Chapter 17: I Love My Husband

As soon as the words left her mouth, Huang Long’s face went blank for a split second.

Once he processed what she said, his eyes bulged, and he lunged forward.

"What do you mean!?"

But his body was instantly pinned down by security.

Huang Long struggled violently, his face flushing a deep red and the veins on his neck bulging as he glared at the woman before him, roaring, "An Ling, what the hell do you mean!?"

An Ling leisurely took the bill from the waiter's hand. After a quick glance, she gasped in mock surprise, covering her mouth. "Oh my! This round costs 1.35 million."

Huang Long’s pupils constricted, his face turning deathly pale. "What?"

An Ling squatted down and thoughtfully held the bill in front of his face. "See that?"

She rested her chin on her hand, her eyes curving into crescents. "I heard the rule at this bar is that once you offer to pay for the whole house, there’s no backing out. What are we going to do, Boss Huang?"

The blood drained from Huang Long’s face, leaving his limbs cold. The astronomical figure on the bill made his head spin.

He was just a jobless vagrant; where was he supposed to get that kind of money?

Brother Shen had specifically warned him not to cause any trouble.

Huang Long swallowed hard, his lips trembling. He looked up at her with a pleading tone. "An Ling... no, Sister An, look... I’ll tell you everything. I’m not lying this time. Just help me out just this once!"

An Ling handed the bill back and let out a light laugh. "Tell me? Who cares?"

She looked down, her smile gentle and considerate.

"But don't worry. I know you don't have the money. We just need to find someone rich to pay for you."

With that, she turned to the bartender. "Is your owner or manager here?"

Just as she finished, a male voice came from behind.

"I'm the one."

She turned to see a clean-cut young man who had appeared behind her at some unknown point.

The man was staring at her with a complex gaze, filled with shock and curiosity.

Sensing his gaze, An Ling paused and frowned silently.

Does this guy know me too?

He probably wasn't the man from the second floor; the clothes didn't match.

Even if he knew her, she didn't feel like dealing with it today. She tilted her chin up. "He probably can't afford this. Go straight to Lu Jingshen of the Shen Group. This guy is Lu Jingshen's friend."

Huang Long’s body shook, and he jerked his head up. "No! Wait..."

Wang Yihong didn't care about him at all.

He took a sharp breath, scanning the woman before him with a probing look. "He’s Lu Jingshen’s friend, so you are... what to Lu Jingshen?"

An Ling gave him a cold look. "Why are you asking so many questions? Do you need a background check just to accept a payment?"

Wang Yihong’s eyes widened, and he shook his head quickly. "No, no, no!"

Good lord, is this woman really the stupid and wicked An Ling from the rumors?

I don't see any stupidity here!

He subconsciously glanced at a certain spot on the second floor. Why hasn't Shen Linyan come down yet?

Seeing the matter settled, An Ling grabbed Jiang Mai’s hand. "Then my friend and I will be leaving."

As they were about to go, Huang Long gritted his teeth and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"An Ling, you’re shameless! You actually used this method to get Brother Shen's attention! I knew it—why else would you come to a bar? You set me up on purpose just so you could see Brother Shen! You used the same trick last time to get a date with him, didn't you? You shameless woman!"

The room went silent for a moment before breaking into whispers.

"Is that the Mrs. Shen from the news?"

"Gosh, she dares to come to a bar after what happened?"

"The clarification must be fake, right? Does she really like her husband's younger brother?"

An Ling: "..."

Beside her, Jiang Mai sensed trouble. She frowned and whispered, "An Ling, you were right. We shouldn't have come in. Should we just leave?"

"Leaving won't help."

An Ling had seen through it long ago. Even if she wasn't at the bar today, the internet would still be buzzing about her.

This issue wasn't going to be resolved overnight.

Since it was bound to happen sooner or later, better to get it over with now.

She signaled the guards to let go. Her high heels clicked as she stepped in front of the man. Looking down at him, she said coldly, "I set you up? You were the one who offered to treat everyone. Your friends can testify to that. What does it have to do with me?"

Huang Long rubbed his shoulder, his face full of malice. "That’s because you said if I told you Brother Shen’s preferences, you’d pay the bill!"

"Why would I want to know Lu Jingshen’s preferences?"

"Because you like Brother Shen!"

An Ling replied calmly, "What are you talking about? I like my husband."

"Pffft—"

Wang Yihong, caught off guard, sprayed his drink and started coughing violently.

An Ling glanced at him and quietly moved away.

Wang Yihong waved his hand frantically. "Sorry, sorry! Just pretend I’m not here."

Huang Long was left speechless. "You... you clearly like Brother Shen. Otherwise, why would you come to a bar alone?"

He seemed to find a plausible reason and shouted, "Look! If you really liked your husband, why would you be at a bar by yourself? Do you dare to say Shen Linyan knows you're here?"

Jiang Mai, standing next to her, raised her hand expressionlessly.

"Hey buddy, I’m a person too."

Huang Long: "..."

The atmosphere was tense. An Ling checked the time, feeling she had stayed long enough. She was about to turn and leave.

But in the next second, a deep, clear voice resonated through the crowd.

"Who told you I didn't know?"

Her body jolted, and her eyes widened in shock.

...No way, right?

The sound of heavy leather shoes approached from behind. A tall, imposing figure loomed over her, as if pulling her into his orbit. The familiar scent of woody pine drifted into her nose.

The man leaned down, his warm breath brushing against her ear. His gentle, smiling voice sounded like a whisper right next to her.

"Why didn't you tell him we came together, darling?"

—Because I didn't know you were here either!

An Ling forced a smile and turned around. When the familiar suit came into view, her heart skipped a beat, and she nearly lost her composure.

Damn, I'm screwed!

Shen Linyan was the man on the second floor!

No wonder she felt something was off!

The man's perfect features seemed even more profound in the shadows. He looked down at her, his dark eyes seemingly able to pierce through her soul, quietly waiting for her reaction.

An Ling took a deep breath.

It wasn't her first time; what was there to fear?

Her eyes curved, shimmering with a hint of intoxication. She slowly raised her slender arms and wrapped them around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder like she’d been wronged. "Because you were busy, Hubby. I didn't want to disturb you," she said coquettishly.

The moment her soft, fragrant body pressed against him, Shen Linyan’s pupils contracted, and his body stiffened imperceptibly.

His Adam's apple bobbed. He lowered his gaze to the woman's ears, which were turning beet red. A dark current swirled in his eyes. After a moment, a light chuckle escaped him. He cooperatively wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling his little wife—who was too embarrassed to face reality—into his embrace.

On his well-defined hand, a silver wedding ring shimmered under the lights, looking noble and elegant.

He looked up, his gentle gaze devoid of any actual warmth. He curled his lips into a polite but firm smile, his voice calm yet brook no argument.

"Now, you owe my wife an apology."