After the Paranoid Female Lead Lost Her Memory, She Insisted on Pursuing This Cannon Fodder - Chapter 24

The air seemed to freeze for three seconds.

Shen Yuan at the staircase, Lu Ren in the dining room, Aunt Wang standing at the door watching the drama, and Lin Zhaoyue, caught in the middle with her mind blank, formed an utterly bizarre tableau.

Lin Zhaoyue was furious. Why did Lu Ren have to show up now of all times?! And Shen Yuan, weren’t you supposed to be hiding upstairs? What’s taking you so long?!

Sensing Aunt Wang’s gossipy gaze, Lin Zhaoyue quickly shot her a meaningful look:

“Aunt Wang, what are you standing around for? Can’t you see we have a guest… a salesman here? Go check if the lawn needs fertilizer!”

Aunt Wang: ?

She clearly found the excuse absurd, but seeing her Young Miss’s desperate expression, her survival instinct ultimately trumped her curiosity.

“Alright then.”

Aunt Wang shuffled away, glancing back every few steps. Before closing the door, she couldn’t resist one last furtive peek, her face radiating “I saw nothing, but I understand everything.”

Only Lin Zhaoyue, Shen Yuan, and Lu Ren remained in the restaurant.

The atmosphere grew even more strained.

Almost the instant the door closed, Lu Ren launched into a righteous tirade:

“What’s going on here, Lin Zhaoyue? Why is Shen Yuan at your house? What have you done to her?!”

Lin Zhaoyue scoffed, her anger bubbling into amusement.

Is Lu Ren still trying to use me as a stepping stone to declare his undying love?

If she hadn’t been fully aware of their “cooperation,” she might have actually mistaken him for some kind of devoted second male lead.

Lu Ren pressed on:

“And that phone call last night—”

“Do you need something from Zhaoyue?” Shen Yuan interrupted, her voice calm and deliberate.

She glided down the stairs with effortless grace, moving to Lin Zhaoyue’s side as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Lu Ren froze, his words catching in his throat at her sudden move.

“What? I… I…”

“Ah, Zhaoyue, is this the insurance salesman you mentioned? Yes, he definitely looks like one.”

Lin Zhaoyue: “……”

Wasn’t he just doubting me a moment ago?

Lu Ren’s face darkened instantly.

“I’m not selling insurance! Shen Yuan, don’t you recognize me? I’m Lu Ren! And why are you so afraid of me? I’m just asking what Lin Zhaoyue did to you this time!”

Shen Yuan quickly huddled behind Lin Zhaoyue, feigning helplessness, and naturally looped her arm through Lin Zhaoyue’s. Suppressing a smirk, she pleaded in a pitiful voice, “Zhaoyue, have insurance salespeople become this aggressive now? He’s so scary… Does he think he can take advantage of my amnesia to ruin our relationship?”

Lin Zhaoyue was momentarily stunned by Shen Yuan’s sudden display of “green tea” tactics. The arm Shen Yuan was clinging to felt stiff, but seeing Shen Yuan’s “I’m so scared, only you can protect me” act, the words of refusal caught in her throat.

“What? Amnesia?!”

Lu Ren was visibly stunned, his accusatory expression instantly replaced with shock.

“You’ve lost your memory, so you’ve forgotten your relationship with Lin Zhaoyue? Do you even know…”

“I know,” Shen Yuan interrupted him again, continuing her rant. “We’re engaged.”

“As for you,” she snapped, turning to Lu Ren, “what’s your problem? Always trying to stir up trouble. What are you scheming? Are you trying to sabotage our relationship?”

Her voice cracked with emotion as she buried her face in Lin Zhaoyue’s shoulder.

“Waaah… It’s all my fault. I was terrible to you before, making you angry and hurting you. That’s why every Tom, D1ck, and Harry thinks they can waltz in and steal you away from me… Zhaoyue, you wouldn’t really leave me, would you?”

Lin Zhaoyue: “……”

It seems the tea was just a pretext. Her real goal was always to cling to me.

Lu Ren’s face turned livid at Shen Yuan’s words.

He never imagined that the gentle Shen Yuan he remembered would become this sharp-tongued, manipulative version after losing her memory! This is all Lin Zhaoyue’s fault!

He glared at Lin Zhaoyue, his tone even more aggressive:

“Lin Zhaoyue! Look what you’ve done! What kind of lies did you feed her to brainwash her like this? She’s lost her memory, and you’re taking advantage of her vulnerability to teach her these ridiculous insults just to provoke me?!”

Lin Zhaoyue was already seething with anger, and Lu Ren’s outburst finally shattered her last shred of patience.

“What I’m doing is none of your damn business! Lu Ren, I’m warning you, our partnership ends here! Don’t ever use the ‘fiancé’ title to swindle people again, and don’t you dare bother me again!”

“What did you say?” Lu Ren’s face twisted in shock. He hadn’t expected Lin Zhaoyue to sever ties so decisively. He’d been counting on using his “fiancé” status to extract benefits from the Lin Family and get closer to Shen Yuan. Now, this abrupt end left him at a distinct disadvantage.

“Think carefully about this. I don’t care what your current motives are. If I reveal everything from the past to Wang Ba, you’ll lose your chance!”

“Who gives a damn about Wang Ba? If you like him, go be with him!” Lin Zhaoyue pointed toward the door. “Get the hell out!”

At that moment, Shen Yuan raised her head, her newly squeezed tears still glistening on her cheeks. Before she could wipe them away, a triumphant smile had already curved her lips, her expression shifting with practiced ease.

She added softly, “Mmm-hmm, hurry along now. Only the real fiancée is allowed here~”

“You… you two… this is utterly absurd! You’re both insane! Completely insane!”

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his rage, and spat out a final, venomous threat at Lin Zhaoyue:

“You can fool her for now, but you can’t fool her forever! Just wait, Lin Zhaoyue, you’ll get what’s coming to you sooner or later!”

With that, he turned his back on the lesbian couple and strode toward the main entrance, desperate to escape this place that was making his bl00d pressure skyrocket.

He stormed to the doorway, only to collide with a familiar figure.

The short-haired woman he bumped into froze, her eyes widening in shock as she recognized him. The color drained from her face.

It was Zhang Wei, Shen Yuan’s best friend, who had come as promised.

“Lu Ren? What are you doing here? Don’t tell me…”

After his initial surprise, Lu Ren quickly recognized Zhang Wei. He disdainfully straightened his askew tie, a warning smile spreading across his face.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Shen Yuan’s little friend. What brings you here?”

He paused deliberately, stepping closer and lowering his voice, his eyes glinting menacingly.

“Watch your mouth. Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t, and don’t say things you shouldn’t. Some things are best left buried. Otherwise… you’ll face the consequences.”