Chapter 423: Chapter 378 I Promise It’s the Last Time
Qiu Lan said, "Why are you being so polite to me? This is what I should do as a mother."
She took out the detailed wedding itinerary, "Considering that you can’t overexert yourself, I had them simplify the ceremony a bit, but some key segments still can’t be omitted. Is that okay with you?"
Gu Qili smiled and said, "Okay, I’ll listen to mom in everything."
"The makeup artist arrived in Aus City yesterday and will come over in a little while. I asked her to do a makeup trial for you and then select a suitable bridal gown." Qiu Lan was extremely happy. To her, her son’s wedding was a huge joyous event. Even though it was just a low-key wedding banquet, she was still incredibly excited.
In the afternoon, the makeup artist came over, and the bridal studio, Wu Ai Wedding Photography, also delivered several evening gowns that Gu Qili had custom-ordered in advance.
Mickey also came to try on the bridesmaid dress; the house was bustling for a moment, and it seemed as if the gloomy clouds of illness had been blown away in an instant.
Mickey had just finished trying on the dress when Mu Fan arrived. He was personally selected by Mu Shuoqian as the best man. As for Mu Fan being the best man, Mu Shuoqian had already given Qiu Lan a strong reassurance in advance. After all, Mu Fan was the son of Miao Yuan, whom Qiu Lan saw as an enemy, so naturally, she wouldn’t have a good face towards his son. However, Mu Fan was obviously different from his parents and older brother – sunny, enthusiastic, kind – making it impossible for Qiu Lan to dislike him even if she wanted to.
Qiu Lan thought that since it was a day of great happiness, she didn’t want to hold grudges and let Mu Shuoqian make the decision.
When Mu Shuoqian left the old Mu Family house back in the day, Mu Fan had not yet been born. He was taken back to the family when he was twenty, and Mu Fan was still just a child. At that time, Mu Shuoqian was extremely resentful and indifferent towards the Mu Family members, including Mu Fan.
His impression of Mu Fan changed after an incident where Mu Haotian brought back two watches from overseas. He gave one to Mu Hewen and one to Mu Fan but none to Mu Shuoqian.
Although Mu Shuoqian didn’t care about Mu Haotian’s watch, he still felt a knot in his heart. Just as he was about to get up and leave, Mu Fan suddenly ran to the trash can and disdainfully threw the watch away, puffing with anger, "I don’t want something that second brother doesn’t have."
The twenty-year-old Mu Shuoqian, fiery with youthful pride, was surprised by Mu Fan’s intense reaction. At that moment, he couldn’t help but take a few more glances at him. When everyone in the Mu Family looked down on him, only this child treated him like family, like an older brother – sincerely and genuinely.
Later on, Mu Fan always liked to cling to him to play together. Over time, Mu Shuoqian naturally cemented his status as Mu Fan’s older brother. He was always good to him, a stark contrast to his attitude towards Mu Hewen.
The wedding was set for the day after tomorrow. After everyone spiritedly tried on various clothes, they dispersed. They didn’t want to disturb Gu Qili’s rest; although she always had a smile on her face, the exhaustion in her eyes was apparent.
Gu Qili kept telling herself to maintain a positive attitude, but the illness was unwilling to compromise so easily. In the middle of the night, she woke up in pain again. Fearing that Mu Shuoqian would discover her condition, she curled up in the blankets, biting her fist and shivering.
She knew that for every bit of pain she felt, he would feel it tenfold, so she’d rather endure it silently than let him see.
"Qiqi." Mu Shuoqian wasn’t sleeping soundly either. Feeling the slight trembling of the blankets, he immediately woke up, turned on the bedside lamp, and looked over, "Qiqi, what’s wrong?"
He reached out and touched her forehead, feeling a dampness on his hand - it was cold sweat.
He quickly picked her up. Gu Qili was in so much pain that her face turned pale, no longer able to pretend, her hands clenching tightly onto his shirt.
"I’ll go get the medicine." Mu Shuoqian leaped out of bed frantically and opened the drawer.
The doctor had previously prescribed her pain medication, but she had never taken it, fearing dependency. However, with the pain so intense now, she had no choice but to take it.
He poured her some water, watched her swallow the pill, then hurriedly fetched a towel to wipe off her sweat. His gaze, heavy with distress, wished he could take on her pain. If possible, he was willing to endure this agony, even if it were a hundred or a thousand times worse, as long as she could be well.
He held her tightly, not knowing what else he could do to ease her pain; his arms wrapped around her forcefully, hoping to share her suffering.
"Why didn’t you say something?" Mu Shuoqian’s eyes reddened with heartache, "Don’t endure it alone. It only makes me hurt more."
Gu Qili pressed tightly against his chest, his steady heartbeat granting her brief relief, but the pain did not stop.
The two of them sat huddled together like that - one clenching her teeth in physical agony, the other heartbroken beyond words.
The long night finally gave way to dawn, and Gu Qili had fallen asleep in his arms. The medicine had worked, and she slept peacefully.
Mu Shuoqian, however, didn’t feel the slightest bit drowsy. Thinking of the enduring pain that would continue to torment her, he could only blame himself for his helplessness. At a time when she needed him the most, he felt utterly inactive.
With these thoughts, Mu Shuoqian seemed to have solidified some resolve. He carefully put her back to bed under the covers and took his phone out of the room.
~
Xu Tong quickly found the wedding venue and time, even bringing back a list of the guests.
Qiu Yufei sat on the sofa, flipping through the list in her hand, and she spotted a familiar name.
Qiu Yufei thought to herself, even Gu Qili could stir enough fuss to engage such a high-profile makeup artist. Qiu Lan was really giving her a lot of face, but then, an idea suddenly sparked in her eyes.
She sent Xu Tong away and took out her phone to call Gu Yunxi.
"I know the makeup artist who is supposed to do Gu Qili’s makeup on the wedding day," Qiu Yufei spoke on the phone while gazing at her delicately manicured nails,
"I can make sure she doesn’t get to the wedding site. Then, we can have our person step in as her makeup artist, and that’ll set the stage for our next move."
Gu Yunxi pondered for a moment, "Then you must be exceptionally careful and not mess this up. Mu Shuoqian is a very cautious and cunning person."
"I know, don’t worry about me, and make sure you don’t slip up on your end either."
After hanging up the phone, just as Xu Tong returned from shopping and entered the room, Qiu Yufei brewed up some emotions until her eyes became red and teary. Before Xu Tong could even take off his shoes, suddenly he felt warmth in his embrace,
"Xu Tong, help me one last time," she cried with tears streaming, "I swear it’s the last time. If you help me, I will elope with you. Wherever you want to go, we’ll go there."
Xu Tong looked at her tear-streaked face with a hint of disappointment, "Is it really the last time? Yufei, come to your senses."
Qiu Yufei held up a finger firmly assuring him, "Xu Tong, you’ve always been the best to me. Can I please ask you this favor? Just this last time, I truly mean it. After this, success or failure, I will leave with you, okay?"
Seeing Xu Tong still hesitating, Qiu Yufei suddenly rushed to the window and cried out almost hysterically, "If you won’t help me, I might as well die."
Xu Tong quickly rushed over to hold her, fully aware that helping her would only push her further into the abyss, yet faced with her threat to end it all, he ultimately gave in.
"Alright, I’ll help you. Don’t scare me like that again."
Qiu Yufei instantly brightened up with a smile and planted a kiss on his face: "Xu Tong, you’re the best."
Xu Tong’s face showed a mix of conflict and resignation.
~
On the day of the wedding banquet, filled with joyful spirits, Gu Qili woke up early, and even her illnesses seemed to know better than to bother her.
Seeing her radiant complexion, Qiu Lan laughed and said, "Old folks used to believe in ’luck washing away misfortunes.’ Maybe this wedding will sweep away your illness."
Because the wedding wasn’t overly extravagant, with the procession and some complicated rituals being canceled, the family took a car and arrived at the hotel first.
Mu Qinian and Chen Zitong served as the ring bearers, with Tongtong happily singing along the way, causing Mu Qinian to scowl at her several times. Qiu Lan stopped him each time, scolding that he was being too harsh on girls, just like his father - how is he going to find a wife in the future like that?
The wedding banquet was attended by relatives and friends,
After Qiu Lan arrived at the venue, she expected to see Mu Haotian, but didn’t expect to bump into him right as she entered.
Mu Haotian hadn’t thought he would see Qiu Lan here. He was just preparing to go out and welcome guests when he saw the graceful woman approaching, leading a child by the hand. He became momentarily distracted, his expression extremely complicated.
Back in the day, he was infatuated with Qiu Lan’s beauty and lied to her that he wasn’t married,
At that time, Mu Haotian hadn’t yet attained his current level of unchallengeable authority. His rise was supported by his wife’s family power, the Miao Yuan clan, therefore, he didn’t dare to upset Miao Yuan. When he found out that Miao Yuan sent his wife and son away, he did struggle for a while, but eventually, he submitted to the allure of fame and wealth.
It wasn’t until after Miao Yuan’s death that he dared to bring Mu Shuoqian back. However, Mu Shuoqian never spoke of his mother, and since Haotian couldn’t bring himself to ask, he let it be. He never expected to be reunited with her at such an event and was utterly unprepared.
Caught in an awkward moment, Qiu Lan already walked over – even past fifty, her Timeless Beauty remained distinct, her features delicate, and her figure well-maintained, making her appear to be just around forty.
Mu Haotian looked at her, opening and closing his mouth in a conflict of emotions, "Lanlan...".
Qiu Lan, however, acted as if she had not seen him, looking straight ahead.
"Grandfather." It was Mu Qinian who sweetly called out, eyes darting between the two, "Grandma, isn’t Grandfather your husband?"