Chapter 74

Chapter 74

Elegant violin music played in the background, and sweet wine lingered on her tongue. Under such an atmosphere, Jiang Yiyan felt a bit dazed with intoxication.

In this slightly tipsy state, her heart couldn't help but flutter.

"Is that so?" Jiang Yiyan's voice rose at the end, as she gently countered.

The cool evening breeze of late summer brushed against her face, slightly chilly yet very comfortable. The wind seemed to carry a hint of sweetness, and Jiang Yiyan greedily took several deep breaths.

Music, wine, mood... everything was serene and delightful.

Feeling both physically and mentally pleased, Jiang Yiyan gazed at the man in the pool, her lips curling up unconsciously. She was also willing to continue discussing Wen Mochuan with her daughter.

"But how come I see several beauties actively seeking him out for drinks?" Jiang Yiyan even counted in her mind how many beauties had approached him tonight.

Meimei licked her ice cream again, leisurely saying, "But Dad didn't seek out those pretty aunts. They came to Dad, not Dad's fault."

Jiang Yiyan chuckled, "So he just drinks with them? Why can't he refuse?"

Meimei looked at her mother, her starry eyes blinking a few times before realizing, "Right." If they approach him, he drinks; Dad should only drink with Mom.

"Dad is not adhering to male virtue," Meimei pouted, criticizing.

Jiang Yiyan burst into laughter, lifting her hand to lightly scratch her daughter's smooth cheek, amusedly asking, "Do you even know what male virtue means?"

Meimei seemed to understand partially but could explain a bit: "Male virtue means... only being good to one woman—Mom—and not smiling at other women. Even if other aunts approach, Dad shouldn't smile."

Wen Mochuan seemed to have a sixth sense, knowing that his wife and daughter were talking about him. He suddenly turned around in the crowd, his gaze accurately landing on the mother and daughter sitting by the dance floor.

Under the dim yellow lights of the evening banquet, his handsome face appeared even more refined and gentle.

Slightly intoxicated, Jiang Yiyan met his gaze directly. Only when Wen Mochuan refused two or three beauties who approached him and walked straight toward her did Jiang Yiyan slightly avert her eyes.

"Meimei, your ice cream will melt if you don't finish it soon," Jiang Yiyan said, making conversation.

Meimei didn't want to eat it anymore and asked, "Mom, can I stop eating it?"

"Of course you can. If you don't want to eat it, then don't," Jiang Yiyan replied.

Meimei ran to the nearby trash bin, threw away the remaining half of her ice cream, and returned. By then, Wen Mochuan had already reached Jiang Yiyan.

Seeing her father, Meimei put her hands on her hips and boldly said, "Dad, you're not adhering to male virtue!"

Just as a piece of music ended, the surroundings were quiet, and many people heard Meimei's words, causing them to cover their mouths and laugh, frequently turning their heads towards them.

Feeling embarrassed, Jiang Yiyan raised her hand to cover half of her face, not daring to look at Wen Mochuan's expression.

Wen Mochuan, however, smiled, his demeanor elegant and composed.

He glanced at his wife and then pulled their daughter to sit beside him.

"Why do you say that, Meimei?" Wen Mochuan asked patiently.

Meimei noticed the strange looks from others and leaned close to her father's ear, whispering, "Mom said you drank with pretty aunts. I explained that they approached you, but Mom said you could refuse. Since you didn't, you're not adhering to male virtue."

Jiang Yiyan thought, "Hey, I didn't say it like that!" This little darling was exaggerating and adding fuel to the fire.

But Jiang Yiyan couldn't explain further; doing so would make her seem guilty.

Still, she defended herself, "The term 'male virtue' wasn't coined by me."

"'Male virtue' was my term," Meimei admitted bravely, "but Mom meant the same thing."

Jiang Yiyan didn't defend herself further, admitting that her joke might have been misunderstood by her daughter.

"So, is Mom wrong?" she continued.

Meimei immediately sided with her mother, "Mom is right! Dad shouldn't drink with other beauties, only with Mom."

Another graceful melody began playing slowly and elegantly. The men and women who had dispersed from the dance floor returned to its center. Wen Mochuan extended his hand to his wife, inviting her, "Beautiful Miss Jiang, may I have this dance?"

Jiang Yiyan paused, her beautiful eyes slowly rising to meet the handsome face of the man before her.

The wine was quite potent; she hadn't felt it while drinking, but now its effects were kicking in.

In this slightly tipsy state, her actions were somewhat beyond her control. Her rational mind told her to politely decline, but her body reached out.

"Sure," she accepted.

Wen Mochuan nodded, gently taking her hand and leading her into the dance floor.

This was their first true physical contact, no, more accurately, it was the first time Jiang Yiyan had been this close to him.

It was impossible not to feel nervous. Her last relationship was during college, and it had been years since she had held a man's hand.

Let alone being held like this.

She could clearly feel the warmth of his palm on her waist and the heat of his breath surrounding her.

Such intimacy was normal for a married couple, but for her, it felt a bit awkward.

She dared not get too close, her body stiffening instinctively, trying to maintain some distance.

Wen Mochuan sensed this and subconsciously tightened his grip on her hand. His hand on her waist also exerted a bit more pressure.

For Wen Mochuan, this feeling was also new.

This stirring emotion and the uncontrollable impulse under the influence of intoxication.

He leaned in slowly, seemingly wanting to kiss her red lips, but she turned her head away just in time, refusing him.

Wen Mochuan respected her and thus put aside such thoughts.

Looking at the face so close to his, Wen Mochuan felt curious. It was the same face, the same person, yet why did he feel so different about her?

Her expressions were different, her behavior was different, even her small gestures had changed.

.

Today's party was held for Shu Yao, but she only showed up briefly at the beginning and then seemed to become invisible afterward.

Shu Yao had no interest in social climbing, and as the stepdaughter of the Jiang family, few people approached her to make connections.

Shu Yao didn't take it to heart, but Cai Wenqing couldn't stand it.

"Yaoyao, this is an opportunity your mother worked hard to get for you. You must seize it," Cai Wenqing's face clearly showed her anxiety. "If you miss this chance, there won't be another one."

Shu Yao didn't fully listen, but fearing her mother's nagging, she nodded perfunctorily. "I understand."

"Don't just say you understand; you need to take action!" Cai Wenqing was anxious.

Shu Yao looked at her mother seriously and sighed helplessly.

"Alright, I'll go socialize." With that, Shu Yao got up and headed towards the crowd.

In the dance floor, the most eye-catching couple stood out immediately.

Shu Yao knew that Jiang Yiyan hadn't dressed up intentionally today, but even in her plain clothes, she stood out among the many so-called beauties.

To say she wasn't jealous would be a lie.

How could she not care?

At this moment, Shu Yao felt more frustrated than anything else.

Xu Yan had repeatedly advised her to let go of the past and move forward. She had tried, but she couldn't do it.

As a result, her relationship with Xu Yan grew increasingly distant.

Perhaps, as Xu Yan said, they had incompatible values. What she thought could be let go was, for her, an insurmountable gap.

Jiang Yiyan... She clearly did something wrong, so why wasn't she punished? Instead, she now lives so happily.

Mochuan should have been the last person to forgive her. He had told her back then that he had to take responsibility. But now, isn't he also in love with Jiang Yiyan?

The "betrayal" of almost everyone around her had once driven her to despair. She hated all those who easily forgave Jiang Yiyan.

Especially Mochuan.

Watching the handsome man and beautiful woman dancing before her, Shu Yao subconsciously clenched her hand.

As another song ended and the music stopped, everyone dispersed from the dance floor, seeking new acquaintances.

It was then that a voice rang out in the crowd: "President Wen has arrived."

Immediately, murmurs spread.

"President Wen is here, look over there."

"He's so handsome, exactly my dream type."

"He finally came; I thought he wouldn't show up. I was about to leave."

"The Wens and the Jiangs are now related through marriage; the Wens will give the Jiangs some face."

Following everyone's gaze, Jiang Yiyan looked towards the entrance and saw a man in a black suit approaching. From a distance and in the dim light, she couldn't see his face clearly, only his silhouette.

Indeed, he matched the image of a domineering CEO described in novels, exuding an aura of "keep out." His build suggested he was tall and imposing. Even with just a vague outline, Jiang Yiyan could already picture him in her mind.

Indeed, he complemented Shu Yao's delicate flower-like demeanor well.

Wen Mobei didn't enter the crowd but went straight into the Jiang family villa.

Inside the villa, Jiang Cheng was chatting with a few peers. Seeing Wen Mobei at the door, Jiang Cheng instinctively stood up.

Seeing Jiang Cheng rise to greet him, Wen Mobei quickened his pace, showing great humility.

"Uncle Jiang."

"Nephew."

Jiang Cheng extended his hand to shake Wen Mobei's, then invited him to sit down.

Outside, Jiang Yiyan urged Wen Mochuan, "Your elder brother is here. Aren't you going to greet him?"