Bai Mei looked toward Jiawu with a hint of worry.

But Jiawu didn’t hesitate. As a man of his word, he naturally had to follow through. “Alright, I’ll teach you.”

“Thank you. Don’t worry, I’m only learning these things to protect myself.” Nan Muran couldn’t explain the coming apocalypse to them, but she didn’t want them to worry either, so she offered a simple explanation.

Bai Mei didn’t overthink it. She simply offered gentle advice: “Miss Nan, the kind of life they live—licking blood off the blade, never knowing if there’s a tomorrow—that’s not a life meant for someone like you.”

Nan Muran smiled and nodded at Bai Mei, though her heart grew bitter. That kind of life might not be meant for her, but soon enough, everyone alive would be forced to live it.

Once she confirmed Jiawu was willing to teach her, Nan Muran didn’t want to wait another day. But thinking of the banquet at the Qi family that evening, she had to give up and promised to return first thing the next morning.

That afternoon, she casually changed into a dark green long dress and drove straight to the Qi family’s old estate. She had a gut feeling Nan Muting would definitely try something at Qi Li’s birthday banquet.

Back when she was a child, she used to visit the Qi family’s old estate often. Unfortunately, after the plane crash that took her parents when she was twelve, the Qi family rarely invited her again. The engagement with Qi Li had been kept alive all these years for one reason only—her family’s patent.

The moment she entered the main banquet hall, she caught everyone’s attention with her striking looks and tall, graceful figure—even with a simple outfit and elegant makeup.

Qi Qing and Qi Li, the siblings, were the first to greet her.

“Our Ranran is still the most beautiful,” said Qi Qing in her bright red dress, her smile radiant.

Nan Muran had a good impression of Qi Qing and didn’t reject the compliment. “You’re beautiful too, Qing-jie.”

“Of course I’m beautiful,” Qi Qing laughed, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the area where the Qi family had gathered. Her protective attitude toward Nan Muran made it clear to everyone she already considered her part of the family.

Everyone in the banquet hall was from the same elite circles. They were well aware of the Nan and Qi family engagement, so no one found the closeness surprising.

In a corner, Nan Muting sat with a dark expression, staring at the stunning green figure that looked like it had been cut from a different layer of reality. Her hand trembled as she held her glass of juice.

“Watch your composure,” came Nan Mufeng’s indifferent reminder from beside her. “Why get jealous of that fool? Don’t forget—you’re the one holding the real leverage.”

“Ge, is everything ready?” Nan Muting’s eyes were sharp and vicious. Tonight, not only would she use the child in her belly to force the Qi family to recognize her, but she also wanted to completely ruin Nan Muran’s reputation.

Nan Mufeng raised an arrogant eyebrow. “What do you think? When have I ever failed you?”

“Tell the media to barge in—don’t hold back. Cameras, lenses, the works. Double the pay,” Nan Muting’s venomous gaze stayed locked on Nan Muran.

Once Nan Mufeng gave the green light, Nan Muting adjusted her expression and carried two glasses of fruit wine toward Nan Muran.

“Ranran, let’s have a drink together.”

Qi Qing gave a cold snort beside Nan Muran, mocking her without hesitation. “Not sure who the host is here, but clearly it’s not you. No need to play the part.”

Nan Muran gently tugged on Qi Qing.

With the slightest mental command, the spiritual energy at her fingertips subtly shifted, causing the two drinks in Nan Muting’s hands to swap without anyone noticing. Once she confirmed the switch was complete, she took the glass.

“Sure.”

Nan Muting was ecstatic. After clinking glasses, they both downed the drinks in one go.

“Qing-jie, my grandmother’s over there. Ranran’s been busy lately and hasn’t had time to visit. Grandma misses her,” Nan Muting said sweetly, using the Nan family matriarch as cover.

Nan Muran understood her intentions and went along with it. The two of them walked together to a secluded corner at the back of the banquet hall.

“Didn’t you say we were going to see Grandma?” Nan Muran asked calmly, feigning confusion.

“Oh, you like quiet places, don’t you? I used that as an excuse to bring you here,” Nan Muting said, laughing awkwardly.

But soon she started feeling strange. Her head grew heavy, foggy. Her limbs lost strength. And in the next moment, she collapsed.

“Tired? Perfect. You can rest here and wait for the little show you prepared,” Nan Muran whispered as she rose and returned to the banquet hall.

She scanned the room. The Nan family matriarch and Nan Ping and his wife were all present—only Nan Mufeng was missing. No doubt, he’d slipped out to help set the trap.

Not long after Nan Muran left, a man appeared and carried the unconscious Nan Muting to a guest room at the back of the Qi estate.

When the party reached its peak and the cake-cutting was about to begin, every media outlet present suddenly received the same tip:

Scandal involving a Nan family daughter in the Qi family guest room.

The reporters looked at each other. They all knew where they were—at the Qi family estate. No matter how juicy the scoop, they had to gauge the host’s reaction.

But some had already been paid off. Several shameless outlets raised their cameras and charged straight for the guest room, ready to livestream it all.

Moments later, screams erupted from the nearby guest room.

On the livestream feed, Nan Muting and a notorious playboy from the West Market appeared—completely naked.

Viewers who were fast enough to catch the stream immediately recorded it.

In an instant, the birthday banquet, the Nan family, and the Zhuang family became the biggest gossip topic in the entire West Market.

Nan Muting’s fair, delicate body was soon splashed across countless tabloids.

Since it happened at the Qi estate, the Qi family was forced to give an explanation.

The banquet was cut short. Apart from the three families involved, the other guests wisely left.

The Qi family was currently run by the matriarch—a proud, powerful woman from an esteemed background. What had happened on her turf was already too much for her to tolerate.

Sure enough, within half an hour, everything behind the incident was thoroughly investigated.

Qi Qing, known for her blunt temper, didn’t see Nan Mufeng—the real culprit—and took her rage out on Nan Muting instead. She marched over and slapped her hard across the face.

“You filthy slut! How could you do something like this in our home?!”

“Was it you, Nan Muran? Was it you?!” Nan Muting ignored the sting on her cheek and glared at Nan Muran, eyes full of hate.

Nan Muran looked at her calmly. “What did I do? Did I invite Young Master Zhuang? Did I pay the media to livestream it? Or was I the one who drugged your drink?”

“You ruined me, didn’t you?!” Nan Muting shrieked. She didn’t know how the plan had backfired, but she was certain Nan Muran was behind it.

Nan Muran’s graceful demeanor stood in stark contrast to Nan Muting’s hysteria.

She sighed, looking a little heartbroken. “This is what we call reaping what you sow.”

“You bitch! What did you say?!” Nan Muran’s aunt lunged forward, ready to hit her.

But Qi Li, who had been watching quietly with a dark expression, stepped in just in time and pulled Nan Muran behind him, shielding her.