Huo Shiqing, why doesn't Madam Song recognize you?
Just then, Bai Ji stopped the car and respectfully turned his head. "Sir, we've arrived at Fulu Garden."
Mu Beiyin looked up in surprise. Fulu Garden was a well-known tea restaurant among the upper class. Mu Qianrou was a loyal patron, but she had never had the chance to dine there herself.
Why did Huo Shiqing bring her here?
Huo Shiqing toyed with the jade pendant in his hand, suppressing the speculation in his eyes, and let out a light chuckle.
"Since Miss Mu insisted on giving me the pendant, I shall respectfully accept it."
"But I can't take Miss Mu's jade without giving something in return—so allow me to host you for a meal. Let's go."
Mu Beiyin breathed a sigh of relief seeing him accept the pendant, but a question quickly popped up—how did he know she'd always wanted to come to this restaurant? Was it just a coincidence?
Before she could figure it out, several discordant voices suddenly rang out from not far away—
"That woman doesn't deserve my son. Letting her back out of the engagement gracefully was already being generous! A bumpkin like her—who'd want her after losing Lingqian?"
"That scandal yesterday is all over the place. If you ask me, Young Master Song is too kind. A woman like that deserves to be utterly disgraced…"
The mocking voices came and went. A few women, clearly wealthy and well-dressed, wore looks of contempt. Then, one of them suddenly widened her eyes.
"Madam Song, isn't that Mu Beiyin over there?!"
Everyone turned their heads at once. Mu Beiyin frowned slightly. What terrible luck—running into Song Lingqian's mother while just trying to have a meal.
She was about to head to a private room when Madam Song, Fang Xuan, strode over quickly with a face full of disgust.
"Mu Beiyin, what are you doing here? Lingqian has already broken off the engagement. What's the point of trying to cozy up to me?"
Cozy up to her? Mu Beiyin almost laughed from anger. Song Lingqian and his mother truly were cut from the same self-obsessed cloth.
A number of guests nearby were now watching. Fang Xuan held her chin high with condescension.
"If you're willing to get on your knees and beg, maybe I'll say a few good words for you to Lingqian. But don't get your hopes up—Lingqian would never marry someone like—"
"Madam Song," Mu Beiyin interrupted with a smile that was full of meaning.
"What makes you so confident that I must marry Song Lingqian?"
Fang Xuan met Mu Beiyin's gaze and was nearly intimidated by the force of it, her body involuntarily shivering.
But then she sneered, believing Mu Beiyin was just pretending to be strong. "What a joke. Everyone in Ancheng knows how much you adored our Lingqian. Mu Beiyin, you should learn some shame. Look at how different Qianrou is from you! A shameless, ignorant woman like you—our Lingqian would never want someone like that!"
Huo Shiqing stood a short distance behind Mu Beiyin, the corners of his lips slightly curved, saying nothing.
He was curious to see how Mu Beiyin would respond.
Unexpectedly, Mu Beiyin smiled suddenly. "I used to think that since we were engaged, it was only natural to interact more. But who knew that Young Master Song isn't really a man in that regard… Ah, Mrs. Song, with today's broken engagement, I've already saved Young Master Song's face. Please don't push me any further."
Everyone was stunned. That statement was truly thought-provoking.
Mu Beiyin said that Song Lingqian isn't a man in that regard and that the broken engagement saved his face…
Clearly, she was subtly telling everyone that Song Lingqian is inadequate!
After all, Mu Beiyin was his fiancée — how could she not know whether he was a man or not?
Mrs. Fang's expression changed drastically, and she shouted sharply, "Mu Beiyin, what nonsense are you talking about?!"
Mu Beiyin shook her head helplessly. "Mrs. Song, you really don't need to test me anymore. I'm not interested in men who can't perform. If Mu Qianrou wants him, she can have him. You don't actually believe your son is some prized catch, do you?"
The gazes around them grew even stranger.
Mrs. Fang suppressed her anger, trembling all over:
"You… you little bitch, shut up! Shut up!"
"All right, all right, I'll shut up," Yun Sheng sighed dramatically, acting tolerant. "Mrs. Song, you should accept reality early — your son's failing isn't a big deal. After all, Mu Qianrou won't abandon him, right?"
Whispers finally broke out among the crowd.
"Oh my god, knowing that Song Lingqian is no good, why does Mu Qianrou still cling to him?"
"No wonder I often see Song Lingqian visiting the andrology clinic. Honestly, it's impressive Mu Beiyin has kept this secret for so many years."
"Exactly! Mrs. Song knows her son's no good but still thinks Mu Beiyin is obsessed with him? The Song family is way too narcissistic."
One sarcastic remark after another hit their ears. Mu Beiyin's smile grew wider as she brushed past Mrs. Fang and casually said,
"Mrs. Song, I advise you not to trouble me. You see, if you cause trouble for me, the one who looks bad is your son."
After saying this, she didn't look back and headed straight for the private room.
"You, you…" Mrs. Fang trembled with rage, gasping for breath. After a long moment, she forced herself to suppress her anger and put on a strong front.
"That bitch is talking nonsense. Lingqian is perfectly fine! Come on, let's go inside and eat."
Just as they were about to sit down and order, the manager hurried over and stopped them.
"Sorry, Fulu Garden does not welcome you ladies!"
Mrs. Fang was furious. "What do you mean?"
The manager gave a rehearsed smile. "I'm sorry, it means exactly what it says. Please leave."
Mrs. Fang felt everyone's eyes on her change. She raised her voice.
"Do you know who I am?! How dare a small restaurant offend me! What do you think you are?"
The manager's eyes flashed oddly, growing more impatient.
"Even if Old Master Song himself came here, you'd still have to leave! Our gentleman said you offended our lady boss, and Fulu Garden will never welcome the Song family!"
Mrs. Fang clenched her teeth and thought for a long time, still unable to figure out who the lady boss of Fulu Garden was.
Facing the whispers and pointing fingers, she left in fury, overwhelmed.
How could she have possibly offended the lady boss of Fulu Garden?
...
Inside the private room.
The dishes had all been served, and Huo Shiqing handed Mu Beiyin a glass of water. "Miss Mu, you have quite the way with words."
Mu Beiyin nearly choked on a piece of meat. "You flatter me, you flatter me."
Huo Shiqing raised an eyebrow and casually probed, "I heard that Miss Mu was meek and easy to handle, but seeing you today, sharp-tongued and fierce, doesn't match the rumors at all."
Mu Beiyin frowned. Why was he asking this? Did he think she was too fierce?
Well, it made sense. She'd heard men preferred gentle, delicate girls. Maybe Huo Shiqing didn't like how fiercely she had confronted Fang Xuan.
She had worked so hard to marry Song Lingqian's uncle; she couldn't give Huo Shiqing any reason to ask for a divorce.
Mu Beiyin rolled her eyes, put down her chopsticks, and said with some grievance, "Mr. Huo, it's really Madam Song who went too far. Every time we meet, she mocks me. Even a clay figurine has some temper."
Huo Shiqing glanced at her indifferently. "Is that so? With your sharp tongue, I'd have thought this was just how you are."
"No, no, you saw it yourself. It was Madam Song looking for trouble. I'm actually someone who doesn't stir up trouble; I've always been—"
Before Mu Beiyin could finish, a question suddenly struck her.
Wait! Huo Shiqing was there when she confronted Madam Song just now, right?
Madam Song saw Song Lingqian's uncle standing next to her... and didn't react at all?
A bad premonition suddenly surged in her heart. Mu Beiyin put down her chopsticks in horror and asked, "Huo Shiqing, why doesn't Madam Song recognize you?"