Chapter 78

The weekend came around in no time.

Elise had spent the afternoon in her room finishing a physics practice set. By the time she stepped into the hall, a stylist was already waiting. She ushered Elise straight into the makeup room and got to work without wasting a second.

Elise had barely had a chance to protest. Adrian had suddenly announced the day before that he was taking her to a fashion gala. He'd said it would be fun to look around. She'd refused at first, but he'd carried on like a child throwing a fit until she gave in.

The event would draw celebrities and prominent businesspeople from around the city—people whose faces appeared on television and whose names carried weight.

As the stylist worked on her makeup and tried dresses, Elise's mind kept circling back to the physics problems she'd just finished. She let the woman do her job, though she refused the suggestion that she wear a pile of jewelry. She hated feeling weighed down. Even her makeup was kept light.

Two hours later, she was finally ready.

Adrian and Theo had been waiting by the door. When Elise came out, she couldn't help staring for a moment.

Adrian was usually casual around her. Outside of work, he barely bothered to dress up. Today, his unmistakable silver hair was styled neatly, and he wore a white suit. He looked taller and more polished than usual.

Theo had also traded his usual languid air for a suit. He looked every bit the wealthy young heir.

The two of them turned to look at her at the same time. It was a striking picture.

“Wait. Is it just the three of us?” Elise asked. “Aren't our eldest and fourth brothers coming?”

She'd assumed Adrian had invited everyone.

“They're busy,” he said with an easy smile. “And the invitations were limited.”

Inwardly, he gave a quiet snort. Julian and Miles had both lost to Mu Chuan. Miles had begged and pleaded to come, but Adrian had coldly refused. Losers could stay home instead of making trouble.

Theo seemed to share the sentiment. He shifted uncomfortably in the suit; he wasn't used to looking so formal.

“Let's go,” he said, resisting the urge to loosen his tie.

By the time they arrived, quite a few celebrities had already made it to the ballroom. Familiar faces from television mingled with well-known businesspeople.

Adrian and Theo exchanged a glance and surveyed the room. Mu Chuan was nowhere to be seen.

“Why isn't he here?”

“Maybe he's running late. Let's wait a little.”

They spoke in low voices. Elise noticed them whispering and tugged at their sleeves.

“Adrian, Theo, I'm going to get something to eat.”

Theo reached out as if to ruffle her hair, then remembered the stylist had spent two hours on it. He drew his hand back and softened his voice. “Go ahead. Don't wander too far.”

Elise went to the dessert table and picked up a piece of Black Forest cake. She took a bite and frowned before she could stop herself.

It was nowhere near as good as the pastry chef's at home.

Still, wasting food was wrong. She made herself finish it, one small bite at a time, frowning all the while.

Not far away, Qi Yaqiu had been hovering by the entrance.

Her makeup was immaculate. Glittering jewelry covered her neck, ears, and wrists. She wore a white off-the-shoulder gown with a plunging neckline, and the makeup beneath her eyes made her look especially fragile.

It had taken four hours to get ready.

She scanned the room but couldn't find Mu. Then she spotted Elise, her gaze pausing on her for a moment.

What was she doing here?

Qi glanced at the cake on Elise's plate. Judging by the expression on her face, it must have been awful.

But Qi had tried a piece herself. It had tasted perfectly good.

She dismissed the thought. She had a plan to carry out. Last time she'd gone to Mu's villa, he'd refused to see her and even warned her off.

He'd threatened her with the Qi Group. She couldn't understand it. Mu had once rescued her from Mu Zhun. If he had no feelings for her, why would he have done that?

Maybe there had been some other reason he hadn't seen her since. He couldn't be that heartless.

And if the same thing happened again, surely he'd rescue her a second time.

After asking around, she'd learned Mu would be at the gala—and that he would enter through the hotel's VIP passage rather than the front doors.

Almost no one knew about that entrance.

Qi thought it over, set down her wineglass, and gave a look to a middle-aged man with a heavy belly across the room. He understood at once and came over.

They stopped at a turn in the hallway. At the far end, Mu was walking toward them with Pei Yi and several bodyguards.

The man had been drinking. His face was flushed, and his expression looked even more unpleasant for it.

“Your family's almost finished,” he said. “Everyone in our circle knows. I've spoken with your father. If you'll agree to get engaged to me, I can cover the hole in the Qi family's finances. What do you say?”

Qi stepped back and wrapped her arms around herself. Her exposed collarbones made her look even more helpless.

“My father can agree all he wants. I haven't agreed to anything. I'm not getting engaged to you!”

She knew the man privately. They'd done plenty of shady things together, though no one knew about it publicly. Getting him to play along had cost her dearly.

Mu had rescued her once. He would do it again. Surely he couldn't bear to watch her fall into this man's hands.

She made her voice more desperate. It rang through the empty hallway.

“Besides, you've got several mistresses, and one of them showed up at your company with a baby bump. I'd rather die than get engaged to someone like you!”

The man gave a greasy chuckle. “They're just toys. You think they deserve a title? Someone with your background is the only kind of woman fit for me. Your father already agreed, so refusing won't do you any good. Who else do you think is going to save you?”

Tears streamed down Qi's face. She felt a pang for the makeup that had taken four hours, but she couldn't worry about that now.

Mu was getting closer.

She looked at him pleadingly. His face remained blank. He didn't even move his brows. It was as if he hadn't seen her at all. He walked right past.

“...”

Pei glanced at Qi. What was she doing here?

This time, Qi's hurt was real. Her voice caught as she called after him.

“Mu Chuan, help me...”

Her voice sounded weak and helpless, full of feeling. There was none of the usual arrogance in it. She seemed to have reached the end of her rope.

Pei's heart gave a small lurch. He couldn't help feeling sorry for her. Qi might be unpleasant, but being forced into an engagement by a man like that was a tragedy.

Mu didn't slow down. He didn't so much as glance back. Qi's eyes followed him, but he seemed unaware of them. He walked straight into the elevator.

When the doors closed, Qi was stunned.

After all that, he still hadn't helped her?

Where was the promised rescue? Had Mu really not seen her at all?

The middle-aged man looked just as confused. What was going on? Even an ordinary person would have glanced over. Mu hadn't looked at them once. Should they keep acting?

He started to speak. “So, should we—”

A girl's voice interrupted him. He looked up.

A young woman in a pale pink evening dress stood there with her brows tightly drawn. Disgust and anger were plain in her eyes.

She put her hands on her hips. Her face flushed with indignation.

“How can you take advantage of someone's bad situation? Her family is struggling. You can't pressure her father into marrying her off to you! Even if you did get married, what kind of trust would there be? Marriage is supposed to be a beautiful thing. How can you try to buy it with money?”

Elise had been on her way to the restroom when she'd overheard them. The more she listened, the angrier she got. She hadn't even noticed Mu walking past. She'd met Qi before. Qi could be arrogant, but being forced to marry a creepy man was awful.

So she'd stepped in.

“...” Qi said nothing.

“...” The man said nothing either.

Qi straightened, looking drained. She calmly took a tissue from her purse, wiped her tears, and even touched up her makeup.

The man glared at Elise. His performance had failed, and now a young girl was scolding him. But she looked too young for him to take the bait and start an argument.

“Fine,” he said coolly. “I thought it over. Marriage is a prison. I don't want to get married after all.”

With that, he left.

Elise blinked. “Huh?”

Qi sighed inwardly. Another failure. Maybe she hadn't made the act dramatic enough.

She looked at Elise and remembered how lavishly she'd bid at the auction—four separate lots worth millions. She was rich. And she liked stepping in to help people.

Even her clothes and jewelry looked expensive. Her expression was guileless, like a girl who'd been spoiled all her life.

Qi gave a scornful little laugh to herself. Someone like Elise was a beginner. She had no idea how the world worked. Qi's tricks were far beyond her.

So what if she had money? She was an idiot.

An idiot with money could be useful.

Qi needed to put more pressure on Mu. Maybe Elise could help.

Her expression softened into a grateful smile. She took Elise's hand.

“Thank you. Unlike some people, you actually care. The coldhearted ones didn't even look at me.”

Elise was still puzzled. Why had the man left so quickly? Something about it felt strange.

She tried to pull her hand free, but Qi was holding on tightly. Remembering how miserable Qi had seemed a moment ago, Elise couldn't bring herself to yank away.

She patted Qi's shoulder. “You're welcome.”

Qi sneered inwardly. What good was all that money if Elise believed anything she was told?

Then she put on a fragile expression again, as if remembering the scene had made her break down. Tears welled in her eyes. Elise liked helping people; Qi could use that weakness to get close to her.

When Qi suddenly began crying again, Elise hesitated. She rummaged through her purse and finally pulled out a chocolate bar wrapped in gold foil.

“Don't cry. Have something sweet. It'll make you feel better.”

Qi looked through tear-blurred eyes. Her sob caught in her throat.

She recognized the gold-wrapped bar as an extravagantly expensive chocolate. Elise carried something like that around as an ordinary snack?

She'd been wrong to think money was useless.

Money was wonderful. Really, really wonderful.

Adrian and Theo waited a while before they found out Mu had arrived. He was resting in a VIP lounge upstairs.

Adrian's face turned dangerous.

“I'll go first. You might not need to come in.”

He'd already figured out what to do. He could handle it alone. Theo wouldn't even need to make an appearance.

Theo lifted an eyebrow. “You're sure?”

He looked doubtful. Adrian's confidence seemed a little foolish.

Adrian gave him a look full of certainty and headed upstairs to the VIP lounge.

Mu opened the door after the knock. Surprise crossed his face. Pei had gone out, so he was alone in the room. He'd thought it was his secretary.

He hadn't expected Adrian.

Mu had already learned everything about Elise's brothers—even their faces.

He knew why Adrian had come. It had to be about Elise.

Dealing with her brothers was harder than dealing with competitors in business. He couldn't be too harsh. In fact, he couldn't really fight back at all.

Adrian gave him a cold, superior smile. “You're Mu Chuan?”

Mu smiled politely. “I am. What can I do for you?”

Adrian gave a sneer. “Good. Then I know I found the right person.”

He stepped inside, turned, and locked the door behind him.

Mu's brows rose slightly. Was Adrian about to get physical? His profile said the second brother wasn't good at fighting.

Mu was curious. What was Adrian planning to do to make him give up on Elise?

Adrian's face was full of menace. He looked at Mu as if Mu had killed someone in his family.

“So you're the one pursuing Elise?”

He'd only been away working. He'd come home to find a wolf beside his sister—a rich wolf, at that.

Adrian looked Mu up and down. Mu was a few years younger, with a youthful face and a seasoned presence. The contrast made his bearing even more striking. His eyes were deep and unreadable.

He looked dangerous.

Still, Adrian would never admit Mu was better-looking than he was.