Chapter 355: Leaving No Face
Wu Sheng’s unpredictability and utter bluntness took Bai Xinyue by surprise.
The smile finally vanished from Bai Xinyue’s face.
"Wu Sheng, are you playing dumb?"
’I’ve done so much for him, and I even waited for him here. Isn’t my meaning obvious enough?’
Wu Sheng gave a half-smile. "It’s Miss Bai who’s playing dumb, isn’t it? Aren’t you supposed to be marrying into the Li Family?"
Bai Xinyue stared at Wu Sheng’s smile and listened to his words, momentarily unable to understand what he meant.
"What do you mean?"
she asked, frowning.
"Exactly what it sounds like. I heard Miss Bai has taken a fancy to the Li Family’s only son and is hitting it off with Mrs. Li."
Wu Sheng raised an eyebrow. "As far as I know, that Li Family son isn’t just married, he even has a child. If Miss Bai wants to marry into the family, shouldn’t you be plotting your next move first? How do you have the time to be here?"
Bai Xinyue’s expression finally changed.
"Wu Sheng, what nonsense are you spouting? The one I came for is you..."
Wu Sheng’s face turned cold as he cut her off. "I’d advise you to watch your words, Miss Bai."
"You’re the one trying to marry into the Li Family. Don’t drag me into it. My surname is Wu. I have nothing to do with the Li Family."
Bai Xinyue grew exasperated. "Wu Sheng, is there any point to this? It’s an open secret."
Wu Sheng laughed. "What ’open secret’? The only open secret is that Miss Bai of the Bai Family has her eye on the Li Family’s only son and wants to marry him. As for anything else, I really don’t know what you’re talking about."
Wu Sheng dug a finger in his ear. "If there’s some secret you’re privy to, Miss Bai, please do tell me. I’m all ears."
His eyes were filled with sarcasm.
’What open secret? How could something like this be an open secret?’
’I am a legitimate descendant of the Wu Family. I have absolutely nothing to do with the Li Family.’
’Aside from Ye Xilan’s frantic efforts, Li Xian has never said a word. This is not something that can be discussed openly.’
’How could it be an open secret? It’s all just Ye Xilan’s private, underhanded scheming.’
’And she has the nerve to bring this up in front of me, to talk about ’open secrets’. What a joke!’
Ye Xilan had been unable to have any more children. The year after her miscarriage, Li Xian had brought home his cousin’s newborn child to raise.
The child was adopted at birth, and they told everyone he was Ye Xilan’s biological son.
By now, very few people knew about this.
Publicly, Li Xian’s son was Li Kai Xuan.
Li Kai Xuan was three years younger than Wu Sheng. He was now married with a child and had inherited the Li Family’s mantle. After graduating, he joined the group’s headquarters and was a man in high demand.
The one the world knew, the one who was the subject of any ’open secret’, was Li Kai Xuan.
Wu Sheng had absolutely nothing to do with the Li Family.
How could Bai Xinyue not understand this? But she also knew that blood is thicker than water.
’Wu Sheng is Li Xian’s son. Even if it can’t be acknowledged publicly, that fact can’t just be erased, can it?’
She had heard it from Ye Xilan. Although there was no official acknowledgment, due to the natural bond between father and son and a sense of guilt, Wu Sheng weighed more heavily in Li Xian’s heart than anyone else.
Having been married to Li Xian for decades, Ye Xilan saw this very clearly.
Thinking about Ye Xilan’s words, Bai Xinyue gradually calmed down.
’This matter can’t be made public. It’s enough that I know it in my heart.’
’Of course, Wu Sheng understands it too. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be reacting this way.’
’Given Wu Sheng’s pride, he might never acknowledge this in his lifetime. I should have realized that sooner.’
Bai Xinyue took a deep breath and smiled faintly. "I misspoke."
Seeing Bai Xinyue calm down so quickly, Wu Sheng’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
"You just misspoke?"
Bai Xinyue’s heart skipped a beat. Su Li’s words echoed in her ears again. Looking at Wu Sheng’s icy gaze, she took another deep breath.
"I also acted wrongly. I’m sorry. I was in too much of a hurry and made a mistake without realizing it."
She admitted her mistake readily.
Bai Xinyue was sharp and knew when to cut her losses. "I heard you ran into some trouble and got flustered. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to underestimate you."
She held up her hands. "I was in such a rush that I forgot about your outstanding abilities. I was being reckless."
She apologized without hesitation, her composure growing even more poised.
"With what happened to your former friend, you must not be in the mood for anything. I shouldn’t have asked you to dinner just now."
Wu Sheng watched Bai Xinyue without a word.
Bai Xinyue didn’t seem awkward at all. She sighed in the direction the car had driven off earlier.
"Sigh, what a pity. Such a fine person, but because of..."
Aside from a few people, no one on the outside knew Ge Ba’s true motive.
Everyone assumed Ge Ba was in love with Su Li and had lost control because she chose Wu Sheng and he couldn’t have her.
Bai Xinyue thought so as well.
She recalled Su Li’s appearance, shook her head, and said lightly,
"Miss Su Li is certainly very charming. Beautiful, alluring... it’s just that she... gets around..."
She deliberately trailed off, but her implication was obvious.
Bai Xinyue was quite experienced at sowing discord at moments like this.
It was just a pity she didn’t understand the full story.
Hearing her words, Wu Sheng’s lips twitched. "If Su Li is so alluring that she ’gets around,’ then you... could hang out a sign for business."
A sign for business? What kind of sign? A sign to sell oneself, of course.
After saying this lightly, Wu Sheng turned and walked away.
When Bai Xinyue realized what he meant, her face turned ashen.
"Wu Sheng, what do you mean by that?"
She demanded, staring at his back.
"The literal meaning. My apologies, Miss Bai. As a married man, it’s inconvenient for me to spend too much time with another woman. You’re on your own."
Wu Sheng casually raised his hand and gave a wave, the ring on his finger almost blindingly bright.
Hearing Wu Sheng’s words, Bai Xinyue was thoroughly enraged.
’How can this Wu Sheng be so unyielding? Even if he’s just playing hard to get, isn’t this going too far?’
Bai Xinyue’s chest heaved violently, the anger in her eyes gradually morphing into defiance.
’This is the second time. The second time he’s ignored me.’
The more Wu Sheng acted this way, the more defiant Bai Xinyue became.
’I am Bai Xinyue! I’m the one who rejects others, not the other way around!’
’Wu Sheng, I will have you!’
People have a contrarian streak; they always want what they can’t have.
This was even more true for someone as proud to the bone as Bai Xinyue. A raging fire ignited within her.
The fire to conquer Wu Sheng.
If before, Bai Xinyue merely felt that Wu Sheng was worthy of her and wasn’t a yes-man like other men, now, she was truly set on him.
Bai Xinyue stared at Wu Sheng’s back, her gaze burning.
Wu Sheng, his back to Bai Xinyue, had an equally burning gaze.
’How could Bai Xinyue’s and Ye Xilan’s petty schemes possibly escape my notice?’
’For someone like her to dare slander Su Li, to try and badmouth her to me... she’s simply asking for trouble.’
Wu Sheng’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
’Bai Xinyue has her sights set on Li Kai Xuan, wants to marry him, and has Ye Xilan’s support. This news needs to be spread far and wide.’
’One shamelessly covets a married man, the other is a hypocrite who wants to replace her daughter-in-law. Tsk tsk... what a combination: a wicked mother-in-law and a scheming woman.’
’I’m sure everyone would love to watch this drama unfold.’
’Li Kai Xuan’s wife is no simple character. And her parents and several younger brothers behind her are even less so.’
’Once this news gets out, it’ll be more than enough to give Bai Xinyue and Ye Xilan a world of trouble.’
A single word from Wu Sheng would be enough to leave Bai Xinyue and Ye Xilan in utter disarray, unable to even fend for themselves.