novelraw Chapter 435: Mo Yinhe’s Thousand-Mile Chase for His Wife 2
Chapter 435: Mo Yinhe’s Thousand-Mile Chase for His Wife 2
Ye Siyuan’s heart pounded like a drum. Gone was the calm she’d had while practicing her dance at home. Her voice trembled with excitement, "Are we going to the Mu Continent?"
Mo Yinhe’s response was like a douse of cold water. "Yes, we’re going to the Mu Continent, but not to see Si Lisao. Calm down. You’re not going there to throw yourself at him."
Mo Yinhe’s bluntness made Ye Siyuan’s face flush with embarrassment.
"Pack two changes of clothes. We leave in an hour."
"Okay!"
"Don’t tell your sister-in-law about this for now."
"Oh!"
Ye Siyuan packed far more than two changes of clothes. She stuffed an entire suitcase with all her favorite outfits from the dressing room. Then, she hurried to the palace’s helipad to wait for Mo Yinhe, her mind buzzing with anticipation.
「The next day, the Bai Family was to hold a banquet.」
In the morning, Bai Chuanfeng specifically called Si Mingjing to her courtyard. Showing her a gown, she said, "Ajiu, come, try on the gown I’ve prepared for you. Tonight is your welcome banquet. You’re the star of the night, so you should dress beautifully and be the center of everyone’s attention."
"It’s very beautiful."
Si Mingjing held the gown. Its colors were vibrant yet not at all garish, a clear sign that Bai Chuanfeng had put considerable thought into selecting it for her.
The Bai Family needed a daughter with Dragon Clan blood to enhance their prestige.
On the Mu Continent, families possessing Dragon Clan heritage were deemed superior. They enjoyed many state-granted privileges, including VIP access denied to ordinary wealthy families.
Bai Chuanfeng needed this daughter, but she didn’t want this daughter competing with her biological daughter, Bai Qingshui, for the Bai Family’s estate.
This, Si Mingjing understood all too well.
But where in the world could one find such a perfect scenario?
She was no longer the Bai Jiusi of the past—the one who, while bearing the title of Bai Chuanfeng’s daughter, had been sent off to the Ye Family as a child bride, conveniently out of Bai Chuanfeng’s sight and mind, allowing Bai Chuanfeng to reap all the benefits without any of the trouble.
She wasn’t interested in the Bai Family’s estate, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be used by Bai Chuanfeng, to become a golden goose in her hands.
Si Mingjing smiled. "Mother, you’re so good to me. I almost want to stay on the Mu Continent forever and never return to Yecheng."
"Would you be willing to part with Mo Yinhe?"
"I wouldn’t," Si Mingjing said sincerely. "But I like a world where women are held in high esteem. How about letting Mo Yinhe come and be a live-in son-in-law in the future?"
Bai Chuanfeng smiled, a faint, dark glint in her eyes. "If you had your eye on someone else, Mother wouldn’t mind. But you happen to like Mo Yinhe. He is the Crown Prince of Atlantis, with a throne waiting for him to inherit. How could he possibly come to the Mu Continent to be a live-in son-in-law?"
Si Mingjing smiled without responding, giving Bai Chuanfeng a look that seemed to peer right into her heart.
Bai Chuanfeng did not evade her gaze. She was a woman of strong mental fortitude, seasoned in the business world, and had encountered countless people. She always maintained her composure. Instead, she teased Si Mingjing, "Ajiu, since your return, you seem to particularly enjoy observing me?"
"Have you noticed, Mother?"
Si Mingjing didn’t look away, admitting openly, "Actually, I’ve lost my memory, so there are many things I can’t recall. Since you’re my mother, I thought looking at you more might help me remember. Mother, I truly admire you. Everyone says you’re a strong woman who manages the Bai Family’s businesses so well. I like having such a capable mother."
Such flattery pleased Bai Chuanfeng. She said, "Don’t rush. Take your time to remember. Mother hopes that both you and Qingshui can achieve great things, just like I have. I heard you’re now entering the pharmaceutical market. That’s good. You can expand your career; a career is a woman’s greatest security."
If Si Mingjing focused on expanding her own career, she wouldn’t have time to covet the Bai Family’s estate. That was Bai Chuanfeng’s underlying meaning.
So, she encouraged Si Mingjing to develop her own business.
"Hurry and try on the gown. If it doesn’t fit, we can have it altered."
Si Mingjing nodded, entered the dressing room, and emerged in the gown.
The fiery red gown set off her beauty, making her appear stunningly radiant and exuding a captivating allure.
Many would struggle to carry off such a color, but on Si Mingjing, it was perfect. It made her look both noble and majestic, the very picture of an aristocratic young lady—beautiful and strikingly confident.
Bai Chuanfeng then handed her a peacock feather mask. "For tonight’s banquet, to ensure you young people enjoy yourselves to the fullest, we’re starting with a short masquerade ball. Wear this mask when dancing. You young ones will like it."
"That’s quite creative." Si Mingjing took the peacock feather mask, placed it over her face, and instantly understood the highlight of the evening’s banquet.
She pursed her lips in a smile, her anticipation for the evening’s banquet growing.
"Mother, I’ll go back and rest now."
"Go ahead."
As soon as Si Mingjing left, Bai Qingshui slipped in through another door. "Mother, how did it go?" she asked anxiously.
Bai Chuanfeng reached out, gently ruffled her daughter’s hair, and gave her an indulgent head pat.
Bai Qingshui immediately broke into a beaming smile, her heart finally settling.
She was overjoyed, clapping a hand over her mouth to stifle her ecstatic laughter.
She would soon be able to drive Si Mingjing away! And not only that, tonight she would kill two birds with one stone!
Bai Chuanfeng patted her daughter’s shoulder. "Go and get ready."
"Mother, you are so good to me."
Bai Chuanfeng chided with a laugh, "If I’m not good to you, who would I be good to? You silly child."
Si Mingjing returned to her courtyard. The fiery red, backless gown felt a little cool in the outdoor air. She quickened her pace and, upon entering the house, headed straight for the dressing room, intending to put on a jacket.
Just as she stepped into the dressing room, someone embraced her from behind.
Si Mingjing jumped, startled, and was about to retaliate when a familiar scent reached her.
The scent of Zhanlong Fragrance, mingled with rich agarwood, invaded her senses, lingering by her ear.
Mo Yinhe’s breath traveled from her sensitive ear to her startled lips as he cupped the back of her head, turning her face to his.
"Mo Yinhe?" Si Mingjing turned, recognizing Mo Yinhe’s roguishly handsome face, and scolded, "You bastard, you scared me to death!"
It never crossed her mind that he would be hiding in her dressing room!
Wait, how did he get here?
"Who’s the real bastard?" Mo Yinhe held her firmly, his hand caressing her smooth back, his voice tinged with faint anger. "Going out dressed like this when I’m not around, trying to attract trouble? Aren’t you afraid of catching a chill? Just who were you planning to show this expanse of back to?"
"Whoever’s here gets to see it, of course," Si Mingjing purred, expertly soothing his temper.
Unfortunately, Mo Yinhe was unmoved. He picked her up and strode towards the bedroom. "Don’t think sweet talk will be enough. I’ve missed you like crazy!"
He needed a more profound level of appeasement.
"Stop messing around." Si Mingjing felt his breathing quicken. His arrival was a delightful surprise, and the air between them crackled, ready to ignite with a spark. She met his mock-angry glare with a light, genuinely happy laugh. "How did you get here? And where’s Si Yuan?"
"Did you miss me?" he murmured, pecking her lips.
Si Mingjing gently pushed against him. "Don’t be like that. We’ve only been apart for five days."
"Hmph. Say that again? ’Only’ five days?"
Five days wasn’t long enough? To Mo Yinhe, it felt like five years!
Mo Yinhe looked ready to tear the gown right off her. Si Mingjing stopped him. "Don’t you dare! I need this gown for tonight. If you ruin it, I won’t forgive you."