Shen Yun hadn't expected a woman to go this far. Caught off guard, he found himself unable to dodge her advance.
Annoyed, Shen Yun tried to push her away repeatedly.
But Mei Xin clung to him like an octopus with suction cups, impossible to dislodge.
However, at the sound of a cough from the doorway, Mei Xin voluntarily released him.
She looked tearfully at the person in the doorway, her expression one of wronged innocence.
Shen Yun sensed something and turned, seeing Su Xiaoqi leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, looking at them with her head tilted.
"Excuse me, did I interrupt? Please continue!" Su Xiaoqi said, stepping back as if giving them leave.
"My dear..." Shen Yun rushed to her, embracing her tightly.
Su Xiaoqi pushed him away forcefully. The scent of Mei Xin's rouge still lingered on him, suffocating her.
"Let go of me," she said softly.
Shen Yun didn't want to let go, but seeing his wife's displeased expression, he dared not insist. He could only release her, but his right hand still held her fingers, unwilling to let go.
He feared that if he let go, she would leave in a huff.
He knew very well how easily his wife could get angry.
Before the couple could exchange words, Mei Xin approached them delicately.
She bowed her head in a curtsy, and when she raised her head again, her face was full of tears as she choked out:
"I'm sorry, Madam Shen. I... I didn't mean to just now. It's just that I encountered an unexpected situation, and my heart was filled with emotion, which prompted my actions.
It was all my fault just now. Please don't blame Brother Yun. He, he didn't mean to wrong you..."
Mei Xin's words were truly insidious.
If it were anyone else, they would surely think Shen Yun had improper intentions.
After all, Mei Xin was quite good-looking.
She had fair skin, almond-shaped eyes, delicate brows, and eyes that seemed to hold a pool of autumn water. A slight frown on her brow would gather a thousand sorrows, compelling one to look at her more.
Such a captivating person would likely make any married woman’s thoughts wander.
Even if they didn't dare to compete with their husbands openly, they would likely torment themselves in secret.
But unfortunately for her, she had encountered Su Xiaoqi.
She knew Shen Yun's character very well.
Let alone the fact that his heart was now entirely devoted to her.
Even if she hadn't appeared, he would never have taken Mei Xin back.
She simply wasn't his type.
She understood this clearly, but Shen Yun was unnerved by Mei Xin's manipulative actions.
He was afraid that Su Xiaoqi would be angry about this matter. He tightly gripped her hand, looking anxious to explain.
However, without Su Xiaoqi speaking, he seemed afraid to say anything, looking at Su Xiaoqi with such conflicted desperation.
He even looked a little pitiable.
Su Xiaoqi pushed Shen Yun away and stood in front of him, facing Mei Xin directly.
Her clear, bright eyes stared directly at Mei Xin, scanning her from head to toe.
This gaze was not very damaging, but it was extremely insulting.
Mei Xin was all too familiar with such a look.
It made her feel like a piece of merchandise being evaluated for its price by Su Xiaoqi.
"Tsk tsk, as expected, a beauty that inspires pity. No wonder you've attracted so many literati and scholars in Jiangning Prefecture to compose poems praising you."
"Wh... What, what do you mean?" Mei Xin was bewildered by Su Xiaoqi's words.
Then, after a moment's thought, she realized.
Su Xiaoqi's words were far from innocent.
She was insulting her.
It was akin to saying, 'Her jade-like arms have been embraced by a thousand, her delicate lips have been tasted by myriad.'
After all, literati were often associated with women from brothels.
"You, you, you, I know, I did wrong just now, but I just haven't seen Brother Yun for so long, and I couldn't help myself.
You can blame me, and I understand, but you can't insult me like this." Mei Xin bit her cherry lips, feigning the demeanor of a virtuous wife.
Su Xiaoqi immediately laughed.
"I often heard people talk about 'white lotuses' before, but I never quite understood what they were.
Now that I've seen Miss Mei Xin, I've truly had my eyes opened." Su Xiaoqi laughed even more heartily.
She felt that Mei Xin's tactics were nothing special.
Mei Xin didn't quite understand what Su Xiaoqi meant by 'white lotus,' and felt uncertain.
She could only posture, making herself appear weak and harmless, so as to evoke Shen Yun's pity.
Unfortunately, Shen Yun's gaze never fell on her.
Ever since Su Xiaoqi appeared, his eyes hadn't left her.
Su Xiaoqi, finding her affected and pretentious manner amusing, couldn't help but chuckle. "Miss Mei Xin, I advise you not to waste your energy in vain.
I admit your acting skills are excellent, but didn't you investigate your audience's preferences before you started performing?
Yes, you are indeed captivatingly beautiful, delicate, and skilled at putting on a show, but do you know that your Brother Yun is not taken with this act?
You might be enjoying your performance, but do you realize he just wants to stay far away from you, fearing my misunderstanding?
Also, you indeed want me to misunderstand you, but you're underestimating yourself a little too much.
One is you, with malicious intent, and the other is my husband, with whom I've shared hardships all the way. Who do you think I will believe?"
After speaking, Su Xiaoqi smiled, her entire face instantly becoming vivid and radiant, like the rising sun, emanating dazzling light.
Compared to her, Mei Xin's beauty was merely the light of a firefly, utterly eclipsed.
Mei Xin was deeply disheartened. She clutched her chest, tears streaming down her face.
She felt that instead of making Su Xiaoqi angry, she herself had been quite provoked.
How could there be such a woman in the world?
Whenever she used this ploy before, it had always been effective, almost infallible.
Those women, whether noble ladies or wives of commoners, upon seeing their husbands involved with other women, their first reaction would be to step forward and slap her.
She and that man had nothing going on initially.
But with this, coupled with her outstanding appearance and excellent acting, it would inevitably elicit infinite affection from that man towards her.
And thus, something would truly happen.
However, those people were merely pawns in her hands.
Playthings to be manipulated at her will, discarded at any time after she was done with them.
But Shen Yun was different.
Ever since that farewell in their childhood, she had truly never forgotten him.
She would often fantasize about marrying him one day.
When she finally met him, she hoped her dream would come true.
Unfortunately, he was married. She hadn't worried about that initially.
After all, everything she had learned over the years were strategies for dealing with women and men.
However, she hadn't expected that his wife would be such an unyielding woman.
This left her feeling somewhat flustered.
Su Xiaoqi's unconventional approach, her refusal to play along, rendered all her plans and stratagems stillborn, as if they couldn't be put into action.
Mei Xin felt a profound sense of powerlessness.
Su Xiaoqi, however, saw through all her intentions. The smile that curved her lips carried a hint of sarcasm.
"Miss Mei Xin, you are a guest from afar. If you have no other intentions, we would be happy for you to stay.
However, if you harbor ulterior motives, I'm afraid the Zhuangyuan Mansion may not welcome you."
With that, Su Xiaoqi turned and left.
Shen Yun, who had been continuously giving her thumbs-up and praising her, quickly followed when she suddenly walked away.
He was afraid that if he lagged behind, Su Xiaoqi would make a note of it.
In reality, Su Xiaoqi was indeed upset this time.
She ignored Shen Yun the entire way.
This left Shen Yun flustered and unsure of what to do.
He spoke a torrent of sweet words to placate her.
But Su Xiaoqi didn't even look at him, walking straight towards the garden in the central courtyard.
"My dear..." Shen Yun couldn't bear it any longer. He pulled Su Xiaoqi to a stop and, without another word, lowered his head and sealed her lips.
At this moment, he had only one thought: his wife had him in her heart!