Chapter Twenty-Two

Shen Huaijing watched Lin Yiqing's actions coldly. To address her like this in front of so many people—was she deliberately trying to humiliate her? Was Lin Yiqing aiming to make the whole city laugh at Shen Huaijing's expense?

Naturally, Shen Huaijing slipped her arm through Fu Chen's, smiling as she spoke before Fu Chen could. "Miss Lin, Fu Chen wasn't planning to come tonight. It was only because I wanted him to pick me up that he agreed."

The two women looked at each other, their eyes crackling with hostility. Fu Chen glanced at the confident woman beside him, his gaze complicated. Did she really believe so firmly that he would stand on her side?

Since she was so sure, he decided to tease this arrogant woman a little.

"Yiqing, I actually did want to see your art exhibition, and pick up my wife as well," Fu Chen said, his voice icy and emotionless.

At those words, the atmosphere instantly dropped ten degrees. Everyone held their breath, eager for the drama that was about to unfold.

It was, without a doubt, a public slap across Shen Huaijing's face.

She looked up at Fu Chen in disbelief, slowly releasing his arm. A breath caught in her throat, her expression awkward and tinged with anger.

She had thought Fu Chen would defend her, or at least keep up appearances and stay loyal to her in front of others.

Her lush red lips parted, but in the end, she said nothing.

A ripple stirred in Lin Yiqing's heart; her previously pale cheeks grew flushed. She glanced at Shen Huaijing, and seeing the other's embarrassment, finally felt her dignity restored.

Indeed, Fu Chen still had feelings for her. Lin Yiqing felt a surge of pride.

"Ah Chen is still as he always was, never missing any of my exhibitions," Lin Yiqing said, revealing a smile that hadn't been seen in a long time.

Fu Chen smiled faintly. "Of course. I've always regarded Yiqing as my dearest little sister."

What a twist! Fu Chen's words always steered the situation.

Moments ago, everyone was speculating whether Lin Yiqing was Fu Chen's lover; now the tables had turned, and she was nothing more than a 'little sister.'

Shen Huaijing's heart soared and plummeted. Her dignity was restored. She smiled brightly. "Yes, Fu Chen often talks to me about Yiqing, his little sister."

---

Shen Huaijing was truly the master of adapting; in just a short time, her expression changed several times.

Her radiant smile was the final straw for Lin Yiqing, who felt an indescribable hurt and grievance. Tears welled up in her eyes.

Lin Yu saw that Lin Yiqing was on the verge of losing control and tried to pull her away.

For Lin Yiqing, who had always been treated as a princess, this was a fatal humiliation.

But Lin Yiqing dodged Lin Yu's hand and, catching Fu Chen off guard, grabbed his arm and ran with all her strength.

The sudden turn left everyone stunned. Shen Huaijing was thrown into disarray; she was unsure whether to chase or not.

Fortunately, Lin Yu acted quickly, whispering to Shen Huaijing, "Come with me."

Shen Huaijing had no choice but to trust Lin Yu, pretending nothing had happened as she followed him out.

Once they left, the venue erupted into murmurs and whispers.

A sharp-faced, monkey-like man boasted to those around him, "I secretly recorded everything. Tonight I'll sell the video to the media. Let's see how the Fu family stays arrogant now."

A man with gold-rimmed glasses replied, "Aren't you afraid Fu Chen will find out? You’ll be in over your head then."

"Bah, by then he’ll have his own problems; he won’t care about me," the sharp-faced man said dismissively.

"Even if you want to sell it, see how many media outlets in the city dare to report it," the glasses-wearing man calmly sipped his wine.

The sharp-faced man leaned in conspiratorially. "I have my ways. Let me tell you..."

Shen Huaijing crossed her arms, sizing up Lin Yu, waiting for him to speak first.

"Don’t be so hostile. I still have to call you sister-in-law," Lin Yu said with a roguish grin.

Shen Huaijing frowned, dissatisfied. "Then why aren’t you taking me to find Fu Chen?"

Lin Yu leaned lazily against the wall, hands in his pockets, the light glinting off his earring. He turned his face and said calmly, "They need to settle things between themselves."

Shen Huaijing played with her hair, her red lips curving upward. "Oh? If Fu Chen and Lin Yiqing settle things, you’ll have your chance to impress her, won’t you?"

---

Lin Yu took no offense at Shen Huaijing's sarcasm, giving her a bitter smile. "What’s the point of mocking me? We both want the same outcome."

Shen Huaijing paused. Did they really share the same goal? Did she actually care?

"Lin Yu, we were never truly on the same side. I don’t care what happens between Lin Yiqing and Fu Chen, so long as it doesn’t affect me."

She concealed the emotion in her eyes, a cold smile curling her lips. "In fact, I hope their conflict escalates. That way, I can reap the rewards. After all, people always sympathize with the woman abandoned by her husband, don’t they?"

Lin Yu turned his head, full of surprise. He stood up straight, his voice cold. "Shen Huaijing, you really are different from the rest. I guess I underestimated you before."

Shen Huaijing shrugged innocently, her expression pitiful. "I don’t understand what you mean. I just want to protect myself. It’s not easy for a girl like me, you know?"

It was a pity Shen Huaijing wasn’t competing for Best Actress at the Oscars—her pouting lips, reddened eyes, and aggrieved expression could melt any heart.

No man could resist such a pitiful woman.

Now Lin Yu fully understood what Fu Chen had said before: Shen Huaijing must have secrets. Most heiresses were all beauty and no brains; at this moment, any ordinary girl would have rushed to tear Lin Yiqing apart.

But Shen Huaijing was unconcerned, even planning her escape route. From the start, she never cared about the entanglement between Lin Yiqing and Fu Chen.

She actually wanted things to spiral out of control, since she had always played the victim.

As long as tonight’s events were reported by the media, Shen Huaijing would always come out ahead. Fu Chen and Lin Yiqing would become the city’s most reviled pair.

"Stop acting. You’ve had your plan from the very beginning. You’re just playing the role everyone expects," Lin Yu said, raising his eyebrows at her.

Shen Huaijing casually tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, revealing her smooth collarbone. She blinked her luminous eyes and said sweetly, "I think you’re overcomplicating things. I can’t win against my husband’s first love, can I? If I lose emotionally, at least I should hold on to something else, right? I can't walk away with nothing."

"You..." Their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of a phone.