Chapter 171 Wife’s Surprise Ruined

Chapter 171: The Wife’s Surprise Was Ruined

"You didn’t promise her anything, did you?" She glared at Ling Jue.

Ling Jue curled his lips and ruffled the head of the pissed-off kitten. "Of course not."

What Zhang Meiyue asked for was easy for him—he just had to say the word.

He could have easily granted them to save Qin Shuyi the headache and shut up the rumors.

But Qin Shuyi couldn't stand this couple, and he wasn't the type to be pushed around.

Ling Jue wasn't dumb enough to ignore Qin Shuyi's feelings and help people who didn't deserve it.

Qin Shuyi grabbed his hand, her face still red with anger, and looked at him seriously.

Zhang Meiyue’s appearance also reminded her of something else.

"Now that we're together, there might be more Zhang Meiyues coming to you in my name, but you're not obligated to help them.

My family is just my parents and my aunt's side. Aside from them, you don't have to bother with anyone else.

But even if it's about them, don't do anything just for me. Do what you want. And if I really need your help, I'll say so myself."

Qin Shuyi trusted her family’s character. None of them are too proud to ask for help when needed, and they wouldn't turn down a favor.

But helping each other out is fine; long-term, one-sided support that makes them dependent isn't good for Ling Jue or the Jiang family. That's not a healthy relationship.

Finding that balance is key.

Ling Jue smiled, booped her nose, and felt his heart soften.

"Don't worry, I understand."

Regarding the Jiang family’s business, he had given them a leg up because of Qin Shuyi.

But it was also because Jiang Shiheng's skills were worth the resources he gave.

Plus, the Jiangs aren't greedy and never used Qin Shuyi as an excuse to do anything. Even if he weren't her uncle by marriage, he'd still be a solid partner.

Qin Shuyi knew this, but it's better to get things out in the open, and this was a good chance to make her position clear.

Ling Jue hugged her, buried his face in her neck and breathed in her scent, and chuckled. "Baby's great, and baby's family is great too."

Her family's straightforward, and he wasn't about to mess up that pure bond.

He was here to be part of it, not to cause drama.

Qin Shuyi stroked his head, smiling as she returned the compliment. "Our Jue is awesome too."

Some things she didn't have to say; he handled them just fine on his own.

Ling Jue laughed and leaned in to kiss her lips. "Baby's mouth is so sweet. Let your hubby have a taste?"

Qin Shuyi didn't pull away; she lifted her chin and let him kiss her.

After they were done kissing, Qin Shuyi grabbed his fingers and squeezed them. "President Ling, can I borrow a conference room for a bit?"

She'd let her aunt know before coming, and they should be here soon.

As for Zhang Meiyue, she can keep waiting in the conference room. Qin Shuyi had no plans to see her herself.

…

While waiting for Zhou Tinglan to arrive, she watched the security footage Ling Jue had copied of Zhang Meiyue showing up at Ling Corp.

Zhang Meiyue was holding her son Qian Yong's medical report and an old photo from an amusement park with Qian Youyou and Qin Shuyi to prove who she was.

She was crying her eyes out in front of everyone.

She went on about how great Qian Shu, her uncle by marriage, was to Qin Shuyi, and trashed her for latching onto a rich guy but not lending a cent to treat her cousin.

She said she had no choice but to beg her rich boyfriend for handouts.

With three parts truth and seven parts lies, Zhang Meiyue played it perfectly.

She made her family look so innocent and pitiful.

If Qin Shuyi didn't know the truth about her aunt's divorce, she might've fallen for it.

No wonder she managed to fool Qian Shu, who was married with a kid back then—she's got a gift for acting.

Too bad the show had barely started when Ling Corp's security rushed out and grabbed her.

They also caught a few reporters nearby who were secretly taking pictures.

The reporters were set up by He Haokun, trying to trash Qin Shuyi's rep as Ling Jue's girlfriend in the media.

When caught, they freaked out and claimed they were innocent, saying they wouldn't dare publish the pics, just hoped Qin Shuyi or Ling Jue would pay to kill the story.

The chaotic, loud scene ended with Zhang Meiyue's twisted face.

The public shaming move was crude and clumsy, but it worked.

The pitiful act of a mom with a seriously sick kid was easy to fool people with.

If it were someone else, they might've just paid a little to get rid of her and avoid drama.

Qin Shuyi's face was a mess of emotions.

"I can't even imagine how Qian Shu, after marrying my aunt, ended up with Zhang Meiyue."

In Qin Shuyi's protective eyes, Zhang Meiyue wasn't even worth a single finger of her aunt's.

Of course, Qian Shu wasn't a good person either.

Ling Jue agreed with his girlfriend's take. "He's blind."

As he spoke, he remembered something and raised an eyebrow. "Baby, why did you get here so fast?"

Qin Shuyi glanced at him. "I was already planning to pick you up from work. When you messaged me, I was already in the car."

Ling Jue froze.

A mix of disbelief and heartache hit him.

Damn it, his wife's first time picking him up from work as a surprise got ruined by that?!

The Qian family deserved to die a thousand deaths!

Just as Ling Jue was coaxing and wheedling Qin Shuyi into coming again tomorrow, Zhou Tinglan’s family, who had set off later, also rolled in.

Quite the turnout: Zhou Tinglan and Jiang Shiheng, Qian Youyou and Jiang Yuzhou had all come.

Behind them followed Qian Shu, sporting a few red handprints on his face.

Zhou Tinglan had called him over.

After He Haokun came up with that crappy idea, he flat-out refused.

Even though he was hurt by his ex-wife and kids’ coldness, he didn’t want to mess things up for them.

Those rich families definitely care about face and reputation; if the other side really got pissed off, wouldn’t that ruin Shuyi’s good match?

But he didn’t know that while he was looking after his son, Zhang Meiyue had already snuck out and cut a deal with He Haokun.

Qian Shu was too high-and-mighty to play the bad guy, but her son needed the cash.

…

The ex-couple, who hadn’t seen each other in years, just met downstairs when Zhou Tinglan immediately slapped Qian Shu a few times.

A man who can’t keep his wife from acting out—what’s the point of keeping that face?

If the timing weren’t off, she’d have slapped him silly.

What a piece of garbage, daring to embarrass her niece right in front of Ling Jue.

It had to be said, Ms. Zhou’s temper had really been on the rise lately.

Qian Shu stared blankly at his ex-wife, his eyes greedily locked onto her face.

The last time they had interacted was when Zhou Tinglan warned him not to disturb Qian Youyou again, or she would have his son kicked out of the intensive care ward—she hadn’t even bothered to show her face.

She must have been doing well over the years, more radiant and fuller than in his memory, every corner of her eyes and brows revealing the favor of time.

Qian Shu felt a bitter pang in his heart.

Her leaving him had been the right choice.

Noticing his gaze, Jiang Shiheng subtly stepped between them, wrapping an arm around Zhou Tinglan.

“Alright, dear, don’t be angry. It’s not worth it over a scumbag.”

With that, he led her forward, completely ignoring the ex-husband.

Qian Shu sensed the other man’s hostility and tightened his jaw.

----------------------------------------