With a contracted marriage, she was forced to marry A City's overlord, Mu Zhan Chen. After the wedding, she gritted her teeth and set up an agreement: "I can act as a stepmother to your illegitimate child, but publicly, you're my younger uncle, and I demand freedom to date!" Mu Zhan Chen readily agreed: "Okay." In order to vex him, she was willing to date anyone. It seemed, though, that her potential mates weren't as brave. Suitor one: "Loving you is a death sentence. I beg you, spare me." Suitor two: "I cheated on two hundred women. I'm a jerk. Please break up with me!" Suitor three: "As long as you break up with me, I'll give you all my assets. If you don't break up with me, I'll jump off a building!" Gu Mian Mian's face turned black and she went home to confront someone: "I know it was you causing trouble in the background. Tell me, how will you remedy this?" Mu Zhan Chen arrogantly raised his eyebrow: "Keyboard, washboard, durian; madam, choose one for me to kneel on." "..." My husband keeps stopping me from dating every day. What should I do? I am anxious, awaiting replies online.
"The Big Surprise! CEO of the Mu Group's Illegitimate Son Emerges!"
"Mu Group's CEO Spotted with Mystery Baby, Secret Marriage? Illegitimate Child?"
"Golden Bachelor Mu Zhan Chen Unmarried with a Child? Who is the Mother?"
On a bright and bustling morning in City A, both online and print media were brimming with reports about Mu Zhan Chen, the CEO of the Mu Group, and his illegitimate child.
Inside the Gu's mansion, Gu Mian Mian, dressed to the nines, scrolled through her social media feed, sighing, "The world has gone to the dogs, it seems like the position of a CEO isn't secure without an illegitimate child these days."
Ruan Xiao Xiao, who was busy applying lipstick, glanced and interjected, "Mu Zhan Chen, huh. Isn't he gay? He's supposedly in a relationship with his secretary."
"What? And he's deceived a woman into bearing him a child? That's downright disgraceful." Gu Mian Mian's eyes widened, increasingly convinced of the degenerate nature of their times, "Is it a sham marriage? A marriage of convenience?"
"I'm not sure," Ruan Xiao Xiao shrugged, giving her friend a sideways glance, "Why are you dressed to the nines today? It’s me who's going on a blind date, not you."
Gu Mian Mian shook her head, "My mom told me to dress up well, I don't know why." After a quick glance at her phone, she came across her crush's social media post, causing her heart to nearly stop in shock.
Mu Qing Yu: Today, I have a blind date. My family is rushing me and I'm considering whether I should just get married impulsively.
What?! Qing Yu brother has just returned from abroad, and before I had the chance to pursue him, he's going on a blind date?! Is this a rush?!
Just then, Ruan Ling Long descended from the upstairs and said to Gu Mian Mian, "Mian Mian, you also have a blind date arranged for noon today. It's the arrangement made by your father.”
Gu Mian Mian froze, "Mom, I've just turned twenty. Isn't it too much to fake my dad's resurrection for arranging a blind date for me?”
Ruan Ling Long gave her a stern look, “It was your dad's dying wish, the person you're meeting is from the Mu family who lived next door—”
"Mom!" Gu Mian Mian suddenly stood up, pure joy lighting up her face, she couldn't hide her excitement, "Sure, I'm going!"
"..." For a moment, Ruan Linglong, who thought she'd have to do some serious comforting, had trouble continuing her sentence. "I haven’t said who it is."
Gu Mianmian blushed slightly at this point. "I already know who it is, Mom, you're the best stepmother in the world. Where’s the blind date? Quickly tell me the address."
Ruan Linglong was a little puzzled as to how Gu Mianmian knew who it was, but seeing the younger's happy appearance, she let out a slight sigh of relief. She had worried that Mianmian would be unhappy, but with this, she felt reassured. In a soft voice, she said, "It's at Feng Lai Yi at twelve o'clock today."
As soon as Ruan Linglong finished speaking, Gu Mianmian had picked up her bag and raced out the door. "Wait for my good news!"
Ruan Xiaoxiao, who was still applying makeup, was stunned. "It's only eight o'clock in the morning now, I've never seen her so proactive. The Mu family... Right, the one I'm meeting for the blind date also comes from the Mu family." Realizing this, Ruan Xiaoxiao felt a flash of horror. "Oh my God! It can't be the Mu family in this newspaper, could my blind date be Mu Zhanchen?"
Ruan Linglong spoke coldly, "It is indeed the Mu family, but don’t overestimate yourself. This is the CEO of the Mu Group, the absolute authority in the Mu family. Why would he be interested in you?"
Ruan Xiaoxiao grimaced and nodded her agreement. "You're right. We come from a modest background, why would he be interested in us."
Ruan Linglong looking at the now open door, added in a ghostly whisper, "The one Mianmian is meeting is him."
With a 'pop', Ruan Xiaoxiao's foundation was ruined.
When Gu Mianmian was rushing to the blind date, she would have never guessed that Ruan Linglong’s words had another shocking half.
Her original words were: The blind date is the nephew of the boy from the Mu family who lived next door to you-- the current head of the Mu family, the CEO of the Mu Group, Mu Zhanchen.
At the same time, in the Mu family mansion, the old man pounded his dragon-headed cane on the ground, his face solemn. "Things are out of control. If you can't bring the mother of the child back within three days, you'll soon be forced to relinquish your position as CEO of the Mu Group. All the previous heads of the Mu family followed the ancestral instructions to the letter. I never thought you would break the rules."
Mu Zhanchen pressed his thin lips together and said cooly, "The child has no mother, only me as a father. Besides, those old rules shouldn't bind modern people."
"You shut up!" the old man of the Mu family yelled angrily, "Is the issue about the ancestral rules? The issue is that someone will use them to force you to surrender the family head's position and force you to give up your CEO position of the Mu Group. Who gave the media the courage to report on your illegitimate child? Clearly, someone in the family has motives! ZhanChen, I can't stand by and watch this. If you couldn’t find the child’s mother, I must arrange one for you.”
Mu Zhanchen raised an eyebrow, his deep and cold peach-blossom eyes gazing at the old man. Then he said, "So, you've arranged a blind date for me, haven't you? Tell me the time and place."
Old Master Mu's body stiffened, coughed slightly and said, "The time is today, noon, at Feng Lai Yi."
"Which girl?" After Mu Zhan Chen finished speaking, he felt that the question was unnecessary. He said, "Forget it, no need to ask. I'll just go."
As soon as Mu Zhan Chen finished speaking, he left. Old Master Mu hurriedly said from behind, "You should know, it's Miss Gu. There was an agreement left by your father before he passed away that she must marry you, as long as you are willing."
Mu Zhan Chen's steps suddenly faltered, in an instant, his icy aura completely released.
"Grandfather, is my father devaluing me or our Mu family?" Mu Zhan Chen asked coldly, "It is her blessing from lifetimes of karma to be able to marry me. What would she be unwilling about? If anyone is unwilling, it is me."
Mu Zhan Chen turned around and left.
The butler standing next to Old Master Mu was scared to the point his legs felt weak. Only then could he squeak out a question to Old Master Mu, "Master, will Young Master Zhan Chen find out that we were the ones who reported it? Just a while ago, I saw the look in the Young Master's eyes. They were as sharp as knives."
Old Master Mu raised an eyebrow, "So what if he knows? Even then he would have to go on the blind date obediently. I am his grandfather, what can he do to me? If he was fooled by me, it only shows that he is not cunning enough!" The butler stood aside feeling utterly desperate.
What kind of situation was this, a grandfather setting up his own grandson - who would believe it if they heard about it?
When Mu Zhan Chen left the old Mu house, Gu Mian Mian, carrying a bitter almond cake she personally made from her part-time job, arrived at Feng Lai Yi.
"Hello, my surname is Gu, I believe there should be a seat reserved by a Mr. Mu." Gu Mian Mian said to the person at the door, she knew the rule, that you must make a reservation in advance.
Upon hearing her surname Gu, the host quickly ushered her in respectfully and enthusiastically, "Miss Gu, welcome. Mr. Mu has reserved the entire Feng Lai Yi for you. Please come in."
Upon hearing this, Gu Mian Mian's face turned slightly red.
Brother Qingyu was really, how could he spend so much money? How much would it cost to book a place like Feng Lai Yi?
As soon as she entered, Gu Mian Mian was immediately surrounded by flowers. Wisteria hung overhead, champagne rose petals covered the floor, and roses were gathered on both sides.
The entire Feng Lai Yi was turned into a sea of flowers. Gu Mian Mian stood there stunned for a few seconds before she nearly burst into laughter.
This was not a blind date. It was clear that Brother Qingyu wanted to propose to her!