This street was originally just a row of low-rise bungalows, but a few years ago a shopping mall was built, and it has become increasingly prosperous and bustling. Various Western-style buildings are scattered about, with foreign goods shops and Western-style restaurants side by side, making it dazzling to behold.
In addition, with the promotion of a free and easy lifestyle in China in recent years, many young women have started to go out shopping in groups, dressed in the latest fashions, laughing and joking, and behaving with grace.
All these things have changed over time, and everything is vastly different from what I remember.
She originally went to the United States to accompany her aunt who was recovering from an illness. After her aunt passed away, she and her second brother, Mu Yun, stayed in the United States to study, and six years passed in the blink of an eye. Having not set foot on this land for several years, even the air seemed somewhat unfamiliar.
Just as Mu Xing was about to feign a sigh of homesickness, he suddenly heard a woman's voice behind him.
"No way! This guy is perfectly fine, no need to spend money. Do you think I'm after your money?"
Her voice was clear, bright, and charming, but her Wu dialect was really awkward, which surprised Mu Xing.
She'd seen people in America pretending to be Japanese, pretending to be overseas Chinese, and today she even saw someone pretending to be a girl from the South! It was truly an eye-opener.
Mu Xing was about to turn around to see who this strange person was when he heard the girl say, "I told you I don't want it, it's not particularly pretty... Look, isn't dark blue better than pale yellow? Then let's go with pale yellow. I'm sorry to make you spend money... Ah, these gold and silver headdresses are so trendy and lively these days, let me go take a look."
Good! What a clever tactic of feigning retreat to advance! She said no, but she certainly didn't hold back with her actions. Mu Xing almost wanted to applaud her.
I just read an article in that magazine called "Linglong" about "how to deal with male friends" and "how to fight for women's rights in social situations," but it seems none of those are as effective as this young lady's practical application...
Thinking this, Mu Xing suddenly became interested and wanted to see what kind of girl she was.
She turned around and her eyes met those of the woman at the opposite counter. One look from her made her hold her breath in surprise.
What a face this is!
First of all, it is an extremely charming face that will not arouse jealousy from other women.
Mu Xing thought blankly.
The stained glass windows on the roof of the foreign firm cast colorful light spots onto the woman, and the gemstone earring she was trying on swayed by her temple, reflecting a shimmering light.
She looked at Mu Xing with a surprised expression. Her large, bright eyes were smeared with silver-red rouge, her full lips were slightly parted with only a light touch of pink, and she had a smile on her face. Her cheeks were plump, and she looked innocent and naive.
Yet, within this childlike innocence, an alluring charm unexpectedly bursts forth, captivating all who behold it.
—At least Mu Xing couldn't take his eyes off it.
After watching for an unknown amount of time, the woman opposite Mu Xing suddenly smiled brightly at him, her eyes sparkling with flirtatious charm.
Mu Xing felt a pang in her heart and immediately looked away.
"This is an extremely beautiful face," she concluded.
But she probably wouldn't be a "beautiful" person.
As Mu Xing was pondering this, someone suddenly patted him on the shoulder.
"This gentleman is a new face in Wenjiang. May I ask your surname?" It was the man who had just been with the beautiful woman. He said to Mu Xing, "My name is Cui Yuanbai, and I am the deputy manager of this Huarong Foreign Firm."
After sizing up Mu Xing a few times, he smiled and said, "Don't laugh at me, brother. I run a foreign firm and have gotten to know most of the prominent gentlemen in Wenjiang. But you look unfamiliar. Are you perhaps a tourist?"
The major families in Wenjiang were either business associates or relatives, so they were all acquaintances. Mu Xing had naturally met Cui Yuanbai a few times when they were young, but she had been abroad for several years and was now dressed as a man, so it was no wonder he didn't recognize her.
Mu Xing found it amusing, but said in a serious tone, "So it's Young Master Cui. I am Mu Xing. I just returned to the country last week, so it's no wonder you don't recognize me."
As Mu Xing spoke, he caught a glimpse of the beautiful woman staring intently at him, as if she had seen a top-quality diamond.
Upon hearing the name of the Mu family, Young Master Cui quickly shook hands with Mu Xing and exchanged a few compliments. Young Master Cui said, "Speaking of which, I know a young lady from the Mu family. Her nickname is Xuanji. She was my childhood playmate. I heard that she went to America with Second Young Master Mu back then. I wonder if she has returned to China this time?"
Mu Xing casually made up a story: "Oh, Xuanji is still in the United States. She enrolled a year later than my second brother and me, and hasn't finished her studies yet. She probably won't be able to return to China until next year." Well, it wasn't entirely a lie. I did enroll a year later, but I was able to graduate early.
Young Master Cui nodded, pondered for a moment, then looked puzzled and said, "Mr. Mu, I seem to remember that there are only three sons in the Mu family. The eldest son works in Nanjing, and the second son went to America with Xuanji. I wonder if you...?"
"ah."
Mu Xing froze, then quickly made a choice between "admitting she was making things up and becoming a laughingstock" and continuing to make things up.
She said, "Young Master Cui, you may not know this, but I was originally Doctor Mu's second son. Later, I was adopted by Mu Gong's sister, Lady Fuxue, as his adopted son. My mother was often ill, and this was a marriage to bring her good fortune. Back then, my second brother, Sister Xuanji, and I went to America to seek treatment for my mother, but we never expected..."
The funeral of Madam Fuxue of the Mu family four years ago was grand and solemn, which Cui Ershao naturally knew. Now that Mu Xing looked pained, he could not continue to ask questions and could only quickly blame himself for speaking out of turn and touching on people's wounds.
Mu Xing smiled and changed the subject. She gestured to the beauty over there and said with a smile, "Is that your lady? Second Young Master is quite fortunate." In such a newly acquainted occasion, talking about the other person's female companion is not a good topic. However, if the female companion is not a wife or fiancée, any man with a flirtatious and teasing attitude will likely use it as a topic of conversation and discuss it at length.
Mu Xing wanted to test whether the beauty in front of him was a decent woman, not out of pity or malicious gossip, but simply out of pure interest—interest in something he had never encountered before.
As expected, Young Master Cui looked somewhat awkward and said, "She's not my wife, it's just, cough..."
Mu Xing quickly put on an expression that showed he knew what was going on and said, "Ah, I was being presumptuous. I'm sorry."
Having spent four years in the brothel, Bai Yan knew her mother's methods very well. If she were to abandon Young Master Cui now, her mother would be furious. Even if she didn't get a beating like Xiao Abao, she probably wouldn't have an easy time either.
With that in mind, she carefully selected two large paper bags full of imported goods, from silk stockings and white jade cream to pearl necklaces and agate earrings—everything her mother usually liked. She hoped that, for the sake of the gifts, her mother would suffer less.
She was enjoying her selections when she looked up and suddenly met a glance from that young master Mu.
She was taken aback.
It was neither the usual intimate, obscene, or disgusting behavior that was always present in one's life, nor the so-called lofty "pity."
It was an emotion she couldn't understand.
After a pause, Bai Yan returned a smile and continued selecting items without a care in the world.
What's the big deal? Who cares what kind of look he has? Men are all the same. As long as I can lure him to Yuhua Book House in Yuejiang to find her, there's money to be made, or even... I can redeem her, isn't that enough?
She was nothing more than a bird, living in filth, surviving by scavenging and licking the scraps left by others. What could she possibly hope for?
Just as Bai Yan picked up a pair of earrings, Mu Xing suddenly walked over and said, "This young lady has fair skin, why not choose this pair of gold and jeweled earrings? Wearing silver jewelry would only make her look dull."
She smiled and deliberately spoke in broken Mandarin, "Young Master Mu actually knows these things; your lady-in-waiting is truly blessed." Then, changing the subject, she looked at Young Master Cui with a hesitant expression and said, "But I quite like this silver one. Which of these two styles do you think is better?"
Young Master Cui hurriedly said, "What's there to choose from? Of course I want both! Why are you trying to save me money? Ah Fu, come and wrap up both pairs! Oh, and since Mr. Mu said you're suited to gold, wrap up this pair too, it's a new arrival..."
"Oh, don't rush!" Bai Yan said, casually picking up a pair of cufflinks. "I think this pair suits you very well, I'll give it to you!"
Consider it a breakup gift; don't think she's heartless.
Young Master Cui, not understanding his meaning, was naturally deeply moved: "Yan'er!"
Mu Xing stood aside, smiling but saying nothing.
That's brilliant.
Chapter Three
After packing their things, Young Master Cui and the beauty prepared to leave. Before leaving, Young Master Cui came over and exchanged pleasantries with Mu Xing, asking him to come visit him more often, to which Mu Xing naturally agreed.
Unexpectedly, as they turned the corner at the door, the beautiful woman holding Young Master Cui's arm suddenly turned her head and smiled charmingly at Mu Xing in the shop, her smile full of allure.
Mu Xing was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh.
Is he treating her as a potential romantic interest? What a clever tactic of "casting a wide net and catching the best fish"! Young Master Cui is truly "lucky".
"Who are you talking to, laughing so happily?" Li Yining walked over from somewhere and asked Mu Xing.
Mu Xing smiled and said, "I met a very interesting person."
Li Yining: "Anyone who didn't know better would think you'd seen your sweetheart. From a distance, that person looked like Cui Yuanbai."
Mu Xing said, "That's him. I haven't seen him for years, and he didn't even recognize me. I even told him I was my aunt's son."
Li Yining glanced at her: "You love to lie and talk nonsense. But luckily I didn't run into him, otherwise I wouldn't have given him a good look."
Mu Xing asked, "What happened? Did he offend you? I'll beat him up for you next time we meet..."
Li Yining laughed and patted her on the shoulder: "What are you saying! You really think you're a man. Do you think we're still kids? You're so tall, and they can't beat you?"
Seeing that Li Yining had changed into a dress, Mu Xing helped her straighten the hem and asked, "What happened?"
Li Yining said, "It makes me so angry. You know he's engaged to Uncle Wang's daughter, Yilan, right? Yilan comes to me crying every day, saying that Cui Yuanbai is useless, just holding the title of deputy manager of a foreign firm, and all he does is go to casinos and brothels all day. They're not even married yet, and he's already pawned most of her dowry! Just think, a young master from a prestigious family, and he's completely unreliable. I'm really angry for Yilan."
Mu Xing recalled how young master Cui had been extravagant and wasteful with that beauty, and for a moment he couldn't believe that he was such a despicable person.
Tsk, this beauty has a terrible eye for people. If Cui Yuanbai can treat his fiancée like this, wouldn't he treat her the same way?
Mu Xing secretly felt sorry for the beauty.
Li Yining added, "You must tell Brother Yun that he just returned to the country and doesn't know anything. Don't let him go astray with someone like Cui Yuanbai. I don't even allow Mengwei and the others to see this person."
Mu Xing nodded and said she understood. Looking at Li Yining, she said, "Let's choose this one with accordion pleats. It's suitable for a ball and is more formal. The light pink color is also cheerful. You look beautiful in it."
Li Yining turned around, then smiled and asked, "Really?"
Mu Xing said, "Of course, this color looks best on you. Don't try to imitate those celebrities by wearing black and gray, or you'll look like an old lady."
"You're so annoying!" Li Yining said reproachfully.
Mu Xing smiled and went to find a shop assistant to make her a dress, casually saying, "You can wear this on my wedding day, along with the earrings I just bought..."
Li Yining was happily looking in the mirror when she heard her mention marriage, and her expression suddenly changed. Mu Xing, with her back to her, didn't see the change in her expression.
Only the shop assistant saw it and initially thought they were a perfect couple. But now he secretly sighed, "It's true that the falling flowers are affectionate, but the flowing water is indifferent."
Quickly regaining her composure, Li Yining didn't bother to change her clothes. She simply said, "I'll keep them on, no need to change." She stood up, bit her lip, glanced at Mu Xing who had paid, and suddenly said, "It's getting late, I should head back now to prepare for tonight's party."
Mu Xing didn't understand what she meant: "Huh?"
"Remember to come on time tonight. I'm heading back now, no need to see me off."
Li Yining gestured for his entourage to come in and take the purchased items, then got into the car and drove off, demonstrating remarkable efficiency.
Mu Xing stood in the shop, utterly bewildered: "What's going on all of a sudden? Who offended her?"
She looked around, puzzled. The shop assistants all looked innocent. Then she looked down and saw that Li Yining was still holding the book "Linglong" that she had bought. She was even more surprised: "Isn't this very precious? Why don't you even want the book anymore!"
Completely baffled, she could only take the things and leave: "Never mind, I'll keep them for you for now, women..."
The original purpose of going shopping today was to accompany Li Yining to buy things. Now that she has gone home, Mu Xing can only return to Mu Garden to prepare for the evening's gathering.
When he got home, as expected, his father was out on a house call, and his mother was playing cards with his aunt. Mu Xing then smoothly entered the house through the front door without being scolded for wearing men's clothing to go shopping.
It's all that damn fortune teller's fault. He said she had too much yang energy and needed to replenish her yin energy, otherwise she'd suffer a bloody disaster. What a jinx! He made her bump her head and scared her so much that her mother forbade her from wearing suits anymore.
Mu Xing touched the wound on his forehead and thought to himself with annoyance.
Wearing men's clothes is just for convenience, it's not like she turns into a man the moment she puts them on, what does it have to do with yin and yang?
This gathering was a welcome dinner organized by Li Yining and a few close friends. Mu Xing did not dress in men's clothing again, but changed into a cheongsam that was said to be very fashionable in China at the moment.
"What kind of aesthetic is this? Such a high neckline, won't she get heat rash in the summer..." Mu Xing looked up as her maid, Fu Guang, fastened a long row of jeweled buttons on her neck, feeling like she was about to suffocate.
Fu Guang laughed and said, "Miss, you don't know, this kind of high-necked cheongsam is the most fashionable style. All the beauties on calendar posters wear this."