Chapter Ninety-Six: True Feelings Revealed

This meal was, by far, the longest Hong Yu had ever endured.

The dishes on the table were excellent, and Hong Yu had barely eaten anything all day, but he simply could not make himself swallow a bite.

At last, after a full hour, the meal was over.

Hong Yu thought he had finally made it through, but who would have imagined that Wang Qi, that persistent nuisance, would actually invite Lin Shuyu to go out for a stroll with him.

He claimed that after a meal, a walk would help with digestion and let them enjoy the scenery as well.

But anyone with a brain knew exactly what he was really after.

Chen Jianfei quickly said with a smile, "That's great. A walk after eating is truly good for the body. Xiao Qi really knows how to take care of people."

Chen Yingying hurriedly urged, "Sis, just go. Wang Qi... no, brother-in-law is a native of Huaizhou. He knows all the good places around here."

Hong Yu frowned. "Let's talk about the walk another time. Tonight I have to go with my wife to buy a gift for Grandfather, so I'm afraid I won't be able to join you."

The moment Hong Yu spoke up, the atmosphere instantly turned awkward.

Chen Jianfei gritted his teeth, wishing he could tear Hong Yu apart on the spot. Wang Qi also frowned.

Chen Yingying had the worst temper of all and snapped, "What do you think you are? Do we need your permission to go for a walk?"

"And stop calling her your wife. You pathetic loser, how can you still have the nerve!"

Her mother, Huang Xuemei, also said impatiently, "I've kept quiet all this time. Did you think that means I don't take my aunt's side seriously?"

"If that old man from the Lin family hadn't been about to die back then and needed some nonsense luck-bringing ritual, do you think someone like Lin Shuyu would have been able to marry you?"

"I told you long ago that superstition can't be trusted. Now look, someone's dead because of it!"

Chen Jianfei was even more blunt. "Shuyu, ignore this useless good-for-nothing. I didn't even throw him out already, and he still dares to make noise?"

"Go on, go for a walk with Xiao Qi. Coming back later is no problem."

Chen Yingying quickly added, "You're all grown up already, so why bother coming back at all? If you're tired, just stay out for the night."

Seeing that he did not even need to say a word and that Chen Jianfei's family had already said everything he wanted to say, Wang Qi felt secretly delighted.

Heh, what right does a loser like you have to compete with me for a woman?

Look at this.

Will anyone stand on your side?

Hong Yu did not care about Wang Qi's gaze or the Chen family's offensive words.

The only thing he cared about was Lin Shuyu's thoughts.

"Darling, I'll be waiting for you outside now."

"I hope... you'll come."

With that, Hong Yu turned and walked out.

"Shit! What does he mean by that? Is he threatening my sister?"

"Shuyu, you should ignore this kind of trash. If you don't, he'll only get more arrogant and brazen in the future."

"What do you mean, in the future? There is no future for them! Shuyu, you'd better divorce this kind of man as soon as possible!"

"He's so spineless, and yet he still has the nerve to act all high and mighty. I've finally seen what a backstabbing wretch looks like."

The Chen family cursed from the moment they opened their mouths, showing Hong Yu no mercy at all.

Hearing those ugly words, Hong Yu felt the air outside growing colder and colder.

One minute, two minutes, five minutes...

He waited a full ten minutes, and no one came out of the house.

Hong Yu's heart gradually grew cold. At first, he had not believed that Lin Shuyu could be that kind of person, but now the facts were right in front of him, leaving him no choice but to believe.

Watching a family not far away, holding a dog on its leash and going for a stroll, Hong Yu suddenly felt a pang of sorrow and thought of himself as a fool.

After all, he was the sole heir of the Hong family. As long as he nodded, he could have anything from hundreds of millions to trillions.

And yet, because of what had happened to his mother, because of his stubborn pride, because of that pitiful shred of self-respect, was he not even allowed to keep it anymore?

As he thought about it, Hong Yu wanted to leave this place.

"Where are you going? Didn't we agree to go buy a gift for Grandfather?"

Suddenly, just as Hong Yu had taken a few steps, that familiar voice rang out.

Seeing Lin Shuyu looking a little embarrassed, Hong Yu's heart stirred.

Lin Shuyu walked to Hong Yu's side and gently took his hand.

She said softly, "After all, he's my uncle. He helped my family a great deal in the past, so I couldn't refuse too harshly. You can understand that, can't you?"

Hong Yu nodded, but then said angrily, "I can understand, but I hate them. If it weren't for you, I might have already retaliated against them."

Lin Shuyu tightened her grip on his hand.

With a bitter smile, she said, "Hong Yu, actually, I know you have the ability to do that."

"Maybe in other people's eyes, you're a useless good-for-nothing, someone who lives off a woman, but I know you really are capable. You have a background others don't know about."

"But all of that, I won't ask about. And I hope you won't use it on my uncle and the others, all right?"

"Just take it as me, Lin Shuyu, begging you."

Hong Yu hesitated for a moment, then still nodded.

Lin Shuyu breathed a sigh of relief. After a brief thought, Hong Yu said, "Your uncle is family, so there is nothing to be done about that. But Wang Qi isn't, is he?"

Lin Shuyu smiled. "Of course not. If you have the ability to deal with him, I'd actually be glad to see it."

"To be honest, he really got on my nerves just now. If I hadn't been afraid of causing trouble for my uncle and the others, I would have slapped him across the face already."

Hong Yu finally smiled.

"That's enough for me," he said.

Meanwhile, the few people still staying at the Chen household were looking out the door at Hong Yu and Lin Shuyu whispering to each other.

"Sigh, what on earth is Shuyu thinking?"

"I really don't know what is so good about that loser. Why is she so utterly devoted to him?"

"I asked carefully just now, and my sister isn't pregnant either. Besides, she seems to know nothing about that sort of thing. I guess they haven't even slept together these past years."

"Could she have been cursed? I feel like I've heard of things like that before."

The Chen family was extremely displeased with Lin Shuyu's decision, while Chen Jianfei nervously kept explaining things to Wang Qi, telling him to be patient.

Wang Qi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Uncle. If Shuyu were a frivolous woman, I would be even less happy."

"This is better. I like loyal women the most."

In front of Chen Jianfei, Wang Qi did not dare to say it outright.

In truth, he found a Lin Shuyu like this even more alluring. He liked challenges the most.

If he could still win Lin Shuyu over like this and capture her heart, then Wang Qi would feel an even greater sense of accomplishment in the future.

Chen Jianfei laughed. "But Xiao Qi, rest assured. Didn't Shuyu just agree to go with you to an auction tomorrow?"

"When the time comes, with your financial strength, you'll definitely make Shuyu tempted. You'll also let that useless good-for-nothing clearly understand the gap between himself and you."

Wang Qi smiled. "Don't worry, Uncle. By tomorrow alone, I will make that useless good-for-nothing back down in defeat."

At the same time, Hong Yu had also heard this news from Lin Shuyu.

The two of them were, astonishingly, thinking the very same thing.