Chapter 156: Hu Shishi’s Showdown
Since Xu Ke had said so, the classmates didn’t try to make him stay any longer, crowding around Cheng Yuan as they walked out of the private room.
His classmates were incredibly enthusiastic, escorting Cheng Yuan all the way to the lobby on the first floor.
As the undeniable center of attention for this gathering, Cheng Yuan was too embarrassed to let his classmates actually split the bill. He strode to the front desk. "The check for Champion Scholar Pavilion, please."
The receptionist replied politely, "Sir, Young Master Mei has already settled the bill for Champion Scholar Pavilion. He also said that any and all of your expenses for the rest of the day should be put on his tab."
Hearing this, the classmates’ pupils constricted. They thought they had already overestimated Cheng Yuan, but they had still underestimated him.
’So Cheng Yuan is that much of a badass? Even Mei Bin, a top young master of Luocheng, has to kiss his ass!’
’From now on, they had to make sure they kissed up to Cheng Yuan, and do it properly.’
Cheng Yuan raised an eyebrow. He’d already gotten a huge bargain from the Xing’an Group, yet Xiaobin was still so perceptive, giving him plenty of face.
’In that case, if a money-making opportunity comes up in the future, I can bring Xiaobin in on it.’
Cheng Yuan turned back to his classmates and grinned. "Everyone, you heard the lady at the front desk, right? Go on back and party! All of your expenses tonight are on Young Master Mei!"
"Thank you, Young Master Mei!"
"We should definitely thank Young Master Mei, but the person we should thank the most is Brother Yuan!"
Cheng Yuan smiled and waved his hand. "Alright everyone, no need to see me out. Go on back."
After bidding farewell to his classmates, Cheng Yuan took a taxi home and washed himself until he was sparkling clean.
Worried that Lin Ruoxi would be put off by the smell of alcohol on him, Cheng Yuan brushed his teeth several times. Once he was feeling fresh and clean, he settled in to wait for his wife to come home.
「Meanwhile.」
Lin Ruoxi had called a designated driver to take Zhang Zhigang and Dong Zhengjian back to their hotel.
After saying goodbye to the two men, Lin Ruoxi turned and walked toward her Mercedes-Benz.
CLICK. Lin Ruoxi opened the car door, then leaned back wearily against the rear seat and gave a quiet command. "To the Emperor No. 9 Villa District."
However, to Lin Ruoxi’s surprise, the designated driver didn’t react at all.
Lin Ruoxi was starting to get annoyed. She sat up straight and urged impatiently, "Driver, what are you waiting for? Let’s go!"
A crisp, competent female voice came from the driver’s seat. "Waiting for you."
Lin Ruoxi froze. "Who are you? What are you doing in my car? Where’s the designated driver I hired?"
The woman in the driver’s seat slowly turned around, looking Lin Ruoxi up and down with keen interest. She couldn’t help but nod in satisfaction.
’Cheng Yuan has good taste. Lin Ruoxi is worthy of being the Pearl of Luocheng; she’s qualified to stand by my side.’
Lin Ruoxi recognized Hu Shishi, and her mind went blank.
’Hu Shishi?’
’Why is Hu Shishi waiting for me in my car?’
’Hu Shishi is the undisputed leader of Dongshan’s younger generation!’
In terms of looks, Lin Ruoxi considered herself Hu Shishi’s equal.
But in every other aspect—family background, cultivation, and personal achievements—the gap between them was immense.
Even if she were to inherit the Huanyu Group, she would still be no match for Hu Shishi.
Lin Ruoxi forced a pleasant smile. "Sister Hu, what is this about?"
Hu Shishi smiled faintly. "I came here specifically to see you, of course."
"Is there something you need from me, Sister Hu? You really didn’t have to come in person; a phone call would have been enough. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll certainly do my best."
Hu Shishi said flatly, "I’ve always hated it when people lump us together, but now that I’ve met you, I think you’re worthy of the ’Dongshan Pride’ title."
Lin Ruoxi was confident in her own beauty, so instead of being modest, she just gave a self-deprecating laugh.
"For some people, being beautiful is actually a curse. I envy you, Sister Hu. You get to live life on your own terms."
Hu Shishi smiled. "Ruoxi, you can live on your own terms, too. I’ve already taken care of the Gu Family for you, so you can go back to the Provincial City now. With me backing you, I doubt the Lin Family will force you to do anything you don’t want to do."
Lin Ruoxi was taken aback. She stared at Hu Shishi with suspicion. They were nodding acquaintances at best.
In fact, because people were always comparing them, Hu Shishi had never been particularly warm toward her.
’Why would Hu Shishi help me?’
"Sister Hu, I don’t understand. Forgive me for being blunt, but we don’t know each other that well."
Hu Shishi nodded candidly. "You’re right, we don’t know each other well. I’m doing all of this for my fiancé."
’Fiancé?’
Lin Ruoxi was even more confused.
"Sister Hu, who is your fiancé? Do I know him?"
"Of course you know him. It’s that human shield you found—Cheng Yuan. Now, divorce him immediately and go back to the Provincial City."
BUZZ!!
Lin Ruoxi felt as if she’d been struck by lightning.
She simply couldn’t accept what Hu Shishi was saying.
"Sister Hu, you must be joking, right? How could Cheng Yuan possibly be your fiancé?"
"A few days ago, Cheng Yuan cured my grandfather’s chronic illness. My father personally arranged the marriage between me and Cheng Yuan."
Lin Ruoxi’s pupils constricted. Hu Shishi’s father, Hu Yidao, was an Innate Grandmaster and the president of the Dongshan Province Martial Dao Association.
In Dongshan Province, a marriage decreed by Hu Yidao carried nearly the same weight as an imperial edict.
"Didn’t Cheng Yuan tell you he’s already married, Sister Hu?"
"He told me. But according to my investigation, you’re only in a sham marriage. You’ll be divorced in six months. Don’t deny it. I know for a fact that you’re still a virgin. Your marriage to Cheng Yuan is not a real one!"
Lin Ruoxi’s face went pale. ’How could Hu Shishi know about the marriage agreement?’
’Only she and Cheng Yuan knew about it; she hadn’t even told her own parents!’
’Did Cheng Yuan tell her?’
At that moment, a sense of grievance washed over Lin Ruoxi.
She had been ready to turn their sham into a real marriage, to give herself completely to Cheng Yuan. Yet he had hidden the arranged engagement from her and told Hu Shishi about their private agreement.
"Sister Hu, there’s one thing you don’t know. I was the one who wrote up a marriage agreement, but Cheng Yuan never accepted it. He said that one day, he would make me fall in love with him."
Hu Shishi stated ruthlessly, "That day is never going to come. Cheng Yuan is my man now. You need to back off."
Faced with Hu Shishi’s aggressive pressure, Lin Ruoxi finally found her courage.
"If it were anything else, I would back down. But when it comes to love, I will not! I’ve already fallen in love with Cheng Yuan, and I’m ready to make our marriage a real one."
Hu Shishi shrugged. As she’d expected, getting Lin Ruoxi to back down wasn’t going to be easy.
"I suppose since I’m the one who came later, I shouldn’t be so overbearing. I can take a step back. I’ll be the senior wife, and you can be the junior."
’Senior?’
’Junior?’
Lin Ruoxi had never even considered such a thing. She couldn’t believe that a woman as proud as Hu Shishi would actually utter those words.
For a moment, Lin Ruoxi was completely stunned.
"Sister Hu, you..."
"This is my bottom line. And don’t worry, I give you my word: I, Hu Shishi, will absolutely not bully you. I’ll do my best to be a good sister to you."