.webp "Rania"){kind=small}
Two distinguished figures entered the garden, instantly commanding attention.
One man sat in a wheelchair, his sunglasses concealing his eyes, giving him the air of a blind man. But despite the apparent disability, his appearance was nothing short of breathtaking. The sunlight hit his face, illuminating his striking features, and making him appear almost godlike.
Yet, his expression was distant and cold. His thin lips pressed into a firm, arrogant line, and an icy, menacing aura radiated from him, making anyone who dared approach instinctively step back.
Pushing the wheelchair was a man in a sharp suit, his face equally handsome, but with an unsettling, mischievous half-smile that seemed to suggest he knew something others did not.
This was the man who had clapped and praised Gu Li's performance just moments ago.
Gu Li's gaze shifted toward them, drawn by their undeniable presence.
When her eyes landed on the man in the wheelchair, her eyebrows arched in surprise—not because of his looks, but because she recognized him.
Wasn’t this the prey she had encountered at the Green Hotel in Country M?
It seemed fate had a funny way of making things come full circle.
Curious whispers surrounded her, confirming her suspicions.
"Isn’t that the second young master Mu? The invisible jerk?"
"Yeah, he’s blind and paralyzed. A real waste of his good looks and the Mu family’s wealth."
Blind? Paralyzed?
Gu Li’s interest piqued as she eyed the man in the wheelchair. When they had met at the Green Hotel, she hadn’t realized that he was disabled.
Mu Qinghan, the man in the wheelchair, was now observing her as well.
Beneath his sunglasses, a brief flash of dark, intense light gleamed in his eyes. His lips curled into the slightest, most enigmatic smile. The sunlight kissed his handsome face, setting the curve of his lips aglow. It was a smile that could mesmerize, leaving everyone in its wake captivated.
Gu Li felt the weight of that smile, yet she turned away, refocusing on Grandpa Zhang as she spoke, her voice composed. "Grandpa, are you satisfied?"
Grandpa Zhang, visibly impressed, nodded eagerly, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Very good, very good, haha! I didn’t expect the Su family to have someone so talented!"
He was thoroughly impressed by the ancient piece Gu Li had just played, the music’s elegance and tranquility striking a chord with him. The performance had transported him to another world—one of peace and beauty, far removed from the hustle and bustle of reality.
"What about the engagement?" Su Hong suddenly interjected, his voice laced with fear and desperation.
He understood the stakes. If the engagement were to end, the Su family would lose not only the alliance with the Zhang family but also the support and benefits that came with it.
Zhang Rui sneered in response. "Naturally, we’ll call it off. The Zhang family always keeps its word."
The banquet continued, but Gu Li, sensing an opportunity to slip away, excused herself and headed toward the bathroom, intent on making her exit.
As she entered the restroom, preparing to change her clothes and leave, the faint sound of wheelchair wheels rolling over the high-end tiles caught her attention.
She turned, spotting the man who had been pushing the wheelchair in the garden—none other than Gu Yichen, Mu Qinghan’s cousin.
Gu Li had heard her brother mention both Mu Qinghan and Gu Yichen before, but she had never imagined running into them like this.
The two men seemed momentarily surprised to see her. Gu Yichen, ever the charming figure, offered a smile. "What a coincidence."
Gu Li flashed him a playful grin and strutted toward the wheelchair. "What a coincidence indeed," she replied, her voice laced with humor. "I didn’t expect to run into you here, Master Mu."
She leaned closer to Mu Qinghan, her red lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "The fragrance you’re wearing… it’s ‘Deep,’ isn’t it?"
The scent was rich, heavy, and hypnotic—far from fresh or elegant, but it was undeniably captivating.
(End of Chapter 7)
.webp "Rania")