It Started With a Kiss: Leng Shao's Beloved Wife

Lonely tears under the shadow of the rich

"Madam, the master and the mistress ask you to go to the front hall." The servant's respectful voice came from outside the door.

Wu Xinyan's heart sank suddenly, and an ominous premonition came over her. She took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, stood up and adjusted her dress, then slowly walked to the door and opened it.

The front hall was brightly lit, and the Luo family gathered together. The atmosphere seemed harmonious, yet there was a hint of strangeness. Wu Xinyan's appearance brought the lively conversation to an abrupt halt. Everyone's eyes fell on her, scrutinizing her with curiosity and a subtle hint of hostility.

Wu Xinyan suddenly felt uneasy, and her palms began to sweat. She forced a smile, walked over to Old Lady Luo, and whispered, "Grandma."

Mrs. Luo patted her hands kindly and said gently, "Xinyan is here. Please sit next to grandma."

Wu Xinyan looked at Mrs. Luo with gratitude and sat down beside her. However, apart from Mrs. Luo's occasional caring greetings, everyone else almost ignored her, as if she were just an insignificant outsider.

"Xinyan, I heard that you didn't have a good life in the Wu family before?" The lady sitting opposite Old Mrs. Luo was Luo Yichen's second aunt. She put down the teacup in her hand and asked with concern.

Wu Xinyan was slightly stunned. Before she could speak, she heard a sarcastic voice from the side: "Second Aunt, you know that some people are born with a miserable life. Even if they fly to the branches and become phoenixes, they can't change the humbleness in their bones."

The person who spoke was Wu Xue. She was wearing a bright red dress today, with delicate makeup and a smug smile on her lips, which formed a sharp contrast with Wu Xinyan's loneliness.

Wu Xinyan bit her lip tightly, her heart filled with humiliation and anger, but she had no way to refute. She knew that Wu Xue came here prepared, with the intention of making her lose face in front of the Luo family.

"That's right. Some people would do anything to marry into a wealthy family." Another elegantly dressed woman echoed this, her tone full of sarcasm and disdain.

Wu Xinyan's face turned pale. She didn't know where these people heard the rumor from, and she didn't know how to explain it. She looked at Mrs. Luo for help, but found that she was just drinking tea quietly, as if she hadn't heard anything.

"Enough!" Just when Wu Xinyan was about to lose her temper, the silent Father Luo finally spoke. He swept his majestic gaze over the crowd, and his tone carried a hint of warning, "Today is a family dinner, so keep your mouths shut."

Everyone shut up in frustration after hearing the patriarch's words. However, Wu Xinyan knew this was just the calm before the storm. Wu Xue's provocations had already sown a seed of suspicion between her and the Luo family, a seed that would eventually take root and sprout...

"Why hasn't Yi Chen come back yet?" Father Luo looked at the time and frowned slightly.

"Something urgent happened at the company, so he may not come back tonight." Old Mrs. Luo said lightly, but there was a subtle hint of loss in her tone.

Wu Xinyan's heart sank, and a sense of loneliness and neglect washed over her. She suddenly realized that in this family, she was still an outsider, someone not expected or needed... Wu Xinyan felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart, suffocating her. Luo Yichen's absence seemed to erect an invisible wall between her and this family, isolating her from happiness.

Married life was far from the sweetness she had imagined. During the day, the Luo family mansion felt like a splendid prison, trapping her in gossip and cold stares. At night, the vast villa transformed into an icy abyss, leaving her alone in her empty room, reminiscing about the bitterness of being ignored.

Luo Yichen never seemed to have enough work to do. He was like a spinning top, constantly spinning between the company and various social events, but he never stopped for a moment for her. Every time Wu Xinyan mustered the courage to talk to him, she was always met with his tired expression and perfunctory words.

"Yichen, when will you come back?" On the other end of the phone, Luo Yichen's voice was as low as ever, but with a hint of fatigue that was hard to conceal.

"I... I just want to ask you, will you come back for dinner tonight?" Wu Xinyan's voice became lower and lower, with a hint of cautious temptation in her tone.

"The company has an urgent meeting to attend, so you don't have to wait for me for dinner." After Luo Yichen said this, he hurriedly hung up the phone.

Listening to the busy tone on the phone, Wu Xinyan felt a chill run from the soles of her feet straight into her heart. He was always like this, using being busy as an excuse to avoid communicating with her and avoiding her attempts to get closer.

Day after day, Wu Xinyan's hope was gradually swallowed by disappointment. She began to wonder if Luo Yichen's promise to marry her was just a momentary impulse or to fulfill a promise.

That evening, Luo Yichen made a rare return home for dinner. Wu Xinyan, suppressing her frustration, meticulously prepared a table full of his favorite dishes, hoping to use this opportunity to have a good chat with him.

"Yi Chen, can we talk?" Wu Xinyan mustered up the courage to say after dinner.

Luo Yichen put down the documents in his hand and raised his head. His deep eyes were calm and without any emotion. "What do you want to talk about?"

"About...about us." Wu Xinyan's voice trembled. She didn't know how to express her inner uneasiness and grievance. "Are you...are you dissatisfied with me recently?"

Luo Yichen was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "I'm not dissatisfied, it's just that the company has been busy recently."

"But..." Wu Xinyan wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Luo Yichen.

"It's getting late, go to bed early." After he said that, he stood up and left the restaurant, leaving Wu Xinyan sitting alone at the empty dining table, tears silently sliding down her cheeks.

Despair, like a vine, wrapped around Wu Xinyan's heart, making it almost impossible for her to breathe. She didn't know what was worth persisting in this marriage...

A few days later, the Luo Group's anniversary celebration was held at a luxury hotel in the city center. As Luo Yichen's wife, Wu Xinyan naturally had to attend.

The banquet hall was bustling with activity, elegantly dressed people, and the clinking of glasses. Wu Xinyan was wearing an elegant gown, and her delicate makeup masked the haggard look on her face, but it couldn't hide the loneliness in her eyes.

"Mrs. Luo, long time no see. You look so radiant today!" A familiar voice came. Wu Xinyan looked in the direction of the voice and saw a man in a suit and tie with a smile on his face walking towards her.

"Reporter Zhang?" Wu Xinyan recognized him as the financial reporter who had interviewed Luo Yichen before, and a sense of unease suddenly arose in her heart.

"Mrs. Luo, I heard that you and Mr. Luo have always had a good relationship. Do you have any secrets you can share with us?" Reporter Zhang's tone seemed casual, but his eyes were filled with inquiry.

Before Wu Xinyan could answer, she heard reporter Zhang continue, "I remember you didn't seem to come from a wealthy family, did you? I wonder how you met Mr. Luo in the first place?"

Reporter Zhang's question was like a sharp knife, piercing Wu Xinyan's heart. She suppressed her inner panic and forced a smile. "My acquaintance with Yichen is like that of every ordinary couple: we met the right person at the right time."

"But there are rumors outside..." Reporter Zhang wanted to ask more, but was interrupted by a crisp voice.

"Reporter Zhang, when did you become so interested in other people's private lives?" A tall, delicately made-up woman approached with a bottle of champagne. She affectionately took Wu Xinyan's arm and introduced her to Reporter Zhang, "This is Liu Ying, the chief stylist of the Luo Group. She's also a good friend of mine."

Reporter Zhang obviously didn't expect that someone would suddenly appear. He was stunned for a moment, then said with a smile: "Ms. Liu, you are joking. I was just chatting casually." After that, he walked away tactfully.

"Ignore him, he just likes to make things up." Liu Ying comforted, "Are you okay?"

Wu Xinyan shook her head, trying hard to hold back the tears in her eyes, "I'm fine, thank you, Sister Ying."

Liu Ying is the chief stylist of the Luo Group and the only person who has treated Wu Xinyan kindly since she came to the Luo family. She is like a warm harbor, giving her comfort and support when Wu Xinyan is most helpless.

"Don't think too much about it. Just ignore those rumors." Liu Ying patted the back of Wu Xinyan's hand and said softly, "Just remember that you are Yi Chen's wife and the mistress of the Luo family. No one can change that."

Wu Xinyan looked at Liu Ying with gratitude, a warm feeling welling up in her heart. Yes, she couldn't be defeated by these rumors. She had to live on bravely for herself and for the child in her belly.

After the banquet, Wu Xinyan walked alone in the hotel garden. The cool night breeze blew on her cheeks, but it could not blow away the haze in her heart.

"Xinyan?" A familiar voice sounded behind him.

Wu Xinyan turned around and saw Luo Yichen standing not far away. There was a hint of fatigue on his face, but he couldn't hide the concern in his eyes.

"Why are you here alone?" Luo Yichen walked to Wu Xinyan and asked softly.

"I just came out for a walk." Wu Xinyan lowered her head, not daring to look directly into Luo Yichen's eyes.

"The banquet is too boring. Let me walk with you." Luo Yichen said, then took Wu Xinyan's hand and walked towards the depths of the garden.

Under the moonlight, the two figures were stretched out, but they always maintained a subtle distance.

"What happened today..." Luo Yichen suddenly spoke, with a hint of apology in his tone, "Don't take it to heart."

Wu Xinyan shook her head and said nothing.

"Xinyan," Luo Yichen stopped and turned to look at Wu Xinyan, his deep eyes filled with complex emotions, "Do you believe me?"

Wu Xinyan raised her head and looked into Luo Yichen's eyes, feeling a mixture of emotions. She wanted to believe him, but the rumors and the truth that was deliberately concealed were like thorns that pierced her body.

"I……"

"Shh!" Luo Yichen suddenly put his index finger to his lips, signaling Wu Xinyan to be quiet. He looked around warily, then pulled Wu Xinyan behind a big tree.

"What's wrong?" Wu Xinyan asked in confusion.

Luo Yichen did not answer, but just stared at the garden path not far away, his eyes full of vigilance and...fear?

Wu Xinyan followed Luo Yichen's gaze and saw a familiar figure stealthily approaching from a distance. The man was holding a file bag in his hand and looked panicked, as if he was avoiding something.

"Is it...Butler Li?" Wu Xinyan covered her mouth in surprise. Could it be...

Butler Li walked to a secluded corner, took out a stack of photos from his file bag, and flipped through them under the dim street light.

Luo Yichen stood up suddenly, pulled Wu Xinyan and left, "Let's go!"

"But..." Wu Xinyan was about to say something, but Luo Yichen forcibly dragged her away, leaving Butler Li standing alone. In his hands were intimate photos of Luo Yichen and another woman. Luo Yichen dragged Wu Xinyan along as they ran, only stopping once they were far away from the garden, panting heavily. Wu Xinyan's heart pounded, but she didn't ask any questions. She simply stood quietly beside Luo Yichen, sensing his uneasiness and fear.

"What... did you see?" Luo Yichen's voice was a little hoarse, and there was a hint of panic in his eyes.

Wu Xinyan bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and decided to tell the truth, "I saw Butler Li... He was holding some photos in his hand, and it seemed... they were your photos."

Luo Yichen's body suddenly stiffened, and his eyes instantly became sharp, "What else did he see?"

"I... I don't know." Wu Xinyan shook her head. Butler Li had his back to them at the time, and she didn't know whether he had noticed their presence.

Luo Yichen didn't say anything, but clenched his fists tightly, his eyes dark and terrifying. Wu Xinyan had never seen him so out of control before, and she couldn't help but feel a little scared.

"Let's go back." Luo Yichen took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

Wu Xinyan nodded silently and followed Luo Yichen back to the banquet hall. Along the way, both of them were silent, and the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was suffocating.

After returning to the banquet hall, Luo Yichen hurriedly left, using the excuse of an urgent company matter. Wu Xinyan sat alone in a corner, feeling uneasy and confused. The photo in Butler Li's hand and Luo Yichen's unusual behavior all made her feel uneasy and confused.

She wanted to find someone to talk to, but she didn't know who to turn to. Liu Ying had already left, and the other people in the Luo family were more like strangers to her, even a little hostile.

Wu Xinyan wandered aimlessly through the garden alone, and before she knew it, she was back under the tree where she had been hiding. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Suddenly, a burst of faint voices came from a pavilion not far away. Wu Xinyan subconsciously slowed down her pace, hid behind a tree, and looked in the direction of the sound.

In the pavilion, Wu Xue was standing face to face with a tall man. Both of them had serious expressions and seemed to be discussing something important.

"How's things going?" Wu Xue's voice was low and anxious.

"Don't worry, everything is going according to your plan." The man whispered, "That idiot Wu Xinyan has been kept in the dark."

Wu Xue's lips curled up into a sinister smile, "Very good, when I marry into the Luo family, I will definitely not treat you unfairly."

Wu Xinyan's heart sank as a sense of foreboding washed over her. What on earth were Wu Xue and this man plotting? Why did they mention her?

"Also..." The man paused, as if hesitant, "About your sister..."

"Shut up!" Wu Xue's face instantly turned ferocious. "I told you long ago, don't mention that bitch anymore!"

Wu Xinyan's breathing became rapid, and she covered her mouth tightly to prevent herself from making any sound. Could the "sister" Wu Xue mentioned be referring to... her?

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." The man said quickly, "It's just...about this matter, are you really not going to tell her the truth?"

"The truth?" Wu Xue sneered, "She doesn't deserve to know the truth!"