Chapter 45: Everyone

"Ke Zhongyu, aren't you also just using me?" Jiang Lai turned her head, meeting the man's deep black eyes.

Ke Zhongyu gazed at her pupils, amber‑colored, tranquil and captivating.

"Lan Chuang and Xing Yu have always been arch‑rivals; Ke Zhongyu used my wife Shen Xun's identity to taunt him—what a perverse hobby," Jiang Lai withdrew her gaze, "But your abacus is off; he doesn't care."

……

Shen Xun went back and discovered Lin Shutong was gone; after asking around and following the directions people indicated, he happened to see Shen Xi handing a tissue to Lin Shutong.

"Xiao Xi? Shutong?"

Shen Xi looked up, seeing his older brother, and scolded, "Brother, look at the trouble you caused; you made Sister Shutong cry. What's wrong with you?"

"Xiao Xi, you've got it wrong; I only have a sore foot."

"I don't buy it; I just saw it, Jiang Lai was there too!" Shen Xi said angrily, "Brother, why did you bring Jiang Lai here? You even bought her such a gorgeous dress; I heard others say that dress is an antique, priceless, and even the pearls she's wearing aren't ordinary pearls."

"Don't bring up Sister Shutong; I'm angry too. Can you be a bit nicer to your own family? Why do you keep spending money on Jiang Lai?"

Shen Xun frowned; he disliked hearing Shen Xi constantly exclude Jiang Lai.

"Jiang Lai is your sister‑in‑law, and also your own family."

As the words left his mouth, Shen Xun suddenly realized they shouldn't have been said in front of Lin Shutong, and he looked up sharply; large droplets of tears fell from the corner of Lin Shutong's eye.

"Shutong, I didn't mean that…" he reached out, but Lin Shutong lifted a hand to block him.

"I'm sorry, it's always been my fault, I get it now, I—I'll go now." Lin Shutong brushed away her tears, forced a smile, and turned away.

Shen Xi shouted, "Brother, how can you bully Sister Shutong? She loves you so much!"

Lin Shutong walked away.

"Brother, aren't you going to chase after her?" Shen Xi pushed him, "What are you hesitating about? Weren't you always deeply in love with Sister Shutong?"

Shen Xun stepped forward and chased after.

He didn't even know what he'd been hesitating about; the person he'd loved all along was always Lin Shutong.

Yet moments ago his mind flashed Jiang Lai's visage and bearing, and Ke Zhongyu's look at Jiang Lai, clearly harboring ill intent.

Shen Xun quickly caught up to Lin Shutong, and hoisted her sideways in a grip.

Lin Shutong struggled, "Ah Xun, put me down, put me down! What if Jiang Lai sees? How will you explain to Jiang Lai? She's your wife!"

Shen Xun's steps halted, and he indeed set her down.

Lin Shutong grew even angrier.

He almost couldn't draw a breath.

"Your foot's hurt, why run so fast?" Shen Xun squatted, checking her ankle again; it seemed fine.

Lin Shutong withdrew her foot, "Whether my foot is injured is none of your business."

"Shutong." Shen Xun looked up at her angry expression, wanting to explain yet unsure how, his mind a jumble, and he let out a helpless sigh.

Lin Shutong's heart sank, and with a sob she said, "Ah Xun, the things you once said, have you forgotten?"

"You said you'd love me for life."

"You said you'd only have children with me."

"You said whatever I wanted, you'd give it to me."

Shen Xun lowered his gaze, "I haven't forgotten."

"But you scolded Xiao Xi because of Jiang Lai." Lin Shutong felt deeply wronged, "You said Jiang Lai is family, so am I an outsider?"

"No." Shen Xun instantly denied, rose, and gently brushed Lin Shutong's cheek, recalling the moments from their university days.

Back then, he truly loved her.

He had worked so hard, over the years drinking cup after cup until his stomach ulcerated, climbing to this position, all so she could conduct her research without having to appease investors over money.

He wanted her to be free to be herself, to shine in the field she loved and excelled at.

He had long planned to silently support her for a lifetime.

Yet she turned and said she loved him.

Again, while he already had a wife.

Lin Shutong saw Shen Xun's gaze gradually dim, and felt a fleeting panic.

"Ah Xun, I'm sorry, I was wrong, I shouldn't have taken my temper out on you."

She instantly threw herself into his arms.

"If I didn't have Shen Xun, where would I find an ATM I like?"

Shen Xun had loved her for so many years; he couldn't just say he didn't love her.

She wouldn't accept.

"I won't make things difficult for you any more." Lin Shutong pressed against his chest, "Ah Xun, I truly love you, love you deeply."

After a long pause, Shen Xun whispered softly, "I feel the same."

After comforting Lin Shutong, the two returned to the banquet.

Shen Xun glanced around, not seeing Jiang Lai, but spotting Shen Xi chatting merrily with a group of Young Masters; he frowned slightly and approached.

He unexpectedly saw a familiar face.

"Shen Young Master?"

The youth called Shen Young Master smiled and looked toward him, "President Shen, we meet again. President Shen and my grandfather know each other; just call me by my name, Shen Bingrui."

Shen Bingrui extended his hand.

Shen Xun also reached out.

As they shook hands, Shen Bingrui glanced at the radiant woman beside Shen Xun, "Is this person President's?"

Shen Xun was about to speak.

Shen Xi cut in, linking Lin Shutong's hand, and said, "Sister Shutong is my brother's girlfriend! She's amazing, just back from overseas, an external expert on a state‑secret classified project."

Shen Bingrui smiled: "Like that, nice to meet you, nice to meet you."

Lin Shutong smiled and said: "My maternal grandfather's surname is Ji, and he's an old acquaintance of Shen Young's grandfather."

Shen Bingrui quickly searched his memory and immediately knew which "Ji" Lin Shutong meant.

"So it's Ji Lao's granddaughter; the two are a perfect match."

"Right, I think so too!" Shen Xi exclaimed happily, "I can't wait for them to get married soon so I can call Shutong sister-in-law."

Jiang Lai will never accept being that sister-in-law.

"Little Xi, don't talk nonsense." Lin Shutong's face flushed slightly.

Shen Xun also used his gaze to stop his sister from speaking nonsense.

Shen Xi pursed her lips.

Shen Bingrui looked at Lin Shutong and suddenly asked: "Miss Lin, since you're Ji Lao's granddaughter and work in a related field, have you ever seen Dr. Jiang?"

"Young Master Shen wants to see Dr. Jiang?" Lin Shutong nodded, "We're currently on the same project."

"Really?" Shen Bingrui's eyes lit up instantly, and he gave a simple smile, saying, "To be honest, I need to consult Dr. Jiang on some points in several of her papers published over the past four years; my grandfather said she might be here, so I came."

Lin Shutong chuckled: "She didn't come."

Just as Shen Bingrui felt regret, Shen Xi caught sight of the Ke Family Eldest Miss linking arms with Jiang Lai as they approached this direction.

She muttered under her breath: "Being the Eldest Miss Ke's lackey is impressive."

The voice wasn't very low, and the people nearby all heard it.

Shen Xun was the first to turn his head over, and Lin Shutong followed suit.

Shen Bingrui was also curious and looked over.

The moment he saw Jiang Lai's profile, he first froze, then his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed excitedly, "Jiang Jiang Jiang Jiang Jiang......!"