The charity gala drew the leaders of all the major companies in City A. Many people had gone to extraordinary lengths just to obtain an invitation, while some who had been brought in by one big-shot or another acted as if they had already secured their ticket into high society. They frantically showed off to friends and relatives who knew someone inside but had failed to get in, basking in their flattery and envy.
Those who had been qualified to attend from the start wore polite smiles, while inwardly looking down on the people showing off and thinking them hopelessly uncouth. At the same time, they put on beaming smiles and hurried to greet anyone at the top of the pyramid who could bring them huge profits.
Mu Yue had only been inside for a few seconds when several groups of people quickly approached her. Each group consisted of two or three people. None of them bothered to introduce themselves. Instead, they showered Mu Yue with praise—praising her clothes, her jewelry, her complexion, her age, and her character. In short, no matter what it was, they could somehow turn it into a compliment.
Mu Yue was not at all stiff or nervous. She responded to each of them in turn. When she was in a good mood, she was perfectly willing to engage in socializing and networking.
The moment Wei Xuan arrived, he saw Mu Yue surrounded by quite a few people. She was speaking with them in a calm and poised manner. He had no idea what they were talking about. They were clearly from all different age groups, yet somehow seemed to get along quite well.
Hah. She really was good at putting on an act. Wasn’t this woman supposed to be arrogant and overbearing?
The person who had arrived with Wei Xuan was his childhood friend, the owner of an entertainment company. Following Wei Xuan’s gaze, his eyes lit up when he saw Mu Yue. He nodded repeatedly. “She’s even prettier in person than she is in the photos. Xuan, you’re one lucky man.”
“What?” Wei Xuan frowned at him.
His friend gave him a look that clearly said, Are you still going to pretend you know nothing? “Come on, don’t give me that innocent act. If she wasn’t interested in you, why would she target Yaru? Why would she set up a studio for Wen Xue? Once both of them were out of the picture, wouldn’t that leave a vacancy by your side?”
For one second, Wei Xuan was almost convinced. But in the next, he shook his head again. At first, he had also thought that Mu Yue was trying to get close to him. However, he still felt that wasn’t the case. He could clearly tell that Mu Yue wasn’t playing hard to get or saying one thing while meaning another. She genuinely disliked and despised him. She simply didn’t think much of him at all.
Of course, saying that aloud would have made him look bad, so Wei Xuan merely shook his head and said nothing more.
His friend, however, was somewhat dissatisfied. Wen Xue certainly had the ability to make money, but he had never thought much of her before. The company had given her excellent resources during the early stages. Even a pig could have become famous with that kind of support, and he could have made anyone else successful as well.
But ever since Wen Xue had terminated her contract and established her own studio, the company had been criticized, and people kept saying that leaving him had been the wisest decision Wen Xue had ever made. Naturally, that had become irritating.
He was also dissatisfied with Wei Xuan. He disliked Wei Xuan’s affected air, and he couldn’t understand how this guy had such a way with women. In his opinion, a young woman like Mu Yue, who had no interest in the young men in the entertainment industry, had specifically targeted Wei Xuan. If that wasn’t because she had taken a fancy to him, what else could it be?
There had been Mo Yaru before, and now there was Mu Yue. Mu Yue’s circumstances were practically perfect. Who wouldn’t be grinning from ear to ear in Wei Xuan’s position? Yet Wei Xuan still acted as if he couldn’t care less. Sometimes, his friend really felt like punching him.
It was only when Mu Yue received a notification that she had earned considerably more points than an ordinary supporting character that she noticed the male lead and his buddy had arrived. The points had come from the male lead’s friend, who had quite a significant role in the original story.
The two men had arrived together, and Wei Xuan had not brought Mo Yaru. Mu Yue had no idea whether Mo Yaru was busy filming or whether Wei Xuan simply hadn’t intended to bring her.
After one glance, Mu Yue stopped paying attention to the overbearing CEO. She had come here today mainly to harvest some comeback points, make a donation, and snatch Wei Xuan’s opportunity.
Oh, dear. She really had picked up this habit from that womanizing male lead. Whenever any male lead came across a chance to get something for nothing, she couldn’t help wanting to snatch it away.
Before long, Shi Yu arrived as well and quickly made her way over to Mu Yue. The two chatted and laughed together, clearly on good terms. Those with sharp eyes took note immediately. Anyone who had even a little connection with Shi Yu was already planning to ask her about Miss Mu Yue later.
Although Mu Yue had already displayed considerable financial power, her family was far too mysterious. No one knew what business her family was in, and naturally, everyone was intensely curious.
However, before any of them could approach Shi Yu, the gala began.
Mu Yue paid little attention to the proceedings in the middle. She played a game with the four systems for a while, and once the donation segment began, she made her contribution and was already preparing to leave.
Even so, the live announcement that followed still caused quite a stir throughout the venue.
“Ms. Mu Yue has donated two… two hundred and fifty million yuan! Thank you, Ms. Mu Yue!”
The host faltered for a moment. After confirming that it was two hundred and fifty million, not twenty-five million, his nostrils flared slightly as he announced the figure in an unmistakably excited voice.
Holy crap! This young lady was incredibly generous!
The host wasn’t the only one shocked. The business leaders present were all stunned as well. For a donation toward environmental protection, it was enough to make a token contribution. It wasn’t like funding for schools or anything similar. Yet Mu Yue had casually thrown out two hundred and fifty million. Had she gone mad? Was money really worth so little in her eyes?
Or perhaps the real question was—just how rich was she?
Wei Xuan’s heart inexplicably gave two quick thumps. It wasn’t attraction. Rather, he felt a strange surge of agitation, as if something had been snatched away from him. He had donated the most that day: fifty million. But compared with Mu Yue’s two hundred and fifty million, it seemed downright paltry.
Before this, the heads of the other companies and groups had still been laughing at Wei Xuan for being too eager to show off and letting himself be made a fool of. But that laughter had barely lasted before an even more astonishing figure was announced. For a while, quite a few people wondered whether they had misheard.
The venue erupted in loud and heated discussion. No one paid attention to the host’s next announcement. Mu Yue said something to Shi Yu, who was also visibly startled, and prepared to leave early.
Shi Yu looked at her helplessly and lowered her voice. “Little Yue, you’ve really made things difficult for me.”
She didn’t even need to imagine how many people would come looking for her after tonight, hoping to use her as a connection to meet Mu Yue. It had been a single donation, made by Mu Yue in her own name, yet the amount had been so astonishing. Plenty of people in City A had already wanted to learn more about Mu Yue. Now, they would be even more determined.
Mu Yue blinked at Shi Yu and gave her an apologetic smile before leaving. Along the way out, the sound of points being added rang out nonstop. By the time she walked through the main entrance, she had nearly accumulated a thousand points.
This round, she had really managed to show off. It felt great!
Donate this money? She still had over seventy million in her account. Once she used the triple-growth card, her savings would be close to a hundred million again. As for the money, she might spend some of it on vacations during the summer, while Wen Xue would need funds for emergencies and everyday expenses. Naturally, she had to keep a portion in reserve.
As for the plot point where Wei Xuan later bid on that piece of land, the discounted price in the original story was three billion. But that was still a long way off—it would not happen until the following spring.
By the time Mu Yue got home, she had accumulated 1,700 points of comeback value that day. Adding in what she had already earned, she had completed more than half of the missions assigned by the Comeback System. Little Fox was overjoyed. Even at the risk of getting beaten up by the other three, it insisted on cutting in line and appearing first, snuggling against Mu Yue’s head as it fell asleep.
Mu Yue stroked its fragrant, soft, fluffy pink fur and drifted happily into dreamland. The next day, she moved from Yujiang Gardens to Maple Forest Manor.
The manor was in the suburbs, with little foot traffic and an exceptionally tranquil environment. In summer, it also offered the natural benefit of escaping the heat. It had long been part of Mu Yue’s plan as a place to stay during the winter and summer vacations.
There was another reason, too. Since the manor was far from downtown, her moving there was effectively a signal to anyone who wanted to approach her and get acquainted: she did not want to be disturbed.
As long as clever people made inquiries through Shi Yu, they would not continue to show up shamelessly. After all, if they left a bad impression before they had even met and befriended her, their attempt could easily backfire.
On the second day after moving into the manor, Mu Yue happened to draw three horses. The breeds were not particularly valuable—their combined worth was only five hundred thousand—but all three were already trained and gentle, making them very suitable for beginners. Letting them run around the manor’s riding grounds would be perfect.
Mu Yue had not kept the horses that had originally belonged to the manor. Just like the previous owner’s furniture and equipment, they had all been sold. As a result, the manor currently had no horse trainer. But that was hardly a problem. Her all-purpose butler, Carter, could handle it.
Having just obtained the little creatures, Mu Yue naturally wanted to try them out right away. However, she knew that animals needed time to adapt to a new environment, so she changed her clothes and called Carter to accompany her to the riding grounds.
Although the manor’s original horses were gone, the stables had always been cleaned. They were spotless and had already been disinfected. After releasing the three horses, Mu Yue left everything to Carter.
The elderly gentleman was clearly an expert at handling horses. It did not take him long to calm them down. Then, as if giving them a tour, he led them around the riding grounds.
Mu Yue did not follow too closely, but she could clearly sense the horses gradually relaxing. Before long, they began running freely. Their coats gleamed with golden sunlight, set against the blue sky over a stretch of green grass. It was a vibrant scene full of life.
Mu Yue took several photos. After letting the horses acclimate for two days, she could not wait any longer and went to try riding them. Not only did she learn the basics from Carter, she also spent 500 points in the shop to purchase horsemanship. After practicing several times, she had to admit that anything produced by the system came with a guarantee. She and the horses got along wonderfully.
The African trip Qianqian had booked for her also included horseback riding. Without mastering at least some of the skills, she would not only miss out on several tens of thousands in fun—it would mean missing out on the experience itself. That would have been the real regret.
Mu Yue had two major trips planned for the summer vacation. The first was Africa, followed by the polar regions. One was scheduled for mid-July and the other for early August. Once the first trip ended, she would barely have a few days to rest before leaving for the next one.
So, while she still had time before departing, Mu Yue planned to visit Wen Xue at work and earn a round of points. After that, she could simply enjoy herself to the fullest.
Mu Yue had only just left City A when new news about her began spreading through its social circles. It was not related to the charity gala, nor was it about someone accidentally discovering her newly acquired mine. Instead, it was a rumor.
The rumor claimed that she had taken a liking to Wei Xuan long ago and that none of the other men in their circle could catch her eye.
Shi Yu was busy with her own work and had not paid much attention to it. Wen Siman, whom she had previously arranged to accompany Mu Yue, however, had gathered the gossip at once.
Her nickname suited her perfectly. Like a swallow, she darted all over the place investigating the source of the rumor. She soon learned that it had originated among a group of young men.
That was hardly surprising. After witnessing Mu Yue’s wealth time and time again, countless people had developed feelings for her. The ones most likely to make plans—and most likely to indulge in fantasies—were naturally men. They were no longer opposed even to a marriage alliance; all of them wanted Mu Yue as their girlfriend or fiancée. Whenever they gathered, it was inevitable that they would discuss her. Although Mu Yue had made it obvious that she had no intention of giving them such an opportunity, that did not stop them from bragging.
Then Wei Xuan’s childhood friends began mocking them, ridiculing the group for daydreaming in broad daylight. With a young lady of Mu Yue’s status and perspective, how could she possibly take a liking to a bunch of second- and third-generation heirs who did nothing but coast through life? The only man Mu Yue might possibly consider was Wei Xuan.
The plane landed.
Mu Yue received the information Xiao Yan had sent her. After reading it, she laughed. She replied with three words:
[He thinks he’s good enough?]
She also told Xiao Yan that she could spread those words wherever she liked and see who ended up disgraced.
Mu Yue did not care whether Wei Xuan himself had been boasting or whether his dear childhood friend had been openly mocking others while secretly flattering him.
They were brothers, after all, with a deep bond between them. Surely they would not fall out over such a trivial matter, right?
