Chapter 20: A Heavy Heart Inside the banquet hall, a momentary silence fell. Su Nian hadn't attended any social gatherings for a long time. Ever since marrying Gu Yichen, she had vanished from every social circle. Now, after a year's absence, she made a glamorous return. Gu Yichen clenched his fists, his cold, heavy gaze shooting toward Su Nian. Excellent! To openly hold another man's arm right before the entire upper class—and so intimately at that!

"Satisfied, my dear husband?"

Su Nian tilted her head, her smile radiant. Seeing Gu Yichen's grim expression filled her with sheer delight. Couldn't handle it already? Compared to the grievances she'd endured over the past year, and compared to him flaunting his affection with Shen Wanrou before a national audience, this was merely child's play. A flicker passed through Gu Yichen's eyes; some of his fury dissipated. The girl's provocative smile carried a touch of coquettish charm, like a kitten pretending to be fierce yet utterly endearing, stirring something inexplicable within him. Gu Yichen found himself confused about his own feelings. In the past, when Su Nian clung to him, he felt annoyed; now that she no longer did, he found himself constantly seeking her attention. Just as earlier, when Su Nian first entered the banquet hall without sparing him a glance, he felt unsettled; yet once she began targeting him, he felt relieved.

—See? She still cares about him. Although her strategy has changed, her focus remains centered on him.

"Nian Nian…"

Shen Wanrou's expression grew slightly awkward. Her gaze landed on the sapphire at Su Nian's neckline, making her feel as though she'd been slapped across the face, embarrassment coloring her features. At banquets, nothing is more dreaded than clashing outfits—whoever looks worse ends up humiliated.

"Miss Shen, we are not close. Please address me as 'Miss Su'."

Su Nian maintained an elegant posture, offering a perfect smile. Miss Su, not Mrs. Gu. This simple declaration caused strange glances to shoot toward Gu Yichen from everyone present. He had just acknowledged Su Nian's status as his wife, yet immediately afterward, she asserted her independence by attending the banquet with a male companion. What a swift and stinging rebuke! The Chen family's butler stepped forward first, wearing a formulaic smile.

"Miss Su, may I ask who this gentleman is…?"

Since Su Nian had remained largely reclusive after her marriage, the Chen family hadn't sent her an invitation; they never expected her to arrive uninvited.

"This is Mr. Shen, my dance partner for tonight."

Su Nian's smile bloomed brilliantly like the midday sun, completely overturning her former gentle image in front of Gu Yichen. Tonight, her bold demeanor paired perfectly with the equally dazzling Shen Yuhuan. The Chen family's butler hesitated slightly.

"Miss Su, I mean no offense, but…"

For the safety of Young Master Chen Yiqi, everyone entering the banquet hall required an invitation and identity verification. Smiling gently, Shen Yuhuan introduced himself calmly: "Shen Yuhuan, Hengxing Group."

He rarely appeared in public; Hengxing Group was managed by a professional team, so it was normal that high society didn't recognize him. The Chen family's butler froze momentarily, then hurriedly apologized.

"My apologies, I failed to recognize you. Please, come in, come in…"

Naturally, the Shen family of Hengxing Group possessed an invitation; the butler simply hadn't expected anyone from their side to attend. Several business executives exchanged peculiar glances. Years ago, the Shen family's case had shaken the entire nation—a lawsuit where a son prosecuted his biological father for assaulting his mother. Such a case remained unprecedented throughout history.

"Nian Nian, shall we go?"

Shen Yuhuan spoke softly. Su Nian glanced at him. This man, graceful and refined, expertly portrayed aristocratic elegance, fooling the entire world. The atmosphere in the banquet hall grew increasingly awkward as frequent glances were cast their way. A married couple each bringing their own prominent date—tonight promised to be quite eventful. As Su Nian approached, the expressions of the female guests gradually shifted. Every piece of Su Nian's attire was worth no less than one hundred million yuan; the most precious item being that deep-blue diamond necklace. Deep blue diamonds are among the rarest and most valuable in the world! Such a large stone was practically priceless. Being envied by everyone felt truly wonderful.Su Nian's eyes curved with a smile, and in her heart, she despised her former self even more. Only someone whose brain had been flooded with water would withdraw from all social circles—and all for the sake of a worthless man!

"Nian Nian…"

Shen Wanrou seemed slightly disappointed. She voluntarily let go of Gu Yichen's hand.

"I'm sorry, Miss Su. I thought you considered me a friend. You look truly beautiful tonight, so radiant that I didn't even know you'd be attending."

"Yichen, why didn't you tell me? Now that Miss Su is here, how could I possibly deserve to stand by your side?"

She tilted her head, adding a touch of helplessness to her gentle reproach. Su Nian lifted the corners of her lips; it was the same familiar recipe as always. In the past, Shen Wanrou would always provoke her just like this, speaking beautifully with words that were generous, proper, and elegant. Her goddess persona never cracked. Compared to Su Nian, who had been cast as the "resentful wife,"

Shen Wanrou stood on an entirely different level. In truth, Su Nian had long seen through Shen Wanrou's tactics; it was just that previously, she couldn't hold back her temper and would always retaliate. The result every single time, without exception, was Gu Yichen stepping in to warn her not to bully Shen Wanrou.

"It's nothing," Su Nian said magnanimously.

Under Shen Wanrou's slightly stunned gaze, her lazy voice carried a casual indifference.

"My husband is all yours tonight, Miss Shen. I hope you have fun."

Her tone was so nonchalant, as if she were casually tossing aside a piece of trash.

"Su Nian, come here!"

Gu Yichen's gaze darkened, irritation churning within him. Although he clearly understood that Su Nian was using disparagement toward him to strike back fiercely at Shen Wanrou, the smile on her face was blinding, and her casual tone grated on his ears. Su Nian ignored him. Linking arms with Shen Yuhuan, she smiled elegantly and said, "Miss Shen, please make way; you're blocking the path."

"Nian Nian, what are you saying?"

Shen Wanrou's smile remained warm and soft as she tactfully tried to smooth things over.

"Since you're here, how could I possibly serve as Yichen's companion?"

"You two are husband and wife; what business do I have interfering?"

She smiled, turning toward Shen Yuhuan.

"Mr. Shen, we outsiders shouldn't disturb them."

Shen Wanrou stood reservedly. Under normal circumstances, Shen Yuhuan, being the gentleman he was, should have invited her to be his dance partner for the evening.

"Mr. Gu chose Miss Shen as his companion because he believes she is superior. Miss Shen, please don't disappoint Mr. Gu's kind intentions," Shen Yuhuan said, dressed in a white formal suit that exuded warmth, refinement, and nobility.

"Mr. Shen flatters me…"

Shen Wanrou smiled lightly. But just as those five words left her lips, Shen Yuhuan added with another smile, "However, I believe Mr. Gu's judgment is terribly poor. He mistook fish eyes for jewels and allowed true treasures to gather dust."

Shen Wanrou's smile froze on her face; she could neither laugh nor show anger, her expression twisting awkwardly.

"Is that not the truth?" Shen Yuhuan asked rhetorically, a faint smile playing on his lips.

He lowered his head, his voice richly magnetic, as if scratching gently at one's heart.

"Nian Nian, look at you. You are clearly a flower of earthly wealth and splendor, suited for boldness and glamour, yet after following Mr. Gu for a year, all your virtues have been obscured."

"Mr. Shen, know when to stop," Gu Yichen said in a low voice.

Displeasure filled his eyes, yet he could find no words to refute, because today's Su Nian was indeed radiant, stunning him completely.

"Husband…"

Su Nian stood gracefully, her vibrant red dress fluttering slightly. Her skin was as fair as snow, her slender figure tracing beautiful curves, breathtakingly gorgeous. She called out softly, her tone as tender as in days past, "You already have a dance partner tonight, so I won't accompany you~"

Su Nian still wore her bright, smiling expression. Yet for some reason, Gu Yichen felt a heaviness in his chest. Especially since, as she passed by his side, she didn't even spare him a glance. Instinctively, he reached out his hand, but halfway up, it fell back down.

"Nian Nian."

A familiar, stern voice arrived. Su Nian's pupils contracted slightly. She raised her eyes to the left, where stood the father of this body—the man she had called "Dad"

for twenty years. A man around fifty, well-preserved and radiating maturity, he still retained the charm of his younger days.Walking beside him was his assistant, Jiang Ping, utterly loyal.

"Dad, Uncle Jiang."

Su Nian's expression remained indifferent. This father, after angering her mother to death, had taken a second wife and brought home a son even older than herself. Unwilling to engage in hollow pleasantries, Su Nian grabbed Shen Yuhuan to leave, only to find him staring intently at Jiang Ping.

"What's wrong?"

"I've seen someone I know," Shen Yuhuan said, the corners of his lips curling slightly.

Back then, it was this very Jiang Ping who led people to demand that he and Shen Yuxi lie. When they refused, they were brutally beaten. —You little brats! How dare you think you're worthy of marrying the young miss? —The young miss merely joked, "I'll marry you when I grow up,"

yet you actually took it seriously? Have you any idea whether you're even worthy? The beating forced them to yield. That day, he watched Shen Yuxi limp out despite his injuries, only to return later and tell him: He had gone to that peach blossom tree and handed Su Nian a crumpled note. Its contents, following Jiang Ping's instructions, revealed "his"

name and identity to Su Nian.

"Nian Nian,"

Shen Yuhuan smiled, a chill running through anyone who saw it, "do you remember the lollipop under the peach blossom tree from your childhood?" Suddenly questioned, Su Nian froze for a moment.