Chapter 99 - The First Time I’ve Met Her (1)
Chapter 99 - The First Time I’ve Met Her (1)
Li Chuntao wanted to see how far her brother-in-law will go with his lies. Since he knew that he would be in the same place as his mistress and still came here to look after her, was Mu Jianyu ready to accept the bitter pill she had prepared?
Her eyes swept the crowd and weren't surprised to see some guests murmuring gossips about her and Mu Jianyu. She arrived earlier with Young Master Shen and suddenly her husband showed up at the said event, unannounced, just to meet her.
They all wondered what on was between the married couple now that 'Li Xiuying' had apparently lost her memories of the past seven years. Memories that included how she met and fell in love with her husband.
Would they be able to reconcile or would Young Master Shen win the Li princess's heart this time? No one knew the answer to this question.
"Mr. Mu, since Brother Zichen is nowhere in sight. Do you mind accompanying me for a while? I haven't greeted the other guests and I'm sure they've been waiting to chat with me."
Mu Jianyu smiled and offered an arm to her in an instant. How could he waste such an opportunity to spend time with his wife? This was also a good way to fend off the men eyeing his wife like a delectable piece of meat.
"It's my pleasure to accompany you tonight, Madam Mu,' he replied with a wide smile.
Mu Jianyu was relieved that he dressed up tonight to invite Ying to the dinner he had planned for days. Although it didn't go according to his original plan, he was glad to see Ying slowly opening up to accept him.
Tonight, Li Xiuying was devastatingly beautiful and he knew it. Too bad though he failed to realize that the woman standing next to him was a nightmare wrapped like a daydream. She was able to bind him with an unbreakable spell.
Contrary to his belief that his wife sought his companionship, Li Chuntao actually couldn't wait to see his and Lin Meirong's reaction later.
She had to admit though that Mu Jianyu was an outstanding actor, pretending to be a chivalrous and protective husband to 'Ying', while Lin Meirong pretended to be civil towards her while trying to avoid an encounter with her.
Wasn't it funny how he only saw Ying's value when she was already gone from the living world? Whether he was pretending or he did actually care for Ying now, Li Chuntao wasn't certain, but it didn't really matter since she had already made up her mind not to spare him.
He should've treated Ying with care and respect when she was still alive not when her cold body had already turned to ashes. What was the point of trying to win Ying over again? These poor attempts by Mu Jianyu were nothing but a facade to save himself.
It was always about himself and not Ying.
Li Chuntao then reached out a hand and twined her arm with his before letting Mu Jianyu lead her towards the massive ballroom.
The guests instantly stopped what they were doing to look at the couple making their way towards them. Women hid their talks behind their hands as they gossiped about how Mu Jianyu was falling behind Young Master Shen in terms of face value and charm.
"This is my husband, Mu Jianyu. I hope you wouldn't mind if he joins us tonight," Li Chuntao said with an innocent smile.
"Ah, of course, Lady Li. We wouldn't mind at all!" The producer rubbed his hands together before shaking Mu Jianyu's hand in a greeting after the latter helped Li Xiuying get seated. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Mu."
Being witnesses to Shen Zichen and Li Chuntao's regal arrival, the guests couldn't help but compare the two men who had stood beside 'Li Xiuying'.
Li Chuntao introduced him casually as her husband to the producer and director, fully aware of how Lin Meirong, who was sitting across them, was glaring daggers towards Mu Jianyu. If she thought that she had already seen the worst by watching Li Xiuying arriving with Shen Zichen earlier, she was gravely mistaken.
This was all wrong! None of these should have happened!
Lin Meirong had never thought that Mu Jianyu would show his face tonight. What was he up to, pretending to be a good husband to his wife in front of her? She had to accept the truth, though, that Mu Jianyu would never parade her in public the way he was holding Li Xiuying.
She didn't want to admit it, but they looked good together. She could even see how her lover was staring at Li Xiuying's face, transfixed. Witnessing how Mu Jianyu adored his wife in front of her, Lin Meirong's face quickly went several hues paler.
For the past three months, she thought that her image in front of Mu Jianyu was far better than how he perceived Li Xiuying but now… being in the same room with his wife, Lin Meirong felt like she didn't belong here at all.
The nasty remarks she'd thrown at Li Xiuying behind her back was nothing against this face slap that the latter had directly given her. In front of everyone, she could only be an unwanted mistress between the loving couple.
Tonight, Li Xiuying was so beautiful and she looked calm and collected. Moreover, she had Shen Zichen and Mu Jianyu at her beck and call.
The tables were turned now. Before, she could arrogantly flaunt to Li Xiuying that Mu Jianyu had chosen her over Li Xiuying. However, now, Mu Jianyu had completely disregarded her presence, as if he wasn't aware of her existence.
Mu Jianyu sat beside her, looking like a love fool for his wife as if they were meant to be together.
Lin Meirong gripped her skirt tighter beneath the table and lowered her gaze. She was losing Mu Jianyu's favor and now she couldn't even look back at his wife with confidence. Li Xiuying's last words from their last meeting before her accident resounded in her mind.
"Could you still say the same words when he finds another woman to replace you?"
She didn't understand what Li Xiuying meant before but now Lin Meirong could only swallow the lump in her throat as her lover refused to give her even a single glance, let alone acknowledge her presence.
She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't notice Li Chuntao introducing her husband to the cast of their film. When it was her turn to greet Mu Jianyu, she felt a nudge on her side, pulling her back to reality.
"Miss Lin, are you alright? You don't look good." Li Chuntao asked her worriedly. Her bright eyes looked at her with curiosity while Mu Jianyu hardened his jaws as he looked at her.
Ha! So he would only look at her when Li Xiuying acknowledged her existence? How stupid! Lin Meirong thought.
"I'm alright, Lady Li. what is it?" She replied, quickly collecting herself and forced a smile.
"Oh, it's nothing, just introducing you to my husband, Mu Jianyu. I heard you've been in several parties before, so I'm not sure if you've met him." Li Chuntao said nonchalantly, making Mu Jianyu's face blanch at her remark.
Lin Meirong opened her mouth but no words came out. What was Li Xiuying up to?