Chapter 386: The Fox Spirit's Intuition! Swollen Lips and Exposed Secrets!
'No, An Zhiyue is by my side, what do I have to fear? That scoundrel Shen Anyu definitely wouldn't dare to bully me in front of his aunt!'
After the initial panic, Liu Ruyan, seeing An Zhiyue, Shen Anyu's aunt and her good best friend, by her side, immediately calmed down. She linked arms with An Zhiyue and even turned to give Shen Anyu a smug, triumphant glance.
It was as if she was saying, 'I dare you to bully me in front of your aunt! Try it if you have the guts!'
Her beautiful eyes, shaped like peach blossoms, curved into crescents of provocation. She felt invincible, shielded by the one person Shen Anyu supposedly respected. However, she failed to see the darkened amusement swirling in the depths of Shen Anyu's gaze—a look that promised retribution, private and thorough, at a later date.
[Ding! Child of Destiny Ye Linyuan is displeased. Plunder +9999 Destiny Points!]
...
Ye Linyuan, standing in the background like a little transparent ghost, had a sour face and was extremely displeased at this moment.
The bitterness in his heart was like bile. He had mentally prepared himself for a grand confrontation, a scene where he would stand tall beside his Senior Sisters against the "evil scion" Shen Anyu. But reality was cruel.
Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan still hadn't noticed him. Not even a glance. Was his presence really that weak? Was his aura as a "Child of Destiny" so easily suppressed by Shen Anyu's overwhelming villainous charisma?
Moreover, what frustrated him even more was Liu Ruyan's attitude. She clearly knew that Shen Anyu had a publicly known girlfriend, Susan—that delicate, fragile girl who had caused quite a stir. Yet, upon seeing Shen Anyu, she didn't make a scene? She didn't slap him? She didn't even break up with him?
Ye Linyuan had been looking forward to this for a long time, practically praying for it every night. He hoped that Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan would fall out with Shen Anyu over this matter, break up directly, and thus avoid the risk of being harmed by Shen Anyu's "impact cannon." If they broke up, he, the gentle and considerate Junior Brother, would be there to wipe her tears, comfort her wounded heart, and slowly take his rightful place.
But the result was... just this? Just this? Just this?
A playful glare? A flirtatious provocation? This wasn't the reaction of a betrayed girlfriend; it was the reaction of a lover playing hard to get!
Shen Anyu's peripheral vision swept over Ye Linyuan, finding it amusing. The look of consternation on the "Protagonist's" face was better than any comedy show.
Liu Ruyan was used to being bullied by Shen Anyu; she was terrified of him to the bone, conditioned by his dominance. Besides, their boyfriend-girlfriend status was quite dubious to begin with. It was a castle built on sand.
Initially, Liu Ruyan had worried that Little Sister Yang Luoluo—who was innocent and obsessed with martial arts—would be tricked by Shen Anyu. To prevent the "cabbage" from being eaten by the "pig," she proactively claimed to be Shen Anyu's girlfriend, hoping to make Little Sister Yang Luoluo give up on the idea and not fall into the hands of that scoundrel Shen Anyu.
It was a selfless act of sacrifice, like feeding oneself to a wolf to save the flock. A tragic, yet somewhat foolish, heroism.
This also indirectly showed how tight-knit the relationship was between the Senior and Junior Sisters of their sect. They cared for each other deeply. However, this bond was also their weakness. Catching one really could lead to the others getting hooked, one by one, like the Calabash Brothers rescuing their grandpa—sending themselves into the demon's cave sequentially.
The Martial God Hall's idea of kidnapping Zhong Lingyin to threaten Fairy Pei wasn't wrong strategically, but Shen Anyu was an unexpected variable that disrupted the entire chessboard. Of course, if not for Shen Anyu, it would have been Child of Destiny Ye Linyuan's time to show off and turn the tide, fulfilling the classic "Hero saves the Beauty" trope.
Now that Shen Anyu was here, dominating the narrative, Ye Linyuan could go cool off somewhere. The spotlight belonged to the Villain.
Shen Anyu looked at Liu Ruyan with a half-smile, his gaze raking over her figure with unconcealed appreciation. Liu Ruyan, emboldened by An Zhiyue's presence, was not afraid. She smiled back at Shen Anyu, even winking at him, looking incredibly alluring. The mole beneath her eye seemed to dance with her expression, adding to her charm as a natural-born seductress.
"Alright, what's with all the staring at the doorway? Come in and sit down. The tea is getting cold."
An Zhiyue found it amusing to see her best friend and her nephew seemingly staring at each other but actually exchanging glances charged with complex subtext. She shook her head, her elegant demeanor contrasting with the silent war of flirtation happening beside her, and ushered everyone into the Villa within Jiangjing Manor to take their seats.
The interior of the villa was the definition of understated luxury. Italian leather sofas, crystal chandeliers that refracted light into rainbows, and the subtle scent of expensive agarwood permeated the air.
"Fifth Junior Sister, oh, I heard you've revealed your relationship! And you co-wrote lyrics and music with your boyfriend, something about 'Cherry Blossom Love,' very romantic. Even I've heard about it. It's trending on every social media platform. Congratulations, congratulations! When are you bringing that... Jade Prince over so Second Senior Sister can meet him?"
Liu Ruyan deliberately sat next to Fifth Junior Sister Zhong Lingyin. She crossed her long legs, leaning in with a face full of mischief, asking with a grin that hid a sharp inquisitiveness.
She was genuinely curious. The "Jade Prince" had appeared out of nowhere and captured the heart of the Ice Queen of the entertainment industry.
No matter how good Heavenly Queen Zhong's acting was, being teased and made fun of by Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan—the 'victim' herself, considering the "Jade Prince" was actually Shen Anyu in disguise—made her incredibly awkward and self-conscious.
A blush appeared on her exquisitely beautiful face, spreading down to her neck. Her heart pounded against her ribs like a trapped bird. If she knew... if she knew the Jade Prince is the man sitting opposite us...
But she quickly regained her composure, channeling her years of experience in front of the camera. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and replied with a light laugh:
"When I have time. I'm very busy right now. I just finished my world tour, and I still have a new album to record and release. There are also several film crews waiting for me to join them. Scripts are piling up like mountains. Yu... my boyfriend is also very busy with his family business. When we both have time, we'll personally come to visit Second Senior Sister."
She spoke these words with an air of composure, her voice steady and melodious, without a single tremor. It was a masterclass in deception.
Yang Luoluo, watching Fifth Sister Zhong Lingyin's calm expression from the side, was filled with admiration.
'As expected of an actress who has won all the major awards, her acting is truly amazing. Lies just flow out of her mouth as naturally as breathing. If I didn't know the truth, I would have believed her completely!'
"Luo Luo, Luo Luo..."
A teasing voice broke Luoluo's train of thought.
"Ah, Second Senior Sister, why are you calling me?"
Yang Luoluo reacted with a start, her body jerking slightly. Her gaze darted away, looking at the floor, the ceiling, anywhere but daring to look at Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan directly. Guilt was written all over her face.
"You were spacing out just now. What were you thinking about? Your face is so red."
Liu Ruyan's long, charming eyes curved upwards, looking suspiciously at Little Sister Yang Luoluo. Her instincts as a woman—and as a schematic senior sister—were tingling. Something was off.
"N-nothing... really nothing..."
Seeing Little Sister Yang Luoluo's nervous, stammering manner, as if her tongue was tied in knots, Liu Ruyan grew even more suspicious. Suddenly, she leaned forward, her body pressing closer, reaching her hand directly towards Yang Luoluo's cheek.
"Ah, Second Senior Sister, what, what are you doing?"
Yang Luoluo was startled and instinctively retreated, shrinking back into the sofa cushions like a frightened rabbit.
"Hehehe..."
Liu Ruyan laughed, a sound like silver bells, yet laced with a dangerous allure. She swayed back and forth, her movements languid and full of feminine charm. Her jet-black hair draped over her fair neck, the contrast stark and beautiful. The movement of her laughter caused her ample chest to tremble slightly, a sight that could test the resolve of any monk. The sight of her, already enchanting, laughing so heartily, exuded an even more irresistible charm.
"Second Senior Sister, what are you laughing at?"
Ye Linyuan was conveniently blocked by Shen Anyu's broad shoulders, so he couldn't see Liu Ruyan's alluring laughter or the specific movements of her body. He craned his neck, trying to peek, but Shen Anyu moved slightly, blocking him again perfectly.
His heart felt as if a cat was scratching it, filled with extreme curiosity and jealousy. What on earth had Second Senior Sister discovered to make her laugh like that? Was it something fun? Why was he excluded?
"Ruyan, be more dignified. You're scaring the child."
An Zhiyue looked at her best friend with amusement, sipping her tea elegantly. She was also curious as to why Liu Ruyan was laughing so much, but she maintained her poise.
Zhong Lingyin was also extremely curious, completely bewildered. She gripped her dress tightly, afraid that the fire was about to spread to her.
Shen Anyu first froze, analyzing the situation. Then his [Void Breaking Divine Eye] caught the focus of Liu Ruyan's gaze. His gaze swept over Yang Luoluo, and he understood immediately.
Ah. Careless.
"Hehehe..."
Liu Ruyan laughed for a while longer, enjoying the squirming of her little Junior Sister, making Yang Luoluo incredibly self-conscious. Finally, she reined in her laughter a bit, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
She still looked at Yang Luoluo with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes—a smile that said, 'I caught you'—and said:
"Luo Luo, be honest with Senior Sister. When did you get a boyfriend? And you didn't even tell Second Senior Sister? Keeping secrets now?"
What?
Little Sister also has a boyfriend?
The sentence landed like a bombshell in the quiet living room.
Upon hearing this, Ye Linyuan was immediately struck by lightning. His body stiffened, his eyes widening to the size of saucers. His expression changed drastically, shifting from confusion to horror to utter despair.
First, his Second Senior Sister was taken by Shen Anyu. Then, the Fifth Senior Sister announced a "Jade Prince." Now, even the innocent, martial-arts-loving Little Sister had a boyfriend?
Was the cabbage patch being raided completely?!
[Ding! Child of Destiny Ye Linyuan is struck by lightning. Plunder +9999 Destiny Points!]
[Ding! Child of Destiny Ye Linyuan is in a terrible mood. Plunder +9999 Destiny Points!]
...
"Second Senior Sister, I, I don't have a boyfriend! Don't talk nonsense!"
Upon hearing this, Yang Luoluo secretly glanced at Shen Anyu, her eyes filled with panic, then quickly retracted her gaze, waving her hands repeatedly in denial. Her face was burning so hot you could fry an egg on it.
No one else noticed that fleeting, guilty glance—except one person.
An Zhiyue looked at her nephew Shen Anyu thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing slightly. She took a slow sip of tea, hiding a knowing smile behind the porcelain cup.
Ye Linyuan breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Yang Luoluo's vehement denial. He felt like a drowning man grabbing a straw. He followed up with an explanation, trying to convince himself as much as anyone else:
"That's right, Second Senior Sister. How could Little Sister have a boyfriend? She definitely wouldn't."
He felt that Little Sister Yang Luoluo was devoted to the Martial Dao, a pure heart seeking strength. She spent all day at the training ground in Jiangjing Manor, sweating and practicing forms. How could she have time for a boyfriend?
Within Jiangjing Manor, Shen Anyu was the only man...
Wait.
Although Ye Linyuan also knew that Little Sister Yang Luoluo had a good impression of Shen Anyu, it was impossible for her to cross the line, knowing he was Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan's boyfriend, right? That would be immoral! That would be against the sect rules! That would be... unimaginable!
He didn't believe it! He refused to believe it!
Zhong Lingyin was also feeling guilty, sweat forming on her palms. she began to explain for Yang Luoluo, her voice a pitch higher than usual, stating that Yang Luoluo definitely did not have a boyfriend and was just tired from training.
But Liu Ruyan just smiled. It was the smile of a hunter who had cornered the prey.
She raised a slender, manicured finger, pointing directly at Yang Luoluo's face—specifically, at her mouth.
"If Luo Luo doesn't have a boyfriend, then how are her lips swollen?"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
At this moment, everyone's gaze simultaneously turned to Yang Luoluo, focusing intently on her lips.
Indeed.
Her rosy, cherry-like lips were somewhat swollen. They were redder than usual, slightly puffy, and looked tender—the unmistakable aftermath of a prolonged, intense, and passionate kissing session. The kind that leaves one breathless and bruised.
Zhong Lingyin's expression changed. Her heart skipped a beat. She immediately remembered that she had previously seen Little Sister Yang Luoluo with her man, Shen Anyu, in the room earlier that day.
It was over, Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan had found out...
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