Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Wen Zhi dashed off, followed closely by several bodyguards. The moment the elevator doors opened, they nearly gave the incoming patients a heart attack.

"What on earth is this?" (muttered a bystander).

A large group of tough-looking men escorting a beautiful girl, all rushing downstairs.

While in the elevator, Wen Zhi called a friend downstairs: "Let the paparazzi and media into the first floor. Tell them Wen Bingchun is being discharged. Whoever gets the big scoop gets a promotion and raise next month."

In an emergency, it was better them than me.

At the same time, after sending her message, Wen Bingchun called out, "Ah Xun" (her nickname for Lu Xun).

Lu Xun turned back, puzzled. "What's wrong?"

Wen Bingchun was still trying to come up with an excuse when her eyes widened in shock. She grabbed his hand and tried to pull him upstairs—holy crap! Weren’t the paparazzi and media supposed to be blocked outside? Why had they suddenly rushed in, and it seemed like they were targeting her?

Lu Xun was confused and about to ask when a loud shout came from behind: "Wen Bingchun, she's over there!"

He turned around and saw a swarm of paparazzi charging toward them with their cameras. Even though he was accustomed to modern city life, the chaos caught him off guard.

A massive wave of paparazzi and media encircled them, pinning the two into a corner. Lu Xun’s face was tense as he shielded the dodging Wen Bingchun. Despite microphones being shoved in his face, he reminded himself—Do. Not. Hit. Anyone!

"The 'Ice Beauty,' is it true you tried to take your own life?"

"Did Wen Zhi really visit you? We heard you were kicked out of the Wen family and your company terminated your contract. Any comment?"

"Is this man next to you your boyfriend?"

"How long have you been together? Do you plan to make a comeback?"

Mu Mu and Sen Sen, who’d just walked in, recoiled in fear. Yun Songzhang, who had followed them in, shielded the two Little Dumplings and comforted them: "Don’t be afraid, let’s take the side route upstairs."

Sen Sen kept glancing at the crowd as they walked. "Uncle Yun, what are they doing?"

Yun Songzhang: "An interview, I guess." He had caught Wen Bingchun’s name earlier and, though slightly surprised, had no intention of intervening.

Mu Mu, holding the lunchbox tightly, urged, "Let’s hurry up and find Mom."

The three had just reached the elevator when they ran into Wen Zhi and her bodyguards rushing toward them.

Mu Mu cried out joyfully, "Mom!"

Wen Zhi crouched down to hug Mu Mu, then glanced toward Wen Bingchun before quickly saying, "This place is a zoo—let’s go upstairs."

Pinned by the crowd, Wen Bingchun caught a glimpse of Wen Zhi’s retreating figure through the gaps between people and seethed—she had tried to warn her, only to be thrown under the bus.

After bringing the three back to the room, Wen Zhi noticed Chen Yuyao had already left.

Mu Mu proudly handed her the lunchbox. "Mom, this is chicken soup I learned to make from the kitchen uncle. It’s really delicious!"

Sen Sen also passed over the fruit basket. "Godmother, eat more fruits."

Wen Zhi placed the fruit basket and soup on the table, then pulled the two Little Dumplings close. "Didn’t I tell you to focus on studying? Why did you come to the hospital?"

Mu Mu said gravely. "Kindergarten’s *so* boring. I already know everything the teacher teaches, and the other kids are babies. I want to go to elementary school."

Wen Zhi: "But you’re already signed up for this term."

Mu Mu fell silent.

Yun Songzhang spoke up, "I think Mu Mu’s easily smart enough for third or fourth grade. If he really doesn’t want to attend kindergarten, just let him go to elementary school."

Wen Zhi hesitated, "It’s doable, just not yet."

Mu Mu’s face immediately lit up, "Then when it’s possible, Mom, remember to tell me."

Wen Zhi nodded, then turned to Yun Songzhang, "Why are you here?"

Yun Songzhang replied, "I just got back from a business trip. Uncle Zhong mentioned Mu Mu was coming, so I came along."

Wen Zhi made a noncommittal sound and asked, "How’s Wen Jinyuan been lately?"

Yun Songzhang answered, "We’ve been keeping him busy like you said. He’s been working his way through the marketing department for over ten days—even lost some of his beer belly. Lately, he’s been constantly whining to me and other shareholders."

Wen Zhi said, "Tomorrow, get someone to scare him."

Yun Songzhang raised an eyebrow, "How?"

Wen Zhi replied, "Like a car crash, tripping on stairs, or getting knocked over by a shelf during a store inspection."

Yun Songzhang asked, "What if he gets hurt or disabled?"

Wen Zhi laughed, "Don’t worry, someone will save him."

Yun Songzhang didn’t ask further and simply nodded in agreement.

Three days later, a much thinner Wen Jinyuan was dispatched to inspect a store in a neighboring city. Cursing under his breath as he left, his car was simultaneously hit by two vehicles on the overpass. The car was severely damaged, but he walked away unhurt—though his legs went weak when rescuers pulled him free.

When he finally managed to rush to the store, he was drenched by a customer's soy milk as soon as he stepped in. The store manager hurriedly led him to change clothes, and he muttered to himself, how could today be so unlucky, why didn't I check the almanac before leaving home.

After changing his clothes, he became extra cautious, looking around wherever he went, fearing any more accidents. However, as he looked around, he saw his daughter, whom he hadn't seen for over half a month, walking intimately with the young man who had saved him on the overpass that morning, browsing furniture together.

Disliking his daughter was one thing, but having his "cabbage" poached was another matter entirely.

Wen Jinyuan roared, pointing at Wen Bingchun, "What are you doing here?"

Wen Bingchun was startled, instinctively wanting to leave, but was held back by Lu Xun.

He leaned close to her ear, whispering reassurance, "Don't be afraid, we agreed to win your father's favor, right? Don't worry, everything is arranged. In a moment, when we walk over, the goods above his head will fall, and I'll save him again. He will surely be grateful to me."

Wen Bingchun was surprised and stared at the goods above her father's head.

Earlier, Wen Zhi had mentioned in the group chat that as they approached, the shelf next to her father would collapse. These two seemed to have some sort of unspoken chemistry, much like this morning on the overpass, where one hit the front and the other hit the back, nearly giving her a heart attack.

Wen Bingchun: "Be careful then."

The sight of the two whispering to each other made Wen Jinyuan feel uneasy, thinking they were entangled.

"Wen Bingchun, I'm talking to you! Are you deaf?"

Lu Xun patted her hand, pulling her toward Wen Jinyuan, but kept his eyes fixed on the goods above Wen Jinyuan's head.

At the same time, Wen Zhi was watching the surveillance on her iPad, her earpiece flashing as she began to count down: "5, 4, 3..."

Bang!

The goods suddenly collapsed from above, and the store manager shouted. Wen Jinyuan only had time to look up before being pushed backward by a strong force. The man who had saved him earlier was pinned under the boxes.

Wen Jinyuan, feeling grateful, quickly scrambled up and reached out to help. But just as he extended his hand, the nearby shelf crashed down with a loud clang. Startled, he jerked his hand back, while the store manager and employees hastily dodged aside. Only Lu Xun, pinned under the goods, couldn’t move, watching helplessly as the heavy shelf toppled toward him.

What the hell? He had only tampered with the goods, not the shelves. Incompetent idiots—if this were the Great Yong, they’d be dragged out and beheaded.

After a series of crashes, everyone stood frozen in shock.

It wasn’t until Lu Xun’s pained groans echoed that Wen Bingchun finally snapped out of it, shouting for help to pull him free.

He couldn’t die—Wen Zhi had said he needed to be ruined and despised by all.

With that thought, she redoubled her efforts to save him. Lu Xun, trapped beneath the wreckage, found some comfort in her frantic expression.

Lu Xun was rushed to the hospital. Aside from other minor injuries, his lower body had been accidentally struck by falling goods. The doctor said he’d recover with time, though how long depended on his constitution.

Lying pale on the hospital bed, Lu Xun thought bitterly: An emperor’s heirs are everything—of all places to get hurt!

Being the hero came at a high price.

Wen Bingchun stared at his lower half, relieved. At least she wouldn’t have to deal with him for months. Though she wanted her parents to pay, she wasn’t willing to sacrifice herself to a scoundrel before achieving her goal.

This worked out perfectly.

Her already pale face, coupled with her dazed expression, made Wen Jinyuan misinterpret her hesitation as reluctance.

He immediately declared, "You can’t be ungrateful. Lu Xun got hurt saving your father—you have to take care of him." His daughter’s virtue was the least of his worries.

If not for the man on the bed, he’d be the one injured. He owed the man—might as well make his daughter repay it.

Lu Xun, enduring the pain, spoke to Wen Jinyuan: "Sir, this was no accident. Earlier on the overpass, I saw the other car deliberately ram into us, but the driver fled before I could confront him. At first, I didn’t suspect anything, but after the store incident, I realized—when they moved the shelves, I noticed the screws had been tampered with. Someone wants you dead."

Wen Jinyuan frowned, recalling the string of misfortunes since he left home—all seemingly targeting him.

His eyes darkened. "Could it be Wen Zhi?" It had to be her.

She’d already left him barely clinging to life.

Lu Xun poured oil on the fire: "Possibly. At the hospital, she harassed Bingchun and had me beaten, swearing she wouldn’t let us go. She probably wants to destroy the entire Wen family’s second branch."

Wen Bingchun went ghostly white. "No… When I slit my wrist, she said she’d ruin me, make me live in shame. And she’d kick Mom and Dad out of Wen Corp, leaving them worse than beggars."

Wen Jinyuan’s composure cracked. "Then… what do we do?"

"She’s even more cutthroat than her father—no family loyalty at all." Her public shaming of him at the company said it all.

Lu Xun pushed further: "If she’s turned on family, why wait for her to move?"

Wen Jinyuan’s face darkened. "Don’t you think I’ve tried? But I only hold 10% of the shares. Wen Zhi has 30%, and Yun Songzhang backs her."

Lu Xun tested the waters: "Bingchun mentioned Yun Songzhang only has 15%. Combined with Wen Zhi, it’s still not a majority. If you could buy up the remaining scattered shares, plus Bingchun’s 5%, couldn’t the company change hands?"

Wen Jinyuan shot him a look. "Obviously! But if I had the means, I wouldn’t be waiting. Yun Songzhang’s too clever by half—he’s got eyes everywhere, won’t even approve a project for me."

Lu Xun managed a thin smile. "If we can get Yun Songzhang out of the company for half a month, I’ll step in. I have ways to help you secure those shares."

Wen Jinyuan sized him up, doubtful. "You can do that?"

Lu Xun said flatly, "Yes." Money talks—and if money won’t sway them, there’s always force.

With his skills, taking control of a small company would be absolutely no problem.

He fully expected Wen Jinyuan to agree without hesitation, but instead, the next words out of his mouth were: "I don’t have the money." No matter how skilled you are, without money, nothing can be done.

Lu Xun frowned so deeply it could kill a fly: In modern times, having no money was truly a major issue.

"I’ll figure out a way to handle the money."

The previously distressed Wen Jinyuan immediately beamed and shook his hand: "Good son-in-law, I’m counting on you." Then his tone shifted again: "But, under whose name will the shares be acquired?"

What a schemer—before even acquiring anything, he was already plotting to seize control. In the past, Lu Xun would have despised such an opportunistic attitude, wanting to reap benefits without investing a single cent.

But now, he had no choice but to humor him.

Lu Xun put on a troubled expression: "Originally, the shares should be acquired under your name, Father-in-law, but Yun Songzhang is watching you closely. I’ll have to step in first to acquire the shares. Once we’ve ousted Yun Songzhang and Wen Zhi from the company, half of the acquired shares will go to you, and the other half to Bingchun. I’ll stay in the company to help you manage the rest."

Businessmen don’t move without gain. Wen Jinyuan didn’t believe for a second that Lu Xun was putting in this much effort just for his daughter. Whether this was letting a wolf in the door or not, he could always give Lu Xun a portion of the shares later. The most important thing was that Wen Zhi and Yun Songzhang absolutely could not stay.

Having figured this out, Wen Jinyuan nodded repeatedly: "Fine, do as you say."

-----

Two days later, Lu Xun was discharged from the hospital and introduced by Wen Jinyuan into the company as the head of the marketing department. Using his injury as an excuse, Wen Jinyuan retreated to the sidelines, coasting in his office.

Under Wen Zhi’s instructions, Yun Songzhang looked the other way.

By late September, a major issue arose in one of Wen Corporation’s overseas projects. After a company meeting, Yun Songzhang personally went to handle it. What should have taken just over ten days was prolonged when Wen Zhi called and purposely stalled his return.

Bored overseas, Yun Songzhang called Wen Zhi after breakfast and asked helplessly, "When can I come back? Are you managing alright alone there?"

Bleary-eyed, Wen Zhi grumbled, "It’s the crack of dawn! Do you not check the time before calling?"

Yun Songzhang apologized, and Wen Zhi finally said, "Just stay put for another month before coming back."

Yun Songzhang thought it over and realized it made sense—he’d never taken a break in all these years, not even during New Year’s Eve, when he was still handling documents.

"But what about your driver’s license test? Have you passed the theory test yet? I wanted to teach you how to drive."

Wen Zhi woke up a bit more and quickly said, "I passed the theory test ages ago, and I’ve already got an instructor. He even praised my driving. Don’t worry, I’ll pass everything in one go. Just stay abroad and relax."

In reality, Wen Zhi hadn’t even passed the theory test.

It definitely wasn’t because she was slow—some questions were downright traps.

She suddenly felt a little envious of Chen Yuyao, who had come into this world with a driver’s license.

Meanwhile, Chen Yuyao, who was recording a show, scoffed: "What’s the use of having a license? I don’t dare drive anyway. Last time I stepped on the gas, I crashed immediately. I’m planning to retake the theory test. When you take the road test, let me borrow your instructor."

Wen Zhi mocked, "You’re a celebrity now—can’t you just hire your own instructor?"

Chen Yuyao pouted: "Just getting Lu Xun’s household registration handled cost me a fortune. I even covered part of the costs for his share acquisitions. I’m broke now—nothing like you, the rent-collecting heiress."

Wen Zhi: "Don’t try to fool me. Didn’t Lu Xun give you a bunch of his personal belongings to sell? And didn’t he use his ID to take out loan shark debt for the acquisition money?"

The original Chen Yuyao had been a college student who borrowed a small sum from loan sharks. After being chased by debt collectors, her company cleared the debt for her—in exchange for signing a 20-year contract, during which the bulk of her income went to the company. If she breached the contract, the penalty would be over ten times the original loan amount.

After getting Lu Xun’s contact information, Chen Yuyao hadn’t reached out to him. Later, Lu Xun found her through connections, and after a few meetings, the two gradually made up.

Lu Xun had Chen Yuyao arrange his household registration and ID for him.

He didn’t trust anyone else with this task—only Chen Yuyao, who shared his background.

After learning about his acquisition of the Wen Group, Chen Yuyao volunteered to give him money. However, they were still short a lot of money. Chen Yuyao sighed, "Too bad my phoenix crown got left at the bottom of Luming Lake. Otherwise, any single piece would be worth a fortune. That matching-heart jade pendant you gave me? A friend saw it recently and loved it so much they offered seven figures for it."

Lu Xun immediately thought of the items he had brought with him when he crossed over.

First things first—get the Wen Group. Aside from the dragon robe, the beads on it could still be pried off.

Lu Xun entrusted her with selling the items. Outwardly, Chen Yuyao was helping him, but in reality, the cash she handed him? All high-interest loans taken out under his new ID.

If he ever found out, he’d lose it.

Chen Yuyao explained, "I still owe the company money. All of Lu Xun’s funds went to settling that. I’m trying to regain my freedom sooner so I won’t have to keep appearing on TV and annoying you."

Wen Zhi took pity on her: "Actually, there’s another way—you could pass the civil service exam. That would break your contract with the agency. You’d only need to repay the loan the company covered, without any penalty fees."

Chen Yuyao blinked. "How come nobody mentioned this? Like we’re still back in Great Yong or something?" After crossing over, she had spent a long time in the hospital, then immediately started filming *Baby!*. Though she had studied modern knowledge and gradually absorbed some of the original Chen Yuyao’s memories, she had never heard of this.

Wen Zhi: "Of course there is. The original Chen Yuyao was still a college student—it’d be even easier for you." Unlike her, who still had to take college entrance exams.

"The civil service exam is held in late November or early December. It’s perfect timing for you to prepare now."

Chen Yuyao: "Forget driving lessons then. I want to apply for the prison guard civil service exam—that way, I’ll definitely stay out of your sight. And once Lu Xun ends up behind bars on the sewing machines, I can keep tormenting him."

Wen Zhi: "Now that’s a promising idea. To help you keep torturing the DogEmperor, I’ll sponsor you a few postgraduate tutors. They’ll coach you around the clock when you’re not filming. Hope you pass in one go."

Chen Yuyao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: *Truly mother and son—Mu Mu tutors kids, and she hires tutors for adults.*

After hanging up, Lu Xun called almost immediately. His first question was, "Who were you just talking to?"

Chen Yuyao: "My agent."

Lu Xun sounded displeased. "Your agent is a man. Keep your distance."

Like we’re still back in Great Yong, where no men except eunuchs were allowed in the imperial harem.

She obediently nodded. "Mm. Did you call because things are going well?"

Lu Xun: "Almost. There are just a couple of holdout old guys refusing to sell their shares. Yuyao, find a way to get me another sum—ten million, just ten million. Once we secure the Wen Group, I’ll share the shares with you. Then we’ll slowly take down that bitch Wen Zhi."

His pie-in-the-sky talk beat her agent’s.

Chen Yuyao fell silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "DogEmperor, if our Sui An had lived, they’d be as old as Mu Mu now. Did you ever regret it, even for a second?"

He immediately changed the subject. "Yuyao, this is a critical moment. Let’s not dwell on sad things now."

Then he resumed shoveling more bullshit.

Chen Yuyao patiently listened before hanging up and sending a message in the group chat.

*Scumbag Crushers, Chen Yuyao*: When are we taking down Lu Xun? I can’t take it anymore.

*Scumbag Crushers, Ice Queen*: Me neither. He keeps feeding me lies. Low-key feel bad for Wen Zhi now—how did she end up with such top-tier trash? He even hits on employees from every department—marketing, finance, tech—like it’s his personal imperial harem.

*Scumbag Crushers, Wen Zhi*: Don’t pity me. I’m rolling in it. My birthday’s on October 20th—I’m throwing a party at the old mansion. See the drama go down. Bring gifts.

*Scumbag Crushers, Chen Yuyao*: Hard pass.

*Scumbag Crushers, Ice Queen*: Hard pass.

*Scumbag Crushers, Wen Zhi*: Really? Uncle and Auntie Number Two will all be there.

Veteran Scumbag Crusader, Chen Yuyao: I'll go.

Veteran Scumbag Crusader, Ice Beauty: I'll go.

Veteran Scumbag Crusader, Wen Zhi: Remember to bring gifts, smile.JPG.

Ugh, the richer they are, the cheaper they get! How dare they ask for gifts from us common folks!

Wen Zhi watched as the group chat fell silent, feeling incredibly pleased. She leisurely ate some fruit while browsing through dresses for her birthday banquet.

Staff from several mid-range luxury shops lined up at the Wen family mansion with their collections, quietly amazed by all the antiques in the old house.

After picking her own dress, Wen Zhi started selecting little suits for Mu Mu and Sen Sen.

Butler Zhong rushed in and asked, "Miss Nuannuan, which imported red wine should we order? Should we invite a Michelin five-star chef for the banquet?"

Wen Zhi replied casually, "Skip the imports—just grab some champagne. And no need for a chef—have the WENNUAN Hotel’s kitchen crew handle it."

Butler Zhong hesitated, "This time, we’ve invited many company shareholders and their wives, and it’s also the young master’s first time meeting outsiders. Won’t champagne seem kinda cheap? What if the high-society crowd mocks us?"

Wen Zhi reassured him, "Don’t worry, nobody’s gonna be drinking anyway. No matter how fine the wine or desserts are, they’ll go to waste."

Butler Zhong was puzzled: What did she mean by "nobody’s gonna be drinking"? Were the banquet guests planning to fast and ascend to immortality or something?

Humming as she dressed Mu Mu, Wen Zhi was in high spirits. She thought to herself: How considerate of her to give the DogEmperor such a perfect opportunity to perform.

Sen Sen, adjusting his little tie, sidled up to her and asked, "Auntie, why are you so happy?"

Mu Mu answered for her, "It’s Mommy’s birthday! Of course she’s happy—it only comes once a year."

Wen Zhi playfully pinched both children’s noses and laughed, "I’m especially happy this time because I’ve reeled in a big one."

Mu Mu was confused: Why was Mommy always talking about fishing lately?

"Mommy, do you want to eat sashimi? Sashimi isn’t tasty at all. Can we cook the fish you catch instead?"

Wen Zhi nodded, "Sure, we’ll braise it or deep-fry it."

"Yay! We’re having braised fish!" The two kids were overjoyed.

The next day, Mu Mu bought a thick book titled *100 Ways to Cook Fish* from an online bookstore and handed it to her, eyes sparkling as he asked, "Mommy, can we try every recipe? Sen Sen and I want to taste them all."

Wen Zhi hugged Little Dumpling, kissing and nuzzling him. "Of course! That’s my boy—always impressive."

Mu Mu, turning red from the praise, rubbed his flushed cheeks and ran off shyly.

By mid-October, Lu Xun and Wen Jinyuan finished buying up loose shares. They kicked back, waiting for Yun Songzhang’s return to convene a shareholders’ meeting. However, upon his return, Yun Songzhang went straight to Wen Corporation, claiming he needed to prepare for Wen Zhi’s birthday banquet.

He was running around so much they couldn’t pin him down.

Wen Jinyuan called Yun Songzhang and Wen Zhi several times, insisting on holding the shareholders’ meeting. Wen Zhi brushed him off, saying she was busy, then stopped taking his calls entirely.

After working tirelessly for over half a month, Lu Xun and Wen Jinyuan felt like they’d punched cotton—frustrated and powerless.

When Lu Xun heard about Wen Zhi and Yun Songzhang’s close relationship, he sneered coldly, "I wanted to keep this in-house, but since they don’t care about saving face, we’ll resolve it at the banquet."

Wen Jinyuan agreed: After all these years, he could finally rightfully become Wen Corporation’s CEO. Might as well let everyone see it go down.

Pity it had to wreck his niece’s big day.

On the afternoon of the birthday party, luxury cars lined up at the Wen family's ancestral home. Shareholders of Wen Corporation and business luminaries from all walks of life came to offer their congratulations. Upon entering through the main gate, they couldn’t help but take in the sight of the ancient mansion, which had remained closed for many years.

For many, the last time they’d seen it was during Wen Zhi's 11th birthday celebration.

Over a decade later, the mansion remained as serene and opulent as ever, while its owner had transformed from an innocent little girl into a stunningly beautiful woman, now with an adorable child of her own.

Those who had assumed the Wen family had declined were quickly proven wrong upon seeing Wen Zhi and Mu Mu in person, their ambitions reignited.

Today, Wen Zhi wore a haute couture gown from VLOVE, adorned with dazzling jewels, radiating elegance and charm. Mu Mu, dressed in a perfectly tailored little suit, sported a faint smile on his jade-like face—adorable yet carrying a hint of dignified poise, clearly a well-raised heir.

Many mothers nudged their children to play with Mu Mu while they themselves surrounded Wen Zhi for conversation.

Yun Songzhang tended to the male guests, while Wen Zhi entertained the female attendees.

She held a simple glass of champagne, but the pigeon-egg-sized diamond on her finger ensured no one dared underestimate her. Her witty remarks had everyone in stitches.

Amid the chatter, a wave of excitement broke out at the entrance.

Wen Zhi glanced over to see Lin Jiyao arriving with his younger sister, followed by Chen Yuyao and Chen Yueliang. Many gushed in hushed tones, "Oh my, that's Lin Jiyao! Ahhh, I love him so much!"

"And Chen Yuyao too! How’d they score an invite?"

"Didn’t they just finish filming the fourth episode of *Baby! 2* yesterday? They must’ve wrapped straight here after!"

"Wen Zhi’s got serious pull—she actually got them to come!"

"Get real. Given the Wen family’s status, they’re the ones who should feel honored!"

Wen Zhi gave a slight nod at the group before walking over to greet Lin Jiyao and the others. Xiao Xiao darted over, hugging Wen Zhi’s leg. "Pretty sister, you look sooooo beautiful today!" Her heart-melting voice was like honey.

Were it not for her gown, Wen Zhi would have scooped her up for a hug. Instead, she patted Xiao Xiao’s head. "Xiao Xiao, you look sooooo beautiful too!"

Xiao Xiao giggled, spinning in her pink princess dress. "Pretty, right? Big brother bought it specially for me!" She pointed behind her. "He got new clothes too—isn’t my brother so handsome?"

Lin Jiyao’s usually stern face flushed slightly as he handed over a gift box tied with a ribbon. "Here, happy birthday."

Wen Zhi accepted it with a smile. "Thank you."

Lin Jiyao returned the smile.

Chen Yuyao, who had followed closely behind, chimed in, "I got you something too!" and presented a gift.

Wen Zhi laughed cheerfully and beckoned to Mu Mu. "Mu Mu, come help Mommy with the gifts!"

Mu Mu trotted over, but the moment he took the presents, Xiao Xiao and Chen Yueliang swarmed around him. The two little ones clicked with Mu Mu and Sen Sen, leaving no room for the other children to join.

Soon, another buzz spread through the crowd at the entrance.

Liu Yiru waved from a distance. "Wen Zhi!"

Sen Sen, spotting his mother, sprinted toward her, shouting, "Mommy!"

Liu Yiru, noticeably slimmer now, looked stunning in a black mermaid dress. She bent down to pick up Sen Sen, handing him her black handbag while pinching his cheeks. "Oh dear, you’ve gotten chubby staying at Mu Mu’s house!"

Sen Sen giggled and planted a kiss on her cheek.

The surrounding guests couldn’t help staring at Liu Yiru.

"That's Movie Queen Liu—she’s got such class!"

"She's been really popular lately. My TV plays her commercials every day, and I heard she's filming a heritage film recently. Seems like it's going to be submitted for international awards."

"Isn't she busy filming? How’d she swing coming here?"

Liu Yiru walked closer with Sen Sen in her arms. Wen Zhi exclaimed, "You made it!"

Liu Yiru replied, "How could I miss your birthday?" She turned to Sen Sen and said, "Check Mom’s purse. There's a gift box inside—give it to your godmother."

Sen Sen dug into the bag, pulled out a brocade box, and handed it to Wen Zhi.

Mu Mu also ran over to her, chiming, "Godmother!"

Liu Yiru patted his head. "Our Mu Mu seems to have grown taller again."

Mu Mu said matter-of-factly, "Because my birthday is coming soon, and I’ll be a year older too."

Everyone present laughed.

Liu Yiru asked, "When’s the cake-cutting? I took a red-eye just for this—I’ll leave right after the cake."

Wen Zhi glanced around. "Good idea, let’s cut the cake first. Things might get hectic later."

Liu Yiru thought she meant she wouldn’t get to eat it and got all misty-eyed.

The birthday banquet officially began. As the music started, Uncle Zhong and a group of servants rolled the cake in, singing ‘Happy Birthday.’ The guests kept time, while Mu Mu and the other children gathered around Wen Zhi, singing loudly.

When the song ended, Wen Zhi went to slice the cake—just as the front doors burst open again. Wen Jinyuan’s deep, mocking voice rang out, "My niece’s birthday, and you didn’t even invite your uncle and aunt? Real classy, huh?"

People stepped aside, turning to look at the newcomers.

Down the walkway, Wen Jinyuan led the way, followed by Zhou Li holding Wen Xiaowen’s hand, with Wen Bingchun and Lu Xun bringing up the rear—the whole family piled in like they owned the place.

They didn’t look like guests. More like troublemakers.

Looks like drama’s back on the menu at the Wen heir’s birthday banquet.

Author's Note: