Chapter 21: Know Your Place "So it's you?" Shen Yuhuan murmured, then turned his gaze to Jiang Ping, his eyes brimming with a bloodthirsty ferocity.

That icy, murderous stare made Su Nian's father and Jiang Ping freeze, sending chills coursing through their entire bodies. Lollipops, peach blossom trees… such familiar words. Su Nian's eyes flickered slightly as she instinctively glanced at Gu Yichen. Those warm memories had been worn down to ice by eight years of infatuation and one year of marriage.

"I don't want to talk about it anymore."

Su Nian turned her face away. The lollipop that had once brought so much warmth now pierced her heart like a dagger. Last night, she had chopped up the sketchbook with a kitchen knife to make her resolve clear: to sever all emotional ties to Gu Yichen, including those from childhood—like that single mango-flavored lollipop. Damn that man; let him take his lollipop and go to hell!

"Yichen, what's wrong?"

Shen Wanrou tilted her head slightly, her voice barely audible. A shadow crossed her eyes as she clearly felt Gu Yichen's body tense. Was a mere lollipop really that powerful? In Gu Yichen's mind, the image of that sketchbook resurfaced. Vaguely, he recalled that when he was seventeen, shortly after first meeting Su Nian, the little girl had worn a bright, joyful smile, lifted her delicate face, and playfully asked him, "Do you remember our childhood promise?"

Of course, he hadn't remembered, and he still recalled Su Nian's deep disappointment. It could be said that their bond began right then, sparked by a mistaken lollipop and a beautiful misunderstanding. Without that misunderstanding, would Su Nian have ever fallen for him? Gu Yichen's heart suddenly tightened, an uncontrollable panic rising within him. He had always been accustomed to control, yet now Su Nian seemed to have derailed completely. Several low gasps from the crowd jolted Gu Yichen back to reality. He fixed his gaze forward, his expression shifting slightly. Shen Yuxi had arrived. Dressed likewise in a white formal suit, he stood beside Su Nian. The pair of twins, sharing identical handsome features and similarly exquisite attire, created such a striking sight that it drew everyone's attention.

"Yuxi,"

Su Nian greeted cheerfully. Compared to the unpredictable Shen Yuhuan, the police officer was naturally far more reliable. She hesitated, her gaze falling on Shen Yuxi's suit. The original book had mentioned that Shen Yuhuan succeeded in killing Chen Yiqi precisely because he had disguised himself as Shen Yuxi. With identical appearances and matching outfits, outsiders could never tell them apart. Shen Yuxi nodded slightly, his glance sweeping over the corner of Su Nian's forehead.

"Miss Su, you're injured. Please rest well and avoid overexertion."

"Apologies, I have matters to attend to tonight, so I won't be staying with you."

Just as he turned to leave, a hand grabbed hold of him. While Su Nian internally wrestled with whether to warn Shen Yuxi, someone suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist. Hot breath brushed against her ear, tickling straight into her heart: "Little Niannian, I'm here with you. Are you really that reluctant to part with Xi?"

Su Nian felt goosebumps rise across her skin.

"No, it's not…"

To others, Shen Yuhuan might appear deeply devoted, but to her, he resembled a monstrous shark from the deep sea, opening its jaws wide.

"Stop this; you're frightening Miss Su,"

Shen Yuxi interposed, stepping in front. Su Nian immediately leaned toward him, almost shrinking into his embrace. Yet her hand remained firmly held by Shen Yuhuan.

"Let go…"

In front of everyone, Shen Yuhuan's behavior was utterly inappropriate. Yet he cared not at all; a lazy smile played on his lips as he gripped Su Nian's hand, refusing to release it.

"Little Niannian, you've hurt my feelings."

"Let go!"

Gu Yichen strode forward, forcefully seizing Shen Yuhuan's wrist. The atmosphere in the banquet hall grew heavy and suffocating. Shen Yuhuan tilted his head, wearing an expression of pure innocence.

"And if I don't?"

Gu Yichen's pupils contracted slightly; his hand hanging beneath his sleeve clenched tightly into a fist, veins bulging prominently.

"Su Nian is my wife," he stated coldly, laden with warning.

"Mr. Shen, please know your place!"

"Shen Yuhuan still wore a bold, unrestrained smile. "

If you had ever, even for a single second, treated Xiao Niannian as your wife, how could it be my place to accompany her to this banquet tonight?

" His words were sharp and cutting, yet Gu Yichen found himself unable to refute them. During that year of marriage, he had neglected Su Nian and shattered her heart. "

No matter what, Su Nian remains my wife. The state of our marriage is not for outsiders to judge.

" Gu Yichen clung desperately to this point, though his demeanor clearly weakened. "

No matter how well you treat her, your position remains illegitimate.

" He turned his gaze toward Su Nian, his eyes sharp and darkened, lowering his voice. "

Is this your revenge? To humiliate me in front of everyone?

" Su Nian clenched her palms until they ached, gritting her teeth as she spat out a single word: "

Yes!

" Even though she had already resolved to cut all ties, having loved him for eight years meant Gu Yichen could still stir her emotions. "

Xiao Niannian, let's go sit for a while, " Shen Yuhuan said with a gentle laugh, his tone filled with tenderness. "

Your wound hasn't fully healed; you shouldn't stand for too long.

" Su Nian had bumped her forehead, leaving a bruise about the size of a fingernail. He had deliberately styled her hair to cleverly conceal the injury. "

Mm, " Su Nian replied obediently, planning to find an opportunity later to privately remind Shen Yuxi. "

Husband, let go. I have Mr. Shen accompanying me. You can go keep Wanrou company.

" Her tone carried a hint of complaint and displeasure, sounding remarkably like jealousy. Gu Yichen's expression shifted slightly, his eyes suddenly brightening. His deep voice softened with apparent affection: "

Niannian, let's talk privately.

" Just then, the Tang family entered the banquet hall. Tang Shi spotted Su Nian immediately, quickly releasing her father's arm and hastening forward. "

Niannian, you're here too?

" She had originally assumed that, given Su Nian's injury, she would be resting at home. "

Yuxi, you're here as well?

" Tang Shi's eyes lit up. Shen Yuxi offered a brief greeting before straightforwardly stating he had matters to attend to and needed to leave. "

Niannian, Shen Yuxi is far too difficult to win over, " Tang Shi sighed, shaking Su Nian's hand and winking playfully. "

How are things progressing on your end?

" Su Nian felt somewhat helplessly amused, recalling Tang Shi's earlier bold declaration: "

Twins—we'll each take one.

" "

Let's step outside for a bit. Actually, I have a little secret to share with you.

" Before departing, she added a warning to Shen Yuhuan: "

You're not allowed to follow and eavesdrop, okay?

" Arm in arm, the two girls headed to the garden behind the villa. Gu Yichen glanced at Shen Yuhuan, struggling to suppress his restless thoughts. He couldn't shake the feeling that Su Nian's words held deeper meaning. Could she truly have fallen for Shen Yuhuan? Uneasy and distracted, he barely acknowledged the toasts exchanged with several executives. "

Yichen, if you're worried about Niannian, why not go check on her?

" Shen Wanrou suggested considerately. Her grip on the wine glass tightened, her knuckles turning white. Gu Yichen remained silent for a few seconds, scanning the room for Shen Yuhuan only to realize he was nowhere in sight. Frowning slightly, he walked toward the small garden. Shen Wanrou bit her lip, her eyes turning cold. After taking a sip of wine, she seamlessly resumed her poised and elegant demeanor, the perfect goddess once more. "

Sir, something major has happened!

" Once Shen Yuhuan left the banquet hall, Jiang Ping, his face pale, pulled Su Nian's father into a corner. "

Do you remember why the young miss loved lollipops so much when she was little?

" It was Jiang Ping who had handled that matter. The moment Shen Yuhuan mentioned the lollipop beneath the peach blossom tree, those long-buried memories resurfaced. "

Something so long ago—how could I possibly remember?

" Su Nian's father frowned, his expression shifting slightly. "

Are you referring to those twin brothers from the Shen family?

" He was startled, but after careful consideration, a calculation formed in his mind. "

Niannian gets along well with Shen Yuhuan. That boy seems quite fond of her. If ties with the Gu family dissolve, we could still forge a marital alliance with the Shen family.

" Ever since Su Xingye disappeared, the Su family had gradually declined. He had originally pinned his hopes on cooperating with the Gu family, but those hopes vanished once Gu Yichen took power. His daughter had essentially married into the Gu family for nothing, proving utterly useless. "

That won't work!

""

Jiang Ping, anxious and hesitant, blurted out, 'This grudge cannot be resolved!'

Su's father, equally confused, asked sternly, 'What exactly is going on?'

Jiang Ping glanced around and lowered his voice.

'Sir, do you remember the development of Agent S? Those twins…'

'Stop!'

Su's father's face changed instantly; he too looked around nervously.

'This matter must never be mentioned!'

The Su family built their pharmaceutical business, and it was the launch of Agent S that firmly established their reputation nationwide.

Suddenly, Su's father froze, his eyes widening in shock.

'Is it… them?!'

His expression shifted repeatedly, gradually filling with terror.

'Yes, I ordered people to capture them,' Jiang Ping said with difficulty.

The development of Agent S required extensive experimentation. Coincidentally, after the lollipop incident made headlines, he had investigated the Shen brothers and discovered they were orphaned children no one cared about. Twins share a unique connection, making them ideal test subjects. Three years later, Agent S was successfully launched, propelling the Su family to fame. Su's father's face trembled uncontrollably, his lips quivering.

'Did you… did you not handle this?'

How could someone as steady as Jiang Ping make such a mistake?

'I…'

Jiang Ping expressed deep regret.

'After Agent S was successfully developed, while we were celebrating and let our guard down, they secretly escaped. I sent people to track them by their blood trail, but we lost them.'

He paused briefly.

'When they fled, they must have encountered the young miss, because there was a dirty, muddy little handprint stained with blood on her dress. The young miss even complained to me that her dress had been soiled.'

'What do we do now? They…'

Su's father could no longer remain calm.

Suddenly, the memory of Shen Yuhuan's bloodthirsty gaze flashed through his mind. Panicked, he wondered aloud, 'Has Shen Yuhuan already found out? Is his current pursuit of Niannian meant to investigate what happened back then?'

'Probably not,'

Jiang Ping speculated.

'I didn'

t show myself back then; I sent others to capture them. Moreover, if his goal were to investigate those past events, Shen Yuhuan should have approached Miss Su Xin instead. The young miss married into another family and is no longer favored.

' Unable to refute this, Su' s father strictly warned,

'Immediately remind everyone involved back then to keep their mouths tightly shut. Not a single word must be spoken!'

Those Shen brothers, who managed to take over the Shen family and send their biological father to prison, were certainly not easy opponents!

Meanwhile, Gu Yichen searched throughout the small garden and finally found Su Nian sitting in a small pavilion. The young girl smiled brightly, looking like a little fox that had just stolen some fish, extremely proud of herself.

'Am I clever?'

'A few little tricks, and I'

ve got Gu Yichen completely wrapped around my finger…

' Author'

s Note: 1. This corresponds to the 'soiled'

reference mentioned in Chapter 14. When they escaped from the laboratory, they encountered Niannian, but because they were so dirty, she disliked them o(╥﹏╥)o 2. The misunderstanding regarding the lollipop wasn't directly clarified immediately, intentionally leaving Gu (the scumbag) anxious, depressed, and tormented,so that we can deliver a heavy blow at the appropriate moment~ Another chapter will be posted around 9 PM tonight. Mwah! (^3^)╱~~