Chapter 16 

To Ji Xingyao, what Mu Jinpei held wasn’t just her hand—it was the love she had long pondered but never fully grasped.

The painting she had created earlier, Holding Hands, mirrored this very moment exactly. Who would have thought that just a few days later, it would be miraculously realized in real life?

Her way of thinking might have been unconventional. To her, hugs and kisses existed only on the level of desire—they didn’t necessarily mean much. But fingers tightly intertwined, that kind of hand-holding reached into the soul. It led straight to the forever that every woman dreamed of but few ever truly attained.

Later, when she looked back, she realized this was the moment she fell in love with Mu Jinpei.

Every guest at the banquet was visibly shocked and stunned into silence.

With Mu Jinpei holding Ji Xingyao’s hand as they entered, everyone instinctively stepped back, clearing a narrow path just wide enough for them to pass through.

Swish, swish, swish—countless eyes followed them, as if paving a starlit road in their wake.

Everyone was so immersed in astonishment they forgot to greet Mu Jinpei.

Yin He and Ji Changsheng stared at each other, mouths slightly open, at a loss for words.

Tang Hongkang kept his eyes fixed on Mu Jinpei, trying to read something—anything—from his face, but there was nothing. Mu Jinpei’s expression remained as composed as ever.

Tang nudged Ji Changsheng with his elbow. “When did Xingyao and Mu… Jinpei start dating?”

Ji Changsheng, usually calm and collected, was caught off guard this time. It took him several seconds to respond. “How should I know? If I had known, I wouldn’t have tried so hard to get her to come to this banquet.”

Tang Hongkang nodded thoughtfully and patted Ji Changsheng’s shoulder. “Well, now you don’t have to worry. Xingyao brought home the perfect son-in-law. This is something you wouldn’t have dared to dream of. Not just anyone can climb up to the Mu family.”

Ji Changsheng wasn’t sure how he felt. He had been asking Uncle Zhang about his daughter’s daily life. Supposedly, she hadn’t seen Mu Jinpei in over a month—yet now, suddenly, they were together. It caught him off guard.

That said, if Mu Jinpei didn’t bear such a striking resemblance to someone who had passed, he would undoubtedly be the best match for his daughter.

Never mind the Mu family background—Mu Jinpei’s personal abilities and artistic taste alone made him an ideal partner for her.

If she really did marry Mu Jinpei, then the “mess” she called home would no longer be a problem in the eyes of others. Someone would be there with her at her peak, and someone would still be there when she hit a creative bottleneck.

Her talents would be appreciated by Pei Yu, and she would have someone to discuss and explore ideas with. All of her quirky and unconventional thoughts would be understood and responded to.

But Ji Changsheng couldn’t let go of one thing—Mu Jinpei’s background. It was like a thorn stuck in his throat, impossible to swallow or remove. Even though his secretary Feng Liang had investigated thoroughly and found plenty of evidence that Mu Jinpei was exactly who he said he was—and had no ties to the late Gu family—it still didn’t sit right with him.

That unease wasn’t something evidence could dispel.

Mu Jinpei had now approached, and Ji Xingyao looked petite standing beside him.

Chairman Qi came over and asked Tang Hongkang in a low voice, “What’s going on?”

Tang Hongkang was equally baffled. “Old Ji doesn’t even know.”

Tonight, Mu Jinpei took the initiative to shake hands with Chairman Qi and Tang Hongkang, using appropriately formal language. Then he turned to Ji Changsheng.

“Uncle Ji.”

That single word—“Uncle”—was enough to make everyone instantly understand: he was officially announcing his relationship with Ji Xingyao.

Throughout the greetings, Mu Jinpei never once let go of Ji Xingyao’s hand.

He glanced at her, then said to Ji Changsheng apologetically, “Xingyao wanted to surprise you, so I went along with her plan. I should have paid you and Aunt Yin a proper visit first. That was my oversight.”

Before Ji Changsheng could respond, Ji Xingyao jumped in. “Dad, Mu Jinpei only arrived in Beijing this afternoon. I invited him last minute to come to the banquet.”

Ji Changsheng smiled gently and reached out to ruffle her hair. His voice was hoarse. “This is the happiest I’ve ever been. Our little Xingyao has grown up.”

He had always been worried she would struggle socially, but never considered what she would be like once she fell in love. Now he had seen it. In this moment, his heart was filled with bittersweet emotion.

Even if it wasn’t Mu Jinpei, one day someone else would take her hand, start a new chapter of life with her, and walk into a fresh, unknown future—together.

“You and Jinpei go take a break. I’ll have the kitchen prepare something for you. Don’t drink on an empty stomach.”

Yin He took a few sips of wine to calm herself. The more she looked at her daughter and Mu Jinpei, the more perfect they seemed together. In all these years, she had never seen such a brilliant sparkle in her daughter’s eyes.

Crystal-clear and dazzling.

Ji Changsheng had to tend to the other guests, and Mu Jinpei was also busy greeting those who came over to socialize and even flatter him. Nearly half an hour passed before the two crossed paths again.

They clinked glasses.

“Send our regards to Teacher Pei and Chairman Mu for me and your Aunt Yin,” Ji Changsheng said.

“Thank you, Uncle Ji.” Mu Jinpei swirled his wine glass, his expression unreadable, then tilted his head slightly and downed the drink.

“Where’s Xingyao?”

“She was pulled away by Tang Jialei.”

Ji Changsheng nodded. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to a few people. You might find these contacts helpful when M.K enters the domestic market.”

Mu Jinpei replied, “Thank you, Uncle Ji.”

“Don’t be so formal,” Ji Changsheng said casually. “You and Xingyao got familiar while discussing agency rights, right?”

“Yes,” Mu Jinpei answered honestly. “We haven’t reached an agreement yet—neither of us is willing to back down. After a few rounds of negotiation, we got to know each other. Xingyao is a lot like my mom—same tastes and habits.”

Ji Changsheng teased, “So now, would you dare offer a 50/50 agency deal again?”

Mu Jinpei smiled faintly. “If she takes a liking to an M.K. gallery, I’d give it to her.”

The two chatted with such ease it was hard to tell who was the better actor. Both were masters at their game—so much so, they even fooled themselves.

But Ji Changsheng wasn’t introducing business people tonight. He was introducing relatives of the Ji family, prominent figures from various circles, and others with sensitive identities who didn’t attend.

Mu Jinpei understood: Ji Changsheng wasn’t trying to network—he was applying pressure, showing just how deep the Ji family’s background went.

Ji Changsheng had never let his guard down around Mu Jinpei.

No matter who he was introduced to, Mu Jinpei remained modest and polite.

From the outside, this evening looked like a win-win. Mu Jinpei gained access to the Ji family’s network and resources, and Ji Changsheng could use M.K. Group’s backing to break through deadlocks in the European and American markets.

At one point, Mu Jinpei turned his head slightly and spotted Xu Rui not far away. She had also attended the banquet, dressed in an elegant light blue gown, graceful and poised.

They met eyes across the crowd for less than two seconds before both looked away.

Xu Rui drained her glass of red wine and took another.

She hadn’t been there long, but the sight of Mu Jinpei holding Ji Xingyao’s hand had already been described to her in vivid detail by others. Someone from their socialite group had even recorded a video and sent it to their group chat.

Using her wine glass to shield her face, she glanced again at Mu Jinpei and Ji Changsheng. Ji Changsheng was slightly shorter than Mu Jinpei, but compared to most men, still tall and commanding.

Though nearly 55 years old, he maintained himself well. Even some men in their 30s couldn’t match his presence and spirit.

Words like “elegant and charming” still applied to him—which made it easy to imagine why he once captivated Mu Jinpei’s biological mother so thoroughly.

In terms of presence, Mu Jinpei and Ji Changsheng were evenly matched. But after decades in the business world, Ji Changsheng had a naturally stronger edge.

Mu Jinpei’s methodical approach mirrored Ji Changsheng in his youth—quiet, calculated.

And Ji Changsheng now was what Mu Jinpei might become thirty years later—meticulous and strategic.

Mu Jinpei advanced with steady precision; Ji Changsheng maneuvered like a seasoned general. At this moment, it was impossible to say who had the upper hand.

Xu Rui lowered her gaze and took a sip of red wine, but couldn’t taste its richness. With a father as ruthless as Ji Changsheng and a “boyfriend” as calculating and cold as Mu Jinpei, it was hard to say whether Ji Xingyao was fortunate or not.

She could almost see Ji Xingyao’s future: when the Ji family went bankrupt, when Ji Changsheng fell from power, and when Mu Jinpei turned his back on her—without her father or the Ji family’s protection—how would she survive the deep, scorching, boundless hell that awaited?

Xu Rui downed the rest of her wine in one gulp, the burn climbing up her throat.

“Aww, feeling heartbroken?” Qi Chen leaned over to her ear, taunting with a gleeful smirk. “Come on, shouldn’t you be happy that the man you like found a good match? Hey, how about this—dump me, and you might still have a chance to win your precious guy back.”

To outsiders, they looked like the perfect couple, close and enviable.

Xu Rui shot him a look, gritting her teeth. “What the hell do you know?”

Qi Chen grinned smugly. “Exactly—I know you.”

Xu Rui: “…”

If they weren’t surrounded by people, she would have slapped him right then and there.

Today, Qi Chen let her off the hook since she was wearing two-inch heels. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he said, “Let’s go, let’s show some PDA to my dad. If he’s happy, maybe he’ll throw me a few million in cash.”

As he said this, he scanned the crowd. “Where’s Little Xing? Haven’t seen her all night.”

The next second, his back stiffened as a wave of pain and cold sweat hit—Xu Rui had stomped hard on his foot with her heel.

Meanwhile, Ji Xingyao was pulled aside by Tang Jialei, who interrogated her like she was under arrest. “Spill it! When did you start sneaking around with Mu Jinpei, huh?”

Ji Xingyao laughed, “If you don’t know how to use idioms, don’t use them at all.”

“Hey, just say it!” Tang Jialei tickled her.

Ji Xingyao, being extremely ticklish, surrendered mid-laugh. “Okay, okay, I’ll tell you!”

“We just got together today.”

“Really?” Tang Jialei shot her a look full of skepticism.

“Why would I lie? I just asked him to come with me to this banquet, and he agreed. Then everything happened the way you saw. I didn’t know any earlier than you did.”

Tang Jialei propped her elbow on the window sill and nodded slowly. “He turned fake into real. Not surprising—if I were a man, I wouldn’t have been able to resist either.”

She fantasized aloud, “Who knows, maybe one day I’ll have to start calling you sister-in-law.”

They both burst out laughing.

“Have you seen him recently?” Ji Xingyao asked with concern.

Tang Jialei shook her head. Pei Yu had gone back to New York, and she was basically on a break. She calculated—it had been two months and three days since she last saw Xie Yuncheng.

She checked his Instagram every day, hoping for an update. The last one had been six months ago.

Other than that, they had no contact.

Sometimes she wanted to call him, but didn’t know what to say.

Half-joking, Tang Jialei said, “There’s still hope for my future happiness. Once you get close with the Mu family, anytime Xie Yuncheng is at an event, I’ll tag along with you.”

Outside, dusk had fallen. The city had changed into its evening glamour.

Inside the banquet hall, laughter and chatter echoed among the lights and elegance. A dazzling illusion of splendor.

After a long evening of socializing, Ji Changsheng finally had a moment to himself. Tang Hongkang pulled him aside to a quiet spot, glancing around to make sure no one was nearby before speaking.

“What’s up?”

“Don’t you think Mu Jinpei looks… familiar?” Tang Hongkang stared at Ji Changsheng intently, afraid to miss any reaction.

Ji Changsheng replied evenly, “He does look a bit like someone from the Gu family. But there are plenty of people in the world who look similar without sharing blood. Mu Jinpei is Pei Yu’s son.”

His tone was calm and unconcerned.

Tang Hongkang, who had also been in the know back then, let out a breath of relief. “Good.”

Around the corner, Ji Xingyao and Tang Jialei came strolling by arm-in-arm, whispering and laughing.

“The kids are coming,” Ji Changsheng warned him.

The moment Tang Hongkang saw his daughter, he started scolding. “Why are you glued to Xingyao all the time? She’s not going anywhere. Can’t you…”

Ji Changsheng interrupted, “Can’t you just hold your tongue for once? For all you know, she might surprise you one day. Don’t nag her to death.”

Tang Jialei gave her father a snort and a big eye-roll.

The group headed back to the banquet hall.

Yin He came over with a perfectly graceful smile. Tonight, she wore a dusty violet qipao—both her elegance and beauty were no less than in her youth.

“I’ve been looking all over for you,” she said as she took Ji Changsheng’s arm.

“Just talking with Old Tang,” Ji Changsheng replied. He caught a whiff of wine. “You’ve been drinking?”

Yin He nodded, “Two glasses.”

Ji Changsheng couldn’t help but scold her, “You always get stomachaches when you drink. Did you forget?”

Yin He replied, “I’m just happy. If it hurts, I’ll endure it.” Then she shared her joy with her husband. “I’ve never seen Xingyao this happy before. Should we invite Mu Jinpei over for dinner in a few days?”

Ji Changsheng thought for a long moment. “Let’s wait until after the New Year. As parents, we shouldn’t interfere too much. When the time is right, Xingyao will bring him home herself.”

The banquet didn’t end until after midnight. Everyone left content.

Ji Xingyao went back with Mu Jinpei. Once the car door closed, the noise of the outside world was shut out—it felt like stepping into an entirely different world.

At midnight, Ji Xingyao felt as if she had returned to reality. This wasn’t a fairy-tale pumpkin carriage. Maybe earlier, under the influence of hormones, she had assumed Mu Jinpei was really her boyfriend—but now, she wasn’t so sure.

She lowered her head. She was still wearing the “glass slippers” he had given her.

Mu Jinpei took off his suit jacket and draped it over the front seat. Without saying a word, he reached out, palm facing up.

Ji Xingyao looked at him, then at his hand, making sure she hadn’t misunderstood. She placed her hand in his.

He closed his fingers around hers tightly.

Her heart settled—she had found her anchor.

Neither of them spoke on the ride back, each watching their own window. The night cast temptation over the city and slowly consumed it.

The car stopped in front of Ji Xingyao’s building. Mu Jinpei got out with her, closing the door and taking her hand again.

She had the access card to the underground garage in her bag, but neither mentioned it. She simply used facial recognition to bring him inside.

“I wasn’t pretending tonight,” Mu Jinpei finally said, breaking the silence.

Ji Xingyao stopped walking. “I know.” The moment he reached for her hand in the car, she was certain.

That night at the auction, she was just playing a role. Tonight was different—his gaze had changed, and she could feel it.

No more words were needed. Just like that, their relationship was confirmed.

At her apartment door, Mu Jinpei let go of her hand. “See you at the studio tomorrow.”

“Mm, good night.” Ji Xingyao stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips.

Mu Jinpei’s back tensed. Those emotions he had tried to suppress flared and vanished in a flash.

Ji Xingyao didn’t pull away. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her face against his shirt collar.

Mu Jinpei pulled her into his embrace, placing his arms around her waist, lowering himself to her height. He pressed his cheek to hers and said in a low voice, “Go to sleep early. I’ll pick you up in the morning.”