Su Mu didn’t have ti to think too much, and hurriedly put away her phone and walked over, supporting the old lady on her other side, "Grandma, how co you are here?"
"Why can’t I co?" The old lady chuckled happily, looking very spirited, "I like this grandson from the Wen Family, and today is his birthday. Plus, you’ve been telling that Mr. and Mrs. Wen have been wanting to visit our ho and I refused, so I should at least greet them no matter what."
Before Su Mu could say anything, Zhou Yaxian and Wen Songyan had already co out from the house, greeting them warmly. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they supported Grandma into the house. Just as Su Mu also wanted to follow, Fu Shinian restrained her wrist. She instinctively looked sideways at him, only to see a mocking smile on his lips:
"Making lose face in public, what advantage does it bring to Mrs. Fu?"
Su Mu understood the aning behind Fu Shinian’s words instantly, he thought she had deliberately not inford him that today’s birthday celebration was just a small family-like gathering. But Su Mu also felt wronged; she too had just found out and was about to call him imdiately. However, since Fu Shinian had brought the old lady with him, any type of gathering would have been appropriate, and there was no question of losing face in public. Yet he still asked this question, there could only be one explanation.
Su Mu looked at him, smiling faintly:
"You stood up Qin Nianwan?"
Half an hour earlier, Fu Shinian had already arrived at the Wen Family’s place but didn’t enter the compound. At that ti, indeed Qin Nianwan was with him.
Su Mu had ntioned it was a birthday celebration, and given the Wen Family’s background, most people would naturally assu it to be a grand occasion. But who could have expected, half an hour before the event started, the Military Region Compound showed no signs of life, not even a car in sight for Fu Shinian.
Dressed up Qin Nianwan also found it strange, she peeked out:
"Isn’t it a banquet? Why is there nobody? Could we be at the wrong place?"
Fu Shinian, sitting in the back seat, pondered for a few seconds before slowly smiling. Just as Qin Nianwan was baffled, Fu Shinian spoke:
"I probably got the date wrong."
Qin Nianwan definitely wouldn’t believe an excuse like Fu Shinian got the date wrong. After all, a man of his status had all his itineraries handled by Song Yi, who would remind him what to do at what ti, making such an error impossible. But since Fu Shinian had said it, Qin Nianwan naturally wouldn’t say anything else.
She smiled faintly:
"So, what do we do now..."
"You go back first."
Qin Nianwan was stunned, "Right, right now?"
Fu Shinian looked at her:
"What? Do you still have sothing to discuss with ?"
Song Yi, a very astute man sitting in the passenger seat, heard Fu Shinian’s words and imdiately spoke out, "Mr. Fu, I just checked the schedule, and indeed, I got the date wrong. Today should have been the day for a dinner with the representatives of the Arican CE company."
Fu Shinian simply said, "Oh."
What else could Qin Nianwan say? Even though a surge of anger was gathering in her chest, she could only maintain her smile:
"Since it’s like this, I don’t want to bother you further, but I am dressed like this, and it’s inconvenient to hail a cab here. Could you drop off downtown?"
Fu Shinian smiled faintly:
"Of course."
On the way back to the city center, Song Yi had already arranged another car for Qin Nianwan. After all, as Qin Nianwan herself had said, her disguise was indeed inconvenient—not for hailing a taxi, but because she was an artist entangled in countless ways with Fu Shinian. If she were to be photographed, it would be Mr. Fu who would face trouble.
As soon as they entered the city, Qin Nianwan was dropped off, and before she even had a chance to say goodbye, Fu Shinian’s car had already sped away.
Inside the car, Fu Shinian’s already somber expression darkened further. He took out his phone and dialed the old mansion’s number, persuading the elderly lady with a mix of coaxing and deceiving, to attend the event. Fortunately, the Military Region Compound wasn’t too far from the old mansion. Although he would be late, with the elderly lady by his side, everything would be manageable.
That was what led to the eting at the Military Region Compound just before.
Hearing Su Mu’s slightly provocative tone, the displeasure that Fu Shinian had sowhat suppressed flared up again, and he stepped closer to Su Mu:
"Are you happy?"
Su Mu gave a light smile, "Of course, I’m happy. Mr. Fu, haven’t you noticed how familiar the gown I’m wearing seems? Having so many designer pieces added to my wardrobe would make any woman happy, and I am just one among many."
"Are you still angry about what happened that day?" Fu Shinian squinted at her, "Su Mu, you don’t need to remind you of what you did, do you?"
Su Mu smiled faintly, suddenly feeling a profound sense of estrangent from herself. She wanted to long for this man standing before her, yet found herself incapable of saying the words of submission and goodwill she used to express.
At the sa ti, however, she knew all too well that getting a man with no feelings for her to yield first was an utter impossibility. Yet, they couldn’t carry on like this forever. With a soft sigh, she said:
"Let’s go inside; it’s soone else’s occasion today. We can talk about anything else later."
When Su Mu gathered her thoughts and went inside, the atmosphere within was warm and harmonious. Mr. and Mrs. Wen were talking with the elderly lady, expressing their gratitude for her care of Wen Shaoyuan. Wen Shaoyuan was also by their side, and upon seeing Su Mu coming in, he leapt from the sofa and ran towards her with great excitent:
"Sister Su, you’re here? I heard from Dad that you had arrived, and I wanted to go out to find you, but Dad said that you and Uncle Fu were talking outside and wouldn’t let disturb you. What were you talking so long about? I almost couldn’t wait anymore."
Su Mu patted his hair:
"Happy birthday, little star."
Fu Shinian also ca in by that ti. Wen Shaoyuan sweetly called out "Uncle Fu," and Fu Shinian replied with a slight smile and a "happy birthday." However, he was soon invited by Wen Songyan for so tea. For a mont, the entryway was left with just Su Mu and Wen Shaoyuan until soone else appeared.
She stood in front of her, wearing a simple yet stylish jumpsuit with neatly cut short hair and delicate features enhanced with makeup, giving off the impression of a powerful woman. Yet, her voice was soft and pleasant to the ear, almost like singing:
"You must be Shaoyuan’s tutor, right? Hello, I am Ji Qingluan, Wen Han’s friend. It’s a pleasure to et you."
Su Mu shook hands with her politely:
"Hello, I am Su Mu."
Wen Shaoyuan stood between the two won and looked up at them, beaming with a small smile:
"Sister Qingluan, Sister Su, let’s not just stand here. Let’s go and sit inside."
With that, he took their hands and swaggered towards the living room as if this very mont marked the pinnacle of his life.
Reviews
All reviews (0)