Chapter 28: The Mu Family Causes a Stir at the Qin Family Banquet (Part Two)

As soon as the couple sat down, they overheard a group of wealthy ladies at the next table gossiping.

“Did you see the woman with Miss An?”

“I did. She’s rather pretty, elegant, and carries herself well. I wonder which family she’s from.”

“I came in right behind them, so I know. That woman is the young lady from the Mu family!”

“The Mu family? Isn’t that Mu Yuewei? That family has always been second-rate. I heard Mu Pharmaceutical has only survived thanks to Mu Yuewei’s income.”

“Exactly. I was puzzled—doesn’t the Mu family have only one young lady? How is that woman related to the infamous Mu family outcast?”

“Really? I actually thought well of her at first. I figured, if she’s hanging out with Miss An, she must come from a decent background.”

Feng Si would never have guessed that this Miss Mu had ties to the Mu family. But she hadn't invited anyone from the Mu family herself.

“Honey, did you invite the Mu family?” Feng Si turned to Qin Xuan, who was absorbed in a photo of a little girl on his phone.

Qin Xuan looked up. “It was likely Qin Yu who invited them. Our subsidiary recently started a collaboration with the Mu family—he probably extended the invitation.”

“Honey, An Lan is here. I’m going to say hello. I haven’t seen her since she broke up with our second son.” Feng Si got up and walked toward An Lan and her companion.

Qin Xuan immediately put his phone away and followed. “Si’er, I’m coming too. It’s been ages since I last saw her.”

Feng Si cast a sidelong glance at her husband, who was holding her close, a doting smile at his lips. “Aren’t you a bit old to be clinging to me like this? Aren’t you afraid people will say the head of the Qin family is henpecked?”

Qin Xuan didn’t care in the least. He drew even closer. “Let them say what they want.”

“Lan, it’s been so long since Aunt Qin saw you. You haven’t come by to visit your aunt and uncle in ages.”

An Lan, in the midst of enjoying her meal, instantly swallowed her food upon hearing that familiar voice and waved at Feng Si. “Aunt Qin, I… well, I didn’t dare come see you. I was afraid…”

“Afraid of what? That it’d be awkward?” Feng Si smiled kindly. The Qin and An families had always been close, and she’d always treated An Lan like a daughter.

An Lan quickly wiped her hands and grabbed Feng Si’s arm, acting spoiled. “Aunt Qin, Mom Qin, forgive me. I’ve just been busy lately.”

“You little rascal, keep away from my wife. Look at you, plastered in makeup, you’re scaring her!” Qin Xuan joked, feigning disdain.

“It’s just a change of style, a different way of living!”

The words were spoken lightly, but the couple exchanged a glance and both shook their heads. Clearly, their second son had hurt this girl more deeply than they’d realized.

“Lan, on behalf of our Qin Yu, I apologize…”

Seeing the apologetic faces of the two elders before her, An Lan laughed easily. “Uncle Qin, Aunt Qin, Ah Yu and I parted on good terms. We’re still friends. You don’t have to worry. Oh, let me introduce you to my good friend—Mu Ran.”

“Ran, come over here for a moment.”

Sitting on the sofa playing with her phone, Mu Ran raised her head at An Lan’s call and gazed over at the group.

“Madam Qin?” Mu Ran rose gracefully and walked over.

The moment Qin Xuan saw Mu Ran, he was utterly stunned. He looked at his wife, then at Mu Ran’s beaming face. “Ranran, darling, our Ranran is back!”

Feng Si shot a glance at the overexcited man, who had forgotten all decorum. “Go on, the three of us need to talk. Call Ah Yu and ask why his brother isn’t here yet.”

“Alright.” Before leaving, Qin Xuan couldn’t help but look at Mu Ran and Feng Si again. “The resemblance! It’s uncanny. She looked more like me as a child—how does she look just like you now?”

“Please, Miss Mu, don’t mind my husband. He’s had a bit to drink—he’s not usually like this.” Feng Si hurried to salvage her husband’s image.

Mu Ran had just learned that the party was hosted by the illustrious Qin family, a dynasty known for controlling critical industries, especially real estate and heavy industry. Yet she’d never connected this Qin family to the gracious Madam Qin she had met at the beauty spa.

“Miss Mu, you—” Feng Si had barely started speaking when the angry voice of an old woman cut through the air.

“Mu Ran, you little wretch! Come out here! Who let you take Yuewei’s place at the party? You shameless girl, get out here!”

Jiang Yuewei entered the banquet hall flanked by two elders. The old lady, shifty-eyed and sharp, scanned the room with her cloudy gaze. “Mu Ran, you brazen thing! Get out here—how dare you impersonate the Mu family’s young lady!”

The old man beside her was equally incensed, brushing off Jiang Yuewei’s attempts to restrain him as he shouted, “Mu Ran, do you think we’re dead? How dare you bully our Yuewei!”

Feng Si, seeing the commotion, quickly called for security. “What’s going on? How did these people get in?”

“Madam, they have invitations. They’re claiming someone is impersonating the Mu family’s eldest daughter at the party.” Security glanced at Mu Ran, whose expression remained impassive.

“Ran, Jiang Yuewei brought your grandparents to start trouble,” An Lan said, shooting a look of disgust at the quarrelsome elders. “I’ll deal with them for you!”

“Lan, I’ll handle it myself. Madam Qin, I’m so sorry. They’re here because of me, but I haven’t impersonated anyone. Please, allow me to resolve this.”

Mu Ran’s gaze was sincere in her apology. She had never anticipated Jiang Yuewei would bring the Mu elders to cause a scene.

“Go ahead. If you need help, just say the word—I’ll throw them into the sea!” Before Feng Si could reply, Qin Xuan appeared at some point, regarding Mu Ran with a kindly face.

Mu Ran glanced at Feng Si, who nodded in encouragement. Only then did she turn and walk toward Jiang Yuewei and her grandparents.

“Aunt Qin, you and Ran really do look alike,” An Lan said. She knew Mu Ran’s circumstances growing up and wished she truly was Qin Ranran. But Qin Ranran had disappeared abroad, making it unlikely. Still, with such a resemblance and with Madam Qin’s kindness, perhaps Mu Ran could be treated as family.

“Mu Ran! Who told you to impersonate the Mu family’s lady? With your low status, who do you think you are?” the old woman shrieked, her finger trembling with rage as all eyes in the cruise ship’s banquet hall turned their way.

Everyone present was sharp enough to see through the pretense—Jiang Yuewei, feigning dismay, was clearly relishing the spectacle.

Actresses truly are actresses—never mind the occasion. The Mu family was as unseemly as ever.

“Mu Ran! Don’t you have any self-awareness? Do you think your kind belongs at an event like this?” The old lady jabbed her finger at Mu Ran’s nose, her fury nearly causing her dentures to fly out.

Mu Ran shot a sidelong glance at Jiang Yuewei, whose face was the picture of distress. “Didn’t Mu Dacheng say you were too unwell to attend?”

Jiang Yuewei, hands on her grandmother’s shoulders, met Mu Ran’s icy gaze with wounded indignation. “Just because I was unwell, you thought you could take my place at the party?”

“It was Mu Dacheng who begged me to come,” Mu Ran scoffed coldly. The Mu family were truly loathsome vermin.

“So he asked you and you just came? Do you really think you’re worthy? Mu Ran! Why did you attack Yuewei online?” The old man hobbled over, pointing his gnarled finger at her.

Mu Ran glanced at Jiang Yuewei in disdain. What a despicable “film queen”—using even her senile grandparents for her own ends. Mu Ran let out a chilling laugh. “And when did I attack the great actress Jiang Yuewei?”

A few heiresses watching the scene whispered among themselves.

“I knew that woman with Miss An looked familiar—it’s that third-rate celebrity, Mu Ran!”

“My god, how is Mu Ran so pretty?”

“That’s not the point! Listen, apparently Mu Ran is the Mu family’s illegitimate daughter!”

“Let’s watch what happens. It’s not every day you get to see drama live!”

The old woman could not tolerate Mu Ran’s defiance. She moved closer, hand raised to slap her, but before she could, a hand appeared and pushed her to the ground.

“If you have something to say, say it. Madam Mu, even if you want to make a scene, at least consider the occasion. Did Mu Dacheng know you were coming here to cause trouble?” Mu Ran’s mocking gaze cut straight through them, and the three were visibly uneasy.

The old man helped his wife up and gnashed his teeth. “Whether Dacheng knows is none of your business! Do you know that Yuewei nearly lost her job because of you? If you hadn’t posted her private messages to you on Weibo, she wouldn’t have spent days crying at home!”

Mu Ran smiled wickedly. Clearly, Jiang Yuewei hadn’t told her grandparents what those messages contained.

“Grandpa, that’s enough!” Sensing things were going badly, Jiang Yuewei tried to stop him, but failed. Her eyes darted anxiously around the room, and she saw those same heiresses looking at her with utter disdain.

“So disgusting—she can dish it out but can’t take it. Now she’s been exposed!”

“I can’t believe how vicious Mu Yuewei is. Did you see the screenshots of her cursing Mu Ran?”

“I did! At first, I didn’t believe it was her. Her PR team acted so wronged, claiming she was framed. Now her own grandparents have spilled the truth—she’s the one who sent those messages! Such a phony.”

“So it really was you, after all, the great actress Jiang Yuewei,” Mu Ran said with a cold laugh. “Whatever my status, I have nothing to do with your family. Don’t try to claim me as kin.”

She shot Jiang Yuewei a frosty glance, then pulled out her phone and played an audio clip—the recording of her conversation with Mu Dacheng earlier.

“I never pretended to be anyone I’m not. If you want to ruin my reputation, you’ve chosen the wrong method. You can slander me all you like—I’m used to it.”

Mu Ran wanted nothing more than to teach this foolish and malicious woman a lesson, but she restrained herself. She wouldn’t stoop to the level of these three and make a scene at the Qin family’s event.

“Don’t you talk to Yuewei that way!” the old man cried, patting his granddaughter’s shoulder as if to declare his support. “You ungrateful wretch! You’ve eaten our food and worn our clothes since you were a child. Now that you’ve grown wings, you defy your elders? You’re coming home with us to kneel and apologize to your grandmother!”

Mu Ran had no wish to steal the spotlight—this was the Qin family’s event, after all. She hadn’t used any tricks against the three, thinking they’d be shamed enough to leave. But their shamelessness knew no bounds.

She raised her phone again. “All these years, I’ve donated bone marrow to Jiang Yuewei again and again. When she was twenty and finally cured of leukemia, you threw me into the mountains at fifteen. Then, the day after she was discharged, she nearly died getting plastic surgery. You dragged me back just to give her a blood transfusion! You know very well what you’ve done to me all these years, don’t you?”