Chapter 46: She Is Not

Shen Bingrui had seen Jiang Lai on a large group photo in his grandfather's study.

That photo showed a group of top-tier references, all over fifty, with only three young people, and among them only one girl, so his impression was very deep.

Moreover, his grandfather often mentioned Jiang Lai, and he felt he could not be mistaken, so he immediately put down his wine glass, walked over, and loudly shouted, "Dr. Jiang!"

Those nearby all heard it.

Jiang Lai's body stiffened; she couldn't tell whose voice it was, and she dared not turn her head to look.

Turning her head would be tantamount to responding.

Just two days ago, in front of the Ke siblings, she had said she was only a master's degree holder.

"Dr. Jiang, Dr. Jiang, hello!" Shen Bingrui came up to Jiang Lai, eagerly extending his hand: "My name is Shen Bingrui; I often hear my grandfather mention you."

Jiang Lai silently thought, "Oh no."

This was the grandson of a senior she respected.

What made her feel even worse was that Shen Xun, Shen Xi, and Lin Shutong also walked over.

Shen Xun looked puzzled.

Lin Shutong furrowed her brows tightly.

"You've mistaken the person, Young Master Shen," Jiang Lai said, giving him a slight nod.

"Young Master Shen, you definitely mistook her; she's no doctor at all." Shen Xi looked down on her, saying, "She doesn't have that ability; she was merely a low-level administrative staff member of the Ke Clan, and I don't know what dumb luck got her promoted to secretary by President Ke; usually she's sloppy, and today she's only managed to look presentable."

Shen Xun's face darkened slightly: "Little Xi."

Shen Xi pouted: "Aren't I allowed to state the facts?"

Ke Zhongying rolled her eyes: "At least I'm better than you, who only knows how to mooch off your brother at home; you go out looking for work, but no one wants you even as a cleaner."

"You!" Shen Xi glared, seeing that the other was the Ke Family Eldest Miss; she dared to be angry but not to speak, snorted, and hid behind her brother.

Shen Bingrui let out an "Ah?" and looked again at Jiang Lai before him: "You really aren't Dr. Jiang?"

Had he mistaken her?

No way; the woman before him wasn't wearing heavy makeup, and she looked just like in the photo, except the photo didn't show her in such a beautiful dress.

Especially her eyes were the most alike, always revealing a clear, cold yet tenacious spirit.

Jiang Lai shook her head: "No."

"Young Master Shen, have you seen Dr. Jiang?" Lin Shutong retained a hint of doubt.

Shen Bingrui shook his head: "No, I've only seen her in the photo."

"Then mistaking her is perfectly normal." Lin Shutong breathed a sigh of relief; just a moment ago she had almost been frightened to death by Shen Bingrui's cry of "Dr. Jiang."

Shen Xun also said: "Young Master Shen mistook her; she isn't the Dr. Jiang you're talking about."

Shen Bingrui belatedly realized: "You all know each other?"

Shen Xun nodded.

Shen Xi shook her head.

Shen Bingrui looked at Shen Xi: "Then how did Miss Shen just now know that this Miss Jiang used to be a low-level staff member of the Ke Clan and is now President Ke's secretary?"

Shen Xi was taken aback.

Ke Zhongying laughed and said: "Logic loophole, huh? You don't want to know us, and we don't want to know you either—you're lowering our IQ."

Shen Xi was so angry she ground her teeth, but she simply dared not offend the Ke Family Eldest Miss.

Who knows what dumb luck Jiang Lai had run into—running into his older brother, such a fine man! And then running into Ke Zhongying, the Eldest Miss, who backed her up!

"Brother, Shutong sister, let's go!" Shen Xi turned to leave.

Lin Shutong also didn't want to linger with Jiang Lai, because Shen Xun's gaze kept drifting onto her face from time to time.

"Ah Xun, I'd like to go sit over there for a while."

Shen Xun agreed, but his eyes kept fixed on Jiang Lai.

"Young Master Shen, please come this way." Since Shen Xun and Shen Bingrui had just met and were somewhat acquainted, he also called him over.

But Shen Bingrui wasn't quite resigned, and he earnestly asked Jiang Lai again: "You really aren't Dr. Jiang, are you?"

"She really isn't." Shen Xun replied.

Shen Bingrui turned and asked: "How does President Ke know she isn't? Are you very familiar? Good friends?"

Jiang Lai suddenly looked toward Shen Xun, and Ke Zhongying also stared straight at him, wanting to know what he would say.

Shen Xun felt like a thorn in his back.

Just now Shen Xi had told Young Master Shen in front of him that Lin Shutong was his girlfriend; if he now told Young Master Shen that Jiang Lai was his wife, how would Young Master Shen view him? And later, how would he explain it to Elder Shen?

Elder Shen held several cutting-edge technology patents, which were very important to him; he needed a major project to secure his current position.

He could only let Jiang Lai down.

He hoped Jiang Lai would understand.

"Yes." Shen Xun nodded.

Shen Bingrui felt somewhat at a loss, wondering whether close friends needed to think this much.

Besides being surprised, Lin Shutong, in front of Jiang Lai, shoved her hand into Shen Xun's.

Jiang Lai saw this, and likewise told Shen Bingrui: "Um, friends."

Upon hearing Jiang Lai say that, Shen Xun felt no joy at all, and suddenly felt a void in his heart.

"Zhongying, you're not bored and want to leave, are we?" Jiang Lai glanced toward the doorway, her downcast eyes veiling a flicker of emotion.

Shen Xun's heart clenched again.

He instinctively reached out to grab Jiang Lai, but Lin Shutong seized his other hand, and Shen Xi also grabbed his arm, pulling him away.

"Brother, let's go over there!"

"Young Master Shen, let's go."

Shen Xun watched Jiang Lai leave from beside him, without giving him a glance.

Finally, he chased after her.

At the door, Jiang Lai bent over to get into Ke Zhongying's car; the red Ferrari was extremely eye-catching, making her skin look even whiter.

"Jiang Lai!"

Shen Xun came up to her, still panting.

In a moment, Jiang Lai recalled when they had just been together; Shen Xun had also once run toward her from the opposite side of the road, slightly out of breath, smiling as he looked at her.

That same afternoon, she accepted Shen Xun's proposal.

"President Shen, what brings you here?" Ke Zhongying slammed the car door shut and glared at him angrily.

Shen Xun glanced at her, then hurried to explain to Jiang Lai: "I just didn't acknowledge your identity to Young Master Shen; I only said you were a friend, because Young Master Shen's impression of me is important, which affects Old Master Shen's impression of me; Old Master Shen holds a patent, and Star Universe has been working hard to try to secure cooperation; I told you this before."

"I know." Jiang Lai nodded.

It was only after hearing Shen Xun mention it that she brought up Star Universe and Shen Xun in front of Old Master Shen; otherwise Shen Xun would never have been able to meet the busy Old Master Shen.

Even Shen Bingrui wanting to see his own grandfather had to wait until his grandfather had free time.

"You know?" Shen Xun was asking if she knew his predicament.

Jiang Lai nodded.

She knew everything.

"Don't you blame me?" Faced with her understanding, Shen Xun felt guilt welling up inside.

Jiang Lai said: "It's fine."

It's not that I don't blame you; it's just that it's fine.

After all, we're getting divorced.

How he and Lin Shutong are, and whether they acknowledge her identity outside, doesn't matter.

"Go ahead and get busy; this kind of reception isn't really suitable for me, I'll head back first." Jiang Lai opened the car door and got in; Ke Zhongying pursed her lips and drove off.

"Jiang Lai sis, why did you just say it's fine?"

"It's already fine." Jiang Lai looked out the window: "We've already signed the divorce papers and are going through the process."

The car suddenly stopped.

Ke Zhongying beamed: "Really?"

Jiang Lai knew she was happy for her, and nodded: "Really."

Ke Zhongying thought, that would mean she could become her sister-in-law!