A Substitute Bride With Multiple Identities
Chapter 157 "Beautiful" Memories

Chapter 157: Chapter 157 "Beautiful" Memories

To reach the Xia Family’s banquet hall, one had to pass through a small garden.

The garden was filled with colorful tulips and wind chimes, which swayed and released a rich fragrance with the breeze, and in between them was a swing placed there.

In the center of the garden, there was a pond dug out, its water very clear, home to several goldfish.

As she passed by the swing, Xia Ran had a nostalgic expression on her face, a faint smile at the corner of her lips as she turned her head towards Fu Yanhe, "Mr. Fu, do you still remember that swing?"

"When we were kids, you and I often played there, and I even tricked you by saying if you pushed the swing for me, I would be your bride."

Shen Yanhe knew there was an intentional element to her words, but she couldn’t deny that hearing the "wonderful" memories between Fu Yanhe and Xia Ran

made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"Those days were indeed very blissful and wonderful," Xia Ran sighed, smiling as she pointed to a koi in the pond and asked, "And this koi, do you remember..."

Before Xia Ran could finish, Fu Yanhe interrupted her with an indifferent tone, "I don’t remember."

"I don’t remember anything from when I was a child."

Xia Ran’s expression stiffened.

Fu Yanhe took Shen Yanhe’s hand, gently squeezing it, and looked at her with a calm expression, "Excuse me Miss Xia, please hurry along, my wife hasn’t eaten before leaving home, and I’m afraid she’s getting hungry."

A deep jealousy flashed across Xia Ran’s eyes, her fingertips pinching her palm as she forcefully suppressed her unwillingness, nodding apologetically, "I’m sorry, it’s my fault, let’s hurry along then."

-

The banquet hall was brightly lit.

The hall was festively decorated, with European-style long tables filled with various cakes and high-end dishes, featuring everything from land to sea.

The guests who had come to the banquet were all elegantly dressed, chatting and laughing with those they were acquainted with, making the atmosphere very lively.

Among these guests, there were many familiar faces to Shen Yanhe.

Qi Yunqian and Song Shiwei from the Qi Family had arrived, with a Fu Yu following in between them.

Ji Haosheng and Ji Qian from the Ji Family, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time, were also present, the two brothers mingling with acquaintances in the crowd with glasses in hand.

Xia Ran had just brought Fu Yanhe and Shen Yanhe into the room before leaving them.

Fu Yanhe led Shen Yanhe through the banquet hall, with many guests’ gazes landing on them, hesitating whether or not to go over and say hello.

Ji Qian, who was forcing a smile as he dealt with the familiar people, brightened up when he saw Shen Yanhe, his gaze burning as he almost couldn’t wait to head in her direction.

It had been so long since he had seen her, his longing for her now difficult to contain.

Especially since Fu Yanhe had been pressuring him more and more, insisting on sending him abroad to study, and if it wasn’t for his continual dragging, along with using his life as leverage today to convince his elder brother to bring him to Grandpa Xia’s birthday banquet, he would have had no way to see Shen Yanhe.

Ji Haosheng, who was joking around with the tony daughters, sensed trouble and quickly made an apologetic gesture, catching up to pull him back, "Hey, hey, hey! Where do you think you’re going, young man?"

"Brother, I just want to see Yanhe and talk to her for a moment," Ji Qian turned around, looking at Ji Haosheng with pleading eyes, "I promise, just this once and after that, I’ll go abroad."

Ji Haosheng, feeling helpless, "Even if you want to see her, you can’t do it now, didn’t you see old Fu standing by her side?"

"With him there, how could he possibly let Shen Yanhe meet with you alone?"

Ji Qian clenched his fists tightly, his eyes reddening, a look of resentment on his face, "He’s too domineering, Yanhe won’t be happy with him."

But right now, he lacked the power to take Shen Yanhe away from Fu Yanhe’s side.

A sense of powerlessness rose in Ji Qian’s heart.

Ji Haosheng sighed and coaxed him, "Let’s wait, I’ll find a time to call old Fu away and create an opportunity for you to be alone with Shen Yanhe, how about that?"

Ji Qian could only nod.

When Fu Yanhe entered the banquet hall, his eyes immediately noticed the Ji brothers among the guests. His gaze landed flatly and calmly on Ji Qian,

He only glanced once before withdrawing his attention.

As Shen Yanhe’s gaze was about to shift toward Ji Qian, Fu Yanhe gently rubbed her wrist, tipped his chin slightly, and said warmly, "Yanyan, your friend is coming over to you."

Shen Yanhe withdrew her gaze and looked in the direction that Fu Yanhe’s chin had tipped.

She saw Song Shiwei holding a wine glass, Walking toward her with a cold face. Behind her, there also were an impatient-looking Qi Yunqian and Fu Yu following close behind him.

After taking a few steps, Song Shiwei couldn’t help herself. Her fingers gripping the wine glass turned white, and she turned to face the two always following her, her face brimming with irritation as she coldly said, "Can you two please not follow me anymore?"

"If you two want to be affectionate, go somewhere else. Can you stop being an eyesore behind me?"

Qi Yunqian’s face showed a hint of helplessness. He raised his hand to rub his aching brow and said, "Shiwei, you know, Xiaoran has been diagnosed with depression. I grew up with her since we were little, I can’t just abandon her."

Song Shiwei’s expression turned colder, and a hint of impatience flashed across her eyes, "Then take care of her. Why are you still following me? Are you trying to torment me on purpose?"

Qi Yunqian explained, "I’m not, I just..."

His gaze landed on the wine glass in Song Shiwei’s hand, and his lips pressed together thinly as he said, "I just want to make sure you don’t drink too much, for the sake of your health."

Fu Yu’s eyes were slightly red, and she looked at Song Shiwei with tearful eyes, her deliberately pale makeup revealing a pitiful expression.

"Sorry, sorry, it’s all my fault, Sister Shiwei, Brother Yunqian, please don’t argue over me."

Song Shiwei looked at her and coldly sneered, "It seems you’re quite self-aware."

Fu Yu’s eyes turned even redder.

Qi Yunqian called out somewhat helplessly, "Shiwei..."

Song Shiwei ignored him, turned, and strode toward Shen Yanhe, grabbing her and saying, "Fu Yanhe, I’m borrowing your wife for a moment."

Shen Yanhe didn’t struggle and let herself be led away.

Fu Yanhe didn’t say anything, and after watching the two of them sit down in a corner, he turned his head to look at Qi Yunqian with a helpless face and said calmly, "Qi Yunqian, take care of your woman."

"And you."

Fu Yanhe’s emotionless gaze fell on Fu Yu, and Fu Yu’s body trembled slightly, as she forced an ugly smile, "Big brother."

Fu Yanhe was calm, but his eyes were extremely cold, "If you’re sick, see a doctor. Qi Yunqian can’t cure you."

"Moreover, from childhood to adulthood, the Fu Family has taught you there are the four virtues: propriety, justice, integrity, and honor."

"I would rather not hear rumors spreading in Haicheng about Miss Fu Family eagerly becoming a mistress. You do understand what I mean, don’t you?"

Fu Yu’s complexion turned red, but she dared not talk back.

She bit her lip, lowered her eyes to hide the embarrassment and defiance in her gaze, and nodded.

Fu Yanhe saw her demeanor and knew she hadn’t taken a word in.

But he also had no interest in lecturing the Fu Family’s members.

Just then a guest approached him, and he went to exchange pleasantries with them.

Qi Yunqian rubbed his brow and looked at Fu Yu, sighed, and said, "Your brother is right, if you’re sick, you should see a doctor. Clinging to me is useless."

"If you feel unwell again, call the doctor instead of calling me."

As soon as the words were out, Qi Yunqian turned and left, leaving Fu Yu standing there with a dark expression on her face.