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

A cold light flashed in Shen Yuru’s downcast eyes, but the relatives were so immersed in their fantasies that no one noticed.

The old Shen matriarch stomped her cane, and the room went quiet. “Enough. The most important thing for Yuru is to finish her studies. After all, this is her parents’ company; she needs to enter and take over after graduation.”

Shen Yuru stood up slowly. “Grandma, it’s a bit stuffy here. I’d like to go out for some air.”

The matriarch looked at her pale face and nodded. “Go for a walk. If you see that Han girl, keep in touch with her. It won’t hurt you.”

Shen Yuru walked out and leaned against the door, taking a long breath.

She could hear the voices inside clearly through the door.

“Mom, why don’t you just tell Yuru? The families already intend for an engagement. She gets along with Han Shuangshuang, so why not let her know early so she can treat her well?”

“I didn’t expect the Han girl to be so supportive of her. Han Ruhua is the Han family’s treasure; she wouldn’t be engaged to Yuru. It seems Han Shuangshuang is sensible enough to approach Yuru herself. It looks like the Han family has made things clear to her. We just need to work on Shen Yuru.”

“With that body of hers, who could truly like her? Barely holding onto life, a gloomy face—when has she ever looked kindly at us elders? Did we cause her parents’ accident? We’ve worked so hard all these years maintaining the company and putting her through school. Is it easy for us?”

“Fine, fine, say less. We’ve been at the company so many years; even after she graduates, we need our shares. I’ve already spoken with the Han family. Looking at Han Shuangshuang, she seems to have agreed. Today we’ll subtly test Shen Yuru. If she doesn’t resist, the matter is settled.”

The voices became a chaotic jumble.

“Stop talking. This is the Han house; don’t let the walls have ears. I have my own plans for the marriage. Just do your jobs. The company’s performance is losing money again. When Yuru’s parents were alive, this company was top-tier. Look what it’s become. Focus on your own abilities; that’s more important than anything.”

Shen Yuru felt her heart turning cold inch by inch.

She had long ceased to care about their words; what she cared about was Han Shuangshuang.

What did they mean? Had the Han family already told Han Shuangshuang?

So Han Shuangshuang knew about the engagement all along, and that’s why she deliberately approached her at school?

Was all her “obedience” just an act? Acting submissive to win her favor just to gain her trust?

Shen Yuru felt a chill rising from her feet, a coldness that wrapped around her and made it hard to breathe.

What she hated most was deception.

She couldn’t stop the negative thoughts.

They were like vines that had suddenly found nutrients, growing wildly and choking out all the beautiful memories and hopes she had built recently.

Her vision grew blurry, as if everything had turned grey and lost its light.

Shen Yuru clutched her heart, a self-mocking sneer on her lips.

Right, they were all right. With a broken body and such a gloomy disposition, why would anyone want to approach her? Everyone who approached her did so with a motive, wanting some benefit.

Others were like that, and so was Han Shuangshuang.

Shen Yuru didn’t want to listen anymore and wandered aimlessly away from the room.

A wound doesn’t hurt much when it’s fresh; the most painful part is when a healing wound is forcibly torn open again.

That pain was like having one’s bones and tendons stripped away.

Han Shuangshuang ran through the second-floor corridor for a while, exhausted.

[System: Friendly reminder: The system has detected a massive fluctuation in Shen Yuru’s mood. Please find her immediately and soothe her emotions to prevent the Blackening Value from increasing.]

Han Shuangshuang: !!

She knew it. Those old fossils were no good. She’d only been gone twenty minutes and the value was fluctuating again.

But the Han house was too big; she realized she was lost.

Which stairs had she come up from?

Just as she found a familiar stairwell and was about to go down, a piercing voice rang out.

“I finally found you! You little brat, still daring to run around. Your sister suffered so much because of you!”

Han Shuangshuang felt her ears being attacked by a sound wave.

Turning her head, she saw an over-maintained face. The cheekbones were swollen like steamed buns from too much filler, and the “smile lips” looked unnatural due to collagen loss—like a stiff zombie. When she spoke, the corners of her mouth turned up automatically, revealing eight unnaturally white porcelain veneers.

This was the stepmother, Xiao San.

Xiao San started shouting at Han Shuangshuang right there in the corridor.

She wasn’t afraid of being heard by outsiders at all.

Han Shuangshuang didn’t want to get involved in the host’s family drama.

But since trouble found her, she wouldn’t take the abuse for nothing.

“What are you saying, Auntie Xiao San? Han Ruhua went out and messed around with a man; is that my fault too?”

Xiao San’s eyes widened, her expression becoming even more distorted. “Han Shuangshuang, what nonsense! You framed her! Ruhua is such an obedient child; how could she do something so out of line? It’s all you! You’re a bad influence, hanging around with thugs, trying to ruin your sister.”

Xiao San’s insults were vile. “A little beast like you, born but not raised—why didn’t you go down with your mother sooner?”

Though Han Shuangshuang was thick-skinned and didn’t like arguing with such hags, this crossed her line.

She gave a sinister smile and walked slowly toward Xiao San. “Why is Auntie Xiao San cursing herself? My mother may be dead, but you’re my ‘new mother.’ Why? Do you want to go down and keep her company?”

Xiao San looked at Han Shuangshuang’s expression and felt a surge of fear.

What was going on? Han Shuangshuang’s reaction was all wrong.

Before, when she insulted her, Han Shuangshuang would just be furious and throw a tantrum without the wit to talk back.

After not seeing her for a while, how did her tongue become so sharp?

Xiao San: “What nonsense! I don’t have a daughter like you! Wanting to ruin Ruhua? Never!”

Han Shuangshuang sneered. “Han Ruhua had a crush and threw herself at him like a cheap plaster; she couldn’t be driven away. She was the one being desperate, yet you blame others? You’ve been an ‘old witch’ so long your brain is mush?”

Han Shuangshuang was overbearing, completely different from what Xiao San expected.

Xiao San was left speechless for a moment.

After the incident, Xiao San was shocked and terrified, her resentment having nowhere to go.

She had only waited for Han Shuangshuang to return so she could vent on her.

Her mind went blank, and not wanting to continue the verbal war, she raised her hand to slap Han Shuangshuang.

She just wanted to vent her anger; Han Shuangshuang had always been her punching bag.

Han Shuangshuang reached out and grabbed Xiao San’s arm. “Auntie Xiao San, I don’t know if you’re truly stupid or just acting. When Han Ruhua went to the hotel with that man, I was the one who called the police. If I hadn’t, you can imagine the consequences. Instead of rewarding your savior, you attack me? Aren’t you afraid of retribution for being so heartless?”

Han Shuangshuang was very strong, pinning Xiao San’s arm so she couldn’t move.

Xiao San was furious, her fillers practically ready to explode from rage.

Just then, a deep male voice rang out: “What’s all the noise in the corridor?”

Han Shuangshuang saw a middle-aged man emerge. Average looks, average build, average height—he looked utterly ordinary.

Only such a man, humble and restrained in the beginning, could hide his true nature as a “white-eyed wolf” who consumes others.

The man looked at Han Shuangshuang with impatience, as if seeing something filthy.

Seeing him, Xiao San immediately felt backed up.

With someone to support her, her arrogance grew.

“Look! This child is growing up more twisted every day. Not only does she talk back, she’s trying to hit me! Look at my arm—it’s black and blue. In another two years, she’ll be eating me alive!”

A look of ruthlessness flashed in the man’s eyes as he raised his hand to slap Han Shuangshuang.

Han Shuangshuang wasn’t one to take a hit for nothing; she turned and dodged the lethal strike.

The reason the man chose Xiao San was that she adored him and treated him as her world.

He had endured years of being called a “Phoenix Man” or a “leech” around Han Shuangshuang’s mother. Only after her death did he finally feel powerful.

So whenever he saw Han Shuangshuang looking at him with questioning eyes, he felt his dignity was being challenged.

“Han Shuangshuang, don’t be ungrateful. I’ve raised you all these years out of sentiment. What have you ever been good at? Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been doing outside. I advise you to behave, or you won’t get a single penny of the Han estate.”

Xiao San started playing the peacemaker, speaking to the man pitifully. “Don’t say that. She’s grown now and holds a grudge. If she believes you, what if she retaliates when we’re old? Besides, everything in the Han house is yours; what does it have to do with us? As your child, she should be grateful for everything you’ve given her.”

Han Shuangshuang sneered, completely unafraid. “What have you given me? Your low-quality genes? Are you feeling inferior seeing how I am now?”

The man was enraged by her indifference. “You!”

Han Shuangshuang: “What have I gotten from the Han family since my mother died? I’ve been living at school. The monthly allowance sent to me wasn’t even enough for food—this woman next to you embezzled it all. She acts like a ‘virtuous mother’ but has been abusing me. Oh, I forgot—what’s the use in telling you? You allowed all of it. Too bad I have a mother who left early and ended up with a father like you—cold, selfish, and hypocritical—along with an even worse stepmother.”

Han Shuangshuang felt completely refreshed after saying it. It felt great.

Truly, a mouth is meant for saying what needs to be said.

The man was fuming, and Xiao San retreated a couple of steps to avoid the fallout.

At the corner of the corridor, Shi Nianxue frowned as she watched the scene.

She knew Han Shuangshuang would suffer for provoking her father.

She wanted to stop it, but she was cowardly; she couldn’t expose herself yet; she needed to grow.

Shen Yuru had also walked to the corner after hearing the noise.

She heard everything Han Shuangshuang said.

However, she was still immersed in the feeling of being deceived.

Shi Nianxue also saw Shen Yuru.

Suddenly, a roar startled them both.

The man brandished his fist at Han Shuangshuang. “Your sister was terrified because of you! Go apologize to her now, or—”

Han Shuangshuang kept her head high. “Or what? Kill me? Too bad that even if you’re my father, you’d still go to jail for it.”

Just as the man’s veins bulged and his fist was about to fall, Shen Yuru’s calm voice rang out, interrupting him.

“Uncle Han, I think there may be a misunderstanding. When Han Ruhua and Long Aodi were at the hotel, I was with Han Shuangshuang. I was the one who called for help and notified the Han family.”

Before Shen Yuru appeared, this was a Han family matter. But once she stepped out, it became a scandal exposed to an outsider.

No matter how angry the man was, he had to restrain himself.

Shen Yuru’s face was pale and her steps slow but steady as she walked to stand in front of Han Shuangshuang, shielding her.

“Han Shuangshuang is young; I see her as a sister. If you have questions, Uncle Han, you can ask me. I can give a more detailed account than she can.”

Han Shuangshuang was surprised.

She could clearly feel Shen Yuru standing beside her to take the brunt of the anger.

Shen Yuru was protecting her.

[System: Friendly reminder: Shen Yuru’s Blackening Value has decreased by 5%. Current Value: 70%.]

Shen Yuru frowned.

She didn’t know why her legs had moved on their own to step out.

But seeing the man’s fist raised, about to strike Han Shuangshuang, her first reaction was to stop it.

She wanted to prevent it; she didn’t want Han Shuangshuang to be hurt.

Even if she hadn’t figured out if the girl had an ulterior motive or if this was a play by the Han family.

But her body had given her the answer.

Shen Yuru felt that just as Han Shuangshuang had pushed that bitter tea away for her, she was now returning the favor.

After today, she would not allow Han Shuangshuang to get close easily.

The man’s face softened. “Ah, Yuru. It’s nothing big. This child is just disobedient. I’m relieved to have you looking after her. I have things to handle, so I’ll be going.”

He glared at Xiao San, who followed him out immediately.

Only Han Shuangshuang and Shen Yuru were left in the corridor.

Han Shuangshuang grinned, showing all her teeth in a bright, silly smile. She lunged forward and hugged Shen Yuru’s neck tightly. “I knew Sister Shen would save me! You’re the best person in the world to me!”

Shen Yuru was hit by the “sunny puppy” scent; Han’s warm breath hit her neck.

It was itchy and unsettling.

She wanted to push the clingy girl away, but she saw Shi Nianxue watching from the corner with a look of resentment and jealousy. So, the hand she raised to push her away dropped down.

Han Shuangshuang was in a state of extreme happiness due to the drop in the Blackening Value.

She babbled incessantly: “You must have missed me, Sister Shen, coming out to find me like this. If you hadn’t appeared, I would have been hit. Your scent is so nice; it’s so comforting.”

She acted like a puppy, nuzzling into Shen Yuru’s neck.

One second, Shen Yuru had been thinking she wouldn’t let her get close.

Now, seeing Shi Nianxue’s gaze filled with jealousy, she lifted her phoenix eyes and returned a look of disdain. Her lips curled slightly as she spoke softly:

“Han Shuangshuang, you’re holding me too tight.”