### Chapter 15
Shi Yunyang didn't notice the subtle change in Qin Wanshu's expression; she only felt her smile grow wider, as this was just too entertaining.
"Do you know who the woman she was calling out in bed is?" Shi Yunyang asked maliciously, her laughter tinged with glee.
"Who?" Qin Wanshu asked casually. Judging by Shi Yunyang's tone, it seemed to be someone they both knew from their social circle and likely someone unexpected.
"Yan Ruohan. That woman treated me as if I were Yan Ruohan in bed, and I accidentally saw a photo of Yan Ruohan on that woman's phone. It was clearly a close-up shot, so I suspect they definitely have something going on. Tsk, tsk, Yan Ruohan is really shocking. I can't believe she's into women too; she's a married woman and even more outrageous than I am! The more virtuous someone appears, the more you can't underestimate them; it turns out she couldn't resist loneliness after all…"
Yan Ruohan was a peculiar figure. She wasn't part of the upper-class lady circle; her husband was Qian Shaowen, the heir of the Qian family, which had substantial wealth. Unfortunately, Qian Shaowen was a bit of a weakling, always in poor health and not very involved in family matters. Within just a few years of marrying Qian Shaowen, Yan Ruohan managed to handle the complex relationships within the Qian family, seizing power and putting a multitude of issues in order. It was no small feat to pull this off without some capability. However, if this scandal got out, it would be lethal for Yan Ruohan. No wonder Shi Yunyang was so happy; she had suffered a little at Yan Ruohan's hands before.
After hearing this, Qin Wanshu was indeed surprised. She had dealt with Yan Ruohan a few times and found her to be an impressive woman, meticulous in her dealings. It seemed extravagant that such a woman would engage in the same ostentatious games as other socialites and playboys. If this happened to someone like Shi Yunyang, who had a tarnished reputation, it would just add a topic to high society gossip. But for someone like Yan Ruohan, who relied on her husband to rise in status, it could be catastrophic.
"Yan Ruohan, that Cinderella, has struggled for so many years, finally climbed to the top, and with just one kick, I can send her back to her original form…" At this moment, Yan Ruohan seemed like someone who had been struggling in water for a long time and finally crawled ashore, but a single kick could send her rolling back into the water.
"Don't play with this." Qin Wanshu defended Yan Ruohan. Not everyone was born with a golden key like herself and Shi Yunyang. Power wasn't meant to oppress others; Qin Wanshu knew Shi Yunyang too well. She played without regard for the consequences.
"You're surprisingly kind to her, actually defending her," Shi Yunyang said with some surprise.
"It doesn't matter if it's kind or not. I just think it's a pity; there's no need for women to make things difficult for each other," Qin Wanshu said calmly.
"She shouldn't be so fragile that a scandal would take her down. I'm looking forward to her performance. She's like a weed; she often finds a way to survive even in desperate situations. Don't forget last time, when she managed to steal my bid under such unfavorable conditions!" It was rare to have something this entertaining, and not to participate would be a shame.
That was true. Qin Wanshu also felt that Yan Ruohan wasn't an easy person to take down. That woman had a resilience that most women lacked. Qin Wanshu knew that Shi Yunyang wouldn't hold a grudge for having her bid stolen previously; it was just that she understood Shi Yunyang's nature of enjoying chaos too well to think she would let go of the chance to watch Yan Ruohan's drama unfold.
"Do as you wish, but don't go too far," Qin Wanshu warned.
"I'm not that low-class," Shi Yunyang said, rolling her eyes. Although she loved to have fun, her playfulness had its limits.
"When will someone come along to teach you a lesson?" Qin Wanshu shook her head. Shi Yunyang was just too reckless, much like her younger brother, Qin Teng—both were troublemakers.
Shi Yunyang raised an eyebrow dismissively, then suddenly thought of something as she looked at Qin Wanshu's exquisite face. She playfully nudged Shi Yunyang with her elbow.
"I suddenly think we'd make a good couple. How come I never thought of this before? I just let Han Shibin have all the fun," Shi Yunyang joked, her humor always pushing boundaries.
Qin Wanshu felt a chill run down her spine, disgusted as she avoided Shi Yunyang's flirtatious closeness. She felt as if the places Shi Yunyang had touched were like spots where caterpillars had crawled, making her want to shake it off immediately. Compared to the one who called herself Qinghuan but was morally lacking, the woman before her had even less of a moral compass. Back when she first entered kindergarten, Shi Yunyang's overly affectionate father had taken her hand, pleading with her to take good care of and educate his daughter, who had always been a little reckless. Qin Wanshu had reluctantly agreed, not expecting to be stuck with Shi Yunyang for over twenty years. Otherwise, given her nature, she definitely wouldn't have gotten close to Shi Yunyang.
"Hey, I'm a super beautiful lady too! What do you find so intolerable? I haven't complained about you being boring and cold-blooded!" Shi Yunyang raised her eyebrows, considering her own charm. Compared to Qin Wanshu, except for a bit less refinement, she was still unique in her own right, and she felt Qin Wanshu was being rather rude.
"Dealing with you will shorten my lifespan, and I have no interest in that," Qin Wanshu said淡淡 (calmly). Generally, those who dealt with Miss Shi would be worn out, and Qin Wanshu had absolutely no love for women who only knew how to cause trouble since childhood.
"Of course! Not everyone can handle someone as wonderful as me," Shi Yunyang said, always feeling good about herself. She completely brushed off the earlier joke and was now looking forward to more entertaining things. Thinking about Yan Ruohan's reaction excited her, and that woman who looked like a vixen but was actually quite innocent was also amusing.
Qin Wanshu was now in no mood to drink red wine. Seeing Shi Yunyang call the newspaper, she didn't want to be involved in Shi Yunyang's mischief and left the venue early.
"Do you want to go out today?" Usually, it was Li Xin who invited Zuo Qinghuan to go to a bar, but Zuo Qinghuan was also feeling down. Whenever she thought about Qin Wanshu's cold expression when she said they shouldn't meet again, it brought her mood down.
"Xiao Huan, what should I do…" Hearing Li Xin's choked voice, Zuo Qinghuan knew this wasn't the first time she had seen Li Xin cry, but this feeling of helplessness was very different from the earlier situation where love was unattainable.
"I'll come over right now; just wait for me at home." Zuo Qinghuan immediately drove to Li Xin's house.
As soon as she entered, she was taken aback. The house was so tidy and clean that it was unbelievable—the floor practically shone, and it looked as if someone had obsessive-compulsive disorder. On the table were several dishes that had clearly been prepared a long time ago; it seemed the situation was worse than she had imagined. When Li Xin was in a bad mood, she would clean furiously, and the frequency of her cleaning depended on how upset she was. Despite Li Xin's vixen-like appearance and straightforward personality, she was actually quite traditional at heart—so traditional that Zuo Qinghuan found it hard to believe.
"What's wrong with you?" Zuo Qinghuan gently nudged Li Xin, who was sitting on the living room floor in a daze, and asked with concern.
"I got drunk and woke up in a woman's bed. What should I do? I'm so afraid she'll despise me…" Li Xin grabbed Zuo Qinghuan's hand, tears streaming down her face.
"It's not a big deal. In this society, getting into bed is easier than having a meal; don't take it too seriously. Besides, you're just her mistress; she has her own husband, and she doesn't expect you to be faithful to her." Zuo Qinghuan felt Li Xin was being too naïve. Honestly, if it weren't for her loneliness and emptiness, which woman would want to go to a bar every day to drown her sorrows? Although Li Xin talked about being carefree and promiscuous, she never acted on it. That woman would blush at the sight of Yan Ruohan, hiding a more innocent heart than anyone else beneath her vixen-like exterior.
It was because she loved that person so much, feeling the pain and loneliness of unattainable love, that she chose to indulge herself. If Yan Ruohan had even the slightest response to Li Xin's feelings, Li Xin would have stayed home like a good woman. When Li Xin first became Yan Ruohan's mistress, she truly went nowhere and just waited at home for Yan Ruohan, practically more resigned than women in ancient times. However, usually, she would wait ten days to half a month without seeing that woman. This endless waiting and loneliness finally became unbearable for Li Xin, which led her to frequently go to the bar to drink and complain to Zuo Qinghuan, but nothing ever happened—until now, when something finally did.
Seeing Li Xin like this made Zuo Qinghuan feel bad as well. She felt she would never love someone to the point of losing herself like Li Xin did, because that was truly foolish. So, not falling in love was the best choice.
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