25: In Your Dreams

The next day was Saturday, a day free from work.

Su Muqing (pronounced Soo Moo-ching) had practically locked herself in her room for the entire day, her mood utterly foul.

She had no idea what agreement her grandfather, Su Yunshan (Soo Yoon-shan), had struck with Shen Yifei (Shen Yee-fay), only that this man would remain by her side.

No matter how grim her predicament, life, as always, had to go on.

Donning a crisp, refreshing dress, Su Muqing descended the stairs.

In the spacious hall, Shen Yifei was engrossed in a magazine on the sofa. Spotting Su Muqing’s descent, he greeted her with a casual nod.

Ordinarily, Su Muqing would offer a perfunctory reply, but now, she couldn't even be bothered.

Shen Yifei, unfazed by her frosty demeanor, proceeded to inform Su Muqing of the agreement he had reached with Su Yunshan the previous day.

“So, in three months at most, I’ll be out of your hair,” Shen Yifei declared with a shrug.

Su Muqing’s delicate eyebrows knitted together, but she remained silent.

“Who exactly are you?” Su Muqing asked, taking a deep breath, her gaze fixed on Shen Yifei. “And why does Grandfather trust you so implicitly?”

She had pondered it endlessly, convinced there was something deeply amiss. Her grandfather was a shrewd and sagacious man; he wouldn’t place such profound trust in a young man barely in his twenties without reason.

Shen Yifei chuckled. “I am who I am. Shen Yifei is my true name. Ms. Su, if you truly don't want to marry Luo Tianyao (Lwoh Tee-ow-yow), why not consider me first?”

Su Muqing stiffened, then retorted angrily, “In your dreams! I’m warning you, Shen Yifei, even if we are cohabiting now, please keep your distance from me in the future.”

“Ms. Su, given how handsome I am, how knowledgeable and powerful, and with such a good personality—I’m practically a paragon of virtues, wouldn't you agree? There’s absolutely no need for you to dislike me so much, is there?” Shen Yifei rambled on, utterly unperturbed.

Su Muqing was speechless. Shen Yifei’s roguish charm and scoundrel-like demeanor made him seem more like a street ruffian.

Observing Su Muqing’s expression of distaste, Shen Yifei felt a pang of helplessness. *My junior martial sister (a fellow disciple from a martial arts lineage) was wrong then*, he mused. *I’ve shown this ice queen my true self, and she still doesn’t believe me.*

Her phone suddenly rang. Su Muqing picked it up and saw a number she truly wished to avoid.

Taking a deep breath, Su Muqing answered the call.

“Hello, Mother.”

Beside her on the sofa, Shen Yifei’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. *Mother?*

Su Muqing was an adopted daughter of the Su family. Her adoptive father had passed away, and her previous marriage had ended in an early divorce due to her inability to conceive.

Logically, Su Muqing should have no living mother. The person she referred to as “Mother” could only be her stepmother.

Su Muqing’s stepmother was Qiao Lan (Chee-ow Lan), the CEO and major shareholder of Tianrong International (Tee-an-rong International), and the eldest daughter of the Qiao family.

“Oh, spare me, Su Muqing. Do you even acknowledge me as your mother anymore?” a woman’s arrogant voice snapped from the other end of the line.

Su Muqing’s expression turned sour, though her tone remained level. “Mother, did you call for a specific reason?”

“I hear you’re cohabiting with a man now. What’s the meaning of this? You know this is a critical period; I won’t allow any men near you. What will Luo Tianyao think?” Qiao Lan demanded, her brow furrowed.

“Mother, I’ve told you countless times, I will not marry Luo Tianyao,” Su Muqing retorted, her jaw tight.

“Hmph. Luo Tianyao happens to be returning to the Huaxia Nation (China) next week. I’ll arrange a meeting for the two of you.” Qiao Lan stated, her voice devoid of warmth.

“I will not meet him,” Su Muqing said icily.

“This is not up to you. Your marriage alliance with the Luo family must proceed immediately, or Tianrong International will not survive another month. If you don’t want your grandfather to end up in prison, come see me tonight.”

A bitter expression spread across Su Muqing’s face. She knew precisely what Qiao Lan’s words implied: if Tianrong International collapsed, and its creditors couldn’t recoup their funds, her grandfather could be dragged to court, facing a minimum of five years in prison.

Qiao Lan wasn’t just pinning the blame squarely on her grandfather; she was coercing Su Muqing into marrying Luo Tianyao for the enormous funds provided by Haizheng Group (High-zheng Group).

A deep hatred festered in her heart for Qiao Lan, for Tianrong International’s current predicament was largely the direct consequence of this woman’s mismanagement. Moreover, Qiao Lan was the very instigator, having arranged the engagement between Su Muqing and Luo Tianyao without Su Muqing’s consent.

“Fine. I’ll see you tonight.”

Su Muqing’s voice was utterly flat. With that, she hung up.

From his spot on the sofa, Shen Yifei suddenly spoke up. “Your stepmother is truly ruthless, to resort to threatening Master Su (Su Yunshan, her grandfather) like that.”

“What concern is that of yours?” Su Muqing snapped, utterly distraught and in no mood to converse with Shen Yifei.

Shen Yifei was, in fact, right. Su Yunshan was her Achilles' heel; her grandfather was the only family she truly had. Now, Qiao Lan was willing to send him to prison just to force the marriage through.

“Let’s go. Time to face your stepmother.” Shen Yifei suddenly patted Su Muqing’s shoulder.

“This has nothing to do with you. Why are you coming along?” Su Muqing frowned.

“To ensure your safety,” Shen Yifei replied calmly.

“Do as you please.”

Su Muqing had no desire to speak further. She held absolutely no hope that Shen Yifei could ensure her safety.

Having just agreed to meet Qiao Lan, there was no escaping it. Su Muqing could only steel herself and face the confrontation.

Around six in the evening, Shen Yifei and Su Muqing, having skipped dinner, exited the gate and got into an Audi convertible.

As the Audi convertible pulled away from the villa’s gate, Shen Yifei, driving, casually asked, “Ms. Su, is this Qiao family you mentioned quite prominent in Huahai City (Hwa-high City)?”

The fact that Shen Yifei was no longer calling her ‘wife’ provided Su Muqing with a small measure of comfort. With forced patience, she replied, “They’re not just prominent in Huahai City; they’re considered one of the leading family enterprises across the entire province, primarily involved in international trade.”

Huahai City, bordering the Huahai Sea (a large coastal body of water), was a port city and one of the Huaxia Nation’s (China’s) premier metropolises, bustling with immense international trade.

Legitimate commerce aside, the city’s underground dealings were rampant, with severe smuggling of drugs, weaponry, and other illicit goods.

While the Qiao family couldn’t rival the Luo family, they still ranked among the top five in Huahai City. Over a quarter of the city’s ports were under Qiao family control, and they had engaged in numerous unsavory underground ventures behind the scenes.

The Huanghai (Hwang-high) Grand Estates villa complex was one of Huahai City’s most opulent, established early on, making it a historically affluent district close to the docks.

Lush, verdant scenery greeted them, boasting beautiful surroundings and serene vistas. Artificial mountains with cascading fountains, quaint bridges spanning flowing streams, and numerous national-level protected trees adorned the landscape. Even the streetlights lining the community’s roads were elaborate, valuable chandeliers.

The pervasive aura of luxury left no doubt about the high-end elegance of upper-class society.

The Audi convertible drew to a halt before a grand seaside villa. Shen Yifei and Su Muqing alighted.

A voluptuous beauty, still possessing a captivating charm, sat on a beach chair, clad in a wine-red chiffon blouse. She wore sunglasses and leisurely swirled a stemmed glass of red wine, savoring its taste.

At first glance, the woman appeared to be in her early thirties, tall and well-endowed, with a beautiful face and fair, well-maintained skin.

However, Shen Yifei could discern that she was certainly older than her mid-thirties. The subtle lines visible on her skin betrayed her true age, and Shen Yifei surmised she was over forty.

“Mother,” Su Muqing said, her face devoid of emotion as she slowly approached and offered a greeting.

The beautiful woman was indeed Su Muqing’s stepmother, Qiao Lan, the eldest daughter of the Qiao family.

Qiao Lan cast a dismissive glance at Su Muqing, a cold smirk on her lips. “How amusing. Do you even acknowledge me as your mother anymore?”

The woman’s expression was haughty, radiating an air of superiority. This arrogance seemed to be a habit cultivated over many years.

Su Muqing remained silent. In her heart, she had never truly regarded the woman before her as a mother. Calling her “Mother” was merely a gesture of respect for her deceased father, who had married this woman.

Qiao Lan crossed her legs elegantly, her gaze sweeping over Shen Yifei beside Su Muqing. “And who is this?” she scoffed.

Shen Yifei offered a charming smile. “My name is Shen Yifei. A pleasure to meet you.”

Qiao Lan clicked her tongue in an arrogant display of disdain. “Did I ask *you* anything? Know your place, and don’t forget your station!”