CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 49: KNOW YOUR PLACE (7 UPDATES)

Yin Shuyao was caught off guard as an entire glass of wine was splashed onto her face, making it impossible for her to open her eyes. The wine dripped down her face onto her dress, leaving mottled stains.

The unexpected turn of events left Yin Shuyao stunned for several seconds. When she finally reacted, she hurriedly wiped the wine off her face, smearing her eyeliner and eyeshadow into a mess. Her neatly arranged hairdo loosened a few strands due to her frantic movements, leaving her looking quite disheveled.

"Shen Jianian, are you crazy?!"

Her shriek drew the attention of all the guests around.

Qin Zhongtian, who was exchanging greetings with the elders of the family, heard the commotion. Seeing that it was at Fu Jichen’s table, he quickly came over and asked in a calm voice, "What’s happening?"

The Yin couple also came over as they sensed the situation was off.

Yin Shuyao’s exquisite makeup and expensive dress were ruined, Hu Yuzhi was on the verge of breaking down, her venomous gaze fixed on Shen Jianian, not needing to ask to know it was her "handiwork."

"Today is your cousin’s wedding, what do you think you’re doing?" Hu Yuzhi questioned.

Shen Jianian’s face was cold, "If she hadn’t provoked me, I naturally wouldn’t have gone against her."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yin Shuyao felt particularly humiliated. If the situation was not handled well, it would only become more uncontrolled. Her eyes darted around as she began to cry intermittently, "I, I just came over to offer a toast. It’s fine if my cousin is not appreciative, but she splashed wine on my face, and my dress got dirty."

Upon hearing this, Hu Yuzhi’s eyes seemed to emit flames, "Shen Jianian, is this what you call her provoking you? What’s wrong with her offering you a toast?"

There was a lot of murmuring around, with a few words drifting into Shen Jianian’s ears.

"Really, what’s the grudge, what’s the resentment? After all, it’s someone’s big day, such a lack of respect."

"I saw it, that Miss Shen came with Fu Da, acting headstrong because she has someone backing her."

"No matter what, Yin Shuyao is still the Young Madam Qin, is it her place to..."

"Shush, don’t say anymore."

Yin Shuyao was originally quite furious, being splashed with wine by Shen Jianian was equivalent to a slap in the face. Just for this, she wanted to slap her back twice as much.

However, she had suffered a similar loss once before, and this time she was smarter. People often sympathize with the weaker party. Her tears fell as she uttered a few words of grievance, solidifying the notion that it was Shen Jianian bullying her.

On such a day, Shen Jianian shouldn’t think it would be easy to get off the hook. Did she really think the Qin Family was easy to mess with?

Shen Jianian remained with a detached expression, clutching an empty wine glass. Suddenly, a hand covered the back of her hand, the familiar warmth made her pause, and she instinctively looked over.

Fu Jichen pressed down her hand, sitting steadfastly in his seat, lifting his eyes to nonchalantly glance at the few people by the table questioning her, "Offering a toast requires the recipient’s consent. According to Young Madam Qin, even if my stomach is unwell today, do I have to drink this glass of wine you offered?"

Yin Shuyao was speechless with astonishment; this man was actually speaking up for Shen Jianian.

But that was not all, Fu Jichen’s gaze slowly shifted to Qin Zhongtian, his lips curled in a faint smile as he said, "Is this how the Qin Family entertains guests? Such hospitality."

After speaking, he brushed off his clothes, behaving as if he was about to rise and leave.

Qin Zhongtian stepped forward swiftly, pressing his palm down in a gesture to stop him, "Please forgive us, Mr. Chen, our Qin Family absolutely did not mean it that way."

Fu Jichen leaned back into his chair, his gaze piercing as he looked at Yin Shuyao biting her lip, and let out a cold chuckle, "Then it must be the Young Madam Qin who is being unreasonable."

"Shuyao, quickly apologize to Mr. Fu and your cousin!" Qin Zhongtian’s voice was sharp and formidable, allowing no room for refusal.

Yin Shuyao was dumbfounded, standing there not knowing what to do.

The development of events was completely contrary to her expectations, asking her to apologize to Shen Jianian, on what grounds? It was Shen Jianian who made the first move; she was the one who splashed her with wine!

"What are you still standing there for?" Qin Zhongtian coldly urged, "Hurry up."

Yin Shuyao’s eyes turned red, and this time it wasn’t an act; she truly felt wronged.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the banquet hall shifted. Guests who previously mocked Shen Jianian fell silent, fearing to offend Fu Jichen. His stance was clear, he was protecting Shen Jianian, and who dared to provoke him? Everyone waited to see Yin Shuyao make a fool of herself.

Under pressure from the situation, Yin Shuyao had no choice but to bow her head, gritting her teeth as she said, "I’m sorry, Mr. Fu. I’m sorry, cousin..."

"Alright, learn some manners in the future." Qin Zhongtian, his face stern, reprimanded Yin Shuyao, smoothing over the situation for her.

Qin Fan, her husband, hadn’t said a word throughout. He was more than happy to see Yin Shuyao mess up.

After the incident, Yin Shuyao gained nothing, but instead bottled up a lot of anger, feeling extremely depressed.

She went to the lounge in her dirty dress, fortunately having a spare dress at the hotel, otherwise she couldn’t imagine how she would get through the rest of the event.

Hu Yuzhi was worried about her daughter and followed her.

Knocking on the door, she entered the lounge. When Yin Shuyao looked up and saw her mother, tears immediately welled up, and she threw herself into her mother’s arms, crying bitterly: "Mom, it was Shen Jianian bullying me! It was so embarrassing, with so many guests watching."

"My good daughter, don’t cry." Hu Yuzhi gently patted her daughter’s back, her own eyes reddening, tears brimming in her eyes, "Mom knows you’ve been wronged."

Qin Zhongtian publicly reprimanded Yin Shuyao, making Hu Yuzhi feel utterly uncomfortable, her insides twisted into knots. Her daughter was like a piece of her own flesh, and she couldn’t bear to say a harsh word to her. Now that she’s married, she has to endure such grievances – how could her heart be at ease?

At that moment, she didn’t dare to speak up for her daughter rashly, fearing to anger Qin Zhongtian or Mr. Fu, making the situation even more difficult to manage.

After comforting Yin Shuyao for a while, Hu Yuzhi patted her face: "Call the stylist over to fix your makeup, and I’ll get you something to eat. You haven’t had anything since this morning, have you?"

Yin Shuyao, still sobbing, nodded in response.

Hu Yuzhi went out, and soon after, two stylists entered the lounge.

With them came Qin Sang, wearing a smoke-pink princess dress with ankle boots, her wavy hair tied in a high ponytail, looking both sweet and cool.

In the mirror, Yin Shuyao forced a smile at her: "Sang Sang, you’re here."

Qin Sang crossed her arms, her expression cold. She came over just to say one thing: "I hope you remember your place, behave yourself, and don’t cause any more trouble for the Qin Family."

Yin Shuyao’s heart sank suddenly, as if plunged into an ice cave.

The two stylists doing her makeup and hair kept their eyes down, holding their breath. Accidentally coming across wealthy family’s gossip, the first reaction wasn’t excitement but fear.

After speaking, Qin Sang left, and the door to the lounge closed behind her.

Yin Shuyao held her anger in check over and over, until it finally erupted, and she swept several bottles off the dressing table, smashing them.

Her husband was unreliable, her father-in-law scolded her, her sister-in-law came to warn her, and the elderly lady unexpectedly fell ill and couldn’t attend the wedding banquet. What kind of family had she married into?

The two stylists were scared out of their wits by her outburst, stepping back several steps, not daring to approach.

*

Shen Jianian let out a breath, sitting next to Fu Jichen, her chest still heaving violently.

Fu Jichen picked up a porcelain spoon from the plate, scooped some diced chicken into a small bowl in front of her, and whispered in her ear at the same time: "I told you to come and cause a scene, no one would dare say anything, but you didn’t believe me."

Shen Jianian turned to look at him, and he raised an eyebrow, smiling with a hint of mischief: "You should have made an even bigger fuss."

Shen Jianian resisted the urge to roll her eyes, saying softly, "I didn’t plan to cause trouble before I came, she was the one who provoked me first."

Fu Jichen, with a half-smile, nodded as if whatever she said was true.

Shen Jianian picked up a few pieces of chicken with her chopsticks, her chest feeling somewhat stuffy: "I need to go to the washroom."

"Need me to go with you?"

"I’ll go by myself."

Shen Jianian took out her phone from her handbag, holding her dress with one hand, and asked a passing waiter for directions to the restroom, getting led there.

After leaving the restroom, Shen Jianian stood at the public sink washing her hands, her phone placed on the marble counter, stretching her slender, fair hands under the hand dryer.

Warm air blew on her hands, drying the water droplets.

A sudden "click" sound came from behind, the sound of a lighter’s flint being struck.

Shen Jianian instinctively turned to look back, seeing Qin Fan, standing long and lean against the wall, cupping his hand to light a cigarette. The buttons on his suit jacket were undone, revealing a plain white shirt underneath, with a tie pulled off and tossed atop the nearby trash bin lid.

A pair of alluring eyes was hidden behind the wafting smoke, appearing both dreamy and romantic.

"Shen Jianian." Qin Fan removed the cigarette from his lips, holding it between his fingers, and took the initiative to call her name.