{Chapter: 157 Yan Ruyue is not good enough!}
Yu Shanshan tried to explain herself, her mouth opening to defend her cousin once more. But before she could even get a word out, another girl standing beside her spoke up with a mocking tone.
"Yeah, yeah, we've heard it all before," the girl said, rolling her eyes. "Shanshan, give it a rest already. Your cousin—his surname is Lin, right? I don't even remember his full name. I think I saw him once about a month ago, and honestly, he looked totally average to me. Nothing special at all."
Another girl joined in, smirking as she chimed in. "Exactly! I remember too. Sure, he's rich—he's the young master of the Lin family, no one's denying that. But good-looking and talented? That's pushing it. And let's not forget—your cousin used to be obsessed with that Yan girl. I heard he followed Miss Yan around like a lost puppy, always trying to get her attention."
As soon as those words hit the air, Yu Shanshan's expression darkened. Her eyes flared with anger as she stepped forward.
"That's complete bullshit!" she snapped, her voice sharp and defensive. "My Brother is not some pathetic dog chasing after a girl. He's the one who called off the engagement with Yan Ruyue, not the other way around! Don't talk like you know anything, you bunch of bitches!"
Her sudden outburst startled the group. The girls immediately sensed her genuine fury and began to backtrack, waving their hands in a panic.
"Okay, okay! We take it back—he's not a 'licking dog,' alright? That was too harsh."
"Yeah, we were wrong. Our bad. He's not that bad… just maybe not as perfect as you always say, that's all."
Still, their words lacked conviction, and Yu Shanshan knew it. But before she could retort, a soft voice chimed in from beside her.
A petite girl in a frilly Lolita-style dress stood next to her, arms crossed, looking confident yet adorable.
"I believe you, Shanshan," she said gently. "Your cousin must be exactly as amazing as you describe. You don't lie."
Hearing that, Yu Shanshan's scowl softened immediately. She turned and hugged the girl warmly.
"Well, of course you believe me, Xiaoxue. You're the sweetest one here. I love you so, so much!" Shanshan said dramatically before planting a playful kiss on Xiaoxue's forehead.
Xiaoxue giggled. "Just be careful. Your mom's around today, remember?"
"What?" Yu Shanshan looked around in alarm, scanning the area. "My mom's here? Where?!"
Xiaoxue laughed and leaned closer. "I didn't say she is here, silly. I said be careful in case she finds out what you've been up to."
Yu Shanshan let out a long sigh of relief and placed a hand over her big chest sniffing and feeling her soft breasts. "You scared me, Xiaoxue! Don't joke like that." Then, striking a heroic pose, she declared proudly, "But worry not! One day, I'll overcome all obstacles, defy my mother, and bring you—and your twelve sisters—home with me. We'll live happily ever after, I swear!"
Xiaoxue leaned against her shoulder, smiling sweetly. "Of course I believe you, Shanshan."
Just as the girls giggled and whispered to one another, a graceful figure passed by them, causing the entire group to fall silent almost instantly. Their eyes were drawn to the poised and striking woman walking by.
"Look, look!" one of the girls whispered. "It's Yan Ruyue—the girl that Shanshan's cousin couldn't win over. He chased her for years, didn't he? And gave up in the end."
"She's really… unbelievably gorgeous," another girl added, her voice tinged with awe and a hint of envy. "Now I kinda get why he was so crazy about her."
Even some of the girls who had mocked Yu Shanshan moments ago couldn't help but admire Yan Ruyue's beauty.
Yan Ruyue had arrived alongside her mother, Song Xuan. She wore a sleek black off-shoulder evening gown that perfectly complimented her elegant frame. Her skin was porcelain-smooth and pale, her jade-like complexion glowing under the soft light of the chandelier. But it wasn't just her face that turned heads—her figure was nothing short of breathtaking.
Her long, flawless legs, smooth and straight, peeked out from under her fitted dress. She wore black stiletto heels with thin, delicate straps that accentuated the shape of her calves and the curve of her ankles. Her every step was like a silent statement, drawing the gaze of nearly every man nearby.
Despite all the attention, her face remained cold, distant, and unreadable—an icy beauty that dared people to approach, yet warned them not to. Yan Ruyue rarely smiled, especially not in public. The only ones who ever saw her gentle side were her mother, Song Xuan, and—of course—Lin Yuan.
Her aloof demeanor only added to her mystique, making her even more irresistible to the young men who watched from a distance, unsure whether they should approach or admire from afar.
Even Yu Shanshan, who had plenty of resentment toward her, couldn't help feeling a pang of envy at the sight of her. Her legs, in particular, were a sore spot. No matter how many new stockings she bought or how much she exercised, she had to admit—Yan Ruyue's legs were on another level.
Still, she gritted her teeth and scoffed internally. So what if she's beautiful? she thought. She's still not worthy of my brother. Qian Qian is the only one who truly matches him.
Yan Ruyue didn't linger on the first floor. The moment she arrived and didn't see Lin Yuan among the crowd, she turned and walked toward the private elevator, her steps elegant and purposeful.
Her intention was clear—she was going to find him.
As Yan Ruyue gracefully walked away, the girls who had been standing around Yu Shanshan couldn't help but whisper to one another in hushed, excited voices.
"Wow... She really lives up to her reputation. No wonder she's known as one of the Four Great Beauties of Jiangbei. Her legs—so long, smooth, and fair—I swear I could stare at them all day. I kinda want to touch them…"
"Same here! Ugh, it's not fair. She's not only from one of the top families in Jiangbei, but she's also ridiculously beautiful and has that flawless figure. If I had her face and body, I'd have hundreds of suitors by now!"
One of the girls glanced at Yu Shanshan, then leaned in and said, "Shanshan, don't take this the wrong way, but... your brother must be crazy. He had the chance to marry someone like Yan Ruyue and actually gave it up. What was he thinking?"
Another girl quickly added, "Yeah! I don't get it either. Most guys would dream of marrying a woman like her. Your brother must have hit his head."
"Shut it!" Yu Shanshan snapped, her voice rising with visible irritation. Her patience had run thin. "My brother's life is none of your business! I don't care how beautiful you think she is—she's still not worthy of him! My brother is ten times more handsome than anyone she could ever meet. He's charming, talented, and a hundred times better than anyone gives him credit for!"
She glared at them, nostrils flared, as if daring anyone to keep talking. The girls quickly shut their mouths, avoiding her gaze.
But despite Yu Shanshan's passionate defense, the girls remained unconvinced. They all shared the same unspoken thought—she was just overhyping him again. To them, Lin Yuan was still just that guy who chased after Yan Ruyue for years and gave up. A "licking dog," as cruel gossip labeled him.
Just then, a smooth and slightly magnetic voice drifted in from behind Yu Shanshan. The sound was rich and composed, with a confidence that made it instantly stand out.
"Shanshan, what are you doing here? Why are you standing at the doorway and blocking the entrance like a guard dog?"
Yu Shanshan's eyes lit up instantly, as if the sun had suddenly broken through stormy clouds. That voice—so familiar and warm—it was him!
She turned around with glee, and sure enough, there he was: her cousin, Lin Yuan.
The girls who had been mocking her fell silent at once and turned their heads in sync to look.
Their jaws dropped.
Before them stood a tall young man dressed in a well-tailored black suit that highlighted his broad shoulders and lean build. His features were finely chiseled, with sharp eyes that radiated calm confidence. He had a clean, effortless charisma, the kind of presence that turned heads without trying. The way he carried himself—elegant but not arrogant—spoke of someone raised in privilege but grounded in experience.
Yu Shanshan, feeling as if she had just won a massive bet, nearly burst with joy. It was like the universe had just answered her prayers in the most dramatic way possible.
"Cousin! You're finally here!" she exclaimed, and without hesitation, she dashed forward and jumped into his arms like an excited puppy.
Lin Yuan, although slightly prepared, still stumbled back half a step as she collided into him. He caught her with ease, wrapping an arm around her waist to stabilize them both.
"Whoa, easy now kid!" he laughed, looking down at her affectionately. "Have you been sneaking extra meals lately? You feel heavier than before!"
Yu Shanshan immediately puffed up her cheeks in mock anger, resembling a pouting pufferfish. "Hmph! There are two perfectly valid reasons for that! First, I've been sitting around all day singing and barely moving. I'm in a state of 'artistic laziness.' Second, I've been eating more because I'm super annoyed lately!"
Lin Yuan chuckled and ignored the first part entirely. "Why are you annoyed? Did someone pick a fight with you?"
Shanshan shook her head. "Not exactly… It's just—ugh! I've been praising you left and right to these girls. I told them how perfect you are—how you're the dream of every girl across the country. Handsome, refined, ridiculously talented!"
She crossed her arms with a dramatic sigh and continued, "I told them you can play the piano like a concert pianist, play chess like a grandmaster, sing like The European Robin, and that you're basically good at everything! But instead of believing me, they all laughed and said I was just bragging. Can you believe that?"
She pointed an accusing finger at the speechless girls behind her.
"And then they started talking about that Yan Ruyue again like she's some goddess. As if my cousin would ever lose to her! Seriously! Do they even know you like I do?"
Lin Yuan raised a brow, amused. "That much, huh?"
She looked at him proudly, as if she had just proven the entire room wrong. "So what? You're a living legend in my eyes, and I don't care if they don't believe me. They'll find out soon enough."
Lin Yuan gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze and smiled. "Alright then, I'll count on you to keep spreading the legend."
Yu Shanshan beamed like the sun, standing taller, her earlier frustration completely forgotten.
Yu Shanshan huffed, clearly not done. "Of course! These people don't know anything. I've known you since you were running around in diapers, clinging to my leg and calling me big sister. I knew you were going to grow up to be a heartbreaker!"