Chapter 27: Married Woman
Seeing what was about to happen, Shen Xi quickly reached out, trying to pull Keke back. But in the next second. She grabbed nothing but air.
???
Somehow, Shen Zekai had appeared right beside Keke. He raised his left hand, blocking Jiang Bailang’s incoming slap, while his right hand smoothly pulled Keke behind him.
Jiang Bailang staggered backward from the unexpected force, nearly losing his balance.
Shi Jingyan’s expression darkened slightly. But when he realized that the person interfering was Shen Xi’s younger brother, he held back his anger for the moment.
“Isn’t Su Kexin your girlfriend? What kind of man only knows how to bully women?”
Shen Zekai’s sharp gaze locked onto Jiang Bailang. For once, he looked completely serious, his protective stance making him seem like a knight shielding his princess.
Keke, now safely behind him, felt her small hand tightly held by Shen Zekai. Her heart skipped a beat. The fear and anxiety she had felt moments ago were suddenly replaced by an inexplicable sense of security, even though the boy standing in front of her was a few years younger.
Watching this scene unfold, Shen Xi quietly took a deep breath.
Huh… didn’t expect this ‘cheap little brother’ of mine to actually look kind of cool. Responsible, even.
The commotion quickly drew the attention of their former high school classmates, who started gathering around, eager to watch the drama unfold.
Amidst the tense atmosphere, Shen Xi took a few steps forward, placing herself between her brother, Keke, and the others. A faint smile played on her lips.
“Today is Jingyan’s birthday. We were all classmates once, no need to ruin the mood.”
Then, she turned her gaze toward Lin Yueyue and her group of lackeys, who were feigning innocence. A cold smirk appeared on her face.
“I overheard some people saying that Yueyue and her friends have been spreading rumors about me… that I’m chasing after Jingyan and trying to be a homewrecker?”
Lin Yueyue immediately put on a pitiful expression, as if she had been wronged.
“Xixi, I would never! I’ve never spoken badly about anyone behind their back. Brother Jing knows me best.”
Shi Jingyan looked down at Lin Yueyue’s fragile, teary-eyed face and felt a pang of sympathy. Besides, he had always believed Shen Xi was obsessed with pursuing him—it seemed like the truth to him.
“Yueyue isn’t that kind of person,” he said firmly.
Hearing his words, Lin Yueyue’s lackey roommates immediately puffed up with confidence, growing even more arrogant. One of them sneered.
“Hmph, we didn’t spread any rumors. The truth is obvious. If you didn’t do it, why would people be talking about it?”
One of the girls crossed her arms, tilting her chin up with a smug expression, looking like a classic minion basking in borrowed power.
“Exactly! That’s right!”
Standing behind Shen Zekai, Keke trembled with anger, her eyes turning red.
“You’re the ones lying and twisting the truth, yet you still won’t admit it—”
Before she could say more, Shen Xi calmly raised a hand, signaling her to hold back. Her sharp gaze swept over the crowd before she spoke, her voice steady.
“Enough. That’s not what I wanted to talk about. Since all our old classmates are here, I have something important to announce.”
“I’m married. I’ve been someone’s wife for quite some time now.”
Since it was a contract marriage that would end in two years, the original Shen Xi had considered it a private matter and never told anyone. Most of their high school classmates had no idea.
The moment her words fell, the entire room was stunned.
They had all assumed their school’s goddess was still single, chasing after Shi Jingyan, trying to win him back.
But now, they found out that this beautiful, mesmerizing woman had already been claimed by another man. The male classmates looked absolutely devastated.
The most shocked of all was Shi Jingyan himself. His mouth opened slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he had nothing to say.
He had never expected Shen Xi to publicly announce her marriage one day.
A soft blush tinged Shen Xi’s cheeks, and her voice carried a trace of helpless happiness.
“My husband is great, except he’s a little clingy and gets jealous easily. That’s why, when Jingyan invited me to his birthday party yesterday, I turned him down.”
“But this morning, I thought about it again. We were classmates, after all. Since it’s Jingyan’s birthday, I should still drop by to show my support and give my blessings.”
With that, she smiled and looked directly at Shi Jingyan.
“Jingyan, happy birthday.”
“……”
Shi Jingyan was stunned again. That’s it?
“…That’s all?”
Shen Xi’s smile deepened.
“Mm-hmm, that’s right. Last time on my birthday, you only sent a text message. Now I showed up in person. Pretty sincere of me, don’t you think? Just returning the courtesy.”
Standing to the side, Lin Yueyue burned with jealousy, her heart unwilling to accept this. She had noticed that earlier, Shi Jingyan had seemed eager to receive a gift from Shen Xi. But now that he got nothing, disappointment filled his eyes.
She recalled the sweater she had painstakingly knitted for months, only to see it tossed into a corner by Shi Jingyan. He had said he liked it, but his eyes had been full of disdain. The merchant had claimed it was a gift that would move boyfriends to tears, what a joke.
At that moment, Shen Xi turned her gaze toward her again and spoke lightly.
“So, Yueyue, rumors are just rumors. Facts don’t change. A clear conscience fears no shadow. We’re even now.”
“You—”
Lin Yueyue trembled with rage but had no idea how to refute her.
Shen Xi hadn’t come to start a full-blown battle anyway. She figured it was about time to make her exit.
“My husband is still waiting for me at home. If I’m late, he’s going to get jealous again. See you all around, bye-bye.”
She was getting way too used to saying these mushy things. It was honestly a little scary.
With that, she turned and strode toward the door. Keke and Shen Zekai followed closely behind, while the crowd instinctively parted to make way.
Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Jiang Bailang quickly put on a flattering smile and bowed slightly to Shi Jingyan.
“Mr. Shi, I’ll take my leave too. I hope you’ll consider our business deal.”
Then, without a shred of shame, he shamelessly chased after Shen Xi and the others.
Shi Jingyan watched that elegant figure in white disappear into the distance, a storm of emotions swirling inside him. It felt like something within him was quietly changing.
Beside him, Lin Yueyue saw his expression and felt a pang of anxiety.
“Brother Jing, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have argued with Xixi. I’ll go bring her back right now.”
“No need. Yueyue, you’re still the better one, so kindhearted. Unlike Shen Xi… she’s all thorns.”
Around them, their old high school classmates whispered among themselves.
“I really thought our goddess Xixi and Jingyan would end up together. They were our school’s golden couple back then.”
“Has anyone actually seen Shen Xi’s husband?”
“With her standards, he can’t be worse than Jingyan, right?”
“Tch, you guys are giving her too much credit. Her husband is richer than Jingyan, sure, but he’s some middle-aged guy, short, fat, and old.”
One of Lin Yueyue’s lackeys seized the opportunity to chime in, making things up as if it were the absolute truth.
The gossip spread like wildfire, with ex-classmates sighing in disappointment.
“Wow, never thought our school goddess would stoop so low just for money.”
“If I’d known, I would’ve told my dad to make more money. Maybe she’d have married me instead.”
The crowd erupted in laughter and jeers.
“Yueyue’s the lucky one, Jingyan has both money and looks.”
Lin Yueyue felt a strange sense of satisfaction, secretly pleased with how things had turned out. After all, she wasn’t the one spreading lies. It was just others “guessing.”
“Wait, Yueyue, have you actually seen Shen Xi’s husband?”
“Hmm… I just don’t think they’re a good match.”
In her mind, only she was worthy of Shi Jingyan. Shen Xi? Hah. She didn’t deserve him.
“Well, if even you say so, it must be true.”
“Sigh, who would’ve thought? Our former school beauty has really fallen this far.”