Chapter 365: Conflict Between Two Women

Chapter 365: Conflict Between Two Women

This wasn't the first time Yun Mu had stayed at Ruoshui Garden.

The last time she was here, she was serving as the family doctor for Yi Jue. Apart from the occasional bickering when he came home from work, Yi Jue was mostly busy with work, and they rarely saw each other.

But this time, Yi Jue hadn't gone out for two days, staying home to look after Yun Mu.

This made it nearly impossible for Yun Mu to find a chance to slip out.

That afternoon, finally, Xuanyuan Ming called Yi Jue.

In a few days, it would be Xuanyuan Ming's birthday. This could be his last birthday, so he was planning a grand celebration. Hearing that Yun Mu was also at Ruoshui Garden, he invited both Yun Mu and Yi Jue to attend.

Yun Mu felt she had finally found an opportunity to escape.

"Since we're attending a birthday party, I should get a proper dress, right?"

Yi Jue, who was lazily lying on the sofa reading a book, looked up at her, "Alright, go and buy one."

Yun Mu's face immediately lit up. "Then we have to go to the largest mall in Nancheng!"

...

Yi Jue personally drove Yun Mu to the largest mall in Nancheng. He had already arranged for security at the mall, so he confidently let Yun Mu go up first while he parked the car.

Yun Mu pretended to enter a women’s clothing store first. The store’s layout allowed her to observe the flow of people throughout the mall. She needed to check if Yi Jue’s people were stationed around the mall.

As soon as she entered, a salesclerk approached her, "Miss, is there a dress you like? I can bring it down for you to try on."

Yun Mu casually glanced at the various dresses in the store and pointed to a champagne-colored mermaid dress, "That one."

"Miss, you have great taste. This is a prize-winning piece by our designer this year, and it's the only one in the world. I'll get it for you right away."

"Go ahead."

Yun Mu dismissed the salesclerk and stood by the window, starting to observe outside.

Unexpectedly, she spotted someone familiar, Liu Ling.

Liu Ling was accompanied by another person, Liu Yan. Liu Yan was Yi Chengdong's wife. She was once Liu Ling's mother but was now referred to as her aunt.

Seeing Yun Mu, Liu Ling’s eyes dimmed slightly, a barely noticeable trace of hatred flashing in them.

Liu Yan didn’t recognize Yun Mu and brushed past her, pointing at the salesclerk holding the champagne-colored mermaid dress, "That dress is wonderful, elegant, and noble. It's perfect for attending Mr. Xuanyuan's birthday party. A'Ling, go and try it on."

The salesclerk, holding the dress, looked troubled, "But this dress was first spotted by this miss here."

Liu Yan followed the salesclerk's gaze toward Yun Mu. Liu Yan was unaware that Liu Ling and Yi Jue had broken up. Recently, she had grown accustomed to being arrogant in Nancheng. Seeing Yun Mu’s face was covered, she assumed she wasn’t from one of Nancheng’s prominent families and looked down on her even more.

"If it hasn’t been paid for, it isn’t hers yet. Besides, our A'Ling is Mr. Yi's girlfriend, so this dress should go to her! A'Ling, go and try it on."

The salesclerk looked at Yun Mu, who hadn’t said anything, so she couldn’t just hand the dress to someone else.

Liu Ling stepped forward, her sweet smile in place, and said, "Miss Yun, you don't mind letting me have this dress, do you? I need it for Mr. Xuanyuan's party, and I really like this dress. A gentleman doesn’t take what others value. Surely, Miss Yun wouldn’t forcefully keep the dress, right?"

A gentleman doesn’t take what others value?

Was she trying to provoke her?

Yun Mu's gaze was calm and cold as she stared at Liu Ling, the chill in her eyes causing Liu Ling to shiver for no reason.

"Liu Ling, I saw this dress first, not you. Liking it doesn’t mean I have to give it to you. That’s what they call 'taking what isn’t yours,' got it? You may be A'ju's girlfriend, but that doesn’t give you the right to just take whatever you want!"

Liu Ling was stunned. Doesn't Yun Mu know that she and A'ju have already broken up?

Under normal circumstances, she would have just let Liu Ling have the dress. Plus, the color and style of this dress were too extravagant and really didn’t suit her.

But this time, Liu Ling refused to back down!

She clenched her palm, a sweet smile tugging at her lips. "Even though you saw it first, you haven’t worn it yet, have you? I think it’s only fair to compete for it. Salesclerk, I’ll take this dress! Charge it!"

With that, Liu Ling reached out to grab the champagne-colored gown from the salesclerk's hands.

Yun Mu’s gaze turned icy, and she darted forward to grab the dress; in doing so, she accidentally bumped into Liu Ling.

What Yun Mu didn’t expect was that Liu Ling was so frail that she fell to the ground instantly!

"Why are you so violent? You actually pushed someone over a dress! A'ling, are you alright?" Liu Yan rushed over, fuming with anger when she saw Liu Ling's twisted ankle. "Your ankle is sprained so badly, how can you wear high heels now? This woman, we’re not letting this go!"

With that, she immediately called for the security guards outside.

"Guards! Get this woman out of here!"

"Who dares?"

A cold, sharp voice rang out from outside the women’s clothing store.

It was A'ju!

A'ju had arrived at some point, his hand in his pocket as he stood by the door, clearly observing the scene for some time.

Yun Mu glanced at A’ju, and as their eyes met, she coldly snorted and looked away first.

"Heh, Miss Liu, you sure fell at just the right moment! Now I see why you were so insistent on fighting me for this dress. It wasn’t about the dress at all!"

Liu Ling's face turned pale.

"Miss Yun, I’m not putting on an act. I really was pushed over by you."

Yun Mu sneered.

Liu Ling then looked at A'ju with a pitiful expression. "A'ju, I didn’t..."

A'ju looked at Liu Ling's swollen ankle and pale face.

This time, Liu Ling wasn’t pretending.

Otherwise, with her usual skills and intelligence, she wouldn’t have done such a poor job.

Liu Yan chimed in, "A'ju, since you're here, let's resolve this. This woman was fighting with A'ling over a dress and even pushed A'ling to the ground. A'ling is your girlfriend, you must stand up for her!"

"Liu Ling and I..."

"A'ju!" Liu Ling immediately cut him off, shaking her head pleadingly.

Don’t reveal that we’ve broken up, at least not now...

Not in front of Yun Mu.

Yiju understood Liu Ling’s meaning but remained unmoved. "Yun Mu—actually..."

"Enough!" Yun Mu had had enough of their silent communication and impatiently interrupted Yiju's words, "I was the one who pushed her. But I spotted the dress first. Please take your girlfriend away, Mr. Yiju. I need to try the dress on!"

She didn’t look at Yiju and Liu Ling, taking the dress into the fitting room.

Now’s the perfect time to leave.

Liu Ling heaved a sigh of relief, but Liu Yan wasn’t about to let it go. "Hey! Who said you could take the dress? Ling, what are you waiting for? Say something!"

"Let it be, Auntie," Liu Ling said warningly, then glanced cautiously at Yiju. "Yiju..."

Yiju looked at her with cold indifference and said, "This is the last time she will be allowed to act as my girlfriend in public."

Liu Ling’s face turned pale, and she clenched her fists. "I understand, Auntie. Let’s go."

She then dragged Liu Yan out of the women's clothing store. Liu Yan, still confused and shouting about reclaiming the dress, was dragged away.