As soon as Gu Beichen arrived with Su Mumu, several of his close friends began calling her “Sister-in-law.” Su Mumu clung to his arm, her face flushing as she greeted everyone. “Hi everyone, it’s been a long time.”
Zhou Jinghuai and the others were falling all over themselves to flatter her, praising her for being gentle and elegant, calling her and Gu Beichen a match made in heaven. Hearing this, Lin Yang’s expression soured instantly.
“Zhou Jinghuai!” Lin Yang glared at him, launching into a blistering tirade. “Who gave you permission to bring this woman here? I organized this party for Sheng Sheng today. Who are you trying to disgust by bringing them along?”
Zhou Jinghuai looked aggrieved. “Yangyang, it wasn’t me. Today is the day Beichen set aside to welcome his fiancée back; he booked the whole venue ages ago.”
Looking closely at their surroundings, there were balloon decorations, a cake, and a large sign that read “Welcome Home, Mumu.” Gu Beichen’s circle of friends had never liked Jiang Yousheng; they thought she was too dramatic and hadn’t forgotten how she used to humiliate Gu Beichen. Given the chance, they were more than happy to teach her a lesson.
Over the past year, Jiang Yousheng had endured plenty of their sneers and mockery. Gu Beichen always sided with his friends, and sometimes they would even play cruel tricks on her. She had cried, but Gu Beichen never seemed to care.
“Beichen booked this place, but if you want to stay, I suppose it’s not impossible,” Su Mumu said with a triumphant smile, still clutching his arm.
Jiang Yousheng caught Lin Yang, who looked ready to pounce and tear the woman apart. “Yangyang, let’s just go somewhere else.”
It was obvious these people had set a trap to exalt Su Mumu and watch her make a fool of herself. That was exactly why Lin Yang was so furious. If it were anyone else, she might have let it go, but she couldn’t stand it being Su Mumu.
Lin Yang’s heart ached for her friend. She shot a glare at Zhou Jinghuai before turning to Su Mumu. “What is there to be so proud of? He’s just a man Sheng Sheng didn’t want anymore. Su Mumu, as the daughter of a mistress, the only thing you’re fit for is picking up the trash Sheng Sheng threw away.”
Those words didn’t just insult Su Mumu—they officially offended Gu Beichen. The look he gave Lin Yang was chilling. Su Mumu buried her head in his chest, trembling as if she had suffered a monumental injustice.
“Beichen, it’s my fault. I’ve embarrassed you. I’m truly not as excellent as my cousin…”
Every eye in the room turned toward Jiang Yousheng. Many people knew Su Mumu was her cousin, but it was a forbidden topic; Jiang Yousheng neither acknowledged it nor allowed others to mention it. Back when the Jiang family was still powerful, no one dared to cross the eldest Miss Jiang.
Su Mumu was the illegitimate daughter of her aunt’s husband, but she had been swapped at birth. Her aunt’s biological daughter had grown up with a gambler in the countryside; by the time they found her, she had lost her mind. The shock had nearly killed her aunt, who had raised Su Mumu as her own, only to find out she was the child of a mistress. It was a betrayal no one could stomach.
“I’ll tear your mouth apart if I have to!” Jiang Yousheng’s nickname was “Little Chili” for a reason. Hearing her mention the word “cousin,” she didn’t hesitate to splash a glass of wine directly at her.
Gu Beichen almost instantly pulled Su Mumu into his protective embrace, his gaze landing on Jiang Yousheng with extreme displeasure. Despite his anger, he didn’t forget to ask Su Mumu softly, “Mumu, are you okay?” He then took off his coat and wrapped it around her.
Su Mumu’s hair and clothes were soaked; she hid in his arms and sobbed as if her world had ended, tears streaming down her face. She shook her head weakly. “Cousin, I’m sorry… Beichen, please don’t be angry. I know she didn’t mean it. I don’t blame her.”
Lin Yang couldn’t stand the “Green Tea” act. “Do you even have the right to blame Sheng Sheng? Both illegitimate—you really are a perfect match.”
That sentence struck Gu Beichen’s ultimate nerve. He stared at Lin Yang with a sinister intensity. Knowing his temper was at the breaking point, Jiang Yousheng rushed forward to pull Lin Yang behind her. “Yangyang’s had too much to drink today. President Gu, please don’t take it to heart.”
Even Zhou Jinghuai grew nervous. “Brother Beichen, Yangyang really is drunk. Don’t lower yourself to her level. I’ll apologize on her behalf.”
Gu Beichen ignored him. He looked at Jiang Yousheng, his eyes distant and flickering with rage. “You lay a hand on my fiancée and then insult her? What, do you think you’re above the law?”
Tonight, the room was filled with his people. If she didn’t apologize, neither she nor Lin Yang would walk out unscathed. Jiang Yousheng bit her lip and spoke with sincere intent to make peace. “I’m sorry. I was in the wrong.”
After everything she had been through this past year, she harbored a deep-seated fear of him. Out of habit, she instinctively reached out to tug at his hand to appease him.
Slap!
The moment she touched him, a sharp blow landed on the back of her hand.