Chapter 261: 251 Handing over the heir qualification assessment [2 more updates]

Xiu Yan brought a total of five suitcases, all of the largest size.

For an average girl, carrying just one would be quite strenuous.

The villa they were staying in had three floors and no elevator.

Teng Yunmeng, a thoroughly good-natured person, actually stood up upon hearing Xiu Yan’s words, ready to help her carry the luggage.

However, she couldn’t make her way over before a hand pressed down on her shoulder, pushing her back into her seat.

Ying Zijin finished her last sip of goji berry and red date tea, put down the cup, lifted her eyelashes, and said with a lackluster voice, “Don’t you have hands?”

The assistant, who was holding an umbrella for Xiu Yan, looked up in surprise, almost doubting what she had heard.

Whether on set or at school, people rushed to do Xiu Yan’s bidding without her even asking.

Even though Xiu Yan didn’t debut as number two in Youth 101 with her absolute talent alone, just her identity as the young miss of the Xiu family attracted countless people eager to curry favor with her.

In the Imperial Capital, the Xiu family was a clan as prestigious as the Nie and Mu families.

Not to mention, Xiu Yan was also very popular in the entertainment industry, having attracted a large following of loyal fans.

During her time in Youth 101, she had concealed her identity, and no one knew she was the young miss of the Xiu family, nor did she rely on her family’s status.

She debuted successfully on her own singing and dancing talent.

It was only recently that Xiu Yan’s identity had been revealed.

With a family background and talent, she was of course well-liked.

Xiu Yan was also surprised.

Her eyebrows knit imperceptibly, and she carefully turned her gaze towards the direction of a flower bed.

When she saw the girl’s face, her eyes narrowed slightly.

She then quickly recalled the celebrities she had seen in the entertainment industry, as well as the socialites and rich ladies of the various wealthy families in the Imperial Capital.

Not one matched up.

Oh, just an ordinary person.

Xiu Yan folded her sunglasses and hooked them onto her collar, her red lips curving faintly as if she smiled, “That’s right, why would I need to lift it myself when I have you here to do it?”

She glanced at the time and didn’t lose her temper, “How about this, you carry them upstairs—for a thousand bucks a suitcase—sound good?”

“Inside these are my cosmetics, all shipped from overseas. Be careful when you move them; if you bump or scrape them, you won’t be able to afford the damages.”

Neither of them moved a muscle, let alone rushed to offer their help.

Xiu Yan’s expression grew gloomier bit by bit.

The assistant couldn’t help but speak up for her, “Sister Yan, it’s just a small favor to help carry something, why wouldn’t you?”

“Aren’t we girls, too?” Teng Yunmeng snorted, “This isn’t the entertainment industry; we’re not her fans. Why should we spoil her? My hand is insured; isn’t it worth just as much as hers?”

The assistant was left speechless, embarrassed and even a bit flustered.

Xiu Yan was silent for a moment, then smiled, “You make a good point, I’ll do it myself. Could I ask you to help me carry them instead?”@@novelbin@@

She only knew Teng Yunmeng but didn’t recognize the other one.

Teng Yunmeng was a prodigy from the Imperial Capital University Affiliated Middle School, having won many international academic competition gold medals.

Hua Country has always had a talent protection program, and Teng Yunmeng was one of them.

People like Teng Yunmeng, once they graduated from university, would be sought after by major clans and powerhouses.

The Xiu Family was no exception.

To establish a foothold in the Imperial Capital, talent was essential.

Xiu Yan’s visit to the training camp was also to build good relations with these talents.

It was just that she was truly accustomed to having others do things for her.

Ying Zijin stood up and placed a candy in Teng Yunmeng’s palm, “Let’s go.”

She turned around without looking at Xiu Yan and went upstairs.

Naturally, Teng Yunmeng followed closely.

To her, the beauty icon of their team was certainly more important.

She had no need to ingratiate herself with the Xiu family’s young miss.

Watching the two of them leave, the smile on Xiu Yan’s face completely collapsed.

No one had ever so brazenly slighted her.

“Sister Yan, that was too much,” the assistant complained. “After all, you’ll be training here for a month together as students, and they won’t even help carry your luggage.”

“At the time, Brother Chen said, there was really no need for you to join this competition because you were already exhausted from filming and studying.”

ISC might be an international academic competition, but not everyone gets noticed by the big shots in academia.

The future of Xiu Yan lay with inheriting the Xiu family business and the entertainment circle; how could she manage all that?

“Let’s head up,” Xiu Yan put her sunglasses back on and cocked her lips, “Not bad, there’s a whole month ahead; plenty of time.”

**

The Mu family.

Madam Mu returned from outside and received the servants’ reports.

She paused momentarily, slightly surprised, “Are you saying, Mu Weifeng coughed up blood again this morning?”

“Yes, Fifth Madam,” the servant replied respectfully, “This morning when the butler sent someone to bring Young Master Weifeng his breakfast, he was eating just fine, but then suddenly he coughed up blood.”

“The butler panicked and immediately called the family doctor. I saw it clearly; he did cough up quite a bit of blood.”

The Mu family had gone to considerable lengths for Mu Weifeng’s illness, even having a doctor from Imperial Capital Hospital stationed permanently at the Mu residence.

But they could only stabilize his condition, not cure it.

Madam Mu’s expression changed, “Could someone have tampered with something?”

The servant was taken aback, “Fifth Madam, why would you think that?”

Madam Mu rubbed her temples, her tone mild, “I heard you say it was sudden, I thought something unexpected must have happened.”

The Mu family forbade siblings from harming each other, especially underhanded schemes.

She did have such thoughts, but she didn’t dare act on them.

However, Mu Weifeng really did seem to have an unfortunate fate; she hadn’t done anything, but he was already close to death.

Madam Mu gestured, “You may leave.”

The servant holding a broom left.

Madam Mu returned to her room, took off her shawl, and hung it on the coat rack.

After some thought, she made a phone call.

“Huizhu,” Madam Mu started in a flat voice, “aren’t you acquainted with a very famous cardiopulmonary doctor from abroad?”

Hearing her question, Ke Huizhu became somewhat defensive, “Sister, what are you trying to do?”

The last plagiarism incident had greatly weakened Luxurious Embroidery.

Listening to Madam Mu, Ke Huizhu positioned Luxurious Embroidery as a victim, and in the end, managed to recover quite a bit of their reputation, though it could not compare to its peak.

After all, Luxurious Embroidery was a well-established brand with many customers from the older generation; a portion of the buyers hadn’t even followed the design competition.

Madam Mu didn’t answer directly, but simply inquired, “Is it difficult to bring this cardiopulmonary doctor here?”

“Not just difficult, it’s extremely difficult; the Ke family already has enough troubles,” Ke Huizhu replied with a poor expression. “Sister, what exactly do you want to do?”

This cardiopulmonary doctor held a very high reputation internationally.

Naturally, Ke Huizhu had no personal relationship with the doctor, but her husband’s family did.

It was possible to invite him, but it would come at no small cost.

Also, because of the Luxurious Embroidery matter, Ke Huizhu already had a rather poor opinion of Madam Mu.

“It’s closely related to Chen Zhou inheriting the Mu family,” Madam Mu said indifferently, “If you can bring this cardiopulmonary doctor here, there’s a ninety percent chance that Chen Zhou will be the heir to the Mu family.”

Ninety percent was almost a certainty.

“Alright,” Ke Huizhu’s breathing quickened slightly, she clenched her teeth and agreed, “Sister, as long as Chen Zhou can become the head of the Mu family in the future, I’ll help with whatever you need; I’ll go invite him right away.”

Having received a firm promise, Madam Mu felt reassured.

She stood up and went to visit where Mu Weifeng was staying.

**

In another courtyard.

Because he had coughed up blood that morning, Mu Weifeng’s complexion was still very pale.

He was still sitting at the stone table, writing.

This time, he wrote slowly, but the handwriting was coherent.

Mu Weifeng’s hearing was excellent.

When Madam Mu was still twenty or thirty meters away from the garden, he heard her footsteps.

Mu Weifeng looked up, his gaze slightly condensed.

As Madam Mu approached, he called out politely yet distantly, “Fifth Aunt.”

“I heard you coughed up blood again this morning,” Madam Mu sat opposite him, “Are you feeling unwell again?”

“I’m okay,” Mu Weifeng said, looking down and continuing to write without looking at Madam Mu, “I won’t die.”

Madam Mu frowned.

This Mu Weifeng seemed not to understand the situation.

“Your elder brother and sister-in-law passed away when you were young, and they surely wouldn’t want to see their only son die young,” Madam Mu’s voice was mild but carried an air of condescension, “If you die, your sister, being a girl with no one to rely on, will have a hard time surviving in a major clan.”

“With so many children in the Mu family, who knows with whom your sister may have to enter into a marriage alliance.”

Mu Weifeng’s eyes suddenly turned cold.

He picked up a tissue, wiped his mouth, and there were specks of fresh blood on the tissue.

After he finished, he threw the tissue into the trash bin, “If Fifth Aunt has something to say, you can speak directly; there’s no need to beat around the bush.”

“Alright, you’re a smart person, so I won’t mince words,” Madam Mu smiled, “I know a Divine Medical Saint from abroad who has an undefeated record in treating heart and lung diseases.”

“I’ll help you invite him over to treat you, and in return, you give up your eligibility for the Mu family heir assessment.”