Сhарtеr 23: Quite Tsundеrе, I Likе It
Неaring Cen Хiu’s wоrds, Cen Wаn understoоd whаt wаs gоing оn. Ignоring Cеn Хiu, shе lоoked аt Cen Luo, her vоiсe соld аnd еmоtionlеss: “Сеn Luo, havе уou fоrgotten what I tоld yоu? Don’t meddle in оther рeорle’s business.”
Сen Wan’s tonе wаs sо iсy it felt unfаmiliаr tо Сen Luo. Fеeling а bit wronged, Сen Luo thоught to hersеlf—this was a familу mаttеr, how соuld it be considеred mеddling? Вut to avоid angering Сen Wаn, shе gаve Сen Xiu а troubled glаnсе and nodded: “I understand.”
Cen Xiu sаid: “Wаn Wan, don’t blame Luо Luо.”
Cen Wan shоt him а cold glare, the frost in her eyes startling Cen Xiu. Then she turned her gaze back to Cen Luo: “Go upstairs.”
Cen Luo hesitated, then nodded and headed upstairs. She couldn’t understand—just a while ago, Cen Wan and Cen Xiu had been as close as real siblings. How had things changed so drastically in just a few days?
Had something happened between them?
With these questions swirling in her mind, she returned to her room.
Cen Wan sat down on the sofa, not sparing Cen Xiu another glance. Cen Xiu, being perceptive, clearly sensed the hostility Cen Wan had been showing him lately.
He asked: “Wan Wan, did I do something to upset you?”
A flicker of mockery passed through Cen Wan’s eyes. Upset? It was more than that—it was hatred, seeping into every nerve. If she lived in an era where murder wasn’t a crime, the person before her would have long been torn to pieces.
But she couldn’t act impulsively now. She had family, people she cared about. She couldn’t bear to lose Lu Beixun. She would find evidence and use the law to bring him to justice.
The fire at the Cen family hadn’t happened yet. For now, she could only focus on the embezzlement of Cen Corporation’s funds and the leak of confidential information.
Cen Wan replied nonchalantly: “I’m married now. No matter how close we were, we’re not related by blood. We should keep our distance—Lu Beixun gets jealous.”
Her words left Cen Xiu speechless, unsure how to respond.
After a long pause, Cen Xiu finally spoke: “But we’ve always been like this before…”
Cen Wan didn’t deny it, simply replying with an “Mm”: “Before, I didn’t know my limits. Now I do.”
She had always known how much Lu Beixun cared about her relationship with Cen Xiu. In her previous life, the more he cared, the more she went out of her way to make him unhappy. Looking back now, she truly deserved it—no wonder she ended up chasing him all the way to the crematorium.
Lu Beixun’s current attitude toward her was really letting her off easy.
Cen Xiu fell silent. Suddenly, as if remembering something, Cen Wan raised an eyebrow and looked at him: “Do you really think it was Lu Beixun who almost bankrupted Cen Corporation before?”
He paused for a moment before replying: “In the capital, aside from the Lu Group, no one else could have pushed Cen Corporation to the brink of bankruptcy.”
Cen Wan could read between the lines—he was hinting that Lu Beixun was behind it, that only Lu Beixun had the capability.
She smiled, not refuting his words: “Then Lu Beixun is quite capable. First, he pushed Cen Corporation to the brink of collapse, then brought it back to life, and even made it thrive more than before.”
Cen Xiu couldn’t believe these words were coming from her. Just a short while ago, she had hated Lu Beixun to the bone.
“Wan Wan, it was Lu Beixun who resorted to unscrupulous means… How can you say something like that?” Cen Xiu’s eyes were filled with disappointment.
If one looked closely, beneath the disappointment, there was also worry—worry about his plans.
Cen Wan saw through it but didn’t point it out, smiling casually instead: “What unscrupulous means? You shouldn’t say that. He just loves me too much.”
Cen Xiu frowned deeply, his expression one of utter confusion.At that moment, Cen Xiu caught sight of a figure pacing outside through the floor-to-ceiling window. His heart stirred, and his gaze fell on Cen Wan.
Cen Wan hadn’t noticed the figure outside. She was lazily leaning against the sofa when, suddenly, Cen Xiu walked over to her, grabbed her arm, and forced her to stand up.
The difference in strength between men and women was stark, and Cen Wan was naturally frail to begin with. Cen Xiu lifted her to her feet effortlessly.
Before Cen Wan could react, Cen Xiu pulled her into a tight embrace. He shouted, “Wan Wan, look at me. I never wanted to be your brother, never…”
“Wan Wan, I love you.”
At the entrance to the living room, Lu Beixun’s eyes darkened, his entire demeanor tinged with a fierce intensity, his gaze sharp and penetrating.
Cen Wan, with her back to Lu Beixun, was completely unaware of his presence at the living room entrance. She furrowed her brows tightly, suppressing her disgust, and pushed Cen Xiu away with all her strength.
A crisp slap echoed through the living room. Cen Wan had struck with all her might. Whether Cen Xiu’s face hurt or not, she didn’t know, but her own hand was numb and devoid of sensation.
She looked at Cen Xiu and coldly spat out two words: “Disgusting.”
Cen Wan felt a chill run down her spine. Turning around, she froze for a moment. She had known Cen Xiu’s sudden unusual behavior must have been part of some scheme.
Lu Beixun’s expression softened slightly. He strode over to Cen Wan, took her hand, and examined it. Her palm was bright red. He asked, “Does it hurt?”
She nodded, her voice soft and clearly carrying a coquettish tone. “It hurts so much.”
Lu Beixun reached out and touched her face, then pulled her behind him. His sharp gaze landed on Cen Xiu. “Mr. Cen, please show some self-respect.”
His aura turned gloomy. “If you trouble my wife again, I think you know what I’m capable of.”
Cen Xiu had just recovered from the slap. The humiliation of being struck was already infuriating enough, and now with Lu Beixun’s provocation, he could no longer hold back. “Do you dare? Can you compare to the twenty years of feelings between us?”
A flicker of hostility passed through Lu Beixun’s eyes, his expression dim and unclear. Yet Cen Xiu knew that this decisive, feared man had no confidence whatsoever in this matter.
“Naturally, it can’t compare.” Cen Wan stepped out from behind Lu Beixun.
Lu Beixun’s fingers twitched slightly. He stared at her in a daze, his eyes complex.
Cen Wan smiled at him, offering a reassuring look. “Lu Beixun is my husband, the person I’ll spend the rest of my life with. Cen Xiu, what do you have to compare with him? A family affection without blood ties?”
Her gaze fixed on Cen Xiu, the smile at the corner of Cen Wan’s lips grew increasingly sarcastic.
Lu Beixun pressed his thin lips together, looking at her with disbelief. Cen Wan took his hand, her fingertips restlessly stroking the back of his hand.
Cen Xiu couldn’t utter a single word. He didn’t understand why Cen Wan had suddenly changed so drastically, completely different from before.
“Accompany me upstairs to bathe and change clothes. It feels so dirty.Cen Wan’s face showed unconcealed disdain.
Lu Beixun responded with a faint “Mm,” his expression calm.
Cen Wan didn’t spare Cen Xiu another glance. She led Lu Beixun to her bedroom. Half an hour later, she emerged from the bathroom, changed into fresh clothes, and tossed the ones she had been wearing into the trash bin.
What a pity. She had really liked that outfit. If it hadn’t felt dirty, she wouldn’t have been willing to throw it away.
Looking at Lu Beixun, who sat silently on the beanbag chair, she smiled, walked over, and threw herself into his arms. Lu Beixun caught her steadily.
Cen Wan lifted her head, reached out, and pinched his cheek. “Not saying anything? Are you angry?”A certain woman asked knowingly, what man wouldn’t be angry seeing his own woman being taken advantage of by another man.
Lu Beixun grabbed her restless hand and turned his face away.
“Still being tsundere, I like it.” Cen Wan wouldn’t let him sulk alone. She pinched his chin, turned his face toward her, and kissed his lips.