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

Luo Yichen's face turned pale. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by Aunt Luo, "Yichen, I know you and Xinyan have a good relationship, but this concerns the future of the Luo family! Miss Zhou is well-educated and has a prominent family background. She can bring huge benefits to our Luo family. You must consider this marriage!"

The champagne glass in Wu Xinyan's hand shook, and the champagne almost spilled out.

She gripped the cup tightly, her fingertips turning white, trying to maintain a calm appearance.

Luo Yichen held her hand, gave her a soothing look, then turned to look at Aunt Luo and said firmly, "Aunt, I'm already married. Xinyan is my wife, and I won't divorce her."

Aunt Luo's face darkened. "Marriage? It's just a joke! For the sake of the family, this little sacrifice is nothing! What's more," she looked Wu Xinyan up and down, her tone full of undisguised contempt, "What can an orphan girl abandoned by her family bring to the Luo family? Yichen, you are too confused!"

Wu Xinyan felt as if her heart was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, making it difficult for her to breathe.

She wanted to refute and defend herself, but all the words on her lips turned into bitter silence.

She came from a humble background, which was an indisputable fact and also an eternal pain in her heart.

The guests around her began to whisper, their eyes scanning over her like searchlights, scrutinizing and mocking her.

She felt like a bird stripped of its feathers, exposed to the public, with nowhere to hide.

Luo Yichen noticed Wu Xinyan's trembling and hugged her tighter. "Aunt, my marriage does not need to be judged by my family. Xinyan is my wife, and this will never change." His tone was cold, with unquestionable majesty.

"You!" Aunt Luo's face turned pale with anger, and her finger trembled as she pointed at Wu Xinyan. "You've really been bewitched by this woman! Just wait and see, I'll make you understand what the right choice is!"

The atmosphere at the banquet became tense and the air was filled with gunpowder.

At this moment, a handsome man in a suit and tie came over with a wine glass in hand, a meaningful smile on his face, "Brother Yichen, long time no see." He raised his glass, but his eyes fell on Wu Xinyan, "I guess this is my sister-in-law, right? Nice to meet you."

Wu Xinyan felt a chill. She recognized this man. It was the Zhou family's "marriage partner"...

Zhou Zihang, the son of the Zhou family, raised his glass and took a sip of red wine, but his eyes were always glued to Wu Xinyan with a hint of aggression.

"My sister-in-law is so lucky to have the favor of Brother Yi Chen. However, marriage into a wealthy family is like drinking water, only the person who drinks it knows whether it is hot or cold." He sighed seemingly unintentionally, his tone full of hints.

Luo Yichen's face became even darker, and his grip on Wu Xinyan's hand tightened unconsciously.

Wu Xinyan felt the warmth and strength of his palm, and her heart calmed down a little, but she still couldn't dispel the inexplicable uneasiness.

In the next few days, Zhou Zihang appeared in Wu Xinyan's life like a ghost.

She could see his face with a fake smile whenever they met by chance in high-end restaurants, at charity dinners, or even in the coffee shop she frequented.

Every time they met, he would calmly show off his wealth and status, from limited edition watches to custom-made suits, to the family business he casually mentioned during conversation, all of which reminded Wu Xinyan of the gap between her and him.

"Sister-in-law, do you like the desserts from this restaurant? I'll have someone pack some up and send them to your house. Their signature durian mille-feuille is famously hard to get." Zhou Zihang said with feigned concern when he "ran into" Wu Xinyan again, but there was a hint of provocation in his eyes, as if to say, I can easily give you everything you have, and you are nothing.

At the same time, the gossip media also began to make moves.

A tabloid took the lead in publishing an article titled "President of Luo Group is about to marry, and his original wife may be abandoned." Although no names were mentioned, the words between the lines hinted that Luo Yichen was about to marry Miss Zhou, and Wu Xinyan, his wife of "humble origin", was about to be kicked out.

Subsequently, other media followed suit, and various groundless reports emerged one after another, pushing Wu Xinyan to the forefront of public opinion.

The Internet is full of sarcastic comments about her. Some people scold her for being greedy and vain, some say she overestimates her own abilities, and some predict that she will soon be abandoned and end up in a miserable situation.

Wu Xinyan looked at those glaring words and felt like she had fallen into a huge whirlpool, being swept away by the ruthless waves, unable to breathe and unable to struggle.

She tried to call Luo Yichen, but no one answered.

The secretary informed her that Luo Yichen was handling urgent business matters abroad and could not be contacted for the time being.

"Madam, are you okay?" Wu Xinyan's personal servant asked worriedly.

Wu Xinyan forced a smile and said, "I'm fine." But her trembling hands betrayed her fear and helplessness at the moment.

Suddenly, the phone screen lit up, and a text message from an unfamiliar number came into view: "If you know what's good for you, leave him as soon as possible..." Wu Xinyan held the cold phone in her hand, and every word in the text message pierced her heart like a needle.

Luo Yichen still couldn't be contacted, and the secretary's formulaic reply made her feel even more isolated and helpless.

In the huge villa, the luxurious furnishings seemed to be mocking her embarrassment. The light from the crystal chandelier was cold and dazzling, shining on her pale face, making her look even more lonely.

"Knock knock knock—" There was a knock on the door, and Wu Xinyan subconsciously clenched her fists.

The one who came in was Aunt Luo. She had a hypocritical smile on her face and a thick envelope in her hand.

"Xinyan, Yichen has been busy lately, so Auntie came to see you." Auntie Luo walked up to her and placed the envelope on the coffee table. "There's a little gift inside. Take it and leave Yichen."

The banknotes in the envelope were so new and dazzling that Wu Xinyan felt nauseous. "I don't need your money," she refused coldly.

The smile on Aunt Luo's face disappeared and her tone became sharp.

"Don't refuse a toast and then drink a forfeit! Who do you think you are? An orphan abandoned by her family, why would you marry into our Luo family? Are you worthy of Yi Chen?"

Wu Xinyan took a deep breath and tried to suppress the trembling in her heart. "Yi Chen and I are truly in love."

"True love? What a joke! In the face of family interests, so-called love is worthless! Yi Chen will marry into the Zhou family sooner or later, and you're just a stumbling block!" Aunt Luo pressed aggressively, "If you know what's good for you, take the money and get out of here. Otherwise, I'll make sure you have no place in the Luo family or in this city!"

Wu Xinyan bit her lip and looked at Aunt Luo stubbornly. "I won't leave Yichen."

Aunt Luo sneered, "Then we'll see! When the time comes, don't come crying and beg me!" After that, she picked up the handbag on the side, turned around and left. When she reached the door, she paused, and without looking back, she threw down a sentence, "Do you think Yichen really loves you? He just..."

Aunt Luo's words were like a poisonous thorn, piercing Wu Xinyan's heart.

After the door slammed shut, she was surrounded by a huge emptiness.

She fell on the sofa, tears silently streaming down her face.

Luo Yichen didn't come back until late at night.

He looked exhausted, his tie loose and his jacket draped casually over his arm.

Seeing Wu Xinyan's red and swollen eyes, he immediately walked over nervously, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Wu Xinyan repeated Aunt Luo's words, her voice trembling and a hint of tears in her voice. "Yi Chen, they want you to marry someone else and they want me to leave you..."

Luo Yichen took her in his arms and patted her back gently.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here and I won't let you leave me." His voice was low and firm, yet with a hint of imperceptible fatigue.

Wu Xinyan clutched his collar tightly, as if grasping at a lifeline. "But, your aunt said...about the family's interests..."

Luo Yichen was silent for a moment, then said, "I will take care of this matter, trust me." He held her face and gently wiped away the tears on her face. "Don't worry, I will protect you."

Despite his assurance, Wu Xinyan still saw a hint of helplessness and embarrassment in his deep eyes.

The pressure from his family was like an invisible boulder, making it hard for him to breathe.

To Wu Xinyan at this moment, Luo Yichen's assurance sounded more like a promise that she was powerless to make.

She could sense his inner struggle, and it made her even more uneasy.

"Yi Chen..." Wu Xinyan looked at him, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

She wanted to ask him, can he fight against the entire family?

How long can he protect her?

But she didn't ask anything in the end. She just buried her head in his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, trying to draw a little strength from it.

The next morning, when Wu Xinyan woke up, Luo Yichen was no longer around.

There was a note on the bedside table: "I'm going to the company to take care of some things, and I'll be back to accompany you in the evening." These simple words made Wu Xinyan feel a little inexplicably uneasy.

She walked to the window, opened the curtains, and the sunlight came in, but it could not dispel the haze in her heart.

At this time, the cell phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number.

Wu Xinyan hesitated for a moment, but still picked up the phone.

"Hello, is this Ms. Wu Xinyan?" A greasy male voice came from the other end of the phone. "I'm a reporter from XXX Entertainment. We received news that you..."

Wu Xinyan's heart sank suddenly.