This sudden question sent a jolt through Ye Yuning.
After Xiao Linye asked, his gaze remained fixed on Ye Yuning’s face. At this moment, not even the slightest change in her expression could escape his eyes.
Ye Yuning met his piercing gaze; such coldness was something she had never experienced since they started living together.
Her mind raced. She subconsciously reached for her phone, but before her hand stretched out, she stopped herself.
Since Xiao Linye is asking this question now, I don’t need to think hard to realize Xiao Shuo must have harassed me again when I was drunk. And could Xiao Linye have possibly answered my phone?
Thinking of this, Ye Yuning immediately responded, "There’s absolutely no relationship between us!"
She said these words without blushing or her heart skipping a beat.
Xiao Linye raised an eyebrow. "No relationship?"
"Really, no relationship!" Ye Yuning shook her head decisively.
Heaven knew, her heart was in her throat at that moment.
Xiao Linye said nothing more, taking a drag from the half-smoked cigarette in his hand, his gaze still on her face.
His stare made Ye Yuning so uneasy that her skin crawled. Usually composed, she now struggled internally for a moment before asking, "Why are you asking this question all of a sudden?"
I remember Xiao Linye previously witnessed my dispute with Xiao Shuo! Back then, my explanation was something about my boss, wasn’t it?
Before she could figure out what else might have happened, Xiao Linye reminded her coolly, "You might want to take a look at your phone."
Ye Yuning was speechless.
Check my phone! That bastard Xiao Shuo... he must have...
She quickly grabbed her phone and checked the call log. No calls from Xiao Shuo. She had already blacklisted his number.
However, when she saw her message inbox!
In that instant, Ye Yuning went numb. That bastard Xiao Shuo! Calling me ’Ningning’? And that damn scoundrel was even explaining things about Ye Tong!
Agitated, she shifted, and a sharp pain where she was injured intensified, making her feel breathless.
So, Xiao Linye had ignored my crying pleas last night because he’d seen this message?
Right now, Ye Yuning wanted nothing more than to tear Xiao Shuo limb from limb. She wished she could kill that bastard.
Xiao Linye asked, "Why is he explaining Ye Tong’s situation to you? I recall he was previously engaged to the eldest daughter of the Ye Family. Later, he broke off the engagement because he got involved with this Ye Tong."
He spoke casually, yet his words were undeniably grating.
The term ’got involved’ in particular, delivered in that casual tone, felt somewhat vulgar.
Ye Yuning took a deep breath. "I have absolutely no relationship with him?"
"Then why does he need to explain to you?"
Ye Yuning was speechless again.
Why hadn’t I realized before how sharp his questions could be? No wonder he held such a position in the Xiao Corporation; he truly deserved it.
Ye Yuning felt a surge of panic; she felt she really couldn’t keep this up much longer.
Lately, it felt like I’ve been constantly teetering on the edge of Xiao Linye’s suspicion. Especially now...
Despite taking several deep breaths, she couldn’t suppress the heaviness in her chest.
Finally, she gritted her teeth and said, "That Xiao Shuo is no good. He’s a complete bastard."
Without a second thought, Ye Yuning shifted all the blame onto Xiao Shuo.
Besides, Xiao Shuo wasn’t a good person to begin with, so blaming him wasn’t unfair.
Xiao Linye raised an eyebrow at her.
Ye Yuning closed her eyes and said through gritted teeth, "He’s always been trying to get his hands on me!"
Xiao Linye said nothing.
Ye Yuning continued, "But I never let him succeed."
Xiao Linye’s breathing deepened.
And Ye Yuning was telling the truth. Although she and Xiao Shuo had been engaged for a long time, during that period, Xiao Shuo had tried countless times to sleep with her, but she had never let him succeed. Eventually, Xiao Shuo, frustrated and humiliated, got involved with Ye Tong. He claimed Ye Tong seduced him, but he himself was flawed, like a cracked egg. Over the years, Ye Tong wasn’t the only woman to successfully prey on his weakness.
Xiao Linye raised an eyebrow at her again. Ye Yuning immediately swore to the heavens, "I’m telling the truth!"
"Besides, not only was he engaged to our boss, but he also frequents nightclubs. As for why he’d explain about Ye Tong to me... perhaps it’s because people always want what they can’t have?"
The uncertainty in her tone for that last rhetorical question didn’t matter; she had thoroughly shifted all blame onto Xiao Shuo.
As for how Xiao Linye might retaliate against Xiao Shuo, I couldn’t care less! I previously thought Xiao Linye was just a business manager. But now, it seemed his authority within the Xiao Corporation might only be second to the CEO’s... He might even hold shares in the Xiao Corporation! This man wasn’t just handsome; he was incredibly sharp-witted too.
Ye Yuning suddenly felt a sharp pang of guilt. She worried she couldn’t maintain her facade under Xiao Linye’s scrutiny for much longer. Should I confess everything quickly? Just thinking about my actual relationship with Xiao Shuo made my head ache. And I have no idea if Xiao Linye would fly into a rage upon learning my true identity.