Оf соursе, Wu Mangmаng still hаrbоrеd sоme doubts abоut Lu Lin's wоrds.
After аll, no rival wоuld whоlеhеаrtеdly spеak well of their opроnent withоut anу rеsеrvаtions, right?
Аftеr Lu Lin wеnt оut, Lu Sui quiсkly wаlked in. Wu Mangmаng susрeсted he had bеen standing right оutside the dооr аll аlоng.
Frоm Lu Sui's еxprеssiоn, Wu Mаngmаng сaught а glimpsе оf awkwardnеss. Тhe twо of them starеd at eaсh оthеr in silenсe until Lu Sui extеndеd his hаnd towаrd hеr.
"Мiss Wu, wоuld уоu do mе thе honоr of shаring the first danсe with mе?"
Wu Маngmang tооk Lu Sui's hаnd аnd stood up, muсh like Empress Dowаger Cixi lеaning on Li Liаnying's аrm. Тhen shе turned and looked up at Lu Sui. "William and I never had a physical relationship."
Lu Sui narrowed his eyes but quickly guessed what was on Wu Mangmang's mind.
Young girls always have a bit of self-assumed cleverness.
But suddenly, Lu Sui felt an inexplicable sense of disappointment—so intense that he even let go of Wu Mangmang's hand.
Lu Sui looked down at Wu Mangmang. She was undoubtedly beautiful, well-behaved, and interesting, but she was also naive and lacked rational thinking.
A girl like this wasn't suitable as a lifelong partner, at least not with her current mindset.
Lu Sui wasn't a deity or a saint, so he too questioned his choices, especially since no one could claim to fully understand or control emotions.
Lu Sui could clearly see the provocation in Wu Mangmang's eyes, along with a hint of schadenfreude.
Wu Mangmang clearly hadn't realized that if Lu Sui could easily resolve his inner conflicts, why wouldn't he explain it himself instead of entrusting the unreliable Lu Lin to do so?
Some things may seem laughable and ridiculous to you, but to another person, they could be insurmountable obstacles.
At Lu Sui's age, he might be momentarily captivated by Wu Mangmang's beauty and charm, but what everyone ultimately seeks in another person is understanding and acceptance.
Even someone as strong as Lu Sui yearned to be understood.
To grasp the other's meaning with just a glance or a faint smile, without the need for exhausting guesswork or the maneuvering and calculations one might employ with an opponent.
Spending a lifetime together truly isn't an easy thing.
But Wu Mangmang's understanding of love was still stuck in the stage of conquest and being conquered.
Wu Mangmang might doubt the affection others showed her, but she would never mistake the distance they projected.
She withdrew her hand and leaned back slightly—an instinctive act of self-defense.
Lu Sui rubbed his temples and said, "I'm glad, truly."
Lu Sui was genuinely glad.
Regarding Wu Mangmang's irresponsible departure abroad and her irresponsible, rapid dive into what seemed like another game-like relationship, Lu Sui had gone through a phase of intense anger.
But after the anger came more worry.
Worry that he would lose this young girl forever.
It was this worry that made Lu Sui feel that the shadows of the past could no longer affect him.
He was willing to open up completely to Wu Mangmang and didn't want to plant landmines in their relationship.
So Lu Sui restrained himself, rationally cutting off and setting aside the tangled mess caused by his own hesitation, just as Wu Mangmang had imagined.
As Wu Mangmang had thought, Lu Sui would never let past events affect the future he had planned for himself.
Many disputes, if unresolved, are simply set aside to fade with time.Postponement is a powerful conflict-resolution skill one learns while growing up and facing life.
But Lu Sui also knew that expecting Wu Mangmang to understand this might be a bit difficult.
Even if he broke it down and explained it to her, she might still think he was trying to fool her.
His patience with the young girl was wearing thin, so he spoke up, "I'll go down first. If you're ready, come find me."
Watching Lu Sui's retreating figure, Wu Mangmang felt as though she had lost something in that instant, yet she couldn't quite grasp what it was.
But she clearly knew that Lu Sui was growing impatient.
Back when she was a little girl, clinging to Ms. Liu and Boss Wu, begging them not to leave, she had seen many similar micro-expressions on their faces.
Wu Mangmang stared blankly at Lu Sui's departing figure until he disappeared around the corner. Then she slid down onto the floor, tears streaming down her face as if they cost nothing. Trembling, she fished out her phone and called Wu Yong.
"I want to schedule an appointment for tomorrow," Wu Mangmang sobbed bitterly, not daring to make a sound, biting down hard on the back of her hand.
She always struggled to read others' emotions, always realizing too late when they grew impatient or annoyed, only to watch them walk away.
In her ears, it seemed as if she could hear the gentle voice of that nanny from years ago.
"You're not behaving. You've disappointed them, so your parents don't want you anymore. You can't have dinner tonight."
"Now take your doll and stand facing the wall. Be good, or I'll tell your parents, and they'll dislike you even more."
"She's just a nuisance. Her parents won't blame me for her. It's already a blessing that someone is willing to take care of her. How old is she, still wetting the bed?" Wu Mangmang stood facing the wall in her damp clothes, listening as the nanny chatted on the phone with someone.
Another phone rang—it was Ms. Liu. Wu Mangmang heard the plump woman call her "Madam."
"Mangmang wet the bed again today, Madam."
Wu Mangmang saw herself rushing over fiercely, snatching the phone from the plump woman's hand, and shouting, "Mom, Mom, she's lying! I didn't wet the bed, I didn't wet the bed!"
There was no response on the other end, only the "beep, beep, beep" of the disconnected line.
Later, Ms. Liu seemed to have returned. Wu Mangmang had a fever.
"The child has a fever, and you're not even going to take care of her?" Wu Mangmang heard Ms. Liu yelling into the phone.
"Why should I be the one to take care of her? Isn't she your child? Is it my fault she's not a son?" Ms. Liu screamed hysterically before walking into the hospital room and throwing a wad of money at the nanny.
"Useless thing, always causing me trouble. Watch her, and call me when she's better."
Wu Mangmang heard footsteps and peeked out from under the bedsheet. Seizing the moment while the nanny was counting the money, she yanked out the IV drip and rushed into the hospital corridor. "Mom, Mom—"
Ms. Liu seemed to glance back, or perhaps she didn't. Wu Mangmang's vision was blurred by tears, but she could sense Ms. Liu quickening her pace to leave.
Wu Mangmang, barefoot, chased after Ms. Liu, watching from afar as she got into the car.
Ms. Liu probably didn't notice Wu Mangmang chasing her car from behind.
Then, Wu Mangmang seemed to have been grazed by a car from behind. It wasn't serious, but that time, her pneumonia kept her hospitalized for much longer.
Wu Mangmang only remembered that her hospital room was filled with many more dolls, all sent by Boss Wu."Dad." Wu Mangmang reached out, wanting Boss Wu to hold her.
Boss Wu patted her back, answered the phone, and then said to Wu Mangmang, "Dad still has things to do. You need to be good. See, you weren't good, so you got sick. Dad is very disappointed in you."
Once a person falls into negative emotions, they always recall all the things from the past they tried to bury deeply.
Wu Mangmang bit the back of her hand hard. The pain briefly cleared her mind, and then, following the method Wu Yong had taught her, she quickly took several deep breaths. She couldn't sink back into that miserable past again.
She had grown up now and had to clearly distinguish between the past and the present.
It's impossible for anyone to satisfy everyone; where there is satisfaction, there will also be disappointment.
Wu Mangmang tried her best to separate Lu Sui's retreating figure from Boss Wu's back from back then, telling herself, "Don't think about it anymore. Go back, sleep, and it'll be fine. Tomorrow you can see Wu Yong."
Leaning against the doorframe, Wu Mangmang struggled to stand up. As soon as she steadied herself, she saw Lu Sui standing in the corridor.
Wu Mangmang didn't move, watching as Lu Sui reached out his hand toward her, his expression seeming somewhat helpless.
But who cared?
Wu Mangmang lifted her skirt and ran over swiftly, throwing herself into Lu Sui's arms like a young swallow returning to the woods, clinging tightly to his waist.
When you're about to drown, you won't care whether this piece of driftwood was meant for you or not.
Even if it's covered in thorns, you'll hold on tight.
Lu Sui used a bit of force to cup Wu Mangmang's chin and lift her face.
It was so ugly it was almost unbearable to look at.
Her false eyelashes were coming loose.
Lu Sui sighed. Expecting Wu Mangmang to be as mature as Lan Yue or Wang Yuan was impossible.
In Lu Sui's view, Wu Mangmang's best choice would undoubtedly have been to elegantly walk downstairs to his side, smile, and open the dance together, then the next day create momentum and break up with him.
Not sit on the floor crying like a pitiful little kitten.
So ugly it would anger heaven and earth, not even afraid of putting men off their appetite.
"You can't go on like this. You need to wash your face," Lu Sui said.
In Lu Sui's pupils, Wu Mangmang saw her own ghostly appearance and was so frightened she wanted to scream. Luckily, Lu Sui was quick and covered her mouth.
Reapplying makeup was out of the question. Wu Mangmang could only remove her makeup at the fastest speed possible because Lu Sui, standing beside her, kept checking his watch.
Fortunately, a lipstick is a must-have in a lady's handbag. Wu Mangmang quickly applied it.
With a bare face, she walked downstairs arm-in-arm with Lu Sui. In such a competitive, glamorous setting, it took some guts.
Even Lu Sui couldn't in good conscience say that Wu Mangmang's bare face could outshine all the beauties.
When Lu Sui brought Wu Mangmang out, Lu Jianan, standing in the center of the spotlight, visibly let out a sigh of relief. Then, when she clearly saw Wu Mangmang's bare face, she was taken aback for a moment.
Fortunately, Lu Jianan was well-traveled and experienced. She calmly pretended not to notice anything, smilingly gave up her position to Lu Sui and Wu Mangmang for them to open the dance.
This pair was already five minutes late. Thanks to Lu Jianan's skillful small talk, she had managed to keep everyone calm.
A perfect couple, even if their dancing is average, will still be a pleasing sight for onlookers. Besides, they both danced quite well, and their steps matched perfectly in harmony.As the music changed, couples around them glided onto the dance floor, and Wu Mangmang finally breathed a sigh of relief. Moments earlier, she hadn’t dared to lift her head, afraid others would notice she wasn’t wearing makeup.
Of course, this was merely self-deception.
Anyone who paid the slightest attention could tell she was bare-faced.
Some might admire Wu Mangmang’s natural beauty and envy her fair, translucent skin.
Others might wonder what had happened for her to appear without makeup. Her eyes seemed slightly red too—perhaps this couple was merely putting on a show, with the woman forcing a smile.
Wu Mangmang and Lu Sui danced three songs together. Even the most affectionate lovebirds had to part ways eventually, didn’t they?
Wu Mangmang whispered in Lu Sui’s ear that she needed to touch up her makeup. Reluctantly, Lu Sui had to let her go.
The moment Wu Mangmang was alone, Ms. Liu approached. “What’s going on between you and Lu Sui?”
Wu Mangmang lowered her head. “Just what you see. We’ve made up.”
Her words sounded light, but Ms. Liu pressed further, “Then why were you crying?”
“I was moved,” Wu Mangmang replied.
As if anyone would believe that. Ms. Liu said coldly, “Wu Mangmang, think carefully. Don’t make the same mistake twice.”
Liǔ Lèwéi naturally understood Wu Mangmang well. In her romantic history, she had never been the one to end a relationship. Even when it seemed she did, it was only because the other person was about to leave her, and she preemptively took the initiative.
So, the breakups and reconciliations between Wu Mangmang and Lu Sui were undoubtedly initiated by Lu Sui.
As for making up? Liǔ Lèwéi had seen Wu Mangmang’s pitiful side before—the tears, the tantrums, the dramatic threats—all to no avail, ending in clean, decisive rejection.
At this moment, Ms. Liu didn’t know whether to be grateful for Lu Sui’s soft-heartedness or resent it.
“Come, I’ll take you to touch up your makeup,” Liǔ Lèwéi said, walking ahead. Wu Mangmang followed—after all, that was her original intention.
But along the way, Ms. Liu ran into an acquaintance and had to exchange pleasantries. Wu Mangmang stood to the side, but the other person seemed overly interested in her. She had to smile apologetically, pretending her champagne glass was empty, and turned to look for a server.
Shen Ting appeared from somewhere, holding two glasses of wine. He naturally handed one to Wu Mangmang.
“Thank you,” Wu Mangmang murmured, her head bowed. In such a setting, not wearing makeup felt like being undressed, making it hard to hold her head high.
Shen Ting gazed distractedly at Wu Mangmang’s fair earlobe. The sparkle of her diamond earring seemed no match for the gentle beauty of her skin.
Her eyes were still slightly red, her complexion pale, like a child who had done something wrong.
Shen Ting felt a pang in his heart. “Made up with Lu Sui again?”
Wu Mangmang nodded. She knew others must find it strange, but she couldn’t explain it herself.
Even a good horse doesn’t return to old pastures, yet she couldn’t help herself. She truly felt she had no backbone.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Wu Mangmang nodded again.
Seemingly out of words, Shen Ting gave a slight nod and walked away.
Wu Mangmang breathed a sigh of relief. Looking back, she saw Ms. Liu chatting animatedly with a real estate tycoon, so she headed toward the powder room on her own.
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