Chapter 47: Xiaowei, the Fleeting Woman in White

"Having fled for two years, do you still intend to keep running?"

Leng Mohan's voice lacked its previous casual tone, suddenly turning exceptionally solemn with an icy chill.

He stood up, walked over to the female boutique owner, and stared at her for a moment. "I certainly didn't expect that after searching for you for two years, you've been living quite comfortably right under my nose."

"S-Sir, I have no idea what you're talking about. I-I don't know you at all." The owner's voice trembled with fear.

"You don't know me? Then do you know Lin Shan?" Leng Mohan asked with a hint of detachment.

At the mention of Lin Shan, the owner's face turned even paler, draining the last bit of color from her lips. Her legs began to shake. "What happened back then had nothing to do with me. I had no other choice."

"Then why did you run?" Leng Mohan demanded coldly.

"I am just a humble designer. How could I possibly stand against influential tycoons like you? I couldn't afford to offend the Leng family, nor could I afford to offend the Xue family. I..." The owner grew agitated, tears welling up in her eyes.

"So you chose to sacrifice Lin Shan?" Leng Mohan lowered his voice to a whisper, terrified that Lin Yan might overhear something from inside the fitting room. He closed in on the owner step by step, reaching out with rough-calloused fingers to grip her chin with such fierce force that the cracking of his knuckle joints was almost audible.

"Since you couldn't afford to offend the Leng family, did you know that Lin Shan was my fiancée? Why on earth did you frame her?" Leng Mohan glared at her with eyes as sharp as knives.

"I... I... Please, I beg you, let me go." The owner's face was already streaked with tears. The nearby salesclerks were terrified as well; though they had no idea what had transpired between their boss and this gentleman, they sensed it was nothing good. Huddled together in dread, they could only watch helplessly as their employer was brought to tears, her chin firmly locked in the grip of a customer.

Aside from the owner's quiet sobs, the boutique fell into absolute silence.

Lin Yan stepped out wearing the dress and draped a shawl over her shoulders, looking down with a trace of awkwardness at the high heels on her feet. She never wore high heels—first, standing at one meter seventy, she had no real need for extra height; second, she simply wasn't accustomed to the restriction they imposed.

"Is this dress a bit too ladylike? Does it suit me?" Lin Yan asked, still gazing down at her shoes.

As she looked up, she was stunned to see Leng Mohan and the boutique owner standing extremely close together, his hand still gripping the woman's chin. Because she was only seeing them from the side, she couldn't read the owner's expression.

Frozen in place by the sight, she stammered, "You... what is going on between you two?"

Leng Mohan quickly released his grip, took a step back, turned around, and offered Lin Yan a smile. The owner also spun around swiftly, turning her back to Lin Yan as she raised a hand to wipe the tears from her face.

Leng Mohan walked over to Lin Yan, draped an arm around her shoulder, and said, "Not bad at all. This outfit suits you wonderfully."

Looking at Leng Mohan suspiciously, Lin Yan took an unsteady step toward the boutique owner and called out, "Xiaowei? What's wrong?"

Xiaowei turned back, her eyes red-rimmed as she looked at Lin Yan. "N-Nothing, I'm fine."

Leng Mohan stepped closer to Lin Yan, pulling her slender waist toward him as he spoke. "Xiaowei and I are old acquaintances. It's been a long time since we last met, and I had no idea she was so sentimental—she actually burst into tears."

"Xiaowei," Leng Mohan called out, his gaze turning chillingly severe. Looking straight at her, he introduced, "This is my wife, Lin Yan. Surely you've heard of her, haven't you?"

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Apologies for the late update, everyone! Here is an extra chapter as compensation!