After Teasing the Crazy Mermaid, He Actually Deceived Me into Marriage - Chapter 71

“Isn’t this my sister? How rare for you to have the time to attend Xi Mo’s product launch. Don’t you find these pieces familiar?” Si Xi said smugly, revealing her true nature in front of Si Tang.

“I am not your sister,” Si Tang replied coldly. “Since you know these were stolen, you should have expected that one day they would have to be returned.”

Not wanting to be disgusted by this person any longer, she took Fan Yi’s hand and prepared to leave.

“Hmph, still acting so high and mighty? The He Corporation has already cut ties with Xing Nian,” Si Xi retorted, crossing her arms and adopting a condescending posture. Glancing at Fan Yi beside Si Tang, she couldn’t let go of the humiliation from being scolded last time. She gave him a once-over and sneered, “Si Tang, oh Si Tang, your taste really isn’t great. Aside from his face, this man seems utterly useless.”

Not far away, 8856, who was enjoying free cake, suddenly trembled and nearly dropped his plate.

Trembling with fear, 8856 looked over. The curve of Fan Yi’s lips remained unchanged, but his expression was even more chilling than if he weren’t smiling.

After uttering those words, Si Xi noticed that Fan Yi’s gentle smile was still in place, but his glowing blue eyes were fixed directly on her.

“Oh? Is that so?” he said, his tone unhurried, not erupting on the spot.

Yet, from a direction Si Tang couldn’t see, his gaze locked onto her as if she were already dead.

For some reason, Si Xi felt a physiological shudder, as if the person before her was a monster. Her sixth sense screamed at her to get away.

Her legs weakened uncontrollably, and she stumbled back a few steps.

Si Tang watched coldly as Si Xi paled in fright, unsure what she had seen. The next moment, Si Xi glanced at her and hurried away as if feeling unwell.

Though puzzled, Si Tang didn’t dwell on it and signaled to Fan Yi and Xiao Liu that it was time to leave.

In the shadows, the people Si Tang had hired were recording everything with a camera.

Every detail of the products, along with Si Xi’s testimony admitting she had personally designed the drafts, was meticulously documented.

All of this would, in the near future, become the bitter consequences Si Xi would reap.

Back at Hai Yuan, after Si Tang returned to her room, Fan Yi immediately summoned 8856.

“If the evidence collected today is released, will Si Xi be ruined as expected?”

“Logically, yes, but fate doesn’t follow logic,” 8856 replied seriously. “I cannot predict what will happen next.”

Having received his answer, Fan Yi waved a hand, dismissing him to go play.

8856: “…” So he was just a lackey to be summoned and dismissed at will. Sigh

In the days that followed, Si Tang settled into a fixed routine, shuttling between two points every day as she went to the company to complete her collaborative design series, “Cloud Attire,” with the He Corporation.

On the day of He Corporation’s official launch event, they specially invited her to attend.

Naturally, she wouldn’t miss such an important occasion. She had originally planned to go alone, but Fan Yi volunteered to accompany her.

“I happen to be free that day,” he said, his demeanor unusually enthusiastic.

Si Tang agreed.

On the day of the event, the two set off and entered the venue. Luxurious crystal chandeliers illuminated the entire hall as brightly as daylight.

On the large screen, a promotional video played, showcasing models wearing evening gowns and displaying jewelry. Each piece was exquisitely beautiful, eliciting gasps of admiration from the audience.

“These designs are truly stunning!”

“He Corporation is set to lead the trend once again!”

“I heard this project was supposed to be a collaboration with Xing Nian, but apparently it fell through. Now no one knows which studio these designs came from they’re absolutely stunning!”

In the crowd, Si Xi watched the grand scene unfold with unwilling resentment. These designs had already surpassed the ones she had previously plagiarized from Si Tang. Still, as long as He Corporation wasn’t partnering with Xing Nian, she was quite pleased to see it.

At the entrance, Si Xi spotted Si Tang, who had arrived fashionably late. She wore a simple blue evening gown without any excessive adornments, only a thin silver belt cinched at her waist. Understated and elegant, it accentuated her cool, noble demeanor.

Beside her was Fan Yi, who seemed to follow Si Tang everywhere. The man was dressed in a custom-tailored dark blue suit that complemented Si Tang perfectly, highlighting his broad shoulders and narrow waist. At his collar, he still wore that ruby brooch, shimmering with a mysterious glow under the lights.

Unable to resist, Si Xi walked over, a mocking smile plastered on her face. “Well, if it isn’t my dear sister? What, here to see how successful the project you lost turned out?”

Her words dripped with sarcasm, ridiculing Si Tang for losing the collaboration with He Corporation.

Si Tang truly couldn’t be bothered to deal with Si Xi’s incessant pestering. She furrowed her brows slightly but before she could say anything, Fan Yi, standing beside her, gently patted her shoulder.

“Tang Tang, our seats are over there,” Fan Yi said, pointing to a prime spot in the front row. “Go ahead first.”

He motioned for her to go ahead. Si Tang instinctively glanced at him and was met with that breathtakingly beautiful face, softened by a gentle, reassuring smile.

Her heart settled a bit, and she directly ignored Si Xi’s provocation, heading toward her seat.

Only after Si Tang had walked away did Fan Yi turn to face Si Xi.

This time, Si Xi was certain it wasn’t her imagination. The face that had been gentle and soft just moments ago when looking at Si Tang had instantly turned sinister and monstrous, like a beast about to bare its fangs and devour her whole. His blue-glinting pupils seemed to harbor a coiled serpent.

Si Xi’s throat felt as if it had been clogged shut; she couldn’t even let out the scream she wanted to utter.

So terrifying.

She stumbled backward a few steps, nearly losing her balance and falling to the ground.

The instigator, however, showed no intention of leaving. Instead, he took a few steps forward as if out of kindness, pretending to offer a hand.

“What’s wrong, Miss Si Xi? Weren’t you just so arrogant a moment ago?” To outsiders, his smile still appeared warm and polite.

Only Si Xi had witnessed that momentary horror.

Fan Yi made no move to actually help her, watching coldly as Si Xi fell to the ground in a sorry state. He then slowly crouched down.

In Si Xi’s line of sight, the man’s smile faded slightly. Beneath the soft black hair that shaded his brow, extreme malice lay hidden.

“Do you know what your soul smells like?” he asked, oozing with ill intent. “It smells like surstromming.”

“Disgusting.”

After delivering his unvarnished words, Fan Yi stood up, glanced at the terrified Si Xi, let out a derisive laugh, and turned to walk toward Si Tang.

From the perspective of onlookers, it merely seemed like a gentleman had politely crouched down to inquire before courteously taking his leave.

A waiter kindly helped Si Xi to her feet, only to find the woman with red-rimmed eyes and a deathly pale face, as if she had just witnessed something utterly terrifying.

Her gaze remained fixed intently on Si Tang and Fan Yi in the distance, where the two sat side by side, chatting and laughing happily.

When facing her, Fan Yi’s gentle smile was perfectly measured, showing not a trace of darkness.

After a long while, Si Xi suddenly curved his lips into a wicked and gleeful smile.

Did Si Tang even realize what kind of monster she had by her side?