Chapter 30: Premarital Troubles
Huo Linshen's grand proposal at the "Pearl" collection launch event was like a romantic bomb dropped on Hong Kong, instantly dominating the headlines. The love story between talented jewelry designer Su Lingwan and business tycoon Huo Linshen was transformed into a modern fairy tale, garnering countless blessings and attention.
The days that followed were like a sweet romance. The two families formally met to discuss wedding arrangements. Huo Zhenting was delighted with Su Lingwan, his future daughter-in-law, and Su Hongyuan was even more delighted. Wedding preparations were meticulously planned by a professional team, with every detail meticulously crafted to perfection.
Huo Linshen seemed to have taken his "pampering" mode to the extreme. He turned down many unnecessary social engagements to dedicate more time to Su Lingwan. He would accompany her to select wedding dress designs, offering sound advice when she hesitated. He personally participated in scouting wedding venues, simply because she casually mentioned that she liked the atmosphere of a castle garden. Even when she fell asleep from exhaustion while trying on wedding dresses, he would carefully remove her makeup, his movements as gentle as if she were handling a rare treasure.
Su Lingwan was immersed in immense happiness and busyness. Temporarily handing over studio matters to her capable assistant, she threw herself fully into preparing for the most important moment of her life. The unique "South Sea Pearl" engagement diamond ring on her ring finger and the meticulous care of the man beside her made her feel that she was the happiest woman in the world.
However, less than a month before the wedding, a seemingly insignificant storm quietly struck.
That day, Su Lingwan was at the bridal shop, undergoing her final fitting and alterations. The pristine white gown outlined her beautiful figure, her veil trailing on the ground. She looked incredibly beautiful in the mirror. Huo Linshen sat on the sofa beside her, his eyes gentle and focused, as if he couldn't get enough of her.
His phone vibrated. It was Assistant Chen. Huo Linshen glanced at it and walked to the window to answer it.
Su Lingwan didn't care and was still adjusting the angle of her veil in front of the mirror. However, she keenly noticed that Huo Linshen took a little longer to answer the phone, and his figure with his back to her seemed slightly tense.
After the call ended, Huo Linshen turned around with a smile still on his face, but Su Lingwan caught a glimpse of the extremely subtle coldness that flashed across his eyes.
"What's wrong? Is there something wrong at the company?" She walked over, lifting her skirt and asked with concern.
Huo Linshen reached out to help her tidy up the loose hair on her temples, and said in a relaxed tone: "It's nothing, just a small problem, Chen Ming can handle it." He lowered his head and pecked her lightly on the lips, "Very beautiful, my bride."
He successfully used his intimacy to divert her attention. Su Lingwan blushed slightly, glared at him, and temporarily suppressed the doubts in her heart.
But over the next few days, Su Lingwan noticed that Huo Linshen seemed even busier than before. He would deliberately avoid her when answering the phone, and the light in his study was often on late into the night. Although he remained gentle and considerate in front of her, trying his best to hide it, Su Lingwan could still sense the lingering solemnity between his brows.
She asked him several times, but he always evaded the question by saying that "the merger and acquisition case is being finalized and is rather complicated."
That afternoon, Su Lingwan met up with her bestie for afternoon tea to unwind from the intense preparations for her wedding. In the restaurant bathroom, she overheard a conversation between two socialite-looking women outside a cubicle.
"...Have you heard? There seems to be some trouble over at the Huo family."
"What trouble? Isn't the wedding coming soon?"
"It was caused by the wedding. It seems someone anonymously sent some information to some of the Huo family elders and Huo Zhenting. It was about the future Mrs. Huo..."
"Huh? Those photos again?"
"Not only that, this time it seems to involve...the young lady from the Shen family."
"Shen Qinglan? Hasn't she always been...?"
"Hush, keep your voice down! I heard that something was sent out, suggesting that Su Lingwan had used some dishonorable means to get close to Huo Linshen, and that it might even have... influenced the decision-making of certain Huo's projects, damaging the company's interests. They also said that Shen Qinglan had evidence..."
"Oh my God! If this is true, will those old antiques in the Huo family agree to it?"
"So, Huo Linshen must have been incredibly overwhelmed these past few days. He had to suppress the news, appease the elders, and figure out who was behind this... It's hard to say whether the wedding can go on as scheduled..."
The conversation faded away along with the footsteps.
Su Lingwan stood in the cubicle, her whole body cold, and her blood seemed to have frozen in an instant.
It turns out...his abnormal behavior these days is due to this.
This wasn't just some ordinary business trouble, but a malicious slander directed directly at her, enough to shake the foundation of their marriage! Even...it involved Shen Qinglan?
A chill shot up from her feet to her head. She held onto the cold wall, barely able to steady her limp body.
She wasn't worried about the baseless accusations; the innocent would be cleared. She believed Huo Linshen wouldn't buy into those lies. However, the charge of "damaging the company's interests" was too serious, especially in a family as complex as the Huo family. It could easily be used by those with ulterior motives to attack Huo Linshen.
And Shen Qinglan...did she really have any "evidence"? Why did she do this? Was it because she was unwilling to accept it?
Su Lingwan's heart was in a turmoil. She took a few deep breaths and forced herself to calm down. She didn't rush out to confront Huo Linshen, nor did she panic. She understood him. He chose to hide it because he didn't want her to worry before the wedding, and wanted to handle everything on his own.
But she is Su Lingwan, not a canary who can only be protected under the wings.
She calmed herself down and returned to her seat with a normal expression. She chatted with her best friend for a few minutes and then left early on the pretext of having something to do in the studio.
She did not return to the Repulse Bay Villa, but went directly to the Huo Group headquarters. She did not inform Huo Linshen in advance and went straight to the CEO's office on the top floor.
Assistant Chen was a little surprised to see her, but he informed her immediately.
When Su Lingwan pushed open the office door, Huo Linshen was standing in front of the French window, talking on the phone. His tone was unusually cold and stern: "...I don't care what method I use, within three days, I want to know who the source is! Also, you deal with everyone who received the news. I don't want to hear any more rumors!"
Hearing the sound of the door opening, he turned around suddenly. Seeing that it was her, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. Then he quickly said a few words to the person on the other end of the phone and hung up.
"Ling Wan? Why are you here?" He walked over quickly, frowning slightly, trying to hide the fatigue and anger on his face.
Su Lingwan didn't beat around the bush. She looked him straight in the eyes and said calmly, "I know everything."
Huo Linshen paused, his eyes darkening: "What do you know?"
"Someone anonymously spread unfavorable news about me, implicating Shen Qinglan, and accusing me of damaging the interests of the Huo family." Su Lingwan spoke clearly word by word, her voice low but with an unquestionable calmness, "Huo Linshen, you shouldn't have kept it from me."
Huo Linshen looked into her clear and determined eyes, knowing that he could no longer hide it. He sighed and reached out to pull her, but she gently dodged.
"Tell me the details." Su Lingwan walked to the sofa and sat down, her posture calm, as if she was facing an ordinary business negotiation. "I am the party involved. I have the right to know, and I have the responsibility to face it with you."
Huo Linshen looked at her like this, and the rage that had been ignited in his heart by the conspiracy he had been involved in strangely subsided a little. He sat down beside her and told her everything.
It turned out that, starting a few days ago, several key veteran directors of the Huo Group and Huo Zhenting had been receiving anonymous emails and packages. These included not only the previously debunked photos of her and Zhou Jinyan, but also carefully fabricated email screenshots and financial records, insinuating that Su Lingwan had exploited her relationship with Huo Linshen to profit from the "Luminance" project for the Su family, and even hinting at some kind of "collaboration" with Huo Zhenbang. Initial investigation revealed that all the clues vaguely pointed to Shen Qinglan, who appeared to be manipulating the situation, driven by a love-hate relationship.
"Shen Qinglan?" Su Lingwan frowned, "Do you believe she did it?"
Huo Linshen's eyes were cold: "I don't believe it. She's not that stupid, and she wouldn't use such a loophole-ridden method. This is more like framing others and trying to muddy the waters."
"So what do you think?"
"Someone is using Shen Qinglan as a smokescreen. The real target could be me, or it could be the power struggle within the Huo family. They want to use this opportunity to undermine my prestige before the wedding, or prevent the marriage between the Su and Huo families." Huo Linshen analyzed, his eyes sharp as an eagle. "Huo Zhenbang is a big suspect, but he shouldn't be so direct."
"So, you are now investigating the real mastermind behind the scenes and at the same time stabilizing the board of directors?" Su Lingwan immediately grasped the key.
"Yeah." Huo Linshen nodded and rubbed his brow. "I've managed to calm down my father for now, but a few elders still need to be appeased. The most important thing is to resolve this matter thoroughly before the wedding, without leaving any room for criticism."
Su Lingwan was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised her head, a glimmer of wisdom flashing in her eyes: "Lin Shen, perhaps... we can change our thinking."
"Um?"
"They want to use rumors and fabricated evidence to attack us, so why can't we take the initiative and turn this into an opportunity to consolidate our relationship?" Su Lingwan's lips curled up with a confident arc. "I remember that the Huo family has an important charity dinner soon, right?"
Huo Linshen looked at her, and seemed to understand her intention, his eyes lit up: "You mean..."
"Since they want to make things difficult for us," Su Lingwan held his hand firmly, "then we must act even more loving and flawless in front of everyone. Use facts to shatter all the rumors."
She paused and continued, "As for Shen Qinglan... perhaps, we can go meet her in person."
Huo Linshen held her hand in return, feeling the warmth and strength coming from her palm. The haze of conspiracy in his heart seemed to be mostly dispelled by her light.
He looked at her, his eyes full of admiration and love. His girl had never been a weakling who needed his constant protection; she was a partner who could fight alongside him.
"Okay." He responded in a low voice, leaning over and pressing a kiss of reward and trust on her lips, "I'll do as you say."
There was a sudden disturbance before the marriage, but the two people in love chose to face it together.
Trust is their strongest armor.
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