Chapter 259 The closer she gets, the more harm she will suffer.

Upon hearing the man's words, Jiang Shiyuan remained completely calm, her heart utterly undisturbed.

She was not naive enough to believe that Xie Jinghuai was backing her up; he simply didn't want to lose face in front of the Lin family. After all, the Lin family knew they were husband and wife, and if he didn't say a few words in her defense, wouldn't he be a coward?

Fu Chong looked at Xie Jinghuai's face, which was filled with hidden rage, stuck his tongue against his cheek, and gave a disdainful sneer.

He felt that he was indeed a womanizer and not exactly a gentleman, but his strength lay in his straightforwardness and sincerity.

He's a womanizer, and a scumbag, that's who he is. Unlike Xie Jinghuai, who tries to portray himself as a protective husband even when he's a scumbag, his want-it-all attitude is truly disgusting.

Everyone was taken aback, glancing at Xie Jinghuai and then at Jiang Shiyuan, unable to fathom the nature of their relationship.

Everyone says Miss Lin is Mr. Xie's darling, right? This Miss Jiang is just the daughter of Mr. Lin's ex-wife, only related by blood. Does Mr. Xie really need to interfere?

What exactly does he mean? Is he trying to have his cake and eat it too?

The guests all turned to look at Lin Zhixin, their gazes a mixture of emotions, but mostly mockery.

"Brother Jinghuai! My mother was tricked by this Zhu guy! Don't believe this scoundrel's lies!" Lin Zhixin, despite the overwhelming pressure from the man, was still trying to defend Liu Nianrou.

Xie Jinghuai looked at Lin Zhixin coldly, his usual gentleness gradually disappearing.

“The recordings, photos, and witness testimonies are all there. Zhixin, if you continue to cover for your mother, you will only make your Lin family's situation more embarrassing.”

Lin Zhixin trembled at the sharp gaze, and the words stuck in her throat like a fishbone, unable to come out.

"I...I..." Liu Nianrou's eyes rolled back, her legs went weak, and she fainted.

Lin Zhixin exclaimed, "Mom!"

Lin Chengchou immediately stepped forward anxiously, "Rou'er!"

Liu Nianrou closed her eyes tightly, but secretly squeezed her daughter's hand.

Lin Zhixin's eyes darted around, and she burst into tears instantly. "Dad! Mom's health hasn't been good these past few years... How can she bear such slander and abuse? My sister lost her mother, does she want me to lose mine too? What is she thinking?!"

"Alright!"

Lin Chengchou was extremely agitated and sternly ordered Secretary Cao, "Quickly! Call an ambulance!"

...

The birthday party ended abruptly before it even officially began.

Liu Nianrou was rushed to the hospital for "emergency treatment" by Chairman Lin and Lin Zhixin. The other guests weren't interested in the meal; they were already stuffed from all the gossip, so they all left the Lin family home. The once lively villa quickly became deserted.

Xie Jinghuai followed closely behind to the hospital, leaving Jiang Shiyuan waiting at the Lin family's house.

"So, Mr. Xie has to consider the Lin family too? He's ignoring his wife who's been wronged?"

Fu Chong strolled leisurely through the empty banquet hall, hands in his pockets. "I've met countless people, but I've never seen a man this scumbag before. In my opinion, every scumbag in the world should burn three sticks of incense and pray to his picture before cheating. He's the patriarch of scumbags."

"President Fu, is this what you call a good show?" Jiang Shiyuan didn't look at him, her voice cold and stern.

Fu Chong raised an eyebrow smugly, "How was it? Wasn't it exciting? It's just a pity that your father's third son pretended to faint and escaped a disaster. But it doesn't matter. This time she has lost face completely, and she probably won't be able to show her face to anyone from now on."

Seeing that Jiang Shiyuan remained silent, the man walked up behind her.

His tall, inverted-triangle figure exuded a strong masculine charm. He bent slightly, his chin almost touching her shoulder blade, and his increasingly hot breath swept across her cheek.

"If you're still not satisfied, Mr. Jiang, I have plenty of power and means to deal with her. Just say the word..."

"Mr. Fu, don't you think you've overstepped your bounds?"

Jiang Shiyuan frowned and took a step away from his invisible entanglement. "I can resolve my grievances with the Lin family myself. I don't need to rely on any man to interfere."

You thought you stood up for me, you thought you helped me, but what you did was never what I wanted. I will never be grateful to you for it.

"Tsk, does Mr. Jiang mean that I did something wrong with good intentions?"

Fu Chong, with the tip of his tongue pressed against his cheek, stood up straight with an air of nonchalance. "Then you don't have to accept my kindness. You can just turn around and leave."

But it seems you were having quite a bit of fun criticizing them.

Jiang Shiyuan: "..."

She had indeed wanted to take revenge on the Lin family for a long time, but was just waiting for the right opportunity.

If there is no opportunity, she will wait.

But given the opportunity, she will give it her all.

Fu Chong took out a cigarette case from his pocket, pulled out a cigarette, flicked it into the air, and caught it accurately with his mouth:

"Mr. Jiang, women who are too strong and stubborn don't have good lives. Women who know how to act weak and pitiful are the most popular with men. Your sister, Miss Lin, is a perfect example. Although she is a slut, your husband loves her and spoils her rotten."

Jiang Shiyuan knew perfectly well the purpose behind his words; it was nothing more than an attempt to sow discord between her and Xie Jinghuai.

But what he didn't know was that their relationship had long been broken up, so why was he wasting his breath?

“You yourself said Lin Zhixin is a slut. If I were like her, groveling and begging for favors, wouldn’t I become just like her?”

"Hmm, that makes sense."

Fu Chong exhaled a smoke ring, then changed the subject, "But please don't misunderstand me, President Jiang. You don't like others interfering in your family affairs, and now it seems that I've been used as a pawn."

Jiang Shiyuan suddenly looked at him, "What do you mean?"

"Do you know who told me that guy surnamed Zhu was secretly filming us?"

A few seconds later, Fu Chong's eyes turned sinister as he uttered the answer, "It's Fu Chen."

Jiang Shiyuan didn't know "Fu Chen", but upon hearing the name, her heart inexplicably raced.

'Oh, I forgot, he changed his name.'

Fu Chong toyed with the golden lighter between his fingers, a playful smile curving his lips. "Now, his name is Fu Chenzhou."

Jiang Shiyuan's pupils dilated, and her ten fingers trembled as she curled them into her palms.

Fu Chong, Fu Chen, Fu Chenzhou.

She already guessed what their relationship was.

"My third son's mother and my father got married because she was pregnant. She was already pregnant with my son before she became my father's second wife. At that time, my mother's body was still warm."

Fu Chong moved closer to Jiang Shiyuan, whose face was frozen, his greedy and wicked eyes lingering on her red lips. "President Jiang hates Lin Zhixin because she is the child of a mistress. My reason for hating Fu Chen is exactly the same as yours."

Don't you think we're both in the same boat, suffering the same fate?

Jiang Shiyuan's breathing became labored, and she couldn't speak.

Only now did she realize that Fu Chenzhou was the third young master of the Fu family. If Fu Chong hadn't told her, he could have kept it from her forever.

She didn't care at all what Fu Chenzhou's status was, whether he was a prince or a nobleman.

She just felt a chill in her heart.

What she saw of Fu Chenzhou was only the tip of the iceberg; the hidden depths beneath the surface were beyond her comprehension and understanding.

They had met once, yet it was as if they had never known each other before.

"The photos in Zhu Jiankun's possession were secretly given to my father by Fu Chen. Because of you, I have offended my father severely, but Fu Chen has been highly praised by my father and suppressed by him. He has profited from this, and his scheme has backfired on me."

Fu Chong narrowed his eyes, which were filled with desire, and chuckled softly, "I know that President Jiang has some connections with my third brother, and even has a good relationship with his son."

Jiang Shiyuan's face instantly turned as cold as ice. "You investigated me?"

"I just hope you won't be fooled by Fu Chen, who has a child. He is extremely cunning, and everything he does has a motive and a purpose."

Fu Chong took a deep drag of his cigarette, threw down the butt, and stubbed it out with his toe. "If he truly wanted to help you, then the person standing with you tonight against the Lin family should be him, not me."

Jiang Shiyuan lowered her beautiful eyes and pursed her lips.

Meanwhile, behind the Lin family villa.

The Maybach, with its lights off, stood silently in the quiet night.

A hand, with well-defined bones and fair skin, holding a cigarette, reached out from the car window, ash falling softly.

The car had been parked there since the banquet started, but no one noticed it.

Cigarette butts littered the ground, evoking an indescribable sense of loneliness and desolation.

"Mr. Fu, why didn't you handle this matter for Miss Jiang yourself?"

Xing Zhen couldn't stand it anymore and asked anxiously, "Why give such a good opportunity to Fu Chong? He has ulterior motives towards Miss Jiang!"

Fu Chenzhou's peach blossom eyes held a hint of detachment, and he coughed a few times, choked by the thick smoke, as he was not a regular smoker.

"Fu Chong stood up for Miss Jiang. What if Miss Jiang develops feelings for him? Wouldn't you be doing all this for someone else's benefit?!"

You don't understand.

Fu Chenzhou stubbed out his cigarette with his large, veiny hand, burning his palm. A slight pain reminded him to always maintain a ruthless rationality. "Fu Chong is a complete mad dog. When he goes crazy, he will drag the whole world down with him."

He has no weaknesses, but I do.

Xing Zhen was stunned, "President Fu..."

"Now, Fu Chong doubts my true feelings for Jiang Shiyuan."

Fu Chenzhou gripped the cigarette butt tightly, a dark emotion surging in his restrained eyes. "At a time like this, the closer I get, the more I'll harm her."

...

After being rescued, Liu Nianrou was sent to a VIP ward to recuperate, with Lin Chengchou by her side.

In the corridor, Lin Zhixin sat on a chair, crying her eyes out. Her fragile appearance instantly aroused a strong protective instinct in men.

"Brother Jinghuai...I'm so scared..."

Lin Zhixin pulled Xie Jinghuai, who stood tall and imposing like a towering tree in front of her, and raised her tear-streaked face. "Will my mother be alright? Will you stay here with me...?"

Xie Jinghuai glanced coldly at her, slowly withdrawing his hand from her palm:

"Zhixin, there's something I want to ask you."

Lin Zhixin stared at him blankly, but her heart was pounding with panic.

"Did you know or not that your mother colluded with Zhu Jiankun to secretly film Jiang Shiyuan and Fu Chong?" Xie Jinghuai's voice gradually turned cold and hard, his eyes revealing his judgment.

Lin Zhixin burst into tears, shaking her head repeatedly, "How could I possibly know these things? Brother Jinghuai... how could you think of me like this? Don't you believe me anymore?!"

"Zhixin, you've followed me for many years, you should know my personality."

Xie Jinghuai stared at her with a deep, cold gaze. "Telling me proactively and waiting for me to find out will not yield the same result. Don't make a foolish choice."