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She opened her mouth, only to find herself momentarily at a loss for words. Unsure of how to address him, she hesitated. The man broke the silence. "Mu Chen." Jiang Yining looked at him. "My name is Mu Chen." After a brief pause, Jiang Yining reciprocated with her own name, observing the niceties. "I'm Jiang Yining. How can I repay you, Mr. Mu, aside from saying thank you?" Mu Chen's penetrating gaze swept over her. "For now, I can't think of anything. You'll owe me one." Jiang Yining was taken aback. Owe him? Was this the same Third Master Mu who commanded such respect? Yet Jiang Yining wasn't comfortable being in someone's debt, and she quickly composed herself. "Okay." Mu Chen seemed surprised by her prompt agreement. His eyebrows arched before he broke into a smile. "Let's start by exchanging contact information." His smile, radiant as moonlight, was captivating. Jiang Yining's heart inexplicably fluttered, and she found herself momentarily dazed. This man was like a bewitching spirit. It was no wonder that Third Master Mu, despite his fearsome reputation, could draw the adoration of Four-nine City's elite women. Dressed in her formal attire, it was impractical to carry a phone. After a moment's thought, Jiang Yining said, "Mr. Mu, could you give me your phone number? I'll get in touch with you later, if that's okay?" "Sure." Mu Chen recited his number, and Jiang Yining repeated it to confirm. Despite being someone people generally avoided, Jiang Yining's interactions didn't escape the notice of onlookers. Seeing her with Third Master Mu, they were astounded, some unable to hide their disbelief. Had they just witnessed the notoriously unapproachable Third Master Mu smile? Ming Qingcheng, busy assisting her mother with the guests, found her gaze drawn to them repeatedly. Her heart seemed to skip a beat, her hands clenched tightly. The adoption banquet, which had unfolded like a farce, eventually concluded amid the distracted crowd. Lyi Beiting drove with a relaxed air. It wasn't until they had left the Ming family's villa compound that he glanced at the man beside him. "Ming Chengkang asked me to give you this check back. He insisted you shouldn't be upset."
Mu Chen rested his chin in one hand while gazing out the car window, his other hand absentmindedly fiddling with his phone. The contrast of his pale, slender fingers against the black phone case was striking. Lyi Beiting quirked an eyebrow. "Waiting for a call? From that young lady?" Mu Chen remained silent, his grip on the phone tightening. Lyi Beiting tutted. "You insisted I come here in person to deliver the invitation, all for a chance to see her, right? Let me guess... she's the girl you've been searching for these past two years, isn't she? Are you certain it's her? She seems like she doesn't recognize you." No sooner had he finished speaking than Lyi Beiting felt a chill emanate from Mu Chen, causing him to wince. So much for voicing his thoughts. "Hey. I misspoke. Isn't an apology enough for you? But really, it's understandable she doesn't recognize you. I mean, when I found you back then, you were unrecognizable too." Just then, Mu Chen's phone chimed. "Shut up," Mu Chen hissed, picking up his phone and dismissing Lyi Beiting. Lyi Beiting fell silent. Was he just a tool to be discarded when no longer needed? The message read simply, "Mr. Mu, I am Jiang Yining. This is my phone number." In that moment, Mu Chen's demeanor softened, a rare gentleness crossing his features. Catching a glimpse, Lyi Beiting couldn't resist another internal tut. Mu Chen was clearly smitten. What more was there to say?
