1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 222 Outwitting a Love Rival, and Just in Time, an Opportunity Arrives
"how do you want to do it?"

Lin Xiyu's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously thought of the scene where Wang Fan provoked Zhang Xiaoqian in the bar.

"Do not worry."

Gu Bin noticed her concerns and gently comforted her, "I won't be as foolish as Wang Fan to confront her in public and give others something to gossip about."

"Meeting her in private is even more terrifying."

Wu Meng blurted out, "What if she tries to pin this on you, saying you're trying to take advantage of her and deliberately ruin your reputation? That kind of woman is ruthless; she's capable of anything if things get heated."

You'd better not put yourself in that risk.

Lin Xiyu's face turned pale: "We finally cleared up the rumors. If something else happens, it will be very bad for you and the company."

I will do it.

Gu Bin tried to reason with her: "It's the fastest and most effective method."

"Forget about you, I'll do it."

Lin Xiyu had her own reasons: "If you ask her, she will definitely deny it insincerely. Even if you press her, she will not tell the truth."

"I think so too"

Wu Meng nodded in agreement: "That woman is too insidious. She might turn the tables on you. If you want to record her, she has a video camera ready. If you touch her even a hair, she will stick to you for life."

Am I that stupid?

Gu Bin was both amused and exasperated.

"Never underestimate the cunning of women."

Wu Meng nodded seriously, and then emphasized, "Especially women who love but cannot have each other, they are capable of doing anything."

"If Xi Yu asks her to meet, she might not agree."

Gu Bin didn't want to argue with them, so he changed the subject.

"Let's try it."

Wu Meng disagreed: "How will we know if we don't try?"

"If it doesn't work, it might alert the enemy."

Gu Bin clearly considered things more deeply than she had.

Lin Xiyu's gaze was resolute: "I won't ask her out; I'll go find her directly."

Where are you going to look for her?

"Law firm?"

Wu Meng and Gu Bin were both taken aback and turned to look at her.

"I don't go to law firms."

Lin Xiyu knew perfectly well: "They're all her people there, no one will stand on my side or speak up for me."

"Where do you want to see her?"

Wu Meng rubbed her hands together, a little excited: "Should we just go to her doorstep and ambush her? Grab her hair and beat her up? If that's the case, I can help."

"Cough cough."

Gu Bin couldn't listen anymore. He coughed twice and interrupted her, "Stop stirring things up. It's not worth getting your hands dirty for a woman like that."

“I won’t hit her; that’s what a shrew would do, it’s too degrading.”

Lin Xiyu had her own plans: "A woman like her, who thinks she's very elegant, often attends all sorts of banquets, right? I'll question her at the banquet, expose her true colors in public, and reveal her vicious and insidious side to everyone."

"How can you guarantee you'll run into her at the banquet?"

Wu Meng was stunned, and there was another question she was too embarrassed to ask: "In places like banquets, you can't just get in without status and position."

"That depends on our CEO's abilities."

Lin Xiyu looked at Gu Bin, a sly glint in her eyes.

"Okay, I'll think of something."

Gu Bin smiled helplessly, the tenderness in his eyes seemingly expressing his utmost doting affection.

He would firmly support whatever his beloved wife wanted to do.

No matter what, he would always stand behind her, protecting her and ensuring she had no worries.

-

Lin Xiyu wanted to outsmart her love rival, and just then, her chance came.

A wealthy Shanghai businessman surnamed Miao, who ran an international trade business, came to him seeking advice on relevant matters.

Gu Bin's expertise lies in international trade and economic lawsuits, and he offered him many feasible suggestions.

The man won the lawsuit with his help and was very grateful to him. To show his sincerity, he invited him to his father's 80th birthday banquet.

It is said that this birthday banquet was very grand, with all the city's prominent figures in attendance, making it a gathering of celebrities and a full house of guests.

Upon hearing the words "gathering of celebrities," a glint of light flashed in Gu Bin's eyes, and he smiled meaningfully.

So, on the day of the birthday banquet, September 30th, the night before National Day, the couple entered the banquet hall hand in hand, and the real show began.

-

Gu Bin, dressed in a bespoke suit, exuded an extraordinary aura.

Lin Xiyu wore a light green cheongsam with a shawl draped over her shoulders, exuding elegance and grace.

A handsome man and a beautiful woman walked slowly towards them, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"Mr. Gu, your wife is very beautiful."

The wealthy businessman of the Miao ethnicity, Miao Ke, was immediately struck by the sight of the two women and spared no praise for the beauty.

"Thank you."

Lin Xiyu took Gu Bin's arm and thanked him gracefully.

"The ladies' seats are over there. I'll have your wife accompany you there."

At the birthday banquet, male and female guests were seated separately. Out of respect for Gu Bin, Miao Ke had his wife personally accompany Lin Xiyu to the head table.

"Thank you."

This was exactly what Lin Xiyu wanted to do. She smiled at Gu Bin and exchanged a knowing glance with him.

"If you're too lazy to deal with it, go to the terrace outside for a while, and we'll leave after we've toasted the old man."

Gu Bin pretended to be worried and gave a few words of advice. After he finished speaking, he deliberately explained to Miao Ke and his wife, "My wife is not very good at socializing and doesn't talk much at home."

The subtext is that they are petty and haven't seen much of the world.

This is a husband's playful remark to his wife; although it's self-deprecating, it carries a hint of doting affection.

"It's okay, my wife also likes quiet."

Miao Ke was a shrewd person; how could he not understand the underlying meaning?

"Don't worry, Mr. Gu, I will definitely take good care of my sister."

His wife reacted quickly, noticing Gu Bin's affection for Lin Xiyu, and immediately reached out and affectionately took her arm.

"You guys go ahead."

Miao Ke waved to his wife, then accompanied Gu Bin to the VIP section on the other side, introducing him to the relatives and friends present.

Gu Bin was good at socializing and quickly integrated into the group, chatting enthusiastically with a group of business elites.

"Mr. Gu is both talented and capable." Mrs. Miao, being very shrewd, said in a very pleasant tone, "Mrs. Gu is so lucky to have found such a considerate and promising husband."

Many people say that.

Lin Xiyu's appearance this time was that of a naive and unsophisticated woman. Her cheongsam was beautiful but cheap, and her clothes, which cost only a few hundred yuan, looked out of place among the high-end luxury brands and jewel-encrusted socialites.

"hehe."

Mrs. Miao didn't think much of it. Seeing that she was very reserved, she mistakenly thought that she was like those superficial women, a vase who only relied on her husband.

She'd seen plenty of vases like this, so she didn't take what she said to heart at all. She treated it as mere entertainment, chuckled a couple of times, and that was it.

Seeing a hint of contempt flash in her eyes, Lin Xiyu lowered her head, feigning fear, and appeared even more wooden.

The group of wealthy socialites looked down on her petty manner from the bottom of their hearts, chatting amongst themselves and not even deigning to give her a single, stingy glance.

Lin Xiyu sat quietly in her seat, and before the banquet officially began, the opportunity she had been waiting for finally arrived.

As Gu Bin had predicted, Liu Rushi would not miss any opportunity to show her face.

The person accompanying her this time happened to be the manager of Yingrun Investment. The two walked hand in hand and looked very intimate.

When the group of wealthy socialites saw her, their attitude changed visibly, and they greeted her warmly.

Relying on her good family background, Liu Rushi treated them with arrogance.

The more this happened, the more people wanted to curry favor with her, constantly trying to get close to her.

Liu Rushi was very pleased with herself, like a princess surrounded by stars, enjoying the flattery of others.

"Ru Shi, let me introduce you. This is a new friend of my husband's, Mr. Gu's wife."

Considering Lin Xiyu's feelings and not wanting her to feel neglected, Mrs. Miao took the initiative to introduce the two: "Speaking of which, Mr. Gu also has some connection with you; he used to work at Huanyu Law Firm."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiyu smiled gratefully at her and raised her head in response.

The moment Liu Rushi recognized her, her expression changed drastically, and a sinister glint flashed in her eyes.

"Mrs. Miao, I feel a bit stifled and would like to go to the terrace for a while."

Lin Xiyu pretended to be scared and trembled slightly. She avoided her gaze, got up from her chair, and left her seat.

"Does Ru Shi know Mrs. Gu?"

Madam Miao sensed something was wrong and took the initiative to inquire.

"We can't really be considered acquaintances"

Liu Rushi scoffed dismissively: "We've only met a few times."

"Too."

Mrs. Miao smiled and chimed in, "Someone from a humble background like her isn't qualified to associate with Ru Shi."

“Even though I come from a humble background, I can still marry a good husband.”

Lin Xiyu suddenly returned, and retorted unhappily.

Mrs. Miao's smile froze, revealing a hint of embarrassment.

"Those from humble backgrounds are simply not fit for respectable positions."

Liu Rushi curled her lip in disdain, thinking she was being very righteous by standing up for Mrs. Miao.

"Yeah, she still has the nerve to say that here. Doesn't she care about embarrassing her husband?"

When the other wealthy socialites saw that she had spoken first, they echoed her sentiments.

"Oh dear, this has caused quite a stir."

Mrs. Miao, mindful of her husband's feelings, didn't want to create a rift with Lin Xiyu, so she smiled awkwardly, trying to ease the tension.

Lin Xiyu didn't give her a chance. With a hint of resentment, she turned around and stormed off.

"Mrs. Miao, ignore her. This person is clearly ill-mannered; how can she cause such a scene at the host's birthday banquet?"

"That's right, she has no manners at all. We should never let her into the house again. It's too low-class to associate with her."

The wealthy socialites, unaware of the inside story, launched a verbal attack, all displaying disdainful expressions.

A triumphant smile crept across Liu Rushi's lips as she watched Lin Xiyu's departing figure, her eyes filled with resentment.

Lin Xiyu had calculated that Liu Rushi wouldn't miss this opportunity to ridicule her, and sure enough, she waited on the terrace for a short while before Liu Rushi arrived.

Seeing the approaching figure through the glass of the balcony's floor-to-ceiling windows, she didn't hesitate at all. She reached into her handbag and pressed the button on the recorder.

-

"You shouldn't have come; this place isn't for you."

Liu Rushi was more impatient than Lin Xiyu had imagined. Perhaps it was the phrase "Even if I come from a humble family, I can still marry a good husband" that provoked her. She immediately launched a malicious attack on Lin Xiyu's family background: "Not everyone can rise to the top and become a phoenix. Wearing cheap clothes and dreaming of mingling in high society circles is undoubtedly asking for humiliation."

"I didn't want to come, but Gu Bin insisted that I come."

Lin Xiyu didn't hold back and deliberately provoked her: "He said that once he makes money, he'll let me live a good life with him. He'll come to the banquet early so I can get to know more wealthy ladies, which will be good for my future interactions with them."

"You think wearing Chanel makes you a wealthy socialite?"

Liu Rushi was indeed quite provoked, and her voice suddenly rose several decibels: "Wishful thinking! Even if you wear gold and silver, it won't change your poor and shabby appearance."

"You seem to have a strong prejudice against me?"

Lin Xiyu came prepared, deliberately steer the conversation toward her unspoken emotional entanglements: "I don't think I've ever offended you, so why are you targeting me like this? You're being so aggressive, could it be that you have some ulterior motive?"

"Humph."

Liu Rushi's eyes flickered slightly, but she pretended to be calm: "You don't need to test me. I just look down on people like you. You can't even tell whether others are willing to accept you, yet you rush forward to get closer. Aren't you ashamed?"

"Before you came, I got along quite well with Madam Miao and the others."

Lin Xiyu straightened her back, showing no sign of being offended: "It was your arrival that ruined the atmosphere and made me even more certain that you had ulterior motives. That's why you're so envious and jealous, lacking any elegance of a socialite, and provoking me right from the start."

"Would I envy you?"

Liu Rushi's face twisted for a moment: "What do you have that I should envy? Is it the cheap cheongsam you're wearing? Or your qualifications as a teacher at a third-rate vocational school?"

"Of course I do."

Lin Xiyu's words were sharp and hit the nail on the head: "I have a husband who loves and cherishes me, and that is exactly what you can't get no matter how much you scheme and plot."

"you"

Liu Rushi was indeed angered by her and remained silent for a long time.

"Admit it, you're just jealous of me."

Lin Xiyu knew there was a recording, so she had to force her to talk. Without pausing for a moment, she said, "Don't think I don't know that you like Gu Bin and want to break us up. You don't dare to show your face, so you instigated Zhang Xiaoqian to take revenge on me."

"You bullshit!"

Liu Rushi's expression changed drastically, and she rebuked him sternly, trying to cover up her guilty conscience.

Whether you're lying or not, you know in your heart.

Lin Xiyu deliberately tricked her: "I had suspected before that you were the one who instructed her. Before the New Year, you visited Gu Bin in Beijing, wanting to arrange a marriage with him. After he refused, you returned to Shanghai and that's when Zhang Xiaoqian hit me with her car."

"If it weren't for your instigation, how could the timing be so coincidental? Zhang Xiaoqian has been back in China for some time now, so why did she suddenly become agitated and go crazy during that very period, trying to harm me?"

-

"She hates you and wants you dead, what does that have to do with me?"

Liu Rushi indeed showed some guilt, and her stern defense was trembling slightly.

“She wanted me dead, that’s a fact, and she took action and paid the price for it.”

Lin Xiyu's eyes were as cold as ice: "But she is already dead, and yet someone has made public the scene of her dying moments. This makes one suspicious that there is a dark hand that has been manipulating this matter. Even though she is dead, they don't want her to rest in peace and want to use her death to strike at their love rival."