Chapter 44: Winning Everyone's Affection

"Would you like to try it out in this place? It might give you an experience unlike anything before."

"You jerk, put me down right now!"

Before Jiang Wan could finish her sentence, Li Mu's lips pressed down fiercely upon hers.

How could this guy start kissing out of nowhere?

And out here in the wilderness, in broad daylight, no less!

At the thought of what might happen next, Jiang Wan's face flushed bright red.

"No! We can't do this here."

"Wife, was that night really so memorable that your mind is running wild? I meant for the two of us to experience the drive home from this desolate place!"

Jiang Wan turned her face away angrily.

That was definitely not what this guy had meant just now—though perhaps it wasn't what she had been thinking either.

Thinking of the strange thoughts that had just crossed her mind, Jiang Wan's face turned completely red once again.

"Alright, husband's just teasing you. Let's head back quickly; we still need to pick a gift for Grandpa along the way!"

The car sped down the road until they reached a hypermarket to purchase a gift for Elder Jiang, after which the two drove toward the Jiang family ancestral residence.

Today, the Jiang family residence was exceptionally lively.

After all, Elder Jiang had not celebrated such a grand birthday since falling ill.

Not only members of the Jiang family, but virtually all the prominent and influential figures in Yun City had been invited.

Among them, naturally, were a few familiar faces.

The two stepped out of the car holding hands, looking to any outsider like a deeply affectionate couple.

"Wanwan, you're finally back! I've been waiting here for you the whole time!"

Hearing someone address his wife in such a manner, a flicker of displeasure crossed Li Mu's face.

Turning his head, he saw it was none other than Yan Kuan.

Yan Kuan's head was swollen like a pig's, and he was wearing a white suit, looking utterly ridiculous.

"Oh, well if it isn't Young Master Yan, whatever happened to your face?"

Yan Kuan gave Li Mu a harsh, displeased glare.

"That day at the Emperor Club, you actually dared to lay a hand on Young Master Chen! Do you have any idea how much trouble that's going to cause the Jiang family?"

"So what? Whatever Young Master Chen can give to the Jiang family, I can provide just as well. Besides, doesn't Young Master Yan seem a bit too concerned about my wife?"

Li Mu deliberately emphasized the word "wife."

"I think you, a mere beggar, should stop daydreaming. Are you even married? Calling a young lady of a good family that way is somewhat inappropriate!"

"That's still much better than certain people dragging a young lady of a good family to a place like that!"

Recalling the events of that day, Yan Kuan's face grew somewhat flushed with anger.

"Even if you hadn't intervened that day, I would have stepped in to protect Wanwan and made sure nothing happened to her!"

Li Mu merely waved a hand dismissively and pulled Jiang Wan into his arms, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"My wife doesn't need another man to protect her! Isn't that right, my good wife?"

With that, he gave her shapely curves a casual squeeze.

Jiang Wan initially wanted to brush his hand away, but the moment she remembered what Yan Kuan had done to her that day, a wave of fury washed over her.

Lately, her mother had been getting far too close to Yan Kuan anyway; she might as well use this opportunity to completely extinguish any lingering thoughts he had.

Thus, she nodded at Li Mu.

"Wanwan, are you really going to marry this beggar?"

To everyone's surprise, Li Mu shoved Yan Kuan aside.

"Whom Jiang Wan marries is her own freedom—it's not your place to point fingers. Instead of wasting time here, you'd better figure out how to apologize to your precious Young Master Chen!"

With that, the two walked toward the villa, leaving Yan Kuan standing alone in the wind, completely bewildered.

At that moment, Jiang Yusheng approached Yan Kuan.

"Brother Kuan, what's wrong? Did that stinky beggar tick you off? Don't worry, in a moment, I'll humiliate him thoroughly in front of everyone!"

"As long as you can persuade Young Master Chen to help me arrange a meeting with Mr. Wu, I'll do whatever it takes!"

Yan Kuan patted Jiang Yusheng on the shoulder.

"Brother, don't you worry about that. If that Li Mu hadn't offended Young Master Chen, you would have already met Mr. Wu! Still, I'll find another opportunity to introduce you."

Jiang Yusheng nodded happily.

"Then many thanks, Brother Kuan. As for Li Mu, you won't even need to dirty your hands—in a moment, I'll show him what it means to make a fool of oneself!"

As the two entered the villa, the main hall was already filled with people.

Many prominent figures of high status were gathered there, chatting amongst themselves.

Standing off to the side, Hai Yan watched the couple walk in, her face turning green with anger.

"Look at that! She looks down on every single scion of a noble family, yet for some reason she insists on hanging around with that stinky beggar! This is the fine daughter you've raised!"

"Alright, honey, stop getting so angry. Even Elder Jiang agreed to this matter, so there's nothing we can do about it!"

"Besides, you can't judge a book by its cover; perhaps this Li Mu is actually a man of talent?"

"Absolute nonsense! His family collects scrap metal, and he's nothing more than a beggar! What kind of future could you ever expect from someone like that? I will never let my daughter marry a man like this!"

Hai Yan said this with bitter resentment, feeling more and more suffocated inside.

Her daughter clearly possessed sweet and gorgeous looks that rivaled a celebrity, so how had she ended up with such an unpresentable wretch?

As long as she drew breath, this stinky beggar would never dream of becoming her son-in-law!

Jiang Wan was led into the hall, drawing the immediate gazes of everyone around them.

The intense scrutiny caused Jiang Wan's body to tremble slightly. She truly wasn't mentally prepared to expose herself and Li Mu to the judgment of the entire crowd.

Li Mu, however, remained completely unperturbed, smiling generously and naturally at the surrounding guests.

The crowd looked the young man up and down.

He was wearing jeans and a pair of shoes whose age was anyone's guess, complete with a bit of dust from their earlier scuffle.

No matter how one looked at him, he bore no resemblance to the scion of a wealthy family.

Whispers from the surrounding crowd soon reached Jiang Wan's ears.

"Who is this man? Why does he look so shabby? When did the eldest miss of the Jiang family start hanging out with someone like that?"

"Judging by how close they are, they must be a couple!"

"Oh my, this is an absolute disgrace to the Jiang family!"

"Isn't it? Such a pretty, radiant girl with a guy like that?"

The murmurs of the crowd made Jiang Wan's face flush with embarrassment once more.

Hearing the gossip, Hai Yan dashed over like an arrow released from a bow and grabbed her daughter by the arm, pulling her close.

"How can you be so intimate with this shabby punk? And you, you truly have no shame! Dressing in such a pathetic state, how dare you show your face at our family's birthday banquet for the Elder?"

Li Mu didn't pay Hai Yan's insults the slightest bit of attention; instead, he casually took a seat on the sofa.

"Grandfather invited me here. If I didn't come, the old man would be heartbroken."

"I've seen shameless people before, but I've never seen anyone as utterly shameless as you!"