Love is different from other things—when it’s shrouded in mystery and tangled like a ball of yarn, that’s actually when it’s most intoxicating.

So ambiguity is actually more fascinating than “you love me and I love you too.” Many people are constantly seeking that ambiguous feeling, while finding confirmed relationships bland and boring.

Wu Mangmang was now in the midst of those mysterious clouds, unable to figure out Lu Sui’s intentions.

Girls naturally hoped for clear words, something like “Would you be my girlfriend again?”

But men seemed to handle things differently. For instance, Lu Sui already had the attitude that they’d made up, while Wu Mangmang felt like “I haven’t fucking forgiven you at all, okay?”

Classic case of pulling up one’s panties and not recognizing the person.

Wu Mangmang slept in late, getting up just in time for lunch. The calendar showed today was Christmas Eve. Wu Mangmang had hastily returned to the country because she didn’t want to experience their holiday atmosphere abroad.

During festivals, one misses family most.

Her phone seemed unusually quiet today, and there wasn’t much new on Weibo. Wu Mangmang thought for a long time before realizing that she hadn’t reinstalled WeChat after deleting it before going abroad, which was why her phone was so silent.

Wu Mangmang hesitated over the App Store icon but didn’t click it.

The entrance exam was the day after tomorrow—she couldn’t afford any more distractions.

Just as she said she couldn’t be distracted, Lu Sui’s call came in. Wu Mangmang put her phone on silent, pretending not to hear it.

If not now, when else to be pretentious?

A spoiled girl definitely had to put on enough airs, waiting for the other party to grovel, then graciously say: “I’ll let it slide this time, but I’ll never forgive you next time.”

Even rational women, though they’d smile while hinting at their grievances before magnanimously forgiving, still needed to see the other party’s sincerity.

Moreover, Wu Mangmang had somewhat guessed why Lu Sui was calling—today was Lu Garden’s Christmas banquet. Now he remembered her? Why wasn’t he looking for that female broadcaster?

When she heard the doorbell, Wu Mangmang saw Lu Sui through the peephole and wasn’t very surprised by his appearance here. He’d probably learned from last night’s lesson of not being able to get upstairs.

Wu Mangmang opened the door and stepped out, pulling the door closed behind her in front of Lu Sui, making her meaning very clear.

“Afraid of me?” Lu Sui’s lips curved slightly.

Wu Mangmang’s face reddened—she did somewhat mean that. She wasn’t very confident in her self-control.

“Have you eaten?” Lu Sui asked again.

Only then did Wu Mangmang belatedly notice that Lu Sui was carrying takeout food. The packaging bore a restaurant’s name she wasn’t familiar with, but anything that caught Mr. Lu’s eye certainly wouldn’t taste bad.

Wu Mangmang swallowed and said, “I’m not hungry.”

“Want to go out for a walk?” Lu Sui asked again.

“I need to study,” Wu Mangmang firmly refused.

“I’ve already found a politics teacher for you. I’ll have him come over tomorrow to give you intensive tutoring for a day,” Lu Sui said.

Wu Mangmang pouted, “What use is one day?”

“They make their living from this. One day is just enough to test his abilities. You have nothing to lose by trying,” Lu Sui said.

Wu Mangmang lowered her eyelids thoughtfully, her right hand continuously rubbing her left arm up and down, finally saying, “I don’t accept rewards without merit. I don’t think I can accept it.”

Just like yesterday’s Hummer, Wu Mangmang ultimately returned the car keys to Lu Sui.

“Alright then.” Lu Sui nodded and turned to press the elevator button.

Wu Mangmang watched Lu Sui enter the elevator. This person was really something—he didn’t even offer to leave the takeout food, and he just left when she said no, showing no sincerity whatsoever about getting back together.

After closing the door, Wu Mangmang’s heart was as chaotic as mud crushed by a tractor. She couldn’t focus on politics problems, so she simply gave up and reloaded WeChat.

The world inside hadn’t stopped turning because she’d disappeared for over a month. Her girlfriends’ hot topics had already cycled through several rounds, and Wu Mangmang’s little heartbreak drama had long “sunk without a trace.”

The latest round of discussion was Long Xiujuan showing off the dress she’d wear to tonight’s Christmas banquet.

This year’s theme was Indian style, and every lady’s evening gown needed to incorporate Indian elements. Long Xiujuan had prepared three backup options, each one stunningly beautiful.

That’s how women were—they had no resistance to beautiful clothes and super longed for banquets where they could wear such gorgeous dresses.

Wu Mangmang had firmly decided she absolutely wouldn’t be Lu Sui’s date tonight, but since Lu Sui hadn’t mentioned it at all, she now felt like she’d taken ten thousand points of damage.

Especially after seeing Long Xiujuan’s smugness, she really wanted to take Lu Sui’s arm and slap Long Xiujuan’s face.

Wu Mangmang quickly covered her face—too vain, this wouldn’t do.

By six in the evening, Lu Sui still hadn’t made any calls or moves. Wu Mangmang was completely giving up hope.

In her heart, she summarized all the men in the world—men really were no good.

Had Lu Sui specially come last night just to take advantage of her?

Come to think of it, though he’d been physically active, he hadn’t said a single substantial word.

Mature men always kept enough room for advance and retreat.

Wu Mangmang collected herself and opened her computer, preparing to flirt with some fresh meat in the game.

When the doorbell rang, Wu Mangmang thought it was Lu Sui. She sneered inwardly—did this person really think she had no temper or brains and was easy to fool?

Wu Mangmang stood by the door with a fierce expression, looking through the peephole, only to discover Ms. Liu standing outside.

She couldn’t tell if what she felt was disappointment or disappointment—either way, it was suffocating.

She’d made up her mind not to forgive Lu Sui, yet she hoped he’d continue coming to get rejected.

“Mom, how did you get here?” Wu Mangmang opened the door and asked.

Ms. Liu walked in, saying, “Hurry up and get ready to come with me.”

This startled Wu Mangmang into thinking something serious had happened. She hastily grabbed her bag and followed Ms. Liu downstairs in her house clothes.

When she was pushed in front of a stylist, Wu Mangmang finally came to her senses. “Mom, what are you doing?”

Wu Mangmang’s first reaction was that Lu Sui had shamelessly taken the mother-in-law route.

Wu Mangmang got up to leave. Her mood was already terrible, and now she felt like the whole world was bullying her.

Liu Lewei caught up and grabbed Wu Mangmang’s hand, coldly asking, “What are you going crazy about?”

“You know!” Wu Mangmang broke free from Liu Lewei’s grip.

“Wu Mangmang, you’re really something. So what if you got dumped by a man? Now you don’t even have the courage to stand up straight? So what about the Lu family banquet? If I were you, I’d straighten my back and let him see how happy I am now,” Liu Lewei said.

Wu Mangmang narrowed her eyes, uncertain whether Ms. Liu was telling the truth or acting, but her expression was too natural to be acting.

Wu Mangmang’s heart began to race—could it not be Lu Sui? Was she being presumptuous again?

Come to think of it, what was their relationship now? How could Lu Sui possibly invite her to be his date at such an extremely formal banquet?

Wu Mangmang rubbed her forehead, feeling like her IQ needed recharging.

Seeing Wu Mangmang’s attitude soften, Liu Lewei snorted coldly, “Have you figured it out? If you have, lift your head up. These two invitations cost me tremendous effort to get. Don’t you dare make trouble for me.”

Wu Mangmang sat back down in front of the mirror. “How did you get the invitations?”

By all accounts, Ms. Liu and herself were definitely not high-class enough to catch the eye of Lu Jianan, the uncrowned queen among the city’s socialites.

“I only got them this afternoon. There happened to be two spots available, and Jingmei said many good words for me before I could jump the queue on the waiting list,” Liu Lewei said with a proud “your mom is amazing” expression.

This afternoon? What a coincidence.

“Didn’t Dad get one?” Wu Mangmang asked again.

Lu Garden’s Christmas banquet had always maintained high standards, with invitations always issued to individuals.

The reason Long Xiujuan was being so smug was that although she was benefiting from her fiancé’s connections, it also showed that Lu Jianan acknowledged her as a person.

Otherwise, even as Liu Huainan’s fiancée, she might not have received an invitation.

Boss Wu’s style naturally couldn’t catch Lu Jianan’s eye. Ms. Liu had been very good at managing her image these past few years and had even become friends with Shen Jingmei, so it wasn’t impossible for her to qualify for an invitation.

“Your dad doesn’t have one,” Liu Lewei said without any disappointment. In a marriage like theirs, occasionally being able to outdo the other party was quite nice.

“Then how would I have an invitation?” Wu Mangmang asked again. She wasn’t that confident in herself.

Liu Lewei said, “You should thank Yuan Li.” Shen Yuanli—that was Xiao Gugong’s girlfriend, the second daughter of the Shen family. “Even if I don’t go, I must get you there.”

Wu Mangmang rolled her eyes, looking completely listless.

“Where you fall is where you get back up. Pull yourself together and don’t go crazy on me tonight. What’s shameful about being dumped by Lu Sui? Many women want to be dumped by him but don’t even qualify,” Ms. Liu said.

Wu Mangmang just laughed sarcastically.

“How am I not getting back up? Want me to show you my Weibo? Lu Sui and I are ancient history. You’re the only one still bringing it up,” Wu Mangmang said impatiently.

“I never liked attending banquets anyway. You want to go yourself—don’t use me as an excuse,” Wu Mangmang said.

“You!” Liu Lewei was so angry her stomach hurt. “Who am I doing this for? Like a dog biting Lü Dongbin, not recognizing a good person. Wu Mangmang, stop being pretentious with me. I know exactly what you’re thinking. If you’d really moved on, would you find a foreigner to put on an act? Haven’t you been afraid of chest hair since you were little?”

Being a real mother, she could see through everything.

If Wu Mangmang hadn’t been put off by William’s body hair, she might have really stayed in Italy to sail the seas with William and become a wandering pirate.

Actually, Wu Mangmang was somewhat curious about tonight’s banquet. After all, with such high standards, everyone would be curious.

Before knowing Lu Sui and his circle, she’d fantasized about it for many years along with Long Xiujuan and others, making grand declarations about what she’d do if she attended.

Thinking about it now, what beautiful youth that was.

Wu Mangmang sighed, feeling like dating Lu Sui had aged her.

It was mainly mentally exhausting—being with William didn’t require burning brain cells.

So Wu Mangmang half-reluctantly went along with Ms. Liu, right up until Ms. Liu brought out the outfits she’d prepared.

Exquisite and gorgeous!

Especially Wu Mangmang’s set—the Swarovski crystals on the dress looked like they cost nothing.

Such a dress—Wu Mangmang wouldn’t believe it could be arranged in a single day even if you killed her.

“What’s with this dress? Didn’t you say you only got the invitations today?” Wu Mangmang was about to explode again.

Probably Wu Mangmang’s moodiness had irritated Liu Lewei. “Wu Mangmang, did you take the wrong medicine?! Why are you so angry?”

“I prepared these two outfits long ago. I even prepared one for your dad. This year I thought I could easily get invitations thanks to you, but what happened? Don’t you dare be ungrateful,” Liu Lewei’s temper wasn’t great either.

Wu Mangmang felt somewhat embarrassed and deflated. She’d overreacted.

She couldn’t help but fan her face with her hand—narcissism really was a disease.

Probably having misunderstood Ms. Liu too many times, Wu Mangmang was particularly obedient for the rest of the time, letting the stylist manipulate her.

Though short hair was a bit difficult to style, it couldn’t stump an expensive stylist.

After Wu Mangmang was made up, even she was amazed by herself.

When they arrived at Lu Garden and got out of the car, Wu Mangmang was still somewhat awkward. If she and Lu Sui had really broken up, she’d actually prefer to attend the banquet, just as Ms. Liu said—where you fall is where you get back up.

But now that she and Lu Sui were in this unclear situation, and Lu Sui hadn’t even invited her, her coming instead made her feel like cheap goods delivering themselves to the door.

Of course, from another perspective, Wu Mangmang also felt she should go—it was facing the bleakness of life head-on.

Wu Mangmang followed Ms. Liu into the venue. She didn’t recognize most of the people at the banquet.

After all, it was no longer limited to the local area. There were also many faces commonly seen on TV and in magazines—all characters who could shake one side with a stomp of their foot.

An absolute gathering of big shots.

Wu Mangmang hadn’t walked two steps when she saw Lu Sui approaching her from not far away.

“I’ll take you to greet my aunt,” Lu Sui said softly in Wu Mangmang’s ear after approaching.

Wu Mangmang’s hand was naturally grasped in Lu Sui’s palm. She struggled imperceptibly but naturally couldn’t break free.

Such an occasion didn’t allow her to perform the drama of a shrewish little girlfriend.

Wu Mangmang could only maintain a fake smile and was pulled forward by Lu Sui under Ms. Liu’s astonished gaze.

The crowd spontaneously parted, clearing a path in the middle for this handsome man and beautiful woman.

It gave Wu Mangmang the feeling of walking the Oscar red carpet.