Chapter 40: Needle Tip Against Wheat Awl

Xie Yongsi, standing aside, fell silent at once; it seemed that Shen Xun had brought the person in.

But that's true; Shen Xun does love Lin Shutong, yet Shen Xun has also said himself that Jiang Lai takes good care of him and he has no intention of divorcing at all.

Jiang Lai is always Shen Xun's lawful wife, and bringing one's wife to a banquet is normal.

What he can't understand is that Shen Xun usually doesn't bring Jiang Lai to events; why did he suddenly bring her today?

This is a move to make it public.

Xie Yongsi thought for a moment, then called Jiang Lai, "Sister-in-law."

Lin Shutong's face darkened instantly.

But with so many people here, she didn't want to cause a scene, and gave a slight smile: "So it was Brother Shen who brought you."

Jiang Lai neither confirmed nor denied.

Lin Shutong continued to appraise her outfit; fortunately it was only simple pearl jewelry, not the gems she wore, and felt a little better.

"It's just that Brother Shen doesn't know how to be tender; the pearls are too plain."

Xie Yongsi, however, thought the pearls truly suited Jiang Lai, unmistakably displaying her ethereal nobility.

They are truly celestial quality.

Why hadn't they noticed before?

Just as he was savoring it, a female companion beside him tugged him and glared, "What are you looking at?"

Xie Yongsi, who usually looks down on others, actually focusing on Jiang Lai was, to Lin Shutong, sheer insult.

She really couldn't see what's good about Jiang Lai; men's eyes stare so directly.

Xie Yongsi explained, "He's my brother's person; don't get jealous for no reason."

He didn't dare to say the words "brother's wife" in front of Lin Shutong; if he upset Lin Shutong, Shen Xun would surely trouble him.

Lin Shutong couldn't even accept the phrase "brother's person," and his complexion darkened further.

"Miss Lin's eyes have a serious problem," Ke Zhongying said, crossing her arms. "She can't even recognize Australian white, and probably can't recognize the jewelry you're wearing; they're all cut from scraps."

Lin Shutong almost forgot there was also a Ke Zhongying present; Ke Zhongying not only said Jiang Lai's pearls were Australian white, but also claimed that Shen Xun bought her gems from scraps?

"Miss Ke, aren't your words a bit excessive?" Facing a younger girl, Lin Shutong was unafraid at heart.

Ke Zhongying shook her head: "No, I was just pointing out that you don't know value. The pearls are too plain; the plainer, the more selective, okay? You're not even worthy of wearing pearls."

"Miss Ke!"

"Hmm, I'm here."

Lin Shutong held back: "Miss Ke, you've defended Jiang Lai repeatedly; I wonder if you're being used as a cannon. You're still young, so try not to deal with older people as much as possible."

A strong preachy tone filled the air.

Ke Zhongying smiled: "It's not my turn to preach."

"As far as I know, Miss Lin is a few months older than both me and Shen Xun," Jiang Lai spoke, her tone light, as if never angered by Lin Shutong's deliberate actions just now. "So, Zhongying, let's go."

Ke Zhongying laughed: "Let's go, I don't deal with old women."

No woman likes being called an old woman.

Lin Shutong's hand gripping her bag nearly twisted; she stepped to Jiang Lai's side, lowered her voice and said, "Jiang Lai, what's there to be proud of? Brother Shen has been married to you for four years, and today is the first time he brought you to an event."

Jiang Lai turned her head, eyes calm, retorted, "Lin Shutong, you've had Shen Xun's love for so many years; has he ever publicly acknowledged your relationship? He told me you are his friend."

"Friend"—the two characters were like a blade, stabbing straight into Lin Shutong's heart.

Lin Shutong coldly said, "In four years of marriage, he never even touched you, right? But we..."

She gave a faint smile.

"You slept together," Jiang Lai said the rest for her, "Do you need me to broadcast it widely?"

"You!" Lin Shutong straightened up, speaking in a normal tone, "You actually don't care?"

"That suits you perfectly," Jiang Lai said, pulling Ke Zhongying away. Ke Zhongying muttered curses, feeling they should expose Lin Shutong and Shen Xun's scandal.

Jiang Lai asked her, "Do you want to ruin the banquet your brother organized?"

Ke Zhongying pouted in displeasure.

"What did she just say to you?"

"She said something I already knew."

"So she wasn't pretending?" Ke Zhongying laughed.

Watching Jiang Lai walk away, Xie Yongsi quickly took out his phone and messaged Shen Xun.

【Brother Shen, Sister-in-law and Lin Shutong almost got into a fight.】

Shen Xun, who came out of the room, saw the message and was clearly stunned; he hadn't brought Jiang Lai to the banquet at all, so how could the two have met?

Xie Yongsi was surprised.

【Sister-in-law wasn't brought by you?】

Shen Xun frowned: 【How could I have brought her to such an important occasion?】

Xie Yongsi: 【Then who did Sister-in-law come with?】

Shen Xun was equally puzzled.

Xie Yongsi sent another message:

【Oh, Sister-in-law was accompanied by the Ke Family Eldest Miss.】

【Sister-in-law's not bad, she knows how to socialize.】

Shen Xun's brows furrowed tighter.

At this moment, Ke Zhongyu also emerged from the room, giving him a sidelong glance: "President Shen actually got the renowned Elder Shen to recommend him; impressive."

Shen Xun put away his phone, smiled, and said, "Can't compare to Ke President; my mother's surname is Nian."

It could be called a needle tip against a wheat awn.

Ke Zhongyu snorts: "Since you know, President Shen's guts are quite big."

"Still can't match President Ke, bringing another man's wife to attend the event," Shen Xun says, a trace of envy in his tone.

Ke Zhongyu instantly understands that Jiang Lai didn't come following Shen Xun.

Jiang Lai also didn't come with him; then how did the invitation arrive? Professor Wang isn't from this field, and he didn't have anyone deliver the invitation.

Interesting.

Jiang Lai's background is indeed not simple.

The key is, Shen Xun seems completely unaware.

A hint of amusement flickers at the corner of Ke Zhongyu's eyes.

"How come President Shen only permits the state official to set fires but not the common folk to light lamps?"

The "state official" refers to him; "setting fire" and "lighting lamps" mean he can bring another female companion, so why can't Jiang Lai bring another male companion?

Shen Xun's smile freezes instantly.

Ke Zhongyu strides away from him, and Assistant Zhou follows closely, saying as he walks, "I've already contacted the young lady; she's taking Secretary Jiang to meet the chairman and the chairman's wife."

Ke Zhongyu's steps halt.

"Who?"

Assistant Zhou: "…your parents."

Ke Zhongyu: "…"

He strides over and sees his mother, dressed in a long dress, talking with Jiang Lai.

"I heard from Chongying that you're now Ke Zhongyu's secretary?"

"Yes, Ms. Nian." Jiang Lai, facing the kind‑eyed woman, appears slightly restrained.

"You don't need to be nervous." Ms. Nian smiles, "How old are you this year?"

Jiang Lai is startled: "Twenty‑eight."

"Twenty‑eight, huh, twenty‑eight is great. Ke Zhongyu is also twenty‑eight this year. You don't know, he's never been willing to look for a girlfriend; I've been so anxious, fearing that one day his face will fall apart and his body become flabby, and no woman will find him attractive…"

"Mom!" Ke Zhongyu hears that as soon as he arrives, his temples throb with anger.