Charles Yin, despite his calm and collected appearance on the surface,
was secretly orchestrating so many things behind the scenes.
No wonder he's the real king!
The terrifying thing about this man is that he never shows his cards, yet he already has everything firmly under control.
Charles Yin reached out and wrapped his arms around Cecilia Gu from behind, gently kissing the top of her head. "If Sylvia Ran had a bit more sense, I really would have turned a blind eye to what she did, for old times' sake. Unfortunately, she shouldn't have targeted you... No one is allowed to bully my woman. Because only I get to bully you..."
After saying this, Charles Yin's large hand grabbed Cecilia's chest. "Hmm, seems like they've gotten even bigger."
Cecilia Gu never expected Charles Yin to tease her in public like this, and her face turned bright red instantly.
"Stop it." Cecilia warned him with a hint of annoyance, "There are so many people here!"
Charles Yin took a deep breath, inhaling the soft fragrance unique to Cecilia, and muttered, "I really hate occasions like this. I can see you, but I can't be by your side every second..."
Cecilia Gu gave a gentle smile and said, "You didn't finish what you were saying earlier! Did you find something out?"
"Yeah." Charles Yin didn't deny it, still greedily breathing in Cecilia's scent. "But it's not certain yet. Now that I have you, it's hard to be sure, so I'll let Ethan Yin check it for me."
Huh? What exactly does that mean?
"By the way, Sylvia Ran said her Ran Family has declined. What does that mean? Has the Ran Family really fallen?" Cecilia continued to ask.
"Yeah. Years ago, the Ran Family moved to Australia, and Sylvia Ran lived and studied in Europe. When she disappeared six years ago, the Ran Family hid themselves too. They even sold their company, and all the family members vanished. Just a few days ago, I found out that something big happened to the Ran Family a few years back, and they lost everything. But Sylvia Ran's disappearance wasn't actually related to their bankruptcy." Charles Yin continued, "Alright, you don't need to worry about this. Now Sylvia Ran's target is Ethan Yin. Can you finally trust your husband?"
Cecilia's face flushed red again.
It's not like I... don't trust him...
"So Ethan Yin is willing to fall for it?" Cecilia deliberately kept the topic going.
"Yeah, he's dumb." Charles Yin said bluntly. "All he does is mess around with women, but he doesn't even know his own limits. If he can escape Sylvia Ran's tricks, that would be a miracle."
At this moment, Mrs. Yin and Sylvia Ran had finished their conversation. Xiao Wang quickly ended the video call and hurried back.
Cecilia nodded at Xiao Wang, who immediately pretended nothing had happened and handed her a glass of milk.
Sylvia Ran and Mrs. Yin returned one after the other.
It wasn't long before Sean Kerr finally couldn't hold back anymore. He grabbed Sylvia Ran's arm and dragged her forcefully to a quiet corner by the wall.
This is so typical of Sean Kerr...
"Sean Kerr, what are you doing? Let go of me!" Sylvia Ran frantically tried to push him away, glaring at him angrily.
Sean Kerr did let go, looking utterly shocked. "Sylvia, how could you be with Ethan Yin? Don't you know he's just a spoiled rich kid?"
Sylvia Ran looked utterly disdainful, glancing quickly at Sean Kerr. "I begged you to bring me to this banquet, and you refused. Sean, just a few days ago you promised you'd always care for me! Why have you changed so much in just a few days?"
Sean Kerr was stunned by her question.
He looked at Sylvia Ran with a hint of pain in his eyes. "Sylvia, is something wrong? You can tell me, but you don't have to put yourself through all this!"
"Really?" Sylvia Ran looked up at Sean Kerr. "Then I'll say it—let's be together!"
"What did you say?" Sean Kerr stared at Sylvia Ran as if he'd seen a ghost.
Sylvia Ran caught sight of Rona Muir in the distance, stepped forward, and suddenly wrapped her arm around Sean Kerr, pressing her whole body into his embrace.
Rona Muir's face changed instantly!
Cecilia Gu quickly pressed Rona Muir's arm down. "Let's see what tricks she's going to pull next."
Rona Muir gritted her teeth. "Sean Kerr still couldn't help but go to her! Looks like our conversation that day didn't work at all!"
"No, it did have an effect. Look, Sean Kerr looks really agitated and angry, doesn't he?" Cecilia kept comforting her good friend. "Have a little faith in yourself."
Only then did Rona Muir grab Cecilia's fingers in return.
Cecilia Gu felt Rona Muir's fingers trembling slightly, and sighed inwardly.
Men and women in love can never see their own feelings clearly.
Those involved are confused, while bystanders see clearly.
Sean Kerr hadn't expected Sylvia Ran to suddenly say that, and immediately pushed her away. "What are you talking about!"
"Sean Kerr, we grew up together. You liked me when we were kids, didn't you?" Sylvia Ran kept looking at Sean Kerr. "You used to say I was the prettiest and cutest girl you'd ever seen, right? I've already broken up with Charles Yin, and we can't go back to the way things were. So, Sean Kerr, we can be together now."
Sean Kerr looked at Sylvia Ran as if she was crazy. "I only ever saw you as a little sister!"
"But we're not actually siblings, are we? Sean Kerr, if you really care about me, then marry me!" Sylvia Ran continued.
Sean Kerr couldn't help but take two steps back.
He realized he understood Sylvia Ran less and less.
How could anyone joke about something like this?
He'd known for years that the one he loved was Rona Muir.
Yes, love—not just like!
Even though he did spoil Sylvia Ran, did stand up for her, and almost broke off years of friendship with Charles Yin because of her.
But liking is liking, and love is love!
Maybe he had a vague crush on her as a child, but the moment Sylvia Ran got together with Charles Yin, his feelings for her became purely sibling-like, not love.
Sylvia Ran must be crazy right now, to say something like that!
"I'll just pretend you didn't say anything today." Sean Kerr held back, but still said, "And I'll say it again—don't ruin yourself. Ethan Yin isn't right for you."
"But he's the Yin Family's Second Son! As the second son, even if he's not as good as Charles Yin, his background still puts him way ahead of most people. Why shouldn't I say yes?" Sylvia Ran replied indifferently.
Sean Kerr finally understood—he really didn't know Sylvia Ran anymore.
Cecilia Gu was right—time really does change people.
The Sylvia Ran now is no longer the Sylvia Ran from before.
Sean Kerr gave Sylvia Ran a complicated look. "If this is your choice, then you'd better take responsibility for it."
Sylvia Ran suddenly burst out laughing, loud and wild, almost doubled over. "Sean Kerr, don't look at me like that! I'm just that realistic."
"But just a few days ago, you told me the person you loved most was Charles Yin!" Sean Kerr looked hurt.
"Yeah, and you said it yourself—that was a few days ago. But I've changed my mind now." Sylvia Ran replied carelessly, "If I can't be Charles Yin's wife, then being his sister-in-law doesn't sound so bad either!"
Sean Kerr looked at Sylvia Ran with a heartbroken expression.
"You've changed, Sylvia Ran," Sean Kerr finally said.
"Have I?" Sylvia Ran looked out the window with an indifferent face. She expertly lit a cigarette, but before she could take two puffs, Sean Kerr snatched it away.
"If you can't be with me, then don't say anything at all." Sylvia Ran glanced indifferently at Sean Kerr.
"Why did you become like this?" Sean Kerr couldn't help but ask.
Sylvia Ran gave a sarcastic laugh. "Why? Yeah, why... I want enough wealth, status, power, luxury, and so on. So, Charles Yin doesn't want me, and you don't want me, so I can only find a man who has all those things."
Sean Kerr really didn't know what to say anymore.
He truly was at a loss for words now.
The beautiful image he once had of Sylvia Ran collapsed completely in his heart.
It's true—the Sylvia Ran in front of him really wasn't the one he used to know.
Sean Kerr thought about all the things he'd done for Sylvia Ran, and suddenly found it all so ridiculous.
He'd been used to this extent, and yet... he had no regrets.
No wonder Rona Muir wanted to break up with him, no wonder she handed in her resignation...
How blind had he been all these years?
"Alright, if there's nothing else, I should get going. After all, I'm Ethan Yin's date today." After saying this, Sylvia Ran frowned and said, "Sean Kerr, don't just come looking for me for no reason anymore."
With that, Sylvia Ran turned and left.
Sean Kerr stood there, dazed for a long time before he finally came back to himself.
After all these years, it seemed he'd really been wrong...
Cecilia Gu responded to the other guests with a polite smile, skillfully mingling among the various VIPs.
When Cecilia Gu saw Sylvia Ran standing next to Ethan Yin again, leaning on him like a delicate bird, she felt certain that Sylvia Ran's presence tonight was anything but random.
Cecilia Gu even suspected that Sylvia Ran's target was still the Yin family, and maybe even herself.
"Cousin-in-law, you really are so virtuous!" Huiyin Jiang's voice rang out behind Cecilia Gu. "Your husband's first love is right here, and you can still smile so happily. I can't tell if you're just naturally broad-minded, or if you've never really loved my cousin at all?"
Cecilia Gu turned around to see Huiyin Jiang staring straight at her, crisp and direct.
Cecilia Gu put down her glass and looked calmly at Huiyin Jiang. "So, cousin, what do you think I should do? Should I throw a fit in front of all these guests, or just smash up this birthday party?"