The CEO's Substitute Ex-Wife-Chapter 204: An Uninvited Guest
Chapter 204: An Uninvited Guest
Chen Xueru looked at herself in the wedding dress and smiled. She had once fantasized about wearing a wedding dress and walking towards marriage with Gu Rui. But now, she was wearing a wedding dress for someone else.
Her feelings were complex.
However, beauty is a pleasing thing. Wearing such a wedding dress, anyone’s mood would become very, very good...
"Xiao Nian, isn’t Mommy pretty?" Tang Mandong asked. freewёbnoνel.com
Xiao Nian, in his sweet, childish English voice, said, "So pretty, Mommy is a fairy." Wen Nuan and Tang Mandong both laughed.
Apart from a slight alteration needed at the waist, there were no other issues with the wedding dress. In fact, it could even be worn without alterations. Chen Xueru also really liked this wedding dress. After the photographer took a set of photos for backup, Chen Xueru went in to change into her own clothes.
Wen Nuan felt a touch of envy; she wanted to wear a wedding dress too.
However, this urge was just an impulse. Marriage, for her, was still a distant prospect. The thought of Ye Feimo made Wen Nuan’s heart sink. When would he and Han Bi finally draw a clear line between them?
While Chen Xueru was changing, an uninvited guest arrived at the photography studio—Zhao Yuning.
She looked sickly and gaunt, appearing fragile. She wore a slip dress, a cream-colored long trench coat, and black culottes with long boots. Her posture was perfectly maintained, exuding the nobility and grace of a well-bred young lady.
Zhao Yuning’s gaze fell on Xiao Nian, and her stare made Xiao Nian a little frightened. Tang Mandong bent down to pick up her nephew, looking coldly at Zhao Yuning. "Miss Zhao, what can we do for you?"
Wasn’t this person supposed to be in the hospital?
What was she doing at the photography studio?
And how did she even know sister-in-law was here?
"I want to see Chen Xueru," Zhao Yuning said, her voice soft and weak, making her exceptionally pitiable. Chen Xueru happened to come out, having changed into a pink knit top with a white knit cardigan and a white scarf. Seeing Zhao Yuning, she felt a slight apology and guilt, glancing at Wen Nuan and Tang Mandong with some embarrassment.
Xiao Nian called out "Mommy," and Chen Xueru walked over, greeting Zhao Yuning politely, "Hello, Miss Zhao."
"So you know me."
Chen Xueru nodded. Zhao Yuning smiled faintly. "Miss Chen, may I speak with you alone?"
Tang Mandong chuckled. "Sister-in-law, there’s a coffee shop nearby. Let’s go sit there. Xiao Nian is hungry too; let’s get something to eat. Miss Zhao, if you don’t mind, come along."
That address of "sister-in-law" made Zhao Yuning’s expression subtly change. She gritted her teeth. Originally, she should have been Tang Mandong’s sister-in-law.
"Miss Chen, I want to speak with you alone," Zhao Yuning insisted. Chen Xueru didn’t particularly want to speak with her alone, not because she couldn’t handle it, but because she didn’t want to.
Tang Shuwen had, after all, wronged Zhao Yuning for the sake of Chen Xueru and her son. Meeting her always put Chen Xueru at a disadvantage. She didn’t know what to say to Zhao Yuning. However, Tang Mandong spoke up, "Miss Zhao, there’s nothing about my sister-in-law that we can’t hear. Either you come along and have a coffee, or please leave."
At the coffee shop, they ordered coffee. Wen Nuan always had a latte, Tang Mandong and Chen Xueru ordered cappuccinos, Zhao Yuning asked for a mocha, and Xiao Nian wanted a slice of Black Forest cake.
Zhao Yuning and Wen Nuan sat on one side, while Tang Mandong and Chen Xueru sat on the other. Xiao Nian sat between his aunt and mother, eating cake. Zhao Yuning’s gaze lingered on Xiao Nian, which Tang Mandong clearly disliked. She said in a low voice, "Just say what you need to say. Why are you staring at my Xiao Nian? I imagine Miss Zhao isn’t feeling well, so please go back and rest as soon as you’re done. Your delicate constitution shouldn’t be exposed to the wind; we can’t bear the responsibility."
Zhao Yuning’s face changed. She looked directly at Chen Xueru, implying she still wanted to speak with her alone. Chen Xueru pursed her lips and said faintly, "Miss Zhao, there’s nothing about my affairs that needs to be hidden from Mandong and Wen Nuan. If you have something to say, please say it openly."
"Miss Chen, you stole someone else’s man, and you don’t even dare to speak with me alone?" Zhao Yuning asked sharply.
Tang Mandong suddenly slammed her hand on the table. "Please address her as Madam Tang."
Zhao Yuning’s face instantly went pale. She looked at Tang Mandong in disbelief, then laughed coldly. "They’re not married yet. Anything is still possible. I’m afraid that title of Madam Tang is a bit premature."
Tang Mandong sneered. This woman was still dreaming.
Chen Xueru said, "Miss Zhao, the title doesn’t matter. What exactly do you want?"
"Do you really not know why I’m looking for you? Leave Shuwen, Miss Chen. We’re all women. How can you be so cruel? Your marriage with Shuwen will make all three of us unhappy, and even your son will be hurt. You can’t disregard all our happiness just to marry him. Miss Chen, let everything go back to normal," Zhao Yuning said. "You might not feel it now, but you’ll regret it sooner or later. He’s not your man, and it’s not your marriage. If you insist on taking it, how can you be happy?"
Tang Mandong started to speak, but Chen Xueru shook her head, holding back her temper. Chen Xueru smiled and said, "Miss Zhao, what you’re saying, I’ve also told Tang Shuwen. He’s the one who insisted on getting married. I understand your feelings very well, and I understand your situation. But you’ve come to the wrong person. I can’t help you. You should go to Tang Shuwen. If he gives up on this marriage, I will have no complaints."
She would even be happy. As long as Tang Shuwen was willing to give up and didn’t try to take Xiao Nian, she didn’t care who he married.
Zhao Yuning sneered coldly. "You speak so nicely, do you think I don’t know what you’re thinking? Chen Xueru, you were with my cousin, and you’ve been in the entertainment industry for so many years. How many other people have you been with? Now that you finally have a chance to tie Shuwen down with a child, how could you give up? This is your chance to climb up the social ladder and become a phoenix, so you disregard all our feelings and use an innocent child to ruin us. You’ve ruined all of us, do you understand?"
Chen Xueru narrowed her eyes. "Zhao Yuning, stick to the point. Don’t fabricate baseless accusations against me. Yes, I was with Gu Rui, so what? Does having one relationship mean I’m not allowed to marry again? How many people I’ve been with is none of your business. Whether I’m using my child is also none of your business. Whether I’m becoming a phoenix, I know myself. I’m not the one who ruined everyone. You’ve really come to the wrong person."
Chen Xueru also lost her temper. She had felt guilty towards Zhao Yuning, as it was her and Xiao Nian’s appearance that caused her and Tang Shuwen to be unable to be together. Zhao Yuning had every right to resent her.
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