C24 Divorce Mu Tingxiao

The restaurant was practically empty if not for the occasional customers asking for their take-outs. The cool breeze and bright sunlight was enough to make anyone feel relaxed and well-rested. However, as soon as the two sisters saw each other from across the room, the atmosphere had dropped a couple of degrees, and all the waiters and waitresses couldn't help but stop and glance their way.

Placing her bag on the table, Moo Wanqi cocked her eyebrow and stared down at her as she had always done whenever they crossed paths. "If you have anything to say, then I suggest you say it now," she said arrogantly, flipping her hair over her shoulders. "I have a date with Chuhan later, so this better be quick!"

The older woman admired her newly manicured nails, watching the way they reflected the artificial lights above them.

She later glanced at Moo Nuannuan's way. While she was dressed for the gala, her sister was dressed for the barn. It had been ten years, and her ugly sense of fashion still hadn't faded. She was wearing a long, pure cotton jacket that almost shrouded her petite frame. Her skin was sallow and spotty from the neck-up, and it was further emphasized with her thick-rimmed glasses. The woman was so ugly that it stung her eyes.

How could such an ugly woman snatch a man from such a pretty face?

Truly, the people in the Internet were all idiots!

Moo Nuannuan lowered her gaze, holding the glass of water close to her chest. Her hands helplessly stroke her cup, and she suppressed the urge to wince under her sister's hard stare. Just then, she spotted a man out of the corner of her eye with a camera subtly placed under his table, facing the two sisters. Guess, the show was just about to start.

"You may begin," she sent him the pre-written text message.

She made sure that all her actions were well-thought of, not wanting Moo Wanqi to notice anything suspicious in the background. After all, her plan relied on the woman displaying her true colors, and that wouldn't happen if she was aware that someone was watching them.

"I've already apologized on Weibo," Moo Nuannuan whispered. "Please don't make things difficult for my mother."

Her hands trembled, and her head was bowed. From an outsider's perspective, she looked like she was being bullied by her older sister, and that was the image she would like to portray. After all, it was the truth.

Moo Wanqi simply sneered at the sight, not suspecting a thing. After all, Moo Nuannuan had always been as meek as a mouse ever since she was born, so there was no way that this stupid little woman could outsmart someone like her. A satisfied spark flashed in her eyes as soon as she heard her beg, and she quickly set her phone down to her side.

"All right. If you don't want me to make things difficult for Xiao Chuhee, I'll do it." She crossed her arms. "On one condition."

"What is it?"

"Why are you such an idiot?" Moo Wanqi sighed, shaking her head. Although a part of her was happy as to how this woman was so easily controlled at the mention of her mother, she still couldn't help but be amused by her as well. "You care so much for the old woman, when she never even treated you as her daughter. You must be a whole new generation of stupid."

Moo Nuannuan gripped her legs, and her chalky face paled. "No matter what happens, she's still my mother." The dullness of her voice lessened, and it was soon replaced with a bitter tone. "Even if I could turn back time and go back to the day when she begged me to marry Mu Tingxiao in your stead, I'd still agree. Because she's my mother, and I'm her daughter."

"Pathetic." She rolled her eyes, staring at her sister's weak and incompetent appearance. Back when they were younger, Moo Nuannuan had the best grades in her year, and she even looked prettier than her. It was during those days when Moo Wanqi decided to hate her, not wanting to be upstaged by her own stepsister. It was a good thing that Xiao Chuhee was also on her side with this.

However, even when Moo Nuannuan conceded by becoming stupid and ugly, she still found reason to hate her even more.

Who would? Having someone stupid and ugly as her sister was already shameful enough!

But fortunately, if anything, her sister was as obedient as a dog. Easily used and easily disposed.

"Ah..." Moo Wanqi smiled at her. "At least, you're as cheap as your mother."

Ridicule flashed in Moo Nuannuan's eyes. The irony of it all. The moment Xiao Chuhee married into the Moo family twenty years ago, she made it her goal to treat Moo Wanqi like a princess, making sure that she had never felt uncomfortable with her at all. In the end, it seemed that her feelings and sincerity weren't reciprocated. It was just a waste of time.

"You can insult me all you want, but please don't say that about my Mom," she said sadly. "She cares for you, you know?"

"As if I care about what you think!" Snorting, Moo Wanqi slammed her hand against the table. "Now, you've asked about my condition? Divorce Mu Tingxiao."

"What did you just say?"

Her eyes widened. This time, her surprise was authentic.

Now, Moo Nuannuan knew exactly what her sister was planning.

Although the Mu family didn't care as to who would marry Mu Tingxiao, they definitely wouldn't stand it if one of them were to go back on their words. Moo Nuannuan was nothing more than an ugly and stupid woman who had stolen him from Moo Wanqi to bask in the fame and fortune of the Mu family. Now, her sister wanted for her to end things once and for all.

If she proposed to divorce Mu Tingxiao, it would definitely be a slap to her face.

They'd never forgive her! In fact, they'd do everything to make her life a living hell.

And that was exactly what Moo Wanqi was planning. Now that she had drawn everyone's attention to Moo Nuannuan, she could simply stand on the sidelines. No one in the Mu family would even recognize her with the amount of hatred they have for the ugly woman, and she could finally live her happily ever after with Chuhan without any sort of pressure from society.

Moo Wanqi pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, displaying a pink mark on her neck. "As long as you do this, I won't make things difficult for Xiao Chuhee."

Although Moo Nuannuan was naive, she wasn't stupid.

The red mark was a hickey.

Was she showing off?

Picking up her glass, she took a sip of water, feeling a bit stifled at the sight.

Moo Nuannuan wasn't sad that the two had finally gotten together, but she was disappointed that the man she had a crush on for so many years had fallen into Wanqi's lake of deception. It seemed that her sister had fooled a lot of people in the past years. She gripped her utensils, finding more interest in the table than her sister's face.

"But the Mu family will not agree with my divorce."

"That's your problem." She shrugged. "It's either you do as I say, or your mother will suffer the consequences."

Not having the patience to talk to Moo Nuannuan anymore, Moo Wanqi grabbed her phone and made a phone call. "Chuhan," she softly called.

Moo Nuannuan froze.

Ha! Guess the girl didn't really have a backbone after all.

Although the ugly woman posed no threat to her, it gave Moo Wanqi so much satisfaction to see her in such a pitiful state. Staring down at her, she felt a sense of accomplishment.

Through the window, Moo Nuannuan saw her sister driving away before turning to the table in front of her. Her mission was done here, and it seemed that she had gotten the results she wanted–just as expected. Even then, her hands clenched tightly, and she pressed them deeper into her thighs. Although she knew that her sister was a wretch, she hadn't realized how bad it was until now.

The casual man at the other side of the restaurant stood up, without batting an eyelid. His job was also done here. Suddenly, a message notification popped in her screen.

"I'll save the video and send you a copy."

"Thank you."

Without another word, she slowly ate the dishes on the table. It had already become cold, but the taste was still there.

There was a time when she had admired Moo Wanqi when she was a kid. In fact, if anyone were to ask her five-years-old self as to who she wanted to be, she'd happily point at her sister and quip out a, "Sister Wanqi!" It was enough to get teachers two swoon in sweetness, and she had expected that her older sister would find it adorable as well if she hadn't stomp out of the room every time she'd say that.

Moo Wanqi was beautiful and smart, so it was only expected for her to follow her around. However, instead of receiving a smile and a hug, all Nuannuan would receive was a sneer and a spat, leaving her wondering what she had done wrong. "Why doesn't she like me?" She always whispered to herself after every encounter, and the perfect image she had of her sister slowly faded after that.

Turned out, Moo Wanqi was actually the epitome of cold and ruthless.

Xiao Chuhee had been so good to her for more than twenty years, treated her as her own daughter, and the woman had the audacity to insult her. "Cheap," she had spat out with so much conviction and vindictiveness that it was enough to surprise anyone in the room. Moo Nuannuan wouldn't have been surprised if the insult was only directed at her, but the moment she mentioned her mother...

She had assumed that Moo Wanqi would at least care for her mother, given that they've always been on the same side, but now...

Not having much of an appetite anymore, Moo Nuannuan simply stood up and left. She was done here anyway.

As she had walked away, Mu Tingxiao used this opportunity to use the back door to catch up with the reporter, pulling him to the side. His cold face was impassive, and his thick coat only emphasized his muscular figure. He looked like a hitman hiding behind the shadows, which was enough to give everyone the creeps. "Stop right there," he said coldly.

"I..." The reporter froze. "What do you want?"

His gaze fell on the man's back. "Show me the video."

"I–I don't know what you're talking about!" This was news meant for the front page! It was going to be on the headlines! The last thing the reporter needed was for someone to get the news out there first! Clutching his bag tightly against his hips, the reporter shook his head. "If that's all, then I'm going–"

"Are you sure? Either show me the video, or you won't have a job to get back to." His indifferent expression still remained.

Only then did the reporter realize the importance of the man in front of him. Although he had no idea that this man was Mu Tingxiao, he could tell that he was powerful with his custom-made suit and signature suitcase. The man was either part of the upper-class or was powerful enough to hold all the strings within the upper class. Either way, there was no way he was messing with him.

Not doubting the man for a second, he obediently showed Mu Tingxiao the video.

The voices echoed across the parking lot, and Mu Tingxiao stared at the screen, not missing a word.