Chapter 39: Scheme 1

Half an hour later, Chen Jin squelched through the front door, her clothes heavy and dripping from the unrelenting rain. The sound of the downpour filled the room, a constant backdrop to the scene that was about to unfold.

She burst out when she saw Xiao Fei relaxing on the couch, watching TV, “Xiao Fei, why didn’t you get caught in the rain too? If you had an umbrella, why didn’t you pick me up? I’m drenched! All the girls in the office had someone come for them.” So focused on her anger, she missed the flicker of impatience on Xiao Fei’s face.

“Ah Jin,” Xiao Fei attempted to soothe Chen Jin’s anger, though he couldn’t entirely hide his own irritation, “I borrowed this umbrella from a colleague. Our offices are so far apart – it’d be an hour’s walk or a taxi ride costing dozens of yuan to get you. That money’s better saved for a house, isn’t it?” He sighed, feeling some guilt about today’s events.

“You keep talking about a house, but we still haven’t bought one! We agreed to pay the down payment as soon as we graduated!” Chen Jin felt miserable.

Chen Jin scowled, remembering her dashed plans to live in the Shen Group dormitory after graduation. That all changed when it became the Su Group and started charging an exorbitant 1,200 yuan per month.

Xiao Fei convinced her to move into his family’s spare room to save money. 

Ever since their engagement, Xiao Fei had treated Chen Jin’s salary as his own. With her living under his family’s roof, his desire to buy a house had evaporated.

It was so much more comfortable at home! Every day when he came home, he didn’t have to do anything. His mom cooked and did the laundry. His hard-earned money could be spent on himself. The house idea was long forgotten.

Chen Jin didn’t see it that way. Every day was oppressive. She had to mind her manners, help with housework, sometimes enduring his mother’s criticism, and still chipped in for expenses. The Xiao family logic? “You eat and live here, we don’t ask for rent. Buying some groceries is only fair!”

It made her miserable, but having moved into the Xiao family home, many saw her as their daughter-in-law. She worried that breaking up would ruin her reputation.

Desperate for their own space, Chen Jin rallied relentlessly for a house purchase. But her persistence backfired; Xiao Fei’s annoyance mounted with every plea, slowly morphing into a litany of complaints about her. Simultaneously, Zhang Chenjun’s gentle overtures began to erode his commitment to Chen Jin.

Meanwhile, after work, Shen Yanming picked up Bi Qiao’an. They detoured for a delicious roast duck dinner before heading home.

“Let’s eat out from now on. We can get two portions to take home. Saves a bundle!” Bi Qiao’an sat on the sofa, rubbing her belly and teasing Shen Yanming.

“Sure! It’s nice not having to prepare these delicacies ourselves. What do you want tomorrow? Let’s go together.” 

“Hmm, how about Western food? This rain keeps on, there’ll be even fewer people out soon. We won’t even need to queue for things.”

“Sounds good!” Shen Yanming looked at Bi Qiao’an with a gentle, adoring smile.

As the days crawled by, the rain’s intensity swelled, transforming from a gentle patter to a relentless deluge. The streets gradually emptied, populated only by the most intrepid souls who had no choice but to brave the storm for work. 

The rain was relentless. Several places had already issued flood warnings. Luckily, Hai City was built on higher ground and had a good drainage system, keeping them relatively safe during this first week of rain.

Shen Yanming found himself holding an invitation to the engagement party of his former business partner’s son.

“Do you want to go?” Bi Qiao’an asked, examining the fancy card.

“Let’s go together.”

Bi Qiao’an nodded, then asked, “Brother Yanming, I thought you left the business circle. Why do people still invite you to these events?”

Shen Yanming smiled, “The groom-to-be is my college classmate. We’re pretty close.”

The day arrived. Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an set off in matching black wool coats, which they left in the car upon reaching the hotel’s underground parking.

Inside the hotel, where the temperature was set at a balmy 25 degrees Celsius, Shen Yanming cut a dashing figure in his dark blue suit. Beside him, Bi Qiao’an was a vision in an off-white lace dress with strategic dark blue satin accents that mirrored her partner’s attire.

“Ladies and gentlemen, a good evening to all. Thank you for taking time from your busy schedules to attend the engagement ceremony of Mr. Lin Yongke and Miss Wei Yun…”

The emcee hosted the ceremony on the stage, but Shen Yanming’s expression wasn’t good off stage. While he wasn’t super close to Lin Yongke, he still didn’t want to see his friend hurt by such a vicious woman.

“Brother Yanming, that girl is so beautiful!” Bi Qiao’an’s eyes sparkled, fixed on Wei Yun, her admiration evident in her voice.

“Not as beautiful as you!” Shen Yanming replied without hesitation, his words filled with sincerity.

“Hehe, look, they make such a compatible couple. He’s handsome, she’s gorgeous. And their wedding photos up there look perfect!”

“Not as compatible as us!”

Bi Qiao’an became speechless as she rolled her eyes at him, a small smile playing on her lips.

The newlyweds made their way through the sea of well-wishers, Hai City’s most influential business figures among them. The air buzzed with a mixture of celebratory joy and calculated networking, each guest keenly aware of the event’s twofold nature.

Shen Yanming was pulled into conversations with former partners, while Bi Qiao’an stood aside, enjoying red wine and desserts.

In a flash of crimson, a stream of red wine arced through the air, splattering across the delicate lace of Bi Qiao’an’s dress, staining it with an angry red.

“I’m so sorry! Please, let me apologize. I didn’t mean to.” The waitress was frantic.

The commotion rose above the din of the party, snaring Shen Yanming’s focus. “What’s going on?” he demanded, hurrying to Bi Qiao’an’s side.

“It’s nothing. She accidentally spilled red wine on me,” Bi Qiao’an reassured him. “With this crowd, it was probably just carelessness.”

“Miss, I’m truly sorry. Let me take you to change. Do you have spare clothes? Otherwise, the hotel has some you can borrow.”

“Okay!” Bi Qiao’an wasn’t one to make a fuss.

“Should I go with you?” Shen Yanming was uneasy, especially since the bride-to-be was Wei Yun.

His concern was clear, and Bi Qiao’an caught the drift. Was there a scheme afoot?

She winked at Shen Yanming, “It’s fine. I’ll go to the lounge with her and wait. You get my clothes from the car.”

“Don’t take any chances, alright?” Shen Yanming held Bi Qiao’an’s gaze, his eyes intense. “Stay put until I come back.”

Shen Yanming’s eyes narrowed as he watched the waitress scurry away. The timing of the spill seemed too convenient. He would play along with the charade… for now.