Everyone in the Group is a Main Character, Except Me Who's the Villain

151: Miss Mu’s confidenceThe message Qin Xiao sent was brief, its meaning clear.

The joint forces of Qin Xiao and the Lu Family, sending pieces to stir trouble, of course could not consist of only Fang Ming.

Fang Ming had anticipated this long ago, so he wasn’t surprised at all. He expressionlessly turned off his phone screen and led Ye Nuannuan to the gift registration table.

”Hello, my name is Ye Nuannuan. I’m CEO Mu’s assistant. This is our birthday gift for Old Master Mu.”

”Ye Nuannuan!”

The Mu Family member in charge of registering the gifts wrote this name on the gift list, then took the gift box and asked, ”What is the gift?”

”A century-old wild ginseng!”

”What? A century-old wild ginseng?” The other party was clearly taken aback for a moment and quickly opened the gift box.

In the next moment, he was completely stunned.

The market price of a century-old wild ginseng ranges from several hundred thousand to several million. Judging by its appearance, this wild ginseng was worth at least over three million.

Although three million is nothing to the Mu Family, today is Mu Qingshan’s birthday, and the gift-giver is merely Mu Qingxue’s assistant.

Unless they were exceptionally close friends, even top-tier tycoons would typically give gifts at this level. An assistant sending such a lavish gift?

”What’s wrong?” Seeing the other person’s reaction, Ye Nuannuan was somewhat puzzled.

The wild ginseng was something Fang Ming ’bought’ from the divine physician Lin Chen. When Lin Chen heard Fang Ming wanted to congratulate an elder on his birthday, he didn’t charge a single cent.

Ye Nuannuan had never been exposed to such luxury items before; how could she possibly know the price of this thing?

”It’s... it’s nothing. Please, come inside.”

The Mu Family member registering the gifts was merely an uncle from a collateral branch of the Mu Family. Seeing the value of the gift, his attitude carried an added touch of respect on top of the original.

Fang Ming paid it no mind. He and Ye Nuannuan each took a glass of champagne and found seats close to Mu Qingxue to sit down.

For Old Master Mu’s birthday this time, invitations were not widely sent out. Only all the senior executives of the Mu Corporation and some business partners with very good relationships were invited.

This did not include the Qin Family where Qin Xiao belonged, the Zhao Family where Zhao Ruilong belonged, nor the Wei Family where Wei Wenbin belonged.

Fang Ming scanned the guests present, his tone slightly lazy.

”Is it a bit boring?”

”It’s okay...” Ye Nuannuan’s gaze fell on a grand piano not far away as she whispered, ”It’s just... a little unfamiliar.”

”Just treat it like watching a play. In occasions like this, everyone is an actor. Look over there...”

Fang Ming gestured with his chin towards the group where Li Jun was: ”Those few people, their faces are smiling like flowers, but who knows how they’re cursing me in their hearts.”

Ye Nuannuan covered her mouth with a light chuckle: ”Are you so sure?”

”Naturally...”

Fang Ming muttered softly, took a sip of champagne, focused his consciousness into his mind, and tapped on Mu Qingxue’s avatar.

”[.]: ”Security has already been strengthened?”

The reply was almost instantaneous.

”[Mu Qingxue]: ”As per your reminder, we have arranged personnel to blend in among the waitstaff and guests. We’ve also notified the hotel’s own security, and there are our people watching the perimeter.”

”[.]: ”Excellent!”

”[Mu Qingxue]: ”Tonight... will you be coming?”

”[.]: ”I’m already here.”

”[Mu Qingxue]: ”Ah? You’re already here? (shocked jpg)”

Seeing Fang Ming’s reply, Mu Qingxue was filled with shock and subconsciously looked around.

She had thought the other party wouldn’t come, or that if he did, he would message her first. She never expected him to already be here?

However... the hall was full of guests, and not a single person resembled the Mr. Ming she was looking for.

Just as Mu Qingxue was about to send a message to ask Fang Ming for his specific location, the Mu Family uncle in charge of registering gifts at the entrance suddenly shouted loudly.

”The Yanjing Lu Family presents a pair of Jadeite Qilin Statues.”

As soon as the words fell, a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a dark grey silk short jacket with frog buttons, walked in, accompanied by a lean man and four men in black fitted T-shirts.

Whether it was the middle-aged man or his four subordinates, each had sharp eyes and slightly bulging temples, clearly martial arts practitioners.

”The Yanjing Lu Family? Wu Mingyuan??” Seeing the newcomers, Mu Qingxue’s delicate brows furrowed.

Wu Mingyuan wore a formulaic smile on his face. He glanced at Mu Qingxue, then gave a slight nod to Mu Zhengyang: ”Second Master Mu, forgive my presumptuous visit. Hearing that Old Master Mu is celebrating his seventieth birthday, my Master specially ordered me to come, bringing a modest gift to express our congratulations.”

His voice was not loud, but it clearly carried throughout the suddenly quietened banquet hall.

”The Yanjing... Lu Family?”

”Why are they here? Does the Mu Family have ties with the Lu Family?”

”I haven’t heard of that... The Lu Family is a prominent family in Yanjing. Why would they send someone to congratulate Old Master Mu on his birthday?”

”It doesn’t look like a birthday visit to me. This posture... seems more like they come with ill intentions.”

”...Mr. Wu? What a rare guest.”

Ignoring the murmurs of others, Mu Qingxue put away her phone and stepped out from the crowd, her gaze fixed directly on Wu Mingyuan: ”But I remember... the Mu Family did not send an invitation to the Yanjing Lu Family!”

Her words were direct, showing no face-saving courtesy.

The smile on Wu Mingyuan’s face remained unchanged. He gave a slight cupped-hand salute towards Mu Qingxue: ”Miss Mu, arriving uninvited is indeed abrupt. However, upon hearing of Old Master Mu’s seventieth birthday, my Master specifically instructed me to come on behalf of the Lu Family no matter what, to deliver a congratulatory gift and express our sentiments.”

His words were polite, but his eyes were like hooks, lingering on Mu Qingxue’s face for a moment before shifting to Mu Zhengyang behind her, and further to the spirited white-haired elder in the main seat—Mu Qingshan.

The other elders of the Mu Family had heard a little about the conflict between Mu Qingxue and the Lu Family, but as Mu Qingxue hadn’t said much, they didn’t know the details clearly.

At this moment, it seemed the conflict between the two sides was not small??

”The Lu Family’s Master’s sentiments, our Mu Family appreciates.”

Mu Zhengyang promptly stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with his daughter. Tall and sturdy with resolute features, he wore the amiable smile common among businessmen: ”It’s just that this gift...”

”The gift may be light, but the sentiment is heavy. I hope Second Master Mu will not decline!”

Wu Mingyuan took over the conversation. After finishing, his tone shifted as he took two steps forward and lowered his voice: ”Of course, besides congratulating the birthday, my purpose for coming is also to see for myself where exactly Miss Mu’s confidence comes from?”

This latter half of the sentence was insinuating and loaded with sarcasm, directly targeting Yunlan’s assistant Ye Nuannuan and the Master behind Mu Qingxue.

Mu Qingxue’s face darkened slightly. Just as she was about to say something, Mu Zhengyang gently pressed her arm.

”Mr. Wu, you’ve come a long way. You must be tired.”

The smile on Mu Zhengyang’s face remained unchanged, as if he hadn’t detected the barb in the other’s words. Instead, he raised his voice and announced clearly to the surrounding guests: ”Since the Lu Family shows such great enthusiasm, our Mu Family naturally has no reason to turn guests away. A guest is a guest. Mr. Wu, please take a seat.”

After saying this, he turned to the butler beside him and instructed: ”Arrange seats for Mr. Wu and his entourage.”

”Yes, Second Master.”

The butler bowed in acknowledgment and led Wu Mingyuan and his group towards an empty round table at the side of the banquet hall.

Wu Mingyuan gave Mu Zhengyang a deep look, swept his eyes over the icy-faced Mu Qingxue, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of his mouth, then calmly took a seat with the lean man.

The four black-clad burly men did not sit down but respectfully stood at a designated Bodyguard position to the side.

Mu Qingxue hesitated for two seconds, then whispered to the Bodyguard Hong Mei beside her: ”Have people keep a close eye on them, especially those four Bodyguards behind Wu Mingyuan. Report any unusual movement to me immediately.”

”Alright!”