Volume One, Chapter 12: I Am Not a Horse

The other party wore a provocatively defiant expression, clearly showing no respect for Wen Li. They were certain that Jiang Chen’s relationship with her had completely fallen apart after that engagement party and even regarded her as a thorn in their side.

Everyone else followed the tide and turned against her. Most of those present were friends of Jiang Chen, and even if not close, they wouldn’t miss a chance to flatter him privately. Naturally, no one spoke up for Wen Li; they were all merely spectators enjoying the spectacle.

“Thanks for your concern,” Wen Li said, swirling the wine glass in her hand. “Let me correct your phrasing—I’ve returned bright and clear, and I’m not a horse.”

“If you think Jiang Chen is just a weed, your so-called bestie beside you is probably even more unhappy to hear that than I am.”

Sure enough, Qi Min’s face flushed red and pale in turns.

She had wasted no time clinging to Jiang Chen like a weed growing in someone else’s garden.

Wen Li took a light sip from her glass, her smile growing colder. “But you seem more like a chicken—just open your mouth to stab people with your words, never saying anything decent or kind.”

Calmly handling the deliberate provocation with a poised smile throughout, she delivered her cutting words softly but powerfully, leaving Qi Min speechless.

Qi Min froze, her lips trembling, unable to muster any response as her mind scrambled to keep up. She was clearly unprepared.

This round was a complete victory for Wen Li.

If there was anything worth boasting about from her years in Germany, it was that she had mastered the foreign art of instantly unleashing verbal attacks on those who displeased her.

Especially her skill with words—cursing anyone she disliked became a basic talent.

Ling Dan sat beside her, secretly giving her a thumbs-up, whispering, “You’ve got it, learned how to clap back.”

Meanwhile, Shen Yuzhi sat by Jiang Chen, elbowing him to indicate that the young lady had mentioned him and even subtly hinted at the ambiguous, long-standing relationship between him and Qi Min—clearly jealous.

He was expected to say something.

Qi Min, however, wore a face that screamed, “Don’t you know who the future wife is?”

Wen Li sensed someone’s gaze burning into her from not far behind and turned sideways to meet Jiang Chen’s eyes.

The two women who had been sitting beside him earlier had left without her noticing; now, on either side of him sat Shen Yuzhi and Lu Jingchen.

Wen Li’s heart faltered.

She still hadn’t switched her mindset, automatically assuming the role of Jiang Chen’s girlfriend and fiancée, which indeed made it hard not to be disliked.

The girl-like thug sitting opposite her seemed to receive a specially transmitted signal and said, “Wen Li, what’s your relationship with Zhou Huaqing?”

Wen Li frowned. Bringing up Zhou Huaqing out of nowhere in such a setting? What was she trying to say?

“I heard that because of work transfers, he’s been sent abroad recently, conveniently also in Germany. You must be quite close.”

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gone wild in the ladies’ restroom on your second day back, making a mess of yourself and bleeding all over.”

The once lively private room fell into dead silence, only faint background music remained. Her words, explicit and clear, reached everyone present.

Including Jiang Chen.

Wen Li’s eyes reflected more terror than shock. She thought the woman was utterly foolish—was she crazy to try to slander her like this? Could this possibly benefit her?

Did she plan to stop being human the moment she left this room?

To say such reckless words in front of so many insiders, where everyone was bound to cross paths again, was asking for Jiang Chen and Zhou Huaqing to never forgive her.

There had to be limits to joking.

The only relief was that Zhou Huaqing wasn’t present today.

Seeing Wen Li remain silent, Ling Dan stood up to retort, “At least you’re supposed to be well-educated. Why do you use your mouth not to eat but just to crap?”

“Were you there? What do you mean ‘making love’? She just happened to be on her period—hero saving a damsel in distress. Do you get that?”

But this didn’t help; instead, it plunged them into an endless loop of self-incrimination that only worsened her image.

The other woman seemed to have seized on the loophole Ling Dan mentioned and gleefully said, “If the hero saved the damsel, is the next step a marriage proposal?”

“I’m not you. How could I possibly livestream such a thing on-site? Besides, I don’t understand those lowbrow games they usually play.”

“I think you understand quite well. You two are so close—has she secretly shared with you?”

In just a few words, she quickly regained control of the room.

Wen Li glanced at Jiang Chen. His eyes, hidden behind his glasses, were cast downward; his knuckles whitened as he gripped his glass tightly—he was clearly angry.

Her footsteps instinctively drew closer to his side.

But the other woman grew even more arrogant, completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation.

“Could it be that they’ve been secretly seeing each other for a while?” she implied, accusing Jiang Chen of being cuckolded.

The moment she finished speaking, Jiang Chen slammed his glass down hard in front of her, shattering it at Wen Li’s feet.

The crowd gasped. Well, that escalated badly.

The woman was terrified, her dilated pupils full of fear. She looked anxiously at Qi Min beside her, clutching her arm and hiding behind her.

Even Wen Li had rarely seen Jiang Chen lose his temper. Though he was a bit sarcastic, enjoyed teasing friends with offbeat jokes, and could take a joke himself, he always kept a sense of propriety and knew his limits. As a sunny, free-spirited young man, most were like that.

Besides, he generally upheld a refined, courteous image, which made him popular among girls.

Qi Min timely stepped in, playing the hostess, trying to smooth things over with a nonchalant tone.

“Jiang Chen, Qian Qian didn’t mean it. She just has a quick mouth. She drank too much and got carried away—it was just a joke, not intentional.”

Wen Li lowered her head in silence, suddenly remembering the woman’s name—He Qianqian.

Anyone hearing this would find it unbearable, especially Jiang Chen. He had held a grudge over this issue, and Qi Min’s words were tone-deaf, showing no real standing.

Jiang Chen naturally gave her no face, pushing Qi Min aside and grabbing He Qianqian by the collar, his fist clenched and raised.

Wen Li wanted to intervene but thought better of it. Qi Min had already spoken; if she tried to mediate and succeeded, it would seem out of place. If she failed, it would be embarrassing.

A thankless task.

At this critical moment, Zhou Huaqing appeared with an annoyingly smug expression.

“Looks like I’m not coming at the right time.”