Chapter 21: The True and False Heiress, Part 1

“What?”

For a moment, the entire room was stunned.

Bai Jinwei was not satisfied and continued, “Today’s matter was due to the Bai family’s lack of foresight, which caused everyone to misunderstand.”

“Today is the day my sister and I get engaged.”

After saying this, Bai Jinwei ignored everyone’s astonishment and, like Mu Jinnian, began gathering the foods Huai Ying liked to eat, then placed them in front of her.

Standing like a guardian, she positioned herself protectively before Huai Ying, her eyes scanning the crowd with a warning glare.

Everyone hurriedly nodded, no one daring to speak further.

It seemed that the relationship between the two true daughters was clearly very good.

At this moment, they could only silently pray that Bai Jinwei and Mu Jinnian would not take offense at their earlier slip of the tongue.

At the engagement banquet, the simultaneous appearance of the two couples stunned everyone.

Especially the pair of Huai Ying and Mu Jinnian.

Although Mu Jinnian was an illegitimate son of the Mu family, he had grown up by the old patriarch’s side and was deeply favored by him.

Rumors even circulated that the old patriarch intended to pass the Mu family legacy to him.

Such a person was now engaged to the newly found true daughter of the Bai family.

No one knew if there were secrets hidden beneath this.

Despite the varied thoughts in their minds, everyone at the banquet spoke words of blessing and respectfully presented their gifts.

Elder Tan was also present today.

He had been invited by Bai Jinwei.

His face was well-known in the upper echelons of the capital’s society.

His research achievements were sought after by many, and his students were scattered across the globe.

He was usually reclusive, so why would he attend an engagement banquet?

When Elder Tan went up to present his gift, the Bai couple were overwhelmed with gratitude and hurriedly accepted it with both hands.

“Elder Tan, what an honor you grace us with today. Why didn’t you notify us in advance?”

“It was your eldest daughter who sent me the invitation.”

Bai’s father looked at Bai Jinwei with surprise, but then heard Elder Tan explain:

“I came for Huai Ying.”

The couple was even more shocked.

Elder Tan laughed heartily, “Indeed, I came for Huai Ying. I intend to take her as my final disciple and have her study research under me.”

“What?” Bai’s father looked incredulous.

From what he knew, Huai Ying’s academic record was dismal from childhood.

And all of Elder Tan’s disciples were geniuses among geniuses.

“You’re not an ordinary daughter,” Elder Tan said, pointing to the gift and looking at Huai Ying meaningfully.

“This gift is specially picked out for you. Remember to study it well when you get home.”

Before he finished speaking, as if struck by a thought, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled into a smile.

Huai Ying grew curious and took the gift in front of everyone, eager to open it.

Could it be some latest research achievement?

Or some rare material?

It was so heavy; it must be something good.

When she opened the gift box, she was completely stunned.

She flipped through it casually, a look of utter bewilderment on her face.

Mu Jinnian, seeing the gift, quickly lowered his head to suppress a smile.

He forced himself not to laugh aloud, silently telling himself to hold it in.

Elder Tan was truly a character—he had actually given Huai Ying a complete copy of the constitution and a full set of political exam books.

No wonder it was so heavy!

“What is this?” Huai Ying’s rare loss of composure showed as she awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth.

“It’s your engagement gift,” Elder Tan said with a barely suppressed smile.

“When you have free time, read it carefully. Never do anything illegal, immoral, or against ethical boundaries.”

“We must strive to be bright and cheerful youths of the new society, understand?”

Out of sight, Little Red nodded in agreement, circling and fluttering beside Elder Tan.

“A man after my own heart, you truly are my kindred spirit,” she said, tears glistening in her eyes as she looked at Elder Tan.

Since becoming a system, she’d grown accustomed to witnessing lawless and immoral acts; finally, she could see someone who truly abided by the rules.

The Bai couple, confused but polite, thanked Elder Tan on Huai Ying’s behalf.

Elder Tan waved his hand, “It’s nothing.”

With Elder Tan’s public endorsement, the atmosphere in the room clearly shifted; the gazes cast upon Huai Ying changed repeatedly.

Surely, there was some talent in her that they hadn’t noticed yet.

“You will be my fiancée from now on.”

At parting, Gu Mingxu reluctantly reached out, wanting to take Bai Jinwei’s hand.

A smile never left his face the entire evening.

“Let’s go quickly, don’t embarrass yourself here.”

Gu’s father, unable to bear it any longer, dragged him into the car.

Mu Jinnian’s steps were equally heavy as he looked longingly at Huai Ying.

She, in contrast, turned away decisively and left.

She got into the car, closed the door, all in one fluid motion.

Without a trace of hesitation.

Watching the car’s exhaust, Mu Jinnian felt a pang in his heart.

Bai Jinwei, on the other hand, seemed much more relaxed.

Especially after receiving a message on her phone, the smile on her lips became unstoppable.

After one night, the engagement banquet trended on hot search lists.

The alliance between the Bai, Mu, and Gu families shocked the entire upper-class circle.

The Bai-Gu union was somewhat expected.

But the Mu and Bai families had no public exchanges, let alone marrying the newly found true daughter of the Bai family.

A group of busybodies used their connections to inquire with someone from the Bai family.

They found the other party even more bewildered than themselves.

One by one, they had no choice but to give up.

Besides this, a major incident occurred at the engagement banquet.

Mu Yuanzhou was tied up in a sack and beaten, then cornered by reporters at the hotel, who frantically photographed his scandalous photos with several men.

Suddenly, the gossip-loving crowd had no time to care about the engagement.

All their attention focused on Mu Yuanzhou.

That day was absolutely unforgettable for the Mu family.

“Patriarch, you must stand up for my son! He was schemed against by his own brother. Now his reputation is ruined; how can he live from now on?”

Mrs. Mu wiped her tears while sobbing.

When she glanced at Mu Jinnian out of the corner of her eye, she could not hide her hatred.

If it weren’t for the patriarch’s protection, she would have torn him apart already!

“Do you have anything to say about this?”

The old patriarch’s cane fell to the ground with a sharp thud, full of anger.

“He is your brother.”

“He deserves it,” Mu Jinnian sneered coldly, expressionless.

“This is just a lesson. If he dares to have any ill intentions toward Huai Ying again, it won’t be just photos that he’ll face.”

“Whatever he does to Huai Ying, I will make him pay back both principal and interest.”

“He is your own brother,” the old patriarch sighed deeply.

His eyes were filled with helplessness as he looked at Mu Jinnian.

He was the most like him among the younger generation.

The one he loved most and yet was most powerless over.

“My mother passed away early. I have no brother, no father.”

Mu Jinnian’s voice was low, cold, and steady as he looked up at the old patriarch.

He spoke each word deliberately: “I don’t mind having no grandfather either.”

These words completely enraged the old patriarch.

“What are you saying? Our blood ties cannot be severed. Just for one woman, you reject the entire Mu family?”

“You ignored the Mu family and made a betrothal with the Bai family. I hadn’t argued with you about it yet, and now you say this?”

Compared to the patriarch’s fury, Mu Jinnian was much calmer.

“This is my matter. It concerns neither you nor the Mu family.”