Chapter 19 — My Best Friend's Older Brother Took Responsibility for Me

The post circulated across Hecheng's high society for a full day. Ye Zhiyi was furious, pacing the living room for half an hour. "She's incurable!" "She's playing the public opinion card," I said. "She knows behind-the-scenes tricks failed, so she switched battlefields." "What's your plan?" "Do nothing." "If you stay silent, she wins!" "She only wins over strangers online who don't know me—I don't need them."

I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Wen Ruyue: *Miss Wen, read your essay. Smooth writing, but three points are false. First, you prepared for three months, but my husband never cared for a single day—arranged by your aunt, unrelated to me. Second, you aren't the betrayed party, but someone refusing to leave the stage. Third, you claim I got everything too easily—try investigating how I strived over five years since college to reach today, and see if it was easy. Finally: You manipulate public opinion online, and your behind-the-scenes dirty tricks are in my hands as evidence. I'm not exposing you this time to give you one last chance. If you don't stop, our next meeting won't be in a tea room.* Ten minutes later, Wen Ruyue replied with one sentence: *Lin Wan, you think you've won?* I didn't bother replying.

The next day, Wen Ruyue quietly deleted the post. Though screenshots circulated, heat began cooling down because someone posted a screenshot in the comments—the chat log of Wen Ruyue trying to bribe my former colleagues. Not posted by me, but by the four colleagues who refused her: *She came to me saying just say a few bad things and she'd introduce rich clients. I declined, but I know someone sold their conscience.* Winds shifted overnight; those sympathizing with her turned to question her story: *Playing victim while stabbing backs? So scheming!* Wen Ruyue locked her comment section. At midnight, Ye Zhiyi texted me: *Sister-in-law, wind shifted!* *Saw it.* *Did you predict those four would stand up?* *Not certain, but people with conscience don't stay silent forever.*

Wen Ruyue vanished for a full week—no updates, Moments set to 3 days, phone calls unheeded. Li Yingqiu called the Wen family; Mrs. Wen cried on the phone: *Sister Yingqiu, Xiao Yue was under huge pressure, the family didn't know...* *I understand,* Li Yingqiu said calmly. *But some boundaries can't be restored once crossed. Xiao Yue has a long road ahead—tell her to walk steadily.* Hanging up, she told me: *Hi Bao, the Wen family won't cause trouble anymore. Tell me directly if you ever feel wronged.*

I thought it was over, but Wen Ruyue left a trap before vanishing—sending her gathered "materials" anonymously to gossips in Hecheng high society. At a Ye family gathering late that month, an aunt grabbed Li Yingqiu's hand: *Yingqiu, rumor has it your eldest daughter-in-law is unfaithful? Is the internet gossip real?* Before Li Yingqiu could speak, Ye Zhiyi slammed her glass on the table. "Aunt Zhang, who are you talking about?!" "Just heard rumors, wasn't there Miss Wen—" "Wen Ruyue was politely sent away by my mom! Want me to recount her dirty tricks item by item?" "Zhiyi," Li Yingqiu held her daughter's hand. Ye Zhiyi didn't stop. "I know my sister-in-law best. She pursued styling since college; five years of work sit on her page with timestamps. She won Best Styling Design at the Annual Gala, judged by national experts. While you gossip here, has your daughter ever reached such competitions?"