Chapter 54: Dressed to the Nines, Only to Miss You

When Su Wan woke up, the person beside her was already gone.

She sat up in bed and began to put on the clothes scattered on the floor, one piece after another.

Su Yichuan had gone to work; apart from her, the house was left to just a few servants.

Su Wan sipped her milk slowly.

The news was playing on the television, reporting on a major police operation from a few days prior. One officer had lost his life, though his name had not been made public.

Su Wan swallowed what was in her mouth, set the milk down, and drove out.

During those days, Mu Yunshen hadn’t contacted her at all.

She continued to live at the hotel, commuting daily between the hotel and her company.

Even as she tried her best to keep away from that world, Su Wan still felt a tense, uneasy atmosphere lingering.

When Mu Yunshen finally called her, she was watching the news in her hotel room.

“Can you come to the bar now?” he asked.

Without hesitation, Su Wan answered, “Alright.”

She drove herself there.

The bar, which should have been lively, was unusually quiet. Su Wan walked in slowly and found Mu Yunshen sitting on the floor.

“What’s wrong?” Her voice was tinged with worry.

Mu Yunshen turned his head and gave her a faint smile. “Come here.”

Su Wan walked over.

He pulled her to sit down, drawing her into his arms. “I’ve transferred ownership of the bar.”

“Why?” Her body tensed.

Mu Yunshen understood what troubled her. He smiled lightly. “I just don’t want to keep doing it. I’ve made too many enemies.”

Su Wan looked at him. “Really?”

“Mhm.” He smoothed her hair. “I’m leaving tomorrow. It might take a few days. Will you wait for me?”

Su Wan gripped his hand. “Is it dangerous?”

He thought for a moment, holding her close. “Do you remember the last time? That bald man.”

Su Wan nodded slowly.

“The ‘Seventh Master’ he mentioned is a formidable figure. I crippled his man—he won’t let me go. So I have to leave for a while.”

“When will you come back?”

“I don’t know.” He looked off into the distance, eyes narrowed. “But it shouldn’t be long.”

Su Wan didn’t believe him.

Because in his eyes, she could clearly see his emotions—gone was the usual careless ease, replaced only by... cold resolve.

But she swallowed her words.

“Alright,” she said.

Mu Yunshen kissed her forehead. “Good girl.”

Her hand tightened around his, then loosened. She simply held him quietly.

That night felt like a farewell—the last embrace, desperate and clinging, as if by holding on, he would never leave.

But when morning came, Su Wan woke to find him gone.

On her phone was a message he’d left for her.

“If I don’t come back, find someone who’ll treat you well.”

Su Wan stared at that message for a long, long time, then dialed his number.

The line was already disconnected.

Su Wan smiled faintly, and something in her eyes fell swiftly.

He would come back. He definitely… would come back.

…

Each day after that, Su Wan kept a close eye on the news and frequently visited her family home, hoping for any good news.

But there was none.

All of North City was eerily quiet, nothing out of the ordinary.

But Mu Yunshen seemed to have vanished from the world, as did all his men—they never appeared in Su Wan’s life again.

A month passed this way.

No news was the best news.

One day, Su Wan received an invitation.

A wedding invitation.

When she opened it and saw who it was for, her blood turned to ice.

She stared fixedly at the photo on the card.

It was him!

Mu Yunshen!

He wore a white suit; his hair was shorter than before. A new scar marred his cheek, but that face—Su Wan would remember it until her dying day—it was Mu Yunshen.

Yet the woman he held was someone else.

She didn’t even look at the camera, only at him, her eyes brimming with unrestrained devotion.

Su Wan’s hands clenched tightly.

After a month of silence, what she received out of the blue was his wedding invitation!

She called him at once, but the line was disconnected—disconnected!

She stood up, turned, and left.

The bar had been sold, and naturally, no one remained in the rooms upstairs.

Standing on the street, Su Wan suddenly realized that in all of North City, she didn’t know where to find him—or where he might be.

She looked at the two people on the invitation.

The sender’s name was blank.

She didn’t know who had sent the invitation, or even where they were now!

It was as if all strength had been drained from her. Su Wan sank heavily onto a bench by the road.

Her eyes were red, yet not a single tear would fall.

It couldn’t be him.

Someone must be using her for something.

This had to be a trap—it had to be!

She repeated this to herself, standing up.

“Su Wan.”

She turned immediately at the voice, but when she met the man’s gaze, her eyes slowly dulled again.

He glanced at her hand. “You received the invitation too?”

Too?

Su Wan shot him a look. “What do you mean?”

Bo Yezhou raised his hand. “I received one as well.”

Su Wan began to tremble.

“You haven’t found him?” Bo Yezhou glanced at the bar nearby. “How long have you two lost contact?”

Su Wan didn’t want to answer his questions. She turned to leave.

Bo Yezhou grabbed her. “Are you still not coming to your senses? He’s marrying someone else!”

Su Wan wrenched her hand free. “It’s not real! It must be fake! Someone just wants to lure me there—it’s all a setup!”

As she spoke, she nodded firmly. “Yes, it must be fake!”

“If you think so, will you dare attend the wedding?” Bo Yezhou asked.

“Why would I go? If someone dug a pit for me, would I jump in like a fool? I’m not crazy.” Su Wan gave a light, easy laugh and turned to leave.

Bo Yezhou’s voice called after her, “It’s not fake. If it were, why would I get an invitation too? Not just me—your father, and all the prominent figures in North City, received invitations.”

He walked toward her. “Do you know who the bride is?”

Su Wan bit her lip, glaring at him.

Bo Yezhou seemed oblivious to her anger and continued, “Her father’s name is Shen Qi. In the underworld, they call him—Seventh Master.”

…

Su Wan stood before the mirror.

Her gown swept the floor, the diamond necklace at her throat glittering harshly beneath the lights. The red dress made her skin look pale, her makeup flawless.

After checking herself again and again, Su Wan turned to leave.

Bo Yezhou was already waiting at the door.

Even though he’d received an invitation, Su Yichuan wouldn’t attend the wedding.

First, because of Mu Yunshen. Second, because Shen Qi’s identity was extremely sensitive—he dabbled in many fields, had a listed company in North City, but more of his business was in the shadows.

Yet the man was cunning. After so many years in North City, his empire only grew, and not a trace of evidence could be found against him—he was the police’s greatest headache.

Shen Qi had always kept a low profile, but today, for his only daughter’s wedding, he spared no expense.

He booked the city’s grandest hotel; every guest had a room upstairs to rest, and the bride’s gown and jewelry were worth millions.

With no sons, whoever married his daughter would rise to great heights from today on.

As chief officer of the North City police, Bo Yezhou’s appearance drew many greetings, but most guests had ambiguous backgrounds. When they saw Bo Yezhou, their eyes flashed with hostility.

Su Wan’s gaze never left the stage.

At last, the banquet began.

The host came out first, gave a brief introduction, and joyously invited tonight’s groom—Mu Yunshen.

Su Wan stared at the stage, unblinking.

He wore a black suit, a crisp white shirt beneath, his hair and tie immaculate—completely unlike his former, unkempt self.

He walked slowly onto the stage, glanced over the crowd, his gaze passing over her without a pause, without expression.

A sharp crack—the nail of Su Wan’s finger broke against her palm.

“Our groom is truly outstanding. Now, let’s welcome the bride with a round of applause!”

The spotlight shone on the far end of the aisle. A woman, arm in arm with her father, walked slowly forward.

She wore a pure white gown, happiness radiating from her face. The light in her eyes stabbed into Su Wan’s heart.

Her hand fell slack.

Bo Yezhou murmured in her ear, “Now do you believe?”

She gave no answer.

She couldn’t.

Shen Qi placed his daughter’s hand in Mu Yunshen’s and nodded.

Applause thundered.

Then Su Wan saw them exchange rings, heard them recite their vows before the host and all the guests, watched as he lifted her veil and kissed his bride.

Su Wan couldn’t bear it any longer—she turned and left.

Bo Yezhou followed her. “Su Wan—”

“Don’t follow me!” Su Wan stopped, voice trembling. “Let me be alone.”

He didn’t pursue her.

Su Wan went out on her own, sat by the flowerbeds, and stared at her hands.

They were still shaking; the stabbing pain was all too real.

This wasn’t a dream…

It was real.

He really… had married someone else.

All the comforting words she’d told herself before now felt like a joke.

He’d told her to wait, and she’d waited.

But what she got was his wedding to another woman.

Su Wan began to laugh.

Tears slid down her cheeks, one after another.

She didn’t know how long she sat there before she stood, carefully wiped away her tears, reapplied her makeup, and returned to the banquet hall.

The newlyweds had started making the rounds to toast the guests.

Bo Yezhou watched her worriedly.

But Su Wan, as if nothing had happened, sat calmly at the table, waiting for their toast.

Finally, they reached her table.

Su Wan stood up.

She looked at the couple before her. “I wish you both a long and happy life together, and may you have a child soon!”

The girl beside him smiled shyly, and he too smiled. When his eyes met hers, there was nothing but unfamiliarity.

He said, “Thank you!”

Su Wan’s hand shook, but her smile grew even brighter. She drained her glass in one go.

Then she poured herself another.

“This one, I wish Mr. Mu a brilliant future from this day on!”

Before Mu Yunshen could speak, she drank again!

His brows furrowed slightly, while the woman beside him looked worried. “Yunshen, do you know each other?”

Su Wan was about to answer when she saw Mu Yunshen shake his head. “No, I don’t.”

No. I. Don’t.

Those three words froze Su Wan’s hand in place. Whatever she’d been about to say was trapped in her throat.

She looked at him, wanting to know how he could utter such words.

But he didn’t look at her, only led his bride away, passing right by her.

Su Wan’s third glass of wine remained untouched.

It was only when Bo Yezhou tugged her sleeve that she came back to her senses.

Then she started to laugh.

Looking into her glass, she whispered, “The third toast—to the end of all ties between us, from now on, we are nothing to each other.”

With that, she drank alone.

She didn’t know how much she drank after that.

Before the banquet ended, she had already been sick in the restroom.

Her carefully prepared outfit and makeup were ruined.

Su Wan stared at her reflection in the mirror, wanting to laugh, but tears fell first.

Why… why did it have to be like this?

If he’d told her they were over, she would have agreed. She wouldn’t have clung to him, wouldn’t have held on.

Why… why treat her this way?

Not know her…

How could he not know her!

Su Wan staggered out.

She’d barely left the restroom when he appeared.

He stepped aside politely to let her pass, but as he was about to walk by, Su Wan grabbed him.

She raised her head. “Mu Yunshen, do you really not know me?”

His brows knitted, seeming a bit annoyed, but he forced it down. “Miss, you’ve had too much to drink. Let me have someone take you upstairs to rest.”

Miss…

Su Wan swayed. “Mu Yunshen, are you insane? Even if you want to break up, you don’t have to do it this way! Do you think I’d pester you? Is that it?”

Her grip tightened. Mu Yunshen grew impatient, shook her off, and she fell to the ground.

She stared at him in disbelief.

He straightened his clothes. “Please behave yourself, miss.”

Behave yourself…

Su Wan’s hands clenched tight. She nodded. “I understand, I understand! Mu Yunshen, you’re ruthless!”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Mu Yunshen watched her retreating figure. As he was about to enter the restroom, another man came out.

Clearly, he’d witnessed the entire scene.

“Well done, son-in-law. Decisive and clean,” he said with a grin.

He was Qi Fei, Seventh Master’s trusted aide, and knew full well about Mu Yunshen, the sudden son-in-law. He’d been hoping for a show tonight, but Mu Yunshen had truly wiped the slate clean.

A month ago, Mu Yunshen had come to Seventh Master to confess his sins.

Though the dead bald man was merely a dog, a dog’s fate still depended on its master. By doing this, Mu Yunshen had openly made an enemy of Seventh Master. Originally, the old man had no intention of letting him off, but just then, his daughter Shen Xiaoxiao went missing. He had to let Mu Yunshen go in order to search for her.

In the end, it was Mu Yunshen who found her. From that day, Shen Xiaoxiao set her heart on marrying him.

Seventh Master knew Mu Yunshen’s past and had no intention of agreeing. He even secretly arranged for Mu Yunshen to be eliminated, but by a stroke of luck, Mu Yunshen survived a fall from the mountain, injured his head, and lost his memory.

Shen Xiaoxiao began to make a fuss, and when Seventh Master confirmed Mu Yunshen’s amnesia was genuine, he allowed the marriage.

But with their marriage, Qi Fei was left out in the cold. He always suspected Mu Yunshen was faking it and had never really lost his memory.

So, the invitation to Su Wan was sent by him—he wanted to see how Mu Yunshen would react.

Yet he was disappointed.

Mu Yunshen looked at him oddly. “What are you trying to say?”

“That woman just now—she’s your ex. Don’t you remember?”

At his words, Mu Yunshen glanced in the direction Su Wan had left. “Her?”

“Yes, her name is Su Wan. You offended quite a few people for her in the past!”

Mu Yunshen frowned, as if trying to remember, but nothing came to mind. He only looked at Qi Fei and said, “Sorry, I don’t remember.”

Qi Fei’s hand clenched, but he quickly smiled. “No matter. You’re married to the young lady now, so you should treat her well.”

“Rest assured, I will.”

With that, Mu Yunshen walked past him.

Qi Fei’s fist tightened again.

…

After leaving the restroom, Su Wan left the hotel straightaway.

She took a cab, the window down, her mind still clear.

Bo Yezhou called her several times, but she didn’t answer. She only sent a message telling him not to worry.

Back at the hotel, Su Wan stared out the window for a long time, then began to remove her makeup.

Step by step, methodically.

Her life returned to what it had been just days before.

Hotel to company, back and forth.

Her apartment had been renovated to her original taste, so she moved back in.

She thought her life and his would never intersect again.

But she was wrong.

One day, Linda called, “President Su, there’s a Miss Shen here to see you.”

Su Wan frowned. “Who?”

“She says her name is Shen Xiaoxiao.”

Su Wan’s breath caught. “…Let her in.”

Shen Xiaoxiao soon entered.

She wore a demure dress and bore a timid expression—Su Wan glanced outside and saw several bodyguards waiting for her.

“I’m sorry, am I disturbing you?” she stammered, nervous or perhaps simply shy by nature.

Su Wan smiled. “It’s fine. What brings you here, Miss Shen?”

“Someone recommended you. He said your style is one Yunshen would like.”

Su Wan’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

Shen Xiaoxiao, realizing she wasn’t clear, took out her phone and played a recording.

“Hello, Miss Su, I’m Xiaoxiao’s husband, Mu Yunshen. Xiaoxiao is very fond of your designs, and she’d like to ask if you could design our new home. Would that be alright?”

He had recorded the message for her.

Even after all this time, hearing him say, “I’m Xiaoxiao’s husband, Mu Yunshen,” Su Wan still felt as if a knife had pierced her heart.

Her hand under the table clenched involuntarily.

She took a deep breath and looked at Shen Xiaoxiao. “Sorry, Miss Shen. We don’t take private commissions.”

“I… I understand,” Shen Xiaoxiao stammered. “But I really hope you’ll agree. If it’s about money, I can—”

“Do you think I need money?” Su Wan cut her off, impatient. “Miss Shen, it’s not that I refuse, I really can’t accept. I’m sorry. Linda, please see her out.”

Linda came in promptly.

Shen Xiaoxiao looked at Su Wan for a long while, then stood and bowed. “Forgive me for… for disturbing you.”

She was sincere and humble, nothing like the arrogant heiress Su Wan had imagined. That made Su Wan feel as if she’d been unnecessarily harsh.

But…

This was already the best attitude she could offer.

Su Wan closed her eyes.

She thought it was over.

But less than an hour after Shen Xiaoxiao left, Mu Yunshen came.

It wasn’t his first visit to her office, but this time was unlike any before.

After Linda brought coffee, she didn’t dare look at them and slipped out.

Su Wan looked at him. “Mr. Mu, what brings you here?”

“I heard from others about some of our past,” he said. “If I ever hurt you, I apologize. I can offer compensation, or something else, but now Xiaoxiao is my wife. I hope you won’t make things difficult for her.”

His Mandarin was flawless, every word clear, but for a moment, Su Wan felt as if she couldn’t understand him at all.

After a long pause, she looked at him. “You learned from others…”

“Yes. I was injured and lost my memory,” he said. “So I don’t remember anything about you and me, but I suppose it’s nothing important. If you mind, I can offer you compensation.”

Compensation…

Su Wan’s hand clenched tight. “I don’t need it!”

“Then you agree not to make things difficult for Xiaoxiao?”

“Have I made things difficult for her? This is my company—I have the right to accept or refuse any client. Just because she asked, I have to say yes? And Mr. Mu, don’t overestimate yourself! I wouldn’t make things hard for anyone for your sake. If you’ve forgotten that relationship, so have I!”