Formidable Love Rival (2)

The man in question stilled and looked at his wife with wide eyes. Li Xiuying had a solemn expression on her face that showed her disappointment and distress. Mu Jianyu assumed that she hadn't told anyone yet about his intention to divorce her.

Before Mu Jianyu could defend himself from Shen Zichen's accusation. The elevator once again opened revealing Shen Zichen's twin sister, Shen Yuyan. The moment Li Xiuying saw her senior, her face lit up and greeted her. 

Shen Yuyan grew up as an exceptional beauty. She had a pleasing appearance, with slender body and tall height but her round brown eyes showed a familiar mischievous glint that her twin brother could associate with their mother. 

Like her brother, she was wearing a casual attire with loose white blouse and stylish slacks that were in season, her feet encased in a pair of high heels. Her long black hair was styled with loose curls that casually flowed over her shoulders.

"Sister Yan! You came to pick me up too?" She said with glee, wrapping her arms around Shen Yuyan's shoulder. 

"I've been waiting for you and my brother downstairs and wondering what was taking so long. How can I resist seeing our precious Ying? I haven't seen you for awhile." Shen Yuyan laughed and returned the hug before pulling away to give Li Xiuying a good look. "Ying, you look paler than usual. Are you sick again?" She asked.

Li Xiuying's cheeks flushed and smiled sheepishly. Aside from the Li family and Shen Zichen, no one was aware of her pregnancy yet. She was afraid to announce her condition, not when it wasn't safe to assume that she'll be able to give birth to her baby and when her husband wanted to divorce her. 

"I'm just a little tired, Sister Yan. Shall we get going?" 

In the end, Li Xiuying found herself sitting beside her husband with the Shen twins sitting across them in a local restaurant that the Shen family-owned. She and Chuntao were also frequent patrons of this place and had good memories of it. The dishes being offered were really delicious and their specialty éclair was Chuntao's favorite. 

"Sister Ying, I heard you pulled out your entries for the exhibit. You aren't going to participate anymore?" Shen Yuyan asked Li Xiuying as she sipped a warm drink from her cup. 

Li Xiuying placed down her cup on the table and gave her a slight nod. 

"I had to. I wouldn't have enough time to work on new projects, not when the company needs me," she sighed and glanced at her husband who hadn't said a single word since they left Li Corp. 

To be honest, Mu Jianyu didn't need to be here, Li Xiuying thought. Shouldn't he be running off to his mistress by now? Lin Meirong might throw a fit if she found out that he was accompanying his wife for dinner. 

The air around was palpable because of him and Shen Zichen which was very obvious to their two companions and to the other customers seated around them. Neither of them wanted to give up Li Xiuying to each other, especially now that her marriage was on the rocks. 

"I heard your charity event was a success. Should we celebrate, Sister Yan?" Li Xiuying said excitedly, hoping that it will somehow improve the mood on their table. 

Shen Yuyan grinned back and picked up the wine bottle next to her to pour Li Xiuying a glass but her twin brother stopped her. 

"Yuyan, Ying isn't allowed to drink tonight. I'll take her share if that's alright." Shen Zichen took the glass of wine and drank it in one go. 

Mu Jianyu's jaws hardened at the sight. The more Shen Zichen showed concern for his wife, the more Mu Jianyu felt agitated. It should have been him looking after her but Shen Zichen was crossing the line, ignoring his presence as Ying's husband

"Why? Is she sick again?" Shen Yuyan asked her brother. She knew Li Xiuying's health wasn't the best lately and wondered if her health was deteriorating. 

"No. She's doing well but she'll have to watch out for what she eats and drinks now." Shen Zichen clarified. Since he and his twin sister had already had their dinner earlier, they were conversing with the married couple over a few drinks while Li Xiuying took her fill. 

Their dinner ended in peace, to Li Xiuying's relief. She didn't want to deal with another headache by watching her husband and Shen Zichen argue again. 

"Ying, where are you staying now? We'll drive you home." Shen Zichen asked her as they walked towards the parking lot where his and Mu Jianyu's car were. 

Li Xiuying pursed her lips, thinking of how to answer him while Shen Yuyan was confused with her brother's rudeness towards Mu Jianyu. 

"Zi Gege, why do we have to give her a ride when her husband is here? Don't tell me they're living in separate homes now." Shen Yuyan snickered but failed to notice the slight flinch by Li Xiuying and Mu Jianyu. 

Shen Zichen eyed his sister. He sounded rude towards Mu Jianyu just now and his sister was oblivious to what's really going on between the couple. 

"No, I just assumed that she's staying for a few days at the Li Mansion," he told Shen Yuyan before turning his attention to the woman who unknowingly caught his heart. "Aren't you?"

"Y-yes but no need to bother, Brother Zichen. Li Mansion is in the opposite direction of Imperial Residences." Li Xiuying avoided her husband's questioning look. 

"We'll take our leave. Thank you for your concern, Dr. Shen, Miss Shen." Mu Jianyu extended a hand to his wife which she hesitated to accept at first. 

She gave Shen Zichen a pleading look, telling him not to make a scene. She thanked him and Shen Yuyan before leaving with her husband, leaving Shen Zichen feeling more frustrated than ever.