Lin Siwan’s gaze drifted toward Zhou Yushen from time to time, the amazement in her shimmering eyes impossible to hide.
She released Chen Mu’s hand and walked over to Shen Nanyue.
Frowning worriedly, she took Shen Nanyue’s hand, her delicate face full of disapproval.
“Big Sister, you’re about to get engaged to Young Master Meng. It’s better if you keep some distance from other men.”
She acted as though she were whispering privately into Shen Nanyue’s ear, yet she made no effort to lower her voice.
Everyone around them heard every word clearly.
In an instant, gossip spread through the crowd.
“I heard long ago that the Shen and Meng families were going to form a marriage alliance. So it’s actually true.”
“The Shen family really struck gold to be able to marry into the Meng family! But Shen Nanyue is way too shameless, isn’t she? She already has a fiancé and still fools around with other men!”
“You just don’t understand. No matter how delicious the food in your bowl is, the food still cooking in the pot always looks more tempting.”
“…”
Because of the close relationship between the Shen and Lin families, most of the guests attending Zhou Yu’s birthday banquet were prominent families from Fengcheng.
The older generation had brought along their sons and daughters, making the hall crowded with people.
And there were especially many women present.
Among wealthy socialites, the thing they lacked least wasn’t money—it was gossip.
Especially explosive and scandalous gossip.
Shen Nanyue was already famous in Fengcheng as a wild rose.
Now, with the added accusation of juggling multiple men at once, her reputation would probably become even more notorious by tomorrow.
Shen Nanyue looked calmly at Lin Siwan, the smile on her lips never fading.
Before she could speak, however, Chen Mu stepped in with a cold expression, his displeased gaze fixed on her face.
“Shen Nanyue, you really never change. Even when you were engaged to me, you were fooling around with other men. You sure love putting green hats on people.”
If Lin Siwan’s words had been subtle, then Chen Mu’s accusation was blatantly direct.
A chill flashed through Shen Nanyue’s eyes.
She and Chen Mu had grown up together and had once been inseparable.
When exactly had he begun distancing himself from her, becoming cold and even verbally cruel?
It seemed to have started when Chen Mu met Lin Siwan.
The surrounding whispers gradually became unbearable to listen to.
Shen Nanyue let out a soft laugh and slowly placed her wine glass on the table.
Crossing her arms, she stood at the center of the crowd under everyone’s gaze, her expression still calm and unbothered.
Yet in her cold eyes gathered an icy sharpness that refused to melt.
“Young Master Chen, do I need to release the video of you and Lin Siwan sleeping together before you’ll return that green hat on your head back to me?”
The moment those words fell, Lin Siwan froze in place.
Her face turned deathly pale, and the look in her eyes seemed ready to devour Shen Nanyue whole.
Chen Mu was no different.
His face darkened with fury, fists clenched tightly as he snapped, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
The smile faded from Shen Nanyue’s lips, her voice cool and clear.
“You think I went there that day just to watch your little couple performance? You accuse me of fooling around with other men—do you have any proof? Because I have proof that you cheated. So? Want everyone to watch it together?”
Chen Mu trembled with anger.
He wanted to refute her, yet he was terrified she might actually have recorded a video.
He secretly glanced sideways at Lin Siwan.
Lin Siwan’s pale face shook slightly as she hurriedly lowered her head in panic.
That day, Shen Nanyue had barged into the hotel with a male escort without warning.
After the initial shock, all they had felt was anger.
Blinded by emotion, neither of them had even noticed whether she had a recording device in her hand.
Chen Mu pressed his lips together and remained silent for a long while.
After hearing the sudden reversal, the surrounding crowd froze for several seconds before someone actually stepped closer to Shen Nanyue and sincerely asked, “There’s really a video? Can you show me?”
Shen Nanyue glanced coldly at the person and replied indifferently, “If you just want gossip, go search for videos online yourself. Can’t you see I’m busy clearing my own name here?”
The man, having been snapped at, curled his lips in annoyance.
“With the little reputation you have left, does it even need clearing up?”
Having embarrassed himself, he muttered under his breath and shrank back into the crowd.
Meanwhile, Shen Nanyue’s refusal gave Lin Siwan a glimmer of hope.
She couldn’t produce the video, which meant she definitely hadn’t recorded one!
Otherwise, with such a perfect chance to crush her, how could she possibly let it go?
Lin Siwan instantly regained her confidence.
Lifting her head again and seeing Chen Mu standing there with a dark expression and saying nothing, she instead turned toward Shen Nanyue first.
Her voice was soft and gentle, tinged with endless grievance.
“Big sister, why are you slandering me and Brother Chen Mu? You’re the one who wronged him first. You never loved him, and you’re always fooling around with other men until late at night!”
“You’re my sister, so I can tolerate all your bad temper, but I can’t stand by and watch you hurt Brother Chen Mu! There’s absolutely nothing improper between him and me. Don’t try to scare me with some so-called video!”
By the end of her speech, Lin Siwan sounded righteous and resolute, as though prepared to face death itself.
Chen Mu frowned and grabbed Lin Siwan’s arm, wanting to say something.
But Lin Siwan simply smiled at him reassuringly and whispered in his ear, “Brother Chen Mu, don’t worry. Sister didn’t record any video.”
Chen Mu was still half doubtful, but seeing the certainty on Lin Siwan’s face, he finally relaxed.
He lifted his eyes and shot Shen Nanyue a contemptuous glance.
“You had the guts to cheat, but not the guts to admit it. Shen Nanyue, your shamelessness has exceeded even my imagination!”
The moment his words fell, the onlookers watching the drama could no longer hold back and loudly mocked Shen Nanyue.
“Miss Shen, don’t go twisting black and white here, okay? Young Master Chen at least does things with some principles. Unlike you—someone whose private life is a mess—yet you still accuse others of being unfaithful!”
“Exactly! Weren’t you just saying you recorded a video? Why not bring it out now and clear your name?”
“Maybe it doesn’t even exist? If you ask me, there’s no need to make such a huge scene just for the sake of your little reputation. If you apologize properly, at least it’ll show some grace worthy of the Shen family’s eldest daughter!”
“…”
The ridicule rose one after another.
Yet Shen Nanyue remained completely unaffected.
Zhou Yushen half-lifted his dark eyes and casually swept a glance across the crowd before finally settling his gaze on Chen Mu and Lin Siwan.
He strode forward slowly, stopping beside Shen Nanyue, and lowered his voice near her ear.
“You were thinking of your sisterly bond and didn’t want to make things ugly, but your sister clearly has no intention of letting you off. In that case, just release the video.”
Though his voice was low, everyone nearby heard his deep tone clearly.
Shen Nanyue looked up at him in surprise.
Since when had she ever cared about sisterly affection?
Zhou Yushen lowered his gaze to look at her, a faint smile lingering at the corners of his lips.
Within those deep eyes lay a gentleness as soft as water.
Shen Nanyue quickly looked away and secretly swallowed.
Why was this peacock showing off at every possible moment?!
She took a deep breath, her gaze lazily sweeping across everyone present, then shrugged helplessly.
“In that case, if I still don’t bring it out, I’ll really end up taking the blame for this.”
Curling her lips into a smile, she looked toward a nearby servant.
The servant immediately turned and left.
Because she was wearing an evening gown, it wasn’t convenient for her to carry her phone, so she had left it in her room.
While the servant went upstairs to retrieve it, Shen Nanyue leisurely admired the wonderfully complicated expressions on Chen Mu and Lin Siwan’s faces.
— The end of the Chapter–
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