Yu Xingliang did not know how to describe his current frame of mind. It felt very much like the shock and disbelief he experienced when discovering Fan Zixi’s stash of old newspapers, though this emotional weight carried much more of the heartbreak, sorrow, and helplessness of losing one’s parents.
Yet it felt like none of those things at the same time.
Mu Heng was surprised by Yu Xingliang’s arrival. Catching sight of Chu Muxuan trailing behind Yu Xingliang, understanding dawned on him instantly, and he turned to glare bitterly at Chu Muyao.
Upon noticing, the master of ceremonies immediately proclaimed, “The groom only has eyes for his bride today!”
At those words, cheers, applause, and thunderous clapping erupted.
Yet all of this sounded gratingly harsh to Yu Xingliang’s ears.
Chu Muyao turned her head shyly to look at Mu Heng, only to discover that Mu Heng’s gaze lacked any hint of warmth, which took her slightly aback.
Flashing one final look of disgust toward Chu Muyao, Mu Heng averted his eyes, unwilling to look at her any longer. His gaze immediately locked back onto Yu Xingliang.
Following Mu Heng’s line of sight, Chu Muyao spotted Yu Xingliang as well.
At that moment, Yu Xingliang looked like a porcelain doll whose soul had been completely sucked out, his hollow gaze staring vacantly as though lost in thought.
Noticing the full display of heartache in Mu Heng’s eyes, Chu Muyao clenched her back teeth and cast a sidelong glance toward her trusted younger brother.
Completely immersed in the joyful atmosphere of the wedding and seeing both the bride and groom staring in his direction, Chu Muxuan cheerfully waved back toward the stage.
“Fool,” Chu Muyao blurted out, her facial expressions completely slipping out of her control.
Chu Muyao’s original plan was to have Chu Muxuan bring Yu Xingliang to a concealed spot to witness the happy wedding between her and Mu Heng, thereby forcing Yu Xingliang to give up and sever any lingering attachment he held toward Mu Heng. Based on her understanding of Chu Muxuan, he would never bring a stranger in through the main entrance.
Therefore, seeing Yu Xingliang actually arrive and get discovered by Mu Heng left Chu Muyao intensely furious.
Chu Muxuan also noticed the peculiar expression on his older sister’s face up on the stage. Being a rather straightforward person by nature, he generally never allowed anyone he looked down upon to enter through the front gates.
However, because Yu Xingliang knew how to ride horses and matched his equestrian skills stride for stride, Chu Muxuan had instantly accepted him from the bottom of his heart.
Consequently, Chu Muxuan had brought Yu Xingliang straight through the main entrance.
“What is with my sister’s expression?” Stepping forward, Chu Muxuan nudged Yu Xingliang with his elbow. “Look at my sister, is she staring at me? Why does it feel like she is looking at an enemy?”
Roused from his daze by Chu Muxuan’s words, Yu Xingliang sniffled and asked, “Your Mu Heng hyung, is he not your biological older brother?”
Then, harboring a desperate shred of wishful thinking, he added, “This wedding is not between actual biological siblings, is it?”
Twitching his face, Chu Muxuan retorted, “What are you talking about? Mu Heng hyung is my sister’s bodyguard and grew up alongside her since childhood. My sister was always meant to marry him, rather than someone unappreciative like Fan Shenggang!”
At the mention of Fan Shenggang, Chu Muxuan’s tone swelled with indignation.
A sudden realization struck Yu Xingliang. “From what you said earlier, General Fan was replaced. Was he suspended from his post, or transferred away?”
Finding it amusing, Chu Muxuan scoffed, “Transferred away? Do you even understand the meaning of to the victor go the spoils?”
Noticing Yu Xingliang’s clueless expression, Chu Muxuan kindly enlightened him. “Two months ago, my father exposed Fan Shenggang for hoarding contraband items. Sure enough, a massive quantity of illicit goods was uncovered right inside the general’s residence.
The hateful part was that on that exact same day, Fan Shenggang was busy organizing a movie screening for various local merchants, likely to cover up his unlawful dealings.”
Hearing this, Yu Xingliang felt as though a thunderbolt had struck the center of his brow, and he suddenly realized that Mu Heng might not have come to fetch him at all on that day.
Yu Xingliang felt like an unlucky soul who had just narrowly escaped a shipwreck only to tumble back into the water, as everything in this world filled him with a suffocating sense of despair.
Watching the light fade bit by bit from Yu Xingliang’s eyes, Mu Heng felt his heart ache so intensely that he prepared to rush off the stage and pull Yu Xingliang away.
“Mu Heng!” Seizing Mu Heng’s arm just in time, Chu Muyao threatened him with a fierce gaze. “Think about everything you have done up to this point. Do you want all your hard work to go to waste at the very last moment?”
Mu Heng hesitated.
Just at that moment, glancing up, Yu Xingliang caught sight of the bride and groom holding hands with sweet smiles, and something inside him shattered completely.
Far away, Chu Muyao gestured subtly for Chu Muxuan to take Yu Xingliang away.
Catching the directional cue from Chu Muyao’s eyes, Chu Muxuan tugged Yu Xingliang toward the side.
Yu Xingliang had seemingly transformed into a hollowed-out puppet, allowing Chu Muxuan to drag him away without resistance.
“What is wrong with you?” Chu Muxuan noticed that the current Yu Xingliang bore no resemblance whatsoever to the carefree companion who had galloped alongside him earlier.
“My sister said you were someone very important to Mu Heng hyung, so are you a friend of his?” Receiving no response, Chu Muxuan answered his own question with a nod. “Are you just too moved? Oh, are you actually crying?”
Reaching up to touch his face, Yu Xingliang discovered his cheeks were indeed damp.
“Hey, you… do not tell me you are in love with my sister, are you?” Inspiration suddenly striking, Chu Muxuan widened his eyes in realization. “You fell in love with my sister?”
Lacking even the strength to lift his eyelids, Yu Xingliang forced out a deep breath laden with grievance and a hint of anger.
Gathering his mental focus, he demanded, “Chu Muxuan, do you know where Fan Shenggang and his daughter Fan Ruyi are right now?”
“Why are you asking about them?”
“Is he not your former brother-in-law? He was just relieved of his post, and your sister is immediately marrying Mu Heng. Does that not seem a bit inappropriate?”
Snorting with derision, Chu Muxuan replied, “What is inappropriate about it? He hoarded contraband and is locked away in a prison cell right now!”
Yu Xingliang pressed urgently, “What about his daughter?”
“Fan Ruyi?” Recalling the details carefully, Chu Muxuan answered, “Seems she was ransomed and taken away by someone named Dong or something similar.”
A chill struck Yu Xingliang’s heart. “That man surnamed Dong, is he here today?”
Though bewildered as to why Yu Xingliang would ask, Chu Muxuan noticed his condition seemed slightly improved compared to moments ago, prompting him to answer with lingering patience. “He seems to be an acquaintance of my sister, staying here temporarily just to attend the wedding before leaving.”
Contemplating for a brief moment, Yu Xingliang pleaded, “Could you do me a favor?”
Tilting his head in confusion, Chu Muxuan asked, “What kind of favor? Requires this young master to step in personally.”
Yu Xingliang: “”
By the time Mu Heng broke away to give chase, Chu Muxuan had already led Yu Xingliang off to an unknown location.
Just as he tried to scan the surroundings, Chu Muyao caught up to him in her high heels, blocking his path. “Mu Heng, where are you going?”
Searching the crowd for Yu Xingliang’s figure, Mu Heng replied, “The toasts have already been completed, is there anything else requiring my presence?”
Suppressing the rising anger in her heart, Chu Muyao feigned a pitiful expression. “When did I stop being the center of your attention?”
Mu Heng paused. Chu Muyao’s question forced him to reexamine his true feelings toward Yu Xingliang.
“Mu Heng, I beg of you. Treat this as punishment for me lying to you before, or blame me for ignoring your advice and insisting on marrying Fan Shenggang.” Tears welled up in Chu Muyao’s eyes. “Now that we are already married, can you please put the past behind us?”
Seeing the sorrowful expression on Chu Muyao’s face, Mu Heng ultimately found himself unable to be completely ruthless. Softening his tone, he said, “Miss, I remain deeply grateful to you for sharing a meal with me back then, allowing me into the Chu household, and providing me with food and clothing. Truly, without your kindness, I might have perished as a beggar on the streets long ago.”
Noticing that Mu Heng still harbored the same sense of gratitude toward her, Chu Muyao smiled with absolute certainty. “Everything is well now, Mu Heng, which is why you belong right by my side.”
Clutching Mu Heng’s hand tightly, Chu Muyao declared, “I need you, Mu Heng.”
Mu Heng gazed at her, and Chu Muyao returned his stare. Faint stirs of emotion flickered, gathered, and slowly dissipated within their mutual gazes.
Being an intelligent woman, Chu Muyao naturally perceived from his eyes that Mu Heng no longer held romantic love for her.
Before Mu Heng could speak, she seized the initiative to concede. “Let this be the final task. Once this matter concludes, I will grant you your freedom.”
Frowning in troubled hesitation, Mu Heng replied, “But…”
“Help me one last time.” Cupping Mu Heng’s hands in her own, Chu Muyao pleaded, “Mu Heng, I am begging you.”
His heart ultimately softening, Mu Heng looked at her and conceded, “Miss, I agree to help you, but you should never have dragged Zheng Lele into this.”
At the mention of Zheng Lele, Mu Heng’s eyes overflowed with tenderness.
Gritting her teeth in secret, Chu Muyao instantly feigned sheer astonishment. “Mu Heng, do you honestly believe I orchestrated Zheng Lele’s appearance here? You are gravely mistaken, I had zero prior knowledge of this matter, nor do I have any idea why Muxuan brought him along.”
Skeptical, Mu Heng asked, “Miss, are you saying you did not instruct Muxuan to fetch Lele?”
Spinning a falsehood without a blush, Chu Muyao denied it outright. “Of course not, why would I ever do such a thing? You should know how much I cherish our wedding, I would never deliberately invite someone to ruin this wonderful occasion.”
Seeing how sincere Chu Muyao appeared, Mu Heng was finally convinced. “Forgive me, Miss, I wronged you.”
Shaking her head, Chu Muyao stepped forward and embraced him. “Mu Heng, I truly love you.”
Rigid as a statue, Mu Heng stood motionless, not daring to twitch a single muscle.
Trailing Yu Xingliang through unconventional paths, Chu Muxuan happened to witness this exact scene unfold, halting in his tracks just in time to throw his arm across to shield Yu Xingliang’s line of sight.
Already unsteady while climbing across the wall, Yu Xingliang was nearly sent tumbling backward by Chu Muxuan’s sudden outstretched arm.
Fortunately, quick reflexes allowed Chu Muxuan to catch him by the collar, averting a high-altitude fall.
“Are you alright?” Chu Muxuan asked with a guilty conscience.
Devoid of any energy to work up anger, Yu Xingliang simply asked, “To reach Uncle Dong’s room, must we scale walls and climb eaves?”
With uncharacteristic good humor, Chu Muxuan answered, “Naturally. By rights, I am not supposed to visit that residential wing, and you know my status as well…”
“Alright, alright.” Recognizing Chu Muxuan’s bubbling potential as a chatterbox, Yu Xingliang cut him off. “Save the talk and let us move.”
Dropping the subject, Chu Muxuan crept forward while tossing a warning over his shoulder, “Watch your footing.”
Bypassing any reply, Yu Xingliang cast a sideways glance and accidentally caught sight of Mu Heng and Chu Muyao locked in an embrace.
Comparing the pristine, holy wedding attire against his own dirt-stained appearance, Yu Xingliang curved his lips in a bitter, mocking smile, then pushed forward to catch up with Chu Muxuan.