Chapter 18
As night fell, the Lin family’s banquet hall was already brightly lit, as if it were the dawn of a new day.
Champagne and interests intertwined, clinking with a crisp sound, each one an echo of exquisite calculation.
Lin Chong had found a random reason to celebrate. Although it was hasty, he had already spread the word early on, conveying the news that the Li and Lin families were likely to cooperate again.
There could be many kinds of cooperation.
The old foxes of the business world, each with their own schemes, came to gather information with smiles on their faces, a tacit understanding among them.
Among the magnificent evening gowns, only Li Sinian still wore the colorful shirt she had worn during the day.
She casually held a glass of wine, like a butterfly that had strayed into a flower bush, the signature roguish smile never leaving her face.
People flocked around her, praising her for being young and promising, for being dashing and charming. With the blessing of power, even her out-of-place Hong Kong style seemed to have become a unique feature.
Lin Shuxing had not wanted to attend this banquet full of performances, but Fang Yi had curiously expressed a desire to see it.
She was alone, knew no one, and it would be awkward for her to be at the banquet by herself.
Lin Shuxing frowned and finally, reluctantly, agreed to attend with Fang Yi.
She feigned nonchalance and chose a set of custom-made matching outfits.
Black and white, with an asymmetrical cut, designed by Master Olxey. When they stood side by side, the patterns on the skirt and suit could be pieced together to form overlapping moon shadows.
“I am the part you are missing.”—Lin Shuxing liked this design concept.
She sat outside the fitting room, casually flipping through a fashion magazine, but not a single glance fell on the book.
When the curtain was pulled back a corner, she immediately lifted the magazine and slowly raised her eyes amidst the gasps of the servants.
The joy suppressed in her heart flew to the treetops the moment she saw Fang Yi. In the bright halo, Fang Yi strode forward on her well-proportioned, slender legs that were a work of art.
Lin Shuxing’s gaze inevitably slid down her shoulders and settled on her slender waist.
A golden waist chain was the only bright color on her, perfectly outlining her beautiful curves.
Lin Shuxing swallowed. She also knew a little secret.
This waist chain could actually be transformed and worn around the neck.
Fang Yi stood there with a blank expression, pulling at the hem of her clothes a little unnaturally.
Being too eye-catching was not in line with her style of doing things. The way everyone looked at her was also strange, as hot as if they were staring at a target to be focused on.
Lin Shuxing coughed, using her arrogance to cover up her gaffe just now. “Not bad. You do know how to dress. Go back and throw away all those striped shirts of yours.”
With her good figure, wearing those loose, casual, nerdy plaid and striped shirts was a complete waste.
The System’s eyes sparkled: [Beautiful! To build a beautiful social landscape, please wear more, Host!]
Fang Yi moved her wrist and was surprised to find that the quality of these custom-made clothes was indeed very good.
Although it was formal wear, she didn’t feel restricted at all. She could make any movement she wanted, squatting, flying kicks, high kicks…
Expensive things really had their advantages.
The System was silent about Fang Yi’s thoughts: [You’re already wearing such expensive clothes. Can you not think about fighting all the time? What kind of violent and terrifying incidents can there be in modern society!]
Of course, there were. Fang Yi rolled up her cuffs in front of the mirror and made a gesture.
After all, her plan to complete the mission was rather extreme. If Li Sinian went crazy after losing face, she would suppress her as quickly as possible.
Although they hadn’t officially met, one shouldn’t make a judgment about a person too early.
But Fang Yi’s hostility towards Li Sinian had already subtly surpassed reason a little.
In the original book, Lin Shuxing’s death was inextricably linked to Li Sinian.
She had also been her fiancée.
Moreover, Fang Yi had seen bruises and red marks on He Shuanghua more than once, which were one hundred percent Li Sinian’s doing.
Promiscuous and with violent tendencies, she really deserves to die—!
What Fang Yi didn’t know was that she had only guessed half right.
The marks on He Shuanghua’s body were indeed left by Li Sinian, but, there was clearly something even crazier than violence.
For example, love.
He Shuanghua would also be attending tonight. She wore a half-mask of thin gauze, hidden in the crowd.
Li Sinian was an expert at sophistry, but what if He Shuanghua saw it with her own eyes?
In the past, Fang Yi had been afraid of He Shuanghua’s tears and would often say things against her conscience to comfort her.
But now that He Shuanghua wanted to test Li Sinian’s love, Fang Yi would help her see clearly.
He Shuanghua was actually prouder than anyone. It was impossible for her to be willing to be Li Sinian’s underground lover forever.
Repeatedly mending broken porcelain, always worrying that it would fall one day, it was better to just smash it.
He Shuanghua’s wish was to announce their relationship. A public breakup, was that not a kind of announcement?
…
Everything developed as expected.
With Lin Chong’s help, Li Sinian invited Lin Qingwan to dance the first dance of the evening.
As the skirt swirled, someone pushed Lin Qingwan, and Li Sinian happened to catch her by the waist.
The skirt swirled, their gazes met. All the romance seemed to be plated with gold, then shattered in each other’s eyes.
The applause at the banquet was like a tide, as if crowning a long-rehearsed fairy tale.
To the side, Lin Shuxing rolled her eyes silently. She couldn’t quite understand how the Lin family could have raised such a simpleton.
If it were her, she would have stopped the dance immediately and found out who had the audacity to push her.
She wanted to go up and remind Lin Qingwan not to mistake a wildflower for true love several times, but Fang Yi held her hand and, with an unskilled pace, also joined the dance floor.
Tonight would be a bit chaotic. She didn’t want her to get involved.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Li Sinian was actually very conservative. She only followed the most basic social etiquette. Even the hand-holding and twirling in the dance were done with a light touch.
These dance steps were almost ingrained in her bones. She could dance them well even with her eyes closed.
But when she accidentally met a pair of eyes in the crowd, Li Sinian’s steps suddenly faltered. She panicked and tripped over her own feet, almost falling.
Lin Qingwan dodged Li Sinian’s lunge in a daze, not quite sure what had happened.
She was hesitating whether to help her up when a pair of hands reached out before hers.
“Li Sinian.”
A woman in a long black dress smiled and pulled her up. The black gauze covering half her face trembled slightly. “We’re over.”
“What…?”
Li Sinian stood firm and asked subconsciously, “Why?”
A thick sorrow appeared in the woman’s eyes. “You told me you were working overtime out of town tonight. It must have been hard.”
“You said you loved me, that you wanted to marry me. How many people have you said that to?”
“It’s been three years, Li Sinian. Is there a single true word in your mouth?”
He Shuanghua pulled her hand back, a tear sliding down the corner of her eye. “I’m tired. Let’s just leave it at that. You guys continue. Have fun.”
The main door swung open with a bang, the light and shadow behind He Shuanghua melting into a chaotic mess.
A red Ferrari was parked ostentatiously. Her steps were hurried, as if she were about to escape from an unbearable dream.
Li Sinian stared blankly at He Shuanghua’s resolute back. It took her a moment to realize that He Shuanghua didn’t seem to be joking.
“Don’t go!”
“I didn’t! I’ve only ever said that to you! I was really just socializing!”
She hurriedly chased after her and grabbed He Shuanghua, but the tenderness of the past seemed to have frozen in her cold glance.
The woman in front of her suddenly became so strange.
Such a cold gaze was like a sharp knife piercing Li Sinian’s chest, yet there was still a hint of tears in He Shuanghua’s eyes.
“Li Sinian, I really wish I had never met you.”
How could this be?
The violin had stopped at some point. Everyone was watching this farce. The hall was so quiet that only Li Sinian’s panicked roar could be heard:
“What on earth are you making a fuss about? Haven’t I been good enough to you! I’ve explained it so many times. It was just to deal with my grandma. Why can’t you just trust me and give me a little more time!”
“If you weren’t so suspicious all the time, if I didn’t love you, would I have to lie to coax you? It’s not like I did it on purpose! Can’t you just calm down!”
Fang Yi had been worried that Li Sinian’s sweet words would coax He Shuanghua into changing her mind again.
But with this declaration of a scumbag, never mind He Shuanghua, even Lin Shuxing’s eyes flashed with ridicule.
Li Sinian’s eyes turned red. She recklessly pulled He Shuanghua into her arms, roughly suppressing her weak struggles, and said forcefully:
“I never said it was over. It can never be over between us! Don’t even think about leaving—!”
“I said, that’s enough.” An arrogant female voice interrupted her violent act.
Lin Shuxing took a step forward and clapped her hands. The butler quickly surrounded the area with security.
She waved her pure white gloves and said coldly, “Let go of her, Li Sinian. The Lin family is not a place for you to run wild.”
Li Sinian stopped. The originally lively hall fell into a dead silence.
Lin Qingwan anxiously tugged at the corner of Lin Shuxing’s clothes, signaling for her not to stand out at a time like this.
She vaguely sensed a dangerous atmosphere. In this situation, protecting oneself was the choice of a smart person.
But Lin Shuxing gently patted her hand, then pulled away from her, and fearlessly prepared to preside over this justice.
Li Sinian, surrounded, clutched He Shuanghua’s wrist, her rapidly deteriorating mood condensing into hostility.
She raised her red eyes and stared at this outlet that had jumped out on its own like a hungry dog, gritting her teeth. “What do you think you are?”
Fang Yi, standing in front of Lin Shuxing, felt her eyelid twitch.
She suddenly remembered that He Shuanghua knew Lin Shuxing was not Lin Lan’s biological daughter. Could it be that she had gotten the news from Li Sinian?
The ticking of the clock seemed to stretch out in this moment. Fang Yi lunged forward, wanting to cover the fangs Li Sinian was baring.
But she was a step too late.
A step away, Li Sinian, furious and ashamed, said, “Lin Shuxing, you’re just an imposter who has usurped the nest. What right do you have to act like the master and accuse me?”
Usurped the nest?
Imposter?
What does that mean?
The air of the entire world was compressed into a thin sheet, turning into a distorted hum.
Lin Shuxing watched Li Sinian’s madness with cold eyes. Lin Qingwan frantically stood in front of her, saying something. And the butler’s face suddenly darkened…
Everyone was like they had been painted with thick, heavy colors, turning into a bizarre painting. The colors clashed violently, finally smearing into a complete black.
She remembered some long-forgotten details: Lin Lan’s gaze, Lin Lan’s complex silence, and that bloody favoritism.
Too many things that had been unclear were suddenly revealed at this moment. As she watched the building collapse before her eyes, Lin Shuxing found herself surprisingly calm.
So that’s how it is.
So that’s how it is… Ms. Lin.
That would make sense. There was no younger sister, no twins at all.
Should I be happy? They were still willing to lie to me.
Lin Shuxing stood proudly in the center of the absurdity and let out a smile for no reason.
Gorgeous, proud, like the moment a rose blooms, its branches swaying with sharp thorns.
Her bones were creaking, probably like a butterfly’s subtle struggle when trapped in a thick cocoon.
One moment, Lin Lan’s indifferent face would appear before her, the next, Wen Qianxue’s fading smile. They let go of her hand one by one, leaving her standing alone.
So I’m a fake, Mom… No wonder you haven’t come to see me in my dreams for a long time.
Lin Shuxing lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on her empty palm. She curled her fingertips slightly.
A well-defined hand suddenly covered hers, holding it steady. Warmth spread along the gaps between her fingers, pulling her back to reality.
She looked up. In her chaotic vision, Fang Yi’s face grew closer and clearer.
For the first time, a strong emotional fluctuation appeared on that indifferent face. She saw a surging sea in her eyes.
It was as if she were sad for her.
But why, Fang Yi?
She felt her ears being gently covered. All the noise seemed to be blocked out, leaving only the echo of her heartbeat.
That hand clumsily caressed her cheek. The little finger would occasionally brush past, its touch as light as a feather, yet it still triggered an uncontrollable shiver.
Fang Yi’s movements were a little flustered. She kept wiping away tears that didn’t exist, finally bringing a little color to her pale face.
She reminded Lin Shuxing of that stupid little raccoon that washed its cotton candy in the water.
Over and over, in the process of disappearing, it futilely tried to grasp onto something.
But you see, I’m not crying. The cotton candy won’t melt.
Lin Shuxing raised her hand and gently touched Fang Yi’s opening and closing lips.
I really want to tell her, stop talking nonsense, just kiss me.
But not a single sound could come out of her throat. Her heart hurt so much, she didn’t even have the strength to stand on her tiptoes.
Fang Yi, can’t you take the initiative to kiss me?
