C52 The Past and the Present
C52 The Past and the Present
Su Lianmeng smiled delicately at her audience. Her milky face glinted under the chandeliers as she placed her small hands around the man's arm. The two of them leaned against each other as they strode sweetly towards the guests.
No wonder Mu Shengchen had fallen in love with her. She was living proof that God had favorites. Staring at the glittering woman, Ning Qianyu's heart clenched bitterly.
Su Lianmeng looked across the crowd, only to stop when she noticed that Mu Shengchen was in the front row. Stunned, she murmured something to the man beside her. The couple glanced at him for what seemed to be a whole minute before walking towards the man in the wheelchair.
"It's been so long. I didn't think that you'd come."
"It's a joyous occasion. It's only natural for me to come and congratulate you." His eyes were as clear as day, but his tone was faint–far from the hardened voice he had used on everyone in the room.
Su Lianmeng immediately latched onto her fiancé. "This is my fiancé, Guo Yueguang," she said proudly, tilting her head up high. "He's the boss of Xingrong Technology in B City. Dear, this is Mr. Mu. He's the oldest son of Director Mu."
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Mu." He nodded in acknowledgment.
"I have heard a lot about Director Guo. It's an honor to meet you today." Even in a wheelchair, the man still behaved like a noble. In fact, there was something elegant about the man that made Guo Yueguang feel like a pauper next to him.
Guo Yueguang shifted, unsure of what else to say.
Su Lianmeng's expression changed almost immediately, and her fists hardened. Didn't he feel the slightest bit embarrassed of what had happened? Not only had she found someone ten thousand times stronger than him, but he was also nothing more than a useless cripple. The thought was enough to bring a smile to her face. "Yueguang, you may not know Young Master Mu very where. He had also been quite a tycoon in the corporate world...that is, until his car accident," she slowly said, emphasizing the word 'accident'. "The Mu's had kicked him out of the business in shame. Poor man."
"Ah, no wonder I don't know who he is." Guo Yueguang nodded, glancing at his legs. Soon, his tone had become even more condescending.
"Tell me, Young Master Mu, how have you been? Perhaps I could help you out. I'm sure Yuegang has some vacancies in his company–"
"That's right." He smiled. "If ever you were to need our assistance, I'll have someone arrange it. It's just throwing a little bit of money there–not a big deal."
The two of them weren't being subtle–that was for sure. There was something about the way they had spoken that attracted the people around them. Soon enough, the respectable whispers and glances became smirks and shrouded gazes. It didn't take long for him to become the butt of everyone's joke.
Mu Shengchen coldly gazed at the woman standing in front of him. It was as if their past relationship was nothing more than a fleeting memory. Who would've thought that he'd go face to face with her again–the woman who had left him at his most difficult time?
There was a time when he wondered what he'd do when they cross paths again. He thought that he'll be furious at her, but now, he realized that he felt nothing but regret and annoyance. It was far less than the emotions stirring in his chest when he realized that Ning Qianyu didn't care for him.
Ning Qianyu, however, wasn't having the time of her life as she went face-to-face with the woman that her husband had fallen in love with. Seeing the pair mocking him, her face darkened.
"Miss Su, Mr. Guo, I believe you're mistaken." She couldn't help but step in. "He's currently working in Mu's, so as for the vacancy you have in mind, it's best that you give it to someone else."
"And who are you? Young Master Mu's Nanny?" As soon as Su Lianmeng noticed the woman standing beside him, her face twisted in such an ugly manner. Although the woman wasn't stacked with makeup, she was beautiful–far beautiful than anyone she had ever seen. Her heart pounded with jealousy.
Nanny? Hearing her say that, Ning Qianyu's expression froze. She clenched her hands into fists.
"She's my wife." Mu Shengchen reached out and held her hand.
Her heart skipped a beat from the introduction. She didn't expect that he'd actually admit that she was his wife in front of his ex. Hell, she didn't even expect him to announce it in public.
A wife? Su Lianmeng's eyes widened in disbelief. How could a cripple get a wife like that?
Had he brought her here to embarrass her? That he found someone better? As soon as the thought entered her mind, she calmed down. "Mu Shengchen, I'm sure you're feeling conflicted about our breakup three years ago, but seriously, do you expect that we'd stay together?" She sneered. "You're disabled. You have nothing. Do you really think you're worthy of me? And now you've brought some fake wife to show off?"
Guo Yueguang was quick to agree, "Young Master Mu, I feel sorry for your situation–I do. But surely you're not the type to tell such a lie."
"Was this fake then? Did he truly not have a wife?" As soon as the people around them heard the couple's words, they started whispering to each other.
Soon enough, a larger crowd formed around them.
Without waiting for him to speak, Ning Qianyu stepped forward.
"Sheng and I had gotten married two months ago. I didn't realize that we have to inform you of our recent engagement." Ning Qianyu's fingers trembled in anger as she slowly stood up.
Su Lianmeng had originally wanted to use her fiancé to belittle Mu Shengchen, but she didn't expect that it would be the other way around! Her face flushed in embarrassment.
She reached out to hold Guo Yueguang's hand, only to be shaken off. "You're lying," she snapped, sneering. Even she couldn't hide the humiliation from her voice. "You don't even have a wedding ring. Do you really think you could get away with your lies?"
"I'm poor; I can't even afford a ring. Weren't you the one who said that?" He remained expressionless.
Su Lianmeng clenched her fists. "That's right. You're worth nothing–nothing!"
"Perhaps in your eyes, he's nothing more than trash, but in my eyes, he's worth so much more." I love him, she wanted to add, only to stop herself in time. To further her point, she lowered her head and kissed the corner of his lips.
His eyes widened slightly. Mu Shengchen had expected her to defend him, but he never expected that she'd go this far as to prove her point.
He knew just how shy she was.
His heart skipped a beat.
Overtaken by the initiative, he immediately wrapped her arm around her waist and pull her into his arms. She gasped under her breath , and he deepened the kiss even further.
The originally gentle kiss became harsher and stronger. By the time she had pulled away, she was already out of breath.
When she finally returned to her senses, she noticed that everyone was already staring at them. Their mouths were agape, and their arms fell stiff to their sides. It's as if they've fallen into a trance.
Realizing what had just happened, Ning Qianyu's face became tomato red. She wanted to run away, but before she could, he had already grabbed her waist with one hand. Knowing that she couldn't do anything else, she simply hid in his arms, hoping that he'd be able to hide her from their questioning gazes.
Mu Shengchen didn't need to read her mind to know what she wanted. Kissing the top of her head, he faced the crowd forming around him–obviously looking as if they had a lot of questions in their minds.
The lights in the hall highlighted his handsome features as his gaze landed on Su Lianmeng.
"Miss Su, are you satisfied now?"