Chapter 42: Am I Not Hiding Well Enough? Part 1

The morning light broke through as the rain finally stopped, but the unexpected night shower seemed to foreshadow that the engagement ceremony this day would not go as smoothly as Miao Ling had hoped.

Miao Zhu had barely slept. She lay down for less than three hours before getting up to do her makeup. She had originally planned to have the photography teacher shoot her in her morning robe, but because Sheng Xingran was absent, that segment was skipped. The photography teacher simply recorded some pre-ceremony footage with her equipment. What should have been a joyous scene was overshadowed by a heavy atmosphere due to the well-known reasons.

The sun continued to rise, and the temperature climbed steadily. The grass, saturated from the rain, looked exceptionally lush and green.

Miao Zhu changed into the dress from the same series as Sheng Xingran’s, holding her bouquet, and stood on the lawn.

The clock had already reached eleven. The guests in attendance whispered among themselves.

“Where is Xingran?”

“The auspicious time has passed, hasn’t it…”

“What is Sheng Xingran doing?” Emma’s patience was nearly exhausted. “Today is supposed to be one of the most important moments in your lives! Li Zi’s situation is indeed an emergency, but if Sheng Xingran couldn’t make it, she should have said so ahead of time. How could she be so unreliable, leaving you here alone? You’ll be so embarrassed!”

“There’s still time.” Miao Zhu hadn’t rested well for days, and her head felt heavy now. Her voice lacked its usual clear, charming lilt.

Mia was always patient with Sheng Xingran, but even as an onlooker, Emma felt stifled in such a grand setting. “Mia, aren’t you angry?”

Miao Zhu said, “I’m sleepy. Right now, my head could hit the pillow and I’d be out.”

Miao Ling, who had also only rested three hours, looked full of energy. She circulated among the guests with a beaming smile before coming back to urge Miao Zhu to contact Sheng Xingran, though she didn’t dare push too obviously, fearing the Sheng Family would think she lacked sympathy for Sheng Xingran.

Sheng Xingran had called early that morning. Li Zi’s family would arrive at the hospital that morning, and she needed to meet them first.

“Ask Xingran if she’s set off yet. The helicopter will get here quickly—just a few minutes.” Miao Ling wore a proper smile, still engaging socially with her expression while instructing Miao Zhu with her mouth.

This was countless urgings already. This time, Miao Zhu held out her hand. Seeing this, Emma handed her the phone. Miao Zhu tapped into the call history and dialed Sheng Xingran’s number.

“How is it?” Miao Ling stared expectantly.

After a stretch of ringtone, the call auto-disconnected. Miao Zhu shook her head. “No answer.”

Miao Ling’s fine brows furrowed, and she said matter-of-factly, “Then call the eldest miss. She’s with Xingran.”

“Mm.” Miao Zhu handed the phone back to Emma, who put it away.

Seeing Miao Zhu’s superficial compliance, Miao Ling lowered her voice to complain, but a faint helicopter engine roar echoed from the distant sky. She immediately brightened and let it go. “She’s here, she’s here!”

The one who returned was only Mu Shanyi.

Mu Shanyi stepped onto the lawn, approaching from afar. Her gaze was drawn to Miao Zhu in her white gown. To match the lawn ceremony, the stylist had pinned little daisies into Miao Zhu’s braided updo. A few deliberately loose strands of hair brushed her fair shoulder and neck in the breeze.

She stood quietly in the sunlight, looking as delicate and moving as a fawn.

“A-Heng, where’s Xingran?” Miao Ling’s smile faded as she craned her neck to peer behind Mu Shanyi.

“Li Zi’s family couldn’t accept it right away. Xingran can’t leave.” Mu Shanyi paused in front of Miao Zhu.

Miao Zhu knew the inside story—Li Zi’s family would likely take their anger out on Sheng Xingran—but Miao Ling was unaware. Hearing Sheng Xingran couldn’t come meant the engagement ceremony was off, and she grew both anxious and angry, dumping all the blame on Miao Zhu. “I told you to contact Xingran early, but you dawdled. If we’d known about this sooner, we could’ve figured something out ahead of time and not delayed the ceremony!”

Her words were inappropriate. Mu Shanyi had been at the hospital the whole time, so this was essentially saying to Mu Shanyi’s face that she couldn’t handle problems. Ni Xiaoying hurriedly signaled Miao Ling with her eyes.

“I mean, there are so many of them…” Miao Ling realized her slip and tried to backpedal while reading the room. Mu Shanyi ignored her performance and turned to Miao Zhu. “You look very tired. Haven’t rested well?”

Miao Zhu lifted her gaze.

All the guests were watching them as they looked at each other.

Emma suddenly cleared her throat.

“Indeed, Longlong barely slept a wink—she’s exhausted. Since Xingran can’t make it, Longlong, why don’t you go rest?” The ceremony couldn’t proceed, and no matter what, Sheng Xingran had slighted Miao Zhu. Leaving her to entertain the guests alone would only embarrass her further. This was the Sheng Family’s fault. Ni Xiaoying picked up on the subtext behind Mu Shanyi’s concern for Miao Zhu and immediately chimed in with caring words.

“Okay.” Miao Zhu followed the arrangement. Emma picked up her dress train, and the two headed to the castle.

Miao Zhu could leave, but the day’s events weren’t over.

“Surely the friends and family here can understand? Shall we move to the dining room now?” Mu Shanyi suggested calmly and unhurriedly.

What was done was done—they could only skip the ceremony and go straight to the meal. But without a proposal, without signing the betrothal contract, and with the principals absent, what kind of engagement banquet was this? Miao Ling was so furious her head spun. This time, she aimed her spear correctly. “If they won’t let Xingran come back, do they plan to pin this on our Xingran? Get this straight—what does this have to do with our Xingran! Who knows why Li Zi chose someone else’s joyous occasion to try something like that? Who will stand up for us?”

Ni Xiaoying also worried Sheng Xingran would be bullied at the hospital with no backup. “Everyone here can testify—this has nothing to do with us… No, I need to go to the hospital.”