The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 18. Trust and Alienation

Chapter 18: 18. Trust and Alienation

Editor: Larbre Studio

Fu Hengyi left, and Shen Qinglan’s life returned to tranquility. The end of the final exams signaled the arrival of summer vacation, and Shen Qinglan had already moved back from school. No one knew how many days Granny Shen had left, and Shen Qinglan wanted to spend more time with the elderly woman who had given her the most care and love.

Just a few days after Shen Xitong fell down the stairs, Shen Junyu returned from a business trip abroad. He hadn’t expected that during his one-week absence, such an incident would happen at home.

"Lanlan, are you hurt anywhere?" Shen Junyu looked Shen Qinglan up and down.

Shen Qinglan shook her head, "I’m fine." The person who was in trouble now was residing in the hospital.

"It’s good that you’re all right." He said, rubbing Shen Qinglan’s head, "Brother believes that Shen Xitong was definitely not pushed by you."

Shen Qinglan paused, letting Shen Junyu’s hand mess up her hair, "You believe I didn’t do it without even asking? What if I was just that malicious and jealous, unable to stand Shen Xitong being better than me, and in a fit of anger, pushed her down the stairs?"

Wasn’t this what her mom thought? There was a faint mocking look in Shen Qinglan’s eyes.

"Lanlan, brother knows you wouldn’t do it." Shen Junyu spoke gently. He always treated this sister with tender indulgence. "Although you didn’t grow up with us, brother has always known that our Lanlan is a kind-hearted girl who wouldn’t do such a thing."

Shen Qinglan gazed at Shen Junyu’s gentle eyebrows. From the moment she returned to this home, she knew that this brother was very good to her. Initially, she thought this kindness was a form of guilt, a kind of compensation. Now, it seemed she had been too shallow.

"I’m not that good." Shen Qinglan’s voice was clear yet devoid of emotion, leaving Shen Junyu unable to discern the deeper meaning behind her words.

If one day you learn about those things, would you still believe that I am as kind as you believe now?

"Silly girl, even if you aren’t that good, you’re still my sister, the daughter of the Shen Family." Shen Junyu sensed a faint alienation suddenly emanating from Shen Qinglan and paused, then smiled warmly.

From the first day that Shen Qinglan returned to the Shen Family, Shen Junyu knew that Shen Qinglan was guarded against everyone in the family, except for himself. He didn’t know what this sister had experienced as a child that made her so wary of people.

She accepted this family but never fully integrated, maintaining a distance from everyone except her grandparents.

She seemed like an outsider living in this house, standing apart while observing everything within the family with cold eyes.

This left Shen Junyu helpless and heartbroken.

Precisely because of this, Shen Junyu knew even better that Shen Qinglan wouldn’t push Shen Xitong downstairs out of jealousy for their mother’s affection toward Shen Xitong.

It was just Shen Xitong...

A dark glint flashed in Shen Junyu’s eyes.

**

"Qinglan, this wine is good, have a taste." Yu Xiaoxuan pushed a glass of orange liquid in front of Shen Qinglan.

Shen Qinglan took a sip. The faint wine aroma mixed with fruity scents and a hint of sweetness made for quite a good taste.

At the moment, the two of them were seated in a bar that Yu Xiaoxuan had been longing to visit for a while.

"This wine has a strong aftereffect, drink a little less," Shen Qinglan said as she watched Yu Xiaoxuan down a glass and reach for a second one, hastily pressing down on her hand.

Yu Xiaoxuan smiled wryly and waved her hand dismissively, "No problem, my tolerance is great. Remember, last time I drank a whole group of people from the next dormitory under the table."

Yu Xiaoxuan looked smug, but Shen Qinglan turned her gaze away, unable to bear reminding her that last time someone had gotten drunk and sung all night in the dormitory, attracting the Dormitory Aunt, and was later publicly reprimanded.

"Please, Qinglan, I promise I won’t get drunk, let me have one more drink, just one more." Yu Xiaoxuan pleaded with one finger aloft and a pitiful look on her face.

Shen Qinglan reluctantly let go of her hand, and Yu Xiaoxuan quickly grabbed a glass, took a sip, and displayed a satisfied expression.

The two of them, one beautiful and the other cute, had attracted a lot of attention from the moment they entered the bar. However, Shen Qinglan’s expression was distant and cold, clearly keeping people at arm’s length, leaving everyone in a state of observation.

Now, seeing that Shen Qinglan and Yu Xiaoxuan had started drinking their second glass, someone finally couldn’t hold back any longer. A slick-dressed man, holding a drink, sat down beside Shen Qinglan with a smile he thought was charming.

"Young lady, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first time here?"

Shen Qinglan had long noticed someone approaching; being in a public place, she couldn’t stop someone from sitting down.

She sipped her drink absentmindedly, not even casting a glance at the slick man.

The slick man wasn’t bothered; after all, cool beauties had the privilege of being a bit aloof.

"It’s the first time I’ve seen you here today. You and your friend caught my eye. This brother will cover your drinks today. Order whatever you like." The slick man waved his hand generously.

Such exchanges were common in bars; everyone shared knowing smiles.

"Oh? Anything at all?" Shen Qinglan finally lifted her eyes and glanced at the slick man. That glance, devoid of the usual coldness and indifference, was unexpectedly full of allure, making the slick man stare blankly and nod in a daze, "Of course."

Receiving confirmation, Shen Qinglan snapped her fingers and looked at the bartender with a straight face, "Bring me two bottles of 1982 Lafite."

As soon as Shen Qinglan spoke, the bartender gave the slick man a troubled look. Having been a regular since the bar opened, the bartender wasn’t fully acquainted with the man’s financial status but knew enough. Not to mention two bottles of 1982 Lafite; even a single glass would be beyond his means.

"Why are you looking at this handsome guy? Didn’t he just say he’d cover our drinks today, and we can order whatever we like?" Shen Qinglan’s voice was calm yet promptly awakened the slick man’s senses.

His face darkened; how could he not realize he was being played? Seeing the bartender about to fetch the wine, he hurriedly protested, "Wait a minute." If that wine was ordered, going home would mean facing his tigress of a wife peeling his skin off. Though he liked to buy beauties a drink for a favorable impression, he wasn’t inclined to take it any further unless the beauty showed willingness.

"What’s the matter, changed your mind? Men’s words really are untrustworthy." Shen Qinglan said, casting a disdainful glance at the slick man.

The slick man’s face turned even more dismal, unable to admit his financial embarrassment. Just as he was about to burst in anger, he met Shen Qinglan’s cold gaze, seeing a vast snowy mountain within, icy yet filled with bloodthirstiness.

In an instant, a metaphorical cold bucket of water drenched over him, making him shudder involuntarily. His legs wobbled as he stumbled away from the bar.