Chapter 264: Once Lost

"It's truly unexpected, Mr. Yang, to see you here. What a rare opportunity for us to meet again," Yun Liu greeted with a friendly smile, his handsome appearance winning him the admiration of many socialites.

Yang Chen appeared somewhat subdued. Forced to engage, he replied, "Indeed, unexpected. But I'm not particularly looking forward to it."

Yun Liu chuckled, "I just learned from my father that Mr. Yang is already married, and to none other than the renowned Lin Ruoxi. Truly enviable."

The conversation between Lin Ruoxi and the Cai sisters halted as they curiously turned their attention to Yang Chen. None of them understood why Yang Chen knew Yun Liu.

"After you're done being envious, perhaps you should leave," Yang Chen waved dismissively, preferring not to dwell on the topic.

Lin Ruoxi frowned slightly. She had brought Yang Chen here hoping he would cultivate relations with influential families like the Liu family, not create awkward situations like this with Yun Liu. Trying to salvage the situation, she interjected, "Yang Chen, don't joke around."

Yang Chen felt a bit frustrated. Was he really joking?

Yun Liu, however, seized this as an advantage, feeling a sense of satisfaction. He turned to Lin Ruoxi with a brief glimpse of earnestness, "You must be Mrs. Lin, renowned not just for your marriage but also for your exceptional business acumen. My father has often mentioned you as a role model for our generation. It's truly unexpected to see someone so young achieve so much alongside Mr. Yang."

Unlike others who praised Lin Ruoxi's appearance, Yun Liu approached from a business perspective, which seemed to resonate better with her.

"I'm curious how Mr. Yang and Young Master Yun became acquainted," Lin Ruoxi casually inquired, though genuinely puzzled.

Yang Chen inwardly gasped. This was exactly what Yun Liu had been waiting for.

"It's a bit of a sensitive topic. Perhaps we could discuss it privately sometime," Yun Liu replied with a touch of innocence and sadness.

Witnessing the exchange, many perceived Yang Chen to owe Yun Liu something. Strange looks began to follow him.

Suddenly, Yun Liu exclaimed again, "Oh, my apologies! I didn't realize Director Cai was also here. That makes things much easier. It seems Mrs. Lin and Director Cai are also close friends, and Director Cai was a witness to certain events in the past. Perhaps she could elaborate on them, as it's not a memory I wish to revisit."

Yang Chen cursed inwardly at Yun Liu's despicable behavior. This guy was too unethical, bullying people like this. Having Cai Yan reveal it was far more devastating than if he had said it himself!

Cai Yan, straightforward by nature and holding fast to principles of justice after more than twenty years, wouldn't even frown at such a situation, let alone Yang Chen, who had just wounded her pride.

Seeing Lin Ruoxi's displeased look and her questioning gaze, Cai Yan pursed her lips and whispered softly into Lin Ruoxi's ear. In fact, Lin Ruoxi had been involved in the incident with An Xin early on; after all, it was she who had sent lawyer Zhang to bail Yang Chen out. But Cai Yan had refrained from saying much at the time, and Lin Ruoxi hadn't wanted to hear it, so she gradually forgot about the incident.

This only made Yang Chen feel even more awkward. Cai Yan being the chief of the Western District Police Station was widely known, and the entanglement between Yang Chen and Yun Liu, even having gone to the police station, was not a trivial matter and was likely a scandal.

Of course, if there was anything worth sensationalizing, it would certainly be Yang Chen, as Yun Liu was the victim.

After Cai Yan briefly recounted how Yang Chen had spent the night with Yun Liu's fiancée, An Xin, at the hotel and was caught by the vice squad, as well as the subsequent conflict involving Yun Liu and An Xin's father, An Zaihuan, Lin Ruoxi's face drained of color. The chill in her eyes was colder than the howling wind outside.

Yang Chen felt his scalp tingle. Stiffly smiling, he said, "That's all in the past now. I'll explain everything to you later. Actually, I was also a victim."

"You don't need to explain. This is your business, and I've never had control over you," Lin Ruoxi said, feeling mentally exhausted. Bringing him to a place like this seemed completely wrong now. If she hadn't come, she wouldn't have known about his affairs with Yun Liu. Even though she had been kept in the dark, it was better than finding out that her husband had hooked up with someone else's fiancée and been arrested by the vice squad.

Indeed, she had once told him they should mind their own business and not inquire about each other's private lives. But after experiencing so much, admitting he was her husband in front of everyone, she never imagined that, in the blink of an eye, he would become a wild man who hooked up with another man's fiancée.

Undoubtedly, this felt as painful as a sharp knife cruelly severing Lin Ruoxi's dignity.

Yun Liu's mouth curled into a slight smirk, fleeting, and he continued, "Mrs. Lin, don't be sad. Let's let things settle down with time. Although my fiancée, Miss An Xin, made some mistakes, it won't affect my determination to marry her. Soon, we'll have our wedding, and Mrs. Lin, please don't blame Mr. Yang too much. People are bound to make mistakes."

After Yun Liu finished speaking, he glanced meaningfully at Yang Chen and walked away.

In that moment of separation, in a voice only Yang Chen could hear, he said, "I'm going to make you lose everything."

Yang Chen remained expressionless, as if he hadn't heard Yun Liu's provocation at all. In reality, he truly had no interest in paying attention to Yun Liu at this moment, especially since Lin Ruoxi seemed to be in an extremely low mood.

Fortunately, the subtle changes that occurred here were only noticed by a few involved parties, so after Yun Liu left, the situation stabilized.

Seeing the desolate expression on Lin Ruoxi's face, Cai Yan couldn't help but regret speaking so bluntly. She glanced apologetically at Yang Chen, who was clearly preoccupied and didn't spare her a glance.

Approaching him, Yang Chen spoke in a low voice, "I know explanations are futile. I am simply not the kind of person who can put your mind at ease. I just hope you won't be too upset. It's not worth harming yourself over."

Lin Ruoxi raised her moist eyes, slightly red around the edges. "I should have known better than to pick up your sympathy. I'm not that foolish."

With that, Lin Ruoxi walked alone towards a corner of the venue.

Cai Yan and Cai Ning followed with concern. The two sisters wore different expressions—not only concern for Lin Ruoxi but also a hint of guilt. After all, it seemed they had also kept many things hidden.

Yang Chen felt restless. His frustration wasn't directed at Yun Liu's interference but rather the emotional turmoil surrounding him.

This wasn't a problem that could be solved by abandoning any of them. No man wants his woman to belong to another man, and similarly, no woman would enjoy her husband belonging to someone else. Yang Chen understood this well. Yet, his past decadence and blurred lifestyle, along with the unforgettable events, left him without the courage to reject a woman who genuinely loved him. He was acutely aware of his affection for them and couldn't guarantee he wouldn't fall for someone else in the future. Their tenderness made it even harder for him to hurt them.

But every time he thought of Lin Ruoxi's familiar determination, her icy gaze so reminiscent of someone else, Yang Chen feared she might truly leave him. Having once lost made him cherish even more.

Just as Yang Chen was feeling a headache coming on and contemplating finding a place to drink alone, the host of the evening, Ouyang Kangbo, suddenly approached with two of his associates.