novelraw Chapter 720: If You’re Gonna Show Off, Go All In
Chapter 720: If You’re Gonna Show Off, Go All In
The footsteps and conversations in the corridor gradually died down.
The figures of Lin Muxue and Mayor Li and his entourage disappeared through the door of the neighboring Chang'an Hall.
Inside Peony Hall, the hush born of awe suddenly detonated like a drop of water hitting hot oil,
"Chatter—"
The fierce clamor erupted like a swarm of bees leaving the hive, sweeping across the relatives' tables.
"My heavens! Did I just see that right? Was that really Mayor Li just now?!"
"He shook hands with our Baoshan! He personally shook his hand! Oh my goodness, what an honor!"
"Xiaoxue... what exactly does she do now? From what they were saying, is she representing some kind of 'capital' to inspect our hometown?"
"I heard it’s called... Rongliu Capital? Wow, just the name sounds so impressive!"
For a while, everyone blushed and widened their eyes.They were so excited they could barely speak coherently.
Those relatives who had sneered at Xiaoxue before, whispering that she was 'messing around out there' and mocking her for being aimless, one by one changed expressions.
Someone awkwardly straightened their collar and forced a smile: "Oh my, that girl has always been clever. I said she’d succeed someday!"
"Yes, yes! In our family, Xiaoxue’s always been the sharpest and most capable!"
Second Aunt Wang Suyun grabbed Wang Suxia, who was still in shock, her voice trembling: "Suxia! You old woman! Your second daughter has become this successful and you didn’t tell us a thing?! You kept it hidden so well!"
"I... I didn't know either..." Wang Suxia’s mind was blank even now;
she could only mutter on autopilot.
She looked at her husband Lin Baoshan's hand—the very hand Mayor Li had just shaken—and her mind replayed, over and over, the image of their daughter Xiaoxue in that dazzling white suit, surrounded like a star by all those important people.
Beside her, Peng Xiaomeng held the baby, her face pale while her heart churned.
Half of it was icy fear, half of it was burning exhilaration.
The fear came from realizing that the younger sister-in-law they had belittled and spoken ill of behind her back had suddenly shot to the top and become someone they couldn’t even look up to.
She feared that all the mean remarks and petty actions she’d taken earlier—blocking parental money from being given, for example—might come back on her when Lin Muxue sought recompense.
But the joy was also real.
After all, this was still her husband's sister.
If she could climb onto this towering branch of influence, maybe her husband’s precarious job, their son’s future, even her own work...
Could everything be overturned for the better?
She glanced at Lin Muchuan, who looked just as stunned, bit her lip, and made a decision.
Forcing the most gentle, dutiful smile she could muster, she said, "Muxuan, I’ll go feed Dudu so he doesn’t start crying and disturb everyone."
With that she scooped up the child, bowed her head, and hurried out of the banquet hall toward the hotel’s nursing room.
Right now she was most grateful she had a breastfeeding baby.
That child was, after all, Xiaoxue’s nephew.
Even if she had said unpleasant things before, that blood relation gave her a way to turn things around and save face.
While all the relatives were mired in shock and confusion, footsteps approached from the distance.
Zhao Peng’s family walked briskly over.
This time, their expressions were entirely different from the courteous aloofness and concealed arrogance they'd shown earlier.
Especially Zhao Changhong, whose face was full of effusive warmth and even a touch of deliberate obsequiousness.
He went straight to Lin Baoshan and Wang Suxia, grabbed Lin Baoshan's still awkwardly hanging hand, and spoke with awe and admiration:
"Brother Baoshan! Your daughter Xiaoxue... no, Director Lin! Truly extraordinary! A genuine phoenix!"
"Earlier there were so many people;
we were remiss. I, Old Zhao, apologize! Here, I’ll punish myself with three cups!"
He actually picked up a cup of baijiu from the table, tipped his head back and downed it in a gulp;
his cheeks flushed red.
Zhao Peng hurried forward, lowering his posture and bowing slightly to Wang Suxia and Lin Baoshan, his voice filled with sincere apology: "Uncle, Aunt. We were truly remiss earlier!"
Shi Mengjia stood to the side, her emotions churning.
Since childhood, she had silently competed with her younger cousin—one year younger and equally pretty—Lin Muxue.
She believed her family background, education, and job surpassed Xiaoxue’s, and thus she had always nurtured a quiet sense of superiority.
But just now, when she saw Lin Muxue stroll in from the light like someone unruffled, flanked and fawned over by the mayor and provincial officials,
all her pride shattered in an instant.
There was jealousy, sure, but more than that was disbelief and incomprehension.
She couldn't fathom how, in her memory, that slightly foolish and vain cousin had become such a formidable person.
Then she looked at her fiancé and future father-in-law behaving with unprecedented attentiveness and fawning. Her eyes darted around.
Her mind immediately whirred into action.
Although she had snagged Zhao Peng as a husband, within that household—and especially under the domineering gaze of her future mother-in-law—she didn’t have much status.
Take the engagement banquet seating: the groom's business partners and government friends were naturally at the head table and VIP seats.
Her Shi family and the Lin family relatives, all from Zhou County town, had been placed by default in corner tables near the entrance.
The reason given was practical: easy in and out, and not embarrassing in front of the "big shots."
This made sense—yet ironically it allowed them to witness Xiaoxue’s entire high-glamour entrance up close.
At the same time, it exposed the Zhao family’s blatant disregard for their rural relatives.
But now, with Xiaoxue’s presence, everything changed!
Those "distinguished guests" of the Zhao family—like Director Feng, who’d made a dazzling impression—now had to show deference to Xiaoxue.
He was a guest who had been received by provincial leaders!
She stepped forward, affectionately hooked her arm through her future mother-in-law’s and said with a touch of calculated grievance and coquettishness: "Mom, look at this seating... Aunt and Uncle are sitting so far from the head table. It’ll be awkward when toasting and speaking later. Why don’t we move them up to the front tables?"
Mrs. Zhao was stunned and hadn’t yet responded.
Zhao Changhong slapped his thigh with obvious regret and contrition: "Ah! What was I thinking? My fault! I didn’t consider it properly!"
"Jiajia is right! Of course we should move them!"
He turned and loudly called to the hotel manager nearby: "Waiter! Manager! Come over here, please!"
Under Zhao Changhong’s direction, the back-of-house staff at the banquet hall sprung into motion.
Shi Mengjia’s mother and their two tables of relatives were respectfully ushered to the front area next to the head table.
As Wang Suxia, Wang Xiangtong, Chaohui and others walked past the Zhao family's business associates, those previously indifferent "big shots" now rose and greeted them with polite, friendly smiles.
Only then did the relatives start to realize—
Xiaoxue had merely shown her face and said a few words,
and suddenly their family had ascended at this feast that originally had nothing to do with them.
A huge sense of pride made everyone dizzy and emotionally overwhelmed.
At the same time, more details about Lin Muxue and the government welcome banquet next door began to spread through the hall like they had wings.
"Did you hear? The event next door is a strategic project co-led by the national Ministry of Energy and Tang Yi Precision!"
"The 'Western Photovoltaic New Energy Industry Cluster'—I hear the total investment is counted in the hundreds of billions!"
"That Rongliu Capital Xiaoxue is with is the financial firm invited to invest in our hometown! She’s the company’s chief assistant—an actual senior executive!"
The relatives’ hearts surged and the discussion ignited.
They might never have heard of Rongliu Capital, but who hadn’t heard of Tang Yi Precision?
It’s the nation’s top tech company—on the news every day!
Chang'an High-Tech Zone’s huge industrial park is anchored by Tang Yi Precision’s western manufacturing base.
Anyone working there is a top talent;
it’s a credit to the family name to say you know someone who does.
As they gossiped, a guest at a nearby table suddenly rose and walked over with a wine glass in hand.
The man appeared to be in his forties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, exuding a cultured, successful air.
He walked over to Lin Baoshan with a bright smile: "You must be Director Lin’s father? Hello, I’m Zhang Tao from CITIC Securities. I work with President Zhao on some deals. I didn’t expect Director Lin of Rongliu Capital to be from our Chang'an. Your daughter is truly young and accomplished—her future is limitless!"
The relatives were thrilled and hurried to stand and offer polite replies.
Cousin Wang Chaohui, gathering his courage, cautiously asked: "Mr. Zhang, may I ask—what kind of company is Rongliu Capital? Very powerful, right?"
Zhang Tao paused, then chuckled: "Powerful doesn’t begin to cover it. Rongliu Capital is headquartered in Hong Kong and is an internationally known private equity firm. The assets it manages are nearly 100 billion yuan."
He paused, full of admiration: "For Director Lin to be a chief assistant at her age—she’s truly exceptional!"
"One hundred billion... yuan?!"
Those words exploded like a bomb in the relatives’ already fragile understanding of the world.
Second Aunt Wang Suyun’s hand trembled and her chopsticks clattered to the floor.
Brother Lin Muchuan sat there stiff as a board, ears buzzing.
He thought of his precarious job, his wife’s complaints about his incompetence, and how stingy he’d been when they left the house—counting even the money for a pack of cigarettes.
Compared to his sister now, his shame and helplessness washed over him like a tide.
Zhang Tao politely exchanged a few more pleasantries and left.
But the shock he brought rippled and lingered.
After that, one by one, the very dignitaries who had barely given them a second glance earlier came forward to offer toasts and chat, their words dripping with flattery.
Ordinary rural folks like Wang Suxia and Lin Baoshan had never seen anything like it;
they held their cups, awkward and flustered, repeating "No, no, don't mention it."
The overwhelming, all-consuming sense of being admired by everyone made their faces flush red with emotion.
They had never been so glorious in their whole lives.
At noon sharp, the engagement banquet officially began.
The stage lights glittered;
balloons and floral arrangements cast a soft glow.
The MC was delivering an exuberant opening speech.
But amidst the lively music, Wang Suxia grew increasingly anxious.
She gripped her husband Lin Baoshan’s arm, her palms sweaty.
Leaning close, her voice trembled: "Baoshan, do you think... does Xiaoxue still resent us? When she arrived just now, she didn’t even say 'Mom and Dad'..."
Hearing this, the rosy-faced Lin Baoshan felt his heart plunge and his smile stiffen bit by bit;
a long moment passed in silence.
He had assumed Xiaoxue coming back for Jiajia’s engagement was a peace offering, a chance to reconcile.
But on second thought, maybe she’d merely stopped by because of work.
If she’d been the stubborn yet dutiful daughter she used to be, two years apart could be smoothed over with some careful words and family fussing—close the door and sort it out.
Now, though...
Thinking about the way their daughter had been surrounded by mayors and elites, radiating an unapproachable air, both parents felt weak and breathless.
The transient pride that had just risen evaporated in an instant.
Especially Wang Suxia, whose face drained pale.
After the big fight back in Yancheng, her daughter had blocked all contact and mother and daughter had been estranged.
She knew the family had wronged the daughter, but pride kept her from swallowing her dignity to apologize first.
After her daughter-in-law got pregnant she had come from the countryside to help;
then the grandson was born, and two years flew by.
Two years could change everything.
What had Xiaoxue experienced to become like this?
As parents, they knew nothing.
Guilt, panic, pain, heartache, tangled emotion...
The engagement party grew livelier.
Amid the commotion and noise, there was suddenly a stir near the side door by the main stage;
the noisy hall slowly quieted.
"Xiaoxue! Xiaoxue is back!"
"Suxia, Baoshan, your second girl is here!"
Relatives sprang to their feet, like iron filings pulled by a magnet, pointing excitedly in that direction.
Wang Suxia and Lin Baoshan rose too, nervously checking and looking.
They saw Lin Muxue, having finished her official duties, walk in alone through the side door.
She carried a black-gold leather handbag that gleamed, and her white suit almost seemed blinding under the banquet lights.
Zhao Changhong and the others rushed up with wide ingratiating smiles, their demeanor smacking of sycophancy, even more exaggerated than when they greeted Director Feng earlier.
Jiajia lifted her skirt and ran up, snatched the microphone from the MC, and handed it to her: "Xiaoxue! Finally you’re here! Come on, beautiful, you’re our whole family's pride now—say a few blessing words so I can bask in the glow!"
Lin Muxue took the mic with poise;
her voice carried clearly through the sound system: "Jiajia, Zhao Peng, congratulations. I wish you unity and a long and happy marriage."
After she spoke, in the hush she opened that Birkin black-gold bag and took out a signature red jewelry box.
"A small token. Wishing you a happy engagement."
"Thank you, Xiaoxue."
Jiajia eagerly accepted it with both hands.
At her friend’s urging she opened the box.
"Wow—!"
An involuntary chorus of gasps rose up.
The MC, quick on his feet, leaned in and amplified the moment through the mic: "My goodness! It’s a Cartier LOVE bracelet! This model is worth over forty thousand yuan! Director Lin truly has grand taste—this blessing is weighty indeed!"
Thunderous applause broke out.
Upon hearing the amount, the relatives’ eyelids twitched.
Peng Xiaomeng, holding Dudu, had tears in her eyes.
She used to work at a cosmetics counter and had seen customers who could afford luxury goods—she recognized the bracelet instantly.
Cartier! Over forty thousand!
Lin Muxue smiled faintly, as if presenting not a luxury but a commonplace gift.
Wang Suxia gazed at her daughter on stage—refined, expensive, luminous—and felt dazed.
She remembered the little girl years ago who clung to her leg, crying and wanting a new outfit for the New Year.
In a blink... how did she become this?
So unfamiliar, so distant.
Surrounded and escorted, Lin Muxue was respectfully seated in the front-row relatives’ seats in the place reserved for her.
"Aren’t you sorry..." Wang Suxia choked out, tears finally rising as she looked at her daughter within arm’s reach.
Lin Muxue’s lips pressed together;
she didn’t look at her mother’s shame-ridden face.
She merely plucked a tissue from the box on the table and handed it over with an expressionless voice: "Wipe it. Today is Jiajia’s engagement day—don’t cry."
Those words cut off Wang Suxia’s sobbing instantly.
She accepted the tissue, bowed her head in shame, and her tears fell in large drops onto the crisp tablecloth.
Beside her, Lin Baoshan and Lin Muchuan lowered their heads silently;
Peng Xiaomeng dared not even breathe loudly.
Lin Muxue lifted her wine glass.
Her cool, indifferent sweep glanced over the complicated faces of the relatives.
An exquisite thrill, like a rising tide, flooded her body.
Having just used the restroom, Empress Muxue unabashedly savored the fruit of victory.
She no longer felt that urgent need to pee.
"Xiaoxue!"
"Cousin!"
"Oh my, long time no see!"
Relatives surged forward to greet her warmly, eager to offer toasts.
Lin Muxue responded gracefully, her smile gentle.
Her gaze then landed on cousin Wang Chaohui: "Cousin, I remember you do renovation work, right?"
Caught off guard to be singled out, Wang Chaohui nodded with a sheepish grin: "Yes, yes! I take on renovation jobs in the city—small projects, home remodels."
Lin Muxue swirled her wine glass and said casually, "That’s great. I just bought a second-hand place in Chang'an and want to renovate it. How about I let you handle the job?"
"Oh wow! Sure! No problem! I’ll make you satisfied! We’re family after all!" Wang Chaohui flushed with excitement.
The relatives' spirits instantly lifted;
their eyes lit up toward Lin Muxue.
Wang Suxia and Lin Baoshan’s expressions froze.
She bought a house? Xiaoxue bought a home on her own?
They had argued with their daughter earlier about buying a place for their son.
They had spent everything and even sacrificed their daughter’s interests to barely secure a small apartment for their son in the city.
Now their daughter had simply bought her own home in Chang'an without saying a word.
Lin Muchuan and Peng Xiaomeng both turned instantly awkward.
Second Aunt Wang Suyun loudly demanded: "Hey! Xiaoxue, when did you buy a place in Chang'an? Why didn’t you tell us about such a big thing?"
"Heh, it’s not that big. I signed the contract last month. I’m here mainly to finalize the transfer."
"Ah! What wonderful news!"
Cousin Xiangtong, bursting with curiosity, asked: "Xiaoxue, which community did you buy in?"
Lin Muxue smiled, her eyes flashing like tiny lights;
her legs brushed together under the table.
This was it—what she had been waiting for.
Muxue's show of swagger always came in full effect;
she never delayed it a day.
"Not far from here—Swan Bay."
At those words, Wang Chaohui let out a low exclamation: "Swan Bay! I’ve worked there before—it’s a top neighborhood."
People then checked their phones.
Information poured in.
Swan Bay is a genuine luxury district in Chang'an—adjacent to subway, big commercial areas, parks, and good schools...
It made everyone green with envy.
Aunt Wang Sumei clapped excitedly: "This is double joy! Jiajia’s engagement and Xiaoxue buying a house—our family has two blessings! After the meal, let’s go see Xiaoxue’s place and introduce ourselves!"
"Yes, yes! Let’s go see it!" relatives echoed.
Lin Muxue looked at her parents’ small hopeful eyes and gave them a faint smile and a nod.
She’d come back for exactly this moment.
After more small talk and politely handling a few Zhao family guests, Lin Muxue stood: "The leaders next door are waiting for me to discuss work. I need to go over. I’ll be back later to chat with everyone properly."
"Yes, business comes first!"
"Go ahead, don’t delay!"
Wang Suxia opened her mouth to say something but didn’t. She could only watch her daughter, amid the farewell applauses, walk once more toward Chang'an Hall next door.
...
Near two in the afternoon.
The engagement party wound down as the neighboring welcome luncheon finished just about the same time.
Lin Muxue returned to Peony Hall with a faint scent of alcohol about her.
Relatives swarmed her;
after warm exchanges, they prepared to set off to Swan Bay to visit her place.
Lin Muchuan looked a bit awkward and stepped forward: "Xiaoxue, how shall we go? Want me to—"
"Xiaoxue, ride in my car?" cousin Xiangtong offered, producing her car keys with enthusiasm.
Jiajia chimed in: "My car can take people too."
Lin Muxue shook her head indifferently: "No need. I’ve already arranged cars. Everyone drive over;
we’ll meet at the community’s west gate."
"Okay." "Got it."
Seeing their anxious, bewildered parents still standing there, Lin Muxue’s heart softened and she finally spoke: "Bro, you drive with sister-in-law and Dudu. I’ll take Mom and Dad over."
"Okay, okay." Lin Muchuan immediately agreed.
When he heard his sister say "Mom and Dad," Wang Suxia’s eyes reddened;
she grabbed her husband’s hand in excitement.
A group of more than a dozen proceeded to the hotel lobby.
As they exited the revolving door, a poised middle-aged woman in a black uniform greeted them.
"Ms. Lin, hello. I’m Anya."
"Hello, Anya." Lin Muxue nodded.
"Your car is ready this way."
She motioned for her parents to follow while she walked in front.
They reached the drop-off area and saw a two-tone Bentley quietly waiting, its chauffeur opening the rear door.
The relatives stared at the expensive vehicle and its iconic hood emblem, marveling at Xiaoxue’s show of status.
Anya opened the other rear door. Lin Muxue didn’t climb in first—she said to her parents: "You sit in the back."
Wang Suxia and Lin Baoshan hesitantly muttered "Oh" and carefully got into the rear.
Lin Muxue gracefully walked to the front passenger seat.
"We’ll meet at the west gate," she said, lowering the window to wave at the staring relatives.
Under a mix of admiration and envy, the Bentley’s low rumble carried the family away from the hotel.
...
Inside the car, the atmosphere was unusually quiet, almost oppressive.
Wang Suxia and Lin Baoshan sat on the wide, soft leather seats, staring at the luxurious interior—fine wood trim, cool metal buttons—unsure where to place their hands.
Wang Suxia opened her mouth several times to speak to her daughter but swallowed the words every time.
Lin Baoshan had clumsily asked about her work and life when they first set off, but upon seeing his daughter’s detached response he didn’t know what else to say.
At the root, he and his wife had wronged her.
Seeing how, after cutting ties with them, she made a life so far beyond anything they’d ever dreamed—by her own ability—filled them with heavy guilt like lead crushing their chests, scorching every nerve.
They didn't dare ask how she’d spent the past two years, how she’d changed so much, or even mention the money they had 'reallocated' to buy their son’s apartment.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Lin Muxue gazed out at the rapidly sliding Chang'an cityscape.
In the rearview and in the corner of her eye she could clearly see her parents’ faces—uneasy, guilty, anxious.
Ten minutes later.
The Bentley stopped at Swan Bay Community’s west gate.
Shortly after, the relatives’ cars trickled in.
They stepped out and admired the grand entrance and the meticulously manicured European-style gardens, praising it nonstop.
Lin Muxue pulled a polished access card from her Hermès bag and brushed it across the gate scanner.
"Beep—"
She led them into the community.
Although it was her first time here in person, she had seen the place online often and knew exactly where her apartment was.
Wang Suxia followed her daughter closely, smiling as she took in the park-like greenery and elegant, peaceful environment while chatting with relatives.
Peng Xiaomeng held Dudu and couldn’t hide her envy.
This community far surpassed the cramped, third-ring required-housing area they lived in.
They entered Building 6’s grand lobby and rode the elevator up.
Lin Muxue swiped her card again and the elevator rose smoothly.
"Ah—"
The elevator doors opened on the 23rd floor to reveal a marble-floored, elegantly designed private foyer.
This building featured a private elevator with one unit per elevator—each elevator went directly to the apartment entrance.
Lin Muxue reached the heavy smart door, entered the code with grace.
With a soft "click," she pushed the door open and, stepping aside, gestured: "Come in."
The relatives cautiously crossed the threshold and entered the large flat.
Huge floor-to-ceiling windows framed a panoramic city skyline: the TV tower in the distance and the faint silhouette of the ancient city wall—like a flowing, massive painting.
The interior was modern light-luxury: every piece of furniture and lighting screamed understated expense.
A four-bedroom, two-living-room, three-bathroom layout—spacious to an unbelievable degree.
Most extravagant was the L-shaped viewing balcony that connected the living room and master bedroom.
Though it was Lin Muxue’s first time being here in person, her face betrayed no excitement—only the composed, unhurried air of someone returning to her own home.
No one knew, though, that her bladder was slightly tense again.
Delicious! So satisfying!
This was Chang'an.
This was the city she’d longed to settle in.
Owning a large flat here, seeing relatives’ envious, admiring faces and hearing their praise...
This was the ultimate soul-level compensation for the shy, poor Xiaoxue she had been.
All her past regrets were fully filled in this moment.
That’s why, even though she knew "Xiao Jing" was a big pervert, she was still willing to play those humiliating games with Tang Song for his sake.
Deep inside, she truly appreciated that wealthy beauty.
"This... this is huge!" Second Aunt Wang Suyun stood in the center of the living room and exclaimed loudly.
"Xiaoxue, how big is this place? Must be two hundred square meters, right?"
"So this is what city people call a large flat? It’s even larger than our village’s two-story house!"
Lin Muxue took a breath and said mildly: "The property certificate lists 180 square meters, but the balcony was a full gift, so the usable area is just over 200 square meters."
"Then... that comes to six or seven million, right?" Wang Chaohui asked in a trembling voice. "Xiaoxue, did you take a loan or pay in full?"
"Paid in full, I guess."
"Whoa—!"
Gasps rippled through the relatives;
their looks toward her had completely changed.
Being greeted by government leaders was one thing.
But seeing her actual wealth—having casually bought a seven-hundred-thousand-to-million-yuan flat outright—was another.
The visual impact of the latter was more direct and domineering.
Wang Suxia and Lin Baoshan stood amid the crowd, dazed and full of complex feelings.
They watched their daughter, pride and guilt knotted together.
"Xiaoxue," Jiajia grinned and sidled closer, "are you planning to live here in Chang'an?"
Her tone was intimate but the eyes sharp.
She most wanted to get on good terms with this cousin now.
Wang Suxia and Lin Muchuan also looked expectant.
Lin Muxue smiled lightly and shook her head: "Our company headquarters isn’t here;
I’ll still be based in Yancheng most of the time. I bought this place just to have a foothold when I’m back."
She paused and, seeing her parents’ disappointed faces, added casually: "Actually, besides this one, I also bought a place in Modu."
"What?! Modu?"
"A place in Modu?"
"Xiaoxue, show us—any photos?"
She took out her phone and opened an album she had prepared long ago.
Everyone crowded around.
The first photos were of the twin towers at IFC Center in Lujiazui.
Lin Muxue explained calmly: "It’s on top of the IFC building in Lujiazui. Not big—only about 100 square meters. I like Modu’s vibe and often go there for shopping and business trips."
"Lujiazui! My goodness!"
"IFC Center!"
She swiped to images of the luxurious interior.
Shi Mengjia couldn’t help widening her eyes and breathing faster.
Her and Zhao Peng’s marital home was in a neighborhood similar to Swan Bay, so she’d been relatively composed.
But in the face of this top-tier, ultra-first-tier city home, she was envious.
Relatives huddled, ecstatic and unable to stop smiling.
Lin Muxue swiped to another photo: a glamorous indoor snapshot showing two extremely beautiful women seated on a luxurious sofa.
"Bei Yuwei!!" Cousin Xiangtong was the first to scream.
"Ah! Isn’t that that big star?!"
"Oh my! It really is her! I saw her on that hit variety show!"
"Xiaoxue! You... you... you know Bei Yuwei?!"
Lin Muxue locked her phone, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with a practiced, elegant movement—poised and effortless.
"Heh, I’d say we’re acquaintances." She paused and half-smiled as she added: "But... I’m closer with Su Yu—she’s more like a sister. I met Bei Yuwei through her."
The air suddenly froze.
Seeing everyone’s faces frozen in shock, her lips curved slightly.
The resentment and grievances she’d bottled up seemed to be unraveling, dissipating little by little in that instant.