Chapter 29 — The Mu Family Causes a Stir at the Qin Family Banquet (III)

Mu Ran had no intention of playing the victim in front of everyone, but no one could ever imagine the agony of having her bone marrow extracted, that sensation of nerves being wrenched from bone. If the Mu family couldn’t see her worth, then there was no reason to spare them even a shred of dignity. She’d deeply learned that when everyone plotted against and used her, the helplessness and despair sank deep into her bones. In this life, she’d never let anyone who tried to hurt her off the hook—if she had to, she’d fight them to the bitter end, no matter how extreme the means.

Mu Yuewei’s nerves were taut, acutely aware of the many eyes fixed on her face. She covered her cheeks with both hands, shooting Mu Ran a venomous, hateful glare, her own expression twisted with rage. That wretch Mu Ran! How dare she reveal that secret! Now everyone knew she’d had plastic surgery!

“Mu Ran, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep quiet. You’ll answer for every word you say!” Mu Yuewei threatened.

But Mu Ran’s face was unflinching, calm as ever. “Only your Mu family could be so foolish as to smash their own foot with the stone they throw.”

The onlookers in the banquet hall began to whisper, pointing at Mu Yuewei and her companions with looks of contempt mixed with disgust.

Mu Yuewei’s anger blazed. She’d thought Mu Ran would flee in disgrace, but instead, it was she herself who became the target of gossip. Because of her status, she couldn’t tear into that wretch openly and could only keep up the act of being the injured party.

Mu Ran’s sharp gaze swept over Mu Yuewei’s hands, noticing how she was furtively clinging to the old man’s arm, her face radiating exaggerated grievance and sorrow.

With a cold snort, Mu Ran advanced, cornering the three of them. Suddenly, she seized Mu Yuewei’s wrist in a crushing grip, her fingers digging into the bone.

“Please leave. Are you truly unaware of the consequences of causing a scene here?”

Mu Yuewei frowned, biting her lip, her face twisted with rage as she glared at Mu Ran, barely restraining herself from slapping her across the face. She had to control herself—she was a film queen, a venerated figure in the entertainment world. She couldn’t resort to violence. “Mu Ran, let go! I’m your sister! How can you treat me like this—framing me?”

“Heh. We have no connection anymore. I stopped being part of the Mu family long ago.” Mu Ran released her hand with disdain and turned to leave.

But the two elders of the Mu family weren’t ready to let things go. They’d always hated that little brat Mu Ran, and now, seeing her act out against their precious granddaughter, their rage knew no bounds.

“To donate your marrow and blood to Yuewei is your honor! The Mu family raised you—what right do you have to defy us? You shameless little tramp!” the old man barked.

He tried to attack Mu Ran from behind, raising his cane to strike her head, but Mu Ran spun nimbly aside. The old man, thrown off balance, fell to the floor.

Mu Ran crouched lazily, picked up the cane, and tapped it against his hand. “How many times have you beaten me with this cane?”

A chill ran down the old man’s spine. He struggled to look up at her, but was cowed by the malice in her eyes, as if she’d walked straight out of hell. The next second, he fainted dead away.

“Old man! Don’t scare me like this! If something happens to you, how will I go on?” the old woman wailed, supporting him as she cursed Mu Ran in a shrill, spiteful voice. “You vile little wretch, you’ve always been like this—worthless and unteachable, always seducing men, sneaking off to hotels with boys even in high school. You’ve disgraced the Mu family! What’s wrong with us disciplining you?”

Hearing this, the wealthy wives and daughters in the banquet hall clung anxiously to their husbands and boyfriends, as if Mu Ran might go after their men next.

“Ridiculous. Utter fabrication.”

All her life, Mu Ran had tried so hard to win the Mu family’s approval, studying diligently and striving for good grades. But whenever she took first place and reported it to them, she was rewarded only with a beating—simply because she was never allowed to outshine Mu Yuewei.

“We have photos! Yuewei, give me your phone! Let everyone see how this shameless girl was getting abortions and sneaking off to hotels with men at such a young age!”

Mu Yuewei hadn’t expected her grandmother to bring this up out of nowhere, and panic bubbled inside her. Back then, afraid her own pregnancy would be discovered, she’d made Mu Ran the scapegoat.

Mu Ran’s eyes gleamed with mockery. She touched her earlobe, which still ached from not wearing earrings for so long. “Go ahead. Show them.”

“Grandpa, Grandma, please stop this senselessness! So what if Mu Ran stood in for me? There are so many people here—let’s not make a scene!” Mu Yuewei now bitterly regretted encouraging her grandparents to stir up trouble. She’d only gone to them in a fit of anger after Mu Ran exposed her on Weibo.

Now, as she regained her composure, she glanced around and saw the heads of the Qin family approaching.

“To stir up trouble at my event and frame Miss Mu—is that you? And now you think you can leave just like that? Mu, the great film queen, do you take my family for fools?” Mrs. Feng Si’s voice was icy with anger.

Mu Yuewei was suddenly at a loss. “Mrs. Qin, Mu Ran really did impersonate me to attend the banquet. I just feel so wronged—”

“You feel wronged? I can’t see it. You’ve been arguing up a storm, looking very passionate to me. Bringing your elders here to cause trouble—does Mu Dacheng have a death wish?” Mrs. Feng, usually approachable, now radiated a formidable presence. Even Mu Yuewei and her grandparents quailed, cursing their own foolishness.

“Mu Ran was my personal guest. Any other questions? If not, please leave. Otherwise, I’ll have security throw you out. After all, image matters greatly to the great film queen, doesn’t it?” She spoke with cutting sarcasm, took Mu Ran’s hand, and turned to leave.

Mu Yuewei stood frozen, muttering “impossible” under her breath, her face twisted. How could Mu Ran have any ties to the Qin family? When had that wretch managed to climb so high?

Could it be that Mu Ran had seduced the eldest Qin son?

Mu Ran graduated from the Drama Department at Imperial Capital University, and the eldest Qin was a professor there!

“Mrs. Qin, Mr. Qin, that woman Mu Ran is not clean! She’s not worthy of your eldest son!” the Mu elders cried, shocked that their gentle, outstanding granddaughter could be so oblivious. The Qin family had already offered them a way out, but she persisted.

“Yuewei, enough! Let’s go home!” The old man retrieved his cane and moved to drag Mu Yuewei away.

“Mom, I’ve brought Big Brother back!” Qin Yu, beaming, was about to find Mrs. Feng when he sensed the tense atmosphere. His cherubic face turned cold. “What’s going on?”

Beside him, the elegant and gentle Qin Yichen signaled with his eyes, his voice cool and magnetic. “Someone’s causing trouble.”

Qin Yu followed his brother’s gaze to the flushed, unyielding Mu Yuewei. He sauntered over, a smile on his lips and foxlike eyes appraising the woman before him. “So it’s the great film queen herself. Do you even know where you are right now, hmm?”

The chattering crowd fell instantly silent—neither Qin heir was easy to cross.

The eldest, Qin Yichen, was a professor at Imperial Capital University—aloof, low-key, proud, and distant. The second, Qin Yu, had inherited the family business and was now president of Qin Group—outwardly playful, but ruthless in his methods.

The two of them, along with the head of the Gu family, were the most untouchable men in the capital.

“President Qin, I didn’t expect you to recognize me. I just feel so aggrieved. Mu Ran is ungrateful, betraying the family that raised her and chasing after men everywhere. I’m only worried that your brother might be deceived—” Mu Yuewei’s demeanor changed from arrogance to coy bashfulness, her watery eyes fluttering at the narrowed gaze of Qin Yu.

“And just what quality do you think you are? Since when do my brother’s feelings need your concern, hmm?”