Reincarnation Of The Businesswoman At School Chapter 3476 Just a Sister?

Even though the engagement was annulled, rumors were bound to circulate. Still, it made a huge difference whether the Shen family went to the Mu family or the Mu family came to the Shen family.

To preserve their standing, the Shen family never disclosed the connection between Mu Hongcheng and Shen Yulin. All outsiders knew was that Shen Yanqing and Mu Hongcheng hardly spent time together and felt nothing for one another, prompting the push to end the engagement.

That said, plenty of folks still wondered if Mu Hongcheng had wronged Shen Yanqing, or if Shen Yanqing had wronged Mu Hongcheng.

Yet, because Shen Yanqing was the one who proposed breaking off the engagement, most assumed Mu Hongcheng had done her wrong. After all, it was common knowledge that Shen Yanqing had feelings for Mu Hongcheng.

In contrast, Mu Hongcheng showed little concern for Shen Yanqing.

Thus, had the Mu family shown up to cancel the engagement, the majority would suspect Shen Yanqing had mistreated Mu Hongcheng.

Why must Shen Yanqing suffer for Mu Hongcheng's errors?

Mu Hongcheng paused, words caught in his throat, before he could only depart.

The moment he stepped outside, Shen Yulin appeared. With worry in her voice, she asked, "Brother Hongcheng, how did it go? Did my father berate you?"

"No, your father mentioned he'd bring Shen Yanqing to my family to formally end the engagement." Mu Hongcheng answered.

"Did you bring up our relationship?" Shen Yulin pressed. She hoped Mu Hongcheng would reveal their bond so they could be together without hiding.

That topic made Mu Hongcheng scowl. "I told him I see you only as a sister. Nothing improper exists between us. Your father warned me to stay away from you."

Shen Yulin's complexion drained of color. "Why didn't you tell him that we…"

"Yulin." Mu Hongcheng cut her off. "This isn't the moment to discuss it. Should your father learn our closeness caused Shen Yanqing and me to cancel the engagement, he'd rage and make things hard for us. That's why I'll wait until the engagement with Shen Yanqing is officially over."

Feeling powerless, Shen Yulin inwardly called Mu Hongcheng a fool. "Brother Hongcheng, you're mistaken. Shen Yanqing seeking to end things with you means she already shared her reason. Father will side with her. Had you confessed our mutual affection earlier, he might have yelled but not blocked us. Now that you denied it, he'll see you as deceitful and forbid us from being together."

Mu Hongcheng froze momentarily, realizing Shen Yulin's logic rang true.

But with his denial already out, what options remained?

Just then, Patriarch Shen emerged and spotted Mu Hongcheng chatting with Shen Yulin in the courtyard. Fury surged within him. "What's going on there?"

Patriarch Shen's shout startled them both. Mu Hongcheng quickly clarified, "We're just talking. I'm heading out now."

With that, he spun around and hurried away.

His quick evasion of their affair only deepened Patriarch Shen's contempt and left Shen Yulin downhearted.

"Father," Shen Yulin gazed at him timidly, bracing for his outburst.

"Mu Hongcheng claims nothing improper between you two—he views you as a mere sister. Yet your excessive closeness led to Yanqing's misunderstanding. Henceforth, maintain distance to prevent further confusion. You're no longer a child; marriage awaits. I'll have your mother look into suitable matches." Patriarch Shen stayed calm. Without their admission, he avoided pressing, as he opposed any union between Shen Yulin and Mu Hongcheng.

Should Shen Yulin and Mu Hongcheng end up together—be it now or later—others would conclude the engagement broke because Mu Hongcheng favored Shen Yulin.

Shen Yulin would face public scorn too, tarnishing the Shen family name as her father's daughter.

Shen Yulin stared in disbelief. "What? Father, I don't want…"

"Do you intend to stay unmarried forever?" Patriarch Shen's temper flared.

"No, I-I just…" Shen Yulin longed to confess but held back, since Mu Hongcheng had denied it. Admitting alone would complicate matters worse.

Patriarch Shen had never favored Shen Yulin much, and now his dislike intensified. "From this day, you're confined to the house for a month."

"Father…" Shock and panic gripped Shen Yulin.

Mu Hongcheng would soon head back to the Tianyun Sect. Grounding meant no more meetings.

She recognized her father's intentional ploy but lacked the courage to rebel.

Shen Yulin rushed to her mother, spilling the entire ordeal.

"Mother, whatever shall I do? Brother Hongcheng is the only one I love! I refuse to wed another…" Shen Yulin sobbed.

"Why must Mu Hongcheng act so dimwitted at such a pivotal time!?" Concubine Liu fumed too.

In truth, Mu Hongcheng's words held merit—everyone harbored their own schemes. Who could predict Patriarch Shen's true intent?

"But what now?" Shen Yulin urged desperately.

"Calm yourself! Your mother won't arrange any other man for you, but stay distant from Mu Hongcheng for the time being to avoid provoking your father." Concubine Liu reassured her.

For years, Concubine Liu treaded carefully, knowing her husband's dislike. She resorted to cunning tactics for acceptance.

Though they later coexisted politely, a wall persisted between them, so she shunned open clashes.

Her aim was to elevate her standing, securing her son's place in the Shen family. Thus, she refrained from directly targeting Shen Yanqing despite her grievances.

And to protect her son and herself, was it so bad if her daughter endured a bit?

Shen Yanqing remained unaware until a servant relayed that Mu Hongcheng had left and her father wished her to ready herself for dissolving the engagement with the Mu family.

Shen Yanqing let out a deep sigh. Sadness tugged at her heart, yet this necessity drove her to pack swiftly and accompany her father to the Mu family.

The Mu family acknowledged their son's wrongdoing, treating Patriarch Shen and Shen Yanqing with utmost courtesy. They endured even his sharp words without retort.

Besides, they coveted ties with the Shen family! Falling out with Patriarch Shen was unthinkable.

Merely, the prospective daughter-in-law shifted from Shen Yanqing to Shen Yulin.