Double evil in the business district

The dazzling lights illuminated the banquet hall like daylight. Elegantly dressed people, clinking glasses, and a who's who of the business world gathered. Tonight was nominally the Shen Group's anniversary celebration, but in reality, it was Shen Ting's meticulously planned confession. He had invited numerous media outlets, determined to let the world know that he loved Xiao Yue above all else.

Xiao Yue stood by the French window, gazing at the bustling crowd below, her palms slightly sweaty. Her champagne-colored dress accentuated her beautiful figure, and even her delicate makeup couldn't mask the nervousness between her brows. Shen Ting's confession filled her with both anticipation and trepidation. After all she'd been through, she longed for a peaceful life, yet she couldn't resist Shen Ting's passionate love.

"Nervous?" Shen Ting walked behind her, gently put his arms around her waist, and whispered softly in her ear.

Xiao Yue nodded slightly and leaned gently in his arms. "A little."

"Don't be afraid, I'm here." Shen Ting kissed her forehead. "Tonight, I'll let the whole world know that you are mine."

His words were firm and powerful, as if carrying some kind of magic, which gradually calmed Xiao Yue's uneasy heart. She raised her head, looked into Shen Ting's deep eyes, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. "I believe you."

Downstairs, guests were already arriving at the banquet hall. Reporter Qin was adjusting the camera while chatting with his colleague. "I heard Mr. Shen is going to pull off something big tonight. I wonder what the surprise will be."

"What else could it be? It must be related to Miss Xiao." Another reporter laughed, "Ever since Mr. Shen heroically saved the damsel in distress last time, their relationship has rapidly heated up."

"Yeah, it looks like good things are about to happen." Reporter Qin sighed, "This rich family love story is even more exciting than a TV drama."

At the same time, a figure sneaked into the banquet hall's kitchen. Lin Xiao changed into a waiter's uniform, a sinister smile on her face. She wouldn't give up just like that. She wanted to ruin Xiao Yue's reputation and make Shen Ting regret it.

The banquet officially began. Shen Ting, dressed in a black suit, stood in the center of the stage, raised his glass of champagne, and greeted everyone. His eyes swept across the audience, finally landing on Xiao Yue, his eyes filled with affection.

"Today, in addition to celebrating the anniversary of Shen Group, there is something more important to announce." Shen Ting's voice was low and magnetic, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

Xiao Yue's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, she knew that this moment had finally come.

Shen Ting took a deep breath and said slowly, "I, Shen Ting, want to publicly confess my love to the woman I love deeply, Miss Xiao Yue."

The whole audience erupted in enthusiastic applause, and the flashbulbs kept flashing, enveloping Xiao Yue in a dazzling light. She felt her cheeks getting hot, and her heart was beating like a drum.

"Yueyue," Shen Ting looked at Xiao Yue tenderly, "I know we've experienced many ups and downs and misunderstandings. However, I have never stopped loving you. You are like a ray of light, illuminating my once dark world. I love you more than anything else."

His voice was full of affection, and every word seemed to strike at Xiao Yue's heartstrings. She felt her eyes moisten and her heart was filled with emotion.

At this moment, a waiter walked towards Xiao Yue with a tray... "Miss Xiao, be careful!"

The waiter's tray tilted, and a glass of red wine was about to spill onto Xiao Yue. At the critical moment, a hand caught the shaky tray.

"Be careful." A deep male voice sounded in Xiao Yue's ears.

Xiao Yue turned around in shock and saw a tall waiter standing next to her. He was wearing a hat and a mask, so her face was unclear. But she still felt a little uneasy. This person appeared too suddenly.

"Thank you." Xiao Yue said in a low voice and subconsciously took a step back.

The waiter nodded slightly, said nothing, and turned and disappeared into the crowd. Xiao Yue looked at his back, and her doubts grew even more.

On the stage, Shen Ting's confession continued.

"Yueyue, I know you are still hesitating, and I know you are afraid of getting hurt. But please believe me, I will use my whole life to protect you and give you happiness." Shen Ting's voice was choked with sobs, and his eyes were slightly red.

Xiao Yue couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She covered her mouth, trying to control her emotions. Shen Ting's deep affection moved her, but also frightened her. She was afraid of being hurt again, afraid that this relationship would end in tragedy.

The guests in the audience were deeply moved by this scene. Reporter Qin kept pressing the shutter button to record this precious moment. He sighed in his heart, this is true love, without any impurities, pure and beautiful.

"Together! Together!" Someone shouted first, and then the whole banquet hall was filled with shouts of "together".

Xiao Yue's heart was in turmoil. She looked at the affectionate Shen Ting on the stage, listened to the deafening cheers from the audience, and the balance in her heart began to slowly tilt.

Maybe she should really give herself and Shen Ting a chance.

She took a deep breath and was about to speak when suddenly a sharp female voice broke the silence of the banquet hall.

"Wait a moment!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a woman in a waitress uniform, holding a stack of documents, walking quickly towards the stage.

Lin Xiao pulled off her hat and mask, revealing a ferocious expression. She walked up to Shen Ting and slammed the documents in her hand down at him.

"Shen Ting, do you think Xiao Yue is a good woman? Look at this!"

Shen Ting frowned and picked up a document from the ground. The document clearly stated "Xiao Yue and XX Company engaged in improper transactions" and included some so-called "evidence."

Xiao Yue's face turned pale instantly. She never thought that Lin Xiao would use such a despicable method to frame her.

"This... this is not true!" Xiao Yue said in a trembling voice.

"Whether it's true or not, you know it in your heart!" Lin Xiao sneered, "Shen Ting, you've been deceived by her! She doesn't love you at all, she only approaches you for your money!"

Shen Ting's eyes swept back and forth between Xiao Yue and Lin Xiao, his face terribly gloomy.

"Lin Xiao," Shen Ting's voice was as cold as ice, "You'd better produce evidence to prove everything you said, otherwise..."

He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, "I will make you pay."

Lin Xiao met Shen Ting's gaze fearlessly. "Of course I have evidence!" She pulled a USB drive from her pocket and held it high. "It contains a recording of a private transaction between Xiao Yue and the head of XX Company! Do you want to hear it?"

There was an uproar in the banquet hall. Everyone's eyes were focused on Xiao Yue, full of suspicion and inquiry.

Xiao Yue felt as if she had been stripped naked and exposed to the public. She wanted to explain, but found that she could not say anything.

Lin Xiao smiled triumphantly. She knew she was sure to win this time.

She inserted the USB drive into the computer and pressed the play button... "This..." The USB drive plugged into the computer, and the piercing sound of electricity crackled, but no sound came out. The smugness on Lin Xiao's face gradually froze, turning into panic. She repeatedly pressed the play button, and beads of sweat oozed from her forehead.

"What's going on? How could this happen?" Lin Xiao muttered to himself, his face pale.

Shen Ting looked at her coldly, and said with a thin mouth: "It seems that your evidence is not very reliable."

He took out his cell phone from his pocket and clicked on a recording. The clear voice echoed in the banquet hall.

"Is this document ready? Remember, make it look realistic. I want to ruin Xiao Yue's reputation!" This was Lin Xiao's voice.

"Don't worry, Miss Lin. I guarantee it will be flawless. Let's see how she turns things around then!" This was another man's voice, a little rough.

The recording finished playing, and the entire audience erupted in an uproar. Everyone looked at Lin Xiao with disdain and mockery. Reporter Qin quickly raised his camera to capture the scene. He sighed inwardly, "This turn of events has happened so quickly! It seems to be the headlines for tonight." Even Lu Mingxing, standing at the edge of the red carpet, was captivated by this sudden change and looked around curiously.

Lin Xiao's face turned from pale to blue, and then from blue to purple, as colorful as a palette. She never thought that her carefully planned conspiracy would be exposed so easily by Shen Ting.

"You...you actually..." Lin Xiao pointed at Shen Ting, his fingers trembling, but he couldn't utter a complete sentence.

Shen Ting ignored her and turned to Xiao Yue, his eyes full of tenderness and apology. "Yueyue, I'm sorry for making you feel wronged."

Xiao Yue's tears welled up again, this time, tears of joy. She looked at Shen Ting, her heart filled with emotion and gratitude.

Shen Ting gently wiped her tears, then turned to face the crowd, his voice firm and powerful: "I, Shen Ting, love Xiao Yue deeply, and I hope to spend the rest of my life with her. Today, I want to confess my love to her once again here in front of everyone!"

He knelt on one knee, took out an exquisite diamond ring from his pocket, and looked at Xiao Yue affectionately: "Yueyue, will you marry me?"

The audience shouted "together" again, more enthusiastic and exciting than before.

Xiao Yue's heart was beating fast. She looked at the man in front of her who loved her deeply, and her heart was filled with happiness and sweetness. She took a deep breath and was about to say "I do" when suddenly her cell phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID and saw it was home. A strange feeling of unease washed over her.

"Sorry, I have to take a call first." Xiao Yue smiled apologetically at Shen Ting, walked aside and answered the phone.

"Hey, Mom..."

"Yueyue, come back to me immediately! Your grandfather is critically ill!" The anxious voice of the mother came from the other end of the phone.

Xiao Yue clutched the phone, her face draining of color, even her lips turning pale. Her mother's cries on the other end of the line were intermittent, yet they struck her heart like a hammer. "Grandpa... critically ill..." Those words echoed in her ears like a curse. She almost lost her balance and stumbled, but fortunately, Shen Ting, standing beside her, quickly caught her.

"Yueyue, what's wrong?" Shen Ting asked with concern, with a hint of anxiety in his tone.

Xiao Yue raised her head, her eyes filled with panic and helplessness. "My grandfather... is critically ill. I have to go back immediately."

Shen Ting's brows furrowed slightly. He noticed something was wrong with Xiao Yue, but now was not the time to ask. "I'll take you there."

Xiao Yue shook her head, her voice trembling, "No need, I can go back by myself." She was afraid that once she became weak, she would not be able to help but throw herself into Shen Ting's arms, and now she had to rush home immediately.

She hurriedly hung up the phone, not even having time to say goodbye to Shen Ting, before turning and running out of the banquet hall. The crisp sound of her high heels on the marble floor seemed to hammer at her heart. The surrounding noise, the flashing lights, and Shen Ting's affectionate gaze gradually blurred, disappearing from her panicked sight.

Reporter Qin watched Xiao Yue's departing back, a look of confusion on his face. This sudden change had caught him off guard. He had originally thought he could capture Shen Ting's successful proposal, but he hadn't expected it to turn out like this. He quickly turned his camera on Shen Ting, hoping to capture some valuable information.

Shen Ting remained kneeling on one knee, the diamond ring clutched in his hand, his eyes filled with loneliness and worry. He slowly stood up, pocketed the ring, and left the banquet hall without a word. Lin Xiao stood by, watching this scene with mixed feelings. She had thought she could use this opportunity to completely destroy Xiao Yue, but she hadn't expected it to fail. Now, Xiao Yue's departure left her feeling a little uneasy.

Xiao Yue rushed all the way and finally rushed back to the Xiao family's old house. She pushed open the heavy wooden door and shouted anxiously: "Grandpa, Grandpa..."

In the living room, the elders of the Xiao family gathered together, and the atmosphere was solemn and depressing. When Xiao Yue's mother saw her come back, she immediately rushed forward, hugged her tightly, and burst into tears.

"Yueyue, you're finally back, your grandpa..."

Xiao Yue broke free from her mother's embrace and rushed to Grandpa Xiao's room. Grandpa Xiao was lying on the bed, his face pale and his breathing weak. Xiao Yue held Grandpa's hand, tears streaming down her face.

"Grandpa, you must get better..."

Grandpa Xiao slowly opened his eyes and looked at Xiao Yue, his eyes full of love. "Yueyue, you're back..."

Xiao Yue choked up and nodded, "Grandpa, I'm back."

Grandpa Xiao used up his last bit of strength and slowly said, "Yueyue...Shen Ting...No..." His voice became weaker and weaker, and finally, his hands dropped weakly.

Xiao Yue's mother walked up to her and patted her shoulder gently, "Yueyue, your grandfather..."

Xiao Yue's tears rolled down like pearls from a broken string. She held her grandfather's hand tightly, her heart filled with grief and despair. She didn't understand why fate had to play such a trick on her, forcing her to make such a difficult choice between love and family.

At this time, Father Xiao walked up to Xiao Yue with a serious look on his face, "Yueyue, come with me to the study, I have something to tell you."