Congratulations.
A simple word that dripped with sarcasm.
The word brought him memories of that engagement night.
Her splendid dress that evening was still vivid in his mind. That woman and this one standing before him now, were one and the same.
She was magnificent and in full bloom then.
She easily dominated the crowd and stole everyone’s attention.
It was the same today.
Only, there was a thorn.
It was pricklier than before, but that was exactly what made it even harder for him to let go.
She was undoubtedly beautiful.
And now, she was even more so than ever.
Mu Donglin’s eyes darkened even as his expression remained cold.
Li Haoran hurriedly interjected. “Nian Nian, don’t listen to rumors.”
Fang Zhili stood up and gestured for everyone to approach the dining table.
Li Haoran was the host, but with a more senior member of the family around, Old Master Li naturally took the seat at the head of the table.
On his left were Li Haoran and his wife, and on his right, Mu Donglin.
Li Xueqing was dressed in a pink strapless dress and her makeup was exquisite. She quickly sat down beside Fang Zhili.
The seating had already been arranged. Now, there was only one seat left.
Just next to Mu Donglin.
Li Beinian had no choice.
Under their stares, Li Beinian pulled out the chair and silently moved it a little further from the man before sitting down.
Everyone noticed this small detail. Li Haoran looked a little embarrassed.
However, observing that Mu Donglin appeared oblivious of it, Li Haoran acted normally and secretly sighed in relief. He started, “I haven’t seen Donglin in a long time. You seem thinner than before. Are you busy with work?”
It was no secret that Mu Donglin had been obsessed with work recently.
Under him, the Mu Corporation’s stock continued to rally and business was booming.
Even the profits of the collaborating companies had increased significantly.
Mu Donglin nodded. “There have been many matters to attend to recently.”
“Even so, you should remember to eat. See how sunken your face is.” Fang Zhili put on an annoyed expression. “Those who don’t know any better might think that you’re lovesick. Auntie’s heart aches just looking at you. You are such a handsome lad. Come, eat more meat.”
As she spoke, Fang Zhili picked up some meat with her chopsticks.
It was the braised pork – something that Mu Donglin really hated.
Lovesick?
Li Beinian laughed secretly but did not show it on her face.
She lowered her head and took her chopsticks. She picked up a piece of fish and placed it in Old Master Li’s bowl. “Grandpa, let’s eat.”
Old Master Li nodded. “You eat too.”
Having received the go-ahead, Li Beinian started to feast.
After two mouthfuls of rice and eating a piece of fish, a chicken wing was placed in her bowl.
Her eyes followed the pair of common chopsticks as Mu Donglin placed it back on the table and continued eating as if nothing had happened.
But everyone saw it.
Li Xueqing spoke, “Eldest Young Master Mu still remembers that Nian Nian likes chicken wings. How thoughtful. I’m so envious.”
Upon hearing this, Li Beinian picked up the common chopsticks and with these, transferred the chicken wing to Xueqing’s bowl.
Li Xueqing was stunned and remarked, “What do you mean by this?”
“Didn’t you say you were envious?” Li Beinian smiled and continued, “Don’t be. Just take it if you want it.”
Li Xueqing was speechless. Noticing Mu Donglin’s obviously unhappy expression, her face paled.
She stared at the chicken wing in her bowl as if it was a bomb.
She hurriedly picked up her chopsticks with the intention of returning the chicken wing to Li Beinian. However, Li Beinian had the foresight to cover her bowl. She smiled and said, “Didn’t your mother teach you to use the common chopsticks to pick up food for others?”
Li Xueqing was stunned and looked down.
She was indeed using her own chopsticks.
Li Beinian had a look of disgust on her face as she said, “Your chopsticks are contaminated with a host of things, like your saliva, tartar from your teeth, your lipstick, and whatever else, urgh, it’s filthy!”
Li Xueqing’s expression changed as her grip on her chopsticks tightened. “You…”
“Xueqing!” Fang Zhili nudged her and said, “Sit still.”
Li Xueqing retorted furiously,”Mom…”
“Enough!” Old Master Li’s face darkened. “What are you doing, sit down!”
Li Xueqing had no choice but to sit back down awkwardly.
Old Master Li’s expression was unpleasant as he chided, “Your sister gave it to you so just eat it. It’s not like the plate’s empty. Why do you have to be envious of others!”
Li Xueqing’s face turned scarlet and pale at the same time, in an interesting transition of expression.
Li Beinian almost laughed aloud.
There were many hidden meanings in his words.
Old Master Li clearly knew that Li Xueqing was envious of Mu Donglin for putting food in her bowl, but he made this remark nevertheless, as a warning to her.
However, given this was said in Mu Donglin’s presence, it was really shaming Li Xueqing somewhat.
Li Xueqing’s expression turned sour, even Fang Zhili couldn’t maintain her smile.
“Alright already,” Li Haoran said sullenly with a tone of rebuke. “Donglin is still around. Although he almost became our son-in-law, he’s not now. This is disgraceful.”
Making an awkward attempt to smooth things over, he then raised his glass to Mu Donglin and changed the topic.
Following this, Mu Donglin stopped picking up food for Li Beinian.
Apart from the latter, almost no one else found the mood for laughter.
The meal ended quickly.
Li Xueqing returned to her room, angrily slamming the door behind her.
Her exquisite and pretty face was flushed red and full of anger. She gritted her teeth and shouted, “Damn that Li Beinian!”
Just as she had cursed aloud, her room door flew open.
Li Xueqing jumped and turned around. It was Fang Zhili.
Li Xueqing pouted and ran towards her mother, into her embrace. She stomped her feet and cried pitifully, “Mommy, I’m so angry! That disgusting bitch. She actually shamed me in front of Mu Donglin. Boohoo, what will become of my future!”
Fang Zhili’s expression darkened.
She patted her daughter’s shoulder and said softly, “Don’t worry, she will pay for it eventually.”
“When would that be!” Li Xueqing cried. “I can’t take it anymore. The sight of her annoys me. She likes to fight with me over everything, including movies, television dramas, variety shows, and all sorts of other programs! Even Leader Mu seems to have an interest in her. And she sullied my image in front of Mu Donglin. I…”
“Don’t cry.” Fang Zhili’s expression turned icy as well. “Didn’t she want to cut ties with your father? Judging from her attitude today, it doesn’t look like a reconciliation between her and Mu Donglin is a possibility. Since that’s the case, she’s of little value. I’ll find a good opportunity to talk to your father.”
Li Xueqing sniffed. “So what if we cut ties? Leader Mu still likes her and the boss of Sheng An is her sugar daddy. She will still fight me for resources!”
“Are you stupid? If we cut off all ties with her, the entire Dawn Entertainment will be yours in the future. By then, all the resources will be yours. Wouldn’t it be a piece of cake for you to become popular?” Fang Zhili couldn’t wait for this to happen. “But you’re right. The biggest problem now isn’t about cutting ties with your father, but her existence itself…”
“Mom.” Li Xueqing suddenly lowered her voice to a whisper. “I know that Lin Kerou hates her too. Furthermore, she has already attacked her more than once. Now that Lin Kerou is about to get engaged to Mu Donglin, and the man actually came to our house. It can only be for one reason he’s here and that’s Li Beinian. Hence I only have to tell Lin Kerou about this, and for sure Lin Kerou will settle it without us having to lift a finger.”
Fang Zhili was rather surprised to hear this.
Immediately, she said in relief, “My daughter has indeed grown up.”
She was smart enough to come up with such a roundabout way to deal with someone!
Li Xueqing smiled proudly at her mother’s compliment. “I didn’t suffer for nothing.”
As she spoke, her eyes turned cold and her resentment was evident. “She can only blame herself for being so annoying that so many people want her dead!”
After eating, Li Beinian went straight to her room.
Feeling inexplicably happy, she picked up her cell phone and sent a message to Mu Xichen.
[Jin Li Yi Bei]: …
Mu Xichen was eating with Gu Mingye and his cell phone was just beside him.
He smiled on seeing this string of ellipsis.
He picked up his phone and dialed her number.
Li Beinian saw his name flashing on the screen and happily picked up the call. “Hello…”
Mu Xichen raised his eyebrow slightly on hearing her tone. “Aren’t we in a good mood.”
Li Beinian snorted. “You can tell.”
Her smile deepened. “What are you doing?”
“Eating,” He replied. “Are you done? I’ll pick you up.”
“No, I have to stay here for a day. I’ve promised Grandpa, although it’s a little annoying…”
Knock!
Someone knocked on the door.
Li Beinian paused and said, “Someone is knocking on the door. I’ll go take a look.”
She raised her voice, “Who is it?”
No one answered.
The door was made of solid timber and was very thick.
Li Beinian walked over and opened the door. She frowned, when she saw the man standing before her.
Almost immediately, she tried to shut the door.
However, Mu Donglin was obviously prepared. He reached out to stop the door from being shut.
Li Beinian was taken aback and shouted angrily, “What are you trying to do!”
Having heard Li Beinian’s reaction, Mu Xichen was immediately anxious and asked, “What’s going on?”
Li Beinian heard his question but did not have the time to answer.
She looked at Mu Donglin, who had forced his way in, and her heart pounded rapidly. The incident on the night of the charity banquet subconsciously came to mind.
Her breathing was heavy and her heartbeat quickened. She opened the door and demanded, “My grandpa is still downstairs. What are you trying to do!”
Mu Donglin looked at her coldly and took a step closer. “What are you afraid of?”
Bam!
Mu Xichen suddenly got up and the chair behind him fell with a crash.
Gu Mingye had such a fright that he almost choked on the food in his mouth.
Before he could ask anything, he saw that Mu Xichen had left his half-eaten meal behind and rushed out of the house like a hurricane.
On the other end.
As Mu Donglin approached, Li Beinian instinctively took a step back. By the time she realized it, she had already retreated far into the room.
“Are you afraid that I’ll rape you again?” Mu Donglin’s voice was cold. “What’s there to be afraid of? At worst, I’ll do it once. Anyway, you’ve done it so many times, so why not with me?”
Li Beinian’s face turned red with anger at his filthy words. She raised her voice and shrieked, “Help! Grandpa!”
Her voice was so loud that it almost penetrated the roof.
Mu Donglin’s eyes were icy as he reached out to cover her mouth.
The man was forceful and Li Beinian was pressed up against the wall with her mouth covered.
She groaned in pain as her back hit the wall. In reaction, she picked up her cell phone and threw it at his head.
Mu Donglin was caught off guard as he felt a dull pain. He quickly took her hand and shouted, “Behave!”
Li Beinian’s eyes turned red and she bit hard into the flesh of his palm.
Mu Donglin frowned in pain. He lifted her up and threw her onto the bed.
She stumbled and as she fell onto the bed, her elbow hit the bedside table. Immediately, her grip loosened.
Li Beinian jumped up in alarm as she saw the black shadow looming over her. Taking a few steps back, she picked up the pillow and threw it at him, screaming shrilly, “Someone! Help!”
Li Xueqing heard the commotion and ran over.
At once, she saw Li Beinian huddled by the closet like a porcupine. Her hair was in a mess and her face was flushed as she looked at Mu Donglin vigilantly.
Sensing that someone had turned up, Mu Donglin frowned and shouted, “Enough! I just want to talk to you.”
Li Beinian did not believe him at all and screamed, “Don’t come over!”
The man frowned deeply at her violent reaction.
He paused and took two steps back. “Let’s go somewhere else. I just want to talk to you.”
Li Beinian calmed down a little as she watched him step further away.
However, she did not let her guard down and followed him slowly.
When Mu Donglin stopped in his tracks, she immediately halted too. She looked at him vigilantly and shouted, “Step back!”
Helplessly, the man frowned and stepped back.
Seeing that his back was against the railing, Li Beinian quickly went forward, shut the door, and locked it.
Leaning against the door now, she heaved a sigh of relief and quickly looked for her cell phone.
She had not answered Mu Xichen just then, and Mu Donglin had a previous record.
She had only shouted to give Mu Donglin a fright. But if this had alarmed Mu Xichen, that would be the end.
The cell phone fell from her hand and slid under the bed.
The gap under the bed was only small and Li Beinian laid on the ground groping for a long time, but she couldn’t locate it.
She shouted into the phone, “Ah Chen, I’m fine. I was only trying to scare off Mu Donglin. I’m at home and Grandpa is here. I’ll be fine.”
On the other end.
Mu Xichen was speeding along in the silver Spyker, running two red lights.
Some of the cars near him fell back in fear.
All along the way, drivers were forced to stop their cars. They rolled down their windows, cursing and swearing.
Mu Xichen ignored them.
He drove with a sullen expression, growing more furious as he recalled Li Beinian’s scream earlier on.
His cell phone was on his lap. He could hear Li Beinian’s intermittently, “Ah Chen… Mu Dong… Family…”
Obviously, the reception was bad.
Then, he heard a broken up transmission, “I’m fine… Chen… don’t worry…”
Upon hearing this, he was relieved.
Through the rear view mirror, he glanced at the traffic police following closely behind and slowed down before pulling to a stop.
Mu Donglin was left stranded outside the door.
Seeing this, Li Xueqing’s eyes shifted. She asked, “Is Young Master Mu looking for Nian Nian?”
In all his life, Mu Donglin had never suffered so much setback over one person.
He glanced at her coldly.
Li Xueqing’s heart pounded and she quickly said, “Our rooms are connected. We share a balcony.”