Could someone have switched her out?
Only after observing her for a while and confirming that Ye Jin's little mannerisms were no different from before did Lin Xiwen relax. It seemed she simply hadn't fully understood her daughter-in-law before.
Lin Xiwen had always been open and aboveboard and had no wish to eavesdrop on Ye Jin's thoughts, so she intended to speak up and alert her.
Yet when she opened her mouth, her throat seemed to seize up too, and she couldn't make a sound!
Lin Xiwen froze briefly, but she wasn't particularly surprised. After all, something as strange as hearing Ye Jin's thoughts had already happened.
She wondered, Could Heaven be stopping me from revealing this?
But the most important thing now was to hold the signing ceremony successfully. Lin Xiwen had no time to dwell on it, so she said to Ye Jin, "Since you're not feeling well, rest a little longer. Just don't miss the official ceremony. I'll go entertain the guests first."
Ye Jin naturally nodded in agreement. As she watched Lin Xiwen leave, her heart finally settled back into place.
If she hadn't been certain she was behaving exactly as she had before, she would have suspected Lin Xiwen had noticed something just now. That trash system had dumped so much information on her all at once-it really tested her composure!
About half an hour later, the signing ceremony officially began. Naturally, it opened with speeches from various experts and representatives, who introduced (bragged about) the prospects of the collaboration, how many billions the projects they would develop were worth, and so on.
Ye Jin naturally had no interest in any of this, but because she was sitting in the front row, she could only try her best to look as though she was listening attentively. In reality, her thoughts had long since drifted far away.
[How about I snatch Su Yang's microphone when the time comes? But everyone would think I'd gone mad.]
[Or should I pretend to faint? If the ceremony ends early, Su Yang won't have a chance to speak. But reporters and netizens are pretty good at digging up dirt these days. If I faint, they'll definitely dig into why. What if they uncover Su Chengjing's disappearance...]
As she considered ways to stop Su Yang, she also quietly kept track of the pair's movements.
[Wait, why haven't Su Yang and Zhou Wanqing come back since they went to the lounge?! Could they have done so many rotten things that something happened to them? Then wouldn't I have to do nothing at all?]
Although Ye Jin knew this was most likely impossible, she still wished for it in her heart.
Beside her, Lin Xiwen heard all of Ye Jin's complaints, feeling both helpless and amused. She even joined Ye Jin in secretly praying that something really had happened to Su Yang, settling everything once and for all.
But she knew better than anyone that the two hadn't entered because she had sent someone to lock them in the lounge. They wouldn't be let out until the ceremony ended.
Time passed, and the ceremony soon drew to a close. The host's sweet yet solemn voice rang out again.
"Next, let us invite the representatives of both groups onto the stage to sign the final collaboration documents."
The representatives of both groups sitting in the front row stood and headed toward the stage.
Just then, Su Yang and Zhou Wanqing, who had been missing all this time, hurried into the banquet hall and followed the others. Su Yang even shot Lin Xiwen a vicious glare as he passed her.
Stupid as Su Yang was, he could still guess that Lin Xiwen had most likely noticed something and acted against him.
Fortunately, his dear daughter Su Yinan had arrived in time and let him out.
He was filled with fury and swore he would make Lin Xiwen pay!
Ye Jin, who had been keeping an eye out for Su Yang, immediately spotted the pair and wailed inwardly.
[Right at the final hurdle, these two actually came back! Sigh, I really couldn't count on something happening to Su Yang on its own. Looks like I'll still have to watch for a chance to pretend to faint.]
A trace of helplessness rose in Lin Xiwen's heart. Sure enough, Su Yang wasn't so easy to deal with. However stupid he was, he would still bring someone to back him up when he came to seize power.
If only she had learned the news earlier, she could have prepared a more comprehensive response...
But she quickly came to her senses, amused by her own greed. This was already far better than knowing nothing at all.
Even if Su Yang really did reveal that Su Chengjing had been kidnapped, she could prepare what to say beforehand and smooth things over.
Soon, everyone was in position, and the heads of both groups gave their speeches.
Lin Xiwen naturally represented the Su Group. Her stage presence was steady, showing no sign at all that she had spent decades confined to domestic life.
But just as the two finished their speeches and the ribbon-cutting ceremony was about to begin, Su Yang took a large step forward, seemingly intending to snatch the microphone from Lin Xiwen's hand.
Even during her speech, Lin Xiwen had been watching Su Yang's movements, and she immediately turned sideways to dodge him.
Yet at that moment, Zhou Wanqing stepped forward from the other side and "took" the microphone. "Hello, everyone. I'd like to announce something."
Lin Xiwen was shocked. Was Zhou Wanqing going to help Su Yang make the announcement?!
Su Yang stopped moving, delight rising in his heart. That stupid woman was actually being so quick-witted this time!
Having her announce it for him was fine too. He could even put on a troubled expression afterward and earn himself a good reputation.
Inwardly, Ye Jin was scratching her ears and cheeks in agitation.
[Aaaaah! Where did a woman as stupid as Second Aunt come from? Why is she trying so hard? So Su Yang can hurry up and take power, then divorce her?]
[I can't watch this anymore. Should I just pretend to faint right now?!]
Just as Ye Jin was about to close her eyes and faint, Zhou Wanqing spoke rapidly.
"Today is a good day, but unfortunately, my marriage to Su Yang has reached its end. I, Zhou Wanqing, will soon be divorcing him."
The room instantly fell so silent that a crow or sparrow could have been heard, leaving only the click-click of reporters' shutters ringing throughout the hall.
Chapter 3
Ye Jin froze halfway through fainting.
[Huh? Second Aunt actually wants a divorce?! Have I really fainted and started hallucinating?]
Lin Xiwen's hand, which had been about to snatch Zhou Wanqing's microphone, stopped in midair. Had that love-brained Zhou Wanqing finally awakened?
The smile on Su Yang's face instantly collapsed. What was going on?! Had Zhou Wanqing been possessed by a ghost? Or had she discovered something?
He strode forward, trying to snatch Zhou Wanqing's microphone, only to be restrained by two black-clad security guards who rushed up.