Chapter 55 p1
As the year drew to a close, January 1st, New Year’s Day arrived.
On this day, Li Xu and the wealthy heiress, Mo Yuwei, were to be engaged.
It had to be admitted, the scumbag had some skills.
He came from a humble background, so Mo Yuwei’s parents strongly disapproved of their relationship, especially after the recent scandal with Xin Yao.
Yet, despite their objections, he had somehow managed to convince Mo Yuwei to go ahead with the engagement.
The engagement ceremony was held at a luxurious hotel in City A.
The venue was lavishly decorated, white roses and flowing drapes creating an elegant backdrop, crystal chandeliers illuminating the rows of seats, the atmosphere grand and opulent.
After all, the Mo family was prominent in City A, and while her parents disapproved, it was their only daughter’s engagement, a significant event they couldn’t entirely ignore.
So, they had invited everyone they could, from family and friends to influential figures in business and society.
Mo Yuwei and her parents stood at the entrance, greeting their guests, Li Xu by her side, his back slightly bent, a constant smile plastered on his face, the picture of a subservient fiancé.
It was the bride’s family hosting the event, their relatives and friends filling the room, the engagement party funded entirely by them.
The groom, however, stood there alone, no family, no friends, no parents.
He had told the Mo family that he had a strained relationship with his parents, claiming they had abused him as a child, and that he had cut ties with them after becoming independent.
His story had earned him Mo Yuwei’s sympathy, and she had showered him with gifts, wanting to heal his childhood wounds.
His claims of a difficult relationship with his parents, and their estrangement, were true.
But it wasn’t the whole story.
Xin Yao, having inherited the original owner’s memories, knew the truth about Li Xu’s family.
His family had been poor, desperately poor.
They had collected and sold scrap metal, their small, dilapidated courtyard filled with piles of junk, leaving barely any space to walk.
As the piles grew higher, their home had become a dark, cluttered space, the air thick with the smell of rust and decay, especially during the summer months.
As a child, Li Xu had helped his parents with their work, dutifully sorting through the scrap metal, his small hands diligently separating the valuable pieces from the worthless debris.
Until one day, a classmate had seen him rummaging through a trash can.
The classmate, from a wealthy family, his clothes bright and new, his backpack the latest model, had looked like a shining beacon of light against the backdrop of the grimy, cluttered courtyard.
And Li Xu, his own clothes patched and worn, had felt a pang of shame for the first time.
The next day, the news had spread through the school: Li Xu’s family were garbage collectors.
They had mocked him, calling him “Trash Xu,” throwing empty water bottles at him, asking if he wanted them.
Then, they had started to avoid him, claiming he smelled bad, their exaggerated reactions a constant reminder of his lower social status.
The daily taunts and ostracism had become unbearable, Li Xu often getting into fights with his classmates, refusing to explain his anger.
He had become a problem child, his behavior a source of annoyance for his teachers and neighbors.
Sometimes, his teachers, exasperated by his constant fighting, had called his parents to the school.
He had hated those moments.
Because his mother would arrive on her three-wheeled cart, piled high with scrap metal, her appearance a stark reminder of his poverty, his shame.
He had felt so humiliated.
And he had raged inwardly: Why am I so poor? Why can’t I have a better life? Why do I have to endure their scorn?
He had wanted to appear respectable, even if it was just a facade.
He had started demanding new clothes, new shoes, the latest phone, expensive pens, his requests growing more extravagant with each passing day.
His parents, wanting to ease his pain, to protect him from the world’s cruelty, had worked harder, sacrificing their own needs to fulfill his every whim.
But it had never been enough.
No matter how much he demanded, he could never match the effortless wealth and privilege of his classmates.
He had watched them, his envy and resentment growing with each passing day.
He had hated his cluttered home, the smell of garbage, the constant reminder of his poverty.
Why had he been born into such a family? Why did he have to live like this?
He had even hated his parents.
If they couldn’t give him a better life, why had they even brought him into this world?
Making him live like this, wasn’t that a form of abuse?
He couldn’t stay here. He had to escape, to climb to the top, and never look back.
So, after starting university, he had cut ties with his parents, who couldn’t even afford his tuition, never returning to their home, never contacting them again.
He had ignored their calls, their messages, eventually blocking them completely.
Even now, he still believed that his childhood had been a form of abuse.
He had completely forgotten that the new phone he had demanded in high school, the phone he had begged and pleaded for, had been bought with his parents’ blood money.
Today, at his engagement party, he hadn’t even considered inviting his parents. He hadn’t thought about them in years.
Xin Yao, sitting in a quiet corner of the lavishly decorated ballroom, dressed in black, her face hidden behind sunglasses, shook her head, remembering Li Xu’s past.
Then, feeling a twinge of boredom, she offered a candy to the woman sitting beside her, also dressed in black, her hair slightly shorter.
“Peach-flavored. Want one?”
The woman, her brow furrowed, her expression a mix of anxiety and excitement, shook her head.
“No, thanks. Don’t you think it’s disgusting? How can you even eat that?”
It was Xin Yao and Ying Xi, of course.
Xin Yao, the one with longer hair, shrugged, unwrapping the candy and popping it into her mouth.
“Candy is innocent. Besides, it’s a joyous occasion! We should be celebrating! Enjoying the sweetness!”
Xin Yao and Ying Xi, of course, hadn’t been invited to Li Xu’s engagement party, but with Liu Nuan Nuan’s help, sneaking in had been easy.
As they chatted, the guests arrived, and the ceremony began.
The moment Xin Yao had been waiting for since the beginning of her mission had finally arrived.
The lights dimmed, the crystal chandeliers sparkling brightly, and the emcee walked onto the stage, his voice smooth and practiced.
After a brief introduction and a welcome message, it was time for the parents of the bride and groom to give their speeches.
But Mo Yuwei’s father disliked Li Xu, and Li Xu’s parents weren’t present, so that part of the ceremony was skipped.
Then, it was the couple’s turn to speak, to exchange vows.
Li Xu, dressed in a suit, looking respectable and polished, stood on stage, the spotlight illuminating his face, his gaze fixed on Mo Yuwei, who stood opposite him in an elegant white dress.
He spoke into the microphone, his voice filled with emotion.
“Yuwei, I love you.”
“You always ask me if I love you, and I always tell you that I do. But today, on this special occasion, I want to express my love for you once again…”
Being a scumbag, Li Xu was a skilled orator, his words carefully crafted, his delivery flawless.
He spoke of their love, his voice trembling with emotion, bringing tears to Mo Yuwei’s eyes, even softening the expressions of her disapproving parents.
Only Xin Yao and Ying Xi, sitting in a quiet corner, remained unimpressed.
Xin Yao, her arms crossed, raised an eyebrow, while Ying Xi looked like she was about to be sick.
But then their expressions changed, Ying Xi sitting up straight, her eyes shining with excitement, even Xin Yao leaning forward slightly.
After the couple’s exchange of vows, a video montage, showcasing their love story, began playing on the large screen behind them.
Li Xu and Mo Yuwei, holding hands, looked up at the screen, their faces filled with love and happiness.
Xin Yao and Ying Xi, sitting below, also looked up expectantly.
Soft music filled the air as the video began, a series of photos and short clips depicting their relationship.
The video started from Li Xu’s perspective, describing how he had been captivated by Mo Yuwei’s bright and cheerful personality, his heart fluttering with each encounter.
He spoke of his initial hesitation, his fear of not being good enough for her, his self-doubt battling with his undeniable attraction.
Mo Yuwei, her hand tightening around Li Xu’s, her eyes filled with tears, murmured, “I didn’t know you felt that way.”
Li Xu squeezed her hand, his voice filled with love.
“I can never be too careful when it comes to you.”
As his words faded, the music swelled, its tempo increasing, signaling the moment of his confession.
Li Xu, holding a bouquet of flowers, knelt before Mo Yuwei, surrounded by heart-shaped candles.
Mo Yuwei gasped, her hand covering her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise and delight.
Li Xu looked at her, his expression a mix of nervousness and sincerity.
“Yuwei, I love you. Will you be with me? I’ll love you forever!”
But just as he uttered those words, the video glitched, the scene shifting abruptly.
The brightly lit outdoor setting, the romantic candlelight, was replaced by a dimly lit interior, a single lamp illuminating the room.
Li Xu, still kneeling, holding a bouquet of flowers, his pose identical to the previous scene, was now facing a different woman, her reaction mirroring Mo Yuwei’s, her hand covering her mouth, her eyes filled with tears.
The music stopped, the room falling silent.
While the two scenes featured different women, the similarities – Li Xu kneeling, holding flowers – made the guests assume it was a technical glitch.
Then, Li Xu’s voice, filled with emotion, echoed through the silent ballroom.
“Baby, I love you. I’ll love you forever.”
Silence.
One second.
Two seconds.
Then, the room erupted in a cacophony of gasps and whispers, the guests finally realizing that the woman in the second scene wasn’t Mo Yuwei.
Baby?
Who was this “baby”?
Wasn’t this Mo Yuwei and Li Xu’s engagement party? Who was he confessing his love to?
Confused murmurs filled the room.
Then, they recognized the woman in the video. It was Xin Yao, the actress!
Li Xu had claimed that Xin Yao had been stalking him, trying to sabotage his relationship, and yet, here he was, confessing his love for her, down on one knee!
Those who had followed the scandal from the beginning were instantly alert, their phones recording the scene.
And the date in the corner of the screen, deliberately enlarged, clearly showed that the confession had taken place six years ago!
Six years ago, Li Xu had been with another woman! And judging by their reactions, neither woman had been aware of the other’s existence.
He had been two-timing them!
Someone was already on the phone. “Breaking news! Chaos at Mo Yuwei’s engagement party! Major drama! Get here now!”
Excited whispers filled the room.
It was the video Xin Yao had recovered shortly after arriving in this world.
She hadn’t released it immediately, choosing to wait for the perfect moment, for maximum impact.
And now, the room was in chaos.
Ying Xi, sitting beside Xin Yao, was struggling to contain her laughter, tears streaming down her face.
Li Xu, however, his face pale and his body trembling, was in shock.
He had destroyed that camera! How could this video even exist?!
And why now? Who was behind this?
He tried to maintain his composure, reassuring Mo Yuwei.
“Yuwei, it’s just a misunderstanding. I’ll take care of it. I’ll explain everything later.”
He walked towards the back of the room, his brow furrowed, his voice sharp.
“What are you doing?!”
He tried to unplug the projector, but the plug seemed to be stuck, refusing to budge.
On the screen, the video continued playing, Li Xu’s heartfelt confession echoing through the room.
The words were almost identical to the ones he had just spoken to Mo Yuwei, just a different name, the same script.
It was absurd.
Li Xu’s carefully crafted image, his perfect facade, finally cracked, his hand slamming against the wall, the loud bang startling the nearby staff.
The usually gentle and charming actor was terrifying.
Or perhaps, this was his true nature?
Ignoring the stares, he tried to turn off the projector, but the switch wouldn’t budge.
Liu Nuan Nuan, the tech-savvy system, watching from the sidelines, smirked, her mission accomplished.
The video finally ended.
The guests, their initial shock giving way to a morbid curiosity, were buzzing with excitement.
Li Xu, relieved, was about to return to the stage when the screen flickered, the scene shifting.
The dimly lit room where he had confessed his love for Xin Yao was replaced by a bright, modern hotel room.
A young woman in a sexy nightgown set down a camera, adjusting its angle, then ran towards the bed.
She waited, and the door opened.
Another young woman, dressed in pajamas, her face lit up with a smile, rushed towards the newcomer, jumping into their arms.
Their figures disappeared from view for a moment, then reappeared by the bed.
The man, holding the woman in his arms, his hand resting on her thigh, his head lowered, his face clearly visible, while the woman’s face was hidden, was Li Xu.
But the woman in his arms wasn’t Xin Yao, or Mo Yuwei.
Who was she?
So, he wasn’t two-timing them. He was three-timing them! Was he planning to start a harem?
The woman, of course, was Ying Xi.
In the video, Ying Xi, clinging to Li Xu, kissed him passionately, then, cupping his face in her hands, asked, her voice filled with insecurity, “Do you love me?”
And Li Xu, his voice echoing through the silent ballroom, his gaze filled with a feigned sincerity, replied, “Of course I love you. I’ll love you forever.”
This video also had a timestamp: three years ago, after Xin Yao, but before Mo Yuwei.
The appearance of another victim only intensified the drama.
Even the wealthy and influential guests, their usual composure shattered by this unexpected scandal, couldn’t help but gossip.
A young man, his legs crossed, muttered, “Damn, this guy has enough love to go around.”
Someone else scoffed. “He’s like an octopus, a centipede! Shameless!”
Mo Yuwei’s father, unable to contain himself any longer, stood up, his face ashen.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Mo Yuwei, who had felt like she was falling into an icy abyss the moment she saw the first video, now stood there, her mind blank, her body swaying slightly.
Li Xu, rushing back from the projection room, seeing the second video playing on the screen, his face paled, his heart sinking.
He couldn’t even think of a plausible excuse.
Compared to their shock and disbelief, Ying Xi was delighted.
She was smarter and bolder than the original Xin Yao.
She had simply wanted to record a few intimate moments with her boyfriend, a memento to cherish during their long separations.
She hadn’t expected it to become the weapon that would destroy him.
And this video was even more incriminating than Xin Yao’s, their conversation and their kisses far more explicit.
The guests, who had simply come for an engagement party, were now enjoying a front-row seat to a real-life drama, their morbid curiosity piqued.
The stares, the whispers, the judgment of their relatives, friends, and business associates, were like daggers piercing the Mo family’s hearts.
Especially Mo Yuwei and Li Xu.
They stood there, exposed and humiliated, the subjects of public ridicule, unable to defend themselves, unable to silence the whispers or shield themselves from the judging eyes.
Some people were even recording the scene.
It was a mirror image of what the original Xin Yao had endured, publicly humiliated and accused of being a homewrecker, unable to defend herself, the target of everyone’s scorn.
Mo’s father, his face ashen, glared at the gossiping guests, then turned and walked towards the projection room, his voice sharp.
“Get rid of the guests! Tell them to delete the videos! And turn off that damn projector!”
The staff rushed to comply, but it was no use.
Mo’s father, his anger growing, yelled, “Then cut the wires!”
They scrambled to find some scissors.
Leave a Reply