The hall buzzed with whispers, everyone wondering what was going on. Unexpectedly, Jing Ning walked towards Mu Chen and took his hand. She turned around, facing the crowd, and took the microphone from Yiming. Bowing deeply, she began to speak.
"I'm sorry, everyone. I can't be engaged to Xilian because the only person I want to spend the rest of my life with is Mu Chen, and we love each other."
Gasps filled the room as she turned and slipped the ring onto Mu Chen's finger. The crowd fell silent, speechless, for only her best friend knew of her relationship with Mu Chen.
Mr. Mu stood up, his voice cutting through the silence. "The party is over. Mr. and Mrs. Jing, please, let's go home and talk about this."
Outside the hotel, Mu Chen and Jing Ning were surrounded by reporters. One of them asked, "Miss Jing, can you please tell us when you and Mr. Mu started dating? And you know they are brothers, but why do you date both of them at the same time? Is it because of the Mu Family's money?"
Mu Chen responded firmly, "No comment, please."
The reporters bombarded them with questions, but Jing Ning remained silent, burying her head in Mu Chen's chest as he covered her with his suit.
-———
Inside the Mu villa, both families sat in the living room, the air thick with tension. The door opened, and Jing Ning and Mu Chen walked in, hand in hand, ready to face the consequences of their love.
The atmosphere in the living room was thick with tension and unspoken emotions as Jing Ning and Mu Chen entered. The room, usually a place of comfort and warmth, now felt heavy with the weight of the evening's revelations.
The soft glow of the chandelier cast long shadows on the walls, adding to the somber mood. The air was filled with a palpable sense of anticipation, every eye turning towards the couple as they walked in, hand in hand. The silence was almost deafening, broken only by the occasional rustle of fabric or the soft clearing of a throat.
Mr. and Mrs. Jing sat on one side, their faces a mix of concern and disappointment. Mr. Mu and Mrs. Mu were on the other side, their expressions stern and unreadable. The tension between the families was evident, a silent battle of wills playing out in the space between them.
Jing Ning's heart pounded in her chest, each step feeling heavier than the last. She could feel the weight of her parents' expectations and the disappointment in their eyes. Mu Chen's grip on her hand was firm and reassuring, a silent promise that they would face this together.
As they reached the center of the room, Jing Ning took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. The room seemed to close in around them, the walls pressing in with the weight of judgment and expectation. She could feel the intensity of everyone's gaze, each person waiting for the next move.
The living room, with its elegant decor and familiar surroundings, had transformed into a stage for a confrontation that would determine their future. The atmosphere was charged with a mix of fear, hope, and determination, each emotion hanging in the air like an unspoken question.
In that moment, Jing Ning and Mu Chen stood united, ready to face whatever came next, their love a beacon of light in the midst of the storm.
As Jing Ning and Mu Chen entered the living room hand in hand, Xilian's expression was a complex tapestry of emotions. His usually composed demeanor cracked, revealing the turmoil beneath.
At first, there was a flash of shock in his eyes, a momentary widening that betrayed his surprise. He hadn't expected this turn of events, and the sight of his brother and Jing Ning together hit him like a physical blow.
Following the shock, a deep hurt settled into his features. His brows furrowed, and his lips pressed into a thin line. The realization that the woman he was supposed to marry loved his brother instead was a bitter pill to swallow. The pain was evident in the tightness of his jaw and the way his eyes darkened with a mix of betrayal and sadness.
Anger flickered across his face next, a brief but intense flare. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and his gaze hardened. The betrayal cut deep, not just from Jing Ning but from his own brother. The anger was a defense mechanism, a way to shield himself from the raw wound of rejection.
But beneath the anger, there was a profound sense of resignation. Xilian's shoulders slumped slightly, and the fire in his eyes dimmed. He understood that love couldn't be forced, and despite the hurt and anger, he knew that Jing Ning's happiness was paramount. The resignation was a silent acceptance of the situation, a reluctant acknowledgment that he had lost.
Xilian's expression was a mirror of his inner conflict, a blend of shock, hurt, anger, and resignation. It was a poignant reminder of the complexities of love and the pain of unfulfilled expectations. As he stood there, watching Jing Ning and Mu Chen together, he felt the weight of his emotions pressing down on him, a heavy burden he would have to carry.