Chapter 424: Chapter 379: Someone Paid Me to Do a Job
Mu Qinian, with the innocence of a child, asked aloud, her gaze still circling around the two adults.
Mu Haotian was clearly a bit embarrassed, but Qiu Lan seemed indifferent, pointing to the banquet hall, "Niannian, let’s go eat some delicious food."
Upon hearing about the delicious food, Mu Qinian’s eyes lit up immediately, and she hastily said to Mu Haotian, "Grandpa, see you later," then pulled Qiu Lan’s hand and entered the hall.
Mu Haotian watched the backs of the grandson and grandmother, feeling a sense of desolation in his heart. To say he had no feelings for Qiu Lan would be false; after all, they had been together for so many years and she had borne him a son. But now, at their age, it seemed unrealistic to talk about feelings.
Mu Haotian sighed quietly when a business partner approached, setting aside his complex emotions and greeted him with a smile.
Qiu Lan took Mu Qinian and Tongtong to a seat, handed them over to Uncle Yu, and then she went to the hotel’s makeup room.
Today, Gu Qili looked radiant. Mickey had already helped her into her gown; she wasn’t wearing a wedding dress but a bright red, classic cheongsam-style evening gown. The brilliant color and streamlined cut perfectly accentuated her figure.
"How come the makeup artist hasn’t arrived yet? Really," Mickey complained as she buttoned up the last clasp and pulled her to stand in front of the makeup mirror to take a look, "You look absolutely beautiful."
Gu Qili also felt especially vibrant today. Qiu Lan said that getting married could ward off misfortunes, perhaps it’s true as her mood was good, and her smile was filled with sunshine, dispersing any gloomy clouds of illness.
"Mu Shuoqian came by to see you just now, but I chased him away," Mickey giggled, "He can’t help but worry about you. But, it’s an old tradition not to meet before the ceremony."
"How do you know so many rules, planning ahead for your own future wedding?" Gu Qili teased her.
"Stop teasing me, I’m not even taken yet," Mickey settled her in front of the mirror, "Take a rest, I’ll go see what’s up with the makeup artist."
"Go ahead."
Mickey had just left the makeup room when she bumped into Qiu Lan, and immediately asked, "Auntie, where’s the makeup artist?"
"She still hasn’t arrived? Really, that Emma, we had already agreed on the time, and she’s late! How could she be late at a time like this, when the ceremony is about to begin?" Qiu Lan frowned, checking her watch, "I’ll give her a call to hurry her."
"Yes, please hurry, it’s almost time."
Qiu Lan took out her phone and dialed a number. It rang for a long time before someone picked up, "Mrs. Qiu."
"Emma, what are you doing? Why haven’t you arrived yet? My daughter-in-law is waiting to get her makeup done." Qiu Lan’s tone conveyed her displeasure. This task was voluntarily taken on by her, and if it failed, how would she explain it to her son and daughter-in-law?
Emma’s voice sounded weak and a bit delayed before responding: "I’m so sorry, Mrs. Qiu, I encountered a car accident on the way to the hotel. I’m currently at the hospital for a check-up. However, I’ve sent my assistant there; her makeup skills are top-notch. Mrs. Qiu’s daughter-in-law is naturally beautiful, I believe, any makeup will suit her."
Qiu Lan hadn’t expected Emma to be in a car accident; her tone softened considerably: "You’re not seriously injured, are you?"
"It seems like a fracture."
"Well then, you take care and rest."
As soon as Emma finished talking, the phone was snatched from her hand and hung up. Xu Tong put away the phone, his tone cold as he said, "Good, you know better than to talk nonsense."
"Who exactly are you, and what do you want? Why have you kidnapped me?" Emma strained to discern his features, but unfortunately, he wore sunglasses and a mask, obscuring his face.
She had been kidnapped on her way to the hotel, and then brought here, threatened to say those words—she didn’t actually have any assistant at all, it was all scripted by this man.
"Don’t worry, I won’t harm you. After the plan succeeds, I will let you go," Xu Tong stated without so much as a glance at her, striding out of the dark room and locking the door behind him.
Emma’s world went dark again, and she felt increasingly uneasy, as if something significant was about to happen.
After waiting for a while outside, a woman carrying a makeup bag approached them.
Qiu Lan exclaimed, "Finally, you’re here, I was so worried."
The makeup artist, being very polite, asked, "Could you please tell me where Miss Gu Qili’s makeup room is?"
"You are?"
"I’m Emma’s assistant; she got into an accident and was hospitalized, so she specifically sent me to do Miss Gu’s makeup."
"Then come on in, the ceremony is about to start." Qiu Lan opened the door to the makeup room, "Qili, the makeup artist has arrived."
Gu Qili was about to do a simple makeup touch-up herself, but upon seeing the makeup artist following Qiu Lan, she breathed a sigh of relief. In such a grand event today, inappropriate makeup would definitely be disrespectful.
The makeup artist greeted her and then set her large makeup bag aside, "Miss Gu, shall we start?"
"Sure."
Qiu Lan saw there was nothing else to handle here, so she went to the hall to greet the guests, leaving Mickey to accompany Gu Qili.
The makeup artist picked up the foundation and started applying it to Gu Qili. Halfway through, she suddenly began rummaging through her box.
"What happened?" Mickey asked curiously from the side.
"I left in such a hurry that I forgot to bring my eyebrow pencil. Could you help me buy one? I’ll continue with the other makeup." The makeup artist said apologetically, "I’m so sorry."
Mickey replied, "No problem, there’s a cosmetics store just outside. You continue with the makeup; I’ll be back soon."
"That would be great, thank you." Mickey waved to Gu Qili, "I’ll be quick."
"Go ahead." Gu Qili raised her eyebrows and smiled in the mirror, "Hurry back."
Once Mickey left, only the makeup artist and Gu Qili were left in the makeup room. The artist picked up something like a spray bottle and sprayed it a few times on Gu Qili’s hair.
The spray smelled quite pungent, causing Gu Qili to cough a few times: "What is this?"
"Hairspray, did it choke you?" the makeup artist immediately apologized.
"It’s okay, just the smell isn’t very pleasant." Gu Qili gently pursed her lips, "Continue please."
"How old are you this year, Miss Gu?" the makeup artist picked up the compact powder and asked in the mirror, "Miss Gu is really lucky to be able to marry someone like Mu Shuoqian."
Gu Qili smiled but did not speak.
"Miss Gu, do you have children?"
Gu Qili was about to speak when she suddenly felt her head getting heavy and a wave of sleepiness overcame her. She vaguely sensed something was wrong. In the mirror, the makeup artist was staring at her with a strange gleam in her eyes.
She tried to stand up, but fell back into the chair weakly. She stared incredulously at the smiling makeup artist: "You...."
"Miss Gu, please don’t blame me, someone paid me to do this job, I had no choice." The makeup artist had already put down the makeup sponge, and pulled out a set of clothes from the bottom of the makeup box, "Miss Gu, let’s leave here first."
Gu Qili now had no strength at all; she could only let the makeup artist change her clothes and then put on a hat and mask.
"Where are you taking me?"
"You’ll know when we get there." The makeup artist sprayed some alcohol spray on her again, making her appear as if she was drunk. She supported her out of the makeup room. A few waiters were moving back and forth in the corridor, but with many guests in the hotel, no one paid them any attention.
The makeup artist led her into an elevator and went to a guest room on the third floor.
After purchasing the eyebrow pencil, Mickey hurried back. Music was already playing in the hall, and the guests were seated, just waiting for the bride to appear.
She pushed open the door of the makeup room and held up the eyebrow pencil, "Qiqi, how was that – as fast as lightning?"
The person sitting there, getting makeup done as "Gu Qili," smiled at her: "Really fast."
"I thought you were getting anxious." Mickey handed the eyebrow pencil to the makeup artist, then sat down on the side and opened a bottle of mineral water to drink. She stared at the "Gu Qili" currently applying lip gloss for a while and then suddenly stood up and walked over.
"Gu Qili" and the makeup artist both felt a wave of panic, their bodies already stiffening, thinking that Mickey had noticed something unusual.
Mickey leaned in, but her hand reached for a row of buttons at her neck: "What happened here? I clearly fastened it for you earlier, and now one has come off. Good thing I noticed it early, otherwise it would have been embarrassing going out like this."
"Gu Qili," hearing her words, let out a slowly relieved breath. In the rush to change into the evening gown, she was scared of being caught by Mickey coming back, hence the missing fastener in her haste.
She looked at herself in the mirror, her features and gestures identical to the real Gu Qili, so how could anyone recognize her as a fake?
"Qiqi, it’s time, let’s go out," Mickey looked at her watch.
"Of course, Xiao Mi." "Gu Qili" got up, secretly signaling to the makeup artist, who, understanding the cue, quickly left with her makeup kit after they exited.
Mickey and "Gu Qili" walked to the waiting area in the hall. Since there were no special ceremonies prepared, it was just the bride and groom toasting the guests before dinner was served, and a brief speech by Mu Haotian just for formality. Qiu Lan, considering Gu Qili’s health, had omitted all the tedious processes.
Seeing Mu Shuoqian looking their way, Mickey covered her mouth and laughed, "Go find your husband, from today onwards, you are Mrs. Mu, known to the whole world."
"Gu Qili" spaced out for a moment, it was her first time facing such a gathering of celebrities, and being Mrs. Mu was enough to make any woman envious.
Her eyes met Mu Shuoqian’s deep, lake-like gaze, and her lips curved into a brilliant smile, she walked towards him with graceful steps. **