After Marrying the Cold and Elegant Beauty, I Fell in Love (GL) - Chapter 24.2

Shen Yuru slowly walked out of the room and leaned against the door, letting out a long breath.

Then she heard the unconcealed voices inside drifting out intermittently, yet clearly enough for her to hear.

“Mom, why didn’t you tell Shen Yuru directly? The Han family and Shen family already have intentions of forming a marriage alliance. Isn’t she getting along quite well with Han Shuangshuang? Why not let her know in advance so she can properly get along with Han Shuangshuang?”

“I really didn’t expect that child Han Shuangshuang to side with her so much. Han Ruhua is the Han family’s precious darling, so it’s impossible for her to form a marriage alliance with Shen Yuru. Unexpectedly, this child Han Shuangshuang is somewhat sensible too, taking the initiative to make contact with Yuru. It seems the Han family has already explained things clearly to Han Shuangshuang. We only need to do Shen Yuru’s work properly.”

“With that body of hers, how could anyone truly like her? She hangs onto one breath every day and wears that gloomy face. When has she ever given us elders a pleasant expression? Were we the ones who caused her parents’ car accident? We’ve worked hard all these years, maintaining her parents’ company for her and paying for her schooling. Was that easy for us?”

“All right, all right, say less. We’ve worked in the company for so many years. Even after she graduates, the company must still have our shares. I already discussed it with the Han family. Looking at Han Shuangshuang’s behavior, she seems to have already agreed. Today, we’ll indirectly test Shen Yuru again. As long as she doesn’t resist, this matter will be settled.”

The many voices suddenly became chaotic.

“Stop talking. This is the Han family. Aren’t you afraid the walls have ears? As for the marriage between the two families, Old Madam, I have my own plans. All you need to do is handle your own duties. The company’s performance is in deficit again this year. Back when Shen Yuru’s parents were alive, this company was one of the best. What has it become now? Put more thought into improving your own abilities. That would be better than anything.”

Shen Yuru felt her heart cooling little by little.

She had long stopped caring about the things those people said. What she cared about was Han Shuangshuang, whom they mentioned.

What did they mean by those words? The Han family had already told Han Shuangshuang long ago?

So Han Shuangshuang had already known she would form a marriage alliance with Shen Yuru, and that was why she had deliberately approached her at school?

All of Han Shuangshuang’s obedience had been an act. Lowering herself and acting small in front of Shen Yuru to please her was nothing more than trying to deceive her trust?

Shen Yuru felt cold air continuously surging up from the soles of her feet. That chill wrapped tightly around her entire body, even pressing until she could not breathe.

What she hated most was deception.

Shen Yuru could not stop the bad thoughts in her mind.

They were like vines that had suddenly gained nourishment, growing wildly and stealing away all the beautiful memories and hopes in her heart from this period of time.

Her vision began to blur, as though dyed with a gray, hazy color. She could no longer see any light.

Shen Yuru clutched her chest, and the corner of her mouth curved into a self-mocking cold smile.

That was right. They were all right. With her ruined body and her gloomy, unbearable self, how could anyone want to approach her on their own? Every person who approached her carried a purpose, wanting to obtain some benefit from her.

Others were the same. Han Shuangshuang was the same.

Shen Yuru did not want to keep listening, so she left the doorway and wandered aimlessly.

When a person had a wound, it did not hurt that much. The most painful thing was when a wound that was about to heal was forcibly cut open again.

That kind of pain was like having one’s tendons pulled and bones carved.

……

Han Shuangshuang ran around the second-floor corridor for a long time and was exhausted.

[System: Warm reminder. The system has detected that Shen Yuru’s mood is fluctuating too much. Please find Shen Yuru as soon as possible and regulate Shen Yuru’s emotions to avoid an increase in Shen Yuru’s blackening value.]

Han Shuangshuang: !!

She knew it. Those old bastards were not a single good thing. She had only left for twenty minutes, and Shen Yuru’s blackening value had started fluctuating again.

But the Han family villa was too big, and Han Shuangshuang discovered that she was lost.

Which staircase had she come up from just now?

Just as Han Shuangshuang finally found the staircase that overlapped with her memory and was about to go downstairs, she heard a piercing voice.

“I finally found you. You little slut, you still dare run around in front of me? Your younger sister suffered such great harm, and it was all because of you.”

Han Shuangshuang felt her ears suffer a severe sonic attack.

When she turned her head, she saw an overly maintained face. Because of excessive fillers, the apple muscles on that face had swollen like risen dough buns. Due to the loss of collagen, the smile-shaped lips looked extremely unnatural, like a dried-up zombie. Whenever she spoke, the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted, revealing eight extremely fake-white porcelain teeth.

This was the original owner’s stepmother, Xiao San.

Xiao San loudly scolded Han Shuangshuang right there in the hallway.

She was not afraid of outsiders hearing at all.

Han Shuangshuang originally did not want to get involved in the original owner’s family conflicts.

But since trouble had come to find her on its own, she could not just be scolded for nothing.

“What is Auntie Xiao San saying? Han Ruhua ran out and messed around with another man herself, and that’s supposed to be blamed on me too?”

Xiao San’s eyes immediately widened, and the expression on her entire face became even more ferocious and stiff. “Han Shuangshuang, what nonsense are you saying? You framed her! Ruhua is such an obedient child. How could she possibly do something so outrageous? It was all you! You don’t learn anything good all day and mix around with improper people, and now you even want to ruin your younger sister.”

Xiao San’s scolding was extremely ugly. “A little beast like you, born from a mother but not raised by one—why didn’t you go down with your mother earlier?”

Although Han Shuangshuang felt her heart was already big enough and did not particularly like arguing with a shrew like this, these words still touched her bottom line.

A rather sinister smile appeared at the corner of Han Shuangshuang’s mouth as she looked at Xiao San and slowly walked over. “Why is Auntie Xiao San cursing herself? Although my mother is dead, aren’t you my new mother? What? Do you want to go down and accompany her?”

Seeing Han Shuangshuang’s expression, Xiao San actually felt a trace of fear rise in her heart.

What was going on? Why was Han Shuangshuang’s reaction a little different?

In the past, when she insulted Han Shuangshuang like this, Han Shuangshuang would only show an angry and helpless expression, raging incompetently, without the slightest scheming ability to talk back.

After not seeing her for some time, how had Han Shuangshuang’s tongue become this sharp?

Xiao San said, “What nonsense are you saying? I don’t have a daughter like you. You still want to lead Ruhua astray? Dream on!”

Han Shuangshuang gave a cold snort. “It was Han Ruhua who had a crush on someone and threw herself at him for nothing, clinging like a dog-skin plaster. She couldn’t even be chased away. She was the one being cheap, yet you’re blaming someone else. Have you been an old witch for so many years that even your brain has gone muddled?”

Han Shuangshuang’s bearing was aggressive, completely different from what Xiao San had imagined.

For a moment, Xiao San was rebuked into speechlessness and did not know what to say.

After something happened to Han Ruhua, Xiao San had been both shocked and afraid, with a belly full of resentment that had nowhere to vent.

She had only been waiting for Han Shuangshuang to return to the Han family so she could vent properly on Han Shuangshuang.

Xiao San’s brain short-circuited. She no longer wanted to engage in a war of words with Han Shuangshuang, so she raised her hand, wanting to slap Han Shuangshuang across the mouth.

In any case, as long as her anger was vented, that was enough. Since childhood, Han Shuangshuang had been nothing more than her punching bag.

But Han Shuangshuang directly reached out and grabbed Xiao San’s arm. “Auntie Xiao San, I don’t know whether you’re truly stupid or pretending to be stupid. Back then, when Han Ruhua entered a hotel with a man, I was the one who found someone to call the police. If I hadn’t called the police, you should be able to imagine the consequences, right? When facing your own savior, not only do you fail to repay me, you even treat me with malice. Aren’t you afraid of retribution after losing your conscience like this?”

Han Shuangshuang was very strong. She restrained Xiao San’s arm, gripping her until she could not move.

Xiao San was furious, so angry that the filler in her cheeks almost seemed ready to burst out.

At that moment, a deep male voice sounded. “What is happening? Why are you making so much noise in the hallway?”

Han Shuangshuang watched as that middle-aged man walked out. His appearance was average, his figure was average, and his height was also average. He was so ordinary that one could tell at a glance he was very ordinary.

Only this kind of man, who acted humble and small in the early stages while enduring silently, could make people overlook the fact that his true nature was that of an ungrateful white-eyed wolf who ate people without spitting out the bones.

The man’s eyes carried impatience as he looked at Han Shuangshuang, as though he had seen something filthy.

When Xiao San saw the man, it was as though she immediately had someone to rely on.

Now that she had someone supporting her, her aura became even more arrogant.

“Look at this child! She’s growing more and more crooked now. Not only did she talk back to me, she even tried to hit me. Look at my arm, grabbed until it’s red here and purple there. If she’s raised for another two years, how will that be? She’s a proper white-eyed wolf. When the time comes, she might even eat me.”

A trace of ruthlessness flashed through the man’s eyes. He raised his hand and moved to slap Han Shuangshuang across the face.

Han Shuangshuang was not someone who would suffer a beating for nothing. She immediately turned and dodged this fatal strike.

The reason that man had chosen Xiao San was precisely because Xiao San worshiped him, was considerate toward him, and regarded him as her heaven.

For so many years at Han Shuangshuang’s mother’s side, he had suffered so much anger and had been pointed at by others, called a phoenix man and a man who lived off a woman. Only after Han Shuangshuang’s mother died was he finally able to hold his head high.

So whenever he saw Han Shuangshuang looking at him with those questioning eyes, he felt as though his dignity and bottom line had been provoked.

“Han Shuangshuang, don’t refuse face when it’s given to you. Raising you all these years was already an act of sentiment and duty. Since childhood, what have you ever been good at? Don’t think I don’t know about the things you’ve done outside. I advise you to restrain yourself, or else don’t even dream of getting a single bit of the Han family’s assets.”

Xiao San now began pretending to be the good person and smoothing things over. She looked pitifully at the man beside her and said, “Don’t say that. This child is already so grown up and has always held grudges. What if she really believes it and waits until we’re old to take revenge on us? Besides, everything in the Han family belongs to you. What does it have to do with us? As your child, she should be grateful for everything you’ve given her.”

Han Shuangshuang gave a cold laugh, not the least bit afraid of the man before her. “What exactly have you given me? Your poor-quality genes? Seeing what I look like now makes you feel inferior?”

Han Shuangshuang’s indifferent attitude successfully enraged the man. “You!”

Han Shuangshuang said, “After my mother died, what did I ever get from the Han family? After my mother passed away, I lived at school the whole time. The living expenses the family sent me every month weren’t even enough for me to eat. That money was all deducted by the woman beside you. She pretended to be a virtuous wife and loving mother, but she was always abusing me. Oh, I forgot. What use is there in telling you this? Because all of her actions were only indulged by you turning a blind eye. There’s no helping it. Who told me, Han Shuangshuang, to have such a bad fate? My mother left early, and I ended up with a father like this—cold, selfish, hypocritical, and paired with a stepmother who is even worse.”

After Han Shuangshuang finished saying these words, she felt her whole body become clear and refreshed. It felt too good.

Sure enough, people grew a mouth in order to say the things that ought to be said.

The man’s anger made even Xiao San unable to help retreating two steps, afraid she would be caught in the aftermath.

At the corner of the hallway, Shi Nianxue frowned as she watched the scene before her.

She knew that angering Han Shuangshuang’s father would not bring Han Shuangshuang any good outcome.

She wanted to go out and stop it, but in the end, she still shrank back timidly. She still could not expose herself yet. She still needed to grow.

After Shen Yuru came out of the room and heard the sound, she also walked to the corner of the stairs.

She heard the words Han Shuangshuang said as well.

Only, she was still somewhat immersed in the emotion of Han Shuangshuang deceiving her.

Shi Nianxue also saw Shen Yuru.

However, the sudden furious shout startled both of them.

The man raised his fist and waved it in front of Han Shuangshuang. “Your younger sister was frightened because of you. Hurry and apologize to her, otherwise…”

Han Shuangshuang still held her head high. “Otherwise what? Beat me to death? Unfortunately, even if you are my father, if you beat me to death, you’ll still have to go to prison.”

Just as the man’s veins bulged with anger and his fist was about to swing down, Shen Yuru’s voice suddenly sounded淡淡, interrupting his movement.

“Uncle Han, I think there may be some misunderstanding here. When Han Ruhua and Long Aodi were at the hotel, I was with Han Shuangshuang. I was the one who had someone call the police, and I was also the one who notified the Han family.”

When Shen Yuru had not appeared, this had been the Han family’s own matter. But the moment Shen Yuru appeared, it became an ugly scandal exposed before an outsider.

No matter how angry the man was, he had no choice but to restrain himself somewhat.

Shen Yuru’s complexion was slightly pale, and her steps were very slow, but very firm. Step by step, she walked in front of Han Shuangshuang and blocked Han Shuangshuang behind her.

“Han Shuangshuang is young. I see her as a younger sister. If Uncle Han has anything you want to ask, you can ask me. I can recount it in more detail than Han Shuangshuang.”

Han Shuangshuang was also somewhat surprised to see Shen Yuru.

Moreover, she could clearly feel that Shen Yuru was standing beside her to shield her from the anger.

Shen Yuru was protecting her.

[System: Warm reminder to Host. Shen Yuru’s blackening value has decreased by 5%. Shen Yuru’s current blackening value is 70%.]

Shen Yuru frowned slightly.

She herself did not know why her legs had seemed to disobey her and walk out from the corner.

But when she saw that man raise his fist, almost about to smash it onto Han Shuangshuang, the first reaction in her mind was to stop him.

Stop that man. She could not let this happen. She did not want Han Shuangshuang to be hurt.

Even if she still had not figured out whether Han Shuangshuang had approached her with another purpose, or whether today’s farce had been deliberately staged by the Han family for her to see.

Her body had already given her the answer.

Shen Yuru thought of the way Han Shuangshuang had rushed into the Shen family’s room and pushed away that cup of bitter tea for her. She would count this as returning that favor to Han Shuangshuang.

After today, she absolutely would not indulge Han Shuangshuang in approaching her so easily again.

After seeing Shen Yuru, the man’s expression eased slightly. “Yuru, it’s nothing major. This child Han Shuangshuang isn’t very obedient. With you disciplining her, I can feel a little more at ease. I still have some matters to handle, so I’ll leave first.”

When the man turned around, he even glared at Xiao San. Xiao San immediately knew how to read the situation and followed behind him as they left.

Only Han Shuangshuang and Shen Yuru remained in the hallway.

Han Shuangshuang’s lips split into a grin, revealing eight teeth. Her smile was sunny and goofy. With one flying pounce, she wrapped her arms around Shen Yuru’s neck and hugged her tightly. “I knew Sister Shen would definitely save me. In this world, Sister Shen treats me the best.”

Shen Yuru was hit full in the face with Han Shuangshuang’s sunny dog-like energy. Han Shuangshuang’s hot breath brushed against her neck.

It was very itchy and made her very uncomfortable.

Shen Yuru wanted to raise her hand and push away the clingy Han Shuangshuang, but then she saw Shi Nianxue secretly watching from the shadowy corner, looking extremely unwilling.

So the hand that had planned to push Han Shuangshuang away lowered again.

Because Shen Yuru’s blackening value had decreased, Han Shuangshuang was still in an extremely happy state.

Her little mouth kept chattering nonstop. “Sister Shen must have missed me, right? You came out on purpose to find me. If Sister Shen hadn’t appeared, I would’ve taken a punch. Sister Shen’s scent really smells so good. It’s so reassuring.”

Han Shuangshuang was like a doggo, her nose nuzzling around Shen Yuru’s neck.

One second ago, Shen Yuru had stood in front of Han Shuangshuang while thinking that she would no longer indulge Han Shuangshuang in approaching her so easily.

Yet at this moment, seeing Shi Nianxue’s unwilling and jealous gaze from the dark corner—

Shen Yuru lifted those phoenix eyes and returned a disdainful look from the corner of her eye. The corner of her mouth curved slightly, and she said coolly, “Han Shuangshuang, you’re hugging me too tightly.”

Author’s Note:

Shen Yuru: Heh.

Han Shuangshuang: Clinging, acting shameless, and acting spoiled.

Shi Nianxue: So angry.

Yan Huan: My sis is the best! Cheering for you!