The two mothers saw eye to eye, but the priority was still entertaining the guests from both sides.
The manor’s attendants methodically served the meticulously prepared food to the tables. Mu Shanyi sat briefly before rising. She made her way familiarly to Miao Zhu’s door and knocked lightly with her bent fingers.
Emma cracked the door open gently. The moment she saw Mu Shanyi, she pressed a finger to her lips, signaling silence. She pulled Mu Shanyi inside while peeking out to check—no one outside.
Mu Shanyi gave Emma a thoughtful glance.
“Longlong, I rejected her. I’ve never given her any chance. Believe me.”
“Of course I believe you, Xingran.”
“…But I didn’t expect her to go to such an extreme. When I sent her to the hospital yesterday, her face was bloodless. Several times, I couldn’t even feel her breathing… If I’d rejected her more gently, would this not have happened…”
“I know you’re feeling bad right now. Fortunately, Li Zi was saved. Don’t blame yourself too much, okay?”
Miao Zhu sat at the vanity, video calling Sheng Xingran.
Emma pointed to the sofa in the other direction, hinting Mu Shanyi should stay out of the video frame to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Mu Shanyi’s brows lifted slightly, seemingly displeased with the arrangement.
But she went to the spot Emma indicated anyway. Her posture was natural and relaxed as she leaned back, legs crossed, as if she were one of the room’s owners.
“…” Emma couldn’t understand how someone sneaking around could be so composed.
“Longlong, I’m sorry. This engagement ceremony we’d looked forward to for so long…”
“I understand.” Miao Zhu propped the phone farther away so Sheng Xingran could see her left hand—the engagement ring was now on her left ring finger. “Holding the ceremony was just to tell everyone we’re engaged, right?”
Sheng Xingran was deeply moved. “I’ll make up for today’s missing parts later.”
Mu Shanyi overheard, turning her head with an ambiguous huff from her nose. Emma simply went out, closing the door on the room’s subtle, charged air.
Someone called Sheng Xingran’s name from the video’s other end.
“It’s Li Zi’s cousin,” Sheng Xingran assured. She said goodbye to Miao Zhu, promising she’d return to the sea island that afternoon, then hurriedly ended the call.
The room fell quiet again.
Bright sunlight poured generously through the window, covering half the vanity.
The breeze stirred the curtains, and light and shadow danced.
Miao Zhu bathed in the sunlight as she began removing her accessories—earrings, necklace, bracelet, one by one.
Mu Shanyi’s fingertip tapped her knee lightly. The engagement ceremony ruined by Xingran’s pursuer, and Miao Zhu not only showed no resentment but comforted Xingran instead. Was she so invested in Xingran that she endured all this?
“Xingran really never gave Li Zi a chance?”
As Miao Zhu removed the engagement ring, she heard Mu Shanyi ask this.
She turned in confusion. Meeting her gaze, Mu Shanyi continued, “Xingran never indulged her?”
Was Mu Shanyi now criticizing Sheng Xingran’s handling as an older sister? Standing up for her—Sheng Xingran’s fiancée?
“Sister A-Heng, Li Zi’s still in the hospital. Let’s not talk about it.” Miao Zhu didn’t want to judge Sheng Xingran and Li Zi’s dynamic, nor did she need Mu Shanyi to fight her battles.
Even after being wronged, Miao Zhu still defended Xingran as always. Mu Shanyi knew some words would hurt Miao Zhu, but she said them anyway. “Today is your engagement ceremony with Xingran. The person Xingran should be with is you.”
The same words again—she’d said them yesterday too.
Mu Shanyi had no possessiveness over her because she didn’t care, so she casually assigned her to Sheng Xingran again and again.
Miao Zhu had long understood this, yet it still caused a hidden ache in her heart.
“Mm, today is my engagement ceremony with Xingran.” Miao Zhu slid the half-removed ring back on. “I’m Xingran’s fiancée, Sister A-Heng. You shouldn’t be in my room.”
As she spoke, a dazed thought flickered through Miao Zhu’s mind: today was her engagement day with Sheng Xingran. At this point, their game of lovers each taking what they needed from Mu Shanyi seemed to have no reason to continue.
Continuing would just drain emotions—better to end it early.
“Why shouldn’t I be here?” Movement came from the hallway beyond the door. Tang Yuwen smiled at Emma, who stood outside playing on her phone. “Is this Miao Zhu’s room?”
Emma gripped her phone, curving her eyes in a smile. “Wen Jie, why aren’t you at the restaurant?”
“Came to find someone.” Tang Yuwen said.
“Oh, looking for someone…” Emma’s body instinctively blocked the door to Miao Zhu’s room. Was Tang Yuwen looking for Mu Shanyi?
“What’s this? Someone inside?” Tang Yuwen teased with a half-smile.
Tang Yuwen and Emma’s conversation penetrated the door into the room.
The diamond at the base of Miao Zhu’s finger sparkled brilliantly. Mu Shanyi rose from the sofa and walked slowly to Miao Zhu, bending slightly at the waist. “I speak bluntly. Are you mad?”
Miao Zhu didn’t answer or look at Mu Shanyi.
Mu Shanyi hooked Miao Zhu’s left hand, lowering her head to eye the engagement ring, her voice low and soft. “Why say I shouldn’t be in your room? Afraid of being found out? Baby, am I not hiding well enough?”
Emma: “No, Mia’s resting inside. I stepped out to take a call. Wen Jie, who are you looking for?”
Tang Yuwen stepped back half a pace. “Looking for you. You’ve been with Miao Zhu all morning—aren’t you hungry? Come on, let her rest alone. Go eat something.”
Emma: “Ah?”
The voices and footsteps outside faded away.
Miao Zhu stayed silent, so Mu Shanyi simply scooped her up and sat her on the vanity.
Her body suddenly lifted, and Miao Zhu instinctively wrapped her arms around Mu Shanyi’s neck for balance.
“You really like Xingran, don’t you?” Mu Shanyi gazed into Miao Zhu’s eyes, which held clear, moist light—fragile and beautiful.
“It’s okay.” Mu Shanyi didn’t need an answer. She pressed her forehead to Miao Zhu’s, her rich fragrance wafting over Miao Zhu’s nose. “Be careful. Xingran won’t find out we’re together.”
