Chapter 225

Bvlgari, basement level one.

A pitch-black Bentley was parked at the elevator entrance, its engine emitting a low, rumbling roar.

"Click—click—click—" High heels struck the ground, sending rhythmic echoes reverberating through the basement.

Lin Mu, who had just seen Zhao Yaqian off at the elevator, swayed her slender waist as she walked back.

She didn't get into the car immediately; instead, she leaned against it to take a selfie, only then sitting contentedly in the rear right seat to enjoy her private car.

She opened her phone and entered a WeChat group chat.

This group had only four people; besides her, the other three were university classmates who had developed their careers in the Magic City.

One of them had even been her roommate, Cao Jingsi, though they hadn't been in touch for a long time and had even deleted each other from WeChat.

In truth, the relationship between the four of them was poor, and the only reason they could be gathered together was thanks to her, Xiao Xue.

They all wanted to see if she had truly made it big.

Looking at the chat history inside, she chuckled softly.

Her voice was kind as she said, "Driver, take me to the Shamei Building on Di'du East Road. I drank a bit too much tonight; would you mind taking a detour along the Bund? I'd like to catch some breeze and get some air, is that okay?"

"Certainly, Ms. Lin!" the driver replied immediately.

The Bentley sped off, starting smoothly.

High-end fragrance diffused through the cabin. Lin Mu crossed her legs, leaned her body against the leather seat, and the smile at the corners of her mouth could not be suppressed no matter what.

Li Xinyi and the others had just finished dinner at the Bund and were walking along it toward the bistro in the Shamei Building.

This was the perfect moment for her, the protagonist, to make her entrance.

The vehicle drove out of the basement.

She listened to the soft instrumental music by her ears.

She opened the tablet in front of her, connected her phone, opened Cloud Music, and searched for an "Entrance" playlist.

As the protagonist of the night, her entrance naturally required background music; only then could it set off the style of "Empress Mu Xue."

She casually clicked the play button.

"Deng deng deng—deng deng deng—" The explosive entrance music began to play.

The professionally trained driver in the front row tightened his fingers, feeling a surge of hot blood.

Good grief, why did she suddenly play the background music for the God of Gamblers' entrance? It made him want to stomp on the gas pedal.

Lin Mu awkwardly hit the pause button and began to lower her head to continue searching.

The car crossed Suzhou Creek and continued forward.

The city lights flickered as they entered the cabin.

Lin Mu finally chose an elegant English song.

The soft melody lingered in the cabin through the high-end Naim audio system.

Lin Mu looked at the night scene outside the window, her face carrying a tipsy, hazy look.

I wonder what Tang Song's surprise is tonight?

A bag? Cosmetics? Fashion? Jewelry?

Although it was a gift for Qian Qian, she really wanted to feast her eyes on it too.

Amidst the music, the car slowly drove onto Di'du East Road.

Lin Mu sat up straight, rested her right hand on the window armrest, and looked out the window, spotting several familiar figures in the distance by the roadside.

University classmates Li Xinyi, Cao Jingsi, and Wang Mei.

"Driver, please drive a bit slower. I've run into some friends; I'd like to say hello."

Immediately after, the car slowed down.

Lin Mu picked up her phone and dialed Li Xinyi's number.

…

On the sidewalk.

Cao Jingsi said unpleasantly, "Tch, haven't seen her in so long, Lin Mu is still so good at putting on airs. Saying she's attending an Hermès private event—she probably just thinks eating at the Roosevelt Mansion is too expensive and can't bear to come."

"Hehe, there are actually quite a lot of people like that; they're just vain and like to build a persona."

"I think so too. She's always blocked us on her Moments—isn't it just because she's afraid we'll expose her terrible past?" Cao Jingsi curled her lips in disdain.

As a roommate for three years, she had a very deep understanding of Lin Mu.

Her family background was very poor; when she worked as a part-time model in university and went to audition for events, she was mocked in public by an interviewer for dressing poorly and having no taste.

This incident spread widely in their small circle, and since she was indeed very beautiful, many classmates often used this to mock her.

Later, she bought a set of A-grade high-imitation goods, only to be publicly exposed and slapped in the face by a rich girl while attending an event.

After being depressed for a period, she became exceptionally fond of putting on airs.

After graduation, I heard she even joined some financial company and was doing very well.

But they didn't believe this; they all knew what level Lin Mu was at in university—let alone finance, she couldn't even do accounting.

Just as the three were complaining, a phone ringtone sounded.

Li Xinyi looked at the caller information and made a "hush" gesture. "It's Lin Mu."

She answered the phone, her voice kind: "Hello, Mu, where are you? We're almost at Cofo Bistro."

"Oh?" She stopped walking and turned to look at the road. "You're in a car? You see us?"

The other two stopped as well upon seeing this.

Night fell, neon lights bloomed, on the quiet and long street.

A black Bentley drove slowly toward them, its high-end paint shimmering with a deep luster under the lights, blending into the surrounding night.

The double-wing emblem shone brightly at the front of the car, like the most dazzling star in the night sky.

The wheels turned gently, crushing over the damp road surface.

Immediately after, the Bentley stopped beside them.

Accompanied by the rear window slowly lowering.

The first thing they heard was music with great texture, and immediately after, they saw a familiar yet strange face appear before them.

Exquisite earrings, a gorgeous gemstone necklace, high-end fashion, luxurious interior, the Hermès Birkin bag on her lap…

The dim streetlights shone on her through the Bentley window, elegant, exquisite, and aloof, appearing exceptionally stylish.

Li Xinyi and the other two were stunned on the spot.

Cao Jingsi bit her lower lip, saying in disbelief, "Lin Mu!?"

She hadn't seen Lin Mu for two years; apart from her features and figure, it was hard to connect the woman in front of her with the stingy, shrinking roommate in her memory.

Lin Mu smiled faintly and nodded gently. "Long time no see."

Then, she said something to the driver in the front seat, opened the car door, and got out.

Seeing the expressions on the faces of her old classmates, she really couldn't hold it in anymore.

It was only a little over 100 meters from here to Cofo Bistro; walking there was fine, and she could catch up with her old classmates.

"Click—" The car door was pushed open gently, and Lin Mu's beautiful legs wrapped in silk stockings stepped onto the ground, standing up elegantly.

The breeze blew her skirt and hair; she lifted her beautiful face slightly, scanning them with a calm gaze. "It's been over two years; you all don't seem to have changed much from before. Jingsi, you're still quite nostalgic—you're still using that Prada bag."

As she spoke, she brushed back her long wavy hair and rested the Hermès Birkin on her forearm.

【Come on! The three of you, come at me together! I'm in a hurry!】

【Who wants to meet you at the peak! I just want you to look up at me from the bottom of the mountain!】

On the road, a harsh honking sound rang out.

Cao Jingsi opened her mouth, but couldn't say a single word.

Her heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible giant hand, every beat filled with tension and unease.

She felt like she had taken 10,000 points of damage and had fallen into a near-death state.

Her family conditions were good, and she was now working as a flight attendant; her daily life was also colorful, and she could occasionally afford luxury goods.

But she was still within the scope of a normal person; she had never even come into contact with top-tier luxury goods like Hermès or Bentleys.

At this moment, looking at Lin Mu, who had stepped out of a luxury car and was dressed in high-end luxury, she felt more jealousy and inferiority.

"Mu, you've changed so much." Wang Mei swallowed, her face full of envy.

"Hehe, it's alright; life has indeed been pretty good since graduation." Lin Mu raised her wrist to check the time. "Let's go, let's go to the bistro to drink and chat."

After speaking, she scanned the three of them again and walked toward the entrance of the Shamei Building.

Li Xinyi and the other two looked at each other, their gazes flickering, lips pressed tightly.

Judging from today's display, Lin Mu seemed to have truly made it big.

…

They walked into Cofo Bistro on the second floor of the Shamei Building.

The sound of folk singing lingered in their ears, and dim light spilled through the exquisite glass lampshades.

The decor was exquisite, and the entire bistro was full of a relaxed vibe.

There were quite a few people in the shop, mostly office workers coming here to decompress and chat.

Li Xinyi took a deep breath and led them to a seat by the window.

Next to it was a small balcony (terrace), where one could intuitively appreciate the architectural style of the Shamei Building, a fusion of Chinese and Western elements.

After appreciating the surrounding environment for a while, they ordered a few bottles of wine and a few dishes.

Li Xinyi pointed to the boy singing in the bar and said with some pride, "That's my friend, A-Xing, an independent musician and also one of the partners of this shop, which is why I was able to book such a good spot on a Saturday night."

Her status as a business-class flight attendant determined that she could come into contact with people at a higher level.

This A-Xing was one of them, a small singer who had released an album and had taken the initiative to ask for her WeChat.

Cao Jingsi and Wang Mei flattered him a couple of times.

Lin Mu leaned back in her chair and smiled. "A-Xing? Never heard of him, but I went to attend the opening ceremony of the Magic City International Film Festival yesterday and did run into some singers who were sitting right next to me."

Then, she opened a selfie, which showed her sitting at the Golden Goblet Awards ceremony, with several familiar faces around her.

Wang Mei covered her mouth and exclaimed two names; both were third-tier stars with considerable popularity.

Li Xinyi and Cao Jingsi's eyes widened; no matter how they looked at it, it didn't look like it was Photoshopped.

They naturally knew about the Golden Goblet Awards; after all, the entire internet's trending search yesterday was "Su Yu."

What they didn't expect was that this university classmate was actually at the scene!

After showing off her experience at the Hermès fashion show, the wine and dishes they ordered were brought up by the waiter.

Wang Mei, who was quick-witted, stood up, took the wine bottle, and said in a fawning tone, "Mu, you should try this tea plum wine from this place; it's very delicious."

She had no conflict with Lin Mu during university, and seeing that this old classmate was no longer what she used to be, the first thing she thought of was to build a connection.

"Thanks." Lin Mu nodded gently, picked up the glass, swirled it, and took a small sip.

The wine, mixed with the fragrance of tea and plums, rose and fell on her tongue; it was sweet and clear, indeed very delicious.

Watching the gradually changing attitudes of her old classmates, she took out her phone, took a few photos, and shared them on her Moments.

Caption: "A small gathering with university classmates at a bistro, reminiscing about the past."

In the past, to prevent being exposed as a fake socialite, her Moments would always block these old classmates.

This time, she checked quite a few groups, and basically most of her friends could see it.

Putting down her phone, Lin Mu sipped the plum wine while asking them about the recent status of other classmates.

In the flight attendant major, most were girls, with boys making up only one-tenth.

Because of some embarrassing and awkward experiences in the past, Lin Mu rarely chatted with these classmates, so she didn't know much about their situations.

……

Dongjiang Food Stall.

"Ding~" Beer bottles clinked.

Tang Song tilted his head back and drank a bottle of beer "glug glug."

Having been baptized by the 【Alcohol Resistance Potion】, Tang Song basically wouldn't feel drunk drinking these beers; it was about the same as drinking a beverage.

However, Li Zhixi opposite him was clearly a bit tipsy; his face was flushed, and he said with a chuckle, "You guys might not know, but I quite liked Qiu Yu when I was in school, after all, our hometowns are both in Su Province. The reason I was able to jump ship to her company later was also because I kept in touch with her."

Tang Song looked at him in surprise. "Uh… that's really the first time I've known that; you're really quite introverted."

"But she had high aspirations and didn't look at us, so I slowly gave up later."

…

After chatting for a while about the topic of youthful admiration, Li Zhixi checked the time and stood up. "We've eaten enough; let's go, I'll take you for a walk along the Bund; it's beautiful there at this time!"

"Let's go! I just happen to have never strolled around there." Tang Song picked up his backpack and followed him along the street.

It was only a few hundred meters from here to the Bund, and it was a quick walk.

Crossing two intersections, the damp river breeze blew toward them.

The sparkling Huangpujiang reflected the brilliant lights on both banks, as if countless ribbons of light were swaying gently, beautiful enough to intoxicate the heart.

The towering buildings reflected the gloomy sky, appearing spectacular.

The two walked forward along the river, and Li Zhixi pointed to the buildings one by one to introduce them. "That over there is the Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China, reaching 632 meters; that one is the World Financial Center…"

Following his words, Tang Song's gaze penetrated the Huangpujiang, jumping and turning between the towering buildings, feeling the prosperity and charm of the metropolis.

He only felt his heart and mind open, filled with emotion.

The fireworks of the human world, the neon of the Magic City, are what soothe the hearts of mortals the most.

He was also just a mortal, liking the intoxication of gold and silver, liking the red lights and green wine, liking to enjoy life, and also liking to stand at a higher place.

"Click—" Li Zhixi pulled him to take a group photo by the river.

Then he opened another photo and handed it to Tang Song. "This is Zhang Xi, a girl from our company's sales department."

Tang Song lowered his head to look at the phone screen.

On it was a girl with a low ponytail, looking to be in her early 20s, tall and thin, with a clean and generous appearance.

At first glance, she was the kind of lively and cheerful girl.

"How is it, Brother Song? Isn't she very beautiful?" Li Zhixi said with a chuckle. "I think she's not a bit worse than Qiu Yu."

In university, the most outstanding girl in their major was Qiu Yu.

So Li Zhixi subconsciously compared her.

Tang Song nodded. "Hmm, she looks quite good; hurry up and win her over, and don't forget to send me an invitation when you get married."

In all fairness, this girl was indeed quite good; placed in university, she was also the type that was quite popular.

Li Zhixi put away his phone, looked at the luxury cars driving past on the road behind him, and then looked at the high-rise buildings opposite.

He said with emotion, "This is a place where countless people have struggled and fought, but how many can truly settle down here? I once asked Zhang Xi tactfully; she wants to live in Shanghai or Suzhou in the future. In other words, if I want to have a future with her, I have to be prepared to buy a house in Suzhou—it's hard!"

"Keep it up, Zhixi; you're working so hard, maybe you can stay in the Magic City in the future?" Tang Song patted his shoulder; in the future, he would definitely have many industries in the Magic City, and he could just give this old classmate a hand then.

For him, it might be a casual act, but for Li Zhixi, it could directly change his destiny.

"Haha, I'll take your word for it, Brother Song!" Li Zhixi then added, "I also wish your entrepreneurial journey all the best! And then find a beautiful girlfriend, and life will be perfect!"

"Uh…" Tang Song really wanted to tell him that he already had several girlfriends, but to avoid stimulating this old classmate, he held it back.

Lest he end up like Lu Kai, with his eyes turning green just looking at him.

Then, Li Zhixi took him out of the Bund and strolled along the street, taking in the city lights.

"That over there is Di'du East Road, one of the 64 roads in the Magic City that will never be widened, preserving many historical buildings…"

……

Cofo Bistro.

"Hello, good evening, beautiful ladies. I'm Xinyi's friend, He Xing; you can just call me A-Xing. Welcome to our bistro to have fun."

He was wearing a loose cotton printed shirt and a pair of washed jeans, looking very fashionable.

Wang Mei gave a thumbs up and praised, "A-Xing, the folk song you just sang was really good!"

Li Xinyi smiled and said, "That's for sure, after all, he's a professional singer."

"Don't mock me; I'm just a failing singer." A-Xing was polite for a moment, sat down directly next to Li Xinyi, and looked at Lin Mu opposite him. "Who is this beauty?"

His eye for detail was quite good; from the other party's attire, he could see many things.

This was definitely someone who wasn't short of money, and her figure and appearance were even more outstanding than the other three flight attendants; most importantly, it was her temperament—aloof and intellectual.

It instantly aroused his great interest.

Seeing A-Xing's expression, Li Xinyi instantly felt a sense of crisis, her face unnatural. "University classmate, Lin Mu, here in the Magic City to attend an event, so we came over to gather."

"Oh? Lin Mu, what a nice name." A-Xing shifted his seat, just about to continue flirting.

A very magnetic male voice suddenly rang out: "Good evening, Xiao Xue, do you mind if we join you for a drink?"

Everyone looked up and saw a boy wearing sunglasses and a duck-billed cap.

"Xu An?" Lin Mu raised her eyebrows, her face slightly surprised.

Xu An smiled, took off his sunglasses, and winked at her. "What a coincidence; I happened to be eating nearby with a friend, and when I saw the Moments you posted, I came over."

Li Xinyi's gaze flickered, and she said with a smile, "Mu, is this your friend? Then sit down and have a drink together."

"Then sit down and have a drink." Lin Mu nodded calmly, unable to help wanting to put on airs again in her heart.

Seeing Xu An sit down, she picked up her wine glass and asked, "Not filming lately?"

Xu An shrugged, poured himself a glass of red wine, his voice relaxed and pleasant. "I auditioned for the crew of 'Sunset' today and have already gotten a role; although it's just a supporting role, it's a big production after all."

"'Sunset'?" Li Xinyi suddenly said excitedly, "Is that the one Li Chengyang and Song Shiyu are going to film?"

"That's right, that's the movie." Xu An raised his eyebrows, his face full of smiles.

"Sunset" itself was a bestseller, and Li Chengyang and Song Shiyu were both popular idols.

The preparation for this movie had been very hot on the internet recently.

Wang Mei on the side said with some surprise, "I was wondering why you looked so familiar; are you an actor?"

"Hmm, 'Pear Blossom First Snow' is currently airing, and I play the second male lead in it."

"My god!" Wang Mei stood up excitedly. "I've seen the commentary on that show; you are… Zhang…"

Lin Mu smiled lightly. "Zhang Chengjun."

"Right, right, right! That's Zhang Chengjun!" Wang Mei clapped her hands, her eyes full of excitement.

Hearing that Xu An was really a celebrity artist, the looks Li Xinyi and Cao Jingsi gave Lin Mu changed completely.

This university classmate had truly made it big, and her social circle had become so high-end.

"Ding ding ding—" The clinking of wine glasses rang out from time to time, and the atmosphere became harmonious.

Looking at her old classmates who had become constrained and nervous, and then looking at the gorgeous night scene outside the window.

Lin Mu felt incomparably refreshed, a knot in her heart successfully untied, and she felt her thinking had opened up a lot.

In the bistro, the soft music sounded again.

"BGM: It's loneliness, slowly occupying my heart, getting colder and colder in the long night…"

Tipsy, she stood on the small balcony to the side, holding a crystal wine glass and carrying her Hermès, appreciating the beautiful scenery.

The old-style buildings of red brick and clear water echoed with the neon of the high-rise buildings, forming a picture that was both modern and retro.

Footsteps sounded from behind.

A-Xing brought a tray to the small balcony. "The scenery on this street is indeed very beautiful, and drinking here is not bad either. Mu, I strongly suggest you try our pomelo wine."

As he spoke, he opened a bottle of yellow fruit wine.

Xu An raised his eyebrows and reached out his own wine glass. "I'll try some too."

He came here this time just to build up favor.

Lin Mu knew an executive at Tang Zong Entertainment; as long as he could win her over, his star path would be guaranteed.

Sipping the cold pomelo wine, Xu An said softly, "By the way, Xiao Xue, I'm actually also a singer and will be releasing an album next year; if you want to hear any songs, I can sing them for you in the bistro."

"Thanks, no need; the song playing now is already very good." Lin Mu didn't have much expression on her face, her body leaning against the black railing at the edge of the balcony.

"BGM: Who is secretly stealing my heart, unable to distinguish between night or dawn…"

The form-fitting black off-shoulder dress clung to her curves, showing off her graceful figure just right.

The skirt swayed gently with the evening breeze, like a black flower in the night wind.

……

Li Zhixi walked with his hands in his pockets, strolling slowly along the retro street with Tang Song.

The dim streetlights stretched their shadows very long.

"Some people say this is one of the most beautiful roads in the Magic City, where history and modernity blend, leading directly to the Bund and the Huangpujiang… This building is the Shamei Building, built over a hundred years ago…"

When he said this, Li Zhixi looked up at this beautiful Baroque building.

Immediately after, the expression on his face froze for a moment, his face flushed, and he patted Tang Song's shoulder hard.

He said excitedly, "Look! There's a big beauty standing on the second-floor balcony; holy crap, she's top-tier! Looks just like a celebrity."

Hearing there was a big beauty, Tang Song stopped curiously and looked in the direction of his gaze.

Between the multi-curved carved building, a sexy figure stood behind the railing, her slender fingers pinching a wine glass, her face carrying an indifferent expression.

Standing next to her were two other boys, one of whom looked exceptionally familiar.

Seeming to have caught a glimpse of something, Lin Mu also looked down.

Their gazes met, and the expression on her face instantly froze, staring blankly at Tang Song who had suddenly appeared.

What kind of experience is it to be caught putting on airs? Waiting online, quite urgent!