Lu Xinyi lowered her head and hid a smile. Long before Shen Yi declared those words, she'd decided to show everyone that Grace Palace and the Shen family were something they couldn't just insult without a punishment.
Seeing that they became the center of attention again, she decided to move on and find their assigned kitchen counter.
"Xinxin, our place is over there."
Shen Yi gently pulled his wife's hand and led her to their specified kitchen counter. His gestures were so confident and noble, like he was an imperial prince taken from the ancient era. Because of this, the women watched the couple filled with envy. All of them were throwing glares at Lu Xinyi's way.
"What did she had to be able to get a man like him?"
Most of their comments reached Lu Xinyi's ears, but she kept her head up, refusing to back down to the challenge.
They want her husband?! Over her dead body!
However, it was Mo Lihui that was full of regret as she was forced to watch the scene before her. When she saw Shen Yi held Lu Xinyi intimately, her eyes slowly turned from envy to hatred. In Shen Yi's eyes, all that matters was the woman beside him.
Sensing her gaze on them, Lu Xinyi met Mo Lihui's eyes with provocation. This woman refused to back down? That's fine. She'd given Mo Lihui a clear warning earlier. If she kept going between her and Shen Yi, Lu Xinyi wouldn't mind slapping her with the truth about their marriage.
That was right. Lu Xinyi had a purpose why she took her own husband as her sous chef. Not only Shen Yi would be able to help her produce tasty and heavenly dumplings, but it would also serve as a distraction for Mo Lihui!
How could Mo Lihui control herself when Shen Yi is involved? Of course, Lu Xinyi had predicted that Mo Lihui had an unusual obsession with her husband. She doubted that Mo Lihui knew who she was obsessing with.
A chance that Lu Xinyi couldn't miss! It would be hard for Mo Lihui to ignore Shen Yi's presence during the competition.
Did people think Lu Xinyi was a saint? Someone who could not play dirty tricks on others? Then clearly, they didn't know why this little devil was able to stand beside the larger demon.
Mo Lihui clenched her fists, her lips forming a hard line. She deeply regretted not pursuing Shen Yi before. If she had known sooner that Shen Yi was a member of the Shen family, the one who ran Peach Blossom Resort, she could have tried harder to meet him.
At this moment, Mo Lihui had forgotten the words that her older brother told her. It was not to let her enemy get on her nerves! In her eyes, all that Lu Xinyi possessed now should have been hers!
All of it should be hers! It should be hers and not Lu Xinyi's! His gentleness and his smiles, his unyielding support and presence beside her. In Mo Lihui's opinion, it was Lu Xinyi who stole her chances away from Shen Yi; and it wasn't fair!
Mo Lihui's hatred wasn't new for Lu Xinyi. This wasn't the first time she received such treatments just because she became Shen Yi's wife. It seemed that today, Mo Lihui wouldn't give her an easy victory; but that didn't matter for she didn't have any plans on losing today. Not in front of Shen Yi.
They reached their counter and stood side by side as they waited for the competition to start. With Lu Xinyi barely reaching Shen Yi's shoulder, her smaller stature looked very delicate and innocent. No one would believe that she just placed a trap card right before their eyes.
"Miss Lu. I hope that you'll forget Luo Yin's deed earlier. It was my mistake for tolerating such behavior." Mo Lihui tested if she could provoke Lu Xinyi.
Lu Xinyi smiled sweetly. A smile that Shen Yi knew that bring troubles to anyone.
"Why, of course, Miss Mo. I wouldn't put blame on you for your servant's attitude, but I will appreciate if you'll stop staring at my lover. It's very…" Lu Xinyi wanted to say it was entertaining to salivate on someone she could never have, but her tongue decided on a different one.
"…uncomfortable on his part. He doesn't like people staring rudely at his face." She then wrapped her arms on Shen Yi's left arm and leaned her head on it. "Right, darling?"
"Yes," Shen Yi responded. It was really amusing to see Lu Xinyi giving him a meaningful smile. Just yesterday, he was worried that she couldn't hold herself against these people, and yet Lu Xinyi continued to surprise him.
Now, he knew that his concerns weren't needed at all! His little wife knew how to play a dirty game, and she didn't mind getting her hands dirty. If only these people knew that he'd married a sly fox, then they should've realized that they all fell right into her trap.
Lu Xinyi's action further increased Mo Lihui's anger. The audience started whispering to one another. So that was the real reason why Luo Yin had been demoted to Blue Haven's kitchen.
How could she say those words in public?! Was Lu Xinyi trying to humiliate her once again in her own town?
Instead of answering Lu Xinyi's indirect accusation, Mo Lihui pretended she hadn't heard Lu Xinyi's request.
"Miss Lu must be a genius chef if Matriarch Shen sent you here. I say I couldn't wait to taste your dish later."