“It is naturally for the best that you would not hold a grudge. I was afraid your connection to Eighth Brother would have you refuse any contact with us!”


  “I wouldn’t go that far.” Jing Yun answered Sheng Kai.

  “Grandfather had also mentioned that we could discuss your wedding then.”


  ***

  Over the whole evening, an awkwardness hung in the air within the living room of Xu Mansion because Jing Yun had no intention of reminiscing the old times with Sheng Kai. Likewise, Sheng Minglan disliked Gu Ziling, and did not even utter a word for the entire night.

  Eventually, it was the two elders of the Xu family who dispelled the awkwardness, by finding an excuse on Jing Yun and Sheng Minglan’s behalf.

  “Eighth Brother is gone and Second Brother is now the CEO, but I have the feeling that the family is now different from before. Grandfather even sent people to burn down Jing Ting…”


  When Jing Yun turned around to find Sheng Minglan in sorrow, he gathered her into his arms. “Let’s take a trip overseas and get married there, once things in our family are back on track.”


  “Really? But, your parents…”


  “They’ve only ever wished that we are happy, and don’t want too much to do with the Sheng family either. While we could find a small church outside the country and have a wedding that belongs only to us two. My only regret is that I couldn’t give you a grander one.” Jing Yun’s look was very serious, which calmed Sheng Minglan a lot.

  “Since Xu Holdings is already stable, let’s try to help Eighth Brother too.”


  At her words, Jing Yun put an arm over her shoulder and explained seriously, “Hear me out, Minglan. I’ve followed him around over a dozen years, and in this whole wide world, even Mu Qiqi might not understand him better than me.

  “He doesn’t need anyone’s help, and don’t believe whatever rumors are circulating out there. Young Master’s moves and competence is not something you could imagine.

  “That is why keeping ourselves together would be the greatest favor to him.”


  “Are you for real?”


  “Yes. Trust me.”


  Sheng Minglan trusts Jing Yun, and so nodded in content. “I’m just afraid that he would cause another uproar. Now, all of Jianchuan are ridiculing him… I shudder to think the humiliation that a prideful person like him would have to bear.”


  “From what I understand about him, he must be hiding in his home and watching as the drama unfold.”


  That was why even Mu Qiqi must admit defeat there, since Jing Yun had spent years with Sheng Xiao and no one could compare to his understanding of Sheng Xiao.

  “Well, are you going to my Second Brother’s wedding?” If you think that you…”


  “Of course I’m going.”


  He was now the representative of the Xu family, and he was being unreasonable if he did not attend that wedding.

  Of course, the most important reason for that was that he believed he could enjoy some exciting drama at the wedding.

  After all, high society has also been that materialistic.

  ***

  Meanwhile, Lu Qianqian believed that she should be sparing more time to straighten out Qiqi. There were just so many rumors about Sheng Xiao in Jianchuan that her mood would definitely be sour.

  And that was why she ended her successor training with the intention of driving off to the Shen’s residence.

  Nonetheless, she found Lin Mu’an leaning on a stone pillar outside her door once she stepped out, and her heart immediately soared. “Why are you here? Hasn’t school resumed?”


  “I’m on holiday, so I came to see you.” He replied.

  “I was going to visit Qiqi…”


  “Well, it seems that I didn’t come at the right time…” Lin Mu’an expressed his disappointment while getting in her car.

  Lu Qianqian grinned, and only spoke after he settled in. “You’ve mentioned that the academy trained you physically. Why can’t they make you smarter, though?”


  “Stop it. Drive somewhere and make a stop. I have around ten minutes before I report in.” Lin Mu’an explained.

  “Just ten minutes? Can’t you just go back to the academy early?”


  “How could I not worry if I don’t see your ugly face?” Lin Mu’an said, pinching Lu Qianqian on the cheek. “I’m relieved now that I did, but you really didn’t grow any flesh although it’s been some time since we’ve met.”


  “Get lost.” Lu Qianqian was furious and a little hurt. “Just tell me what you need after you’ve returned to the academy. I’m your bro for better or worse, and I could still help you with such trifles.”


  “I’m off, then…” Lin Mu’an drew a childish mud doll out of his pocket and put it in her hand, before jumping out of the car and soon vanishing from her sight.

  Lu Qianqian smiled helplessly at the little mud doll. “He really made you look ugly!”


  However, she did not know how much effort Lin Mu’an had put in to leave the academy and see her.

  All because he had a dream that Old Lin took the knife to the Lu family.

  He was really worried, and so got out just to pay her a small visit and run back like an idiot.

  The little pepper had unwittingly become his ribs.

  But to tell the truth, was Lin Mu’an himself not a concern for Lu Qianqian too? It was as if he was family—even though she was busy every day, her heart would always be with the bastard who went against her whenever they meet.

  In fact, she worried that Old Lin would bother him, that he would go hungry or cold alone over stubborn dignity at the academy, fearful that no one has his back when he gets bullied outside.

  “Really, there’s no telling when that bastard could grow up!”


  Still, because of Lin Mu’an’s distraction, Lu Qianqian had no mood to visit Mu Qiqi either.

  ***

  Soon, the wedding between the Gu family and the Sheng family was held with pomp and occasion at Jianchuan.

  The alliance through marriage between the two great families was naturally attended by a full house of extravagant guests.

  After the storm of having Sheng Xiao leaving Huang Yao, the Sheng family was once again using a grand occasion to receive their guests. This time, the old man hopes that things wouldn’t fall short, even though Sheng Kai was different from Sheng Xiao!

  The venue of the wedding was exceedingly lavish, with thousands of champagnes and roses decorating the wedding venue into a sacred garden.

  It was said that hundreds of millions were spent on this wedding.

  Gu Ziling’s wedding gown alone was embedded with over five hundred diamonds and was well worth dozens of millions.

  It was certainly a rare sight at Jianchuan, and made obvious how much importance Old Sheng placed on the wedding ceremony— in little over a month, he managed to put together a reception on par with royalty.

  The Gu family was very satisfied, having been granted a great boost to their confidence what with how grandly their daughter got married.

  Their son-in-law was also dignified and accomplished. With that in mind, they could not have been more right for not choosing Sheng Xiao in the first place.

  Of course, the guests all loved to gossip, with some of them debating about recent developments surrounding Sheng Xiao…


  “I think that Mu Qiqi must be a fox spirit, don’t you think? The Crown Prince would have been the one on the altar today otherwise.”