Chapter 22: High School Classmates

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ru Yin Yue demanded, glaring at the gloating Hu Li Jing. The latter thumbed her nose at the former, her sneer visible.

"There's no need to pretend, is there, Ru Yin Yue? After you graduated from high school, you found out that you were pregnant. You were disowned by your adopted parents and so you had to find a way to make money to raise your child. That's why you sold yourself off to a rich foreigner. How old is your son now? Seven?"

Everyone was shocked by the revelation. A few of the girls cast disapproving looks at Ru Yin Yue.

"Getting pregnant and having a child out of wedlock…"

"What a poor thing…no wonder she got disowned by her adopted parents. I wouldn't want to have anything to do with her either."

"Who's the father? Maybe she had an affair with a married man, that's why she couldn't marry him. No wonder her parents threw her out."

"Hey!" Hao Huo Bo shouted at them. "What are you guys talking about? Don't jump into conclusions! You're just making stuff out now!"

"Is that true, Yin Yue?" Ren Zhang asked, concerned. "Did you get pregnant out of wedlock? What about the father?"

"Wait, wait, wait…" Ru Yin Yue raised a hand, getting a headache. "None of this is true. What the hell are you guys even talking about? I never got pregnant, and I certainly did not go overseas to make money. I simply attended…"

"Don't lie!" Hu Li Jing cut her off triumphantly. "I know everything, Lin Bu Hui!"

"WHO THE HELL IS LIN BU HUI?!" Ru Yin Yue yelled. Everyone turned to stare at Hu Li Jing now, who blinked in astonishment and brought a hand to her mouth.

"Uh, sorry, I mean Ru Yin Yue!"

Ru Yin Yue rubbed her forehead and the bridge of her nose with her fingers, sighing heavily. "Where did you hear such a ridiculous story from? That sort of nonsensical scenario sounds like something made up from a trashy CEO novel."

"I know Lin Bu Hui!" one of the female classmates exclaimed. "She's the female lead of A Hidden Love Marriage!"

"The fuck…" Ren Zhang groaned. "Li Jing, you're mixing up reality with fiction and confusing Yin Yue with the protagonist from a stupid CEO novel?"

"But…but…!" Hu Li Jing spluttered. "But it's the truth! Stop lying, Yin Yue! Admit it!"

"…I hate to say this, but Ru Yin Yue's mother didn't disown her." Si Zha Nan also had enough of this ludicrous farce. While he wasn't on his wife's side, he was getting irritated by Hu Li Jing's nonsense. "She's sick. Currently the Si family is paying for her hospital bills."

There was silence when Hu Li Jing hung her head in shame, her lies being exposed. As for the others, they nodded sympathetically. A few of the sharper ones suddenly wondered if this was perhaps the reason why Ru Yin Yue was forced into this marriage and put up with Si Zha Nan's clear abuse. She had no choice, because her mother was effectively taken hostage by the Si family and she obviously needed money to pay for her medical fees.

"Yin Yue, if you need help, let me know," Ren Zhang said, casting a suspicious glare at Si Zha Nan, who didn't say anything. She nodded gratefully.

"Thank you…but everything is okay. I can handle it."

"If you say so." Ren Zhang nodded.

"Ah, Yin Yue, your mother is sick? Your life is so hard." Hao Huo Bo felt sorry for her. She held Ru Yin Yue's arm. "I don't know what I can do, but we're here for you."

"Thanks. I really appreciate it."

"Wait!" Hu Li Jing was practically shrieking now. "That doesn't explain why you went overseas to sell your body to a rich foreigner! Because of greed? Now that he doesn't want you anymore, you came back and seduced Zha Nan instead?"

"I went overseas to attend a music academy." Ru Yin Yue was getting tired of her nonsense. She raised her smartphone and called up a digital certificate from the music academy before showing it to her former classmates. "I attended the Royal Academy of Music in Country E for about six years before coming back."

"What?! The Royal Academy of Music?!"

"Incredible!"

Immediately the attitudes of several ex-classmates changed, and now they were looking at her with great respect.

"Unfortunately, even this certificate is useless, because someone blocked whatever music jobs I can take." The acid was dripping from Ru Yin Yue's voice, and it took all of her mental restraint not to glare at the silent Si Zha Nan. "Seems like connections and money are more important than one's skill in music."

"That's…that's a fake!" Hu Li Jing hissed venomously, with several disbelieving female former classmates nodding in agreement beside her. "Anyone can forge a pdf of a certificate online!"

"No, I recognize the stamp of the Royal Academy of Music." Ren Zhang shook his head. "I'm pretty sure it's genuine."

"That's because it has been photo shopped!"

"I have the genuine article at home, but obviously I have no obligation to show it to you." Ru Yin Yue was getting tired of his nonsense. "Anyway, believe me or don't believe me, it's up to you. I don't care. I'm exhausted, so I'll be going home first."

"I'll leave with you. My husband has called." Hao Huo Bo joined in, interposing herself between Ru Yin Yue and Hu Li Jing's entourage. "Let's leave together."

This time, nobody stopped them. They had seen the way Hu Li Jing had tried to bully Ru Yin Yue and how Si Zha Nan did absolutely nothing to stop her except the brief revelation regarding her mother. Even so, they were taken aback by his uncaring attitude toward his own wife and how he let Hu Li Jing bash her.

In fact, he clearly instigated some of it too, trying to prevent Ru Yin Yue from leaving the first time and occasionally cooperating with Hu Li Jing.

"You should leave him," Hao Huo Bo advised, casting a glare at the private room. "The way Zha Nan treats you is inexcusable. You're his wife, yet he joins with another woman to bully you?"

"Maybe one day." Ru Yin Yue was tired. She used to be so in love with Si Zha Nan, yet now the young man she fell in love with at first sight was so distant…so different. Where did the gentle, kind Si Zha Nan go? She barely recognized him. When she finally agreed to the marriage, she had hoped to see flashes of his past personality resurface, but…

At this rate, she wasn't sure if she could endure such a toxic relationship.

"First, I have to find a job and a way to stand on my own two feet. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm currently financially reliant on the Si family."

It was so easy to say that she wanted to be independent, but actually becoming financially independent was another matter altogether. Si Zha Nan had continued to block her career with money and influence of the Si Corporation. She doubted Xia Ning Xue would be able to bring her good news next week, but she planned to speak to mom Si again. Zha Nan's parents might have a way…

"Oh…" Hao Huo Bo looked a little uncomfortable. She knew how rich and powerful the Si Corporation was. There was no way she could fight against it or Si Zha Nan. And Ru Yin Yue wasn't going to ask her to try. So she smiled.

"Don't worry. I'll find a way. I already have a solution or two."

"If you say so." Hao Huo Bo looked guilty. Then she brightened up when she saw a young man waving at her at the entrance of Sophia Bar. "Ah, my husband is here! I should introduce you!"

"Hello," Hao Huo Bo's husband greeted them. Ru Yin Yue bowed politely while her ex-classmate introduced them. "Huo Bo, should we give your friend a ride?"

"No, no. I don't want to trouble you, and my home is out of the way. Besides, I've already called a taxi, and it will be here soon."

"Okay." Hao Huo Bo squeezed her hands. "Yin Yue, keep in touch!"

"All right, I will." Yin Yue watched the couple off with a smile, and then she went to the taxi stand. She took her smartphone out to call for a taxi – she hadn't exactly been honest with Hao Huo Bo and her husband, but she really didn't want to trouble them. The Crescent Villa was located at the edge of Cheng Shi City and it would be out of the way for them.

However, a car zoomed to the road right in front of her, the driver angrily honking his horn at her. Ru Yin Yue glanced up and recognized the silver Lamborghini.

Si Zha Nan glared at her from behind a lowering window. "Calling a taxi at this late hour…do you want to show auntie Yi how I'm mistreating you so that she'll have an excuse to complain to my mom?"

"I never had such an intention."

"Then get in the car."

Ru Yin Yue hesitated, clearly reluctant. But she saw her ex-classmates also coming out and leaving. A few of them drove cars, several of the female ex-classmates were being picked up by their husbands, and the others were getting lifts or also calling for taxis.

Not wanting to make a scene in front of them, she assented and climbed into the passenger's seat. Si Zha Nan drove home in silence, and neither of them said anything. Ru Yin Yue wondered if it was an improvement.

At least he wasn't berating her.

Even so, the atmosphere was cold and awkward. Ru Yin Yue finally breathed a sigh of relief when they reached home and she disembarked from the car. The moment they entered the house, Si Zha Nan vanished somewhere, presumably to go to his room.

Taking a deep breath, Ru Yin Yue returned to her own room to wash up in the private bathroom and go to sleep. Glancing at the clock, she saw that it was already past midnight.

Good thing it was the weekend tomorrow, so she could sleep in.