"I don't need you to mind my business!" Lěng Chángqīng covered his mouth. "Hiss~"
Speaking too forcefully, the wound on the corner of his mouth tore open, and he let out a pained sound.
Mù Yánxīn was stifled by what happened in just a few minutes. She tried to look as sad as possible.
Shěn Ān'ān, watching from outside the hotel, saw this scene. In her eyes, it was just a couple bickering. She clenched her fists tightly. "Mù Yánxīn, I will never forgive you. The person who should be standing next to Lěng Chángqīng is me."
Lěng Chángqīng and Mù Yánxīn's engagement came first. Later, Lěng Chángqīng fell in love with Shěn Ān'ān. Wanting to break off the engagement with the Mù Family for Shěn Ān'ān, he was strongly opposed by Second Madam Lěng.
The opposition wasn't because of the alliance between the Lěng and Mù families, but because Shěn Ān'ān was from an ordinary family, and an orphan.
No matter how hard she tried to please Madam Mu, it was useless.
"No, I won't admit defeat. I have to find a way to get in."
Lěng Chángqīng reluctantly walked into the banquet hall with Mù Yánxīn. As expected of Tiāndū's largest Flowing Gold Cave, the aura of money permeated from the inside out. Even "resplendent" wouldn't be enough to describe its luxury.
Celebrities and dignitaries from all walks of life gathered here. Such a grand display was enough to imagine the Lán Family's power.
Mù Yánxīn saw Mù Wanyi at a glance. She was talking with a few people.
Lěng Chángqīng was listless, looking dejected. His face was injured, and he didn't want to be in crowded places.
"Brother Chángqīng."
A voice so sweet it was sickening sounded. The woman wore an apricot-colored long dress, her figure vaguely visible. Her graceful figure was like a willow swaying in the wind, inspiring a strong desire to protect.
In the blink of an eye, the woman was in front of him. Seeing the man's face, the woman was heartbroken. "Brother Chángqīng, what happened to your face?"
"It's nothing."
Lěng Chángqīng's eyes suddenly lit up a bit. He was overjoyed. "Ān'ān, how did you get here?"
Based on merit, Shěn Ān'ān couldn't have obtained an invitation.
Shěn Ān'ān tiptoed and whispered in Lěng Chángqīng's ear, "It's a secret."
Last night he was drinking because he couldn't attend the banquet with the one he loved. Now, seeing the one he loved standing in front of him, the sky instantly cleared.
Shěn Ān'ān was so heartbroken she almost cried. The two of them showed their affection as if no one else was around, completely ignoring Mù Yánxīn who was still beside them.
Mù Yánxīn gave a perfunctory cough.
Shěn Ān'ān moved away from Lěng Chángqīng, wiping away her tears. "I'm sorry, Sister Yánxīn, I didn't mean to disturb you and Brother Chángqīng."
"But Brother Chángqīng is injured like this."
"Why bother about her?" Lěng Chángqīng didn't hide his feelings at all as he pulled Shěn Ān'ān into his arms. "Let's go over there!"
Lěng Chángqīng hugged Shěn Ān'ān and walked to the other side. Shěn Ān'ān turned her head and gave Mù Yánxīn a victor's smile.
"It seems my brother-in-law really loves you," a piercing voice came from behind her.
Mù Yánxīn ignored it. Mù Wanyi walked around to her front. "Sister, why are you annoying wherever you go? Unlike me, I'm so eye-catching."
Mù Wanyi was adorned in pearls and jewels from head to toe, truly exuding the air of a young lady from a wealthy family. It was clear she had put in a lot of effort.
"Young Master Lěng Sì will definitely be conquered by me later."
Mù Yánxīn kindly reminded her, "Be more low-key. Young Master Lěng Sì has a peculiar temper and an unpredictable nature. He's very dangerous."
Mù Wanyi retorted, "Do you know him well?"
Mù Yánxīn casually replied, "I heard from others."
It wasn't that she heard from others; it was personal experience.
Mù Wanyi rolled her eyes dismissively. "You can only hear from others. With your kind of background, it's hard even to meet him. It's different for me; he'll definitely take a liking to me."
As soon as she finished speaking, a commotion erupted in the banquet hall, and all eyes snapped in another direction.
A woman walked in, drawing everyone's attention. She wore a red, sequined, floor-length gown. Bodyguards followed closely behind her. Her posture was arrogant, her demeanor domineering, carrying an air of determination.
All the women present paled in comparison. Mù Wanyi's expression instantly fell, her imposing aura completely suppressed.
"Making such a fuss, isn't it just relying on money? All show and no substance!"
Mù Wanyi turned to speak to Mù Yánxīn, only to find that Mù Yánxīn's gaze was not on Eldest Miss Lán at all. She was staring blankly in another direction.
"Are you even listening to me?"
"Hey, what are you spacing out for?"
Mù Yánxīn stood frozen, trembling uncontrollably. Fear coursed through her, and she desperately wanted to find an escape.
She seemed to have returned to those dark, hopeless days.
Mù Wanyi waved her hand in front of her eyes. "Hey, what are you doing? Young Master Lěng is about to go with that woman."
Mù Yánxīn's expression became flustered as she snapped back to reality.
Mù Wanyi whispered menacingly, "Do you still want to see your brother?"
Mù Yánxīn looked again, but the corner where the person had been was now empty. The feeling was so unreal. Was it her inner demons acting up? For so many years, she had suffered nightmares every night.
She looked towards the center of the banquet and met Lěng Tíngyě's gaze. Their eyes met, and Mù Yánxīn's heart skipped a beat. She quickly averted her eyes.
Lán Shīyán stood on stage and announced loudly, "Today, I want to bravely confess my love to the person I like."
"Confess, confess..."
The venue instantly erupted in cheers and applause, creating an atmosphere. The cross-city alliance between the Tiāndū and Hǎidū families would be a spectacle of global attention.
Lán Shīyán looked at Lěng Tíngyě, who was sitting in a private booth, forming his own clique. However, the man's gaze was directed at another woman.
A flicker of almost imperceptible displeasure crossed Lán Shīyán's face. Unwillingly, she asked, "Lěng Tíngyě, will you be my boyfriend?"
"Agree, agree, agree..."
All eyes were fixed on Lěng Tíngyě.
Zhōu Shuǎng reminded him in his ear, "Brother Ye, Miss Lán is proposing to you."
Lěng Tíngyě's eyes were full of scrutiny, making Mù Yánxīn's whole body tingle. She wished she could disappear into a crack in the earth.
Mù Wanyi thought Lěng Tíngyě was looking at her. She fidgeted uncomfortably, blushing shyly, "See? Young Master Lěng Sì is looking at me!"
Who knew that in the next second, Lěng Tíngyě casually threw out three words, "Willing, of course!"
The man smiled playfully, his answer nonchalant, but his gaze never left her.
Lán Shīyán exclaimed excitedly, "Really?"
Lěng Tíngyě smiled teasingly, "Of course."
But in the next second, the tone shifted. "Unless you're willing to die today!"
A stunned silence filled the room, the man's voice echoing throughout the venue.
The man strode away.
Seeing that Lěng Tíngyě had rejected Lán Shīyán's proposal, and combined with his earlier gaze, Mù Wanyi felt she had a good chance. Smugly, she said, "Hurry, Young Master Lěng is about to leave. Quick, introduce me to him."
In order to get a chance to meet her brother, Mù Yánxīn had no choice but to brace herself and chase after him.
She caught up to the door of a room and blocked Lěng Tíngyě's path. "Young Master Sì."
Lěng Tíngyě didn't initially intend to pay attention to her, but seeing her breathless and sweaty appearance, he suddenly recalled certain scenes and looked at her a couple more times.
Her hair was pinned up, she wore a new Chinese-style Hanfu, and the pearl white made her skin look even fairer. Yet, she revealed very little.
Pure and alluring.
His mind conjured images, imagining that wearing such formal attire for such an act would surely have a unique flavor.
"Little sister-in-law, what can I help you with again?\