The Scumbag’s Redemption: Kept by Her (GL) - Chapter 12
The people walking with Wang Ruo, as well as those following from a distance, didn’t dare to laugh.
Wang Ruo was known to hold grudges. If you offended her, she might pretend to be your best friend on the surface, but someday she would stab you in the back without warning, leaving you bleeding.
So when she made a fool of herself and the surroundings fell into silence, the only sound that broke the stillness was a soft chuckle from up ahead. Everyone instinctively looked up to see who would dare to provoke her so boldly.
Under the moonlight, Shen Yuwei stood by the railing, gazing into the distance. Her long, slender neck glowed pale and elegant. Even though recent troubles had worn her down and her face looked slightly pale and tired, it did nothing to diminish her delicate beauty.
She glanced over at Wang Ruo from afar. Her eyes sparkled like still water, and the corners of her eyes were faintly red, as if she was trying hard to hold back her laughter.
That quiet, unmistakable laugh had come from someone standing beside her. Wang Ruo squinted to see clearly and sure enough, right next to Shen Yuwei was a figure dressed in light green, laughing so hard they nearly doubled over.
Wang Ruo, supported by others, wore a twisted grimace. Her inner thighs ached, her legs trembled, and she could barely stand. She stared hard at the figure, finding them somewhat familiar, but she couldn’t immediately place them.
At this point, Shen Yuwei had fallen so far that most people had already distanced themselves from her. Wang Ruo couldn’t imagine who would be so blind and foolish as to stand by her side now.
Her expression darkened with fury.
Through gritted teeth, Wang Ruo shouted, “Who dares to laugh at me, Wang Nuo!”
She named herself directly.
At that moment, whoever stepped forward would surely be remembered by Wang Ruo, and everyone who had any sense quietly backed away. Even Shen Yuwei didn’t think Ling Jiao would go so far as to defend her.
What she didn’t know was that Ling Jiao already had a terrible reputation. People feared her not because she was liked, but because of her background and status. That was the only reason no one dared to strike at her in secret.
Ling Jiao figured she already had enough debts, and didn’t care about adding more. Backing down wouldn’t suit her personality, so she stepped forward boldly and smiled at Wang Ruo. To make sure she was heard clearly, she even raised her voice.
“It was me.”
Her tone was firm and confident.
She didn’t seem to care that laughing at a beautiful Omega during such an embarrassing moment was considered disgraceful and unworthy of an honorable Alpha.
Other Alphas might have felt ashamed or apologetic.
Wang Ruo narrowed her eyes in surprise. “It’s you?”
Just a moment ago, she had mentally gone through all the people who had once liked Shen Yuwei, comparing their voices one by one, but she had forgotten the one most likely to have slipped through the cracks.
That was Ling Jiao, the Alpha who had long coveted Shen Yuwei.
Ling Jiao’s way of pursuing someone was nothing like others. She didn’t follow the usual romantic path. She preferred to appear when her target had nothing left, saving them from despair so they would fall hopelessly in love with her, cling to her, and eventually be discarded once she lost interest.
It wasn’t the first time she had done something like that.
At school, when others bullied Shen Yuwei, they silently followed an unspoken rule with Ling Jiao. Some did it to win her favor. Others just wanted to watch Shen Yuwei fall, waiting for the day Ling Jiao plucked that flower from the high mountain and threw it away.
Ling Jiao often watched from afar, only stepping in at the last moment. But most of the time, Shen Yuwei managed to save herself without her help.
That was why Wang Nuo had never suspected her.
Ling Jiao nodded cheerfully. “Yes, it was me.”
Wang Ruo looked at her, then at Shen Yuwei, and let out a cold laugh. She found it unbelievable that Shen Yuwei could tolerate standing next to Ling Jiao, talking and laughing together.
“You used to hate her the most. What now? Since you’re not the biological daughter of the Shen family anymore, are you planning to marry someone powerful to keep your pride and status?”
“Don’t forget, you still have a fiancée.”
Wang Ruo didn’t hold back. “If your mother hadn’t switched you at birth to chase wealth, would you have enjoyed the Shen family’s resources? Guān Qing is too kind. Even seeing what you’ve become, she still refuses to cancel the engagement. And you, you’re running around with Ling Jiao behind her back. You’re shameless and disloyal. If Guān Qing finds out, how will you face her?”
“If I were you, I wouldn’t have the face to go on living. I’d throw myself into a river and end it.”
Shen Yuwei’s eyes filled with tears from the cruel accusations. She clenched her fists tightly.
“I didn’t. Don’t make up lies!”
After hearing enough of Wang Ruo’s rant, Ling Jiao finally picked up on the key point. No wonder she was so aggressive. She must be in love with Shen Yuwei’s fiancée, Guān Qing. Otherwise, why would she defend her so passionately?
What confirmed it even more was that after Wang Ruo revealed her identity, Ling Jiao remembered that in the original novel, there had been a description of Wang Ruo from a side character’s perspective.
On the day Shen Yuwei was locked in the dark room, the original Ling Jiao had brought her the news that Wang Ruo had successfully seduced Guān Qing, and tried to comfort her by saying only she truly loved her.
Ling Jiao stepped forward and placed herself protectively in front of the trembling Shen Yuwei. She dragged her words slowly and clearly.
“Only the filthy see filth. Do you secretly wish Yuwei and I were involved? How disappointing for you. There’s nothing between us. We just happened to cross paths. That must really ruin your plan, doesn’t it?”
“Or maybe, you were hoping to take Guān Qing for yourself?”
Ling Jiao raised an eyebrow playfully.
“If you like Guān Qing, just say so. Why be so sneaky about it? Compete fairly with Yuwei. They’re not married yet. As long as there’s no marriage, anything is possible, right?”
“And about the baby swap, that was the wrongdoing of the older generation. What does it have to do with Yuwei? She was just a baby. Do you really think she crawled into the Shen family on her own?”
“Her parents couldn’t recognize their own child? The mother, the father, neither of them noticed?”
“How can you be so sure it was Yuwei’s mother who did it out of greed for wealth?”
“What if it was Madam Shen who made the switch all along?”
Wang Ruo’s face turned pale.
Shen Yuwei suddenly looked up.
She stared at Ling Jiao’s composed and calm profile. Her breathing grew slightly rapid.
Ever since the truth had come to light, Shen Yuwei had been carrying a heavy burden in her heart. Just like Wang Ruo had said, this was a decision made by the older generation. Her mother had switched the children, hoping her own daughter could have a better life. That was why the Shen family’s real daughter had ended up suffering in hardship. Shen Yuwei had believed that explanation too.
If it wasn’t her birth mother, whom she had never even met, who made the switch, then could it have been her foster mother?
Who would willingly give away their own child? Especially to such a poor and struggling family?
That possibility seemed almost impossible.
Sadly, the dead cannot come back to life, and Shen Yuwei had no way to ask her what really happened.
When Wang Ruo had spoken those words, she immediately regretted them. She never expected Ling Jiao to speak up again and again in defense of Shen Yuwei. Every word struck right at the thoughts buried deep in her heart. It made Wang Ruo so angry that her teeth clenched. She wished she could fly over right now and slap her across the face.
Yet Ling Jiao looked like she was ready to stir up even more trouble.
Just as she was about to raise her voice and share more of her opinions and guesses, a low and firm voice interrupted her.
“Ling Jiao.” Shen Yuwei closed her eyes, panting softly, her voice rough and strained. “The Shen family raised me, gave me everything I have. That kindness is as deep as being born again. Please stop making careless guesses about my mother.”
Madam Shen had passed away from illness the year before the Shen family became successful.
Before she died, she had truly treated Shen Yuwei well. She even prepared a dowry for her. That is why Shen Yuwei could not and would not allow Ling Jiao to speak so carelessly. Even if Madam Shen was only her foster mother, she deserved respect.
Being a decent person means having a conscience.
Making accusations requires real proof.
Ling Jiao let out a quiet sigh and obediently kept the rest of her thoughts to herself.
“Alright,” she said softly.
Wang Ruo opened her mouth and was just about to speak when a loud and stern voice called out her name.
“Wang Ruo.”
She turned around.
It was her father. Standing beside him was Shen Xiaoxiao, the main focus of today’s gathering. Shen Zhiwen was also with them, along with a few others. One of them looked familiar. It was Guan Qing. No one knew how long they had been standing there or how much they had overheard.
In that moment, Wang Ruo felt a loud ringing in her ears. Her face turned red like a cooked shrimp.
Her father’s face was dark with anger.
“Come here,” he said coldly.
They had arrived while Wang Ruo was still ranting.
Anyone with ears would have heard what Ling Jiao had said.
Wang Ruo’s father glanced at Shen Zhiwen with a look of guilt and spoke in a low voice.
“My daughter speaks without thinking. I will take her home right now and make sure she learns her lesson.”
Shen Zhiwen gave a small nod in response.
His expression was cold and unreadable. No one could tell what he was thinking. After Wang Ruo followed her father out, embarrassed and humiliated, Shen Zhiwen finally looked up. His eyes settled on Shen Yuwei, standing by the little bridge in the distance.
Moments later, someone came and called him into the living room.
Shen Xiaoxiao went in with him.
The garden, which had been so lively just moments ago, suddenly turned quiet.
From the bridge, Guan Qing walked over to Shen Yuwei. His brows were slightly furrowed and his eyes filled with disapproval.
“Vivi, didn’t I tell you to stay away from that woman? Ling Jiao is full of tricks. She’s like a weasel pretending to be kind to a chicken. She has no good intentions. “