Chapter Thirty-Eight: Hounded by All

Rejected!

The crowd's fierce criticism of Hong Chen vanished in an instant; everyone stared at Lin Yuxin in utter disbelief, eyes wide with astonishment. Lin Yuxin's face was expressionless, yet her eyes shone with a firmness and resolve that even Chen Feiyang might not have anticipated. No one could have known just how much inner turmoil she had endured in the brief moment after Chen Feiyang revealed his trump card. Ultimately, she made her own choice.

Hong Chen, too, turned to look at Lin Yuxin, mouth parted as if to speak, but before he could utter a word, she shook her head slightly at him and said, "I am your wife."

Those simple five words coursed through Hong Chen like a jolt of electricity, making him shudder involuntarily and fall silent. An indescribable mix of emotions welled up inside him.

Chen Feiyang slowly straightened from his kneeling position. Even after rising, his posture remained as upright as ever, his face calm, betraying none of the disappointment or frustration one might expect after rejection.

"Yuxin, hearing your answer directly from you, I have no regrets," Chen Feiyang said gently, a look of relief on his face.

Lin Yuxin only nodded. At a moment like this, anything more would be superfluous.

"Come now, what's this? It's not often we all get together—let's not let a small incident ruin our evening. Since my earlier wish didn't come true, I've decided to make a new one," Chen Feiyang said as he walked back to his seat. But as he turned, his face suddenly darkened, a flash of menace in his eyes.

The truth was, he had already braced himself for rejection tonight. Although Lin Yuxin's refusal still left him with a gut-wrenching sense of loss, it no longer mattered. This was the last chance he would give her. He had wagered everything—his pride, his dignity—and lost utterly, his self-respect trampled without mercy.

What awaited Lin Yuxin now was a Chen Feiyang who cared nothing for saving face, a man driven by vengeance and prepared to use every means at his disposal to conquer her.

Hands clasped, he made his wish once more, then blew out the candles. He personally sliced the cake, handing out slices to everyone—including Hong Chen. It was as if Lin Yuxin's rejection had barely affected him, as if all he had truly wanted was her sincere answer.

Lu Ke'er, seated beside Lin Yuxin, leaned over and, not caring if Hong Chen heard, whispered, "Yuxin, what are you really thinking?"

Lin Yuxin smiled faintly. "Matters of the heart can't be forced."

Lu Ke'er rolled her eyes and glanced at Hong Chen, who was spooning cake into his mouth with great appetite. Clenching her silver teeth, she bit down hard, a glint of hatred flashing deep within her eyes.

Rising from her seat, Lu Ke'er fetched a bottle of champagne and was about to hand it to Chen Feiyang when Shi Jie suddenly cried out, "Oh no, my watch is missing! Help me find it, quickly!"

Li Chen laughed. "How can your watch go missing when it's on your wrist?"

Shi Jie looked anxious. "I just took it off and put it on the table."

Lu Ke'er glanced from one end of the table to the other and asked casually, "What kind of watch is it?"

Shi Jie hesitated, then said, "A Patek Philippe. It's my father's—he had someone bring it back from Switzerland."

Patek Philippe!

The mention of that famous brand made everyone start in surprise. The top of the world's ten luxury watches, with even the cheapest model costing hundreds of thousands.

No one dared take it lightly. They searched high and low, but the effort proved fruitless. Shi Jie's face twisted in frustration, sweat gathering on his brow as he grew more agitated.

"Can we check the surveillance footage?" Lin Yuxin suggested. Instinctively, everyone turned to Chen Feiyang. He nodded and pressed the service bell. When a waiter entered, Chen Feiyang instructed, "Fetch your manager. We've lost something and need to check the surveillance."

The manager arrived promptly. Upon hearing that a Patek Philippe had gone missing, he dared not delay, but said he must report to the duty manager on shift that evening.

Chen Feiyang gestured for him to wait, then produced a gold membership card. The manager, recognizing it, dropped any talk of reporting further. He walked out using his walkie-talkie, issuing instructions as he went.

Roughly ten minutes later, the manager returned to the private room, accompanied by three club security officers. Without announcing the result, he leaned in to whisper a few words to Chen Feiyang.

Chen Feiyang nodded and addressed the group: "If anyone here took Shi Jie's watch, now is your chance to return it. There's still room to discuss how we handle this."

The group stared at each other in confusion, each unconsciously patting their own pockets before shaking their heads.

"Very well, the opportunity has been given. Manager Cai, retrieve the item," Chen Feiyang said.

The manager signaled a security guard, who strode over to the coat rack, took down the third jacket from the left, reached into the inside pocket, and drew out a skeleton-back wristwatch.

A gasp swept through the room, followed by sharp, accusatory glances cast at Hong Chen—the jacket was unmistakably his.

Hong Chen's brow furrowed deeply, but he shook his head with cold composure. "It wasn't me."

"My watch was in your jacket pocket. Caught red-handed, and you still try to deny it!" Shi Jie snapped his watch back onto his wrist and, seething with anger, strode toward Hong Chen. Lin Yuxin tried to intercede, but Lu Ke'er pulled her back, whispering, "The surveillance is clear. If it wasn't him, the manager would say so. Since the manager is silent, isn't it obvious? Yuxin, you really should consider if he's worth it."

Lin Yuxin's expression was conflicted, her heart wracked with pain. She could tolerate Hong Chen being idle and unambitious, could even tolerate his meekness, but she could never accept him as a thief. That was a line she could not cross.

In the end, Lin Yuxin chose to watch in silence. If her husband was a thief, she would not defend him.

"Manager, does the surveillance show me putting the watch into that jacket?" Hong Chen asked the manager. Before the question had fully left his lips, Shi Jie was already beside him, swinging a fist.

Hong Chen dodged, and Shi Jie, having put too much force into the punch, toppled onto the table. It was clearly his own fault, yet everyone blamed Hong Chen. The men stood up, cracking their knuckles as if preparing to gang up on him, while the women glared, shouting that the police should be called to have him arrested.

At that moment, Hong Chen had become a pariah, a rat scurrying across the street, despised by all.

"Stop it!" Lin Yuxin suddenly stood, fixing her gaze on the manager. "Manager, who does the surveillance say took the watch?"

"Our club has its own rules," the manager replied, ignoring her and looking to Chen Feiyang with an apologetic but firm expression. "If a guest is caught stealing, we must handle it internally for the sake of our reputation. Whether to call the police afterward is up to you."

Chen Feiyang nodded. "We'll do as the club sees fit."

The manager pointed at Hong Chen and announced, "The surveillance clearly shows him putting the item into that jacket pocket. Take him to the security room."

The three security guards immediately closed in on Hong Chen. Lin Yuxin was struck as if by lightning, her face draining of color as she collapsed into her seat.

"You say it was me—remember, those are your words," Hong Chen said to the manager, offering no further defense as he was escorted from the room.

"Yuxin, it's not our place to interfere in your choice," someone said, "but as your classmates, I advise you to divorce him soon."

"Yuxin, he's finally shown his true colors. Now you can see him for what he is—a sanctimonious thief."

"Even in prison, thieves are despised more than anyone else."

"Enough, enough," Chen Feiyang interrupted, silencing the room. He glanced at Lin Yuxin and sighed. "Yuxin, even if I no longer have a chance, I have to say this: your marriage with him is just a contract. There's no need to force yourself. A contract should be honored by both sides. If you insist on keeping your word to a thief, isn't that going too far?"

The others all nodded in agreement.

Lin Yuxin looked around at them. This time, she neither defended Hong Chen nor remained silent. She exhaled and said, "I understand what you mean. I'll give it serious thought."

Then she turned to Shi Jie, her expression apologetic. "I must apologize to you. I brought him here, so I share the responsibility."