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

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gauze curtains, casting dappled shadows on the floor. Wu Xinyan awoke to find herself alone; Luo Yichen was gone. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, a faint sense of unease welling up in her heart. Lately, Luo Yichen had been leaving early and returning late, seemingly dazed, his attention often wandering even in her presence.

She stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the roses blooming in the garden below, her mind racing. The sweetness of last night seemed still before her eyes, Luo Yichen's gentle kiss and affectionate promises, intoxicating her. Yet, for some reason, an inexplicable uneasiness lingered in her heart, a lingering feeling.

"Yi Chen, what's wrong with you recently?" Wu Xinyan finally couldn't help but ask at the breakfast table a few days later.

Luo Yichen paused slightly as he held the coffee cup, his eyes flickering. "Nothing, the company has been quite busy lately."

Wu Xinyan looked at his slightly exhausted face, her doubts growing. While Luo Yichen was a master of his craft, despite the numerous tasks at the Luo Group, he had never been so anxious and restless as he was now. She wanted to question him, but she was afraid she might be disturbing his focus.

"Oh." Wu Xinyan lowered her head and ate breakfast silently, but her heart felt as heavy as if a stone was pressing on it.

A few days later, Luo Yichen suddenly needed to go on a business trip. While helping him pack, Wu Xinyan stumbled upon a hotel room card in his suit pocket. It wasn't their usual hotel, but a luxury hotel in the city center. Her doubts grew, but she didn't dare ask.

After seeing Luo Yichen off, Wu Xinyan felt even more uneasy. She drove to the hotel, and in the lobby cafe, she saw a familiar figure—Su Jiuai.

Su Jiuai, wearing an elegant white dress and with her long hair draped over her shoulders, was talking in low voices with a young woman with delicate makeup. Luo Yichen sat across from them, his expression clearly unnatural.

Seeing this scene, Wu Xinyan was struck by lightning, and her blood seemed to freeze. She clenched the coffee cup tightly in her hand, and her knuckles turned white.

At this moment, Su Jiuai seemed to notice something and raised her head, her eyes meeting Wu Xinyan's in mid-air. The corners of her mouth rose slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.

Luo Yichen also followed Su Jiuai's gaze and saw Wu Xinyan. His face suddenly changed and he stood up abruptly, but he didn't know how to explain.

"Yi Chen, who is this?" Su Jiuai asked in surprise, looking up and down at Wu Xinyan.

Luo Yichen opened his mouth, but nothing came out. The air seemed to freeze, the pressure so intense that it was hard to breathe.

"I am..." Wu Xinyan took a deep breath and tried to keep herself calm, "I am Luo Yichen's wife."

The woman next to Su Jiuai handed her a glass of water and said softly, "Miss Su, your water."

Su Jiuai gracefully took the water cup, took a sip, then looked at Wu Xinyan and said slowly: "It's Mrs. Luo, nice to meet you." Her tone sounded polite and courteous, but with a hint of imperceptible provocation.

Wu Xinyan suppressed her anger and stared at Luo Yichen without saying a word. Luo Yichen's face was pale and his lips were trembling slightly.

"I have something else to do, so I'll leave first." Wu Xinyan said nothing in the end, turned around and left the cafe.

She walked out of the hotel quickly, tears blurring her eyes. She didn't know how she got home, she just felt so heartbroken that she was almost suffocating.

It was already late at night when Luo Yichen returned home. He pushed open the bedroom door and saw Wu Xinyan sitting by the bed, her back looking lonely and desolate.

"Xinyan..." he called softly.

Wu Xinyan didn't turn around, her voice was low and hoarse, "When did you and her..."

Luo Yichen walked up to her and wanted to explain, but didn't know where to start.

"Don't say anymore." Wu Xinyan interrupted him, "I know everything."

She slowly stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the dark night sky. Her tone was frighteningly calm. "Luo Yichen," she paused, "you'd better think clearly about what you want."

Luo Yichen lay awake all night. Wu Xinyan's icy tone pierced his heart like a sharp knife. He wanted to explain, but he couldn't. Su Jiuai's appearance had indeed disrupted his peaceful life. He admitted that seeing Su Jiuai again had stirred a wave of emotion in his heart, but it was merely the fluctuation of old friendship, not love. His love for Wu Xinyan was unwavering.

The next morning, Luo Yichen received a call from his grandfather, asking him to return to the old house immediately. Old Master Luo sat in a royal chair, two walnuts in his hands, his eyes penetrating. "Yichen, the Su girl is back," he said calmly, yet with undeniable authority. Luo Yichen knew that his grandfather had always hoped that he and his old love, Su, would be together. The Su family held a significant position in the business world, and a marriage with the Luo family would undoubtedly be a powerful alliance.

"Grandpa, Xinyan and I are already married." Luo Yichen said in a firm tone.

Old Master Luo sighed, "Yi Chen, marriage is a serious matter, how can it be treated as a joke? The Su family's daughter is well-educated and well-mannered, and has the Su family's support behind her. She can be a boost to your career. The Wu family's daughter... after all, is the daughter of a poor family, and will be of no help to you."

Luo Yichen fell silent. He understood his grandfather's concerns. Family interests were paramount, a philosophy instilled in him since childhood. However, he loved Wu Xinyan, and he wasn't willing to give up his love for profit.

"Grandpa, I know what's going on." Luo Yichen finally said only this.

Leaving the old house, Luo Yichen was worried. He had to deal with this matter as soon as possible and not let the appearance of Su's old love affect his relationship with Wu Xinyan.

In the evening, Luo Yichen asked Su Jiuai to meet him at a restaurant to explain things to her. When he arrived, Su Jiuai was already sitting by the window, sipping red wine elegantly.

"Yi Chen, you're here." When Su Jiuai saw him, a gentle smile appeared on her face.

Luo Yichen sat down opposite her. Before he could speak, he saw Wu Xinyan walk in. Her face was pale and her eyes were cold. Luo Yichen's heart tightened. He knew that Wu Xinyan must have misunderstood.

"Yi Chen, who is this?" Su Jiuai asked knowingly, looking at Wu Xinyan provocatively.

Luo Yichen was about to explain, but Wu Xinyan spoke first, "Miss Su, we meet again." Her tone was calm, but with a hint of coldness.

Su Jiuai chuckled, "Mrs. Luo, what a coincidence."

"Unfortunately, I came here specifically to see my husband." Wu Xinyan fought back without showing any weakness.

The atmosphere instantly became tense. Luo Yichen wanted to ease the tension, but he didn't know how to start.

"Xinyan, please listen to my explanation..."

"No need to explain." Wu Xinyan interrupted him, looking directly at Su Jiuai, "Ms. Su, I don't care what your relationship with my husband was before. Now, he is my husband. I hope you can understand this."

Su Jiuai gracefully picked up the red wine glass and took a sip. "Mrs. Luo, you seem too confident. Yichen and I are childhood sweethearts. Our feelings are beyond your comprehension."

Wu Xinyan's face turned even paler. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails almost dug into her flesh. Luo Yichen felt a pang of pain in his heart as he watched her in pain. He wanted to defend her, but was silenced by Su Jiuai's words.

"Xinyan, she and I are just..."

"Enough!" Wu Xinyan interrupted him again, turned around and left the restaurant.

Luo Yichen watched her leave, feeling powerless. He chased after her, only to find that Wu Xinyan had disappeared. He stood there dejectedly, his mind in turmoil.

In the restaurant, Su Jiu Ai looked in the direction Luo Yi Chen had left, a smug smile playing on her lips. Assistant Lin, beside her, had a twinkle in his eye. He pulled out his phone and quickly typed a message... "Mr. Luo and his ex-girlfriend, Miss Su, have rekindled their romance. Mrs. Luo..."

Luo Yichen chased out of the restaurant, only to see Wu Xinyan's back disappear into the night. He pounded the steering wheel in frustration. Su Jiuai's appearance was like a time bomb, completely disrupting his life. He pulled out his phone to call Wu Xinyan, but hesitated. Explain? What could he explain? Was he going to say that he and Su Jiuai were just catching up? But Su Jiuai's aggressive attitude just now, and his own hesitation, were like sharp knives, piercing Wu Xinyan's heart.

Meanwhile, Assistant Editor Lin's message spread like a virus. Rumors began circulating within the Luo Group that Mr. Luo and his former love, Miss Su, had rekindled their relationship. The stories grew increasingly outrageous, with some claiming they had been seen behaving intimately in a high-end restaurant, others claiming Miss Su had already moved into Mr. Luo's villa, and even some beginning to speculate that Wu Xinyan was about to be kicked out. These rumors flooded over Wu Xinyan like a tide, nearly suffocating her.

The next day, Wu Xinyan arrived at the office and noticed her colleagues looked at her differently, with a touch of pity and a hint of ridicule. She feigned composure as she walked to her office, only to hear whispers from the next door. "I heard Mrs. Luo is getting dumped. How pitiful!" "It's not easy being the wife of a wealthy family. After all, the original wife can't win against the old flame." Wu Xinyan bit her lip tightly, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to burst out.

She rushed to Luo Yichen's office and questioned him: "What is your relationship with Su Jiuai? Why did you meet her?"

Luo Yichen looked at her red eyes, his heart ached, but he still said: "We are just discussing some business matters, don't think too much."

"Business? Need to discuss it in a fancy restaurant? Need to talk late into the night?" Wu Xinyan finally couldn't hold back her tears. "Luo Yichen, look into my eyes and tell me, do you still have feelings for her?"

Luo Yichen's eyes flickered as he avoided her gaze. "Xinyan, the situation between us is very complicated and cannot be explained in a short time."

"Complicated? It's complicated because you still have feelings for her, right?" Wu Xinyan's voice trembled, her heart aching. Luo Yichen's evasiveness was, in her opinion, a tacit agreement.

Luo Yichen sighed and hugged Wu Xinyan in his arms, "Xinyan, calm down. Things are not what you think."

"Not what I thought? What then?" Wu Xinyan pushed him away, tears streaming down her face. "Luo Yichen, you weren't like this before. You said you would always love me and protect me, but what about now? You've changed. I don't recognize you anymore."

Luo Yichen watched her cry, his heart filled with guilt and helplessness. He wanted to explain, but he didn't know where to start. The appearance of Su Jiuai put him in a dilemma. On one side was the interests of the family, and on the other was his beloved wife. How should he choose?

At this time, Luo Yichen's cell phone rang. It was Su Jiuai calling. He glanced at Wu Xinyan, hesitated for a moment, and finally answered the call.

"Yi Chen, are you free tonight? I want to talk to you." Su Jiuai's voice was gentle and seductive.

Luo Yichen subconsciously glanced at Wu Xinyan, and seeing her desperate eyes, his heart ached. He opened his mouth, but finally said, "Okay, I'll be there in a minute."

After hanging up the phone, Luo Yichen saw Wu Xinyan's face was pale, her lips were trembling, but she couldn't say a word. He stretched out his hand, wanting to comfort her, but she pushed him away.

Wu Xinyan turned and ran out of the office, leaving Luo Yichen standing there alone. He watched her leave, feeling powerless. He knew that the rift between him and Wu Xinyan was getting bigger and bigger...

The phone rang again. Luo Yichen took a look and saw that it was an address from Su Jiuai. He took a deep breath, picked up his coat, and walked out of the office...

The office door slowly closed, leaving behind an empty room and a pearl earring that Wu Xinyan had left on the floor...

The pearl earrings lay on the cold floor, reflecting the pale office light, like Wu Xinyan's broken heart. She wandered aimlessly down the street, tears blurring her vision. The sound of Luo Yichen accepting Su's invitation echoed in her ears, each word like a hammer, hammering at her nerves.

She didn't understand why the man who once loved her so much had become like this? The vows and promises they had made had now become a mockery. The appearance of Su Jiuai was like a sharp blade, ruthlessly slicing through their seemingly solid relationship and revealing the cracks that had long existed underneath.

Wu Xinyan returned home devastated, the empty villa seeming even more desolate. She curled up on the sofa, hugging herself tightly, as if this was the only way to find some warmth. She didn't know what to do, nor did she know who to turn to. Once, Luo Yichen had been her only support, her safe haven from the storm. But now, that very refuge had thrust her into the midst of a turbulent sea.

In the evening, Luo Yichen returned. He saw Wu Xinyan curled up on the sofa, her face pale and her eyes empty. He felt a surge of guilt. He walked over to her and called softly, "Xinyan..."

Wu Xinyan didn't respond, only silently shedding tears. Luo Yichen sat down beside her, wanting to explain, but he didn't know where to begin. Su Jiuai's appearance did make him feel a little flustered, and he had to admit that he still had a lingering affection for her. But that didn't mean he didn't love Wu Xinyan; it was just that he was caught between family and love, feeling torn.

"You went?" Wu Xinyan's voice was hoarse and weak.

Luo Yichen was silent for a moment, and finally nodded.

"Why?" Wu Xinyan raised her head and looked at him with tearful eyes. "You know how much I care about you. You know how afraid I am of losing you..."

"Xinyan, I..." Luo Yichen wanted to explain, but was interrupted by Wu Xinyan.

"Don't say anymore, I understand." Wu Xinyan smiled sadly, "Go away, I don't want to see you."

Luo Yichen looked at her desperate eyes, his heart filled with pain. He knew he had hurt her too deeply. He stood up, wanting to say something, but nothing came out. Finally, he turned and left silently, leaving Wu Xinyan alone in the empty villa, crying silently.

The next day, Wu Xinyan forced herself to go to work. The strange looks from her colleagues made her feel uneasy. She tried to focus on her work, but her mind was always wandering. An important document, due to her negligence, had a serious error, earning her a harsh reprimand from her boss.

"Wu Xinyan, what's wrong with you lately? You're always distracted and making mistakes at work!" The boss' tone was stern and tinged with dissatisfaction. "Do you know how important this project is? Your mistakes almost cost our company a lot of money!"

Wu Xinyan lowered her head, silently enduring her boss's scolding. She knew she was wrong, but she couldn't control her emotions. The matter between Luo Yichen and Su Jiuai was like a huge rock, pressing down on her.

Colleagues were whispering and pointing at her. Wu Xinyan felt like a clown, being watched and laughed at. She bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to burst out.

At this time, a colleague walked up to her and whispered, "Wu Xinyan, I advise you to make plans as soon as possible. The matter between Mr. Luo and Ms. Su has spread all over the company. You..."

Before her colleague finished speaking, Wu Xinyan's phone suddenly rang. She glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was from the hospital... "Hello..."