Chapter 20: Joining Forces to Frame

After leaving the Li family, Li Jiuwei received a call from Mrs. Jiang and drove to the old Jiang residence.

Everyone in the Jiang family respected and liked her. When she arrived, the butler greeted her warmly, "Miss Wei, Madam is inside, she's been waiting for you."

Li Jiuwei nodded slightly.

Inside, upon hearing footsteps, Mrs. Jiang smiled, "Weiwei, come quickly, look at what I’ve prepared for you."

Li Jiuwei walked over to see a collection of jewelry laid out before her, all newly designed and fashionable.

"These are new, I bought them for you."

It was not the first time Mrs. Jiang had gifted her jewelry.

"They're beautiful."

Mrs. Jiang beamed, "I'm glad you like them."

"Auntie, I can’t accept these anymore. You know I’m going to call off the engagement after your birthday."

She could see Mrs. Jiang was trying to keep her for Jiang Huaiting’s sake.

"Alright, I won’t insist. Jiuwei, I heard Huaiting has been making things difficult for you at work. I’ll make sure to teach him a lesson. Don’t take it to heart, he’s just been distracted by another woman."

Even now, Mrs. Jiang believed her son was blameless, and that the fault lay with someone else. Li Jiuwei felt a flicker of displeasure.

She showed nothing on her face and accompanied Mrs. Jiang for the meal.

Afterwards, she left the Jiang house.

The butler stepped forward. "Madam, what should be done with these things?"

"Give them to someone who needs them."

"Miss Wei is determined to break off the engagement. I’m afraid nothing can change her mind." The butler had seen enough to know that, no matter how much Madam did, she couldn’t sway Li Jiuwei.

Sitting in her wheelchair, Mrs. Jiang stroked a plump orange cat, her voice wistful, "She will belong to Huaiting one day."

Suddenly, the cat let out a yowl, leaped from her arms, and ran off.

Outside, the sunlight was bright and beautiful.

Li Jiuwei waited anxiously for Shen Tang’s reply, and at last, a message arrived.

[The invitation is settled.]
[Okay, darling.]
[Weiwei, why do you want to meet the prince of the Feng family?]
[To discuss a partnership.]
[??? Weiwei, I suggest you do some research on the Feng family, or at least get to know this prince of the capital.]
A moment later, Shen Tang sent her a file on the so-called prince.

Li Jiuwei opened it. When she saw the name Feng Su, her gaze paused.

It certainly couldn’t be the Feng Su she knew.

How could the illustrious prince of the capital ever have fallen so low as to be kept by someone else?

Li Jiuwei shook her head in self-mockery and continued reading.

Feng Su was the third child of the Feng family.

He had an older brother and sister, but they were half-siblings. His second sister was the vice president of the Feng Group.

His eldest brother had disappeared in childhood and was still missing.

The actual head of the Feng family was their father, Feng Yi.

The report especially emphasized the strained relationship between the siblings.

The Feng family was a clan with a century of prestige, deep roots, and unmatched power and status.

In such a family, internal conflict was inevitable.

The life of this so-called prince of the capital, it seemed, was not so easy either.

Was it really wise to choose him as a partner?

Li Jiuwei felt a twinge of doubt. She was determined to secure the upcoming Feng Group jewelry exhibition.

Meanwhile, what had happened at the Li family had already reached Jiang Huaiting’s ears.

Li Xinchun, with exaggeration and added grievances about how others talked about her, finally persuaded the previously hesitant Jiang Huaiting to follow her suggestion.

Rumors of Li Jiuwei’s “infidelity” began to spread.

Idle tongues made the story more and more absurd.

Even the video of Li Jiuwei being proposed to began circulating.

That afternoon, Li Jiuwei and Shen Tang were enjoying afternoon tea at a hotel.

When Shen Tang received the news, she immediately opened the video, frowning. "Weiwei, there’s trouble."

After watching, the smile faded from Li Jiuwei’s lips.

She had already seen this video; Jiang Huaiting had shown it to her.

Shen Tang burst out angrily, "Which blind fool spread this? They’re claiming you cheated first, and that Jiang Huaiting only got involved with Li Xinchun because he was heartbroken. Shameless! Jiang Huaiting is the real scumbag here."

Li Jiuwei turned off the video, her expression calm.

"It must have been Jiang Huaiting and Li Xinchun. They want you to take the fall," Shen Tang said heatedly.

"That’s right," Li Jiuwei agreed.

"Why aren’t you upset?" Shen Tang demanded.

Li Jiuwei smiled faintly. "What’s the use? There are so many people, they’ll say whatever they want. I can’t stop them, let alone control it."

But such slander brought the threat of utter ruin. Li Jiuwei pressed her lips together, her appetite gone.

Shen Tang understood this, too.

"Despicable."

Li Jiuwei took out her phone and posted directly to her social circle.

[Who cheated first knows best. Keep spouting nonsense and I’ll crush you all with the evidence.]

Most of her contacts were from the same social circle, including mutual friends with Jiang Huaiting.

"Do you really have evidence?" asked Shen Tang.

"No."

If she had, she wouldn’t have been deceived for three whole years.

"Don’t worry, if they did it, there’ll be evidence. It’s best to let a private investigator handle this kind of thing."

Li Jiuwei smiled lightly, as if unmoved.

Shen Tang hugged her. "Honey, you’ve been wronged."

As for being wronged, she would make them pay for it.

After they parted, Li Jiuwei returned to the Zhaoshan villa. Jiang Huaiting was absent—he was probably off celebrating with Li Xinchun.

Ding!

[Li Jiuwei, delete your post.]
[Brilliant, are you scared?]
[We’re family, there’s no need to make things so ugly. Xinchun is your real sister. Don’t upset her anymore.]
[Idiot.]
[Li Jiuwei, you’re so uncultured.]
Li Jiuwei tossed her phone on the bed and went to shower.

Messages poured in, one after another.

When she emerged, there were over fifty unread messages from Jiang Huaiting. With a swipe of her finger, she blocked him.

At last, the world was quiet.

Many in their circle were waiting for Li Jiuwei to make a statement.

During this time, Mrs. Jiang and members of the Li family tried to see her.

Li Jiuwei refused them all.

Soon, the day arrived. Li Jiuwei appeared in a red mermaid gown.

Because of the rumors about her so-called “affair,” she was the focus of much attention.

Shen Tang, as ever, wore her signature sharp suit and greeted her with a warm hug.

"Shen Tang is so handsome," someone whispered.

"Behave, she’s a woman," another replied.

"If she were a man, she and Li Jiuwei would be a match made in heaven—handsome and beautiful. Even though she’s a woman, I still ship them."

"Shallow. For me, the prince is the only one worthy of worship."

A group of young women clustered together, whispering.

Li Jiuwei and Shen Tang both noticed.

Just what kind of person was this so-called prince?

"Look, the prince is here!"

Curious, Li Jiuwei looked in the direction of the commotion.