CHAPTER 48: BAI YUEGUANG’S STAND-IN (FINALE)

In the recording, Mu Chen’s gentle voice kept speaking.

"Shen Liao was indeed bewitched. A woman like Jiang Lai has seen too many men, and with her tricks, it’s inevitable for a man to make mistakes."

"I don’t understand why anyone would choose to be a third party, such women who destroy others’ emotions—how refined can you expect their parents to be?"

"Little Buding, don’t go too far; we’re all women here. As long as she learns her lesson, that’s enough."

"It’s just a painting; no one will know. Besides, I think Jiang Lai’s illustration looks very similar to one I saw in a gallery in the UK; she’s merely imitating and borrowing."

A series of such tea-like comments left everyone dumbfounded. Mu Chen’s name became synonymous with a green tea girl, and there was a trending hashtag on Weibo.

#Chen’sTeaLanguage#

The studio Mu Chen founded also took a heavy hit. It was already a new foreign brand with not much fanbase, and after such a scandal broke out, her reputation was utterly ruined.

Mu Chen hadn’t appeared in public for a long time and had completely vanished.

The Weibo accounts of the rich and beautiful Li Yahan and Wang Nan Nan also stopped updating for a while after issuing apologies.

As the saying goes, misfortunes never come singly—following the scandal was another explosive piece of news.

From the words of a famous expert in the Chinese-style clothing field abroad, it was learned that Mu Chen gave up her career of five years abroad to return home not to promote national culture better but because her reputation had already become notorious in the national style circle abroad due to her continuous plagiarism and malicious competition suppressing peers. Not only was Mu Chen despised by her peers, but she also violated foreign laws and regulations; her company was directly blacklisted and could no longer continue to develop.

Therefore, she chose to return to her country, using a grand excuse: for love.

"If she cared so much about fame and fortune, why didn’t she come back earlier to marry Shen Liao? With Shen Liao’s wealth, she wouldn’t achieve that even if she worked hard for eight lifetimes; why turn down such an opportunity to rise instantly and insist on working hard on her own?"

Little Buding expressed her doubt.

Jiang Lai leisurely replied while eating the grapes that Shen Liao peeled and fed her.

"Still not smart enough, being proud without any capability, certain that Shen Liao was hers, wanting love while pursuing a career, ended up failing at both."

Jiang Lai spoke lightly, with no ripple in her tone.

At this moment, Shen Liao handed her something again, and without looking away from her phone, Jiang Lai opened her mouth to bite, only to lower her head and see a diamond ring the size of a pigeon egg.

Following that, Shen Liao suddenly knelt halfway, holding the ring, his expression solemn.

"Jiang Lai, will you marry me?"

Reclining lazily on the sofa, Jiang Lai blinked her confused eyes, looking at Shen Liao’s serious and earnest expression, and couldn’t help laughing out loud.

"Is this how you propose?"

Shen Liao’s expression stiffened.

"What’s wrong? Are you not satisfied? If there’s anything you’re dissatisfied with, I’ll go and prepare right away."

Jiang Lai sighed, shook her head.

"Forget it, here."

Saying that, she extended her hand to Shen Liao like an arrogant queen, allowing him to put the ring on her ring finger.

"Marry me, okay?"

Raising her hand, looking at the dazzling diamond ring before her, Jiang Lai stood up and gave Shen Liao a hug.

"Alright, I’ve been waiting for these words for a long time."

Shen Liao embraced her tightly, holding her as if wanting to encompass her into his bones, his voice slightly hoarse.

"Jiang Lai, I will love you well for a lifetime."

"Hmm, a lifetime... that works too."

Following that, Shen Liao prepared a grand century wedding, holding a ceremony with Jiang Lai on a massive ship.

At night, the sea was dotted with stars, and amid the numerous blessings, Shen Liao embraced Jiang Lai and kissed her deeply for a long time, with countless fireworks and cannons shooting into the sky at that moment, instantly decorating the night sky like a splendid, luxurious canvas.

Gazing up at the fireworks overhead, looking at the lavish extravagance before her, Jiang Lai blinked and sipped her wine slightly.

"Ah, life like this is truly comfortable."

Little Buding told her she could stay here for a lifetime; the first task was easy, so she could take it easy for a while.

But Jiang Lai shook her head.

"One cannot stay here too long."

"Why?"

"It’s addictive."

Not only was it the comfortable life but also Shen Liao’s ever-growing affection. Just earlier, when the evening breeze made Jiang Lai’s eyes moist, Shen Liao’s Heartbeat Value rose again.

Ever since Jiang Lai accepted his proposal, Shen Liao’s Heartbeat Value had not fluctuated much.

Because his love for her had already reached ninety-six percent, and this increase directly gave Jiang Lai ninety-eight percent of Shen Liao’s love.

This love was heavy, carrying all the tenderness and dignity of a proud man, all handed over to Jiang Lai without reservation.

She could now easily sway Shen Liao’s emotions; one look could make this man miss her dearly.

Jiang Lai was somewhat averse to such affection.

She could like it, but preferably not too much; too much, she couldn’t bear, nor did she want to bear.

She even exposed her true nature entirely in front of Shen Liao in later stages, but Shen Liao didn’t mind. He let her spend money as she pleased, trample on his dignity without concern, always accommodating Jiang Lai in everything as if he would never tire.

"You said you want to leave early?"

"Yes, once the task is almost complete, we shouldn’t waste time; let’s finish it quickly and go home sooner."

Hearing Jiang Lai say this, Little Buding was certainly thrilled and hurried to make arrangements.

Thus, in the fifth year after the wedding, after Shen Liao’s grandmother’s eight-hundredth nudge about having children was lightly rejected by Shen Liao, Jiang Lai was diagnosed with breast cancer, in the late stage—it’s incurable.

After a whole year of treatment, Jiang Lai wept, begging Shen Liao to give up on her, begging for her release.

Countless doctors had already shaken their heads, indicating helplessness, but the despairing Shen Liao persisted in his course, even seeking out monks from afar to perform rituals. The once rational man turned from an atheist into a fanatical believer.

Unfortunately, he still couldn’t keep Jiang Lai.

On her deathbed, she heard him holding her and murmuring repeatedly.

"The master said our fate lies in the next life."

"In the next life, I will find you as soon as possible."

"The master is so skilled; he can’t be wrong."

"But I still want this life to be a little longer."

"Jiang Lai, Jiang Lai..."

"Jiang Lai, I intended to give you my love for a lifetime; now that you’re gone, what should I do with my love?"

"Jiang Lai, I’m begging you, let me find you sooner in the next life."

"Jiang Lai, I love you so much."