"...Where did you find this?" Chu Jing’s voice lowered, losing its earlier playful tone.
Xiao Mu blinked, genuinely confused by her sudden reaction. "What’s wrong?"
Before she could say anything more, Chu Jing leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank you, Xiao Mu... I love it. This hairpin... It’s very important to ."
Leng Shuang felt the fabric at her shoulder grow damp.
Chu Jing was crying.
For a mont, she was completely caught off guard. It was just a hairpin, sothing she had taken out of convenience. Yet the reaction she received was far beyond anything she had expected.
Still, maintaining Xiao Mu’s persona, she gently patted Chu Jing’s back and spoke in a softer voice, "Can you tell what happened, Sister Jing? I don’t think an ordinary hairpin would make you react like this."
Chu Jing slowly pulled back, though her eyes were still slightly red. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she held the hairpin carefully in her hands.
"You’re right... It’s not just an ordinary hairpin."
She took a small breath before continuing, "This belonged to my grandmother. It was passed down to her by her mother-in-law. In our family, it’s a tradition—this hairpin is given to the eldest daughter-in-law when she enters the household. My grandmother passed it to my mother..."
Her voice paused slightly at the ntion of her mother, but she didn’t dwell on it.
"Anyway, this hairpin has been missing for almost ten years. I’ve been searching for it for a very long ti."
Xiao Mu showed an appropriate look of surprise, though inside, Leng Shuang was stunned.
’What kind of coincidence is this?’
’A random gift from an old lady... turned out to be sothing this important?’
"It seems... this hairpin ans a lot to you," Xiao Mu said.
"Of course," Chu Jing replied with a gentle smile. "I just never expected that the person who would bring it back to ... would be you."
She looked at him with eyes full of warmth.
"Thank you, darling. This is the best gift I could have asked for."
Before Leng Shuang could react, Chu Jing leaned closer.
Her intention was obvious.
At the last mont, Leng Shuang instinctively turned her head.
The kiss landed on her cheek instead.
Chu Jing blinked, slightly embarrassed but also a little dissatisfied. "Why did you avoid it?"
Xiao Mu maintained his composure and replied with a slightly awkward smile, "If we had continued... I might have ruined your lipstick."
Chu Jing paused, then chuckled. "Fair enough."
She didn’t push further and simply restarted the car.
"I can’t wait to show everyone my charming partner at the party."
Xiao Mu smiled on the surface, but inside, Leng Shuang felt a trace of unease.
Being in the spotlight was the last thing she wanted.
It would only complicate her mission.
---
Star Presidency Hotel.
One of the most prestigious five-star hotels in Jiangnan had been completely reserved by the Chu family for this evening’s celebration.
Luxury cars lined the entrance one after another, while reporters gathered outside, caras flashing nonstop as they tried to capture every notable arrival. So hoped for interviews, others for a glimpse of celebrities or influential figures.
The hotel had made clear arrangents—separate entrances for those who wished to avoid attention, and strict instructions for reporters not to cross the line.
Everyone present understood the unspoken rules.
No one wanted to offend the people with capital.
Amid the arriving vehicles, a black Maybach rolled to a smooth stop near the entrance.
Inside the car, Su Mo glanced out the window and raised his brow slightly. "They’ve really gone all out. Is this a birthday party or so kind of award ceremony?"
Yang Qingxi followed his gaze briefly before replying, "The Chu family is planning to make an important announcent tonight."
Su Mo turned to look at her.
Yang Qingxi was dressed in a deep blue evening gown, showing off her beautiful figure without being overly extravagant. The fabric shimred subtly under the lights. Her long silver hair was styled in soft waves, pinned elegantly on one side, giving her a composed yet captivating look.
Su Mo himself wore a tailored black suit with clean lines, paired with a crisp white shirt and a simple tie, giving him a sharp and refined presence without appearing overly flashy.
[Miss Yang looks stunning today. This dress suits her perfectly.]
A faint smile appeared on Yang Qingxi’s lips as she heard his thoughts.
[That smile... she really can rival in terms of looks.]
She rolled her eyes inwardly.
’He’s at it again.’
Still, her gaze lingered on him for a mont longer than necessary.
With his hair neatly styled and his posture relaxed yet confident, Su Mo did look... presentable.
Su Mo noticed her staring and frowned slightly. "Is sothing wrong, Miss Yang?"
[Why is she staring at like that? Did I get sothing on my clothes earlier when I ate shrimp soup?]
He quickly glanced down at himself. There was nothing.
[If that’s not it... is she srised by my charm again?]
Yang Qingxi’s expression instantly turned flat.
"Nothing," she said calmly. "You should clean your mouth. It slls."
Su Mo froze.
"That’s impossible," he said, clearly offended. "I maintain proper hygiene—"
"It slls like shrimp."
"...!"
Shocked, he didn’t argue further; his figure vanished from the car in a blur.
Monts later, he appeared near a convenience store to buy a mouth freshener, clearly taking the matter with utmost seriousness.
Earlier, he had secretly eaten shrimp soup; he was confident no one would notice.
Now his confidence was shattered.
He imdiately used the freshener, unwilling to take any risks.
Zhang Xulin, sitting in the driver’s seat, blinked in confusion. "Miss... did he really stink? I didn’t notice anything."
Yang Qingxi replied calmly, "My senses are sharper than yours. Once your cultivation improves, you’ll understand."
Zhang Xulin nodded seriously. "As expected... I’m still too weak."
Then she hesitated before asking, "But if only you could notice it, it wouldn’t really matter at the party, right?"
Yang Qingxi shook her head slightly. "He’ll be standing next to most of the ti. I don’t want him slling like shrimp."
Zhang Xulin smiled faintly. "I see. Miss is quite thorough."
Yang Qingxi didn’t respond.
She simply looked ahead at the brightly lit hotel entrance, a faint, almost imperceptible curve forming at the corner of her lips.
***
(A.N: Pic Here! Check Paragraph Comnts!)
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