Of course, Wu Mangmang still harbored some doubt about Lu Lin’s words.

After all, no rival in love would speak well of their opponent without any reservations, right?

After Lu Lin left, Lu Sui quickly walked in. Wu Mangmang suspected he’d been standing outside the door the whole time.

Wu Mangmang saw a trace of embarrassment in Lu Sui’s expression. The two stared at each other silently until Lu Sui extended his hand to her.

“Miss Wu, would you do me the honor of dancing the first dance with me?”

Wu Mangmang took Lu Sui’s hand and stood up like Empress Dowager Cixi being helped by Li Lianying, then turned to look up at Lu Sui. “William and I never had a physical relationship.”

Lu Sui narrowed his eyes but quickly guessed Wu Mangmang’s little scheme.

Young girls always had some self-righteous cleverness.

But suddenly, Lu Sui felt an inexplicable disappointment, and this feeling was particularly strong, so much so that he even released 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.

Such a girl wasn’t suitable as a life partner, at least not with her current mentality.

Lu Sui wasn’t a deity or a saint, so he would also question his own choices, especially since no one could claim to completely understand and control something like emotions.

Lu Sui could see the provocation in Wu Mangmang’s eyes, even a hint of schadenfreude.

Wu Mangmang obviously hadn’t realized that if Lu Sui could easily resolve his psychological issues, why wouldn’t he explain personally instead of delegating it to Lu Lin, such an unreliable sister?

Some things that seem laughable and ridiculous to you are insurmountable obstacles to another person.

At Lu Sui’s age, he might be briefly moved by Wu Mangmang’s beauty and charm, but what everyone ultimately seeks in another person is understanding and recognition.

Even someone as powerful as Lu Sui had a need to be understood.

A look, a smile that could convey meaning without effort, without having to guess, without having to maneuver and calculate like dealing with an opponent.

Two people spending a lifetime together really wasn’t an easy thing.

But Wu Mangmang’s stage of love was obviously still stuck on conquest and being conquered.

Wu Mangmang might be suspicious of the love others showed her, but she would never mistake the alienation emanating from them.

She withdrew her hand, her body leaning back slightly—all unconscious self-defensive gestures.

Lu Sui rubbed his brow and said, “I’m glad, really.”

Lu Sui was truly glad.

About Wu Mangmang’s irresponsible trip abroad and her irresponsible quick start of another game-like relationship, Lu Sui had gone through a phase of extreme anger.

But after the anger came more worry.

Worry that he would completely lose this little girl.

It was this worry that made Lu Sui feel that past shadows could no longer affect him.

He was willing to open everything to Wu Mangmang and didn’t want to bury landmines in this relationship.

So Lu Sui restrained himself, rationally cutting off and setting aside the tangle that Wu Mangmang had become due to his own hesitation.

Just as Wu Mangmang thought, Lu Sui would absolutely not let past events affect the future he planned for himself.

Many disputes that couldn’t be resolved were set aside to fade with time.

Setting aside—this was a powerful skill people learned to resolve disputes when facing life after growing up.

But Lu Sui also knew that expecting Wu Mangmang to understand this would probably be difficult.

Even if he explained it to her piece by piece, she might still think he was fooling her.

Lu Sui’s patience with the little girl was somewhat exhausted. He said, “I’ll go down first. When you’re ready, come find me.”

Wu Mangmang watched Lu Sui’s retreating figure, feeling like she’d lost something in an instant, but couldn’t grasp the key point.

But she clearly knew Lu Sui was impatient.

When little Wu Mangmang used to cling to Ms. Liu and Boss Wu not to leave, she’d 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 slid down to the floor, tears falling like they cost nothing, tremblingly taking out her phone to call Wu Yong.

“I need to make an ap-appointment for tomorrow,” Wu Mangmang cried sadly but didn’t dare make a sound, biting her hand hard.

She could never read others’ emotions, always only realizing belatedly after others had become impatient and annoyed, watching them leave.

Wu Mangmang’s ears seemed to hear that old nanny’s gentle voice again.

“You’re disobedient, you disappointed them, that’s why your parents don’t want you. You can’t eat dinner tonight.”

“Now take your doll and face the wall. You must be good, or I’ll tell your parents and they’ll hate you more.”

“She’s just a pest. Her parents won’t blame me for her. It’s good enough that someone’s willing to watch her. She’s so old and still wets the bed.” Wu Mangmang stood facing the wall in wet clothes, listening to the nanny chat with someone on the phone.

Another phone rang—it was Ms. Liu. Wu Mangmang heard the fat woman call out “Madam.”

“Mangmang wet the bed again today, Madam.”

Wu Mangmang saw herself rushing over to snatch the phone from the fat woman, shouting, “Mommy, Mommy, she’s lying, I didn’t wet the bed, I didn’t wet the bed!”

There was no answer on the phone, only the “beep beep beep” of a hung-up line.

Later Ms. Liu seemed to come back. Wu Mangmang had a fever.

“The child has a fever and you don’t care?” Wu Mangmang heard Ms. Liu shouting into the phone.

“Why should I care? Isn’t she your offspring? Is it my fault she’s not a son?” Ms. Liu screamed hysterically for a while, then walked into the hospital room and threw a wad of money at the nanny.

“Useless thing, only causes me trouble. Watch her, call me when she’s better.”

Wu Mangmang heard footsteps. She poked her head out from under the bed sheets, yanked out the IV needle while the nanny was counting money, and rushed into the hospital corridor. “Mommy, Mommy—”

Ms. Liu seemed to turn her head back, or maybe she didn’t. Wu Mangmang couldn’t see clearly through her tears, but she could feel Ms. Liu quickening her pace to leave.

Wu Mangmang ran after Ms. Liu barefoot, watching her get in the car from a distance.

Ms. Liu probably didn’t notice Wu Mangmang chasing her car from behind.

Then Wu Mangmang seemed to get clipped by a car from behind. It wasn’t serious, but that bout of pneumonia kept her hospitalized for quite a while.

Wu Mangmang only remembered that her hospital room filled with many more dolls—gifts from Boss Wu.

“Daddy.” Wu Mangmang reached out, wanting Wu Song to hold her.

Wu Song patted her back, answered the phone, then said to Wu Mangmang, “Daddy still has business. You must be good. See, you got sick because you weren’t good. Daddy is very disappointed in you.”

Once a person falls into negative emotions, they always recall all the things from the past they’d tried to bury deep.

Wu Mangmang bit her hand hard. The pain brought brief clarity, then following the method Wu Yong taught her, she quickly took several deep breaths. She couldn’t fall back into that tragic past.

She’d grown up now and had to distinguish between past and present.

No one could satisfy everyone—if some were satisfied, others would be disappointed.

Wu Mangmang struggled to separate Lu Sui’s retreating figure from Boss Wu’s figure back then, telling herself, “Don’t think about it anymore. Go back and sleep, and tomorrow I can see Wu Yong.”

Wu Mangmang leaned against the door frame and struggled to stand up. Just as she steadied herself, she saw Lu Sui standing in the corridor.

Wu Mangmang didn’t move, watching Lu Sui extend his hand to her, his expression seemingly somewhat helpless.

But who cared?

Wu Mangmang lifted her skirt and ran over quickly, throwing herself into Lu Sui’s arms like a swallow returning to the forest, hugging his waist tightly.

When you’re about to drown, you won’t care whether this piece of driftwood was really prepared for you.

Even if it’s covered in thorns, you’ll hold on tight.

Lu Sui had to use some force to lift Wu Mangmang’s chin and raise her face.

So ugly it was unbearable to look at.

Even her false eyelashes had come 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 be to gracefully go downstairs, walk to his side with a smile, and dance together, then create momentum to dump him the next day.

Not sit on the floor crying like a pitiful little cat.

So ugly it angered heaven and man—wasn’t she afraid of making men lose their appetite?

“You can’t go like this. You need to wash your face,” Lu Sui said.

Wu Mangmang saw her ghostly appearance in Lu Sui’s pupils and almost screamed, but fortunately Lu Sui was quick to cover her mouth.

Reapplying makeup was impossible. Wu Mangmang could only remove her makeup as quickly as possible because Lu Sui standing beside her kept checking his watch.

Fortunately, lipstick was essential in a lady’s handbag. Wu Mangmang quickly applied some.

Walking downstairs with Lu Sui’s arm while bare-faced in such a competitive setting showed considerable courage.

Even Lu Sui couldn’t say against his conscience that Wu Mangmang’s bare face could outshine all the other women.

When Lu Sui appeared with Wu Mangmang, Lu Jianan, standing in the center of the spotlight, visibly sighed with relief, then froze when she saw Wu Mangmang’s bare face clearly.

Fortunately, Lu Jianan was experienced and worldly. She calmly pretended to know nothing, smiling as she yielded her position to Lu Sui and Wu Mangmang for them to start dancing.

This couple was already five minutes late. Thanks to Lu Jianan’s small talk, she’d managed to stabilize everyone’s attention.

A perfect couple—even with ordinary dancing skills, they’d be pleasing to watch, not to mention they both danced quite well and their steps were perfectly coordinated.

After one song, people around them paired up and glided into the dance floor. Only then did Wu Mangmang breathe a sigh of relief. She’d hardly dared to lift her head earlier, afraid others would see she was bare-faced.

Of course, this was just self-deception.

Anyone paying attention could tell she was bare-faced.

Some would praise Wu Mangmang’s natural beauty and envy her fair, crystal-clear skin.

Others would wonder what had happened that she was bare-faced. Her eyes seemed red too—it looked like this couple was just acting in public while the woman was forcing a smile.

Wu Mangmang and Lu Sui danced three songs together. Even loving lovebirds had to separate temporarily, right?

Wu Mangmang whispered in Lu Sui’s ear that she needed to touch up her makeup. Lu Sui had to let go even though he didn’t want to.

As soon as Wu Mangmang was alone, Ms. Liu approached. “What’s going on between you and Lu Sui?”

Wu Mangmang lowered her head. “Just what you saw. We made up.”

Wu Mangmang’s words were light and breezy. Ms. Liu continued probing, “Then why were you crying?”

“I was moved,” Wu Mangmang said.

Like hell she’d believe that. Ms. Liu said coldly, “Wu Mangmang, think clearly. Don’t make the same mistake twice.”

Liu Lewei naturally understood Wu Mangmang. In her romantic relationships, she never had the upper hand to dump others. Even when she did, it was only because others were about to dump her, so she struck first.

So the breaking up and making up between Wu Mangmang and Lu Sui must have been Lu Sui dumping Wu Mangmang.

As for making up? Liu Lewei had seen Wu Mangmang’s pathetic behavior before. She’d tried crying, making scenes, and threatening suicide, only to be dumped cleanly anyway.

Ms. Liu really didn’t know whether to be grateful for Lu Sui’s soft heart or hate it.

“Come, I’ll take you to touch up your makeup.” After Liu Lewei finished speaking, she walked forward. Wu Mangmang followed—she was going to touch up her makeup anyway.

But Ms. Liu encountered acquaintances along the way and had to make small talk. Wu Mangmang had to stand aside. But the other party seemed too interested in her, so she had to politely apologize, pretending her champagne glass was empty, and turned to find a waiter.

Shen Ting appeared from somewhere, holding two drinks, naturally handing one to Wu Mangmang.

“Thank you.” Wu Mangmang lowered her head. In this setting, being without makeup was like being naked—she couldn’t lift her head.

Shen Ting stared transfixedly at Wu Mangmang’s fair earlobe. The diamond earring’s brilliance seemed unable to compete with the warm beauty of her earlobe.

Her eyes were still slightly red, her complexion very pale, like a child who’d done something wrong.

Shen Ting felt his heart twist. “Made up with Lu Sui again?”

Wu Mangmang nodded. She knew others must find it strange, but she couldn’t explain it herself.

Good horses don’t eat grass they’ve trampled—but she couldn’t do it. She really felt she had no prospects.

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” Wu Mangmang nodded.

There seemed to be nothing more to say. Shen Ting nodded slightly and left.

Wu Mangmang breathed a big sigh of relief. Looking back, she saw Ms. Liu chatting happily with the real estate tycoon, so she headed toward the powder room herself.