Mu Beiyin let out a cold laugh.
This Mr. Lu sure had a way with words—praising her for staying calm under pressure, but in reality, he was calling her calculating and cold-hearted.
Lu Xixue, on the other hand, was just a naive little girl who wore her heart on her sleeve—so naturally, the man was stolen from her.
Facing this layered trap of a comment, Mu Beiyin nodded thoughtfully:
"Mm, yes, to have grown to this age and still be unable to distinguish right from wrong… there must be something wrong with her brain. It's only natural Huo Shiqing doesn't like her."
Lu Xixue's face turned red with anger. "You!"
Lu Ming stopped his daughter and turned mockingly. "Miss Mu really is sharp-tongued."
Mu Beiyin let out an indifferent "Oh," and said calmly, "Flattered."
The contempt in Lu Ming's eyes was almost impossible to conceal. He thought even speaking a few more words with Mu Beiyin was beneath him. He turned straight to Huo Shiqing:
"Shiqing, what's done is done. It was Xixue's fault, and the Lu family will take responsibility. But I also hope you'll listen to a word of advice from your Uncle Lu."
Huo Shiqing responded with a faint smile, "Go ahead."
Lu Ming sighed. "Our families have been close for generations. We can't let one person—Xixue—damage that relationship."
"At this point, I don't expect you to marry her anymore. But the two of you did grow up together. Could you at least show her some dignity? I promise she won't bother you again."
Huo Shiqing lifted his eyes slightly. "Show her some dignity?"
Lu Ming paused for a few seconds before continuing, "Xixue was once your fiancée. Now that you've married someone else, she's already lost all face. Shiqing, surely you understand that one should always leave others a way out."
"Besides, Uncle Lu once did you a favor. If you go too hard on Xixue, and people say you're repaying kindness with ingratitude, that wouldn't look good on you either."
Mu Beiyin leaned back against the sofa with a light smile.
What a family.
Using a bit of so-called "kindness" to morally blackmail Huo Shiqing, and speaking with such righteousness, too.
Huo Shiqing took a sip of tea and said calmly, "I've never cared much about what others think of me."
In other words, so what if I repay kindness with betrayal?
Lu Xixue's eyes turned red again. She threw herself into Lu Ming's arms, crying, "Daddy, I knew Brother Shiqing must be blaming me. I was too willful. I no longer hope to be with him, but how can he be so heartless…"
Mrs. Lu also wept helplessly. "Xixue, don't cry. Mommy knows you love Shiqing. But now that he has Miss Mu, don't fight anymore. Be like your sister—just be friends with Shiqing. Preserve the friendship, that's enough."
Lu Ming finally got to the point. "Shiqing, in a few days the Lu family will be hosting a banquet."
"I hope that at the banquet, you can publicly explain that you've always only seen Xixue as a sister. That she depended on you a bit, but there was never any engagement between you. This way, everyone can part on good terms."
Mu Beiyin blinked in surprise—was this family giving up on the position of Mrs. Huo?
If Huo Shiqing openly declared at the banquet that there was never any engagement, then Lu Xixue would have no more reason to stay close to him.
Although there had never truly been an engagement—just a joke made casually by the elders—over the years, Lu Xixue had constantly hinted, both openly and covertly, that she was the future Mrs. Huo.
And now the Lu family wasn't forcing or threatening him, but actively giving up?
Huo Shiqing raised his brows with interest. "Is that what Uncle Lu has in mind?"
Lu Ming acted as if he sincerely had his best interests at heart. "Yes, Shiqing. As for the losses to the Huo Corporation, the Lu family will do its best to compensate. Xixue knows she was wrong—how could she still have the nerve to bring up the engagement? Let's part amicably."
Huo Shiqing didn't reject the request. He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Since Uncle Lu is personally inviting me, I will certainly attend."
Lu Ming finally gave a smile. "That's good. I'll thank you on Xixue's behalf. Ling Shuang will be returning to the country in a few days. You all can catch up then."
After speaking, he suddenly turned to look at Mu Beiyin. "If Miss Mu has time, you're welcome to come to the Lu family's banquet as well."
Mu Beiyin propped her chin on her hand and didn't respond.
Ling Shuang… was that the name of the eldest Lu daughter?
Both Huo Shiqing and Chu Xiao had a good impression of the eldest Lu daughter, but could the Lu family really produce a young lady who could remain pure amidst the filth?
Lu Ming stood up and led his still-crying wife and daughter out the door. "Then we'll take our leave."
This conversation appeared to have gone smoothly—Lu family made peace with Huo Shiqing, he agreed to attend the banquet, and the Lu Group would compensate the Huo Corporation.
But Mu Beiyin still felt something was off. It was hard to believe the Lu family would give up so easily.
Yet Lu Ming's attitude seemed to genuinely suggest he wanted his second daughter and Huo Shiqing to sever their engagement… What exactly was wrong?
Forget it. She wasn't going to attend the Lu family's banquet to disgust herself. What did it have to do with her anyway?
At that moment, Huo Shiqing suddenly spoke. "This engagement, under the Lu family's orchestration, caused quite a stir. I doubt they'll let it go so easily."
Mu Beiyin realized he was talking to her and quickly nodded. "Then what should we do?"
Huo Shiqing's lips curled into a smile. "But if people know I'm already married, we won't need to worry about the Lu family's schemes."
He paused slightly, then said casually, "So, Mrs. Huo, will you accompany me?"
Mu Beiyin's expression froze. What did he mean by that? Was he planning to announce their marriage publicly?
But… but what about the Song family?
Without thinking, Mu Beiyin shook her head vigorously. "No, no. We're in a hidden marriage. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to go."
Huo Shiqing's eyes darkened slightly.
Sensing the change in atmosphere, Mu Beiyin wanted to say something else, but suddenly received a message. Her expression changed instantly!
She didn't even have time to explain to Huo Shiqing—without another word, she rushed upstairs.
…
Downstairs, after hearing the news, Chu Xiao called. "Shiqing, the Lu Group is no longer on the same side as you. I'm afraid that banquet isn't as simple as it looks."
More than twenty years ago, Old Master Lu once joked to Old Master Huo, "Old Huo, if I had a granddaughter, I'd marry her off to your grandson."
Everyone knew it was a joke; the Huo family never took it seriously. But the Lu family clung to it, seeing it as a chance to climb the Huo family's ranks.
A dangerous glint passed through Huo Shiqing's eyes, but his tone remained light. "No matter. It's just a banquet. The Lu family's petty tricks—I can handle them."
Chu Xiao still tried to dissuade him: "But…"
"Ling Shuang is returning soon. She'll be inheriting the Lu Group," Huo Shiqing said hoarsely. "Lu Xixue has made a complete mess of the company. If Huo Corporation remains an enemy, things will be tough for Ling Shuang."
Chu Xiao hadn't realized Huo Shiqing agreed to attend the banquet for this reason. He fell silent for a while, then nodded in agreement.
"You're right. If you make your stance clear at the banquet, it'll make things easier for Ling Shuang. Otherwise, even if she becomes the successor, she might still be dragged down by the Lu Group."
"Ling Shuang is just too sentimental. The Lu family hasn't treated her well—they've always favored Lu Xixue, and now she has to clean up the mess."
There was one thing Chu Xiao didn't say aloud.
If that old joke of an engagement had been pinned on Lu Lingshuang instead, would Shiqing still reject the idea of a marriage alliance?
But Chu Xiao also knew that was impossible. Ling Shuang only ever saw them as good friends.
"All right then. See you at the Lu family banquet."
…
Back in her room, Mu Beiyin carefully read the message again.
[The thing you've been looking for has a lead. The ruby brooch will be on display at the Lu family banquet. According to the Lu family, it's the brooch their eldest daughter, Lu Lingshuang, has worn since childhood.]
How could that be Lu Lingshuang's? That brooch clearly belonged to her mother!
Mu Beiyin's eyes turned slightly red, and she forced herself to calm her breathing.
Looks like she had to go to that Lu family banquet!
But… she had just told Huo Shiqing with such certainty that she wouldn't go. Now she'd have to ask him to take her?
Wouldn't that be slapping herself in the face?