After the call was abruptly cut off, Rouluan's sweet facade instantly cracked. Her smile twisted into a snarl of frustration and determination. "So, she thinks she can just shut me out?" she hissed under her breath.
Clenching her fists, Rouluan vowed silently, I will make her regret this. I'll destroy everything she holds dear, starting with Yichen.
Her mind raced with cruel possibilities,whispering poison into Yichen's ears, turning him against his mother, sowing seeds of doubt and resentment until her carefully built image of motherhood was shattered beyond repair.
"She'll never see it coming," Rouluan murmured, eyes blazing with cold fire. "Yichen will hate her more than anyone else ever could."
The battle for control was far from over,and Rouluan was ready to play dirty.
Rouluan's fingers trembled as she slammed her phone down after the call went straight to voicemail. The silence mocking her only fueled the fire burning inside her. How dare Jiaxuan ignore her? She wasn't used to being shut out—especially by someone she considered a threat to everything she wanted.
Her breaths came quick and sharp as she grabbed her phone again, this time dialing a number she rarely called—her mother's. The line connected almost immediately.
"Mother," Rouluan's voice was sharp, edged with frustration and urgency. "Jiaxuan is cutting me off. She's acting like she owns everything — like she's untouchable. This won't end well unless we do something."
Her mother's voice was cool and commanding on the other end. "I told you from the start, Rouluan. You must secure your place in the Huo family. Marrying into their world means power, wealth, influence. Jiaxuan is just a stepping stone, and you're letting her take what should be yours."
Rouluan's jaw clenched. "I know. But Jiaxuan's pretending, acting like she's the perfect wife, the perfect mother. She has Shenzhi wrapped around her finger. I don't think she even realizes what she's doing to me—how much I'm suffering."
Her mother sighed softly, almost amused. "Good. Use that. Turn their happiness into chaos. Start with their son. If you make Yichen hate Jiaxuan, you break their foundation. Then, Shenzhi will have no choice but to look to you for comfort."
Rouluan's eyes darkened with renewed resolve. "I'll make sure Jiaxuan regrets ever standing in my way. I won't stop until she's completely destroyed."
Her mother's voice was low but firm. "Be patient, my daughter. The Huo family is watching. You must be ruthless, but smart. One wrong move and everything falls apart. Remember, this is about securing your future."
Rouluan nodded, though her mother couldn't see it. "I understand. I'll do whatever it takes."
As she hung up, a cold smile spread across her face. The war for the Huo family's heart—and power—had only just begun.
Rouluan's mind raced as she dialed Shenzhi's sister's number. The connection was quick, and a sharp voice answered on the other end.
"Hello?"
"It's Rouluan," she said, her tone deceptively sweet. "We need to talk."
There was a pause. Then, a cold scoff. "What do you want? If this is about Jiaxuan, I'm not interested."
Rouluan smiled inwardly, knowing exactly how to push her buttons. "Oh, but you should be. You see, Jiaxuan is playing a dangerous game. She's been trying to latch onto the Huo family fortune, pretending to be this perfect wife and mother, but behind closed doors… she's still involved with Chen Yuze."
The silence stretched for a moment before the sister's voice came back, sharp and incredulous. "What are you talking about? That's a lie."
"Is it?" Rouluan purred. "I have proof. Texts, calls—she's been sneaking around, trying to keep it secret. If you care at all about your family, you'll want to know the truth before it's too late."
The sister hesitated, doubt flickering in her voice. "Why would she do that?"
"Because she's desperate," Rouluan said smoothly. "Desperate to hold on to power, no matter who she hurts. And Chen Yuze? He's using her for his own benefit. You deserve better than this—your family deserves better."
A long sigh came through the line. "Maybe… maybe I need to look into this."
Rouluan's smile widened. "Good. Keep your eyes open. This family has secrets, and I intend to expose them all."
As the call ended, Rouluan felt a surge of satisfaction. The cracks were starting to show. Now, it was only a matter of time before everything she wanted began to unravel.
After ending the call with Shenzhi's sister, Rouluan immediately dialed Chen Yuze's number, her fingers trembling with anticipation.
"Yuze," she greeted him warmly when he answered, her voice laced with false sweetness, "we need to meet. There's a situation developing with Jiaxuan, and I think it's time we talked strategy."
There was a pause on the other end, then Chen Yuze's calm, measured voice responded, "I'm listening. Where and when?"
Rouluan smiled to herself. "Tonight. At the usual place. We need to negotiate how to handle Jiaxuan before she completely takes over Shenzhi's life—and business."
Chen Yuze chuckled softly. "Sounds like a plan. I'm tired of playing games. Let's see what leverage we can find."
As she hung up, Rouluan's mind was already racing with possibilities. Together with Chen Yuze, she would orchestrate a plan to bring Jiaxuan down—starting with turning everyone against her, especially Shenzhi and little Yichen.
Her smile turned cold. This was just the beginning.
Rouluan paced her room restlessly, her mind swirling with schemes. If she could make Jiaxuan look like a cheat—an unfaithful wife—that would be the perfect weapon. In the world they lived in, a woman's reputation was fragile; once tarnished, it could destroy her standing in the family and beyond. Shenzhi, no matter how loving or patient he seemed, would never tolerate betrayal. And little Yichen, innocent as he was, would soon be caught in the middle, manipulated to distrust his own mother.
She thought about how she could stage something convincing enough to shake everyone's faith in Jiaxuan. Perhaps a secret rendezvous with a man, or whispers of late-night meetings behind closed doors. Rouluan knew that planting rumors would only go so far—there had to be tangible "evidence." A carefully timed text message, a shadowy photo, a suspicious call overheard. Something that Shenzhi's family could not ignore, something scandalous enough to make them turn away from Jiaxuan.
But it couldn't be too obvious. If Jiaxuan sensed the trap too early, she might fight back, and Rouluan couldn't afford to lose control. No, it had to be subtle, underhanded, whispered behind closed doors. She pictured Shenzhi's mother's disappointed glare, the cold stares of the household staff, and the eventual heartbreak in Yichen's eyes when he was made to believe his own mother had betrayed them.
Rouluan smiled darkly. Once Jiaxuan was isolated and mistrusted, her hold on Shenzhi—and the family fortune—would crumble. And Rouluan would be there, ready to claim everything. This was her moment, and she wouldn't let it slip away. She would make sure Jiaxuan's fall was spectacular and complete.
Rouluan's mind was a labyrinth of malice, each twisted thought darker than the last. She wasn't content with merely ruining Jiaxuan's reputation; she wanted to dismantle her entire life piece by piece.
First, she planned to sow distrust between Jiaxuan and Shenzhi by manipulating the people closest to them. Rouluan intended to bribe some of the household staff—maids, drivers, even the nanny—to report fabricated stories about Jiaxuan's late-night outings and strange phone calls. She knew how easily gossip spread, and once the servants whispered doubts, the seed of suspicion would quickly take root in the family.
Next, Rouluan aimed to exploit little Yichen's innocence. She would start by subtly turning him against Jiaxuan—perhaps by planting small lies, like telling the child that his mother didn't love him enough or that she cared more about Shenzhi than him. She could feed Yichen's jealousy with gifts and attention, making him feel closer to her than to his own mother. A child's loyalty was fragile; if Rouluan could make him resent Jiaxuan, it would be a cruel but effective blow.
Rouluan also plotted to spread false rumors among Shenzhi's business associates and friends. She would leak stories hinting that Jiaxuan was only interested in the family fortune, portraying her as a calculating gold-digger. With their support waning, Jiaxuan's position within the family and business would weaken drastically.
To top it all off, Rouluan was considering forging evidence. Perhaps fake messages, doctored photos, or fabricated emails that would make Jiaxuan look like she was betraying Shenzhi behind his back. Such "proof" would be hard to dispute and could turn Shenzhi's heart cold.
Most importantly, Rouluan planned to keep all her schemes hidden behind a facade of sweetness and innocence appearing as the caring sister-in-law who "only wanted what was best for the family." This mask would make her lies more believable and make Jiaxuan seem isolated and desperate.
In her eyes, every move was calculated with ruthless precision. Rouluan would stop at nothing to make sure Jiaxuan's life spiraled into chaos, and she would be the one standing tall when it all crumbled.
Later that day, Rouluan prepared herself carefully before heading to the office. The sting of Jiaxuan answering her call earlier had only fueled her determination. She needed to be cautious if Jiaxuan was already involved and picking up her calls, any reckless move could backfire.
She dressed impeccably, her expression cool and controlled, hiding the storm of schemes brewing beneath. Her plan was twofold: first, to maintain the image of the considerate sister-in-law who was simply concerned about family matters; second, to gather any intelligence she could at the office, where Shenzhi was still working from home.
Rouluan knew that Shenzhi's work environment was a potential goldmine of information. She could listen in on conversations, observe interactions, and subtly plant doubts in the minds of those around him. Most importantly, she could try to isolate Jiaxuan by reminding Shenzhi's colleagues and even his family that Jiaxuan was an outsider someone not fully trusted.
With each step toward the office, Rouluan's mind raced with fresh plots. She thought about casually "running into" Shenzhi to create uncomfortable moments, or perhaps staging a situation where Jiaxuan's loyalty would be questioned in front of others.
As she set out, Rouluan smiled coldly, knowing that the day ahead was hers to manipulate. The game was far from over, and she was ready to play her part to perfection.
The afternoon sun filtered gently through the lace curtains of the living room, casting soft golden shadows on the marble floor. Jiaxuan sat quietly on the couch, legs folded beneath her, a thick folder resting on her lap. She had been reviewing Shenzhi's project proposal one he had been working on for weeks, a breakthrough business deal with immense potential. Her fingers traced the edge of the folder as her phone vibrated beside her.
She glanced down. Chen Yuze.
Her expression didn't change. Instead, she let it ring a moment longer before casually swiping to answer.
"Jiaxuan," came the familiar, honey-drenched voice from the other end of the line. "It's been so long. I missed you."
There was a brief pause. Jiaxuan leaned back, a ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Really?" she replied softly, her voice laced with subtle sweetness.
"Of course," Yuze continued, his voice velvet-smooth and fake with charm. "I haven't stopped thinking about you. I heard Shenzhi's working on a new proposal something big. A food canning company, right? I'm very interested. If you could just hand it over to me, I'll take care of everything. You trust me, don't you?"
Jiaxuan tilted her head, suppressing the bitter amusement rising in her chest. The same man who once coldly discarded her now called as though they were still lovers, as though she hadn't lived through the worst pain he'd ever inflicted on her. But she didn't show it.
"Of course, Yuze," she said sweetly. "If you're really interested, I'll send it over. I mean, you always said I was the only one who truly understood your vision."
There was silence on the other end, then Yuze let out a triumphant chuckle. "That's my girl. I knew you'd come around. Don't worry, once I finalize this deal, I'll show you how much I've changed. I'll love you, Jiaxuan. Only you. I'll make it all up to you."
Jiaxuan closed her eyes for a moment, letting the words soak in not because she believed him, but because the sheer audacity of his performance was almost entertaining. Her heart didn't flutter. Not even a flicker of emotion stirred within. She had already died once for this man had wept, bled, and lost everything and now, he expected her to crawl back into his web with a few sugar-laced promises?
After the call ended, the silence in the room deepened. Then softly, quietly Jiaxuan laughed. It wasn't a joyful laugh, nor was it bitter. It was the laugh of someone who had finally stepped beyond pain and could now look back at it like a distant echo.
"Oh, Yuze," she murmured to herself, shaking her head. "You really haven't changed at all."
The folder still rested in her lap, untouched. But now, her fingers gripped it differently with purpose. She wasn't going to give that man a single piece of her husband's vision. Not this time.
Not ever again.