Mu Yanxi paid no mind to the psychological trauma her words had inflicted on Yi Jingming, walking toward the villa without a backward glance.
Her pace quickened, gradually turning into a light jog.
Scenes seared deep into her memory flashed before her eyes. She realized that aside from being a little breathless from running, her heart was surprisingly calm.
Her earlier test had all but confirmed one thing: her actions were no longer influenced by the world’s consciousness.
Mu Yanxi felt reassured.
Reborn, she could finally live according to her own heart and make up for the regrets of her past life.
So, they were waiting for her to act as an inside agent, to bring down Yi Wulan so he could inherit the fortune, were they?
Fine. She would deliberately follow the marriage contract and marry Yi Wulan, promoting cooperation between the Yi and Mu families and making sure Yi Jingming got absolutely nothing.
Even if Yi Wulan were to die in the end, the inheritance would not fall to Yi Jingming.
The hem of her red dress fluttered in the wind, her long hair streamed behind her, and the crisp sound of her high heels echoed on the stone path.
Mu Yanxi finally reached the villa. Seeing the rows of luxury cars of various brands parked outside, she adjusted her breathing, and her mood improved considerably.
It wasn’t because of the value of the cars, but because their presence meant that her marriage contract with Yi Wulan had not yet been annulled.
The marriage contract between them had been arranged by their grandfathers’ generation. The heads of the two families had served in the army together in their youth before returning home to inherit their respective family businesses.
The engagement was originally intended for their parents’ generation, but because the young people of both families had their own loves at the time, the agreement was extended to Mu Yanxi’s generation. By a twist of fate, the marriage was ultimately settled upon Yi Wulan and Mu Yanxi.
Yi Wulan took over the Yi family at a young age and single-handedly completed Rongjia’s transformation and reform in the internet sector. She was Yuncheng’s famously favored daughter of heaven.
Unfortunately, she was in a car accident half a year ago that severely injured her legs, and even the most renowned doctors at home and abroad were helpless. Being crippled was no small matter; it would affect every aspect of her life. Moreover, after the accident, a large hematoma in her brain was pressing on her nerves and couldn’t be removed. If her condition worsened, no one knew what might happen.
Therefore, the two families planned to renegotiate the marriage today.
In her past life, the Mu family had canceled the marriage contract after Yi Wulan’s accident. It was understandable, but its selfishness could not be denied.
The Mu family didn’t have any messy relatives, so only Mu Yanqing was present. In contrast, the junior members of the Yi family’s branch families were scattered around in a circle.
When Yi Wulan was high-spirited and in command, she was a nightmare not only for Yi Jingming but also for many of the profligate sons from the Yi family’s branch families. Awed by Yi Wulan, they didn’t dare to openly spectate, but each was dressed impeccably, hoping that once Yi Wulan’s engagement to Mu Yanxi was canceled, the marriage would fall into their own laps.
“…Our Xiao Xi is still young and insensible. I think this marriage…”
As everyone saw that the main event of the day was about to begin, they all fixed their gazes on Yi Wulan at the center of the crowd.
But the next moment, the closed doors were suddenly pushed open from the outside. A fiery red figure rushed in. The young woman was panting, her black hair like a waterfall, instantly capturing everyone’s attention. “It can’t be called off!”
Interrupted, Mu Yanqing was slightly surprised. “Xiao Xi?”
Mu Yanxi ran forward in a few quick steps, afraid she was a moment too late. She repeated breathlessly, “Elder… Elder Sister, it can’t be called off.”
In her panic, Mu Yanxi met a pair of stunning peach blossom eyes.
The president who, in the eyes of the world, was a master strategist capable of shaking Yuncheng’s capital market with a wave of her hand, was actually not very old.
On the contrary, the woman before her had a noble appearance. The temperament she had cultivated since childhood made it impossible to hide her aristocratic air, even while sitting in a wheelchair.
Her figure was a little thin, perhaps because she hadn’t fully recovered, and her complexion was somewhat pale. She wore a long black dress, its exquisite, form-fitting design outlining her graceful curves. The long hem covered her legs, trailing all the way to the floor.
Her indifferent eyes held a distant, unapproachable air, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her.
But Mu Yanxi knew this was just a deceptive facade. In reality, Yi Wulan’s methods were ruthless, and she was the last person one should provoke.
As depicted in that book, Yi Wulan, as the main villain, had used formidable tactics to overcome all obstacles and take control of the Yi family. If it weren’t for her later death from the aftereffects of the car accident, how could Yi Jingming have had his protagonist’s halo?
Mu Yanxi studied Yi Wulan. There was indeed some resemblance to Yi Jingming in her features, but she was countless times more beautiful.
So, just how badly had she been poisoned by the world’s consciousness in her past life to think that Yi Jingming was the most handsome person in the world?
Yi Wulan watched the beautiful woman staring at her in a daze, lifted her chin slightly, and asked, “What are you thinking about?”
Her voice was clear and pleasant, slow and measured, with a unique, gentle flavor.
Mu Yanxi’s ears twitched. She felt a little bewitched.
In her past life, she had barely seen Yi Wulan a few times. Even when they did meet, her gaze had always been on Yi Jingming.
With such a great beauty, even if they did nothing all day, just looking at her would be pleasing to the eye.
“I was thinking…” Mu Yanxi took a step forward, her gaze shifting as she gently blinked her eyes, which were as clear as jade. “President Yi is even more beautiful than I imagined.”
The tip of Mu Yanxi’s tongue touched the roof of her mouth, her voice lilting upwards at the end, as if she had seen a cherished object. “The most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.”
No one noticed that the ever-composed young president’s fingertips, resting on the sides of her wheelchair, curled for an instant.
“You like me?” Yi Wulan pressed a button at her side and glided in front of Mu Yanxi.
Beams of light from the dazzling chandelier scattered across Yi Wulan’s shoulders. Even though she was the one with crippled legs, the one about to have her engagement broken, there wasn’t the slightest trace of unease on her face, only complete composure.
Even those who were there to watch the drama didn’t dare show a hint of it, having long since lowered their heads for fear of inviting trouble. Only Mu Yanxi smiled back at her, her expression unchanged.
In the silence, Mu Yanxi tilted her head, her tongue curling slightly. “President Yi is beautiful and rich. Who wouldn’t like that?”
She paused, her eyes filled with a smile. “Of course, I like you very much.”
If anyone had ever made such a materialistic statement in front of Yi Wulan before, they would have likely been thrown out long ago.
But Mu Yanxi was different. She came from a wealthy family; Xinyu Bank had nothing in abundance except money. Thus, her words were stripped of their vulgarity.
“But I just heard that Miss Mu had left.” The corners of Yi Wulan’s eyes lifted slightly, a hint of interest showing. She casually sized up Mu Yanxi. “You already ran away. Why come back?”
Mu Yanxi couldn’t help but regret the timing of her rebirth. If only it had been a few minutes earlier, how could she have been saddled with such a reputation?
She touched her tongue to the roof of her mouth, her eyes, flushed from running, sparkling. “I like you so much, of course I came back to marry you.”
Her fair face was tinged with a faint pink. A few beads of water were caught in her hair, slightly dampening her temples. The rise and fall of her breath carried a silent allure.
Mu Yanxi’s direct pitch caught Yi Wulan completely off guard.
Fortunately, Yi Wulan had experienced too much to lose her composure over this. Instead, she refused directly, “But I’ve become like this. It’s better not to hold Miss Mu back.”
Mu Yanxi wanted to say more to declare her intentions, but Mu Yanqing, who could no longer stand by, pulled her onto the sofa and chided in a low voice, “Mu Yanxi, if you left your brain at home, you can go back and get it now. Was it a ghost who was just making a life-or-death fuss about canceling the engagement?”
Mu Yanxi tugged on Mu Yanqing’s sleeve. “Elder Sister, I… I-I-I changed my mind, can’t I? Didn’t you praise Yi Wulan for being capable and resourceful before?”
Mu Yanqing frowned, taking a deep breath to keep her tone calm. “Do you know that she can never stand up again? You want to spend your life with someone who could suffer from the aftereffects of the accident at any moment, hmm?”
Mu Yanxi lowered her head. In truth, she wasn’t very sure either.
But continuing with the marriage contract was the best solution she could think of for both Yi Wulan and the Mu family.
She couldn’t have been reborn just to let Yi Jingming get his way again, could she?
In her past life, after they canceled the engagement, Yuncheng’s high society had laughed at Yi Wulan for a long time. For reasons of both sentiment and logic, she didn’t want Yi Wulan to go through that again.
Mu Yanxi hugged Mu Yanqing’s arm, wheedling, “Elder Sister, you spoil me the most. Please, just let me have my way this time, okay? You don’t want people to say our Mu family kicks people when they’re down, canceling the engagement as soon as Yi Wulan has an accident, do you?”
Mu Yanqing was actually so angry her hands were trembling, but with so many people around, she couldn’t speak to Mu Yanxi in detail.
She took a deep breath and turned to Yi Wulan. “It’s the 21st century; we can’t really have an arranged marriage. Why don’t you two spend some time together first? If it doesn’t work out, you can separate promptly. What do you think?”
Who present couldn’t tell that Mu Yanqing’s words were just a euphemistic refusal?
But Yi Wulan still wore that same calm and composed expression, as if nothing could faze her.
She glanced at Mu Yanxi. “Alright.”
Hearing this, Mu Yanxi let go of Mu Yanqing and leaned toward Yi Wulan, lazily propping her chin on her wrist, her fingertips tapping intermittently. “What you two said makes a lot of sense, but…”
She paused, her gaze slowly sweeping over Yi Wulan’s face. “I don’t plan on listening to you.”
The end of her sentence lifted flirtatiously, carrying a hint of syrupy sweetness.
Mu Yanxi had been spoiled rotten since she was a child. The more she was told not to do something, the more she wanted to do it.
Even though Mu Yanqing was long accustomed to her younger sister’s unconventional ways, she was still shocked by these words. The little ancestor had been picky about everything since childhood, even turning her nose up at someone who’d had plastic surgery. And now she was proactively demanding to discuss the marriage contract with Yi Wulan?
Yi Wulan’s brow furrowed slightly, but her expression remained calm, still composed and at ease. “The Yi family also has many juniors around your age. If you wish to fulfill the elders’ wishes, you are free to consider others.”
Her words were already very direct. The fact that the other Yi family juniors were present today was actually with Yi Wulan’s tacit permission.
But when Mu Yanxi heard “other juniors,” Yi Jingming’s face immediately flashed in her mind, and a chill ran down her spine.
“I’m not being forced; I’m doing this willingly.” She answered hurriedly, her tone shedding its casualness and becoming serious. “Not just anyone can catch my eye. I only want you, Yi Wulan.”
Since they were at Yi Wulan’s place, Mu Yanqing couldn’t make any big moves and could only watch helplessly as her sister eagerly threw herself forward.
Yi Wulan froze, her gaze fixed on the other woman.
The person before her had a firm tone and sparkling eyes. She couldn’t detect a trace of reluctance; instead, there was only anticipation and joy.
But, anticipation and joy?
The legendary spoiled, delicate, and extremely picky second miss of the Mu family truly didn’t mind her current physical condition?
Mu Yanxi followed Yi Wulan’s gaze and guessed her thoughts, but she didn’t mention her physical condition to avoid awkwardness.
Instead, she pressed her advantage, expressing herself in another way: “Why don’t… we give it a try?”
Yi Wulan’s originally composed expression finally began to show some uncertainty. “Try what?”
Mu Yanxi leaned forward again. The hair from her back slid over her chest with the movement, lightly brushing against Yi Wulan’s arm.
“Marrying me, of course.”
Noticing the wary look in Yi Wulan’s eyes, Mu Yanxi feigned hurt and asked, “You’re not agreeing to my sister’s proposal because you dislike me and don’t want to fulfill the marriage contract right away, making it easier to dump me later, are you?”
Yi Wulan froze and retorted, “How could I…”
Before she could finish, Mu Yanxi’s smile widened, and as if she had finally succeeded, she cut in, “Mhm, I knew you weren’t the type to love someone and then leave them!”
Before the car accident, people around Yi Wulan didn’t dare get close due to her power; after the accident, they became even more distant.
She thought she had long grown accustomed to loneliness, but after hearing Mu Yanxi’s words, a subtle emotion flickered in her heart.
She didn’t dislike it.
It was just that she was very unaccustomed to this version of herself.
So she said coldly, “You… you stay away from me first, and speak properly.”
Mu Yanxi paused. “Not used to it?”
Her smile seemed to be laced with honey, cloyingly sweet. Her lively fox-like eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a cunning smile. “But, I don’t want to listen to you.”
Yi Wulan was at a loss. She had no choice but to press the button on her wheelchair and slide backward, only to be quickly stopped by the leg of the coffee table behind her.
Nowhere to retreat.
In the blink of an eye, Mu Yanxi had stood up and blocked her path again.
The vibrant red dress she wore made her face look even more radiant, instantly filling Yi Wulan’s entire field of vision.
Yi Wulan turned her head slightly, wanting to avoid the overly dazzling color.
But she couldn’t.
Yi Wulan spoke up to stop her. “Miss Mu.”
Mu Yanxi’s voice sounded by her ear, carrying a teasing little laugh. “Just how many times do I have to tell you before you understand… that I’m not going to listen to you?”
