Chapter 125: Chapter 0125: Spectacular Counterkill! (3)

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēwebnovel.com.

“Miss Sheng has taken such effort, I really feel quite bad, and I’ve even started to blame myself. I really haven’t been attentive enough to Miss Sheng, and I hope she won’t be mad at me.”

Oh, right, Miss Sheng is still single, and there should be quite a few eligible bachelors returning for tonight’s banquet. Maybe you could take this opportunity to find someone suitable?”

Mu Lan blinked her big eyes, looking innocent and naive, yet she nearly made Xueqin’s blood boil.

And to make matters worse, Huo Tingxiao chimed in from the side.

“Yes, Mu Lan’s senior, Lin Yize, will also be there today, a very outstanding single man. Why don’t you two have a good chat?”

Yunzhan almost laughed out loud at this. What a move by Huo Tingxiao, getting rid of his rival so openly and righteously.

Xueqin looked at Huo Tingxiao, her expression unchanged, but her eyes were full of intense irritation.

He actually dared to push another man towards her in her presence? What does he really think of her?

Huo Tingxiao, is this how you treat me, all for a Mu Lan? Her hands clenched secretly, the force so great her nails almost dug into her flesh.

“Thanks for your kindness, but I really don’t need it right now…”

Mu Lan grabbed Xueqin in a burst of enthusiasm.

“Miss Sheng, don’t be so formal with us. Tingxiao and I really have your best interests at heart.

Master Sheng also said before that a girl should have a happy and harmonious family. Work is never-ending, it’s most crucial to find someone who truly cherishes you.”

This skill in persuasion seemed like it came straight from a meddling aunt.

With so many elders present today, Xueqin couldn’t object, since these elders held very traditional views. Even though Xueqin was the Sheng Family’s heir, in their eyes, a woman without a family and children wasn’t considered complete.

This kind of stereotypical prejudice is something that society couldn’t erase. Mu Lan disliked such prejudices too, but for someone like Xueqin, it wouldn’t hurt unless the knife was twisted in her wounds. Being a woman herself, she very well knew what it meant to bring up issues of childbearing in front of elders.

It could be mutually destructive, but who was afraid of whom?

Let it be a case of killing a thousand enemies and losing eight hundred oneself; there was still a net gain of two hundred.

“Really, it’s not necessary, I…”

“Miss Sheng is just being modest, I know. If you don’t trust me, at least trust Tingxiao. You’ve been childhood friends, and he’s always hoped for you to find a good place.”

Mu Lan’s words, progressively layered, conveyed quite a lot in between the lines. Even outsiders could understand; the young couple was now united as one, no matter the past circumstances. Now anyone who underestimated Mu Lan had to reconsider.

Xueqin decided not to engage further, afraid she might lose her temper if the conversation continued.

After lunch, in the afternoon, Shen Ying and Mu Huaifeng came bearing gifts, which immediately added a dramatic flair to the previously quiet crowd.

“Oh my, I really didn’t expect our in-laws to come as well.”

Huo Qitang spoke with a mockingly ambiguous tone—everyone could tell there was a hidden message in his words.

Shen Ying’s face bore a light smile.

“Today the old master is celebrating his birthday, we arrived a bit late, please don’t blame us.

We wanted to come earlier, but Huaifeng just got back from a business trip. So we arrived just now.”

“Not at all, I’m very happy you could come,”

Old Master Huo said with a beaming smile. Recently, he heard that the Mu family undertook a significant project and expanded their business in Europe, so his view of Mu Huaifeng also included a hint of admiration.

“In these past few years, under Huaifeng’s leadership, the Mu family has done quite well, truly commendable.”

Mu Huaifeng’s face wore his usual composed and gentle smile.

“You flatter me, old master. I still have much to learn from you.”

Mu Lan’s family had arrived, and naturally, she felt more confident. She stealthily glanced at the Sheng sisters, slightly curling her lips with satisfaction as they finally looked like guests, much better than their incessant chattering earlier.

However, her happiness had not lasted long before a single sentence from Huo Qitang nearly made her lose her temper right then and there.

“Ah, that child Mu Lan, she didn’t tell me you were coming, otherwise, I would have mentioned earlier. You see, here in Sea City we have a tradition of no celebrations during the hundred days of mourning. The Mu Family is still in mourning, so this is…”

As soon as these words were spoken, a whisper of discussion erupted among the people. The Sheng sisters were also showing a keen interest and started watching the drama unfold, while Shen Ying stood somewhat awkwardly, worried that any explanation might trouble her daughter more, yet if she said nothing…

Mu Huaifeng furrowed his brows and looked at Huo Qitang, speaking in a neither salty nor warm tone.

“Aunt, are you implying that you don’t welcome us?”

Huo Qitang’s expression faltered, then showed helplessness.

“I didn’t mean that; it’s just this old tradition…”

“What tradition? Today I am the ‘tradition’ because it’s my birthday. I think you are only growing older, not wiser. Are you also going to accuse me of not following traditions?”

These few words from the Huo family elder were even more upsetting to Huo Qitang than a slap in the face.

Huo Qitang’s face turned red, and she stood awkwardly, unable to utter a single word.

For a moment, no one spoke, and the atmosphere in the living room turned exceedingly awkward.

Mu Lan approached the Huo family elder with a sweet smile on her face, reassuringly she began to speak:

“Grandfather, please don’t be upset. Aunt was just speaking out of filial concern; it slipped out unintentionally. We won’t take it to heart; let’s all be understanding.”

To be able to say such a thing at that moment immediately set her apart in terms of upbringing. Yet, because Huo Qitang was, after all, a senior daughter of the Huo Family, everyone simply exchanged a few disapproving glances in private.

But today, Mu Lan had indeed made a name for herself, transforming and adapting effortlessly in the face of various situations.

The Huo family elder grew more and more pleased with his granddaughter-in-law, but Mu Huaifeng looked at his sister with a very complex look in his eyes.

Shen Ying was surprised by her daughter’s growth and transformation; she hadn’t expected her social graces to have become so adept. It seemed she had been overly worried in the past.

“Good child, grandfather knows you understand the bigger picture.”

After this little interlude, everyone behaved as if nothing had happened, and soon it was evening and time for the banquet to start. Relatives from the house gradually made their way to the Huo’s hotel.

On the way to the hotel, Huo Tingxiao looked at Mu Lan and could not help but smile.

“Smiling at what?”

“You’ve been quite busy today.”

This teasing made Mu Lan pout.

“Then you missed the most exciting scene.”

Huo Tingxiao raised his eyebrows.

“Oh? Then do tell?”

Mu Lan recounted the absurd incident regarding the Sheng sisters, and Huo Tingxiao’s expression gradually became stern.

“What kind of scheming do these two have, to do the exact same thing as me?

Fortunately, Master Yao had the foresight, switched the embroidery to just one side, and altered a few details. Otherwise, I could have been the one embarrassed today.”

Nor knowing what Huo Tingxiao was pondering, Mu Lan saw he wasn’t responding and couldn’t help but wave her hand in front of him.

“Hey, snap out of it. Are you listening to me?”