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Woken up by the sound of the doorbell early in the morning, Yue Qingchen got out of bed and opened the door, surprised to see who was there.
“Jiang Liyuan, what are you doing here?” She stepped aside to let the person outside in.
“This is your stuff.” After changing her shoes, she raised the envelope in her hand. “We both came from the same orphanage; is it wrong for me to come see you?”
“What stuff?” Blinking, she took the envelope from her hand.
“It should be a delivery. There’s no sender’s name on it. You go wash up first; I’ll open it and see what it is!” Jiang Liyuan pulled the envelope from her grasp and pushed her back toward her room to wash up.
As she stepped into the bathroom, Yue Qingchen turned to glance at the person standing by the door. “Why don’t you find a boyfriend?”
The two of them had been adopted by wealthy families after being friends in the orphanage, and they had kept in touch since then. What puzzled her was that Jiang Liyuan still didn’t have a boyfriend.
“My beloved doesn’t like me. Even though he’s divorced now, he still thinks about his ex-wife!” She opened the envelope with a bitter smile.
“Oh? There’s a man who doesn’t like you, even after getting divorced? Tell me about him; who is this handsome man that has you so infatuated?”
“Actually, you know him too!” After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Liyuan finally revealed the truth.
“I know him? Who?”
“Jiang Chengmu, my nominal brother.”
“Pfft...” A mouthful of mouthwash sprayed onto the mirror as Yue Qingchen turned to look at her in shock, her eyes wide. “How can you like your own brother?”
“Liking someone is just liking them. It’s all Gu Lvq Qi’s fault! If she hadn’t barged in, I might have already become Mrs. Jiang!”
"How coincidental! It's that woman, Gu Lvq Qi, again! After stealing your man, she comes to steal mine too. How shameless!"
Blinking in shock, Jiang Liyuan stared at her with her mouth agape. "She... she stole Mu Tongzi from you? When did this happen?"
Having quickly finished washing up, Yue Qingchen looked furious and resentful, her anger boiling over as she mentioned the incident. "I only found out after returning to the country that those two got together. I had arranged for my friend Liu Xinran to work at the company, but she turned out to be useless and ended up falling for Tong. That shameless Gu Lvq Qi, wanting what she can't have! Now that she's divorced, there's even less to stop her. It's infuriating!"
"You mean she was already cheating on Cheng Mu Ge before the divorce? Oh my god! Cheng Mu Ge defended her every time, and even during this divorce, he said it was his fault..."
"Look on the bright side; at least you didn't suffer any losses. I'm the one who lost big!" Wiping her hands, Yue Qingchen took the folder from the still-dazed Jiang Liyuan and opened it. Upon seeing a stack of photos inside, her expression darkened immediately. The more she looked, the worse her face became. Each photo was taken from a different angle but all depicted intimate moments between the two—some showed them entering a villa together, while others captured them embracing...
From any angle, these photos felt like needles piercing her heart!
"Vile woman!" With a loud slap, she threw the stack of photos onto the coffee table, scattering them everywhere.
As if that wasn't enough to vent her anger, she rushed forward to tear each photo apart, her pale face twisted in a terrifying expression as if she wanted to crush the people in the pictures!
"Shameless! A promiscuous shameless woman..." While tearing the photos, she gritted her teeth and cursed vehemently. Her venomous gaze and tone startled Jiang Liyuan back to reality.
"Qingchen..." Stepping forward, Jiang Liyuan held down her hand that was tearing the photos and pretended to soothe her. "Calm down first, then think of a way to deal with her. If you let her take your man away, wouldn't that be a loss?"
"Right... you're right!" Coming back to herself suddenly, Yue Qingchen turned around and grabbed her hand tightly, looking at her anxiously. "Li Yuan, you always have the best ideas. If it weren't for you helping me back in the orphanage, I wouldn't have my life now. I remember your kindness! Please help me again; they are living together now. If this continues, what if Tong gets attached? I've warned that shameless woman many times before, but it seems it hasn't worked. Can you think of a way to deal with Gu Lvq Qi?"
"Don't rush me; let me think..." Looking at the panicked woman, Jiang Liyuan couldn't help but smirk inwardly. It was actually she who helped Yue Qingchen take over someone else's place back then! If it weren't for the Jiang family adopting her later on, their lives might have been worlds apart. Remembering her kindness? In reality, she was just afraid of revealing the truth and didn't consider what would happen if Yue Qingchen lost her current life! However, since they had a common enemy now, she decided not to confront her just yet.
"Come on, think fast!"
Turning around, Jiang Liyuan glanced at the photos scattered on the floor and smirked slyly. "Gu Lvq Qi is divorced now; these photos all have timestamps on them. If we publish these photos online, it will spark controversy over her divorce reasons and expose her as a mistress. At that point, not only will the Jiang family not let her off easy, but public outrage will also make it impossible for her to stand in A City!"
"This won't work. All the magazines in City A wouldn't dare publish any gossip about Tong!" Upon hearing this, Yue Qingchen shook her head helplessly.
"I'm not saying we should find a magazine to publish it. We can hire online promoters to spread these photos across major websites and forums. The speed of online dissemination is faster, and it's more discreet. Even if Mu Tongzi investigates, she won't trace it back to you!"
"But I don't know anyone in that field!" She couldn't operate it herself and had no connections in that area.
"Don't worry, I'll find someone to handle it!" She picked up a few photos from the ground. "As long as these photos get out, Gu Lvq Qi will definitely become a rat in the street, with everyone shouting to beat her!"
It seemed she could already see the dawn of victory. Jiang Liyuan squinted and smiled, "By the time she's exposed twice for secretly cheating on her husband with different men, even if Cheng Mu Ge lets her off, do you think the Jiang family will? Let's just wait and see the show!"
"Great! This plan is perfect! I want Gu Lvq Qi to be utterly disgraced, so she carries the reputation of being a woman who sleeps around for life!"
Nodding, Jiang Liyuan continued to instruct her, "When the media interviews you later, you need to express your grievances as a victim as much as possible. Don't slip up!"
"I am a victim! Besides, I took acting classes in college; acting won't be difficult for me!"
"Also, you need to pretend not to know about this matter in front of Mu Tongzi. You should question him and even argue with him irrationally. Don't let him realize you're involved; otherwise, we won't have a good outcome!"
"I understand. He's very cautious; I'll be careful in my responses!"
Like grasping a lifeline, Yue Qingchen tightly held onto the fragments of the photos in her hand, her sharp eyes filled with resentment and cold light.
Meanwhile, Jiang Liyuan watched her fall into her trap with satisfaction, raising the corners of her lips. Yue Qingchen wasn't smart enough; she was just using her to take revenge on the Jiang family and herself.
**********************************************************************
Monday mornings usually start with an early meeting. If the President hasn't given special instructions, Xia Yu would buy breakfast in advance and deliver it to One Pinnacle Mansion. Breakfast typically concludes with discussions about meeting content.
While having breakfast, Xia Yu was tapping on his iPad. After reporting the meeting's content, a trending news alert popped up from the bottom right corner. He casually clicked on it and suddenly his expression changed dramatically!
He quickly looked up at the President, who was still eating breakfast at the main seat. After swallowing the porridge in his mouth with difficulty, he hurriedly handed the iPad over, his face serious: "President, something big has happened!"
Taking the iPad, Mu Tongzi glanced at the bold headline on the screen, and his previously calm face immediately darkened!
"The truth behind Mrs. Jiang's divorce is that she has cheated again, suspected partner: Mu Group's President!"
"The two were seen entering and leaving Million-Dollar Mansion late at night, suspected of cohabitation!"
"The informant claims that Mrs. Jiang is suspected of being the third party!"
"Mrs. Jiang disregards the Jiang Family's economic crisis and turns to embrace a New Flame!"
A series of news reports accompanied by several photos, each marked with dates and times, almost directly exposed their underground relationship without any preparation!
Looking at those photos, Mu Tongzi furrowed his brows, tightening his grip on the iPad. Just when Xia Yu thought he would smash it on the floor, he casually placed the iPad on the dining table. However, when he looked up, his expression was frighteningly dark.
"President..." Xia Yu tensed up nervously, fearing that the next moment the President would flip the table.
Mu Tongzi did not respond, maintaining a calm demeanor without any sign of panic or nervousness as a party involved.
Seeing him silent and unresponsive made Xia Yu anxious. Just then, the phone on the table rang. He quickly answered it; it was a call from the company's Security Department informing him that a group of reporters had gathered at the company entrance.
After hanging up, Xia Yu looked at the man in silence at the main seat. "President, reporters are already blocking the entrance to the company..." Once this news spreads online, it could spiral out of control. Not to mention how the Jiang family would react; Mu Group's reputation would likely be affected as well. Fortunately, they had successfully secured the Resort bidding project; otherwise, it would cause significant financial losses!
"Have the Public Relations Department handle this matter. If they can't manage it, those people don't need to stay! The place in the photo is where I live, One Pinnacle Mansion. It's not a place just anyone can enter. Not many people know where I live. If it weren't for someone stalking and taking pictures, the photo wouldn't be so clear! The rumors spread online, and I'm giving you one day to trace it back using the IP address!"
"Yes..." He glanced at the iPad on the table, hesitantly raising his head. "The speed of information spread online is very fast, and with so many reposts, it might be difficult to trace."
The person who released the rumors must have known that no newspaper would dare publish news about Mu Tongzi, which is why they exploited a loophole to spread it online. This incident might not be as simple as it seems.
If someone is indeed doing this intentionally, what could their purpose be? Who are they targeting?
Unintentionally, Mu Tongzi's gaze fell on a small image on the front page of the newspaper. The location in the picture was a café he often visited. He suddenly recalled that day when Green Qi was avoiding meeting that woman from the Jiang family. His dark eyes suddenly deepened. "First, check Jiang Liyuan's schedule for the past few days!"
"Understood!" Although he didn't understand his intentions, he at least had some clarity in his heart.
Looking at the photo on the iPad, Xia Yu raised his head with concern. "President, Miss Gu just went through a divorce crisis, and now this happens... now..."
"I will handle things on her side." He set down his cup and couldn't help but sigh lightly.
"I anticipated that there would be a day like this. Fortunately, she has successfully divorced. Now that it's exposed, I'm just worried she won't be able to bear the criticism."
This situation came suddenly. Although she had already divorced Jiang Chengmu, now someone was deliberately probing into her reasons for divorce. Jiang Chengmu and the Jiang family likely wouldn't let this go easily.
"Shift the focus onto me. No matter who is behind this targeting, have someone protect her and ensure she doesn't get hurt."
This was the only way he could think of to protect her for now—blocking public opinion while ensuring her safety. He had to step in personally to minimize her harm.
Understanding his self-sacrificial plan, Xia Yu was somewhat surprised but ultimately nodded. "I understand!"
He had known from early on about that woman's position in the President's heart. Now he could tolerate the media shifting their focus onto him for her sake, disregarding Mu Group's reputation; such weight likely exceeded that of an ordinary romantic relationship.
When a man is willing to set aside his pride, let go of himself, and even disregard everything to give his all for a woman, it is certain that he loves her deeply.
Early in the morning, before she had even gotten out of bed, IKEA knocked on her door.
Rubbing her sleepy head, she got up to open the door. IKEA rushed into the room, and when she looked down at the woman who hadn’t even put on her shoes, her sleepiness faded significantly. "What's the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Gu Da, it's bad! Your relationship with Mu Zong has been exposed!" Hearing this, IKEA quickly raised her head and handed over the iPad in her hand. "All the newspapers online are filled with your photos. The company is probably packed with reporters!"
"Ah?" Looking at IKEA's disheveled appearance, Green Qi snatched the iPad and examined it closely. When she saw the headlines, her mind went blank for a moment, and her hand holding the iPad trembled slightly.
"Gu Da, are you okay?" Seeing her face turn pale instantly, IKEA hurriedly supported her.
"I'm fine." Waving her hand, Green Qi stood up straight and turned to IKEA, who looked worried, forcing a smile. "I had already thought about this day coming. It's just that I've already divorced. Now that it's exposed, not only will I suffer, but Mu Group will also face trouble because of me."
Thinking of this, she quickly turned around and grabbed her phone from the bedside table, dialing Mu Tongzi's number.
As soon as the call connected, before she could speak, a calm voice came from the other end. "Baby, I was just about to call you. Are you awake?"
"I saw the news online. Do you know about it?" Green Qi asked urgently as soon as she opened her mouth.
"I know. Don't worry; I'll handle it!"
"I'm fine. What I'm worried about is you. My reputation is wrecked as far as I'm concerned, but your exposure will definitely affect Mu Group's reputation."
No matter what, as the Group President, having such rumors spread about him was not good at all. If this incident caused any losses for the group, then she would be the one at fault!
"Don't worry, if I can't handle this little problem, I wouldn't be able to hold onto the position of President. You should take a break from work for the next few days; I'll take care of everything, so don't worry."
"What about you? Aren't you going to be harassed by the media every day?" She stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, feeling conflicted and anxious.
There would be people taking advantage of the situation to leak rumors about his affairs, which meant this matter was not as simple as it seemed.
Compared to her nervousness and unease, the man on the other end of the phone remained calm. "Baby, are you worried about me? It's a pity I'm not by your side right now; otherwise, I'd definitely give you a big hug to show how happy I am."
"Mu Tongzi! Be serious!" Even at such a critical moment, he didn't forget to tease her. She really couldn't feel happy; she didn't want him to bear everything alone or to be sheltered under his wings without doing anything.
"How about you let the Public Relations Department hold a press conference and say that you're my first love? I can't forget my old feelings for you. Anyway, we can't let the media focus on you. My reputation is already in wreckage; adding another scandal wouldn't matter!"
Hearing her come up with such a ridiculous idea to protect him, Mu Tongzi felt both helpless and amused. "That's not a good idea at all. If someone sees that kind of news, they'll get the wrong idea. I can't sacrifice myself just to benefit Xue Yiyang!"
"Then what other options do we have? We just can't drag you down!"
"Don't worry, I'll handle it. Just stay indoors for the next few days, and we'll talk once I've sorted everything out!" Her concern touched him deeply, and somewhere in his heart began to soften; a certain thought seemed to become more certain.
"Alright then, if you need my cooperation, just call me anytime!" She was well aware of his capabilities; since he insisted, she could only choose to trust him.
"Okay, stay put. I'll ask for leave from your company."
After hanging up the phone, he turned to look out the window. The warm sunlight bathed the entire city, yet at that moment, he was calmer and more composed than ever before.
His woman was willing to shoulder all the rumors and gossip for him. Although it was foolish, it was also endearingly foolish, which made his heart ache.
If it were any other woman, she would have probably been too scared to seek his protection by now. She wouldn't be like her—naively risking everything to defend him.
In the carriage, there was a moment of silence before the phone in his palm rang again. He glanced at the caller ID and understood the purpose of the call. With a slight smile, he answered, "Aunt, good morning!"
"Tongzi, have you had breakfast?" The gentle voice of the Mayor's Wife, Mu Lingmian, came from the other end.
"I have. I'm getting ready to go to the office. You called to ask about this morning's news, right?" Since it was family, he didn't want to beat around the bush on this topic.
"Yes, how could you get involved with a married woman?"
After so many years of avoiding women, to suddenly present such a shocking answer—who could accept that?
"Aunt, are you questioning me or do you want to hear my explanation? If it's a question, then my answer is the same as what's in the news; they even provided more detailed explanations. If you're asking for an explanation from me, then I can only say that I'm serious this time and not joking."
"Are you crazy? Even if she is divorced, she is still a woman who has been married!"
"Who says a divorced woman can't remarry?"
Mu Tongzi calmly and directly rebutted his aunt's questioning, leaving Mu Lingmian on the other end momentarily speechless.
"If this gets back home, just wait and see how your grandmother will deal with you! I won't say much more; handle this matter yourself. I've already asked your uncle to help manage things with the media, so just take care of yourself!"
"Thank you, Aunt."
***************************************************************
As expected, the area outside Mu Group was filled with a crowd of reporters. Security guards lined up at the entrance to maintain order.
Someone with sharp eyes recognized Mu Tongzi's usual work vehicle and shouted to the group of reporters, "President Mu is here!"
All the Paparazzi quickly reacted, a group of people rushed towards the approaching car, and the security guards who realized what was happening hurriedly squeezed into the crowd, struggling to clear a path.
Looking at the dark mass of reporters outside, Xia Yu slowed down the car and turned to glance at the still calm President in the back seat. "President, are you getting out here or going to the underground parking lot?"
"Let's get out here!" After the car stopped, he opened the door and got out.
As soon as he stepped out of the car, the Paparazzi who had been waiting all morning went wild, frantically pressing their camera shutters. A dazzling array of flashes and various questions flooded in, while security struggled to maintain order, and the scene threatened to spiral out of control.
"Mu Zong, what is your explanation for the news exposed online? Were you already in a relationship with her before Mrs. Jiang's divorce?"
Hearing the question from a male reporter in the front row of journalists, Mu Tongzi paused, turned his head to glance at the radio station name on her microphone, and smiled mockingly. "Haven't you already provided an explanation for me?"
The male reporter was taken aback for a moment; by the time he reacted, he had already been pushed down by those behind him. "Mu Zong, is your underground relationship with Mrs. Jiang the direct cause of her divorce?"
"Mu Zong, is your romance with Mrs. Jiang real?"
"······"
A series of questions received no response from Mu Tongzi.
Standing on the steps, he paused and looked down at the crowd of reporters with a lazy expression. "Regarding your questions, Mu Group's Public Relations Department will hold a press conference to answer each of them."
Before they could ask again, he had already turned around and confidently entered the corporate office building under the protection of security.
Disappointed, the reporters could only swarm together to meet with those waiting at the entrance of GK to see if they could find a breakthrough there.
Just then, Yue Qingchen, who happened to be arriving for work, became the target of everyone's attack. Facing the reporters, Yue Qingchen appeared wronged and sad, pretending to plead with the Paparazzi. "I just returned to the country not long ago; I didn't know they were together or that they were living together behind my back..." As she responded to the reporters' questions, Yue Qingchen shed tears, her eyes red and swollen.
In the spacious office, the noisy sounds from the iPad echoed as Mu Tongzi frowned slightly while watching the video that had resurfaced online.
In the video, Yue Qingchen tearfully complained to the reporters, and Mu Tongzi glanced impatiently at her. "How's the investigation going?"
Xia Yu got straight to the point, saying, "You guessed correctly, President. Jiang Liyuan used Yue Qingchen to do this. When we traced the IP address, those people were editing a second wave of gossip."
"Really? How did those two get involved? What's their relationship?"
"They're said to be friends from the orphanage. They were adopted one after the other, and strangely enough, they still keep in touch."
"Have Mosin bring Jiang Liyuan here. I want to clarify her reasons for doing this."
"Mosin has already detained her. Do you want to go now, President?"
"Yes, let's go!" Mu Tongzi replied lightly.
After driving to the location indicated by Mosin, he saw Mosin waiting outside and approached politely. "Boss, she's inside."
"Okay."
This was an abandoned villa located in the suburbs, and it was indeed quite secluded. Once inside, he followed Mosin to the room where the person was being held. "Did Yue Qingchen say anything else besides that Jiang Liyuan likes Jiang Chengmu?"
Mosin shook his head. "Besides that, she only said she was unaware of anything else; the whole thing was orchestrated by Jiang Liyuan."
"Huh, now she seems to be scared!" Mu Tongzi smirked playfully and chuckled lightly as he asked Mosin to take him to the room where Jiang Liyuan was being held.
The dimly lit room held nothing, and the damp air that rushed in made one feel nauseous.
Jiang Liyuan was curled up in the corner, and upon hearing a sound, she suddenly raised her head.
When she saw who had come, the calmness in her eyes was replaced by fear, and she lowered her head in panic.
Mu Tongzi lazily sat sideways in a chair, crossing his legs as he looked at the woman in the corner. "Miss Jiang, Yue Qingchen has already told me everything you did. How do you think I should deal with you?"
"Mu Tongzi, locking me up here is illegal! Once I get out, I will make the Jiang family seek justice for me!" Jiang Liyuan stubbornly lifted her head, pretending to be confident.
"Oh? Is that so? Aren't you also breaking the law, Miss Jiang? How about I let you experience the taste of losing everything—maybe I'll take some nude photos and post them online. We can call it even this time?"
"You..." His words struck a nerve, nearly shattering the calm she had been trying to maintain.
"Hah... Yue Qingchen said it was all my doing?" Indeed, that woman would do anything for wealth and status!
"What if..." She suddenly raised her head, looking nervously at the man before her. "What if I tell you a big secret? Will you let me go?"
"Let you go?" As if he had heard a joke, Mu Tongzi smirked. "What big secret could you possibly have that would be worth trading for your freedom?"
"Don't you want to know who your benefactor's daughter really is?"
"What do you mean? Isn't it your good friend Yue Qingchen?" Upon hearing this, Mu Tongzi momentarily blanked.
"You foolishly mistook a counterfeit for a pearl. Mu Tongzi, you're not as clever as you think!" With a teasing laugh, Jiang Liyuan looked at Mu Tongzi, waiting to see his expression of regret.
Mu Tongzi scoffed and slumped back in his chair. "So... it turns out that's how it is?"
The child of the firefighter who saved him but lost his life in the fire was not Yue Qingchen. It turned out that he and his family had been caring for the wrong person all along.
A flood of regret filled his mind, and he took a deep breath, grinding his teeth: "Where is that child now?"
The devilish voice beside him made Jiang Liyuan tremble uncontrollably. She had no choice but to reveal the truth: "Do you really think Yue Qingchen is as innocent as she appears? The martyr's orphan who was sent to the orphanage back then actually died of a serious illness. The director was afraid you would blame her, so she wanted me to take the place of that child. But I was scared at the time and didn't dare to agree. Later, I told Yue Qingchen about this, and she happily went along with you. She was only nine years old then, yet she was already so scheming. I didn't expect her to become even more cunning as she grew up. If it weren't for her asking me for help this time, she wouldn't have jumped into my trap."
"You better make sure you're telling the truth; otherwise, I have many ways to make your life worse than death!"
"I swear it's the truth..." Jiang Liyuan replied, trembling.
Mu Tongzi stood up and coldly ordered Mosin: "Take some scandalous photos of her and let her go. If she dares to be dishonest again, ruin her reputation!"
"Understood..." Mosin was slightly taken aback by his mercy towards an enemy but quickly complied.
This kind of punishment was quite suitable for a wealthy young lady like Jiang Liyuan.
Listening to his orders, the woman in the corner slowly raised her head, realizing what he meant. She hurriedly shouted, "Mu Tongzi, you can't do this! I've told you such a big secret; let me go!" Her sharp cries echoed in the empty room.
When the door closed, silence finally returned.
*****************************************************************
On the night of the monthly closing, there was an internal company gathering.
Mu Tongzi sat at the table, lazily sipping wine. Compared to the so-called delicacies in front of him, he preferred the home-cooked dishes made by his little woman.
Now, just thinking about Gu Lvq Qi brought a genuine smile to Mu Tongzi's face, making him even more charming.
The executives in the company couldn't help but be taken aback when they saw the news online, surprised that the President actually liked a married woman and got involved with her before she was even divorced.
Mu Tongzi finally couldn't stand the bored stares of his subordinates any longer and made an excuse to leave the private room.
When he excitedly returned to One Pinnacle Mansion and saw the figure rising and falling on the bed, his heart was filled with joy.
Green Qi opened her eyes, looking a bit dazed as she stared at the man working seriously at the small table beside her.
It was true that men were most charming when they focused on something.
Mu Tongzi sat on one side of the bed, with his laptop on a small table on his lap, his long fingers flying over the keyboard. The soft light from the floor lamp cast a gentle glow on his face, making his profile breathtakingly handsome.
Green Qi carefully moved slightly, but Mu Tongzi immediately turned around and patted her cheek, "Awake?"
"Mm."
Mu Tongzi pulled her into an embrace, his hands starting to wander inappropriately, "Baby, I'm hungry..."
"Weren't you going to have me wait for you at home? You said you had something to tell me?" Green Qi tried to divert his attention.
"Yeah, I wanted to tell you about Yue Qingchen. It turns out she approached me pretending to be the daughter of my savior. Mosin has already investigated the whole matter. Back then, Uncle Yue and Aunt Yue were found by Grandpa! I didn't expect her to enjoy a life that belonged to someone else so comfortably!"
"What about that child?" Green Qi's breath began to quicken.
"Passed away from illness! I also had Yue Qingchen sent back to Beijing!"
Mu Tongzi successfully pulled open Green Qi's nightgown. She resisted fiercely, and Mu Tongzi pouted, "It's all legitimate now; why can't I touch you?"
"How did it become so justified?" Green Qi looked up, feeling quite pleased with herself.
"Is my darling hinting that I should propose to you? Don't worry, there will be flowers, and there will be a diamond ring!" Calmly stating this, Mu Tongzi directly pounced on Green Qi.
Once things settled down, Mu Tongzi leaned close to her ear and asked with some anticipation, "How about going back to Beijing with me tomorrow to meet my parents? We can wait for your dad to return from his business trip to discuss things!"
Green Qi shrank back slightly. "No way! My dad doesn't even know about what's in the news! I don't want to just go back with you to meet your parents!"
Mu Tongzi wrapped his arms around her, his tone filled with helplessness. "Darling, if you don't want to meet my parents for now, I won't force you. I really want to be with you, want to spend my life with you, want to wake up next to you every day, want to eat the meals you cook every day, want you to be the mother of my children, want to hold your hand and proudly introduce you as my wife..."
Green Qi's eyes turned red, and her delicate white hand gently pressed against his lips. "Tongzi, stop talking."
Mu Tongzi grasped her hand tightly and sighed softly. "Darling, what are you really afraid of?"
Green Qi felt a lump in her throat. "Tongzi, I—"
"Don't think about leaving me; I won't let you go!" Seeing her dazed expression, Mu Tongzi firmly held her against his chest.
With tears in her eyes, Green Qi nodded slightly. However, not long after this wonderful night, she broke her promise and left him.
Capital City Mu Family.
Mu Lin Sen sat on the sofa with a very grim expression. Liu Piaoxu quietly urged Auntie to check at the front door if Mu Tongzi had returned. Mu Tongzi's aunt, Mu Lingmian, sat on Liu Piaoxu's left side and was advising Mu Lin Sen. "Brother, when Tongzi comes back, talk to him properly; don't argue!"
"This brat is getting bolder! If this gets out, what face will our Mu Family have left?" Looking at the newspaper, Mu Lin Sen was so furious he trembled all over, nearly tearing the newspaper apart!
Old Man Mu slammed his cane down hard and turned to scold him. "What are you so anxious about? That kid already informed me about this matter; anyway, I agreed!"
"Father! What happened..." Mu Lin Sen looked at the old man in shock and confusion.
The other younger family members were also very curious about what kind of woman could have been married and still pass the old man's scrutiny.
Old Man Mu was about to respond when Auntie happily ran in, "Young Master is back!"
Mu Tongzi casually took off his coat, greeted everyone, and then sat beside the old man. "So, are we preparing for a three-way trial here?"
"You have the nerve to be entangled with a married woman. If this gets out, I'll be utterly embarrassed!" Grandma Mu was surprised by her husband's attitude but still insisted on her principles.
Turning his head, Mu Tongzi quietly looked at Grandma Mu, his handsome face serious and stubborn. "Grandma, she is the woman I have chosen to be Mrs. Mu. She is already divorced now, so don't think you can separate us!"
"I think you're just infatuated with her. How can you be so sure she's the one you want?" After years of being indifferent to women, this sudden development only brought them shock, not joy!
"I am very sure she is the woman I want to spend my life with. I take full responsibility for this scandal, but I hope you all can try to accept her."
"You..." Grandma Mu was furious.
*************************************************************************
Although the family still hadn't agreed to their relationship, the elders said they would consider it carefully, and it seemed there was a good chance.
Since the scandal broke, Mu Tongzi had been living with Gu Lvq Qi. He had been sleeping well almost every night, and that morning he went to work feeling refreshed as usual.
Not long after Mu Tongzi left, the doorbell rang.
Green Qi opened the door and was met with a familiar face—the woman he had seen singing on the boat in L City and also encountered on the flight back. However, she was accompanied by an elegant Madam.
"Who are you?"
"I am Muzi, the niece of Mu Tongzi. This is my uncle's mother. We came to see my uncle!" Muzi introduced herself while casually changing her shoes and entering.
Green Qi handed slippers to Madam behind her, stepped aside to let them in, and hesitated before asking, "He went to work. Would you like to call him?"
"No need, we specifically chose a time when he wasn't here!" Madam replied calmly.
Upon hearing this, Green Qi felt a slight unease in her heart. Could they be here to find her?
Just as Green Qi came out of the kitchen with a glass of water, she saw Muzi and Mu Mother looking at her with a scrutinizing gaze.
The tension that had been coiled tightly in Green Qi's heart suddenly tightened even more. She knew very well that Mu Tongzi's attitude did not represent the entire Mu Family. Therefore, it was no surprise that the Jiang family came to find her, but she still felt an indescribable nervousness because she harbored hopes; she had genuinely fallen for Mu Tongzi, so she couldn't help but care about his family's attitude.
Liu Piaoxu looked at Gu Lvq Qi and felt a mix of emotions. She considered herself not a rigid and feudal parent, but accepting a daughter-in-law who had been married before was indeed somewhat difficult for her. Given her son's excellence and family background, marrying a divorced woman felt somewhat unjust, and it wouldn't sound good if it got out. While she didn't insist on strict social standings for a daughter-in-law, at least she hoped for someone with a clean background. Gu Lvq Qi clearly did not fit that description. Although her son insisted that she had always been his woman, Liu Piaoxu couldn't rule out the possibility that he was lying to protect the woman in front of him.
And as for her son... Liu Piaoxu realized for the first time that he was not indifferent to women. Just the fact that he dared to report this matter to his father made her feel quite surprised.
"Miss Gu, neither Tongzi's father nor I are rigid parents who interfere with our children's marriages. Before knowing Yue Qingchen's true identity, we treated her as a daughter-in-law to cultivate. To be honest, I really like you. If you didn't have a marriage history, I wouldn't oppose your marriage. Do you understand?"
Gu Lvq Qi's face turned pale; she was not good at dealing with such mothers, especially since Mu Mother did not speak harshly. In fact, there was pity in her gaze as she looked at Gu Lvq Qi. However, that did not mean Gu Lvq Qi could accept being their son's daughter-in-law.
Gu Lvq Qi had long thought that perhaps her marriage history was the biggest obstacle between her and Mu Tongzi. Even if he didn't mind, his family background was there; how could his family possibly accept her without reservations? Thus, facing Mu Mother who spoke to her sincerely, Gu Lvq Qi could only remain silent.
Mu Mother felt almost guilty; perhaps there wasn't a pair of parents in the world who weren't selfish. Out of personal interest, she wanted her son to have a better wife. Yet when it came to the woman before her, Mu Mother began to feel remorse.
Aside from the fact that Gu Lvq Qi had been married before, Mu Mother greatly appreciated her son's taste. Clear and pure, beautiful and charming—this girl had almost no flaws from temperament to appearance.
Thinking of this, Liu Piaoxu let out a gentle sigh, "Please forgive a mother's selfishness. You must know that Tongzi will have better prospects in the future. Family, wife, and even in-laws will have a significant impact on him, not to mention a family like ours."
Gu Lvq Qi bit her lip and raised her head, "What do you want me to do?"
Liu Piaoxu was momentarily taken aback. What did she want her to do? In fact, all the deciding factors lay with her own son, didn't they? However, if the girl were to take the initiative to give up, her son wouldn't be the type to cling on stubbornly.
As if seeing through her thoughts, Gu Lvq Qi spoke softly, "Do you want me to take the initiative to break up with him?"
Faced with Mu Mother’s silence, Gu Lvq Qi forced a bitter smile...
Looking at the closed door, Gu Lvq Qi suddenly came to her senses. Mu Tongzi's mother was truly a master; just a few casual words were enough to make her feel defeated.
She was not worthy of Mu Tongzi because she had a history of marriage, and perhaps also due to her background. She didn’t care about these things, but one thing Mu Mother said made her retreat: that she would hinder Mu Tongzi's future. And Mu Tongzi was a man with a bright future; marrying a woman who had been married before seemed truly inappropriate.
The courage she had mustered up vanished in an instant. The Mu Family would not accept her. If in the future Mu Tongzi blamed her, how would she cope?
They were ultimately not from the same world; love was never just about two people.
She did not want her pride to suffer even a little bit, nor did she want him to regret it later.
So she had to leave him.
*********************************************************************
Gu Lvq Qi picked up her favorite suitcase and got into the car.
It was still this suitcase, the same color and style, but it carried a different mindset. She was leaving this city where she had lived since childhood once again, leaving this city that held memories of him.
The sun still hung in the east, and perhaps it was her illusion, but she felt that today's sky was filled with a cold white, cutting into her eyes like a knife.
In the Waiting Hall, people came and went, separation and reunion playing out at the same time.
In this world driven by material desires, love really doesn't matter; anyone who loses another person will continue to live as usual.
Yet tears still couldn't help but fall, instantly wetting her face. Standing in the security line, Green Qi cried quietly.
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