Mo Mumu was still sitting in the rest room outside the operating room when she felt a warmth on her cheek and looked up, snapping back to reality.

Lin Ran: "Hey, hot cocoa."

"...Thanks."

Lin Ran sat down next to her. He glanced at the phone in Mo Mumu's hand, which had a stopwatch on. Half an hour had passed since the surgery ended.

Lin Ran sighed silently, "She's already back in her ward, let's go and keep her company."

Mo Mumu paused for a moment before saying in a hoarse voice, "Okay."

She had to stay by Ranran's side so that she would be the first person Ranran saw when she opened her eyes.

*

December 18, 2008.

There was still an hour before the banquet began.

The stylist who did Shi Youxi's hair last time neatly combed the hair around Shi Youxi's ears.

"Perfect, my little boss."

The stylist, adept at flattery, looked at the boy in the mirror, raised an eyebrow, and smiled:

"You were absolutely the most beautiful person at the entire dinner tonight."

Shi Youxi frowned, her tone revealing no disdain: "If you don't know how to praise, then don't. If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."

Stylist: "..."

No? Did he say something wrong?

Thinking he hadn't flattered her enough, he wanted to say a few more words, but his assistant behind him stopped him.

The door to the break room was pushed open, and a voice preceded the person, "Young Master!"

The next instant, the stylist and assistant saw the boy, who had just been sitting upright in the chair with a cold and world-weary expression, leap off the chair and run to the people who came in.

Mu Yiran took a step back, her eyes widening dramatically as she looked Shi Youxi up and down, then let out a frivolous whistle: "Wow...so dazzling!"

"Whose little beauty is this?"

The girl covered her mouth shyly, "Oh my, it looks like it belongs to my family."

Stylist: "....."

Who the hell is this?! Is this some kind of exaggerated compliment? If you don't know how to compliment, then don't.

He was looking forward to seeing how Shi Youxi would retort to Mu Yiran when he saw the boy's thin earlobes turn red, and the redness seemed to be rising.

Shi Youxi clenched his left fist involuntarily. He tried hard not to let the corners of his mouth turn up, and awkwardly hooked one of Mu Yiran's fingers around his mouth. "It's yours."

Stylist: "?? WTF...."

The assistant quickly covered his mouth, moving his tongue but not his mouth: "Forget it, your beauty is different from other people's."

Stylist: "???"

What's the difference? Is it a difference in species?

Mu Yiran showered him with compliments, and the two left the room and headed towards the villa. As the host, Shi Youxi had to arrive early.

"You've had a full dinner, right? You probably won't be able to eat much once the banquet starts."

Shi Youxi nodded, glancing at the girl who was dressed in a plain black and white maid outfit with red lipstick. "But, is your sister wearing makeup today?"

Mu Yiran fell silent, then awkwardly scratched her collarbone. "Oh...right, it's a formal occasion after all."

If Mu Yiran were to appear with that pale face without makeup, tomorrow's gossip headlines would probably be absurd news like "The Shi family abuses their servants, and the only son of the Shi family is actually a vampire."

Although Mu Yiran did not have a fever, she had a headache since the afternoon. She had taken a lot of medicine but it did not relieve the pain. Now it felt like her head was about to split open.

If she told Shi Youxi, he would definitely abandon the banquet and stay by her side no matter what.

She would hold on a little longer, until Shi Youxi was too busy to pay attention to her, and then hide away to rest.

Cold sweat began to appear on her forehead and palms. "Sister, you're sweating. Are you hot?" Shi Youxi took out a handkerchief and wiped her hands dry, then took her hand back.

"Yes, a little."

The two entered the East Suburb Villa through the back door. Inside, the lights were dazzling, and waiters were already waiting at the main entrance.

Mu Yiran withdrew her hand. "You should go to your husband and wife's place. I'll stay here."

Shi Youxi was very reluctant, but she knew it was time to part ways.

"Sister, wait a minute..."

"I know, I know, I'll always follow you." Mu Yiran waved dismissively, shooing Shi Youxi to the main hall.

The boy walked up to Bai Shengsheng and Shi Yan. Although Bai Shengsheng, the protagonist of today's show, was still wearing a low-key white dress, she was dressed up in her finest attire.

Shi Youxi and she didn't look like mother and son at all; they looked like siblings.

Shi Yan remained aloof and dignified. Although Mu Yiran had no opinion on the couple's character and values, she had to admit that they were both good-looking.

They're practically like a domineering CEO and his beautiful wife from a novel, with a son who inherited their perfect genes.

Unfortunately, reality is not as perfect as in CEO romance novels.

"Hiss..." Another sharp headache struck, and Mu Yiran dazedly reached for a corner, leaning against the wall and rubbing her temples.

Suddenly.

Mu Yiran felt a strong gaze fixed on her. She opened the window next to her and saw that the villa was decorated in a gentle and bright style, with even the lawn in front of the artificial lake covered with flowers.

There wasn't a single person there.

It seems she's been acting a bit neurotic lately, having hallucinations all the time.

"Miss Mu...Miss Mu, what are you doing here?"

The butler pushed open the door and saw Mu Yiran shaking her head on the windowsill. "The banquet has already started, and the young master is looking for you urgently."

"Oh, I'll be right there."

The butler, seeing the large beads of sweat on her forehead, handed her a wet wipe: "Are you alright? Why don't you go and rest while I tell the young master?"

"No need, I'm fine."

In the front hall, Bai Shengsheng was raising her glass to greet the guests and making polite opening remarks. Everyone's eyes were focused on her, except for Shi Youxi, who was turning his head around in the crowd, looking left and right.

The next second, he was patted twice on the shoulder, and the person behind him also pinched his earlobe.

"I'm back. I just went to the bathroom."

Mu Yiran said in a breathy voice, and when the boy tried to turn around, she pulled him back, "So many people are watching, be good."

Shi Youxi quieted down and his gaze returned to Bai Shengsheng. He wore the expression of a filial son, but his hands behind his back were tightly entwined with Mu Yiran's hands.

He held on tightly, and Mu Yiran dared not pull her hand away for fear of attracting attention.

But Hengqian, who was hiding in the crowd, saw everything clearly.

That slut.

To dare to seduce someone in such a public place, right in front of Youxi's parents, is truly a despicable and shameless thing.

She even put on makeup. Does she really think she's the master of the Shi family?

Hengqian wanted nothing more than to rush up and tear Mu Yiran's smug face to shreds.

Just a little longer... just a little longer, and she'll get her comeuppance!

This was the first time Heng Qian had been able to go out in a month. If it weren't for Bai Shengsheng's invitation, her father had originally planned to have another child from the Ace family attend the banquet in her place.

According to the plan, Bao Huiyi should already be somewhere in this house.

Now all we need to do is find an opportunity to separate Mu Yiran and Shi Youxi...

A message came through on her phone, and Hengqian looked down at it.

Bao Huiyi: Once you're ready, lure the people over.