Wan Yu stared intently at the tall, slender figure. Her eyes stung with unshed tears, and even her jaw was trembling.
Was this what he called meeting a client outside?
Her heart felt as though it was being squeezed tightly by an invisible, dark hand. The pain was agonizing.
Yet, the very moment He Xiuyuan stepped out of the elevator, a crisp slap echoed through the air.
The woman standing inside the doorway had just slapped herself across the face.
She looked at Wan Yu with a provocative gaze, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. Lowering her voice, she said, "Miss Wan, why don't we make a bet to see who holds more weight in He Xiuyuan's heart?"
She called her Miss Wan, which meant she knew her identity.
So blatant, so utterly brazen.
Was He Xiuyuan the one who gave her such confidence?
Hah.
Wan Yu had absolutely no idea that he already had another woman on the outside.
Hearing the sound of the slap, He Xiuyuan strode over.
Seeing Wan Yu in the hallway, a flash of surprise and a dark, unreadable emotion crossed He Xiuyuan's eyes.
"Yuyu, what are you doing here?" He Xiuyuan asked, his brows furrowing tightly.
Wan Yu glanced at his hands.
He was carrying two large shopping bags, one for clothes, and the other containing takeout from a five-star hotel.
Forcing down the bitterness in her throat, Wan Yu pointed at Su Yu'er. "Weren't you entertaining a client? Is she your client?"
He Xiuyuan looked toward Su Yu'er. Seeing the red handprint on her face, his expression darkened and grew cold. "Yu'er and I were indeed on our way to meet a client, but we ran into one of her anti-fans on the way. We had a little accident, and her clothes were drenched in coffee by the anti-fan. I brought her to the apartment to change."
"But you, hitting her without even asking for an explanation?" He Xiuyuan's gaze turned sharp. "She's a singer, unlike you. She needs to appear on camera regularly. When did you become so jealous and spiteful?"
"President He, you really can't blame Miss Wan. It's the nightgown I'm wearing that caused her to misunderstand."
He Xiuyuan looked at the black nightgown on Su Yu'er. From a man's perspective, she had a great figure, and the nightgown looked incredibly hot and sexy on her.
In contrast, Wan Yu was slender and could never pull off such a look.
"After Yu'er's clothes got dirty, I told her to pick something from your closet to change into first, while I went to the mall to buy her a new outfit. I remember you've never worn this nightgown. The fact that she didn't wear anything you've worn before, doesn't that exactly show she has manners and knows the rules?"
"She and I haven't done anything improper. You slapped her for no reason. Is this the upbringing and etiquette the Wan family taught you since childhood?"
Faced with He Xiuyuan's questioning, Wan Yu's face turned pale. The blood in her veins seemed to turn to ice in an instant, and a bone-piercing chill seeped into her spine.
Her brain felt as though it was short-circuiting.
She trembled uncontrollably with rage.
She took several deep breaths before finally finding her voice. "He Xiuyuan, I didn't hit her. She slapped herself!"
Su Yu'er lowered her long eyelashes, a faint, self-deprecating smile curving her lips. "If Miss Wan thinks I hit myself, then let's just say I did! President He, I'm so sorry my presence has caused trouble for you two."
Su Yu'er went back inside and changed back into her soiled clothes.
There was indeed a large coffee stain on the outfit.
"Wan Yu, don't take my indulgence for granted. Apologize to Yu'er right now!"
It was as if Wan Yu had heard the biggest joke in the world. Her mind, sluggish from the shock, finally processed what was happening.
"Even if I've never worn this nightgown, does that mean she can wear it? Any woman with a shred of decency and moral sense wouldn't dress like this. What is she trying to do, seduce you?"
"Oh, that's right. Our marriage is a secret. No one knows about our relationship. But aren't you aware of your own status as a married man? Bringing her to the home that was supposed to be our bridal chamber, letting her call you brother, where does that leave me?"
"Or perhaps, the two of you have been having an affair all along!"
Wan Yu had always been gentle and elegant, speaking softly and quietly. She had never been so sharp and furious before.
But seeing her own husband defend and trust another woman, the taut string in her mind suddenly snapped.
He Xiuyuan was her childhood sweetheart who grew up alongside her. Back then, when they were both only fifteen, the two of them had gone to a poverty-stricken mountainous area for charity work.
They happened to get caught in an earthquake and were buried underground for several days.
It was he who bit his own finger, letting her drink his blood so she could survive until the rescue team arrived.
She had thought he loved her.
But now, she felt like nothing more than a colossal joke.
"I never hit her, but you want me to apologize. Fine," Wan Yu wiped away the tears sliding from the corners of her eyes, then raised her hand and viciously slapped Su Yu'er across the face.
Just as she was about to deliver a second slap, a large, slender hand reached out and forcefully gripped her wrist.
"Wan Yu, I always thought you were reasonable, gentle, and virtuous. I never expected you to be so aggressive and completely unreasonable!"
Seeing Su Yu'er's face red and swollen from Wan Yu's slap, He Xiuyuan's chest heaved violently. "Yu'er is the top star of He Media. She brings immense economic benefits to the company every year. Your everyday expenses are partly thanks to her! Instead of being on the same page as me to protect our company's artists, you're here acting out of sheer jealousy. You have truly disappointed me!"
He Xiuyuan flung Wan Yu's hand away.
Wan Yu stumbled back several steps. Her fair, slender wrist was flushed red from his tight grip.
"Su Yu'er and I are entirely innocent. If you keep making a scene like this, don't blame me for not holding back!"
Carrying the takeout and clothes, He Xiuyuan walked into the apartment. "Yu'er, come inside and eat. We still have to meet the client for your endorsement later."
Before Su Yu'er entered the apartment, she cast a glance at Wan Yu. Her lips moved silently, mouthing three words, "You lose."
Wan Yu's fingertips, hanging by her side, dug fiercely into her palms.
For a moment, her heart ached so terribly it felt as if it were being torn into pieces.
So, in He Xiuyuan's eyes, she was now nothing more than a useless, stay-at-home wife, and the money she spent was all thanks to Su Yu'er.
But had he forgotten that Su Yu'er's rapid rise to stardom wasn't merely due to her wild, rebellious cool-girl image, but more importantly, because of the songs that she, Wan Yu, had written?
Thinking back over the past year, his mind had been entirely focused on work. He rarely came home, and even when he did, he had little interest in keeping her company. Wan Yu had to admit one undeniable fact.
He had had a change of heart.
It was obvious enough from the fact that during her recent hospitalization, he had barely shown any care or stayed by her side.
Wan Yu didn't spare another glance into the apartment. She walked away, completely devastated.
The Wan family and the He family had arranged a marriage for her and He Xiuyuan right after they were born.
Growing up, there were plenty of boys who pursued her, but in her eyes, only He Xiuyuan existed.
She only ever wanted to grow old with him...
She never could have imagined that he would protect another woman and turn her into a complete laughingstock!
