After rebirth, I rejected the rich yandere lady

An Shanhai was entertaining a few relatives from the An Family.

Zhou Hangyu and his friends were already seated together, eagerly waiting.

Zhu Yulan and her sister were also seated at a table, chatting intermittently.

Mother Xu and Father Xu were moving among the guests, greeting them as the hosts.

One table, however, remained empty...

"They're engaged now, marriage is right around the corner. I should start knitting clothes for my great-grandchildren now. In a few more years, my eyesight might fail and I won't be able to knit anymore."

"You can use fewer stitches over here. Kids have warm bodies and less fabric under the arms and crotch helps with ventilation, makes changing diapers easier..."

Grandma and Professor Liang were chatting and laughing as they sat together, discussing knitting little clothes for their future great-grandchildren.

The old man sat nearby, not speaking, looking like a timid grandson. Only An Nannan, his real granddaughter, would occasionally come over and tug at his beard, then run around the tables, enlivening the atmosphere with her cheerful presence.

Zhou Hangyu and his friends drank a few glasses of wine, then started bragging: "Let me tell you, when I find a wife, I'll throw an engagement banquet just like this! I'll book the whole Oriental Pearl! One word: grand!"

"That's two words! I think the grandeur of a wedding isn't about the venue but about the guests you invite. When I get married, I'll have village chiefs, town mayors, and city officials toasting me!" Li Rundong was already lost in his own fantasy.

"You're talking nonsense! In this country, money isn't everything. Ma Yaxing, what's your take?"

"Me?" Ma Yaxing scratched his head and smiled honestly, "I don't have big ambitions. I'd be happy with someone I can live peacefully with."

"Come on! You're pretty well-off now, have some aspirations."

"Everyone has their own fate, I think this is pretty good, hahaha!"

...

An Shanhai continued to entertain some relatives from the An Family.

"Congratulations, Shanhai! You found a great son-in-law. Our Nuannuan will be blessed."

"Haha, I've seen this kid on the news, achieving so much at such a young age, quite impressive!"

The praises pleased An Shanhai. After all, he already regarded Xu Musen as his own son.

"These two kids are still young. They'll need everyone's support in the future. As their father, I thank you all in advance!"

An Shanhai raised his glass and drank it in one go. This was his recognition of his future son-in-law, binding the An Family's connections to Xu Musen.

Mother Xu and Father Xu were also in position, wearing the red flowers symbolizing their roles. Looking at the lively banquet hall, they were happy. But when Mother Xu glanced at the empty table, she sighed.

"Why haven't Ming Yue and her mom arrived yet? I called Ru Shuang earlier and no one answered. Do you think Ming Yue is in a bad mood..."

"Don't overthink it. Maybe they're driving and can't answer the phone. The ceremony is about to start, Musen and Nuannuan's matters are most important now."

Father Xu spoke slowly but when he looked at the prepared yet empty seat, he also sighed quietly.

...

Xu Musen was on the second floor, his gaze directed at the empty table.

A figure approached from the other side; Zhao Lianmai walked over and followed Xu Musen's gaze to the empty table.

"Is Nuannuan done with her makeup?" Xu Musen retracted his gaze and asked with a smile.

"Yes."

Zhao Lianmai nodded, hesitated, then spoke, "She hasn't arrived yet. Won't you ask again?"

"Do you think she would listen to me?" Xu Musen smiled and shook his head. "Once she decides something, no one can change her mind."

"I know her a bit too... She would still listen to you. Only you. Are you really going to let her bear everything alone?" Zhao Lianmai frowned.

Right now, Xu Musen was probably Yao Mingyue's last lifeline.

But now, it seemed like he was indifferent, as if the only thing he cared about was the engagement with Nuannuan.

He was amidst the bustling crowd, while she was all alone.

Even Zhao Lianmai, as an outsider, felt a pang of empathy.

"You understand her..."

Xu Musen chuckled, "No one understands her better than I do, and no one needs her more than I do."

"Then why haven't you come clean about everything to her? This might be your last chance!"

"Because, I understand her," Xu Musen laughed, his gaze shifting to the lively banquet hall, where everyone's faces were beaming with joy, with lanterns and banners celebrating the New Year and a double dose of good fortune.

"She's a jealous type; she's always scattering jealousy all over the place. If I don't give her more vinegar to sulk over, how can she hold steady?"

"So I want the event to be lively, like we've completely forgotten about her... The more heartbroken and sad she gets, the safer she'll be. I love seeing her jealous because that's the lively her, not the one silently bearing everything in the background.

If she doesn't come and make a scene, I'd find it unusual. So, I have to provoke her to show up. No fuss, no fight."

Xu Musen wore a broad smile, so warm and sunny under the festive lights. But the emotion in his eyes made Zhao Lianmai's heart skip a beat.

She had seen that look in the eyes of two other people.