The Devil President's Delicate Wife (GL) - Chapter 8

Lin Yueshu had spent over a month preparing for the competition, pouring all her energy into her entry. During this time, Murong Qing hadn’t pestered her, and she assumed he had simply lost interest.

After more than a month of preparation, it was finally time for the competition. Lin Yueshu’s works were usually submitted on her behalf by someone from the company. For major competitions, Su Fuyin would personally handle the registration and submission, and this time was no different.

Su Fuyin took Lin Yueshu’s work to the competition, while Lin Yueshu herself sat in the audience. Su Fuyin had even scolded her harshly for this, saying that if she was going to attend the event in person, it would be most appropriate for her to present her own work.

But Lin Yueshu insisted she was only going because she was bored and wanted to add a little excitement to her life. The real reason, of course, was to avoid Murong Qing.

At the competition venue, Lin Yueshu wandered around alone. Truthfully, she wasn’t fond of such events. When the competition began, she didn’t even watch, choosing instead to sit in a quiet corner of the building’s lobby, flipping through a newly published fashion advertising design magazine from a certain publisher.

She was so engrossed that she didn’t notice someone approaching her. Slender fingers slowly turned one glossy page after another.

She had no idea how much time had passed when she finally finished the book. Closing the advertising design magazine, she took a deep breath only to realize someone had been standing beside her all along. Lin Yueshu lifted her head slightly to see who could be so rude.

When she got a clear look at the person’s face, she saw delicate features and striking handsomeness—a rare beauty of a man. Yet the more she looked at him, the more familiar he seemed, as if she had met him somewhere before.

The man noticed Lin Yueshu studying him silently and realized she might not remember him. A bitter ache filled his heart. He had harbored a secret crush on her since his sophomore year, yet Lin Yueshu had never spared him a second glance. Smiling, he said, “Yueshu, long time no see.”

Hearing him address her as “junior,” Lin Yueshu guessed they must have graduated from the same school. But she couldn’t recall him at all. She searched her memory again, and at the last moment, a faint trace of recognition surfaced.

Lin Yueshu smiled gently. “Senior Han, it’s been a while.” Her voice was as soft and captivating as ever, enough to make anyone fall helplessly under her spell.

Han Haojun was overjoyed that she actually remembered him. Without hesitation, he sat down beside her and struck up a conversation.

He still remembered the first time he saw Lin Yueshu. It was during freshman orientation, and he, as the student council president, had personally welcomed her.

Back then, she had worn a white silk blouse, light green casual trousers, and white canvas shoes. Her long, dark hair was tied up in a bun, and she carried a blue backpack over her shoulders. With her delicate features, beautiful face, and slender figure, even her simple outfit looked mesmerizing on her.

From that moment on, Lin Yueshu’s every move had captivated Han Haojun. He often found excuses to approach her, but she never seemed to pay him any attention. She was always busy, rarely seen around campus.

Even so, Han Haojun never gave up on her. Though he seldom saw her in person, he frequently caught glimpses of her in the school’s news bulletins.

Almost all the news was about Lin Yueshu winning awards in competitions, earning her the title of “Genius of the Design World.”

Lin Yueshu was truly outstanding, but after graduation, he had heard nothing about her.

Feeling bored, Lin Yueshu thought Han Haojun seemed like a decent person and struck up a conversation with him. They talked about many things—school, their current lives and hit it off as if they were old friends reuniting after a long time.

Their conversation was lively, but they failed to notice a pair of eyes fixed on them from a distance, not straying for even a second.

Murong Qing had also been invited as a guest presenter for the awards. Finding the competition dull that day, she stepped out for some fresh air. To her surprise, when she reached the lobby, she saw Lin Yueshu chatting with an exceptionally handsome man, both looking extremely happy.

Murong Qing had never seen Lin Yueshu so joyful before, her smile seemingly capable of melting everything in the world. Yet, this smile wasn’t meant for her, it was for a man.

Watching the man gaze at Lin Yueshu with tender affection, Murong Qing couldn’t control her emotions. Lin Yueshu was her woman. No one else was allowed to set their sights on her, let alone get close to her.

Murong Qing was that kind of person—what belonged to her was off-limits to everyone else. Seeing the two laughing and sharing an intimate moment, Murong Qing’s eyes burned with fury.

At that moment, she was like a wild beast on the verge of eruption, barely holding herself back.

Just as Lin Yueshu and Han Haojun were enjoying their conversation, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and saw the name “Susu”—she knew exactly who it was. No one else but Su Fuyin would call her that.

She answered the call. “Hey, is the competition over?” Lin Yueshu had already been waiting for hours and didn’t want to stay any longer. Though she enjoyed talking to Han Haojun, she still preferred her own personal space.

“Yep, Shushu, guess what? We won first place! Let’s celebrate tonight. I’m so happy. I knew you’d pull it off!” Su Fuyin’s excitement was so palpable it seemed she might grab a megaphone and announce it to the world.

Lin Yueshu, however, remained unfazed. Winning or losing didn’t matter to her. She never cared about such things. She always gave her best effort in everything she did, never cutting corners. That was just her nature, meticulous to a fault.

“The competition’s over. We should head back. I’ll wait for you in the parking lot.” Lin Yueshu no longer wanted to stay. A strange chill had settled over her, making her uneasy. How could it feel so cold in the middle of summer? She glanced around but found nothing amiss.

“Alright, I’ll be right there.” Su Fuyin knew Lin Yueshu had reached her limit.

Lin Yueshu hummed in acknowledgment and hung up.

Turning to Han Haojun, she thought he was actually quite nice, someone who’d make a good friend. “Senior, I need to go now. Do you have anything else to do here?” She stood up, tucked the magazine into her backpack, and slung it over her shoulder.

Han Haojun saw Lin Yueshu about to leave and stood up as well, saying, “I don’t have anything major either, just came to watch the competition. I’ve started my own gaming and comics company, and since you’re an outstanding advertising designer from our school, I might need your help in the future.”

Han Haojun had just opened his own company. Although his family was wealthy, he wanted to pursue his dreams through his own efforts.

He paused, then said to Lin Yueshu, “Yueshu, here’s my business card. Could you give me your phone number? That way, I can reach out to you later.” Han Haojun felt a little awkward. He knew Lin Yueshu’s personality. She wouldn’t casually give her number to just anyone unless they were important to her.

Lin Yueshu looked at Han Haojun’s flustered expression, which made him look like a shy little bride, and found it quite endearing. She thought it was charming how nervous he was just asking for a girl’s contact information—so innocent. She took the card and said, “Sure. Is the number on the card yours? I’ll just call it directly.” With that, she dialed the number.

“Alright, got it saved,” Han Haojun said, pulling out his phone to store Lin Yueshu’s number.

“Senior Han, I’ll head out first,” Lin Yueshu said with a slight nod before turning to leave.

Han Haojun watched her retreating figure with reluctance. This was their first meeting after four years apart. He had never expected to see Lin Yueshu again, but now that they had crossed paths, it seemed to solidify some unspoken resolve in him.

Meanwhile, Mu Rongqing watched the reluctant farewell from a corner. Her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. For the first time, she felt threatened. For the first time, she realized that Lin Yueshu truly didn’t love her at all.

That day, Mu Rongqing didn’t attend the awards ceremony. She sent the company’s general manager in her place. Instead, she sped away in her Lamborghini.

When she got home, she drank bottle after bottle of Lafite, a wine worth hundreds of thousands per bottle as if it were mere soda.

Her mind was filled with images of Lin Yueshu laughing with that man. Every gesture, every movement of Lin Yueshu’s was so captivating, so utterly enchanting.

In the year and more they had spent together, Mu Rongqing had never seen Lin Yueshu behave like that around her. She was furious. And heartbroken.

The woman she loved, who was by her side every day, had never truly looked at her. Mu Rongqing felt like she was on the verge of collapse. She was terrified that one day, Lin Yueshu would leave her.

If that day ever came, Mu Rongqing had no idea what she would become. From the moment she realized her own feelings, she had vowed to love Lin Yueshu wholeheartedly. But it seemed her love was nothing but a burden to Lin Yueshu.

Two bottles of Lafite disappeared down Mu Rongqing’s throat in quick succession. Wine, especially red wine, should never be gulped down. It’s the fastest way to get drunk.

Lin Yueshu returned home around eight. Mu Rongqing had once told her not to come back late, and she always remembered that. Unless something came up, she would call to let Mu Rongqing know if she’d be delayed.

The moment Lin Yueshu opened the door, she was met with a scene of chaos in the living room.

Mu Rongqing lay sprawled on the sofa, empty Lafite bottles toppled on the floor, and cushions strewn everywhere.

The glass on the table lay toppled over, like a child abandoned by its owner.

Lin Yueshu observed the scene and knew that Murong Qing must have encountered some trouble otherwise, she wouldn’t be tormenting herself like this.

She went upstairs to fetch a thin blanket and draped it over Murong Qing before starting to tidy the messy living room. Once finished, she washed up. It was already past ten, but Murong Qing still hadn’t woken. Feeling it would be impolite to go to bed, she picked up a magazine and sat in the living room to read. Exhaustion soon overtook her, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep with her head resting on the table.