Looking at the man’s confused expression, Mu Wan grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of the dim corner, leading him toward the brightest, most dazzling part of the banquet. As they walked, she whispered in his ear, “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you from now on.” This was the man who had been willing to risk his life for her in her past life, and in this life, she was willing to love him with all her heart.

The woman moved closer unexpectedly, her breath brushing against his ear, sending a tingling sensation down his spine. Kuang Ye looked at Mu Wan, who was pulling him through the crowd. He blinked, then a smile curved on his lips. Things didn’t seem as bad as he had imagined.

—

After the engagement banquet ended and the guests left, Mu Wan felt uncomfortable in her dress and decided to change into casual clothes at the Kuang family’s dressing room. Just as she finished changing and opened the door, she unexpectedly ran into someone she didn’t want to see.

Kuang Shuyu looked at her with a complicated expression. “Wan wan, you shouldn’t be so impulsive. I’ve told you, there’s nothing between me and Li Shuqin…”

In the hallway next door, Kuang Ye, holding a pair of slippers, suddenly stopped and stood still.

Mu Wan was slightly stunned by the mention of Li Shuqin, and after thinking for a moment, she remembered an event that had happened recently—Kuang Shuyu and the famous actress Li Shuqin had been rumored to be involved.

Mu Wan’s relationship with Kuang Shuyu had always been strange. They had never formally confessed to each other, but because of their engagement, everyone around them knew they were an unspoken couple. So, it was natural for her to feel jealous of the women around him, and he tacitly accepted it. But aside from that, there was nothing between them—no passionate declarations of love, no long-term feelings. They were more than friends but less than lovers, which made her feel insecure in her past life.

But now, after being reborn, she wanted to say, to hell with it. She raised her gaze and looked at him, her eyes no longer filled with the love they once had, but with a cold, detached distance.

“Kuang Shuyu, I’m already engaged to Kuang Ye. I am now a member of the Kuang family, and you’re crossing the line by speaking to your brother’s fiancée like this.”

Kuang Shuyu had never seen this cold side of Mu Wan. His eyes flashed with surprise before he quickly adjusted his expression and spoke in a soft, pleading tone. “Wan wan, you can’t joke about something as serious as your lifelong commitment.”

Mu Wan was about to retort when a teasing male voice suddenly interrupted them from the hallway. Kuang Ye walked over with leisurely steps. “What’s this you’re saying? How is my engagement to her a joke?”

Kuang Shuyu’s throat tightened, and he shot Mu Wan a look before realizing it wasn’t the right moment to continue talking. He bypassed Kuang Ye and left.

Feeling somewhat guilty about being caught in a conversation with her ex in front of her current fiancé, Mu Wan was about to say something to ease the tension when Kuang Ye squatted down and placed the slippers he was holding at her feet.

“Wear these.”

“Are your shoes uncomfortable?”

Mu Wan was slightly surprised. She had bought her dress and high heels on the way here, without trying them on, and in the short time at the banquet, the back of her heels were already rubbed raw. She didn’t expect Kuang Ye to notice such a small detail. Ah, ah, ah, what a considerate little puppy. Because of her past life, Mu Wan had developed a sympathetic filter for Kuang Ye, so she always saw him as weak, pitiful, and helpless—like a good little dog. This led her to not see past the filter for a long time and recognize the true nature of Kuang Ye, the mischievous, provocative big bad wolf.

After changing shoes, Kuang Ye escorted Mu Wan out. They walked side by side in the quiet corridor after the banquet. Looking at the somewhat aloof Kuang Ye beside her, Mu Wan wasn’t sure if he liked her at this moment. Lost in thought, she tripped on the stairs, and with a startled cry, she almost fell. Fortunately, Kuang Ye reacted quickly and caught her around the waist, pulling her back. They instantly found themselves in an embrace, so close that they could almost hear each other’s breath.

Mu Wan had never been this close to anyone, and her ears instantly turned red. Flustered, she quickly pulled away and lowered her head to hide her embarrassment.

“Thank you.”

Kuang Ye glanced at her and suddenly squatted down.

Mu Wan: “?”

Kuang Ye: “Come on, Miss, these disposable slippers I grabbed aren’t the best for walking. Let me carry you out.”

Mu Wan was often called “Miss,” but no one had ever said it in such a teasing, yet affectionate and indulgent way like Kuang Ye. She felt a bit confused, thinking that Kuang Ye’s persona seemed to differ from what she had imagined.

“Such a flattering Miss Mu, isn’t it just to increase his chances in the inheritance competition with Young Master Shuyu?”

“How shameless.”

A few muttered remarks from the servants reached Mu Wan’s ears. Her confusion immediately vanished as anger surged within her. She turned and coldly responded, “I’m his fiancée. If he doesn’t flatter me, should he flatter you?”

Even a servant wasn’t shy about mocking Kuang Ye, and it confirmed her suspicion that he was indeed a pitiable figure. The servant, surprised that Mu Wan spoke up for him, paled and hurriedly walked away.

Kuang Ye was also surprised that Mu Wan defended him. In that moment of distraction, the soft figure of the woman pressed against his back, and her lotus-like arms wrapped around his neck.

“Carry me out.”

“You are my rightful fiancée, Mu Wan.”

“Bullying you is like bullying me. Whoever dares to look down on you or push you to the corner, I’ll smash their dog head.”

Mu Wan had been pampered since childhood. Although she appeared elegant and dignified, deep down, there was a rebellious and proud streak in her. The people she wanted to protect, no one was allowed to touch.

In the places where she couldn’t see, Kuang Ye’s dark eyes were filled with a deep, satisfied smile. So this is the persona I have in her eyes.