Chapter 16: Is the Truth About to Be Revealed?

“Shameless.” Jiang Huaiting was furious, his gaze toward Li Jiuwei filled with even deeper hatred.

“You’re all so eager to pin crimes on me. Who exactly claims to have seen anything?”

Li Xinchun dragged Yu Ruonan out from the crowd.

She seemed afraid to meet Li Jiuwei’s eyes.

“Ruonan, did you see it with your own eyes?” Li Xinchun asked.

“With your own eyes? Any actual evidence?” Li Jiuwei looked at Yu Ruonan with a faint, mocking smile.

Her tone was calm, but Yu Ruonan stiffened all over. Of course, she had no evidence. But she did possess proof of something else.

With so many people present, what an opportunity it would be to ruin Li Jiuwei’s reputation once and for all.

A once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Yu Ruonan was determined not to let it slip away!

“Though I didn’t take any photos, I know you, Li Jiuwei, are a restless woman. I have evidence regarding something else.”

Yu Ruonan spoke with conviction, making it seem as if she truly held something over Li Jiuwei.

Shen Tang approached, sneering. “All talk and slander.”

“Miss Shen, whether it’s slander or not, we can let the evidence speak,” Yu Ruonan replied.

Li Jiuwei stared intently at Yu Ruonan, whose eyes brimmed with smugness.

She already had a guess.

That night—did Yu Ruonan have something from that night?

Li Jiuwei’s heart tensed.

“Sister, it seems Ruonan really has something on you that you can’t show—”

“You must be delighted, aren’t you? Just waiting for Jiuwei to be thoroughly disgraced.” Shen Tang’s sharp words tore right through the Li family’s facade.

“How could I think such a thing, Shen Tang? Don’t accuse me at random. If my sister has nothing to hide, why would she be afraid of what Ruonan has?” Li Xinchun retorted.

Shen Tang rolled her eyes. “Birds of a feather.”

All eyes were now on Yu Ruonan, who made her way onto the stage as everyone waited expectantly.

Li Jiuwei’s fingers clenched tightly. Yu Ruonan was taking the ultimate gamble. Outwardly, Li Jiuwei appeared calm, but her back was cold with dread.

Yu Ruonan flashed Li Jiuwei a triumphant smile as everyone looked to the big screen.

On it, two figures appeared.

“Huaiting, we’re being so intimate here… If my sister finds out, it won’t be good…”

“Whether she knows or not doesn’t matter. The only one I love is you. Sooner or later, I’ll break off the engagement with her.”

…

The room erupted in an uproar.

Someone hurried to switch off the screen.

Only then did Li Jiuwei’s heart finally settle.

Yu Ruonan shook her head in disbelief. “No… why is it this one? Not this one, I wasn’t going to play this…”

No one was listening to her explanations. Li Xinchun glared at Yu Ruonan, while Jiang Huaiting’s expression grew even darker.

“My God, Jiang Huaiting was engaged to Li Jiuwei? When did that happen?”

“I have no idea.”

“So he was engaged, yet got involved with his fiancée’s younger sister? What a rotten man.”

“Suddenly, I feel sorry for Li Jiuwei.”

“Li Xinchun kept urging Yu Ruonan to present the evidence. Was she deliberately trying to destroy her own sister? Devious woman.”

“A scumbag and a schemer, through and through—”

All these whispers reached their ears.

Li Xinchun covered her face, weeping. “No, I didn’t… I’m not…”

Jiang Huaiting, feeling sorry for her, glared coldly at Li Jiuwei. “You set Xinchun up.”

“Idiot,” Li Jiuwei spat out, feeling utterly humiliated. Just as Jiang Huaiting was about to retort, Li Xinchun suddenly clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.

He swept her up in his arms and hurried away.

Li Jiuwei smiled lightly. She glanced at the devastated Yu Ruonan, her expression brightening. “Thank you—you’re truly a good person.”

Yu Ruonan felt a lump in her throat. Clenching her fists, she whispered, “Was it you?”

Li Jiuwei stepped closer, her voice low in Yu Ruonan’s ear. “Yu Ruonan, since you dared to break your promise, you should be prepared to face the consequences.”

“I didn’t do anything…” Yu Ruonan stammered, her eyes fixed anxiously on Li Jiuwei, fear unmistakable in their depths.

The farce finally ended. The Shen family resumed entertaining their guests, making it clear that they wished for the matter to remain private.

After all, it concerned the reputation of a young woman, and besides, it was another family’s business. They hoped everyone would be discreet.

In such circles, some things are better left unsaid.

Gradually, the crowd dispersed.

Li Jiuwei’s mother approached, her eyes full of reproach. “Even if it was their fault, you shouldn’t have hurt Xinchun like this. Jiuwei, how did you become this way?”

“Madam Li, don’t tell me you think all that happened today was planned by Jiuwei? Don’t forget, it was Li Xinchun who first incited Yu Ruonan to present the evidence. You didn’t step in then. Now that Xinchun’s affair is exposed, you come blaming Jiuwei? Sometimes I wonder if Jiuwei is really your daughter,” Shen Tang interjected.

“Of course she’s my daughter! That’s precisely why I’m so angry at the sisters turning on each other.”

Shen Tang couldn’t help but laugh.

“Jiuwei, your sister-in-law means well. We’re all family—don’t take it to heart,” Li Yuci tried to mediate.

“From now on, Li Xinchun will carry the label of homewrecker for life. I have no reason to be upset. However you choose to dote on her is your business, not mine. And don’t bother trying to threaten me with being kicked out of the family—I still hold five percent of Li Corporation as my dowry!”

She deliberately emphasized the point. Sure enough, their faces turned even darker.

That was always what they cared about most.

Li Jiuwei linked arms with Shen Tang and left the room.

“Weiwei, you hit them right where it hurt.”

Li Jiuwei took a sip of wine. “I’ve seen through them long ago. Sorry for ruining your welcome party today. I’ll treat you to dinner another day.”

“Come on, what’s a welcome party between us? It was never just for fun, anyway.”

Her words held a hidden meaning. Li Jiuwei glanced at her. “What do you mean?”

“The old man wants to marry me off, but he can’t control me.” Mentioning her father, Shen Tang’s mood darkened a little.

“Tang…”

“It’s fine, I’ll handle it. Weiwei, when are you ending your engagement?”

“Soon.”

She was grateful to Jiang Huaiting’s mother, so she would wait another month before breaking it off as promised.

Even so, word of today’s events would inevitably spread. Li Xinchun was hospitalized from the shock, but fortunately, the child was unharmed.

She lowered her eyes, voice soft and weak. “Huaiting, what should I do? Everyone must think I’m a homewrecker now.”

“Xinchun, was it you who brought Yu Ruonan?”

Jiang Huaiting’s gaze was sharp as he stared at Li Xinchun. Her lips trembled, and she raised tear-filled eyes.

“No, Yu Ruonan is my friend. I didn’t know she’d do all that at the party. I thought she really had something on my sister… I just trusted her too much.”

“In front of so many people, when Yu Ruonan tried to harm Li Jiuwei, did you already know? Or was it something you two had planned together?”

Tears streamed down Li Xinchun’s face as she protested, “I didn’t!”

Jiang Huaiting couldn’t bear her tears. He held her in his arms, sighing, “In my eyes, you’re kind and pure. I hope you’ll always be that way.”

“As long as you love me, I will always be kind and pure.” Li Xinchun nestled in his embrace, secretly resenting Li Jiuwei.

Bang!

Suddenly, the door was kicked open, and Li Jiuwei appeared before them.