junrui smiled awkwardly beside her and forced themselves to step forward to greet Sun Minqiu. Chi Junrui wore a broad smile as he said, "It's been a long time since I last saw you, Auntie. How have you been lately? Is Uncle well?"

Sun Minqiu gave a cold snort. She could not even be bothered to spare the Chi mother and son a glance, saying with open disdain, "The Shen family cannot possibly deserve Young Master Chi's concern. Now that the Shen family has declined, we cannot compare to the Yao family's splendor. People's hearts are no longer what they used to be. There are far too many who chase wealth and power. Who still cares about the Shen family's old face? They just curry favor with whichever wall stands taller. Since the Shen family lacks the ability to be used by others, we ought to hide inside our house for the rest of our lives and never come out, so we won't embarrass ourselves in public, isn't that right?"

Those words were like a hard slap across the faces of the Chi mother and son. Their cheeks burned painfully. Mother Chi could only force a smile. "Madam Shen, what are you saying—"

Before Mother Chi could finish, Sun Minqiu sneered and cut her off with barbed words. "What am I saying? Naturally, I'm speaking Wancheng dialect. Was I unclear? Or has Madam Chi become unable to understand human speech after only a few days apart?"

Her words were far too sharp. Even though Mother Chi considered herself well-bred, being mocked so publicly by Sun Minqiu made it difficult for her to save face. Mother Chi's expression immediately turned cold, but because of the Shen family's standing in Wancheng, she did not dare confront Sun Minqiu head-on. She only smiled more stiffly, exchanged a few perfunctory words with Sun Minqiu, then found an excuse to leave.

Chi Junrui was also somewhat displeased with Sun Minqiu's conduct. Yet he could not say anything in front of her, so he could only secretly glance at Shen Manyao. Seeing this, Shen Manyao could only wrap her arm around Sun Minqiu's and say, "Mom, I've missed you so much after not seeing you for so long. Why don't we go to the lounge and talk? How has Dad been lately? And Grandpa and Grandma—are they well?"

Sun Minqiu had long wanted to ask her daughter about her current situation face-to-face. Hearing Shen Manyao's words, she readily agreed. The two women walked arm in arm toward the interior of the auction house. As they passed Chi Junrui, Shen Manyao turned and said, "I haven't seen my mom in a long time, and I want to talk to her alone. I won't stay here with you. But I'm sure you'll be fine by yourself."

Chi Junrui's expression shifted slightly, but he answered without hesitation, "Of course. Go ahead. Don't worry about me."

Shen Manyao smiled faintly and turned away. Chi Junrui stood there blankly, watching her retreating back as she left without a moment's hesitation, his expression unreadable.

When Li Rongxiu and Yang Lin arrived at the auction venue at just the right moment, Xin Mengmeng was walking calmly down the red carpet with her male companion, Zheng Fei, who also played the male lead in Above the Elite. She struck poses for photographs while patiently answering the media reporters' various questions. Naturally, there was no shortage of promotional remarks for Above the Elite, along with a few pointed jabs.

Thus, the instant Li Rongxiu stepped from the car hand in hand with Yang Lin and onto the red carpet, sharp-eyed gossip reporters surrounded them. Under the dazzling flashbulbs, every media outlet eagerly captured Yang Lin, smiling sweetly and charmingly as she held Li Rongxiu's arm and entered the auction venue with him. Combined with the earlier photos of Chi Junrui and Shen Manyao looking like an estranged couple, the images would surely make the front pages of many gossip papers the next day.

After answering several questions about the film's promotion, Li Rongxiu avoided all further questions regarding his relationship with Shen Manyao and calmly led Yang Lin into the auction.

As the organizer of this auction and Li Rongxiu's former romantic rival, Chi Junrui felt deeply conflicted when he saw Li Rongxiu again—

Half a year ago, he had been a rising business star praised throughout Wancheng's upper society, successful in both love and career, with reputation and prospects at his fingertips. Li Rongxiu, meanwhile, had merely been a spoiled rich young master living off his family, unable even to keep his own fiancée under control.

Yet half a year later, Li Rongxiu was still a spoiled rich young master from a powerful family, but with the support of family and friends, he had become a strong contender for Diwan High School's top student. Chi Junrui, meanwhile, was beset by the scandal of the broken engagement, while his family business suffered setback after setback, forcing them to sell ancestral property just to weather the crisis.

Looking at Li Rongxiu, glowing with success and arriving with a beautiful woman on his arm, Chi Junrui smiled bitterly at life's reversals and fate's unpredictability. Before Chi Junrui could speak, Xin Mengmeng deliberately asked, "So it's the Chi family's eldest young master. Why are you alone? Miss Shen—oh, no, I should call her Madam Chi now, shouldn't I? No, that's not right either. Since you two haven't officially married, calling her that would seem too presumptuous. Then let me boldly ask: when will the two of you hold the wedding? You can't possibly wait until the child is born before it can even be entered into the Chi family's household register, can you?"

Chapter 39

Chi Junrui was sick to death of Xin Mengmeng's affected, sarcastic manner. A man who appeared gentle and refined but was in truth deeply chauvinistic, Chi Junrui had always disliked those spoiled, willful heiresses who relied on their good family backgrounds to order others about. More than once, while chatting with friends, he had complained about why the Empire encouraged the women's rights movement. He had always felt the old rules requiring women to obey the three obediences and four virtues were quite good. Even without those rules, women should be gentle and virtuous, support their husbands and raise their children, rather than relying on their family backgrounds and beauty to be arrogantly competitive and try to take charge of men.