Chapter 251

Chapter 251: Shu Mingyue's Choice Xia Yuntong asked with a smile, "Who's the Ace of Hearts?" Jiang Shixu's expression was icy cold. Shu Mingyue pressed her lips together and revealed her card. The room grew even quieter. Jiang Shixu's face darkened as he stared coldly at Shu Mingyue. Everyone else could sense Jiang Shixu's anger, and no one dared to say a word. Suddenly, Chu Tang let out a derisive laugh. When she looked at Xia Yuntong, her eyes were laced with cold light. "Miss Xia really knows how to pick her targets." Xia Yuntong made a playful face and smiled back at Chu Tang's gaze. "What a coincidence, isn't it?" Shu Mingyue looked at Chu Tang with great difficulty. "Tangtang, I'm sorry. My friend didn't know you two had already made up. Let me apologize to you on her behalf." Chu Tang's face turned cold without any pretense. "I don't think Miss Xia shows the slightest bit of remorse." Xia Yuntong said, "Mingyue, why are you apologizing to her? We didn't do anything wrong. It's just a game, isn't it? Everyone else can take a joke, but she can't?" Shu Mingyue's face also fell. At this moment, she felt extremely embarrassed. "That's enough, Tongtong. Say no more!" Shu Mingyue's tone grew heavier, her expression turning ugly. Seeing this, Xia Yuntong dropped her grinning expression, and her face turned cold too. "What do you mean by that, Shu Mingyue? I'm trying to help you here! Everyone knows you've liked Jiang Shixu for years. Why won't you seize such a good opportunity?" Shu Mingyue was furious and raised her voice. "I don't need your help! Can you stop causing trouble here?" "Causing trouble?" Xia Yuntong laughed in anger. "Are you telling me you don't want this in your heart?" Shu Mingyue's eyes burned with anger. Having her thoughts exposed in public, she felt deeply humiliated. She couldn't deny that she did want it. But she couldn't say it out loud, nor could she allow herself to. She knew Jiang Shixu would never agree. And she didn't want to make Chu Tang resent her because of this. "Sorry to ruin your fun. You all go ahead and play." Shu Mingyue turned to apologize to everyone, then pulled Xia Yuntong toward the door. "Let go of me! Shu Mingyue, I just can't stand this hypocritical act of yours—becoming friends with your love rival. Don't you find that ridiculous yourself?" Xia Yuntong ranted angrily as they walked. "I was kindly trying to fight for you, and you call it causing trouble? How could you?" The two of them bickered all the way to the door, Xia Yuntong's mouth still running. "Fine, fine, you're so noble. If you really had no feelings for Jiang Shixu, why would you have his girlfriend bring him onto the boat?" Shu Mingyue suddenly stopped in her tracks. She looked at Xia Yuntong with icy eyes. "Xia Yuntong, you're wrong. I truly don't harbor any shameful intentions. Yes, I like Shixu, but I won't throw myself at him to be a homewrecker. The reason I invited Chu Tang to bring him here this time is simply to make up for years of regret." Shu Mingyue's expression was serious and earnest, every word coming from the bottom of her heart. "From today onward, I, Shu Mingyue, will no longer like Jiang Shixu. I'm letting go." With that, Shu Mingyue opened the door and walked out. Xia Yuntong let out a "tsk" of disdain, her expression contemptuous, and followed her out. After the two of them left, the lounge fell quiet again. Qin Yan broke the silence. "It's about time for a meal. Let's go eat." Chen Yuanyuan chimed in, "Yeah, my stomach is already growling. Let's go eat!" Zhou Xueluo gently squeezed Chu Tang's hand and comforted her. "Tangtang, don't take it to heart. That woman came to cause trouble on purpose. Brother Shixu only has you in his heart—he won't do anything reckless." Chen Yuanyuan added, "That's right, Tangtang. Don't get upset over people who don't matter." Chu Tang smiled. "I'm fine." Jiang Shixu looked at Chu Tang. "Tangtang, if you're not having fun, we can get off the boat. I'll call someone to pick us up." Chu Tang shook her head. "I know you would never agree to play that game with her, so I'm really fine." Jiang Shixu pulled Chu Tang into his embrace and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I would never do anything that would cause me to lose you." Chen Yuanyuan shot Qin Yan and Zhou Xueluo a meaningful look. The few of them quietly slipped out of the lounge. Zhang Tingyi followed them out. Zhou Zheng'an also left with his girlfriend. Lu Shuci silently glanced at the lovey-dovey couple embracing on the sofa, his gaze dimming slightly before he too turned and left. ... That evening, the birthday party officially began. In the bar on the first floor, strobe lights flashed and danced, and the music pulsed with energy. The DJ stood on stage, swaying to the rhythm. The crowd below sang, danced, and partied hard. After the excitement died down, the music stopped. Shu Mingyue walked up to the stage and picked up the microphone. "Thank you all so much for coming to my birthday party today." Shu Mingyue had changed out of her mermaid-style gown from earlier into a black strappy dress that matched the bar's vibe, with loose waves and smoky eye makeup—very alluring. Shu Mingyue stood at the center of the stage, the spotlight shining down on her. After her opening remarks and a moment of sentimental reflection, Shu Mingyue said, "Today, I want to thank someone. Her name is Ruan Chutang." Chu Tang stood in the front row below the stage, her gaze meeting Shu Mingyue's. Shu Mingyue looked at Chu Tang with genuine emotion and said with deep feeling, "If it weren't for her, you might never have seen me again. Chu Tang is my lifesaver, and I am very grateful to her." "Here, I want to solemnly announce one thing." Shu Mingyue lowered her eyes, her expression somewhat sorrowful and forlorn. "Mr. Jiang Shixu and I are just ordinary friends. Mr. Jiang Shixu and Chu Tang are a couple. Please, everyone, stop making jokes about me and Mr. Jiang." Shu Mingyue spoke each word with utmost seriousness. "I admit that I once loved Mr. Jiang passionately, but those are all things of the past. Past events are like passing clouds and smoke—I have let them go. I hope everyone can forget this chapter as well. I don't want anyone to do things that put me in an awkward position under the guise of caring for me, nor do I want anyone to sabotage the relationship between Mr. Jiang and Miss Ruan." A wave of murmurs rippled through the audience. Many people began to discuss among themselves. "Whoa, really? Shu Mingyue used to love Jiang Shixu? I never heard about that." "Probably only people who were really close to her would know. I've known her for three years and never knew about this either." "That's incredible. This move of hers really stunned me—announcing in front of so many people that she no longer likes Jiang Shixu. What got into her?" "I heard she had a falling out with Xia Yuntong during the day. They had a huge fight, and it sounds like they even cut ties." "What? Weren't she and Xia Yuntong best friends for years? Why would they suddenly cut ties? Could it be because of Jiang Shixu?" "Possibly." "Wait, so Jiang Shixu and Ruan Chutang are back together? When did that happen? I remember just a few months ago the Ruan family issued a statement announcing the dissolution of the engagement with the Jiang family." "Right, I remember that too. And wasn't Jiang Shixu caught up in a rumor with some female celebrity not long ago?" "Yeah, I remember that too. That celebrity was called Li Lanxi. At the time, the internet was saying Li Lanxi was about to marry into a wealthy family." "Maybe it was just for publicity. A top-tier family like the Jiangs probably wouldn't accept an entertainer marrying in." "Who? Li Lanxi? Not the one I'm thinking of, is it?" "You know Li Lanxi?" "Are you talking about Li Lanxi, the top-tier artist under Sunshine Media?" "Yeah, yeah. You know her?" "I do. Li Lanxi is her stage name. Her real name is Li Yingzhen. She's the young lady of the Li family in Tongcheng and also Jiang Shixu's distant cousin. The rumor was probably just a misunderstanding. I actually ran into her when I went to the Jiang residence to pay New Year's greetings last year." "What? Really?" "Absolutely true." ...... Chen Yuanyuan was stunned. She gave a thumbs up and said, "Shu Mingyue really has guts. I admire her!" Zhou Xueluo said, "I actually suspected her over the Tan Bin incident before. Looks like I misjudged her."