Chapter 383: Chapter 383: Get Pregnant Before Marriage
Evening.
When Lan Yan returned to Moon Gift Villa, Uncle Zhong saw her and said, “Miss Lan Yan, this afternoon, Mrs. Xiao had soone bring things over for you. I’ve already asked the servants to place them in your room.”
Lan Yan was slightly surprised because Mrs. Xiao hadn’t ntioned this to her.
“Alright, thank you, Uncle Zhong.”
“Not at all, not at all. Since you’re back, have dinner first.”
“Alright.”
Since Lan Yan moved into Moon Gift Villa, she had been dining together with Su He and the others almost every day.
Including Fei Xu and Fei Yue, as long as the two of them weren’t out, they would co to the main building for dinner.
After dinner, Lan Yan returned to her room.
The room indeed had several branded handbags neatly placed.
She looked at these items and sighed softly.
But she still imdiately took out her phone and sent Mrs. Xiao a ssage on WeChat.
“Aunt Yun, I received the gifts. Thank you so much, I love them.”
Originally, she wanted to tell her not to go to such lengths next ti, but she had said that many tis before, and it seed to have no effect.
Besides, even if she said it, Mrs. Xiao would reply, “You cannot stop from pampering you.”
She had nothing left to say after that.
Since that phone call with Mrs. Xiao that day, she had thought about it and decided to stay in the country.
If she left like that, she might truly hurt Mrs. Xiao’s feelings—sothing she couldn’t bear to do.
As for the engagent, since that day, the topic had not been brought up again.
And Xiao Si hadn’t shown up for a week now.
“Ding!”
Her WeChat buzzed with a new ssage, a reply from Mrs. Xiao.
Mrs. Xiao said, “As long as you like them. Aunt Yun has been busy these days, so I won’t ask you out. If you miss , you’re welco to drop by anyti.”
Lan Yan replied with a simple “Alright.”
Then, she packed away the items into the walk-in closet. After tidying up, she went to take a shower.
Before sleeping, she spent so ti on her phone.
She ca across a social dia post—a news story involving a missing person. The person happened to be a forr actress turned icon.
After briefly scanning the story, the key takeaway was: the actress was searching for a child she lost over twenty years ago.
Lost for over twenty years, and only now trying to find them—isn’t that too late?
This was the fleeting thought that crossed Lan Yan’s mind.
But it didn’t have anything to do with her. At most, she was just one of the many online spectators watching the drama unfold.
Having scrolled past the video, she skimd through a few more posts before finally going to bed.
—
In the blink of an eye, it was Wednesday.
At a high-end leisure club.
This venue catered specifically to people of a certain status and boasted an extrely strict policy on discretion.
In fact, this establishnt was the famous Gold-plated Club.
Mrs. Wan arrived in Wan Muqi’s car.
After pulling up, Wan Muqi glanced outside and smirked, “Ms. Mu, your class reunion sure is keeping up with the tis, choosing a place like this. No wonder you didn’t inform Dad. If he knew, he’d one hundred percent insist on coming along.”
Mrs. Wan retorted irritably, “Co on now. What do you think I’m here to do? It’s just a class reunion.”
Wan Muqi didn’t press further. He checked the rearview mirror; noticing she hadn’t gotten out of the car yet, he asked teasingly, “Don’t tell you still want to escort you inside?”
Mrs. Wan took out her phone and said, “I’m waiting for your Aunt Yun. She hasn’t arrived yet.”
She sent Liang Yun a ssage on WeChat, “Ah Yun, where are you? I’m here, waiting by the entrance.”
Wan Muqi didn’t dare rush her and simply complied.
After finishing the ssage to Mrs. Xiao, Mrs. Wan turned her attention to the man in the driver’s seat and said, “Rember to bring An Mi ho for dinner this weekend.”
Wan Muqi: “Mom, it’s only Wednesday. The weekend is days away. This is the third ti you’ve ntioned it.”
Mrs. Wan: “I’m just worried you’ll forget. Whether you co back or not doesn’t matter; as long as Mimi does.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t forget.”
Ever since he and An Mi got together, his status at ho had plumted dramatically.
“… ”
The mother and son chatted idly for a mont. Suddenly, a black rcedes van pulled up to the club entrance.
An entirely masked-up woman stepped out.
Wan Muqi glanced indifferently at her.
Monts later, his mother spoke up from the backseat, “Son, do you know who that is?”
Wan Muqi said, “Bundled up like that—how should I know?”
Mrs. Wan exclaid knowingly, “Oh, I know who she is.”
Wan Muqi looked exasperated. “If you know, then why ask ?”
“I was testing you.”
“Pointless.”
Mrs. Wan added, “That’s a famous actress. Back in college, she was in the sa dormitory as us.”
Wan Muqi responded vaguely, “And then what?”
He clearly had no interest in such information.
“Nothing else really—I just thought it was worth ntioning that your mother has a celebrity classmate.” Mrs. Wan sighed, “But she’s kept herself remarkably well-maintained. In her fifties, yet she looks like she’s in her thirties.”
Wan Muqi said, “You’ve taken care of yourself, too. You look youthful enough to pass for an eighteen-year-old girl.”
Mrs. Wan lightly tapped his shoulder. “What, are you calling immature?”
“… ”
At this mont, Mrs. Xiao’s car arrived.
Mrs. Wan then got out of the vehicle.
Rolling down his window, Wan Muqi asked, “What ti should I pick you up?”
Mrs. Wan said, “About eight o’clock.”
“Alright, got it.”
After watching the two won enter the club, Wan Muqi turned the car around and drove off.
It was Mrs. Xiao and Mrs. Wan’s first ti here. But as soon as they entered, soone was already waiting to greet them.
“Are you Mrs. Xiao and Mrs. Wan?” The suited man asked respectfully, his gaze shifting between the two.
Both won nodded slightly.
The suited man gestured to invite them, “Ladies, please follow . I’ll escort you inside.”
Mrs. Xiao asked, “You know where we’re headed?”
The man, the club’s manager, replied, “Yes, of course. Young Master Wan just gave the instructions, worried that the two ladies might get lost, so he asked to guide you.”
“Your Muqi has connections here?” Mrs. Xiao turned to Mrs. Wan.
Mrs. Wan shook her head, equally puzzled. “He didn’t ntion a thing to .”
The manager led them to their designated private room and opened the door. “Ladies, please, step inside.”
“Thank you so much. Really appreciate it,” Mrs. Wan replied.
The manager said, “Not at all. It’s my duty. If there’s anything you need, feel free to reach out.”
“Alright, alright.”
“… ”
Inside, the room was already filled with people.
The two won were the last to arrive.
“Well, well, if it isn’t our two leading ladies from the wealthy elite! Co, sit here!”
Soone spotted the pair entering and called out, beckoning them to a spot near the door.
A good number of people even got up to greet them warmly.
Among this group, only Mu Ling and Liang Yun hailed from prominent families—and both had husbands and children who were influential figures.
Tonight’s gathering had drawn a few attendees eager to see the famous actress, Hu Yunqin, but most were here for Mu Ling and Liang Yun.
After all, forging ties with people from prestigious families was always desirable.
Hu Yunqin, anwhile, remained calm and seated at the center of attention.
As the crowd took turns introducing themselves to Mrs. Wan and Mrs. Xiao, Hu Yunqin eventually turned to them and smiled. “It’s been a long ti.”
Mrs. Wan smiled faintly. “Indeed, very long. It must’ve been thirty-so years; since graduating college, I haven’t seen you.”
Mrs. Xiao didn’t say much. Truthfully, she wasn’t particularly fond of Hu Yunqin.
But she also refrained from showing any disapproval.
With thirty-three attendees in total, the primary focus of the night rested heavily on the trio.
While they had shared the sa dormitory during college, rumors speculated that Liang Yun and Hu Yunqin hadn’t been on good terms.
It was said Hu Yunqin had once tried to court Liang Yun’s boyfriend, who is now her husband.
But whether that was fact or fiction, no one could confirm. Back then, people weren’t as focused on gossip, and the matter had naturally faded away.
“Since we’re all here, let’s enjoy ourselves tonight.”
The forr class monitor stepped forward to address the group.
“Chat away, eat, sing—do whatever makes you happy. The the for tonight is purely fun.”
“… ”
About half an hour into the gathering, Mrs. Xiao began to feel restless.
It was all too dull and didn’t suit her.
The only reason she had agreed to co was out of curiosity about the celebrity-classmate-turned-actress.
But staring at her for so long, there wasn’t anything particularly interesting to glean.
Then, a female classmate sitting next to Hu Yunqin suddenly asked, “Yunqin, I saw so online posts about your search for a long-lost daughter. Is that true?”
Mrs. Wan and Mrs. Xiao perked up, intrigued, joining in on the gossip for a brief mont.
Hu Yunqin paused for a few seconds before responding, “Yes, it’s true.”
“How did she go missing?” the woman asked again.
Hu Yunqin explained, “She was abducted from the hospital back then.”
At this, Mrs. Xiao naturally asked the pressing question, “Why didn’t you search earlier? Why wait until now to release a statent?”
This question imdiately heightened the tension in the room.
The air seed as though it had frozen, drenched even, in awkward silence.
Yet, on the flip side, her question resonated with nearly everyone present.
After all, Hu Yunqin had gained fa as an actress before she even turned thirty. Her reputation had soared.
If she had harbored genuine intentions to locate her lost daughter, wouldn’t those efforts have started much sooner?
However, recent reports suggested she had only begun the search now, essentially making it her first attempt.
More than two decades had passed, and now she abruptly decided to find her child. It naturally stoked skepticism—is it genuine concern or rely attention-seeking, given her status as a public figure?
Imdiately, whispers and mutterings spread through the group.
Mrs. Xiao hadn’t ant anything by her remark; her curiosity and candid nature simply got the better of her.
In fact, many others had the very sa doubt but lacked the nerve to voice it aloud.
Mrs. Xiao’s query served as a mouthpiece, a communal vent for capturing unspoken thoughts.
Mrs. Wan sensed the atmosphere turning sour and quickly stepped in, addressing Hu Yunqin reassuringly, “Oh, Yunqin, Aunt Yun didn’t an anything by it. Please don’t think too much.”
As an accomplished actress, Hu Yunqin had mastered the art of controlled expressions, making it impossible for others to read her.
She smiled and said, “It’s fine. I’ve explained this question to many online users before and won’t elaborate here.”
Her underlying ssage was clear: “If you want the full story, look it up online.”
Upon finishing, she cast a fleeting glance at Liang Yun.
Mrs. Xiao wasn’t particularly interested in deciphering the nuance of her gaze.
After that brief mont, there wasn’t any further exchange between them.
Instead, many others approached Mrs. Wan and Mrs. Xiao for conversation.
Though Hu Yunqin was a big na, her standing and influence paled in comparison to that of Liang Yun and Mu Ling.
Initially, most believed she would be tonight’s centerpiece.
Yet the number of attendees actively engaging her turned out to be minimal, with only brief greetings before moving on.
“Liang Yun and Mu Ling are truly the epito of life success: wonderful husbands and outstanding children.”
Sitting next to Hu Yunqin, Lin Dongi sighed aloud.
“It’s astonishing how they haven’t aged a bit. Among all of us, they look the youngest—standing next to them, it feels like we’re from completely different age groups.”
Lin Dongi, a housewife raising three kids, struggled to balance her hectic life, which left her with no ti for personal care. Consequently, her figure and appearance hadn’t aged gracefully.
Truth be told, she did envy them. But envy alone couldn’t change the cards she’d been dealt.
Hu Yunqin had no idea who Liang Yun and Mu Ling’s children were. She had never paid attention.
“Who are their husbands and kids?” she asked.
“You don’t know?”
Hu Yunqin shook her head. “I have no idea.”
Lin Dongi seed surprised at this lack of awareness. After a beat, she explained, “Their husbands are none other than Xiao Junyan and Wan Qingfeng—you know, two years ahead of us in college.”
Back then, these two n were the quintessential heartthrobs in the eyes of most female students.
Hu Yunqin hadn’t expected them to end up marrying Liang Yun and Mu Ling. She always thought such relationships wouldn’t last.
Lin Dongi continued, “It’s not surprising you wouldn’t know, seeing as neither of them are public figures. They rarely show up publicly, and when they do, it’s exclusively within wealthy wives’ social circles. Ordinary folks like us don’t have access to that echelon of society. Thankfully, there’s a classmate group chat where gossip occasionally trickles down.”
“By the way, I recall you had a thing for Xiao Junyan back in the day, didn’t you?” Lin Dongi interjected hastily. “If you had ended up with him, you’d be a glamorous society lady right now. I heard Xiao Junyan absolutely adores Liang Yun.”
Hu Yunqin responded coolly, “That’s not true—you might be mistaken.”
Afterward, she excused herself to go to the restroom.
Inside the restroom.
Just as Hu Yunqin was about to leave, she overheard voices near the door. Quickly, she ducked into one of the stalls.
Monts later, voices filled the restroom.
Female Voice 1: “Hu Yunqin hasn’t changed a bit over the years. Still so arrogant—she seems even more full of herself than before.”
Female Voice 2: “Well, considering she’s an actress now, she’s out of our league.”
Hu Yunqin furrowed her brows upon hearing those words.
She hadn’t thought the conversation would be about her.
Female Voice 1: “You should compare her deanor to Liang Yun and Mu Ling’s—they’re so approachable. No wonder Xiao Junyan didn’t choose her.”
Female Voice 2: “Be careful—walls have ears.”
Female Voice 1: “Oh, relax. It’s just the truth. Back in the day, she deliberately tried to seduce Xiao Junyan, even though he was already with Liang Yun. They rood together, didn’t she know?”
Female Voice 2: “That’s all ancient history—why do you still rember it?”
Female Voice 1: “Ancient history or not, if she had the guts to act on it, she should bear the scrutiny.”
Female Voice 2: “Still, I’m curious why she waited until now to search for her daughter. Didn’t she claim her current husband was her first? And that the girl was actually his stepdaughter? So where does this lost biological daughter co from?”
Female Voice 1: “Who knows? She might just be spinning stories. I never liked her then, and I don’t like her now.”
Female Voice 2: “Honestly, what if she had an unplanned pregnancy and abandoned the child for her career? Then spun a tale about abduction from the hospital? Who’s she trying to fool? Her sudden search seems suspicious—surely there’s an ulterior motive. Besides, how could she possibly find soone lost for over twenty years? That’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
“… ”
The two won had only co in to wash their hands and promptly left afterward.
Hu Yunqin stayed motionless in the stall, listening closely as the footsteps faded into silence.
Only after they left did she slowly step out.
Returning to the private room, she acted completely uninterested, as though she hadn’t heard anything.
anwhile.
Elsewhere, on the Gold-plated Club’s sixth floor, a private room hosted Jiang Yan, Lu Zhiyang, Wan Muqi, Gu Beiyan, and Xiao Si.
This gathering was organized by Gu Beiyan.
Wan Muqi hadn’t planned on coming but changed his mind when recalling that Ms. Mu was here tonight. He would need to pick her up later anyway.
“Why aren’t you spending ti with your Xiao Youzi at ho? Why drag us out instead?” Wan Muqi teased Gu Beiyan.
Gu Beiyan replied, “She’s out of town for a film shoot, not at ho.”
Wan Muqi snorted, “Figures—you only think of us when you’re bored and lonely.”
Gu Beiyan poured him a drink. “You aren’t wrong.”
Just then, he nudged Xiao Si’s leg with his own and glanced at him. “Hey, old Xiao, how’s your engagent prep going? I’ve already prepared my gift.”
It was an unmistakable case of deliberately pricking at sore spots.
Reviews
All reviews (0)