After Flirting with the Wrong Stand-in, I Overturned (GL) - Chapter 55

Could it be that An Ruo hadn’t just sent those messages to her, but had made them known to everyone? What was her goal? Her goal was A-Xuan.

Lin Shuyan’s face was deathly pale, and her head was buzzing. The surroundings were loud, filled with the drunken states of men and women.

“Let’s go inside.” Rong Yu gave a room number, and the waiting server immediately adopted an even more diligent attitude. “This way, ladies, please.”

Pulling Lin Shuyan along and completely ignoring the drinks that had just been served, Rong Yu followed the server’s steps. Rong Yu had been to this bar once before to find a drunken Ning Yinman. At that time, Ning Yinman was with several of her friends. It was seeing that scene that led Rong Yu to guess that Ren Xuan had also frequented this bar.

As expected, her guess was correct. Other places might not know the gossip about Ren Xuan and Lin Shuyan, but here, almost everyone could say a word or two about it.

“We’re here.” Rong Yu released Shuyan’s sleeve and casually closed the door.

“You,” Shuyan said, as if suddenly understanding, “you called me here just so I would hear those words?”

Yes and no. Rong Yu neither nodded nor shook her head. If Shuyan’s beautiful dream could truly last until the end, Rong Yu would never have disturbed it, but reality clearly would not allow it. The matter could no longer be hidden; seeing Shuyan’s dazed expression, Rong Yu couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Did Shuyan have any idea how those so-called socialites and noblewomen were discussing her at banquets?

Thinking of a banquet she had attended yesterday, Rong Yu’s blood boiled.

“Sigh, have you heard? The one from the Ren family—turns out the reason she hasn’t dated for so many years is because she was so deeply devoted; her heart was already taken.”

“Deeply devoted? Isn’t she holding someone else now?”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” The speaker wagged a finger, saying with a grin, “What difference does it make once the lights are out? Besides, maybe a star has a better figure!”

“True.” The listener couldn’t agree more. “If I had the Ren family’s capital and no parents to discipline me, I wouldn’t leave the spot beside me empty either!”

“…”

Rong Yu didn’t dare recall the even more vulgar and unpleasant things she had heard. Compared to what was said at the banquet, what Shuyan had just overheard was practically mild.

“Yes,” Rong Yu admitted straightforwardly.

“It was An Ruo’s doing,” Shuyan said with certainty.

“What?” Rong Yu’s mouth hung open, unable to comprehend.

“An Ruo,” Shuyan said. “She is a crazed pursuer of A-Xuan and has sent me similar messages.”

What? Rong Yu blinked repeatedly, unable to keep up with Shuyan’s logic. She had expected sadness, grief, and indignation after the truth was out, but Shuyan actually—actually attributed the fault to Ren Xuan’s pursuer.

“You…” Rong Yu was utterly confused. Following Shuyan’s logic, Rong Yu nearly bit her tongue. “Do you know what you’re saying?”

Someone already sent you messages before? Even if that person had ill intentions, didn’t you go to verify whether it was true or false? Rong Yu felt a blockage in her chest. Last time she had been so close to saying it; this time, it had been made so clear.

Was it that she didn’t understand, or was it that Lin Shuyan wanted to pretend she didn’t understand? Rong Yu once read a story about a couple where one was constantly deceived by her lover, but she accepted it willingly, even saying that as long as the lie lasted a lifetime, it was enough.

“I know,” Shuyan said, having gradually regained her composure. She even managed a smile. “Rong Yu, thank you for letting me see this.”

“…Wait,” Rong Yu was at a loss. Things had veered completely off course, making all the explanations she had prepared useless.

“Rong Yu, I should head back.” Shuyan tidied her clothes and walked out as if nothing had happened. It seemed as though she hadn’t heard those words—or rather, she had never taken them to heart.

Instinctively, Rong Yu wanted to stop her.

“A-Xuan will be calling me soon.” Shuyan gave a light smile; mentioning Ren Xuan still brought that same shyness and joy. Rong Yu felt something stuck in her throat and couldn’t say another word, watching helplessly as Shuyan walked out and downstairs.

Entering the elevator, there were already two servers in uniform inside. Seeing a guest enter, their conversation stopped for a moment. Seeing that Shuyan seemed approachable, the two began to chatter again. “Did you see just now? That person really looked like Lin Shuyan. and the one beside her looked like Rong Yu.”

“Do you think there’s a chance it was actually them?” Unfortunately, this bar had strict rules against leaking client privacy, otherwise they could have taken a few photos.

“It’s possible; our bar is famous in Yecheng after all.”

“I’m more interested in whether Lin Shuyan is really a stand-in. Do you think she knows?”

“If I were her, I’d take the money and be a beautiful stand-in; it’s not like I’m losing anything.”

“True…”

“Fabricating rumors requires compensation.” The two were chatting heatedly, completely forgetting there was another person in the elevator, when they suddenly heard a cold voice.

The tall girl in the lead didn’t react immediately. “What?” The other one reacted faster and said somewhat defiantly, “We aren’t rumormongering. Everyone says so.”

“They are wrong.”

“How do you know?” You say it’s wrong so it’s wrong? How strange. Are secrets of the wealthy something you can dig up so easily?

“I am Lin Shuyan.” Shuyan simply took off her hat and mask.

With a ding, the elevator reached the first floor. Shuyan put her hat and mask back on and said coldly, “If there is a next time, I will not waive my right to seek accountability.”

Both stood there dumbfounded, watching her leave. It was a long time before one of them reacted, pointing dazedlly at the receding figure. “Was she… really Lin Shuyan?”

“It seems,” the other swallowed and said uncertainly, “it was.”

Exchanging a glance, the two almost screamed. They had met the person herself!!!

Leaving the noisy bar, Shuyan hailed a taxi. Not having touched a drop of alcohol, Shuyan had never been more sober. Gripping her phone tightly, her thumb hovered over Ren Xuan’s contact page. A-Xuan, when are you coming back? They are bullying me.

Shuyan suddenly felt incredibly aggrieved.

At this moment, Shuyan only wanted to curl up in the soft bed that belonged to her and A-Xuan. She could tell A-Xuan about the things she had encountered. A-Xuan would surely be able to resolve these rumors.

Unfortunately, A-Xuan wasn’t home. Shuyan paid the fare, dejectedly opened the door, and climbed the steps one by one.

The house was brightly lit, and a warm atmosphere greeted her. Shuyan slowed her pace, hardly believing her eyes. That was…

Shuyan rubbed her misty eyes. The person sitting in the middle of the living room—who else could it be but A-Xuan? The corners of Shuyan’s eyes immediately turned red, and she rushed toward her without hesitation.

Ren Xuan, holding a newspaper, suddenly felt something dive into her arms. Looking closely, who else could it be but Lin Shuyan?

“Shuyan, you’re back?” Ren Xuan casually tossed the newspaper on the sofa. Sensing the unfamiliar scent on her lover, she frowned slightly. “Where did Shuyan go?”

Shuyan’s body stiffened, and she hugged Ren Xuan tightly, shaking her head. “No, I didn’t go anywhere.”

She quickly brightened up, nuzzling into Ren Xuan’s embrace. “Why didn’t A-Xuan tell me you were back?” If she had known, she wouldn’t have gone out with Rong Yu.

“Did you have fun out with Teacher Rong?” Ren Xuan used her fingers to smooth Shuyan’s soft hair.

“Let’s not talk about that.” Shuyan suddenly changed her mind. She decided to forget all those unpleasant things; time spent with A-Xuan shouldn’t be disturbed by that rubbish.

“Alright, we won’t talk about it.” Ren Xuan shook her head and started to rise. “Are you hungry? I’ll have Uncle Wang prepare some late-night snacks.”

“Don’t.” Shuyan hugged Ren Xuan’s waist tightly. “Don’t go, A-Xuan.”

“Okay.” Ren Xuan patted Shuyan’s back comfortingly. At this moment, she naturally realized something was wrong. Even if things were off, Ren Xuan decided to put them aside for now and just follow Shuyan’s lead.

“A-Xuan is the best,” Shuyan said contentedly, murmuring.

“I’m only ‘best’ when I let you hug me?” Ren Xuan chuckled.

“…Always,” Shuyan said muffledly.

Ren Xuan said nothing more, smiling as she held Shuyan. During this, Uncle Wang passed by. Before Ren Xuan could speak, he immediately used his eyes to signal that he, the old man, would clear out.

In that case, Ren Xuan felt a bit too embarrassed to tell Shuyan that someone had been by.

They stayed like that for a long while before Ren Xuan cupped Shuyan’s small face—the red corners of her eyes and the dried tear streaks on her face were visible.

“What happened?” Ren Xuan’s gaze immediately sharpened. She couldn’t understand why Shuyan would be crying. Shuyan had gone out with Rong Yu; what could have happened between them?

“A-Xuan,” Shuyan rested her head on Ren Xuan’s lap, rubbed her nose, and said in a low voice, “I want to file a complaint.”

“Will A-Xuan stand up for me?”

“Of course I will.” Ren Xuan nodded without hesitation.

“Really?” Shuyan immediately sat up straight, her eyes shining as she looked at Ren Xuan.

“Of course.” Ren Xuan promised her. She was her girlfriend; if she didn’t side with Shuyan, who else would she protect?

“I knew it.” Shuyan smiled with satisfaction. “A-Xuan will definitely side with me.”

“Then,” Shuyan asked again, “will A-Xuan find me annoying? Will you think I’m abusing my influence—”

“Will you… dislike me?”

Ren Xuan looked at the person before her with tenderness as deep as water, unable to resist stroking her head, and replied with a firm voice, “I won’t.”

Ren Xuan thought: In this lifetime, I will never encounter another girl like this.

Shuyan’s smile grew even more brilliant, and she wanted to get even closer to Ren Xuan. She didn’t look at Ren Xuan again, lying back down on her lap. Shuyan’s heart felt as if it were filled with a jar of honey.

Everything was sweet.

A-Xuan was so good; An Ruo was truly senseless to fabricate such a rumor to disgust her. True, An Ruo never knew how good A-Xuan was, which was why she made those baseless, unfounded guesses.

Shuyan didn’t notice Ren Xuan’s hand, which had started to lean toward her cheek but then pulled back, nor did she see the complex look in her eyes.

Shuyan, what should I do? The System says the affection value is full, and I can successfully trigger the next plot point to let you know the ‘truth.’

If I really let you know, will you never lie in my arms and laugh so happily and defenselessly again? Will you never let me be close again? Ren Xuan hardly dared to think about it.

Even now, seeing Shuyan’s slightly reddened eyes, her heart ached. She wanted Shuyan to tell her everything, bit by bit.

“A-Xuan, I recently heard a rumor. They all say… I am a stand-in.”