No one noticed her arrival.
The coming-of-age ceremony had already officially started. Her younger sister, Su Xingqi, wore a custom-made high-end dress, standing charmingly on the stage. The layered embroidered petals and lace highlighted her already beautiful appearance, making her even more dazzling. Her eyes sparkled, and every blink and smile captured everyone's attention.
"So beautiful..."
As Su Xingyu carefully moved through the crowd of guests, she overheard people whispering, "Everyone says the second Miss of the Su Family is a beauty. Seeing her today, she truly lives up to her reputation. No wonder she could become a model at such a young age."
"Isn't that true? She's much prettier than her sister."
"They say the eldest Miss of the Su Family has a great background, being the granddaughter of the late Mr. Mu from the Mu Family. In my opinion, a noble family isn't all that. Their genes don't even compare to Liu Meizhi's, who used to sell fruits. Just look at how beautiful Liu Meizhi's daughter is."
"No wonder the Mu Family went bankrupt later. Bad genes, you know."
"Stop talking! Su Xingyu is coming over."
The whispering quieted down, and a few guests looked at her with strange eyes as she passed by. Su Xingyu knew they were comparing her to her sister, Su Xingqi, and she was the one losing in comparison. But so what? Just endure for another two years, just two more years... After she graduates from college and finds a job, she can live independently. By then, she will live well and never bring shame to her deceased mother and grandfather!
She reached the main table and sat down next to her father, Su Zhongxiao, and her stepmother, Liu Meizhi, softly greeting them, "I'm late."
Liu Meizhi shot her a sidelong glare, hidden from others: "More and more outrageous!"
Even Su Zhongxiao looked at her sternly, "You still know to come? You almost ruined your sister's big day!"
She gently pressed her lips together and said nothing more. Over the years, she had realized that no matter how she explained, it would always be wrong. It was better to say nothing, rather than waste her breath.
The coming-of-age ceremony on stage proceeded in an orderly manner.
Su Xingyu watched quietly, her thoughts drifting. Her sister was so glamorous and bright, as if they belonged to two different worlds. Her sister had been showered with love since she was young, enjoying the best of everything. She started modeling school at ten and debuted at fourteen. Now, at just eighteen, she was already a minor celebrity.
And what about herself?
Her father and stepmother never enrolled her in any classes. She studied obediently, got good grades, but the night before the college entrance exam, she suddenly had food poisoning and underperformed, only getting into a third-rate university.
Everyone ridiculed her, looked down on her, laughed at her for being hopeless, unworthy of being a Su Family member.
Only one person always stayed by her side, quietly accompanying her, giving her warmth.
Qin Mu.
Just thinking of this name filled her heart with tenderness.
He was the second son of the famed Qin Family in this city, and before the Mu Family went bankrupt, Mr. Mu had arranged a betrothal between them. Over the years, Qin Mu had always taken good care of her, even when she was *** at eighteen, he never left her side. He even promised her they would marry after she graduated college.
He was the ray of light in her bleak life.
As she was lost in thought, suddenly there was a commotion in the banquet hall.
Many guests exclaimed, "Look! Isn't that the second young master of the Qin Family? Why is he holding a bouquet of roses walking towards Su Xingqi?! What is he planning to do?!"
She was shocked, almost instinctively looking up towards the stage.
On stage, Qin Mu indeed stood, dressed impeccably, holding a large bouquet of fiery red roses and walking towards Su Xingqi. His steps were firm and steady, his eyes filled with deep admiration. When he reached Su Xingqi, he said tenderly, "Xingqi, marry me. I've waited a long time for this day when you become an adult. Will you accept my proposal?"
Su Xingyu stared blankly at him, only feeling a buzzing in her ears, as if all the blood in her body was freezing.
She wondered if she heard wrong, instinctively standing up and tremblingly asked, "Qin Mu, what are you saying?"
But her voice was so low that the man on stage didn't hear her, nor did he glance her way.
"Oh my god, Qin Mu proposed to Su Xingqi!" The guest crowd was boiling over.
"No wonder the second young master of the Qin Family has had no scandals over the years; it turns out his heart belonged to someone already!"
"And it's Su Xingqi! Even though the Su Family has been decent these past years, they're just a regular wealthy family. For her to marry into such a prestigious family like the Qin Family, she's really climbing up the social ladder! So lucky!"
"That's right! But Su Xingqi is indeed pretty and a popular model, so it makes sense."
"A talented man and a beautiful woman, really a great match!"
"Definitely a great match!"
The chatter grew louder, but Su Xingyu felt bouts of dizziness. Not many people knew about her and Qin Mu's betrothal arranged during childhood, and now, as he proposed to Su Xingqi, not a single person questioned it. She finally couldn't hold it back, rushed a few steps onto the stage, and again tremblingly asked, "Qin Mu! What do you mean? Didn't you say you'd marry me?!"
Only then did Qin Mu turn to look at her.
Even the gorgeously dressed Su Xingqi turned to look at her, appearing somewhat startled. She exclaimed, "Sister, why did you rush up here? What do you mean by saying Mr. Qin wants to marry you? You, you..." She shook her head as if incredulously, saying, "Are you trying to steal my boyfriend?"
"What do you mean your boyfriend?!" Su Xingyu was both shocked and furious, "Xingqi, you've always known Qin Mu is my fiancé, haven't you? When did he become your boyfriend? Qin Mu, what in the world is happening?"
She looked towards the man holding the roses, dressed impeccably.
The guests were also stupefied by the sudden turn of events, all looking at Qin Mu, hoping for an explanation.
On stage, Qin Mu frowned, looking at Su Xingyu with restrained impatience in his voice, "Su Xingyu, stop being unreasonable. Do you really want me to air out everything you've done in front of all these people? It won't look good for anyone then!"
"What?" Su Xingyu hadn't expected him to say that, instinctively reaching for Qin Mu, "What have I done? Qin Mu, explain clearly! Why are you suddenly with Xingqi?"
Qin Mu's eyes showed even more impatience as he brushed Su Xingyu's hand aside.
Beside him, Su Xingqi watched with a glint of schadenfreude in her eyes, yet her words were feigned persuasion, "Sister, stop making a scene. The things you've done, Qin wouldn't say out loud in public like this. Qin's giving you face here. Hurry and get down, for the sake of us being sisters, I won't hold it against you for sabotaging my coming-of-age ceremony."