Chapter 18: Has Shen Linyan Fallen for That Woman

The moment Shen Linyan appeared, the crowd erupted in a flurry of excitement.

It really is Chairman Shen!

No wonder An Ling came to the bar; her husband came along as well.

Look at the wedding ring on Chairman Shen's hand. It is exactly like the photos online. The clarification was true after all!

Do you even need to look at the ring? Just look at how Chairman Shen and Mrs. Shen are interacting; you can tell they have a great relationship at a glance! Would they be embracing like that if things were bad?

Standing in the crowd, Gu Xiaochi and Liang Chen exchanged a look, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

Maybe... they actually could.

Gu Xiaochi whispered, What is the deal? Since when were Shen Linyan and his little wife so affectionate?

He had already sensed something was wrong when they were upstairs.

At that time, that idiot Wang Yihong was rambling on, completely failing to notice that after he mentioned the words pretending to be affectionate, Shen Linyan's mood turned sour, and he could barely even maintain a smile.

When they were standing by the railing watching the commotion just now, he was right next to Shen Linyan.

Noticing the man's abnormality, he followed his gaze and saw An Ling. Naturally, he also saw the scene where An Ling met Shen Linyan's eyes and then nonchalantly looked away.

In that instant, Gu Xiaochi clearly felt Shen Linyan freeze for a moment. Although the man's expression remained indifferent, the aura around him turned freezing cold.

Recalling that scene, Gu Xiaochi rubbed his arms with lingering fear. Besides, his little wife has changed so much. Has Shen Linyan actually fallen for that woman?

Liang Chen stroked his chin. Fallen for her? Probably not.

He had never seen Shen Linyan truly like anyone; any kindness he showed was just an act.

Besides, theirs is an arranged marriage. Shen Linyan wouldn't fall in love with a wife from a political union. It is likely just that An Ling's sudden change has piqued his interest.

But regardless, these were just their own speculations.

Gu Xiaochi spoke up quietly, Why don't you go ask Shen Linyan what he is actually thinking?

Liang Chen replied, I am not tired of living yet. Why don't you go ask him yourself?

Gu Xiaochi said, Do you think I want to die?

The two looked at each other and came to an agreement.

How about we trick Wang Yihong into asking?

Agreed.

Meanwhile, at the center of the scene, the atmosphere was frozen solid.

The discussions from the surroundings reached Huang Long's ears. The indifferent and sharp gaze of the man above him was like an iceberg, weighing him down until he could hardly breathe, his limbs turning cold.

He knelt on the ground trembling, his face pale and covered in cold sweat as he stammered, I am sorry... Chairman Shen.

The man suddenly let out a soft chuckle, his expression appearing gentle.

Can't you understand me? Or did you hear me wrong? I said apologize to my wife.

Huang Long quickly corrected himself, I am sorry, Sister An...

I don't recall my wife having a brother.

In the bar, the man's unhurried tone was so terrifying that people hardly dared to breathe.

Huang Long's throat tightened, and he felt as though needles were pricking his back. A chill spread throughout his entire body.

He swallowed hard and stammered, I am sorry... Miss An, I said the wrong thing! It was all nonsense! Miss An doesn't like Lu Jingshen at all! Please just don't hold it against me, okay?

Shen Linyan looked down at him, the expression in his eyes devoid of any emotion.

An Ling lifted her head from the man's chest, glanced at Huang Long on the ground, and let out a silent sigh.

She had originally intended to just scare him a bit and make Lu Jingshen lose a little money, but now that Shen Linyan had arrived, everything was a mess. She wasn't sure if he had discovered her face blindness symptoms.

It was so dramatic. Just a moment ago, she was watching the spectacle of someone else's husband getting caught by his wife, and now she was the one being caught by her husband.

She wrapped her arms around the man's neck, suppressing her irritation, and leaned in to whisper, You handle it. I am tired and want to go home and sleep.

Her sweet breath brushed against his skin, carrying the lingering scent of peach, which felt even more intoxicating than the red wine he had just finished.

Shen Linyan's arm tightened, his Adam's apple bobbing with restraint as his dark eyes inadvertently landed on the girl's face.

Perhaps because it was her first time doing something like this, she turned her face away uncomfortably, her lips pursed in tension. Her neck and her beautiful face were flushed a deep red, and her curled eyelashes fluttered slightly.

It wasn't until the sound of Wang Yihong's deliberate coughing reached his ears that he slowly looked away and gave a soft hmph. He looked down at Huang Long.

Since you are a friend of Lu Jingshen, I will cover this bill on his behalf today. I don't want to hear such words again.

As he spoke, he paused, then turned to look at Jiang Mai nearby. He gave a faint smile, his tone as refined and elegant as ever.

My wife says she is tired and wants to go back. Does Miss Jiang need to come with us?

Jiang Mai instinctively stood up straight and nodded blankly. Okay, sure.

Receiving a silent plea for help from her best friend, her expression stiffened. She spoke up guiltily, Um... maybe I should help An Ling. She seems drunk and a bit delirious. She said earlier she was going to stay...

Shen Linyan cast a faint glance over.

It was a calm look, yet Jiang Mai felt a sudden chill down her spine. Her movements froze instantly, and she gave a couple of dry laughs before withdrawing her hand and turning toward the door without hesitation.

Chairman Shen, which car should I take back? Am I riding with you two?

An Ling's eyes were filled with shock and confusion.

But in the next second, she was suddenly swept up in a horizontal carry.

Startled, she instinctively grabbed the man's neck as a deep, magnetic voice sounded above her head.

Miss Jiang might have to wait a moment. The driver will be here shortly. My wife and I will be heading back first.

An Ling kept her eyes closed, pretending to sleep, until she was carried into the car.

Once she heard the door close, she quietly peeked with one eye, only to hear the man's leisurely and composed voice beside her.

Since you aren't actually asleep, let's talk. Is this what you meant by maintaining our mutual interests?

...

What was meant to come had finally arrived.

An Ling opened her eyes and rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. It was a misunderstanding. I came with Jiang Mai, and we were just about to leave when that guy showed up.

As she spoke, she turned her head away, looking out the window and muttering under her breath, ...And even if you hadn't come down, I could have handled it myself.

The slight, dissatisfied complaint reached his ears.

The man raised his eyes with an unreadable expression.

You clearly saw me on the second floor just now, yet you pretended we weren't acquainted. Wasn't that your way of telling me not to interfere? I was worried about ruining your plans.

An Ling was speechless.

He really did remember that!

Shen Linyan turned to look at her, speaking with a light smile.

It couldn't be that you simply failed to recognize my face, could it?

...You guessed right.

An Ling pondered for a long while, then took a deep breath. And what if I did?

What?

Shen Linyan, I really didn't recognize your face at the time.

...

The smile at the corners of the man's mouth faltered, and the mirth in his eyes faded. He stared blankly at the woman in front of him. The inexplicable emotions that had been rising within him cooled instantly in that moment.

He inconspicuously clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white from the force. He calmly withdrew his gaze, and though his tone remained gentle, the curve of his lips was flat.

“Is that so? It’s only natural, really. After all, Miss An has rarely seen me, so it’s understandable she wouldn’t remember my face.”

She had given him a ring and declared her love in front of everyone.

Yet, in the end, she couldn’t even remember his face.