9

A few days later was Meng Yu’s 28th birthday, and the Wang family planned to throw a grand celebration for her. As a stepdaughter in the Wang family, Meng Yu wasn’t really entitled to the luxury of a birthday party—unlike Wang Shuyuan, the pampered little princess who had one every year. In fact, the only time the Wang family had ever held a birthday party for Meng Yu was when she turned eighteen, and even then, it had been a modest affair.

This time, however, they were going all out—most likely out of consideration for the Xia family. More accurately, out of respect for Chu Xiujin. After all, Meng Yu was about to marry him, and the Wang family couldn’t afford to appear disrespectful.

As the always-flawless goddess in the public eye, Meng Yu began preparing early on the day of her party—selecting a gown and doing her makeup. The Wang’s had provided several brand-new dresses for her to choose from. For once, none of them were hand-me-downs from Wang Shuyuan.

Meng Yu picked a gown in apple green. It was made of sheer tulle, off-the-shoulder, with a flowing sash draped from the right shoulder that fluttered like mist when she moved—ethereal and elegant. The color leaned a bit flashy, but Meng Yu was the kind of bold, dazzling beauty who could pull off such striking tones. Together, the contrast created an unexpectedly stunning effect.

She did her own makeup. Having learned to apply it from a young age, she knew better than any professional which look best suited her features.

While she was drawing her brows, she caught sight of someone entering through the mirror. It was Yan Wenwen, the daughter of Wang Shuyuan’s uncle. She and Meng Yu were around the same age and had attended the same middle and high school. Wang Shuyuan had disliked her stepsister since childhood, and Yan Wenwen—her ever-loyal sidekick—naturally shared that disdain.

Yan Wenwen strutted in and bent down slightly to grin at Meng Yu in the mirror. “So, how does it feel, marrying into a rich family? Dumped not long ago, and now you’ve landed such a good match. Talk about a blessing in disguise. You must be over the moon.”

Meng Yu didn’t spare her a glance. “Knocking before entering is basic manners. Didn’t your parents teach you that?”

Yan Wenwen batted her lashes and smiled, unfazed. “Manners are for people who deserve them. You? Not so much. Oh, but right—I forgot, you’re practically a rich man’s wife now. I really should show you some respect, huh? Want me to go back out and knock before barging in again?”

Meng Yu waved her hand dismissively. “Move. You’re blocking the light.”

Yan Wenwen didn’t mind. She stepped aside and casually circled behind her. “We’ve known each other for years. Before you get married, I just thought I’d offer a few friendly words of advice.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Meng Yu replied coldly. “You know me—I’ve never needed your kind of friendliness.”

Yan Wenwen’s smile twitched, but she pressed on. “Don’t go thinking marrying into the Xia family is some great accomplishment. Do you remember Xia Jing’s wife? The one who nearly died in childbirth just to give them a son…? If you end up there, you won’t be any better off. That Mr. Chu isn’t marrying you out of love—he just needs a woman. Or rather, a womb to bear his children. It doesn’t matter who he marries, as long as she can do the job.”

Meng Yu had just finished her brows and began blending her eyeshadow. “Funny. I seem to recall that the woman he originally wanted to marry was Wang Shuyuan. A dignified socialite, wasn’t she? Guess even she was nothing more than a walking womb. That’s kind of tragic, actually.”

That shut Yan Wenwen up for a second. “How dare you compare yourself to my cousin?”

Meng Yu shrugged, completely unbothered. “You’re the one who said it—any woman the Xia family marries is just a womb, right?”

“You—!”

But Meng Yu had already finished her makeup and slowly stood up. She knew exactly why Yan Wenwen hated her—partly because of Wang Shuyuan, and partly because Meng Yu had always been overwhelmingly popular with the boys at school. Every holiday, her desk would be covered in gifts. She never had to ask; the boys just naturally flocked to her. That included the very one Yan Wenwen liked.

Sometimes, Meng Yu mused, being beautiful really was a crime—and she had been sentenced to life without parole. Honestly, it was exhausting.

“I meant to go heavier with the eyeshadow,” she said lightly, studying her reflection, “but just a few swipes did the trick. Looks like this face is saving me a fortune in makeup.”

She glanced at Yan Wenwen in the mirror, fully aware of the resentment burning behind those eyes. But if she was going to hate her anyway, Meng Yu figured she might as well give her a reason.

If you can’t stand to see me shine, then I’ll just shine a little brighter—just for you.

She twirled once in front of the mirror, then flashed a radiant smile. “Time to go let everyone admire my beauty. Oh—by the way—I heard Cheng Xi’s coming tonight too.”

Cheng Xi. The very boy Yan Wenwen had a crush on.

“What do you think he’ll bring me this year?” Meng Yu asked with a playful wink. “Two years ago, he flew back from abroad just to give me a birthday present—even though he knew I had a boyfriend. Really put me in a tough spot.”

Of course, she had turned him down in the end. But there was no reason Yan Wenwen needed to know that.

As expected, Yan Wenwen was furious. She snapped, “Bitch!”

Well, she’d started it—she was the one who came in looking for a fight.

Now that her point had been made, Meng Yu lost interest in playing. Without sparing Yan Wenwen another glance, she lifted her chin and walked off, her swan-like neck held high as she left with effortless grace.

For Meng Yu’s birthday, Wang Weiguo had gone so far as to invite one of the country’s top variety show hosts to emcee the event. Just before Meng Yu came downstairs, the host was warming up the crowd. Someone whispered something in his ear, and his gaze shifted toward the staircase.

He froze for a second—then immediately turned back to the guests with a bright smile. “Now, please join me in welcoming the star of tonight’s celebration—Miss Meng Yu!”

He gestured dramatically toward the staircase, and all eyes followed his lead.

Meng Yu began her descent, gracefully lifting her gown as she stepped down slowly and elegantly.

Above her, the grand chandelier bathed her in a golden glow. Under the warm light, her fair skin seemed almost luminous—smooth and radiant like the finest mutton-fat jade.

The form-fitting gown perfectly accentuated Meng Yu’s figure—graceful and proportionate, with not an inch too much or too little. Every curve of her silhouette struck a balance so exquisite it seemed almost sculpted.

But what truly drew everyone’s attention was her face. Delicate and refined, each feature looked as though it had been meticulously carved by a master artisan. Her hair was half-pinned back, revealing her forehead—yet rather than appearing awkward, it subtly elongated her face, enhancing its shape. She exuded a quiet confidence, the kind that came from knowing her beauty needed no embellishment. Clean, full, and flawless from every angle.

Downstairs, Wang Shuyuan was holding a champagne glass and chatting easily with a group of guests. She had always been in her element at events like this. Her social skills were exceptional—able to converse with just about anyone. Many people were eager to exchange ideas on fashion with a renowned designer like her.

But the moment Meng Yu appeared, nearly every gaze in the room shifted toward the staircase.

Wang Shuyuan even overheard two guests in front of her whispering.

“My god, Meng Yu really is a rare beauty. Miss Wang is already well-known in the social scene—elegant, talented, and beautiful. But compared to Meng Yu, she’s just a bit… eclipsed. It’s a shame her background doesn’t match her looks. Otherwise, someone like her would steal the spotlight anywhere she went.”

“What’s worse is—she’s getting married soon. And to that…”

The speaker trailed off, not daring to finish.

Wang Shuyuan silently downed the rest of her drink. Then she discreetly approached the event’s steward and murmured, “Find a way to have those two guests escorted out.”

After Meng Yu descended the stairs, Qi Mei quickly led her over to Wang Weiguo. He politely began introducing her to several elder guests.

Just then, a staff member rushed in and whispered urgently into Wang Weiguo’s ear, “Xiao Qi, the Vice President of Grand Pioneer Group, just arrived.”

Meng Yu, standing close by, naturally heard it too.

Wang Weiguo instinctively glanced at her. The entire family knew Meng Yu had dated Xiao Qi for many years. But hadn’t they broken up already? Why was he here now? Especially when Meng Yu was already engaged to someone from the Xia family? His presence suddenly made things… complicated.

Still, as the Vice President of Grand Pioneer, Xiao Qi was not someone they could afford to offend. Since he was already at the door, Wang Weiguo had no choice but to let him in.

Sure enough, before long, Xiao Qi was led inside. He was dressed formally today, his presence composed and professional. After being shown in by a servant, he greeted Wang Weiguo and Qi Mei politely.

“Meng Yu, happy birthday,” he said, handing her a small gift box. “This is for you.”

“Thank you, Vice President Xiao,” Meng Yu replied with a courteous smile. She accepted the gift, then passed it directly to the attendant in charge of collecting presents.

At the words ‘Vice President Xiao’, his brow twitched slightly.

“You’re not going to open it?”

“I’ll open all the gifts after the party,” she replied evenly.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” Xiao Qi asked bluntly, showing no concern for Wang Weiguo and Qi Mei standing right beside them.

Before Meng Yu could answer, the same attendant rushed back in and whispered anxiously to Wang Weiguo, “What should we do now? Mr. Chu heard it’s Miss Meng’s birthday and came in person to deliver a gift. He’s already at the door.”

That genuinely caught Wang Weiguo off guard. As the high-powered chairman he was, Chu Xiujin typically had no time—or interest—for small, social events like this. That was why Wang Weiguo hadn’t even bothered sending him an invitation. He hadn’t expected the man to show up unannounced.

Now what?

With Xiao Qi still standing right here, this was a tricky situation. Wang Weiguo’s gaze swept coldly across Meng Yu. Both of these men were powerful and not people he could afford to offend. All he could do now was pray that things didn’t spiral out of control.

“Invite Mr. Chu in—quickly,” Wang Weiguo instructed.

Meanwhile, Yan Wenwen had been wandering around the banquet hall and finally spotted Wang Shuyuan sitting in a quiet corner. She walked over, surprised. “Why are you hiding over here?”

“Where did you run off to?” Wang Shuyuan asked coolly.

Yan Wenwen could tell her mood was off and adjusted her tone cautiously. “I was just wandering around. But seriously—why are you letting her steal the spotlight? This kind of event should be your stage.”

Wang Shuyuan waved it off with feigned indifference. “Well, it is her birthday. Might as well let her have her moment.”

Yan Wenwen curled her lip. Spotting Xiao Qi beside Meng Yu, she said, “What’s he doing here? Weren’t they supposed to have broken up?”

“No idea,” Wang Shuyuan replied lightly.

“Don’t tell me he’s trying to rekindle things? If he starts interfering, do you think Meng Yu will still be able to leap into the Xia family’s fire pit?”

Wang Shuyuan frowned slightly. “You think the Xia family is that easy to interfere with? Xiao Qi might be capable, but he’s only the vice president of Grand Pioneer Group—and his base is in Shenzhen, not Yancheng.”

Relieved, Yan Wenwen nodded. “Good. As long as she manages to marry Mr. Chu, I can relax.”

Not long after, news of Chu Xiujin’s arrival reached them as well. Yan Wenwen’s eyes lit up in excitement. “Oh, this is going to be so good,” she whispered gleefully. “Rumor has it this 167cm mystery man is incredibly low-profile. We’re lucky to finally see what he looks like.”

She got more animated as she spoke. “I mean, a guy who’s only 167 cm? That’s tiny—basically half-disabled. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, I hear his face is nothing to write home about either.”

Yan Wenwen didn’t bother to hide her schadenfreude. “I wonder what this ‘half-disabled’ Mr. Chu brought as a gift for Meng Yu.”

Wang Shuyuan felt the knot in her chest loosen slightly. So what if Meng Yu looked stunning? So what if her ex was Xiao Qi? In the end, she was marrying that kind of man—a man Wang Shuyuan herself had already deemed unworthy. As she glanced at the impeccably dressed beauty in the crowd, she couldn’t help but feel a trace of pity.

But just as that thought crossed her mind, a stir rippled through the entrance as a crowd filed in—at the center was a man who drew every gaze like a magnet. Tall and poised in a custom-tailored suit, his features were striking, and he carried himself with effortless authority. The cut of his suit was sharp and precise, every inch of him exuding elegance and control.

Both women stared, momentarily stunned.

Yan Wenwen’s jaw dropped. “Holy… who is that? Since when was he part of this circle?”

Wang Shuyuan’s expression shifted instantly. The ease on her face vanished, replaced by a tight, uneasy frown. A bad feeling twisted in her gut—and sure enough, when the man approached Wang Weiguo and the others, his assistant stepped forward and announced clearly:

“This is Mr. Chu.”

“Mr… Mr. Chu?” Yan Wenwen looked utterly stunned. “How is this possible? Didn’t they say he was only 167 cm? Didn’t they say he had a terrible face?”

Wang Shuyuan didn’t respond. She just stared at the man in silence, her hands slowly clenching at her sides.

It was also Wang Weiguo’s first time seeing Chu Xiujin in person—and he was nothing like the rumors. Thankfully, the assistant standing beside him was someone he recognized from a previous meeting, which confirmed it. This was the infamous Mr. Chu.

Snapping out of his daze, Wang Weiguo immediately extended his hand for a handshake.

Meng Yu hadn’t expected him to show up either. She stood there, frozen, staring at the man who had suddenly appeared before her—until his voice finally pulled her back to the moment.

“Miss Meng,” he said, “happy birthday.”

=^_^=

Author has something to say: Jinjin finally shows his face—took him long enough!
Yep, he’s here to back up his wife in style.