C1 Too Ugly! 

Moo Nuannuan stared at her reflection for a long time. The bright light shone over her yellow cheeks as she propped her elbows on top of her desks. Her eyes were wide as she observed every inch of her face, waiting for the makeup artist to come in and give her a helping hand. Blowing a stray hair from her forehead, she resisted the urge to sigh. Truly, she hadn't realized how her once fulfilling life would come to this. ​

Before she could even think about it more, Xiao Chuhee hurriedly pushed the door open. There were faint wrinkles along her eyelids, and it was obvious that her face held no excitement for the big day ahead. The older woman's hands shook in apprehension as she strutted past the entrance, and as soon as she saw her daughter sitting by the mirror, the anxiety in her features worsened even more.

"Everyone from the Mu family has already arrived," she said reproachfully. Seeing that Moo Nuannuan was still in her long grey cotton-padded jacket, she didn't waste any time as she stomped over to her. "And you still haven't changed your clothes! What were you doing all this time?"

Moo Nuannuan pushed her black-rimmed glasses up the bridge of her nose, and she snapped out of her daze. It was weird to see her mother in such a frazzled look, given that she had always been put together. It seemed that the Mu's appearance affected everyone in this household, not just her. "Mom...do you really want me to marry my sister's fiancé? Is that really what you want?"

Xiao Chuhee paled at her words. Thinking that she was going to back out from their agreement, she glanced right behind her, as if the mere thought of backing out was enough for a sniper to shoot them in the heads.

This wasn't the right time for any second thoughts! A single mistake could wreck the entire family apart!

With the uneasiness eating her alive, the older woman knelt in front of Moo Nuannuan before she could stop her. Her head was bowed as she refused to look at her daughter in the eye. "Please, I'm begging you," she pleaded. Her voice cracked at the last word. "You have to understand–your sister deserves someone better than that man! Just...just please help her out this once!"

Although Xiao Chuhee was her biological mother, it was obvious that the woman had favored the children left by her father's deceased first wife. At first, it was to garner her father's favor, but as time continually passed, Moo Nuannuan could see how enthralled and amused her mother was with them, and now–she was left forgotten on the sidelines. She was nothing more than a scapegoat that they could easily sacrifice for the highest bidder. Her lifeless eyes gradually turned cold.

Her mother clearly knew that her sister's fiancé was ugly. That was the only reason why she'd so readily hand him to Moo Nuannuan.

"Madame, Third Lady, the people from the Mu family have all gathered in the living room," one of the maids said.

Moo Nuannuan didn't hesitate anymore as she stood up from the stool. "Get up," she said coldly, not bothering to reach out and help her. After all, she had already made her choice. "I'll be leaving."

Back then, she had held onto this very small hope that her mother would take pity on her, that her sisters would bear the brunt this time around. After all, wasn't she supposed to be more than this? Her life was far more than being a stupid substitute, right? Her fingers curled, with her nails scratching against her palm. Maybe, it was time she let go of that dream. This was her reality now.

Pushing the door open, she glanced at the unfamiliar bodyguards standing by the doorway. These were the people sent by the Mu Family to fetch her, and by the looks of it, they certainly didn't spare a single penny in acquiring her. Were they scared of her running away? Dusting off her clothes for any debris, she slowly took a deep breath. 'Calm down, Nuannuan, you can do this.'

There was no decoration, and the groom wasn't present. Yet, she was to wed today.

"Let's go." She didn't waste any time as she raced down the stairs.

The Mu family was one of the wealthiest families in Huyang City, with Mu Tingxiao as their only descendant. He would've been one of the best bachelors in the city if he hadn't been kidnapped more than ten years ago. Not much was known about what had transpired in that kidnapping, but there were rumors on how his face was forever scarred by what those kidnappers had done.

After that incident, he hadn't shown his face in front of anyone, which only fueled the rumors even more.

It was said that his face was as scarred as a beast, and his personality was even worse. No woman who had been sent into his household came out alive. That was the reason why Moo Nuannuan was asked to replace her sister, but even then, her face remained impassive.

Mu Tingxiao could be the devil himself, and she couldn't care less.

As soon as they had arrived at his villa, the bodyguards brought her in the Master Bedroom and left.

She looked out the window, noticing that the sky had gradually darkened before her eyes. It was a beautiful sight, with glistening stars shining overhead. She twisted her wrists and withheld a sigh. If only she could enjoy this night without the stress trying to eat her alive. She stared at the stars one last time, before turning around when the door was pushed upon from the outside.

A tall, lean man walked into the bedroom.

He didn't say a word as he turned and switched on the lights.

The lights in the room were suddenly turned on, and Moo Nuannuan raised her hand to block her eyes. After staying in the dark for so long, she had to take a few seconds to let her eyes adjust to the sudden shift. She slowly raised her head to glance at the sudden visitor, only to freeze right on sight.

Who was he?

The man was far from ugly and terrifying. In fact, he was the exact opposite!

The dark suit wrapped around his tall body, clenching around his strong muscles and his long legs as he moved from the doorway to the side of the balcony. He could've been a swimsuit model if he had wanted. In fact, he could've been any time of model with that type of body! Every woman would've wanted the chance to slide their fingers across his chest or the chance to snuggle up in his chest. By the time, she snapped out of it, he was already standing in front of her. There, she caught a whiff of aftershave.

His face looked even more perfect up close. With his high cheekbones and arched eyebrows, he looked like a sculpture carved so exquisitely and extensively. He was the living proof that God had his favorites.

Mu Tingxiao stared at her for a few seconds before shaking his head. "Too ugly," he commented.

Too ugly? And he said it so emotionlessly that she didn't know if he was joking or not.

Moo Nuannuan blinked. "And who are you?"

"Don't you know who you're marrying?" His eyes darkened, and his voice gradually become lower.

There was a certain intimidating aura around him that was enough to make her tremble.

Although she felt as if she wanted to hide under a rock, Moo Nuannuan clenched her fists and straightened her back. There was no way she was backing out of this now, not after what she had said to her mother. "Of course I know who I'm marrying." She scoffed. "I'm marrying Mu Tingxiao!"

As soon as he had heard her, the sharpness in his eyes faded slowly, and understanding flashed across his features. It seemed that she was just any other woman who had believed those ridiculous rumors.

Yet for a woman who was marrying such an 'ugly and inhumane man', she certainly didn't look too scared. This was going to be fun.

The corners of his lips curved into a smile. "So it's you, sister-in-law," he said lightly. "I'm Mu Tingxiao's cousin, Mu Jiachen. I thought you wouldn't want to guard a disabled man on your wedding night, so I dropped in first–to ease your eyes."