The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 177. Identity Exposure (One More Update)

Chapter 177: 177. Identity Exposure (One More Update)

Shen Qinglan returned to the Shen Family and besides showing intelligence in her studies, she was rather unremarkable, especially when compared to Shen Xitong.

Every time she saw Shen Qinglan’s indifferent aloofness and Shen Xitong’s excellence, Chu Yunrong actually felt guilty. She dared not face her own biological daughter, let alone think about whether Shen Qinglan would have been as excellent as Shen Xitong if she had not been lost.

Chu Yunrong looked at her daughter painting on stage, her mind in turmoil. Shen Qian glanced at his wife and sighed silently. He was aware of his wife’s inner conflict. The incident from the past wasn’t really her fault. If one were to be serious about it, the reason Shen Qinglan was abducted by human traffickers was partly due to him.

But he dared not reveal the truth of the matter to Chu Yunrong, fearing she couldn’t accept it, fearing she would resent him, and also fearing that their family would fall apart.

Shen Xitong looked at Shen Qinglan on stage, unwilling to believe that she was Qingqing Autumn, yet deep inside, a voice told her that Shen Qinglan is Qingqing Autumn, a thought that nearly made her lose control and drag Shen Qinglan down.

On stage, Shen Qinglan had completed her painting, and at the same moment, the fake Qingqing Autumn also put down her paintbrush.

She glanced at Shen Qinglan’s painting, her eyes flickered slightly, but her face showed no expression.

Several experts who were present began to evaluate the paintings of both individuals. They were seen shaking their heads at times and nodding at others, their brows furrowed tightly, seemingly troubled by some difficult question.

Aside from these evaluating experts, the rest of the onlookers didn’t approach but surrounded the platform, looking at the two paintings displayed.

Shen Qinglan’s painting depicted a sunrise over the ocean, a vast expanse of dark sea, mysterious and perilous, and on the horizon, dawn was breaking but not yet bright, a hint of red reflected across half the sky, dispelling the darkness that fell upon the human world. That streak of red appeared so warm that one couldn’t help but want to reach out and touch it. In the bottom right corner of the painting was signed Qingqing Autumn.

The fake Qingqing Autumn also painted the ocean, but her ocean was tumultuous, with raging waves. On the surface, only one hand remained, with just the palm still above the water. Not far from there, near the shore, several people stood panicked; they could easily save the drowning person with a mere reach, yet no one made a move.

Shen Qinglan and the fake Qingqing Autumn both sat calmly on the side, allowing the critics to review their work.

After a while, the critics moved away from the paintings.

"How is it, which one is the real one?" someone impatiently asked.

An older painter with flecks of white in his beard stepped forward, shaking his head without speaking.

"Ah, what does this shaking mean? Who is real and who is fake?" People from the audience who were anxious began to scratch their heads. Those who had come to this painting exhibition were familiar with Qingqing Autumn, and many of her fans were among them.

Knowing that someone was impersonating their idol, the fans were naturally anxious.

The elderly man with the white beard was known as Teacher Jiang, a revered figure in the painting world with many accomplished students under him. He had come to the painting exhibition of Qingqing Autumn at the invitation.

"Teacher Jiang, can you tell which of these two paintings is real, and which is fake?" the painter who first spoke out and suggested the painting contest asked, voicing the collective curiosity of everyone present.

Many people nodded in agreement. Yeah, don’t just shake your head—announce the answer.

Teacher Jiang’s gaze swept over Shen Qinglan and the fake Qingqing Autumn and exchanged glances with his colleagues who had joined him in evaluation. He then nodded slightly before speaking in a gentle voice.

"Both paintings are very well done and stand out among the younger generation of painters. The brushstrokes and painting habits of the two are also very similar. At first glance, it is indeed difficult to tell which is real and which is fake."

He paused, then continued, "We all know that Qingqiu’s paintings have always been good at depicting the dark side of things, but Miss Shen’s painting style is not the same as Qingqiu’s usual style..." Before he could finish, everyone seemed to already understand what he was implying.

"Who would have thought that even the daughter of the prestigious Shen Family would do such a thing as impersonating someone else, truly unexpected," someone in the crowd said disdainfully.

"I used to like her quite a bit, especially after that video of her saving someone went viral. I even considered her my Goddess, but to think she is such a person. Was that video fake too?" someone began to question.

"It couldn’t be, that incident was on the news. I believe that incident was real," another defended.

"Please, who knows? Given the background of the Shen Family, even if it’s a fake video claimed to be real, people would believe it. We all know about Old Sir Jiang’s character, and he is a veteran in the art world. If he says it’s fake, then it naturally is. I think this Miss Shen just wants to be famous at any cost."

Some disagreed, "Who says everything Old Sir Jiang says must be right? Qingqiu’s style has changed recently, you know. Clearly, Miss Shen’s painting matches more with Qingqiu’s current style. What are you all seeing that you can’t tell?"

However, no sooner had these words been spoken than they were drowned out by more voices of doubt, rapidly converging on the person defending Shen Qinglan.

Listening to the surrounding discussion, the Shen Family’s expressions were extremely unsightly, especially Shen Junyu’s. Hearing others talk about his sister like that, he was nearly ready to fight them. He glared fiercely at the most vocal few, memorizing their faces.

Shen Xitong’s expression was ugly, but upon closer inspection, one could see a gleeful smile in her eyes and even her previously anxious heart seemed to relax. She looked at Shen Qinglan on stage, her lips lightly curving into a smile, "Now, let’s see what you do, Shen Qinglan."

Shen Qinglan, however, showed no expression, her face still cold. She seemed oblivious to the disdainful looks and harsh words from the people around her, and the fake Qingqiu also maintained a neutral expression.

"Just..." Old Sir Jiang opened his mouth again, introducing a twist that immediately drew everyone’s attention, "I have always been keeping an eye on Qingqiu, and I am quite familiar with her paintings. I believe some of you here know that her style has been changing recently."

Some nodded in agreement, exactly, who says that Qingqiu’s style doesn’t change?

"Although this lady’s paintings are also good, we still believe that Miss Shen is the real Qingqiu," Old Sir Jiang laid down his verdict.

The smile finally fell from the fake Qingqiu’s face, disappearing completely. She stood up, facing Old Sir Jiang, "Old Sir Jiang, you are a senior and someone I have always respected and admired. By rights, I should address you as Teacher, but that does not mean you can deny me at will. My recent works do indeed show a change in style, but that doesn’t mean I am not Qingqiu just because this painting doesn’t show a change. You may have authority in the art world, and your word could even decide the fate of a painter. I hope you will be careful."

While her words seemed reasonable, they were actually accusing Old Sir Jiang of making baseless claims and outright denying that she was Qingqiu without any real evidence.

For the first time in his life, Old Sir Jiang faced such an accusation. His face fell slightly, but being a leading figure in the industry, he maintained his composure, not arguing but simply stating facts, "Your imitation is indeed very convincing, even to the point of blurring reality and fakery, but you overlooked one thing, and this is your only fatal flaw."

He spoke the word "only," indicating just how closely the fake Qingqiu had imitated, even Shen Qinglan turned curiously to Old Sir Jiang. Had he really noticed something?

"What?" the fake Qingqiu asked reflexively.

Old Sir Jiang pointed at the bottom right corner of Shen Qinglan’s painting, "It’s this signature."

The fake Qingqiu frowned, thinking the old man was spouting nonsense. When she had imitated Shen Qinglan, the signature was what she had mimicked most accurately; she believed there couldn’t be any issues with it.

Smart reporters had already positioned their cameras at the signatures on both paintings, while others who couldn’t get there first sighed regretfully, then while cursing their more cunning colleagues, turned their cameras on Shen Qinglan and the fake Qingqiu.

Old Sir Jiang pointed to that signature, speaking slowly, "Qingqiu has a habit when she writes; she likes to write the character ’Qing’ in a connected script, but she often forgets the final hook. Because it’s part of a connected signature, many people didn’t notice this."

As soon as these words came out, a smile flashed in Shen Qinglan’s eyes. She hadn’t expected that the old gentleman would actually notice; she thought she would need to point it out herself.

Once Old Sir Jiang uttered these words, someone immediately compared the two signatures, naturally discovering this slight discrepancy. Given that it was Qingqiu’s art exhibition, there were many of Qingqiu’s previous works. Upon careful comparison, it was clear who was who.

Everyone looked at the fake Qingqiu differently now.

"I can’t believe someone so good-looking would do such a shameless thing."

"More than shameless, utterly brazen and despicable, setting a new low for human decency. If it were me, I would never dare show my face, but there she goes, not only showing up but also having the nerve to accuse Miss Shen of impersonating her." Those who were just blaming Shen Qinglan immediately turned their accusations toward the fake Qingqiu.

"I knew someone of Miss Shen’s stature would never do such a thing. You all wouldn’t believe me." The ones who were defending Shen Qinglan earlier now wore proud expressions, as if to say, ’I told you so.’

The fake Qingqiu didn’t realize that she would be undone by the least likely aspect. Now that the truth was exposed, any further explanation from her would be superfluous, and she had no intention of clarifying anything. Watching all the attention shift to the paintings, she quietly left the scene.

The incident concluded too swiftly. She had initially thought that Daniel and Qingqiu had no evidence; even if it were revealed, it wouldn’t affect her. However, the development of events had caught her off guard.

Moving to a secluded corner, the fake Qingqiu made a call, "I’ve been exposed... I’m sorry... I didn’t handle this well."

The person on the other side of the phone said something, and her face immediately turned pale. Her hands trembled slightly as she held the phone, fear evident in her eyes. She seemed to want to plead, but perhaps knowing it would be futile, she could only utter a simple "yes" before hanging up.

Before leaving, she glanced from a distance at the woman surrounded by adoration on the stage, her stunning face not revealing any joy from the recognition, continuing to remain cold.

Shen Qinglan, I remember you now, and I look forward to our next meeting.

Meanwhile, in a distant land, within the master bedroom of a luxurious estate, a man tossed his phone aside, picked up the wine glass from the table, and sipped the wine. The crimson liquid stained his lips. He licked them, a cruel curve forming at the corners of his mouth, "Xiaoqi, you still intoxicate me so." His eyes twinkled with shards of light.

**

Back at the exhibition, by the time everyone snapped out of their shock, the fake Qingqiu was nowhere to be seen.

Many media representatives were present, and upon regaining their composure, they rushed to interview Shen Qinglan. Daniel noticed and immediately stepped in front of her.

"My fellow media friends, listen to me. Our Qingqiu is a reserved person and usually prefers not to appear in the media. This event was a necessary exception, being Qingqiu’s first exhibition, the focus should rightfully be on her artwork. Wouldn’t you agree?"

His point was clear.

The journalists, savvy as they were, understood Daniel’s intentions and agreed that they would handle the report delicately, their cameras turning toward the paintings in the gallery.

"Lanlan, you really keep your secrets well, even from your own family. Tell me, if this bizarre woman hadn’t shown up, how much longer were you planning on keeping us in the dark?" Shen Junyu approached, staring at Shen Qinglan with a fierce look, but the joy and pride in his eyes were unmistakable.

Shen Xitong also came over and spoke ambiguously, "Sister, you really kept it deeply hidden. You knew she was a fake all along. When she visited our home, why didn’t you expose her?"

Although Shen Xitong had recovered from the shock of Shen Qinglan being Qingqiu, once she pieced everything together, her fury soared. Especially considering how she boasted, in front of Shen Qinglan, about her close relationship with Qingqiu, she now wondered just how much contempt Shen Qinglan must have felt at the time, perhaps even mocking her inwardly.

What she couldn’t accept was that originally, Shen Qinglan was just a bit better in her grades and a bit better looking, but in other aspects, she was far inferior to herself. Yet now, before she had even gained any fame, Shen Qinglan had already become a widely known young painter, who had even won international awards, celebrated both domestically and abroad. In contrast, she only had a little fame in Beijing, which was incomparable to Shen Qinglan’s achievements.

This stark reality made Shen Xitong clench her teeth. Shen Qinglan, you already have such a good family background, why must you steal the spotlight that belongs to me?

"Shen Xitong, what nonsense are you talking about?" Shen Junyu’s face darkened, and his gaze toward Shen Xitong was filled with a cold chill.

Although he also blamed Shen Qinglan for keeping secrets from the family, Shen Xitong’s sarcastic remarks made him very uncomfortable.

Old Sir Shen happened to walk by and heard Shen Xitong’s words. His gaze darkened, "Xitong."

Shen Xitong met Old Sir Shen’s gaze, and especially upon seeing Chu Yunrong’s disapproving look following behind Old Sir Shen, she suddenly felt shocked and then chilled, slightly lowering her head, "Sorry, Grandpa."

Old Sir Shen didn’t look at her but turned to Shen Qinglan and kindly spoke, "Lanlan, shall we go have a look at your paintings?"

Shen Qinglan nodded, moving forward to support Old Sir Shen, with Fu Hengyi standing on the other side. Before leaving, Shen Qinglan gave Shen Xitong a cold look, Have you forgotten your recent lesson so quickly?

Shen Xitong met Shen Qinglan’s gaze and remembered the scene in the bedroom that day, a flicker of fear flashing in her eyes.

"Grandpa, I’m sorry for keeping it a secret for so long," Shen Qinglan said softly.

Old Sir Shen smiled and shook his head, patting his granddaughter’s hand, "You are so outstanding, Grandpa can barely hold his pride, let alone blame you. Now, Grandpa has another bragging right among those old men."

Shen Qinglan couldn’t help but smile; this grandfather always had boundless tolerance for her.

Old Sir Shen stopped in front of a painting, looking at the people in the painting, his expression stunned, a trace of sorrow crossing his eyes. Shen Qinglan looked up and realized the painting depicted Granny Shen and Old Sir Shen walking in the garden, their elderly figures hand in hand, their silhouettes elongated by the setting sun.

The date on the painting was from last year, and Shen Qinglan had painted it after Granny Shen was discharged from the hospital. At the time, she intended to give it to her grandparents, but then Granny passed away, and Shen Qinglan, stricken with grief, forgot about the painting, which Daniel eventually took to an art exhibition.

"Grandpa," Shen Qinglan didn’t know what to say. Although the sorrow in Old Sir Shen’s eyes disappeared quickly, she still saw it; she knew Old Sir Shen was reminded of Granny who had passed away.

Old Sir Shen smiled, looking at the couple walking hand in hand in the painting, his eyes gentle, "Lanlan, after the exhibition ends, can this painting be given to Grandpa?"

Shen Qinglan nodded, "Yes, this painting was originally painted for Grandpa and Granny."

"You painted it very well, your Granny would have been very happy to see this," Old Sir Shen said. He didn’t usually like taking photos, so there were very few photos with his late wife. After she passed away, he had regrets about this. Now, seeing the painting, he felt somewhat comforted.

Wanwan, our granddaughter is outstanding, even more so than we thought. Are you also comforted, looking down from heaven?

"Xitong, you went too far just now," Shen Qian said sternly, speaking softly.

Shen Xitong lowered her head, "Daddy, I’m sorry, I just got too emotional. She knew that woman was a fake, yet she didn’t tell me, letting me act like a fool..." Her voice was aggrieved, even slightly choked.

Shen Qian sighed softly, "Xitong, after all, this is a public place. Couldn’t you have waited until we got home to discuss this? There are so many media reporters here, what would it look like if someone took a photo?"

He rarely scolded his children, but today he was genuinely angry with Shen Xitong’s behavior. Normally mild-tempered people are the scariest when they get angry. Shen Xitong felt a chill in her heart and once again clearly recognized the gap between herself and Shen Qinglan. She couldn’t help but think, if it were Shen Qinglan, would Shen Qian still be this angry?

She thought, probably not.

Shen Qian, of course, did not know what Shen Xitong was thinking. Seeing her soften, some of his anger dissipated. "You go back first. Your mother and I will be home later."

Shen Xitong looked up at Shen Qian in shock, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Daddy?" Was he sending her away?

"Tongtong, be obedient and go back first." Chu Yunrong also spoke up. She was aware of the discord between her two daughters, and she knew that much of it was due to herself. Shen Xitong was raised by her hands, and she could discern some of her thoughts. To avoid any irrational actions from Shen Xitong, sending her home now was indeed the best solution.

However, this act was completely misinterpreted by Shen Xitong. Tears welled up in her eyes. She glanced at Shen Qian and Chu Yunrong, said quietly that she understood, and ran out with her head down.

Shen Qian frowned, and Chu Yunrong patted her husband’s hand, "Let it be, Tongtong is still a child."

Shen Qian looked at his wife disapprovingly, "She’s not young anymore. Qinglan is even younger than her by a few years, Yunrong, you shouldn’t spoil her like this."

Chu Yunrong’s expression stiffened, but then she heard Shen Qian continue, "Her behavior just now was not fitting for the daughter of the Shen Family. If outsiders saw, they would only say that the Shen Family discriminates between adopted and biological daughters, raising the biological daughter so well, while deliberately neglecting the adopted."

"It’s not that serious, Tongtong just has a bit of a childish temperament," Chu Yunrong argued.

Shen Qian didn’t say anything more to his wife. This was not the appropriate place for such discussions, and some things his wife surely understood in her heart.

"As long as you are aware, that’s good. I’m usually at the army base, and you really have had a hard time managing the home," Shen Qian didn’t forget to comfort his wife.

Chu Yunrong felt touched. Although her husband’s words implied criticism, he had always been understanding and considerate towards her. Deep down, she also admitted that she hadn’t educated Shen Xitong properly and began to internally question if there were flaws in her approach to Shen Xitong’s education.

The couple didn’t go to find Old Sir Shen but decided to enjoy the art exhibition on their own.

Shen Qian was a soldier but had cultivated tastes, holding unique insights into art, which was why he had initially gotten together with Chu Yunrong. He had always admired Leng Qingqiu’s paintings, and now knowing that Leng Qingqiu was his daughter, he found the paintings even more appealing.

As Chu Yunrong and Shen Qian admired the artworks, they listened to the soft murmurs of praise for Shen Qinglan around them. Chu Yunrong’s emotions were complex, hard to describe.

"Never thought Miss Shen, so young, could possess such profound skills in painting. I wonder who taught her?" An elderly voice sounded beside them, and Shen Qinglan paused to look. It was Old Sir Jiang.

"Teacher Jiang, thank you for today," Shen Qinglan expressed her gratitude, her tone humble and polite. Teacher Jiang was not originally supposed to be at the exhibition, but she had Daniel invite him over.

To settle this matter conclusively, they needed a universally respected authority figure, and Teacher Jiang, a well-known figure in the art world and famously impartial, was the best choice.

Thanks to the good private relationship between Teacher Jiang and Daniel, otherwise it wouldn’t have been easy for just anyone to bring him here.

Teacher Jiang first greeted Old Sir Shen, "I’ve heard of Old General Shen’s deeds for many years and never had the chance to meet. I never expected our first meeting would be in such a setting."

Although Old Sir Shen had heard of Teacher Jiang before, he had never met him. Speaking of which, Teacher Jiang was already over ninety years old, almost a hundred, even older than him.

"Mr. Jiang, you are too polite. We owe a lot to you for today’s affair," Old Sir Shen said, his tone gentle.

The wrinkles on Old Sir Jiang’s face deepened when he smiled, "I merely spoke the truth. Your granddaughter is incredibly well-cultured, ’Blue is made out of indigo but is more brilliant than indigo’ indeed."

Mentioning Shen Qinglan, Old Sir Shen’s face also showed pride. His granddaughter indeed was his pride, "I hardly deserve such praise. Lanlan left home for many years when she was young. That she can be so outstanding is truly the result of her own efforts."

People in their circle roughly knew about the Shen Family’s matters, and naturally, Old Sir Jiang was aware of them, "Miss Shen is indeed outstanding."

"Teacher Jiang, it would be fine just to call me Qinglan," Shen Qinglan said, her lips curling into a slight smile.

Old Sir Jiang readily agreed, his gaze filled with admiration for his junior.

Since they had met, naturally they went to view the art exhibition together. All the paintings displayed here were ones Daniel had received from Shen Qinglan and personally taken care of, so they were certainly all genuine.

"Qinglan, where is your ’Redemption’?" Old Sir Jiang asked.

"Redemption" was Leng Qingqiu’s masterpiece that had just won an international award, and it was the centerpiece of this exhibition.

Shen Qinglan actually didn’t know where "Redemption" was either. The whole exhibition setup had been solely managed by Daniel, and she hadn’t interfered at all.

Looking around, she saw many people up ahead and figured that was likely where it was. Indeed, after heading there, there was a crowd surrounded by media reporters taking photos.

Seeing Shen Qinglan and the others arrive, the crowd parted to make way, apparently having been briefed beforehand, and fortunately, no one took photos of them. This eased Shen Qinglan’s mind a bit. She did not mind, but Fu Hengyi was not suited to be in the public eye.

Old Sir Jiang was familiar with this work, having seen photos numerous times, but this was his first time seeing the original. Whether it was the layout, techniques, or the emotions expressed, it indeed was a superior work, truly deserving its award.

"Youths are to be feared, youths are to be feared indeed. The world belongs to you young people now," Old Sir Jiang praised, his delight obvious.

Fu Hengyi’s gaze had fixed on the painting and hadn’t shifted away. His face remained calm, but inside, his emotions surged tumultuously. He silently observed the painting, his mind unconsciously recalling Shen Qinglan curled up in the dark, refusing to eat or drink after Granny Shen’s death.

He reached out and took Shen Qinglan’s hand, squeezing it slightly.

Shen Qinglan turned her head to glance at him, smiled faintly, and squeezed his hand back.

After viewing the entire exhibit, it was already past midday. Their group went to eat nearby, with Old Sir Jiang among them.

After lunch, the Shen Family left first, with Fu Hengyi giving the car keys to Shen Junyu as he and Shen Qinglan planned to stay a bit longer.

"How will you get back later?" Shen Junyu asked, taking the car keys.

"We’ll take a taxi back," Fu Hengyi replied.

Watching them leave, Fu Hengyi turned to Shen Qinglan, as it was she who wanted to stay longer to show him something, "What is it you want to show me?"

"A gift," Shen Qinglan said, thinking for a moment before adding, "Consider it your New Year’s gift."

Fu Hengyi was curious, and followed Shen Qinglan back to the exhibition hall. The painting she showed him depicted a hillside blooming with flowers, where a man and a woman gazed deeply into each other’s eyes. With just one glance, Fu Hengyi recognized that the couple, visible only from their side profiles, were him and her.

"Is this the gift you wanted to give me?" Fu Hengyi asked, his voice tender, his eyes so gentle they almost dripped water.

Shen Qinglan felt a bit uneasy under his gaze and nodded lightly, "I had planned to give it to you at the end of the exhibition."

If it weren’t for the crowd and the fear that she might not like it, he would have embraced her right then. Fu Hengyi glanced around and, seeing no one paying attention, gave her a kiss as light as a dragonfly touching water on her lips.

He whispered in her ear, "Thank you, wife. I really like this gift."

Her ears turned pink, and after glancing around and seeing that no one had noticed them, Shen Qinglan felt slightly relieved and said, "Let’s go."

Fu Hengyi nodded, and the two of them turned to leave. Passing by a painting, Shen Qinglan saw a familiar figure and stopped in her tracks.

"Ya Xi," she called softly.

Ya Xi was staring at the painting in front of her, her face conflicted. Hearing Shen Qinglan’s voice, she startled, letting out a breath and looking at Shen Qinglan with a face full of surprise, "Big sister."

"Big sister, what are you doing here?" Ya Xi’s face was full of admiration. Even though Fu Hengyi was right beside Shen Qinglan, an imposing figure, he seemed like nothing but air in Ya Xi’s eyes.

"Just taking a look," Shen Qinglan said nonchalantly, without revealing that she was hosting the exhibition. It was clear from Ya Xi’s expression that she didn’t know Shen Qinglan was Qingqiu.

"When did you get here?" asked Shen Qinglan.

"I just arrived. I didn’t really want to come, but my brother wanted to check it out, and staying at home was boring, so I came with him."

Slapping her forehead, she added, "Right, big sister, come have dinner with us tonight. Let my brother treat you."

She was still fervently wishing her beloved big sister could be with her brother.

Fu Hengyi’s expression darkened slightly. Though he didn’t recognize the young girl in front of him, he could guess her identity from their conversation.

"Qinglan, we should head home. We agreed to have dinner with Grandpa tonight," Fu Hengyi said.

Only then did Ya Xi notice Fu Hengyi, "Ah, big sister, is this uncle your friend? He looks kind of fierce." Despite Fu Hengyi’s good looks, Ya Xi felt that the man was unfriendly towards her.

Hearing her refer to him as "uncle," Fu Hengyi’s expression darkened even more. It wasn’t the first time someone had called him "uncle," but calling his wife "sister" and him "uncle" — what was the meaning of this?

Did he really look that old?

Mr. Fu, who usually didn’t care much about his age, now felt bothered by it. Glancing at Shen Qinglan’s profile, she did seem a lot younger than him.

Shen Qinglan, too, was feeling awkward, "He’s my... husband."

"Oh, so he’s my sister’s... what, husband..." Ya Xi’s voice suddenly rose, her face full of disbelief.

"Big sister, you... you’re not joking with me, are you?" Even facing Shen Qinglan’s affirmative look, Ya Xi still couldn’t believe it. The only sister-in-law candidate she approved of had been snatched away by a terrifying uncle?

When he heard the term "husband," Fu Hengyi was pleased. Any depression caused by the age difference between him and Shen Qinglan evaporated.

Ya Xi looked crushed. "Big sister, hadn’t you not yet graduated? How did you get married already?"

"Married already?" Yan Shengyu came over just in time to hear his sister’s last few words.

Ya Xi glanced at her brother. See, since you didn’t take initiative in the past, now good, your wife has been snatched away, pay me back my sister-in-law.

Yan Shengyu felt a chill run down his spine from his sister’s reproachful look, "What’s the matter?"

Ya Xi glared at him, frustrated as if scorning his lack of initiative, and said moodily, "Nothing."

Yan Shengyu assumed it was just a childish temper and laughed it off, not taking it seriously. He turned to Shen Qinglan, "Shen, long time no see."

Ever since the sponsorship scandal stirred, Shen Qinglan had hardly appeared at school. With no final exams in their senior year, it had been several months since he last saw her. He had called Shen Qinglan, but she didn’t answer. Knowing she didn’t like him, Yan Shengyu hadn’t disturbed her further.

It was truly coincidental to meet her at the exhibition this time. Of course, he had also just learned that Shen Qinglan was Qingqiu, and was not without surprise.

"Hello," Shen Qinglan responded distantly, clearly keeping her distance.

Yan Shengyu felt helpless inside, not knowing what had made him so disliked that Shen Qinglan treated him as a stranger. Every time he saw his sister happily talking on the phone with Shen Qinglan, Yan Shengyu couldn’t help but feel jealous, envious of their easy conversation.

His gaze then fell on Fu Hengyi, "Who is this?"

Fu Hengyi’s hand rested on Shen Qinglan’s waist, asserting his claim, "I am Qinglan’s husband, Fu Hengyi."

Yan Shengyu’s expression instantly stiffened. Still inexperienced in concealing his emotions, his gaze shifted to Shen Qinglan and he asked somewhat awkwardly, "Shen, you’re married?"

Shen Qinglan nodded affirmatively, "Yes, we’ve been married for a few months now."

"Congratulations, I had no idea you were married. I’ll send you a big red envelope another day," Yan Shengyu said, feeling as though all his energy had been drained.

"Thank you," Fu Hengyi spoke with a light smile on his face, his eyes cool as he looked at Yan Shengyu. During the time when there were rumors of Shen Qinglan being kept, Yan Shengyu had been one of the main figures, and Mr. Fu’s lenience did not mean he had forgotten.

Yan Shengyu didn’t know the man in front of him, but a inkling of understanding flashed through his mind as he heard his introduction. Seeing how obediently Shen Qinglan leaned against him, his heart ached sharply, leaving his expression a bit embarrassed.