10 p.m., Mu Beiyin had finally built up her mental defenses and knocked on the door of Huo Shiqing's study.
The man's cold, calm voice came from inside. "Come in."
Mu Beiyin walked in carrying a glass of milk. "Mr. Huo, Uncle Zhang asked me to bring this to you."
Huo Shiqing's gaze landed on the milk, a subtle meaning in his eyes. "Mrs. Huo, have you ever heard this saying?"
Mu Beiyin let out an instinctive "Huh?" and asked, "What is it?"
"Offering kindness for no reason must mean either seduction or theft."
Mu Beiyin's face flushed red instantly. "...What nonsense are you talking about? I'm just trying to show some concern for you!"
Huo Shiqing smiled faintly without answering.
Mu Beiyin felt her scalp tingle. Ignoring the awkwardness, she braced herself thick-skinned. "This morning you said you'd take me to the banquet. Does that still count?"
Huo Shiqing gave a half-smile. "I remember you turned me down."
Mu Beiyin's cheeks turned even redder. Embarrassed, she looked down. "I thought about it... You shouldn't have to face something like this alone. What if the Lu family pulls some trick again and forces you to marry Lu Xixue? So... I think I should stay by your side."
After she finished speaking, the air seemed to go still.
Mu Beiyin began to panic. Why wasn't he saying anything? Was that a yes or a no?
Just as she was hesitating whether to speak again, the man casually broke the silence: "No."
Mu Beiyin froze, then raised her voice instinctively. "Why?!"
Realizing she'd been too emotional, she cleared her throat and asked in a softer tone:
"Why not? I just want to go with you to broaden my horizons. Is that really so wrong?"
Huo Shiqing let out a gentle laugh. He reached out and lightly pushed her forehead, pretending to be apologetic.
"Mhm, no can do. Because Mrs. Huo was right—we're in a secret marriage. It wouldn't be appropriate for you to go."
Mu Beiyin's expression shifted rapidly. "…"
That was exactly the excuse she had used earlier to refuse him—and now it was being thrown back at her, and she couldn't even come up with a rebuttal!
Huo Shiqing looked at her. "Anything else?"
"…" The dismissal was so obvious it nearly knocked the air out of her. "...No."
In her heart, Mu Beiyin cursed Huo Shiqing eight hundred times before managing to squeeze out a smile. "Then I'll go back to my room now. Goodnight, Mr. Huo."
Huo Shiqing watched her back as she left, raising an eyebrow.
…
Back in her room, Mu Beiyin angrily pounded the bed with her fist.
So he won't take her? Fine!
But now that there was finally news about the ruby brooch, there was no way she'd skip the banquet. As for how she'd get in…
Mu Beiyin suddenly thought of something. Her eyes lit up. She sat up abruptly and made a phone call to Xie Lin.
…
In the blink of an eye, the day of the banquet arrived.
Half an hour before it started, Mu Beiyin strolled casually to the entrance of the Lu family's banquet hall.
Xie Lin said he could get her another invitation, but she needed to wait a bit. Seeing the stream of guests coming and going, Mu Beiyin didn't try to force her way in. Instead, she picked a quiet corner and sat down to wait.
Not far away, Lu Xixue caught sight of Mu Beiyin and nearly ground her silver teeth to pieces in fury!
She had only extended a polite invitation to Mu Beiyin last night—who would've thought she'd actually come?!
A scheme suddenly sprang to Lu Xixue's mind. She turned to her socialite friend with a bitter smile and said in a complaining tone, "I just saw the woman who stole Shiqing from me. Is she here to humiliate me on purpose, thinking I haven't suffered enough?"
The Lu family was an object of flattery for many. Soon, a socialite surnamed Yang asked, "You mean that mistress? She actually dared to show up?!"
Lu Xixue looked pitiful. "She's the one at Shiqing's side now. Why wouldn't she dare? I just really don't want to see her. Whatever, let's go inside."
Miss Yang's eyes flicked with calculation. Mu Beiyin was alone and not even in a proper gown—clearly, she hadn't come with Huo Shiqing. That made things much easier.
If she could get rid of this woman, the Lu family would surely owe her one.
Without hesitation, Miss Yang grabbed Lu Xixue's hand. "She's the shameless one! Why should you have to avoid her? Xixue, don't worry, I'll get rid of her for you!"
Mu Beiyin was playing with her phone when she suddenly felt a shadow cast over her. She instinctively looked up—and was surprised to see two people.
One was Lu Xixue. The other seemed to be the illegitimate daughter of the Yang Corporation.
Miss Yang marched up indignantly and gave a cold snort.
"I just don't understand how someone could be this shameless—wrecking someone else's engagement and then strutting in like she's proud of it. Being a homewrecker at this level? You're one in a million, Miss Mu, don't you think?"
Her words drew the attention of nearby guests, who turned and looked at one another in surprise.
Mu Beiyin didn't even lift an eyelid.
It was the first time Miss Yang had been ignored like that—she clenched her teeth in anger. "I'm talking to you. Are you deaf?!"
Mu Beiyin put her phone away and raised her eyes slowly. "Before charging into battle on someone else's behalf, you might want to understand the truth. Otherwise, when the truth comes out and you're embarrassed in public, the real instigator will just sit safely in the background."
Miss Yang instinctively glanced at Lu Xixue.
Lu Xixue bit her lip hard. "What do you mean by that? Are you saying Miss Yang can't even tell right from wrong?"
Miss Yang instantly took the bait. "Oh, so now you're calling me stupid?! Get out of here!"
Mu Beiyin let out a soft laugh—indeed, stupid. "Lu Xixue, did you forget why you invited Huo Shiqing here today?"
Huo Shiqing had been invited to dispel the engagement rumors, yet Lu Xixue was still acting like she was his fiancée.
But something felt off. Lu Xixue clearly wasn't ready to give up—so why did she speak so casually yesterday?
Lu Xixue's face stiffened in embarrassment and rage. "I don't want to argue with you. I never invited you anyway!"
Miss Yang arrogantly shouted, "You all heard that, didn't you? This woman crashed the party—throw her out!"
The security guards began to move forward, but just then, a car suddenly pulled up—
Everyone stopped in their tracks and turned their heads, eyes wide.
"Mr. Huo actually came..."
"Didn't they say the Lu family and Mr. Huo had cut ties?"
"That must've been fake. Otherwise, why would he show up?"
Miss Yang immediately raised her voice. "Mr. Huo! This woman snuck into the banquet and caused trouble—she even bullied Miss Lu! You must stand up for her!"
Mu Beiyin instinctively turned around—and locked eyes with Huo Shiqing's calm, distant gaze. Her expression froze instantly.
Crap. Huo Shiqing had explicitly told her not to come yesterday. Yet she'd sneaked into the banquet and now ended up clashing with Lu Xixue. If…
If Huo Shiqing spoke up now, she definitely wouldn't be able to get in!
A wave of frustration surged in her chest. Gritting her teeth, she decided to leave first and find another way in later.
She turned to go—but in the next moment, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist.
The man's voice was gentle, his gaze calm and clear as he leaned closer and asked softly,"Why didn't you wait for me? Came on your own?"