Chapter 193 - By Far the Most Interesting

Wu Qianqian trembled at the sight of her husband. She didn't really work with make-up since she was poor growing up. Even if Li Heilong offered to help, the most her mother accepted was a job under one of the subsidiaries of the Li Enterprise. That was why she barely had any knowledge of it; neither did she need it to look beautiful compared to most girls in their city.

A sigh came from Liu Li's smiling lips. He then walked closer and helped her in reducing the redness of the lipstick. "Xiao Qian, you don't need to be so nervous. The Mian family and the Li family will help us get Liu Xiaodan out of that place. Don't worry about it. One day, he will come home with us and even have Nayi and Guangru with him." He spoke so casually that he forgot something.

"Aiyah, Xiao Li, I won't feel right if Bingbing and Heilong get in trouble because of us." Wu Qianqian had a small smile on, but she was still thinking of what her father had said. Then again, she was told not to underestimate her cousin sister and the husband. If Mian Bingbing and Li Heilong couldn't even break their family, who else could?

"It's all going to be alright." Liu Li snuck a kiss on the matted lipstick on Wu Qianqian, sending the wife into a blush. She even proceeded into behaving and flushing like a shy little girl. The husband only chuckled as he consoled the tomato wife.

…

It didn't take long before Wu Qianqian walked with Liu Li into the banquet hall of the Mian Residence. She was donned in a flattering, non-childish coral pink dress while her husband wore a black suit with salmon accents. Since they were quite a pair of new faces, some families actually turned to see them and chattered about their identities. It was, after all, a very exclusive charity ball.

From a side, Mian Bingbing was speaking with Mian Tianni and Mian Tianyu. They were discussing the incoming engagement and the Wu family's plan to snatch Liu Xiaodan from his mother. However, Li Heilong cleared his throat to take Mian Bingbing's attention. He then offered his arm, and the woman took it as she realized what Li Heilong was pertaining to.

The uncrowned royal couple of the business world then sauntered across the hall to greet Wu Qianqian and Liu Li. Mian Bingbing was in a fiery red-gold fitted dress with a sheer back, staying classy and s.e.xy even at her age. Her husband also had a black suit with some gold accents.

"Qianqian, I thought you have forgotten how to unlock the door." Mian Bingbing chuckled, teasing her cousin sister who didn't like balls. "It's alright. I have already spotted Miss Jiang in the crowd. Should we go now?"

"Eh, let's meet Auntie Ni first." Wu Qianqian couldn't forget her nervousness so she needed to gather strength from more people before speaking to Jiang Yanyu. 

The cousin sister detached from her husband and linked her arm with Wu Qianqian like sisters as they walked towards where they last saw Mian Tianni. However, they both stopped when they saw an old woman in an extravagant purple gown speaking with Mian Tianni. Her hair was bronzing already, and she looked rather older than Mian Tianni… but seemingly continuing to behave like a conniving beauty.

"Who's that?" Wu Qianqian felt a rather hostile aura coming from the purple-gowned lady. Even though they were away from one another, she couldn't help but be scared of the older lady.

"...that?" Mian Bingbing threw a glare and then a huff. "Song Wangyin."

Song Wangyin was indeed five years older than Mian Tianni, but that didn't stop her from being pettier than the shaman matriarch. She huffed at the shaman, fanning herself with a golden fan. "The Mian Residence continued to be beautiful and timeless, but those who live in it seemed to move on quite easily. You look rather glum, Tianni. I wonder how much time is left to get a dress handwoven for your funeral."

Mian Tianni only stared at her before smiling faintly. "Worry not, you shall go before me after all."

The other woman closed her fan and took a few looks around. "Speaking of death, I don't see that bastard Qixi around. He's supposed to be staying with his whore mother's family, isn't he?"

"Hm, Song Qixi is quite very busy at the moment." Mian Tianni wouldn't normally call him like that, but she wanted to rub it to Song Wangyin's face that the Song Family Head had acknowledged Song Qixi as part of their family long ago. This bitter grandma just couldn't handle it. After all, with the rightful heir—Song Qixi's father—gone, the son had the choice to inherit the family… if he returned to the Song family, that is.

"Don't you dare call him that in my presence." Song Wangyin huffed again before calming down as if trying her best to derail Mian Tianni. "So Qixi is not around… is that why you're alone? Your daughter Yunmi is already dead, and that Wu Qianqian has vanished so… you must have been very lonely." She smiled at the last part.

"...ah, it seems like the clown act has timed out." Mian Tianni ignored Song Wangyin and reached out towards the incoming two mothers. "Qianqian, Bingbing… Tianyu and I have been in bad company. Come, let's meet people worth our time."

Song Wangyin turned to see the two and was shocked to see Wu Qianqian. She gave the sweet woman an obvious once-over before locking her eyes on Liu Li. A dissatisfied grunt then followed. "Hmph, how ordinary could your Liu Xiaodan be? That Qiao Muwei is actually interested in him? What a fool."

The group was shocked. They thought that only a few knew about it, but then again, this grandma that even Death did not want to meet… heard about it? This was serious. However, Mian Bingbing's already-spoiled mood plummeted some more when a tall, proud man walked towards them.

He glanced at Wu Qianqian first before turning to Song Wangyin. "The fool begs to disagree."

Song Wangyin shuddered and stepped back in a gasp. She then forced a chuckle as she flapped the fan open. "Oh, Master Qiao, what a surprise. I didn't know you'd be coming here… I should have known. Well, I believed I stayed humoring Tianni for so long now. I must excuse myself." She hurriedly walked away, dragging away her aides with her as if afraid Qiao Muwei would curse her.

"Forgive her insult and insolence. She did not age well, Master Mian, Lady Mian, Lady Wu… Mister Li, Mister Liu." Qiao Muwei wasn't interested in meeting others, Wu Qianqian only. He was wondering what kind of mother this woman was to such a terrifying existence. Then again, she was not the only variable in it.

"That Song Wangyin seems to believe that you're interested in Xiaodan?" Li Heilong wasn't used to taking the sidelines, but he could barely talk because of his injury. Still, there were people that he needed to meet especially people who wanted to step on his Li family.

Qiao Muwei glided his gaze to Li Heilong and smiled menacingly. "Well, he is, by far, the most interesting, isn't he? Even Lengleng couldn't tame a demon; what more an ancient one?"