“I’ll be obedient …… can you let me leave?” Sheng Yuan looked up at him, his gaze like a plea, “I don’t want to get married.”
Like a pitiful, weak animal begging for mercy, a sudden sense of sadomasochistic pleasure at destroying something arose in Mu Xun’s heart.
With a malicious smile, he gripped Sheng Yuan’s hand even tighter: “What can be done about that then? Your father has already sold you, happily pocketing a huge sum of money from our family to go gamble with.”
“How much money did he take from you?”
Mu Xun lowered his head and named a sum right by his ear, feeling the body his palm touched instantly tense up.
“Sheng Yuan, still don’t understand?” Mu Xun raised a hand to pinch and knead his delicate earlobe. “In this world, apart from me, who else would want you?”
Sheng Yuan turned his head away, his eyelashes blinking rapidly as he desperately fought back the heat welling up in his eyes.
He had never imagined he could be worth so much, actually managing to compare to a courtyard house in the second ring road of Beijing.
He thought that he ought to hate Mu Xun quite a bit.
Yet strangely enough, he actually found it laughable.
Laughing at how Mu Xun had more money than sense, willing to spend so much money to buy a mute and uninteresting deaf person a useless burden or trash in the eyes of others.
The sky on a rainy night was turbid, dyed with a smeared, dirty shade of black.
Yet the Zige Wei Manor beneath the dark, flowing clouds was brilliantly lit, blazing bright as day.
The party was in full swing, the intense music and singing causing the ground to vibrate slightly, ripples gently shivering across the water.
Groups of two or three men and women holding champagne sprayed alcohol wildly about, provoking roars of laughter and shrieks from those around them.
The air instantly permeated with a heavy, pungent odor, reeking overwhelmingly of alcohol until it made people dizzy.
Like a hollow shell, Sheng Yuan followed numbly at Mu Xun’s side.
The people in the dance floor were crashing around like madmen, and he was terrified, his hand resting on the man’s forearm tightening unconsciously.
Mu Xun looked down to see those slender, thin fingers gripping the fabric of his sleeve, gripping it very tightly.
He felt rather pleased inside, patting that hand soothingly before continuing on his stride, heading upstairs.
The next second, a deafening “bang” echoed out.
The balloons suspended from the ceiling were punctured, and tens of thousands of rose petals gushed forth, swallowing up the crowd instantly like magma, kicking up an unbridled sea of red that filled the eyes while a rich floral fragrance saturated the entire banquet hall.
Every single person wore a dazed expression, allowing this romantic rain of roses to submerge them.
Sheng Yuan let go of Mu Xun and walked forward.
With one hand resting on the spiral handrail and the other extending forward, he actually caught a single patch of red steadily.
The decadence of that rose-red color he slowly curled his fingers, letting the floral scent fill the palm of his hand as a shallow smile floated onto the corners of his lips.
Mu Xun stood stock-still in place, watching Sheng Yuan, abruptly feeling a flustered panic in his chest.
He whipped his gaze away abruptly, cursing under his breath about the heart-thumping drum beats ringing out loud enough downstairs to leave people unsettled.
People draped in rose petals chased and frolicked on the spiral staircase, and Sheng Yuan’s shoulder was bumped by them, nearly causing him to stumble and fall.
With quick reflexes, Mu Xun hooked him into his arms, his fingertips brushing past his slender waist in a lingering touch, soft like a cloud flowing through the palm of his hand.
Yet this cloud flew away from between his fingers very quickly.
Sheng Yuan stepped aside swiftly, lowering his head to smooth out the non-existent wrinkles on his cuffs as he offered a soft word of thanks.
Mu Xun rubbed his fingers awkwardly, turning his head to clear his throat as he spoke as if nothing had happened: “This is the tradition of the rose rain at Zige Wei Manor. If you meet someone you fancy at the banquet, you can gift them a rose petal.”
“Have you ever thought…… forget it, you’re already engaged to me, you wouldn’t be able to give it away even if you wanted to.”
Staring at the rose in the palm of his hand, Sheng Yuan replied in a flat tone: “I know…… you don’t have to keep reminding me.”
“Tsk,” finding himself rebuffed for trying to be clever, Mu Xun changed the subject: “Let’s go upstairs.”
The crisp clinking of casino chips penetrated the hearing aid, accompanied by silver-bell-like laughter, continuously filtering into his ears.
“Get bored of them and toss them away, actually I think he’s pretty decent.”
“That weakling guy? Don’t even mention him hahaha, his damn personality is softer than his dick!”
Thin smoke rose up beneath the tasseled ceiling lights, resembling shattered gold spreading everywhere, as high-society bubbles shattered amidst chatting and laughing.
Sheng Yuan slowly realized that this was actually a casino.
The moment he stepped in, numerous pairs of eyes immediately landed on them.
“Young Master Mu,” a syrupy-sweet voice drifted from beside the gaming table, sounding like sweet wine that would spill over at the slightest shake, “are you coming or not?”
Mu Xun smiled brilliantly, picking up a glass of champagne from a waiter’s tray: “Want a drink?”
Sheng Yuan shook his head; he didn’t like alcohol.
Mu Xun raised an eyebrow, drinking on his own as he walked toward the owner of the voice.
The people gathered around that gaming table were all wealthy socialites, various luxury perfumes and cosmetics competing in brilliance and beauty, a rich fragrance washing over them.
Mu Xun draped an arm over a woman’s slender, soft neck, his fingertips lightly brushing her earlobe and drawing a flush of shy red as he spoke in a dissolute tone: “Those earrings are very pretty.”
Sheng Yuan looked away, retreating half a step in silence.
Young Master Mu had always loved dallying with flowers and grasses; he could be said to have passed through ten thousand flowers without a leaf sticking to him, leaving his garden entirely empty.
Yet he only had a single heart, which wouldn’t be enough to divide even if split open and crushed to pieces; it had to be squeezed into juice.
“Who is this pretty little guy, looking so unfamiliar?” asked a brilliantly, breathtakingly beautiful noblewoman in a red dress.
The moment those words were uttered, a wave of gazes landed on Sheng Yuan immediately.
“He really looks so well-behaved, attending a party for the first time?”
Sheng Yuan let out a low “Mn,” casting a small, faint shadow beneath his eyes.
“Would you like to come play with us for a bit? Older sister will teach you, big bets or small bets, it’s very easy to pick up.”
A pretty fingertip plucked at a chip, the gem upon it glowing red like pigeon blood.
“We’ll make your older brother pay the stakes, Young Master Mu isn’t short on money anyway.”
Mu Xun grew interested as well: “Want to play a round?”
“I’m not playing,” Sheng Yuan said.
He hated gambling to the core; if not because his father loved to gamble, the Sheng family wouldn’t have fallen to its current state.
The noblewoman let out a feigned, regretful sigh: “The little handsome guy isn’t giving us face. At least you can tell us your name, right? We can make dates to go out and play together often in the future～”
“Don’t tease him, Lina.” Mu Xun chuckled in a muffled voice, pulling Sheng Yuan into his embrace with one arm and drawing him forcefully against his chest.
“His name is Sheng Yuan, if you want to make dates to take him out, you have to get approval from me, his fiancé, first.”
Gina’s mouth formed an O-shape as she said incredulously: “Oh my god! I never thought you really got engaged! I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news before.”
Whether intentionally or not, she swept a glance over several people beside her and continued exaggeratedly: “Looking at it this way, you really are a match. You must invite me to the wedding, I’ll prepare the most beautiful gift for Sheng Yuan.”
“Definitely, I’ll deliver the invitation directly into your hands myself.”
Among the socialites at that table were several of Mu Xun’s former lovers. They had once been madly infatuated with this man, countless times fantasizing about walking into the halls of marriage with him.
Yet Mu Xun left romantic debts everywhere, with a fair companion for every night, his life forever steeped in the glittering lights of nightlife he was someone who could never be associated with marriage.
Therefore, they could only exercise utmost restraint, achieving a balance between sobriety and infatuation within themselves.
Yet just a month ago, the Mu family released news of Mu Xun’s engagement.
Now, he attended public occasions accompanied by his fiancée, inseparable.
Those few individuals sized Sheng Yuan up from top to bottom, making no effort to conceal the disdain in their gazes. Ultimately, their line of sight rested upon his completely bare ring finger, and they smiled abruptly.
The one who noticed first glanced left and right, and subsequently, a vague and ambiguous smile hung on every single person’s face.
Mu Xun apparently had no intention of giving his fiancée proper status.
At that moment, a sense of mutual sympathy for their shared plight arose in their hearts.
Fingertips dug into palms, carving deep, shallow crescents.
In an occasion like this, Sheng Yuan could not push Mu Xun away and could only force himself to endure his continuous touches; every single word and every single look from this group of people made waves of nausea continuously rise within him.
“I want to leave,” Sheng Yuan said.
“Don’t want to look around a bit more?”
“Mn.”
Mu Xun shrugged helplessly, agreeing to meet them again shortly before taking Sheng Yuan away.
The deep and desolate pearly-white corridor echoed with quiet, leaf-like footsteps.
Sheng Yuan drew a deep breath, the cold air gradually diluting the scent of secondhand nicotine in his nasal cavity.
He asked abruptly: “Mu Xun, they like you so much, why don’t you marry them?”
Priceless oil paintings hung on the walls on both sides, which Mu Xun was appreciating with great relish. Hearing this, he looked toward Sheng Yuan and asked instead of answering: “How did you figure out they like me so much?”
“I’m an art student, I heard my professor say in class that emotions leak out through the eyes,” Sheng Yuan said in a flat tone, devoid of a shred of emotion. “They want to marry you more, I can see it.”
“No wonder,” Mu Xun said thoughtfully. “Not only do you say you hate me with your mouth, but the way you look at me is also ice-cold.”
Sheng Yuan seemed to have already grown accustomed to his changing the subject.
Mu Xun hurriedly claimed he was just joking, switching to a serious tone: “What they want is a loyal lover, but I’m someone with a three-minute attention span who easily grows weary, so I can’t give them stability.”
A cold sneer rose inside Sheng Yuan’s heart.
First time hearing someone speak of being a rotten piece of trash with such a righteous and dignified air.
At the end of the corridor stood two heavy doors.
The charity auction about to be held behind those doors was the grand climax of the entire banquet.
The usher accepted Mu Xun’s invitation with both hands, stepped forward to pull open the door, and gestured gracefully: “Young Master Mu, I wish you and your partner a wonderful evening.”
“Thanks.”
The view darkened abruptly, a deep cello melody flowing softly into his ears.
Compared to the nouveau-riche decor of the first and second floors, this venue was somewhat more understated.
The decoration was minimalist and grand, with delicate embellishments added to the details, and the lighting was embedded into the dark starry sky ceiling, resembling twinkling stars.
The symphony orchestra performing on stage hailed from the Royal Opera House of Versailles, their music lingering and winding, imbued with intense French romance.
Attending this charity auction required a second invitation letter, and Sheng Yuan had only been able to enter by basking in Mu Xun’s light.
The venue was packed with nobility, dressed in gold and wrapped in jade. He appeared completely out of place, resembling an ordinary mortal who had mistakenly wandered into an immortal feast.
The surroundings were very quiet; apart from the music on stage, only the crisp sound of clinking wine glasses occasionally drifted over.
“That’s…… Zhou Jianwei, he’s here too,” Mu Xun said.
Hearing this name, Sheng Yuan opened his eyes wide in shock.
There were figures overlapping in front of Zhou Jianwei so he couldn’t see clearly, and he stood on tiptoe, looking back and forth.
Mu Xun found his reaction amusing: “Are you a fan of his?”
“I like the movies he acts in.”
“Take the opportunity to go ask for an autograph?”
Sheng Yuan shook his head like a rattle drum, harboring an indescribable sense of awe toward the Best Actor.
“No need…… I, I’ll just take a look, don’t—”
Mu Xun laughed at him for having seen nothing of the world, pulling him over by the arm with a forced, entwined grip: “What’s so scary about a Best Actor, he can’t eat you……”
Suddenly, Mu Xun’s footsteps paused, his smile freezing instantly on his face as his gaze landed straight upon the person conversing with Zhou Jianwei.
Sheng Yuan was struggling hard to break free from that hand when it abruptly halted, nearly causing him to bump his head.
He raised his head in astonishment.
Just like that, he caught sight of Mu Xiaoduo.
The world had seemingly never been so quiet, devoid of all sound.
There was no clinking of wine glasses, nor any romance between men and women; Sheng Yuan even suspected he had gone completely deaf.
The man’s facial features were profound, his bone structure sharp and fierce, the prominent ridge of his brow pressing down over his eye sockets, his eyes dark and deep, resembling an ancient well.
Rainwater battered the floor-to-ceiling windows, reflecting the mottled lighting and shadows of the tasseled ceiling lights, twisted and bizarre.
Behind the window was the lightless night in the mountains.
Mu Xiaoduo was dressed in a suit and leather shoes, his figure immersed in a heavy, pitch-black hue as if melting right into the night.
Sheng Yuan was twenty years old, young, had seen nothing of the world, and furthermore couldn’t remember whether he had ever experienced a moment when his heart hammered like a drumbeat quite like this.
His frail heart was beating crazily, the muffled “thump-thump-thump” striking a dull pain in his chest. It felt as though a massive amount of hormone had suddenly been injected into him, plunging every single cell into struggle and tearing.
“Who is he……”
“My uncle.”
He actually managed to catch a trace of tension in Mu Xun’s voice.
The next moment, his hand was pulled.
Mu Xun took a stride, walking toward the extraordinary-looking man standing by the window.
Everyone knew that the eldest young master of the Mu family was the crown prince of Yunchuan, always arrogant and considering himself above the world.
Yet now, he lowered his head before another person, respectfully addressing him: “Uncle.”
Sheng Yuan was at a loss, planted on the spot like a block of wood until his fingers were squeezed, whereupon he heard Mu Xun’s very low voice say: “Greet Uncle.”
His heart panicked in a chaotic scramble, stammering with stuttering beats; for the first time he obeyed Mu Xun’s words this completely, doing whatever he was told to do.
He lowered his head, tripping over his words the moment he opened his mouth: “……Un—Uncle, hello.”
Only then did Mu Xiaoduo turn his head sideways, his brows and eyes cold and indifferent as he cast a casual, careless glance over.
Sheng Yuan felt a bone-chilling coldness slowly crawling up along the ground.
His blood had run stone cold, congealing inside his blood vessels; he couldn’t think, left only with a broken string buzzing in his brain.
Sheng Yuan raised his head with trembling trepidation, wanting to take one more look at that face, his field of vision gradually growing wider and brighter…… yet his courage was truly too small, entirely lacking the nerve to gaze directly at the man.
Thus, that plain end-ring fell into his field of vision, shining silver and bright like moonlight sweeping past.