Incurable Chapter 40 Part 2

Chapter 40 (2/2)

“If you can’t act in that drama, then forget it. Isn’t A-Cheng investing in another one for you anyway? Why are you so hung up on this one?”

As Yan Mei spoke, she kept glancing meaningfully at Shen Cheng, who was standing nearby.

After coming back from the set, Mu Qing had thrown a full tantrum. In the middle of it, she had even said she wanted Mu Wan’s mother’s grave relocated. Yan Mei, panicked at the time, had agreed on the spot. But Mu Qing still had not calmed down. Later, once Shen Cheng arrived, she finally settled a little.

In front of Shen Cheng, Mu Qing normally maintained an image of soft years and quiet grace, like a secluded orchid in bloom. For her to lose control now, Yan Mei had actually worried that Shen Cheng would think less of her.

But Mu Qing was skilled.

After one burst of temper, Shen Cheng looked more distressed than before. He even promised to secure better resources for her.

With Shen Cheng coaxing her and Yan Mei soothing her, Mu Qing’s mood improved enough that Yan Mei finally dared ask what had happened.

It turned out that today, while on set, Mu Qing had suddenly been told she would no longer be acting in the production.

She had always had a high opinion of herself. Since entering the entertainment industry, everything had gone her way. She had never suffered this kind of humiliation. She had dropped her remaining commitments for the day and come straight home.

“At Mu Wan’s name, Yan Mei’s expression shifted again.

Mu Qing cared too much about Mu Wan. Every time something went wrong, her first instinct was to pin it on her. But if one thought about it carefully, Mu Wan was only a supporting actress. Where would she get this kind of power?

“What kind of power would she possibly have?” Yan Mei said, the disdain back in her voice. Then she turned to Shen Cheng with a smile. “A-Cheng, why did your company suddenly pull funding this time?”

Shen Cheng was standing behind Mu Qing, both hands resting on her shoulders in comfort.

When Mu Qing was angry, there was something in the way she turned cold and quiet that made her look even more pitiful.

As for the Mu family, Shen Cheng cared only about Mu Qing.

Hearing Yan Mei’s question, he frowned slightly and said, “It was the group’s decision to withdraw. I didn’t ask into it. Besides, it wasn’t some especially great resource to begin with. Mu Qing only wanted it on impulse. It doesn’t matter whether she acts in it or not.”

“Exactly, exactly,” Yan Mei hurried to agree.

“But I’m not letting this go just like that,” Mu Qing said. Then she looked at Yan Mei. “When is Dad coming home? Tomorrow is Mu Wan’s mother’s death anniversary. Go move the grave. She had a child out of wedlock. Why is she still buried in our family ground?”

“Who dares?”

The voice came light and cool.

Mu Qing and Yan Mei both turned toward the doorway.

Beside the screen wall stood Mu Wan, slender and still, her expression cold.

The moment she saw Mu Wan, Mu Qing’s jaw tightened. Her first reaction, however, was to glance at Shen Cheng.

Because of that single sentence from Mu Wan, Shen Cheng’s gaze had shifted too, landing on the woman standing by the screen wall.

Mu Qing rose from the sofa.

Shen Cheng turned back.

Mu Qing looked at Mu Wan and said coolly, “Why wouldn’t we dare? Who do you think you are? This is our Mu family’s business. What does it have to do with you?”

As Mu Qing spoke, Yan Mei’s gaze slid past Mu Wan and fell on Aunt Wu, who was standing in the rear courtyard. Aunt Wu froze. The second Yan Mei looked her way, she turned and hurried off.

So Aunt Wu had been the one to call Mu Wan here.

That woman was getting bolder and bolder.

Yan Mei had long known that Aunt Wu had been quietly looking after Mu Wan all these years and passing information from the Mu family to her. But because Aunt Wu had worked for the family for so long—and because her wages were reasonable—Yan Mei had never dismissed her.

Now it seemed the woman had mistaken indulgence for permission. Secretly calling Mu Wan here—what nerve.

Mu Qing had already begun speaking again. By then Mu Wan had walked forward.

The Mu family estate had barely changed. Coldness still clung to everything.

Mu Wan stopped in the main hall, looked at Mu Qing, and said, “Weren’t you just talking about moving my mother out of the Mu family burial ground? If she’s moved out, then she isn’t one of the Mu family anymore. So why can’t I be the one to deal with it?”

The truth was that Mu Wan had no legal standing here at all.

What she said now could only serve as a rebuttal to Mu Qing. It had no force over the Mu family itself.

Yan Mei had not seen Mu Wan in years. From what she remembered, Mu Wan had moved out right after college entrance exams and declared that she had cut ties with the Mu family for good. They would have nothing more to do with one another.

Years had passed. The sharpness of her youth had faded. She looked more and more like her mother now—calmer, quieter.

“Whether we move her or keep her where she is, it has nothing to do with you,” Yan Mei said coldly, maintaining the last remnants of a lady’s composure. “You are not welcome here. Leave immediately.”

Mu Wan had long since seen what shamelessness looked like in this family. Her expression did not change much.

She looked straight at Yan Mei and asked, “Has Mu Yatang agreed to this?”

Whatever else he was, her mother had still been his biological sister. No matter how low things had sunk, how could he allow something like this?

“Mu Yatang?” Mu Qing gave a cold laugh. “You’ve become so polite.”

She walked over and stopped beside Mu Wan, meeting her gaze head-on. She could tell Mu Wan was only forcing herself to stay composed. Inside, she had to be panicking.

In this world, Mu Wan stood alone. She could survive whatever they did to her. But if they touched her dead mother, she would be devastated.

That realization gave Mu Qing a surge of satisfaction, sweeping away the humiliation she had felt earlier on set.

She smiled at Mu Wan and said, “Whether my father agrees or not depends entirely on me. What, you don’t want her moved that badly? Weren’t you the one who hated the Mu family most? Then why are you still clinging so desperately to having your mother buried here?”

“Mu Qing,” Yan Mei said warningly.

Shen Cheng was still here. They could not lay everything out in front of him.

“Shen Cheng already knows,” Mu Qing said mildly to her mother.

Then she folded her arms and looked at Mu Wan. “What, are you planning to do what you did in high school and threaten us with that old story about your mother getting pregnant out of wedlock? Go ahead. Burn it all down with us.”

“The second you send anything out, I’ll have Shen Cheng take it down. Let’s see whether you can post faster, or he can delete faster.”

“And even if he doesn’t, so what? If you use your own mother’s scandal to threaten us, then you’re no better than we are. People will see the kind of person you are, laugh a little, and move on. It won’t hurt me at all.”

“Oh, and one more thing. Shen Cheng and I are getting engaged in a few days. I’m marrying into the Shen family. What about you? Is that fat, middle-aged sugar daddy of yours willing to divorce his wife and marry you? Or has he already moved on to some other woman he can promote?”

“You can be smug for now. Once he dumps you, let’s see how I deal with you. In this industry, the Shen family is what really matters.”

It was as if every thought she had buried inside herself had finally spilled out. There was something dark and venomous in Mu Qing’s eyes now. After she finished, it seemed as though the shadow Mu Wan had cast across her entire life had finally been lifted.

She looked at Mu Wan—pathetic, solitary Mu Wan—and her smile turned warmer.

Then she turned, looped her arms around Shen Cheng’s arm, and asked sweetly, “Shen Cheng, don’t you agree?”

Mu Qing was already in a much better mood than she had been moments ago. Shen Cheng smiled and said, “Of course. In the entertainment industry, Shen Entertainment is obviously the strongest.”

“Mu Wan.”

A man’s voice came from the entrance.

After one last glance at Mu Qing and Shen Cheng, Mu Wan turned toward the doorway.

Liu Qianxiu stood there beside the screen wall, tall and lean, his presence cold and clean, his air detached and distant.

Her man had come.

The moment Mu Wan looked at him, something moved in his clear, pale gaze. He walked over.

Mu Wan looked at him as he came toward her. She tipped her face up to his and suddenly gave a small laugh, though her eyes had already reddened.

“How did you know where the Mu house was?”

“Mr. Liu...” Shen Cheng’s voice came first from beside Mu Qing, tight with astonishment.

Liu Qianxiu did not answer Shen Cheng.

His gaze stayed on Mu Wan alone.

Then, calmly, he said, “I know everything about you.”

Mu Wan blinked.

In that instant, it felt as though everything finally had an answer.

Liu Qianxiu took her hand. Their fingers laced together. Then, with a cool, indifferent glance at Shen Cheng, he asked, “What was it you were just saying?”

Shen Cheng still looked as though he had not fully recovered. Beside him, Mu Qing kept asking who Liu Qianxiu was, but Shen Cheng could not answer.

He stared at the sight of Liu Qianxiu and Mu Wan’s joined hands, his eyes darting, unable to meet Liu Qianxiu’s.

“N-Nothing,” Shen Cheng said in a low voice.

↞ Previous│❀ Table of Contents ❀ │ Next ↠