C12 Believe It or Not

Moo Nuannuan scrunched her nose in disgust. Although her sister was beautiful, it still didn't take away from the fact that her true personality was ultimately atrocious. While she pretended to put up a pretty face for all her suitors, that mask would always come off whenever the two of them were placed in the same room. "What are you talking about now?"

"We both know what I'm talking about." Moo Wanqi rolled her eyes as she leaned back against her seat. Her pale hands crossed over her chest. "Or are you going to sit there and lie about the fact that you like him?"

Stunned, she lowered her head in response.

Although Moo Wanqi had gone too far, she wasn't wrong.

The man who she had liked for all these years was none other than Shen Chuhan. Her hands fidgeted over to her sides as she refused to look her sister in the eye.

Just as she was about to say something, Moo Wanqi suddenly froze. She stared at the figure right behind them as if she had just seen a ghost. Her face turned stark pale. "Chuhan?"

He was there? Moo Nuannuan suddenly looked up, and it was only then when she saw the shadow of his figure standing right behind her. Crap! Had he been standing there this whole time? Her hands trembled as she flashed back to the words that they had exchanged. Did he hear what they've said about him? Did he know that she liked him?

She gazed at him nervously. If anyone were to see her now, they would've assumed that she was a dear caught on the headlights–unmoving and aghast.

Just then, Shen Chuhan turned his head and walked towards Moo Wanqi. He didn't even bother glancing at her.

It was obvious that he had heard their conversation.

The corners of Moo Wanqi inched upwards at the sight of his conflicted face. It was obvious that the man didn't see himself to be partnered with a woman like Moo Nuannuan. "Chuhan, it's fine. Besides, it's all in the past." Her voice was soft and comforting, like a siren calling out to the pirates. "Besides, she's already married, so our relationship could go even more smoothly from now on."

This was the only reaction she had been expecting from any man who had seen Moo Nuannuan. Who else would like such an ugly and stupid bumpkin like her? The only exception to that rule was Mu Tingxiao's cousin, Mu Jiachen. Even till now, she couldn't believe that such a man would associate himself with trash like her? Her hands clenched at the thought.

Then again, it was possible that the man had a strange taste for the uglies as well.

"You're married?" It was only then when he had looked at her.

"Yes. She told me that this was the only way she could succeed in life. I mean, I tried telling her that the money that the Mu family had–although lavish and extraordinary–wouldn't be enough if she was looking for love, but..." Moo Wanqi hesitated. "But I guess it's enough for her."

As soon as she was finished, she shook her head with a pained expression painted across her face.

Moo Nuannuan gritted her teeth. Of course, her sister would find a way to turn the tables against her once again by making her appear like nothing more than an ambitious gold digger. Her jaw clenched, and she resisted the urge to pull the woman's hair out. The only reason why she agreed to marry Mu Tingxiao in the first place was that her mother had forced her! They're the ones who were ambitious.

Yet, instead of getting the reaction she was expecting, Shen Chuhan simply frowned in disappointment. "No matter what your reasons are," he started. "Thank you for taking Wanqi's place in marrying him."

"That's right." Her face brightened. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be together with the love of my life."

"I...but it's not that..."

Although there was no way she'd have a chance to be together with Shen Chuhan in this lifetime, she didn't want him to misunderstand her intentions–didn't want him to perceive her as a materialistic woman who was so enamored by the idea of wealth. However, just as she was about to explain her side of the story, the man waved her off.

"I understand what you're feeling, truly," he comforted. "Although Mu Tingxiao isn't...healthy, I'm sure the Mu family will treat you as fairly as possible. After all, they had plenty of cash to spare."

Her blood turned cold at his words. Why was he so insistent in believing her sister's words?

Just then, her phone vibrated.

Moo Nuannuan slowly took it out to see that the text message was filled with a variety of dishes. There wasn't any extra information when it came to what she'd do with them, so she had assumed it got sent to the wrong number.

Although she didn't know who the sender was, she might as well use this as an excuse.

"As I've said, I still have other things to do." Standing up, she shot the both of them a glare before her face gradually turned impassive. "She wasn't lying about the fact that I liked you, but you should know that it was all in the past. As for the reasons for me taking her place as Mu Tingxiao's bride? Moo Wanqi knows the truth. It's up to you whether you believe me or not."

Shen Chuhan was the only one who had cared for her, who didn't use her ugliness as a means of bullying yet.

Yet it seemed, just like everyone, he also had the wrong idea of who she was.

The Shen and Moo family had a good relationship, so they were already friends ever since they knew how to walk. He was the only person she had ever trusted in her entire life, yet it seemed that he didn't trust her long enough to actually know what she was capable of. Moo Nuannuan stared at her palms this entire time, struggling to blink her tears away.

Why was she so surprised? If Xiao Chuhee, her own biological mother, wouldn't take her side over something so trivial, why would Shen Chuhan, an outsider, take her side? Yet no matter how much she had thought about it, she still couldn't help but feel betrayed by him. Did he really think this low of her? Had he really been brainwashed by her own sister or had he always regarded her this way?

"I'm done here," she snapped, leaving the restaurant without any hesitation.

Just as she was about to close the door, she could hear Shen Chuhan sighing in defeat. "I've always thought Nuannuan to be kind and innocent. I didn't expect her to be like this," he murmured. "It's as if I don't even know her anymore."

"Me too," Moo Wanqi said sadly, clasping his hand.

Her hand tightened over the handle, as her lips curled into a makeshift snarl. Not only had she taken that bitch's place in a marriage, but she had also managed to turn absolutely everyone against her. Even then, Moo Nuannuan didn't say a word to defend herself. She was finished with the lot of them. With one last sigh, she stomped out into the streets without looking back.

As she did so, her phone rang in her back pockets. Not bothering to glance at the screen, her thumb pressed on the answer button.

"The food I've sent you–I want that for take-out." A familiar low voice rang out from the speaker.