Chapter 27—The Mu Family Causes a Stir at the Qin Family’s Banquet (Part One)

Mu Ran gripped the suit jacket draped over her shoulders with both hands, watching the flirtatious banter between the man and woman before her with a hint of amusement. The corners of her lips curled slightly; An Lan still refused to admit there was nothing between her and Milans.

To Mu Ran, these two seemed like quite the match: the half-blooded designer and the imperious heiress.

An Lan, covering the spot where the man had kissed her, wiped her face in disgust and hurriedly explained to the woman behind her, “Mu Ran! Don’t get the wrong idea, I would never like this man!”

Milans, standing beside An Lan, wore an exaggerated look of heartbreak, clutching his chest as if love had wounded him. “Lan Lan, what is it about me that you find lacking? Why do you so eagerly distance yourself from me?”

An Lan gave the man a hard shove, dragging Mu Ran onto the yacht. Even as she presented their invitation, she didn’t forget to yank the suit jacket off Mu Ran’s shoulders and toss it back to Milans. “Take your jacket, it reeks of cologne. Disgusting.”

Milans’ deep-set eyes sparkled with a deeper smile, indulging An Lan’s disdain.

“What a wild little kitten,” he murmured.

An Lan was unlike other women—her spirit was wild and untamed. Milans had crossed paths with countless women, but never one with An Lan’s combination of spoiled arrogance and irresistible charm.

As for Miss Mu, he rather admired her looks and figure, but her personality… was too cold, her aloofness all too apparent.

“What are you thinking about, Milans?” An Lan called out, seeing him standing lost in thought by the entrance, his tall figure unmoving.

Milans courteously waved to the women and strode over.

“Hey, Milans! It’s been ages!” A tall, striking woman approached the three with a sharp-featured face and a princess-cut hairstyle, her smile radiant.

“Hi! My lucky darling, it really has been too long!”

Mu Ran and An Lan both instinctively craned their necks to meet the woman’s gaze, feeling almost oppressed by her height, before lowering their heads in unison.

“Heavens really are unfair. As if her figure wasn’t enough, she’s also gorgeous,” An Lan chirped with her usual candor, never stingy with her compliments.

The woman, who had given Milans a friendly pat on the shoulder, bent slightly to look at the two. Her slender eyes lifted at the corners, matching the arch of her brows. “Thank you for the compliment. You two are adorable.”

Mu Ran: …

An Lan: …

They both felt a little insulted—Lucky’s gaze upon them was reminiscent of someone looking at a pair of chicks.

Mu Ran’s lips twitched. “You two catch up. An Lan and I won’t intrude.”

Lucky gave Mu Ran a long look, extending her hand as if to ruffle Mu Ran’s hair.

“Miss La, what are you doing?” Mu Ran dodged, her gaze guarded and distant as she stared into Lucky’s playful eyes.

“What do you mean, Miss La? This is Lucky, the most outstanding model I’ve ever worked with. Lucky, enough teasing—let’s get a vodka over there.”

As she left, Lucky shot Mu Ran a smile that could only be described as mischievous.

“Why does that woman look so familiar?” Mu Ran murmured, watching Lucky’s retreating back.

An Lan poked the slightly dazed Mu Ran. “Familiar? She’s the most in-demand model right now. If it weren’t for her height—she’s 188 centimeters tall—she could easily break into acting with that face alone.”

“Sweetheart, keep your spirits up. No need to be jealous; you’re beautiful too.”

Mu Ran couldn’t help but laugh at An Lan’s heartfelt comfort. “Lan Lan, I have a broad mind—I’m not jealous. I’m simply intrigued by that beauty.”

“That’s the spirit. We mustn’t fall prey to envy. Just be the best version of ourselves,” An Lan declared. She despised the scheming and backstabbing among female celebrities in the entertainment industry; from the day she became a manager, she resolved to nurture only the purest and most talented artists.

Mu Ran was the best, and the only, choice.

An Lan led Mu Ran up to the second deck of the yacht, where the evening’s gala was being held.

Having arrived late, they instantly became the center of attention as soon as they entered.

“Oh dear, we’re the stars of the night now, Mu Ran. What do we do? So many people are staring—I’m getting social anxiety!” An Lan whispered, glancing sidelong at Mu Ran’s cool, striking countenance and icy aura, before shaking her hand for reassurance.

“You’ve attended plenty of parties like this since you were a child. Why the nerves now?” Mu Ran asked, puzzled.

“Well, I never liked them, and wouldn’t be here if tonight’s host weren’t the Qin family. Didn’t expect everyone to arrive so early!”

An Lan tugged Mu Ran toward the buffet. At a gathering of the elite, no one came to eat, so the table was largely deserted.

All around them, guests conversed with practiced smiles.

Because of Mu Ran’s stunning looks, aloof demeanor, and the luxurious haute couture gown she wore, she drew the lingering gazes of many young scions. Coupled with her obvious closeness to the heiress of the An family, one of the capital’s most prestigious shipbuilding clans, it was inevitable that some would take interest in her.

“Who’s the lady with Miss An? Which family is she from? I’ve never seen her before.”

“She’s quite a beauty!”

“Who is that woman, all dolled up? Is she here to seduce someone?”

“Shut it. If she’s close to Miss An, her background must be impressive.”

“She looks so familiar… I’m sure I’ve seen her somewhere before.”

Feng Si, accompanied by her husband Qin Xuan as they mingled among the guests, noticed a group’s attention focused in one direction. Curious, she followed their gaze and was startled to see the two women by the buffet. Wasn’t that the same Miss Mu she’d met at the beauty salon earlier? Hadn’t she said she couldn’t make it tonight? Could she be a daughter from another prominent family? But Feng Si had never heard of her before.

Qin Xuan, noticing his wife holding her wine glass with a frown, her expression troubled, gently patted her back and said softly, “Si’er, are you unwell? If you’re tired, go rest. I can handle things. Be good, this party isn’t important.”

Feng Si snapped out of her reverie and shook her head at the handsome, refined man before her. “I’m fine, darling. It’s our eldest son’s birthday. How could I not be here?”

“Eldest son? He’s more like my nemesis! If not for him, our Ranran would never have disappeared!” At the mention of their son, Qin Xuan’s face darkened, his voice brimming with resentment.

A deep sadness flickered in Feng Si’s eyes. She sighed. “Let’s not bring up Ranran anymore. Yichen never expected to lose his sister that day—he’s been blaming himself ever since. Let’s not hold it against him.”

“Ungrateful child!” The mere mention of Yichen made Qin Xuan fume. His eldest was as stubborn as he was—he hardly came home once a year.

“Darling, you mustn’t be angry. I’ve gone to so much trouble for his birthday party. When Yichen arrives, please don’t give him that stern face. Do you hear me? Or I won’t speak to you again!”

“Alright, alright, whatever you say. Let’s have a seat and wait for Yichen to arrive.” Qin Xuan’s heart ached for his wife—over the years, her eyes had nearly wept themselves blind over their lost daughter, Ranran.