Mu Wan was visibly annoyed. She hadn’t realized before that Kuang Shuyu had the clingy persistence of a stubborn leech. Ignoring him, she tried to walk away.

Kuang Shuyu stepped in to block her path, his expression sorrowful and his tone wounded.
“Wan wan, we’ve been childhood sweethearts for over a decade. Are you really going to abandon me and be with Kuang Ye?”

Mu Wan found his behavior nauseating.
“Kuang Shuyu, first of all, we were never officially together, so how can I abandon you? Secondly, you’ve been shopping and dancing with Yuan Weiwei. How can you have the nerve to play the victim and question me?”

When she had just been reborn, her dislike of Kuang Shuyu stemmed from his indifference during her darkest moments. But now, free from the naive infatuation of her past life, she saw him for what he was—faux gentleness masking true hypocrisy, like a people-pleasing central heating system, always eager to warm everyone.

Kuang Shuyu, misreading her disdain as jealousy over Yuan Weiwei, hurriedly said,
“Wan wan, there’s really nothing between me and Weiwei. If you’re bothered by it, I’ll make sure to cut ties with her. I neglected your feelings before. Please, give me another chance.”

Mu Wan responded firmly, “No.”
“Kuang Shuyu, let me make this clear to you today: I like Kuang Ye. I will only ever like Kuang Ye. There’s no past for us, and there won’t be any future. Stop wasting your time on me.”

After saying this, she pried his hand off her and prepared to leave. But Kuang Shuyu grabbed her again. In the struggle, Mu Wan accidentally stepped on her dress hem, lost her balance, and stumbled forward into Kuang Shuyu’s arms.

Meanwhile, Yuan Weiwei, noticing Kuang Shuyu hadn’t returned for a while, came looking for him and arrived just in time to witness what she perceived as Mu Wan “throwing herself” at Kuang Shuyu. Memories of the way Kuang Shuyu had looked at Mu Wan while they were shopping earlier flashed through her mind, leaving her stunned. In an instant, she rushed over and pushed Mu Wan away, her tone sharp and cutting.
“Mu Wan, you’re already engaged, yet you’re throwing yourself at someone else’s boyfriend. Have you had no shame?”

Mu Wan staggered but managed to steady herself against the wall. Hearing this aggressive accusation, her temper flared.
“Yuan Weiwei, what’s wrong with you? Who’s throwing themselves at anyone?”

Yuan Weiwei had liked Kuang Shuyu since she was young and couldn’t stand the thought of losing him to someone else again. Her words became increasingly unfiltered.
“I saw it with my own eyes, and you’re still trying to deny it? Eating from one bowl while eyeing another—how are you any different from those homewrecking mistresses out there?”

Mu Wan’s face turned green with anger. In both her past and present lives, she’d never been accused so brazenly.
“Yuan Weiwei, are you out of your mind? Kuang Shuyu stopped me and insisted on talking. I stepped on my dress and tripped. If you don’t believe me, ask Kuang Shuyu.”

Yuan Weiwei crossed her arms, her hostile gaze fixed on Mu Wan.
“Don’t even think about asking Shuyu to cover for you. He’s already agreed to be with me. I even introduced him to my father just now. What could he possibly have left to discuss with you?”

Mu Wan couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.
“This is what Kuang Shuyu calls having nothing to do with Yuan Weiwei?”

Their argument grew louder, catching the attention of some lingering guests outside, who were now watching with wide eyes, finding the drama of two women fighting over one man utterly riveting.

Mu Wan turned to Kuang Shuyu with a mocking smile.
“Go on then. Explain yourself to your girlfriend.”

Yuan Weiwei turned to Kuang Shuyu, her expression filled with expectation.
“Shuyu-gege, you told me you liked me, didn’t you?”

A thin layer of sweat appeared on Kuang Shuyu’s forehead. Trying to calm her down, he said,
“Weiwei, this is all just a misunderstanding. I’ll explain everything to you when we get back, alright?”

But Yuan Weiwei, far more spoiled and temperamental than Mu Wan, erupted in a near-hysterical outburst.
“No! I want to hear it now. Why did you go behind my back to meet Mu Wan? Why did you hold her? I’m supposed to be your girlfriend!”

Kuang Shuyu’s patience frayed as irritation built inside him. He hadn’t expected the usually compliant Yuan Weiwei to lose her temper in public like this. Weighing his options, he quickly assessed the situation.

Mu Wan was clearly out of reach now, beyond his control. Meanwhile, the Yuan family’s influence was comparable to the Mu family’s, and their power lay in commerce, not the military and political spheres where the Mu family thrived. If he wanted to take over the entire Kuang family in the future, the Yuan family might actually be a more strategic ally.

After a brief pause, Kuang Shuyu made his decision. Taking Yuan Weiwei’s hand, he turned to Mu Wan and said,
“Miss Mu, you’re already engaged to my younger brother. It’s best for us to avoid any misunderstandings in the future.”

Boom—his words stirred an immediate uproar.

Mu Wan stared at Kuang Shuyu in shock, as if she were seeing him for the first time. Was he implying—no, outright confirming—that she had just thrown herself at him?

Nearby, whispers of disdain and ridicule quickly arose.
“Wow, so she’s really the type to have her cake and eat it too. Who would’ve thought the eldest daughter of the Mu family was like this?”
“Didn’t she just defend her fiancé in the banquet hall earlier? And now she’s doing this in private? Two-faced bitch?”

Mu Wan stood frozen, her entire body rigid. The flood of gossip rose like an overwhelming tide, sweeping up from her feet, climbing her ankles, engulfing her knees… It felt like she was slowly being submerged.