Chapter 41: The Banquet Begins

“Daughter, it seems you’ve met your match. The chase is always harder for a man, but for a woman, it’s as thin as gauze. You’d better hurry, or Xiao Feng will be lured away,” sighed Su Daoan, walking over after glimpsing Lu Feng entering the elevator with a woman while conversing with a member of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association.

Su Muqing was delighted, clapping her hands. “That’s wonderful! Now Sister won’t have to marry that villain.”

“Hmph!” Su Daoan grew annoyed at his younger daughter’s gloating and snorted, “One way or another, one of you must marry him. Yunshan’s legacy must continue.”

Su Muqing pursed her lips. “Dad, didn’t Yunshan expel you from the sect? Why are you still so concerned about their affairs?”

“You know nothing!” Su Daoan, stung by her words, stomped his foot and scolded, “It’s not just my wish, it’s your mother’s as well!”

“Mother’s wish…” Su Muyu was stunned.

“In any case, get closer to your Senior Brother Feng. If the Su family can’t tie itself to Yunshan, I—” Su Daoan sighed and walked away.

Su Muqing stuck out her tongue at her father’s retreating figure, then pulled her sister’s hand. “Sis, don’t listen to Old Su. We’re not marrying that nasty scoundrel!”

“But… if it truly was Mother’s wish…” Su Muyu fell into memories.

…

“Muyu, you’re here.”

Just as Su Muyu was lost in thought, Ye Wuhua entered the hotel and came over to greet her.

Hearing his voice, Su Muqing quickly spread her arms to shield her sister, fiercely warning, “Back up five steps, or I’ll kick your balls in!”

Ye Wuhua hurriedly stepped back three paces, keeping his distance. He was genuinely terrified of Su Muqing; the first time he met her, he ended up in the hospital for gastric lavage due to alcohol poisoning, and every subsequent encounter brought him misfortune—be it a beating or a scolding.

The shadow Su Muqing cast in Ye Wuhua’s heart was considerable.

Where Su Muqing was violent, Su Muyu was gentle. Every time Ye Wuhua saw Su Muyu, he felt compelled to get close, wanting nothing more than to hold her tenderly.

“I just wanted to greet your sister, why are you so agitated?” Ye Wuhua spread his hands.

“You bastard, what are you doing here?” Su Muqing shot back irritably.

Su Muyu found her sister’s behavior a bit rude and tugged at her sleeve to stop the commotion.

Ye Wuhua, brimming with pride, explained, “My family sponsors this Conference on Traditional Chinese Medicine, so of course I’m here. Besides, I plan to apply for Professor Li Guhe’s graduate program and thought I’d come and get acquainted first.”

Su Muqing turned, wide-eyed, to her sister, fuming, “Sis, let’s not apply for Professor Li Guhe’s graduate program anymore. If he takes in people like this, he’s no better than the rest!”

Su Muyu gave Su Muqing a light slap. “Professor Li’s graduate program is not that easy to get into. I may not even be accepted.”

Su Muqing nodded. “So even you aren’t sure. Then that bastard definitely won’t make it. Just go home and save yourself the embarrassment.”

“Don’t be so harsh. There are exceptions to everything. My father is planning to sponsor Professor Li’s research on ancient acupuncture, so I might get a special admission,” Ye Wuhua said smugly.

“Shameless! Pulling strings to get in,” Su Muqing scoffed, then dragged Su Muyu upstairs. “Sis, let’s go! We don’t want to be seen with people like him—it’s humiliating.”

“Muyu, let’s dance at tonight’s banquet!” Ye Wuhua called after them.

Su Muqing glared at him, “My sister will only dance with me! Get lost!”

“Qing, don’t be so fierce, everyone’s watching you,” Su Muyu said as she hurried her sister into the elevator.

…

After going upstairs, the sisters knocked on Lu Feng’s suite. Chen Lan opened the door.

Chen Lan greeted them warmly, “Are you looking for Lu Feng? He said he had something to take care of and went out.”

“We’re actually here to see you and Xiaoxiao,” Su Muyu replied.

“Oh, come in then,” Chen Lan invited them inside.

The layout of the suite was similar to an apartment, with a living room and two bedrooms—these high-end business suites were often prepared for executives traveling with their assistants.

“You must be Xiaoxiao?” Su Muyu sat next to the little girl and reached out to touch her cheek.

Xiaoxiao shrank back, then looked to Chen Lan, calling, “Mom…”

“Don’t be afraid, these two sisters are friends of your brother Lu Feng,” Chen Lan soothed her.

Xiaoxiao turned to Su Muyu and asked, “Big Sister, did my brother tell you my name is Xiaoxiao?”

“Yes, he did. We even went to the hospital looking for you, but the doctor said you’d been taken away,” Su Muyu replied gently.

Chen Lan was slightly puzzled, unsure why Su Muyu would go to the hospital.

Su Muyu looked up at Chen Lan and explained, “My sister is interning at the police station. We heard Xiaoxiao might have been kidnapped, so we went to investigate.”

Chen Lan nodded, “Thank you both.”

“Was it my Senior Brother who saved you?” Su Muyu asked.

“Senior Brother?”

“Lu Feng. You might not know, but he studied under the sect when he was young and only recently came to Huadu,” Su Muyu explained.

“Really? I had no idea,” Chen Lan said, pouring two cups of water and placing them on the coffee table.

“There’s a banquet downstairs soon, would you like to join us?” Su Muyu invited.

“Banquet?” Chen Lan glanced down at her attire, feeling it wasn’t suitable for such an event, and shook her head. “I’d better not.”

“Don’t worry about not having an evening dress—we brought several. You can choose one to wear,” Su Muyu encouraged.

“No, I’ll stay to take care of Xiaoxiao,” Chen Lan said, caressing her daughter’s cheek.

“All right. If you feel bored, come find us downstairs. We’re going to change now,” Su Muyu said, rising with Su Muqing and leaving to change into their evening gowns for the banquet.

…

Su Muqing disliked wearing evening gowns—the skirts were too long and cumbersome—but she wore a sky-blue dress identical to her sister’s so they would match.

Standing together, the two of them looked like a pair of twin blossoms, radiant and exquisite.

Some of the men attending stared at the sisters, nearly drooling.

A portly old gentleman raised his glass and said to Su Daoan, “Brother Su, your two daughters are truly ethereal beauties.”

“Professor Li, you flatter me,” Su Daoan replied, then went over to bring his daughters forward for introductions. “This is the leading authority in Chinese medicine, the Needle King, Professor Li Guhe. This is my elder daughter, Muyu, and my younger daughter, Muqing.”

“Good evening, Professor Li,” Su Muyu greeted him warmly, shaking hands with Li Guhe.

Afterwards, Su Daoan glanced behind his daughters and asked curiously, “Where’s your Senior Brother? Didn’t I ask you to pick out a gown for him so he could attend the banquet?”

“Did you?” Su Muqing looked surprised.

“Didn’t I?” Su Daoan countered.