Falling After Marriage - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: You Aren’t Planning to Get Serious with Her, Are You?

Lin Jin’s drawn-out, mocking voice was drowned out by the laughter and chatter of the guests.

She glanced around, circling the room with her shoulders slightly hunched, and sarcastically commented: “It’s so lively! If no one told me this was an ancestral worship ceremony, I’d think the Lin family was celebrating some great joyous occasion…”

Feeling her comment wasn’t accurate enough, she revised her statement: “No, no, today is certainly a good day for Father and Aunt Ruan. Only when the old passes can the new arrive, right?”

With that, Lin Jin took a glass of champagne from a housemaid, feigned a toast to the elderly couple, but offered a malicious blessing: “A marital happiness achieved by stepping over my mother’s corpse—how difficult! How could I not wish you both a harmonious hundred years?”

These words were enough to strike at the heart.

Lin Zhen, sitting in the wheelchair, turned ashen. He clenched the armrests, desperately suppressing his fury, but was prevented from exploding by the need to maintain appearances.

Ruan Jinxian’s smile also stiffened, the loose muscles on her face trembling slightly.

She knew this unwelcome guest had chosen this day specifically to publicly humiliate her. Even though she was seething with hatred, she had to play the role of the benevolent hypocrite to the end.

She took a step closer, speaking softly: “A Jin, you rarely come home. Please take a seat quickly. Our family hasn’t had a proper reunion dinner in a long time.”

“You can skip the reunion dinner. After all, we’re not a family, so we shouldn’t share a meal. However, since my surname is also Lin, I naturally must show up for the ancestral ceremony, just to go through the motions, so no one can gossip behind my back. Don’t you agree, Aunt Ruan?” Lin Jin smiled as she rejected the fake invitation. She then looked at Lin Zhen, “Father, you look well. It seems you can be discharged and return home.”

Lin Zhen let out a heavy sigh, raising his eyes to glare coldly at his daughter: “Have you said enough? If you’ve said enough…”

“If you’ve said enough, then get lost immediately. Did I guess the rest of your words correctly?” Lin Jin cut him off, completing the remaining harsh sentence for him.

She had heard such unpleasant words countless times over the years. The father and daughter argued every time they met. After arguing for so long, Lin Jin could accurately predict his words, treating it like a stale old joke.

She sipped her champagne, enjoying the expressions of the elderly couple—furious yet unable to vent—and smiled even more brightly, as if her visit today was worthwhile.

Finding the Lin residence oppressive, Lin Jin didn’t plan to stay long. She put down her glass and prepared to leave. “Staying in this place for too long makes me uncomfortable. I won’t join you for the meal. I’m afraid I’ll feel nauseous.”

“Lin Jin.” Lin Sheng walked through the crowd unhurriedly. Seeing his parents’ pale, furious faces, he lowered his voice to address her: “Can we talk alone?”

Lin Jin shrugged: “I don’t mind.”

With that, Lin Sheng turned and walked towards the side courtyard corridor without waiting.

Lin Jin signaled to Sheng He, who was blending into the crowd, and leisurely followed.

Once they reached the secluded corridor, the already chilly atmosphere was enveloped in a layer of heavy gloom.

Lin Sheng stood with one hand in his pocket, turning back to coldly eye Lin Jin, mocking: “You know very well you’re not welcome here. Why come and invite trouble?”

Lin Jin sneered, leaning lazily against the wooden column of the corridor, her tone as contemptuous as ever: “Why do you think I came to invite trouble? Shouldn’t you assume I came specifically to disgust your family of three?”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t show up on a day like this. After all, the child left behind by a suicidal original wife has no place here.” Lin Sheng’s expression was equally contemptuous, as if Lin Jin didn’t deserve any piece of the house, “Apart from the surname Lin, you are nothing. So the more contempt you show, the funnier you look to me.”

Lin Jin maintained her cool smile throughout, but the phrase ‘suicidal original wife’ crossed her line, igniting an unquenchable rage.

She gently bit her cheek to prevent Lin Sheng from seeing too much mockery in her expression.

However, when it came to verbal venom, no one could surpass this woman who would stop at nothing when enraged.

Just like now, she forcefully swallowed her anger, curled her lip, and scoffed: “If I were you, in the current situation, I would never deliberately emphasize the importance of the Lin family. But I suppose it’s no wonder. Everything you have was stolen by your mother. Apart from the surname Lin, what achievements can you proudly present? Does ‘illegitimate child’ count as an achievement? I’ve been laughing at that status for over twenty years, and I’m still not tired of it.”

In terms of status, Lin Sheng would always lose to Lin Jin.

Just as she said, all his legitimacy was stolen by that woman named Ruan, so her mockery was completely justified.

Lin Sheng seemed to have been hit where it hurt. He stared with ominous eyes at his wildly smiling sister, but he quickly composed himself, stating flatly: “No matter how much you hate, you can’t change the fact that you and your mother were not favored. Do you think a few words of provocation can bring about any change? Just as you said, it’s merely disgusting. What else can it do?”

“You’re so confident. So confident that I might mistakenly think you’re already the sole heir.” Lin Jin retorted, then changed the subject with a leap of thought: “You’ve lived in the superiority of false prosperity for many years, haven’t you? You’ve forgotten your own capabilities.”

Just as the words left her mouth, Sheng He appeared opportunely, interrupting their conversation.

“Boss, it’s getting late.” He kept a vigilant eye on the expressionless Lin Sheng, leaning in to ask Lin Jin: “Should we leave now?”

“Why stay in such a boring place? Is watching people eat satisfying? Let’s go.” Lin Jin, of course, said this deliberately for Lin Sheng to hear.

She swayed her body as she walked away, then suddenly remembered something. She turned back and gave Lin Sheng a meaningful smile: “The game hasn’t even begun yet. You had better pray that the Old Master lives a few more years. If you can meet me as an equal, I might find it interesting. I’m just afraid you won’t have the capability to play with me until the end. I will be very sad to laugh at you.”

Lin Sheng clenched his jaw, his face darkening as if on the brink of a storm. A thick killing intent gathered in his eyes. He stared like a wolf or tiger at the swaying back, until she disappeared from view.

He hated this woman’s confidence. He reached up, tearing at his tie and pulling it hard several times, then took out his phone and dialed a number: “Find a few people to ‘play’ with Lin Jin tonight. I want to see how capable she is of escaping this.”

The days without Lin Jin’s interference were extremely fulfilling for Cheng Sangluo.

During the day, she worked as a cashier at the convenience store. Aside from the peak hours of breakfast and lunch, the rest of the time was relatively slow.

During breaks, she would stand behind the counter, spacing out, contemplating her next course of action. She thought about the information she overheard at Xu Songheng’s house that day, hesitating whether to share it with Lin Jin.

However, whenever she thought of that slyly smiling madwoman, her focus on revenge would derail, floating toward those scenes of their frantic coupling.

They were inconsequential matters, yet they remained vividly in her memory, frame by frame.

Whenever this happened, Cheng Sangluo would vigorously slap her cheeks with both hands, forcing herself to escape those embarrassing memories.

She felt she had been cursed by Lin Jin—a curse that wouldn’t kill her but would numb her mind, constantly and involuntarily stirring the addiction of knowing what that forbidden fruit tasted like.

This addiction loved to appear mysteriously at night, disturbing her sleep. Even when asleep, it would suddenly jump out in her dreams, asking her if she wanted to meet, if she wanted boundless possession.

As the sun set, Cheng Sangluo reconciled the day’s cashier accounts with the store manager.

She changed out of her convenience store uniform, took three near-expiry discounted rice balls as usual, and honestly recorded the purchase in a small notebook, so the cost could be deducted from her salary later.

This was a small benefit, being able to eat filling food at an internal discount. Before, the rice balls cost eight yuan for two, but now she could get three for five yuan.

Leaving the convenience store, she walked toward the bus stop, continuously stuffing rice balls into her mouth like a hamster, stopping and starting along the way.

Shu Wan’s nightclub was located on the lively bar street. The uniquely designed standalone building stood out from the mediocrity of other bars, exuding an air of high-end arrogance.

As the street lights came on, a long queue quickly formed outside the bar. Even though the minimum consumption was shockingly expensive, young people were willing to pay for the vanity.

Cheng Sangluo had plenty of time between her shifts, so she would take the bus, slowly rocking along. This allowed her to nap a bit on the bus and pass the time.

By the time she arrived at the bar, it was still an hour before opening.

She would change into her good-quality security suit in the locker room and chat with the staff.

Compared to the previous private club, the staff at the bar were more down-to-earth, united by a common goal: earning quick money.

As long as there was money to be made, they were willing to do anything.

Cheng Sangluo’s appearance was striking and handsome. After working at the bar for a few days, she had already encountered several female customers who offered money to purchase her service.

Although she wasn’t in beverage sales, as long as it didn’t involve drinking with guests or breaking the law, she was happy to earn the money.

The people in the security team teased her, saying it was bizarre to see guests request security personnel instead of male or female models.

Cheng Sangluo laughed it off, not seeing anything wrong with it. Earning money by selling a service was neither shameful nor disgraceful.

Closer to opening time, the security team gathered. The leader assigned everyone their positions, reiterating the rules: strictly no illegal activities (gambling, drugs, prostitution), and strictly no fighting or causing trouble.

After the dismissal, the leader called Cheng Sangluo aside, instructing: “After ten o’clock tonight, go stand guard in the VIP room on the second floor. Boss Shu has important guests tonight, and she specifically requested you by name.”

“Understood.” Cheng Sangluo agreed immediately and walked to her usual post to wait quietly.

She hadn’t seen Shu Wan since reporting for work, not even talking to her on the phone.

Cheng Sangluo thought that since they would meet today, she should thank her in person. While she didn’t particularly love the job, the money came in quickly. In just a few days, she had already earned thousands from corkage and tips.

Soon after, deafening DJ music, accompanied by shifting spotlights, ushered in the night’s carnival.

The neon-lit bar street, as soon as night fell, became a scene of extravagant decadence. Various luxury and supercars roared in, always drawing passersby to stop and stare.

Gu Shinan parked her bright blue Lamborghini by the roadside, touching up her lipstick in the rearview mirror, clearly in high spirits: “Don’t say I’m not dedicated, sister. I’ve invited almost everyone in our circle for your sake. Since we’re out, let’s have fun and don’t give me any of that half-dead attitude.”

Gu Shinan initiated tonight’s drinking session.

Like an unwritten rule, she would find ways to drink with Lin Jin on this day every year, and today was no exception.

Lin Jin leaned lifelessly in the passenger seat. Since her ambiguous relationship with Cheng Sangluo, she hadn’t participated in this kind of sensual entertainment for a long time.

The old President Lin wouldn’t have been like this—she used to party wildly and recklessly. Now, she had adopted a reformed demeanor, as if the taste of alcohol had changed, losing its intoxicating allure.

She wasn’t in the mood right now. Glancing at the bar not far away, she felt even more bored: “Have all the bars in the world gone extinct, that you insist on bringing me here to her place for fun?”

Gu Shinan pursed her lips, using her finger to wipe away lipstick from the edge of her mouth, stating casually: “The extent of your hostility towards Shu Wan is between the two of you. I don’t care about that. I only care if you have enough fun tonight.”

“Tch.” Lin Jin clicked her tongue, grumbling stubbornly: “It’s just drinking over and over. Don’t you find it boring?”

She didn’t want to see Shu Wan, but that was the nature of second-generation rich socializing. They disliked each other but had to meet often.

Since it usually involved lukewarm greetings followed by everyone doing their own thing, she didn’t care much.

“Boring? You have no idea how boring Ji Nanxing is. She manages me like a prisoner. I can only come out tonight thanks to you, so don’t spoil my mood.” Gu Shinan couldn’t help but complain about her meticulous lover.

“Let’s go. If you don’t want anything else, can’t you at least aim to get drunk?” She urged, opening the car door, then suddenly thought of something, “If you really feel bored, call your soldier over.”

Lin Jin looked displeased: “She has a name. It’s Cheng Sangluo.”

Suddenly talking about the puppy, who hadn’t been in touch for several days, her heart involuntarily tightened.

She had been busy with company matters lately, neglecting to check on Cheng Sangluo’s whereabouts.

This woman was already filled with resentment. Bringing up this topic would only increase it. That person never took the initiative, not even sparing a single message.

Gu Shinan leaned against the car door, observing Lin Jin’s unpredictable expression, which looked like a grim reaper. “You… you aren’t planning to get serious with her, are you?”

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